"Fish love decorations."

Most of the posts in this journal are friends only. If you are already on my access list, you're all set. If you're not on my list and you'd like to be added, please leave a comment to introduce yourself. It is likely I will add you. However, I do ask that you do NOT repost any posts or comments associated with this journal for any reason without my express permission.

If you need to contact me, I can be reached via a comment in this post, via DW PM, or via email at tarzanic at gmail.

ETA: My entries are crossposted to my LJ.

Sending good thoughts towards Boston, especially those who were affected by the tragedy (two explosions, cause yet unknown) at the marathon this afternoon.

If you need to check up on someone in Boston, or want to assure others you are ok, please register at the Red Cross Safe & Well site: http://www.redcross.org/find-help/contact-family/register-safe-listing

ETA: In case anyone's interested, this Metafilter thread seems to be a good, reasoned news source right now. (All text, no photos, but there are links to video/audio/photos if desired.)

Thank you to all of the servicemen and women (and to their families) for their sacrifices. They are greatly appreciated.

First up, if you're eligible to vote in the US election, please vote. Inform yourself and make your voice heard.

If you are likely to have political commentary related to the US elcection on your journal *and* already have it under a filter, please make sure I am off that filter. If you do not have a filter, no worries, but I will very likely be skipping such entries for the next few weeks.

I've voted already (absentee ballot) and am now instituting my pillow fort. You're welcome to join me if you wish. The rules are: you don't talk about pillow fort no political discussions in the fort and please bring snacks to share. I offer cocoa and pie to start. The fort also has a gym attached for working out any frustrations before entering.

I have the urge to do something nice (or several nice things) for people, but am somewhat limited by circumstance. Sure, hold the door, be kind, but I'd like to do more. Funds are somewhat limited, so I'm not looking to make donations. I guess what I'm asking is: what nice thing can I do for you today?

Today is American Censorship Day. This day is designed to alert the public about acts in Congress (HR 3261 (SOPA)/ S. 968 (PROTECT IP)) which would "create the first ever mass internet censorship system in the U.S." [Quote from here]

Video: PROTECT IP / SOPA Act Breaks the Internet


Email campaign to tell Congress you are against the Protect IP Act

Round up of news about the bill: An Explosion of Opposition to the Internet Blacklist Bill

If you are in the US, I strongly urge you to alert your congresspeople and spread the word. If you are outisde the US, please spread the word.

helpbrazil2011: More than 500 people are now known to have died in floods in Brazil, the country's worst natural disaster for several decades. The extent of the human tragedy is as as yet unknown in Southern Brazil as landslides leave many buried under thousands of tons of mud. Many towns are without water, power, communication and emergency services

If you are able, please make donations to any of the following:
International Committee of the Red Cross
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
UNICEF

Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns reaches out to GLBT teens with a personal story and a message of hope: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax96cghOnY4

Tissue warning.

Please don't cross-post ANYTHING from here onto Facebook/Twitter/whathaveyou. Thank you!

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If you have Firefox or Chrome, you can get rid of the Facebook/Twitter boxes when you comment on LJ. Note: this only removes the images; it does not turn off the service.

Firefox users, you must have the Greasemonkey extension installed first: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748/

For both Firefox and Chrome users, you need to install DisConnect: http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/85105

If you have not heard yet, there is a fannish relief effort being organized at help_haiti. People are offering and auctioning off art, graphics, audio, food, fic/stories/books, and miscellaneous interesting things in return for direct donations to Haiti relief organizations. Here's the list, with links, of the relief organizations. Most of the things auctioned are fannish, but not all are. The misc and food categories look especially interesting.