neil-gaiman: badhandful: neil-gaiman: rionsanura: neil-gaiman...

neil-gaiman:

badhandful:

neil-gaiman:

rionsanura:

neil-gaiman:

youareiron-andyouarestrong:

This is the best interaction between two of my favorite writers I’ve ever seen @neil-gaiman and @linmanuel

Ah yes. But why a BEAVER?

That’s not a beaver, that’s a giant vole. You can tell by the tiny nose.

This is a beaver.

Oh hive mind of Tumblr. So much wisdom.

As a rodent biologist, I couldn’t resist putting in my two cents. I have no idea how old this thread is, but here goes. So, it’s hard to see in the original tweet if the rodent of interest is a vole or a muskrat. Now, I think we’ve all adequately described why it isn’t a beaver (though I didn’t see mention of the pronounced lids over a beaver’s eyes, or the high positioning of the eyes on the head, or the almost invisible ears, all of which I find more reliable than the big naked nose).

Above is a muskrat (photo credit: OliBac on Flickr (http://ift.tt/2cKFE8J))

And above is a water vole, (photo credit: Peter Trimming on Flickr (http://ift.tt/2cKEU3l))

Sometimes even biologists have a hard time identifying one rodent from another with just a picture to go on. My final verdict for the rodent of interest, though, is muskrat, solely (and I mean solely) because of the size of the water reed in its hand. Now, it could be a really tiny reed (though it’s heavy enough for one end to sink) and if it’s a really tiny reed that could very well be a vole…but I’m going with muskrat. Tough call.

Muskrat faces (not to be confused with the coypu/nutria) look A LOT like vole faces, to the point that I find
myself hard pressed to identify a key factor other than size to
differentiate the two faces. Muskrats do have more of a lid over their
eyes, but when their eyes are wide open the lid is not
visible. So when you do a Google image search of a vole, you’ll sometimes come across a muskrat, and vice versa.

The most consistent way to get correct photos is by using the animal’s scientific name in your Google or Flickr search. Not fool-proof, but better than using the common name.

I just want to point out that a joke on Twitter has caused a tumblr post beginning “As a rodent biologist…” that then goes on to unleash wisdom.

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micdotcom: Bernie Sanders nails the problem with voting for a...

micdotcom:

Bernie Sanders nails the problem with voting for a president based on personality

While Hillary Clinton battles high unfavorable ratings, Bernie Sanders appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe Friday to make a case for why likability is not a good reason to vote for someone. Sanders urged young voters to look at the issues and mentioned one Trump policy in particular.

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onlyblackgirl: princesshoneycunt: salon: 1) Myth: The minimum...

onlyblackgirl:

princesshoneycunt:

salon:

1) Myth: The minimum wage was never supposed to be a living wage

This is probably one of the most dangerous—and easy to debunk—myths about the minimum wage, which was championed by Franklin D. Roosevelt beginning in 1933. During an address FDR gave about one of his many economic salvation packages, he explained that “no business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country.”

2) Myth: An increase in the minimum wage won’t help anyone if all other costs go up, too

One assumption about increasing the minimum wage is that it will force to the cost of living to increase at the same rate, and in doing so, we’d really just be speeding up inflation. This isn’t really how economics works. A 2013 study by the Chicago Fed found that increasing the minimum wage even just to $9 would increase consumer spending by $28 billion. When spending—i.e. demand—increases, manufacturers and other purveyors of goods and services can actually charge less or at least avoid increasing their prices, because they’re increasing overall revenue.

3) Myth: An increase in the minimum wage is bad for employers

Paying a higher wage to employees can also help employers cut costs in other ways, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “Beyond simple supply and demand theory,” reads a comprehensive report on the economics of raising the minimum wage, “increasing the minimum wage may also spur businesses to operate more efficiently and employees to work harder.”

4) Myth: $15 is a random number

“Why not $20 per hour? Why not $50?” critics have asked. And the answer is simple: because those who are fighting for an increase in the minimum wage are being pragmatic, not bombastic. Wages of $10.10 (federally) and $15 (in cities with a high cost of living, like New York and Seattle) are hourly dollar amounts that raise workers above the poverty line and increase their purchasing power, while also being feasible for businesses. Research from the Policy Research and Economic Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst proves that these increases are absolutely possible without job loss.

5) Myth: It will cost us jobs and raise unemployment

So far, there is no evidence that raising the minimum wage causes an increase in unemployment or job loss. In fact, in a Goldman Sachs analysis of the 13 states which have raised their minimum wage, found that “the states where the minimum wage went up had faster employment growth than the states where the minimum wage remained at its 2013 level.”

6) Myth: Only teenagers and uneducated people work for the minimum wage

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 4.7 percent of the working population make at or below the minimum wage. While a disproportionate percentage are under the age of 25—about 35 percent, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research—the population who would benefit from a minimum wage increase is—on average—35 years old. Eighty-eight percent are over the age of 20.

7) Myth: Seattle already has a $15 minimum wage and it’s terrible

Though conservative news outlets are already looking to Seattle to see if the economy has plunged into chaos, the truth is that the minimum wage in the city has only increased by a small amount, due to the slow transition written into the law. It’s $10 for some workers, and $11 for others, depending on the size of their employer, and many small businesses are actually very happy with it.

Read the full article

Since my awful governor just vetoed the $15 min wage hike (which would have been implemented over 5 years time btw) I thought it might be appropriate to trot this out.

What would even be the point of minimum wage if not to be the minimum living wage??? Seattle has had the highest minimum wage in the country for several years and been progressing just fine living costs have not drastically gone up at all.

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thunderboltsortofapenny: tackedtothewall:

thunderboltsortofapenny:

tackedtothewall:

Tweet: “Remember when the Doctor destroyed Harriet Jones’ career w/a sexist attack on her health, & the Master took over Britain? Let’s not do that.”

Wise words.

Ok but I was thinking about this yesterday on the drive to work and can we really not do the thing

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Photo

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solarpunk-afrofuturism: The Golden Imprint by Viet

solarpunk-afrofuturism:

The Golden Imprint by Viet Ha Tran

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positivedoodles: [drawing of a white unicorn with a green mane,...

positivedoodles:

[drawing of a white unicorn with a green mane, tail and horn saying “You’re making great progress on your novel. I’m proud of you.” in a green speech bubble.] 

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fagraklett: Chinese emperor Ai of Han, fell in love with a...

fagraklett:

Chinese emperor Ai of Han, fell in love with a minor official, a man named Dong Xian, and bestowed upon him great political power and a magnificent palace. Legend has it that one day while the two men were sleeping in the same bed, the emperor was roused from his sleep by pressing business. Dong Xian had fallen asleep across the emperor’s robe, but rather than awaken his peaceful lover, the Emperor cut his robe free at the sleeve. Thus “the passion of the cut sleeve” became a euphemism for same-sex love in China. — R.G.L.

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