Blogger since 2002, political activist since 2003, geek since birth. Opinions informed by mixed-race, multi-ethnic, cis-female condition, further shaped by kind friends of all persuasions. Sci-tech frenemy, wannabe artist, decent cook, determined author, successful troublemaker. Mother of invention and two excessively smart-assed young adult kids. Attended School of Hard Knocks; Rather Unfortunate Smallish Private Business School in Midwest; Affordable Mid-State Community College w/evening classes. Self-employed at Tiny Consulting Business; previously at Large-ish Chemical Company with HQ in Midwest in multiple marginalizing corporate drone roles, and at Rather Big IT Service Provider as a project manager, preceded by a motley assortment of gigs before the gig economy was a thing. Blogging experience includes a personal blog at the original blogs.salon.com, managing editor for a state-based news site, and a stint at Firedoglake before landing here at emptywheel as technology’s less-virginal-but-still-accursed Cassandra.
CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden confirmed Wednesday that the flavivirus known as Zika is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. The confirmation is based on an evaluation of available data for potential teratogenic effects. Using both Shepard criteria and Bradford Hill criteria, researchers proved prenatal Zika virus infection has a causal […]
She said, ‘There is no reason and the truth is plain to see.’ But I wandered through my playing cards and would not let her be — excerpt, Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum cover here by Annie Lennox I’ve been on an Annie Lennox jag, sorry. I’m indulging myself here at the intersection […]
Did you know the tango evolved into a Finnish subgenre? Me neither, and I’m part Finn on my mother’s side of the family. Both my grandmother and great-grandmother spoke Finn at home after their immigration to the U.S., but apparently never passed the language or Finnish music on to my mother and her siblings. The […]
In my eyes, indisposed In disguises no one knows Hides the face, lies the snake The sun in my disgrace — excerpt, Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden Looks like this week is all about mergers. Enjoy this simulation on replay several times while listening to Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun while we dig in. Roll Call […]
It was rough road this week, but we made it to Friday again for more jazz. Today’s genre is ska jazz, which will feel like an old friend to many of you. The artist Tommy McCook was one of the earliest artists in this genre. Just listen to his work and you’ll understand why he […]
I am the eye in the sky Looking at you I can read your mind I am the maker of rules Dealing with fools I can cheat you blind — excerpt, Eye in the Sky by Alan Parsons Project It’s not like I wanted to haul out all my high school and college music, but […]
When a problem comes along you must whip it Before the cream sits out too long you must whip it When something’s going wrong you must whip it — excerpt, Whip It by Devo Can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought of this song in the last couple of days. Panama Papers fallout Still […]
It’s the day belonging to Tiwes, the Norse god of single combat. What will we engage in battle about today? Looks like sketchy news coverage is a good reason, after taking a peek at Newsmap this morning to check global media coverage of the Panama Papers. Very thin reporting, according to the results. Canada, come on […]
Aw, shucks. Spring Break is over just as I find another warm place to visit. The British Virgin Islands expect a balmy daytime high of 84F/29C degrees today with partly cloudy skies. And a 100% chance of tax havens galore. Blood’s in the water, though, stay ashore. You may hear a lot in the media […]
We’ve been rather busy around the emptywheel this weekend, but it looks like we need something for conversations about two big topics. First, the Panama Papers — here’s a short and sweet explainer at The Guardian to get you started. It’s the biggest leak-based, multi-outlet, global journalistic investigation to date. The server where the papers […]