Van's Phunky Spam

VAN FRANCIS SQUIRGLE: 27 year old neurodivergent INTP hobbit from New York. Singer, gamer, jewelry designer, liberal, and nerd. Lover of The Sims, Dragon Age, Sherlock Holmes (in multiple incarnations), Tolkien, Cabin Pressure, Harry Potter, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Bowie, cult classics, and cute animals. TV Tropes, PBS, and Wikipedia addict. (Read: Soaks up useless info and trivia like a sponge for fun.) High tolerance for crack art and fics, low tolerance for ignorance. (Basically, do your research) Interested in following me? You might want to read my disclaimer. -Possibly Non-NT Benedict Compilation -PHUNKY JUNK N' JEWELS: (My Jewelry Business) PHUNKY VINTAGE FINDS: (My Vintage Shop) Facebook

[caracaracal]

For the millions of you that will lose your insurance if Obamacare is repealed please call Paul Ryan. It took me about two minutes, most of that waiting patiently for the recording to end.

Paul Ryan is conducting a phone poll on the ACA (Obamacare), hoping to hear overwhelming popular opposition to it. If you would like to express your support for the Affordable Care Act, call [phone]. Press 2 to weigh in on the issue. You’ll hear a brief recording about HR-3762, Paul Ryan’s proposal to gut the ACA, and President Obama’s use of his veto power to stop it. Then, you will have a chance to indicate your opinion with the press of a button.

Press 1 if you support Obamacare, 2 if you oppose it.

There is also an option after making your choice to leave a voicemail for Speaker Ryan, which I did, and recommend doing, but is obviously not required.

[cavesalamander]

You don’t have to talk to anyone!! Should be easier on anxiety that way.

But make sure you listen to the options.

[leavethesky]

You will have to listen to 2-3 minutes of blatant lies and propaganda, but it’s worth it to tell this monster that he’s got it all wrong on ACA.

[bubonickitten]

someone mentioned on one of my posts not long ago that the number has apparently changed (I guess because it’s after hours??? idk).

the number above worked when I called earlier today, but apparently as of now (11/19, 5:45 EST) the number is: [phone]

I haven’t tried the latter number but just in case the first doesn’t work, try that second one.

also though, there’s a really weird 60-90 seconds of complete dead silence before the phone tree starts. no “please hold” or waiting music or anything.

DON’T HANG UP if you don’t hear anything at first.

[cinerose-deactivated20201024]

STILL TIME FOR AN ELECTION AUDIT: COLUMN

A Washington Post–ABC News poll found that 18% of voters — 33% of Clinton supporters and 1% of Trump supporters — think Trump was not the legitimate winner of the election. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has called on Congress to investigate the Russian cyberattack on the Democratic National Committee and the election.

There are reasons for concern. According to the director of national intelligence, the leaked emails from the DNC were “intended to interfere with the U.S. election process.” The director of national intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Security Agency concluded that the Russian government is behind the DNC email hack and that Russian hackers attacked U.S. voter registration databases.

We know that the national results could be tipped by manipulating the vote count in a relatively small number of jurisdictions — a few dozen spread across a few key states. We know that the vast majority of local elections officials have limited resources to detect or defend against cyberattacks. And while pre-election polls have large uncertainties, they were consistently off. And various aspects of the preliminary results, such as a high rate of undervotes for president, have aroused suspicion.

Computers counted the vast majority of the 130 million votes cast in this year’s election. Even without hacking, mistakes are inevitable. Computers can’t divine voter intent perfectly; computers can be misconfigured; and software can have bugs.

Did human error, computer glitches, hacking, or other problems change the outcome? While there is, as yet, no compelling evidence, the news about hacking and deliberate interference makes it worth finding out.

CONT. 

original tweet. 

[breelandwalker]

CALL THESE PEOPLE. DEMAND AN AUDIT.

[rhiannon42]

Most people calling the number above have been getting a busy signal. Try calling the DOJ switchboard at 202-514-2000 and then press 4 to leave a message. 

[dirtyscholar]

This seems to have worked for me, and is a good alternative option for people with anxiety. Have at it folks

[benedictcumberbatchsitsinchairs]

This is, in my opinion, one of the greatest moments in cinematic history, from one of the most astounding, poignant films ever made.  And I’m absolutely terrified that this speech, from 76 years ago, is so frighteningly relevant today.   

[tastefullyoffensive]

[caitlacoop]

On the chance that Monday kicked your tail, here are some baby chicks. 

[velocicrafter]

THEY LOOK SO COZY & CONTENT AAAAAAAAUGH!!!!

[digoxin-purpurea]

We have a message for you, sir, and we hope that you will hear us out. And I encourage everybody to pause your phones and Tweets and posts ‘cause this message needs to be spread far and wide, okay? Vice-President Elect Pence, we welcome you, and we truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton: An American Musical. We really do. We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us - our planet, our children, our parents - or defend us or our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us. All of us. [applause] And we truly thank you for seeing the show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men, women, of different colors, creeds, and orientations, and to that end we hope you hear our message, sir, because you are honored to represent all of us. - @ghaney22/Gregory Haney

[phunkyvanspam]

Learning what was actually said during the performance makes me even more mad about Trump and his cronies' reactions. That right there is NOT harassment. AT ALL.

They weren't threatening in any way. THEY are saying they, as minorities, feel threatened by the Trump administration.Like we needed any more proof that these guys are complete monsters.

[glassceilingbreakers]

Mike Pence attended Hamilton and the cast had something to say to him: “We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us.” (x)

[jeniphyer]

[reproductivejusticeandliberty]

This story popped up as a notification on my phone and I literally went 😏 -V

[gatorfisch]

[phunkyvanspam]

This is awesome and all, but I'm more shocked that Pence would attend the musical in the first place- what with it's liberal lyrics and diverse cast. But then again, this IS a member of the Trump administration we're talking about. How clueless they are about everything really baffles me.

[notentirely]

have we agreed to the moniker we’ll use if we care to refer to the president-elect in posts? cuz ain’t no way in hell i’m referring to that asshat by his brandname.

[reagan-was-a-horrible-president]

Suggestions:

Biff

Orange Mussolini

Prima Donny

Short-Fingered Vulgarian

[jellyfishoutofwater-deactivated]

I’m liking Presidouche Fuckface Von Clownstick.

[fuckyeahfightlock]

I call him the Annoying Orange.

[frewfee]

“Brandname” also works.

[phunkyvanspam]

I like Troompa Loompa myself.

[egalitarianyellowfang-blog]

Just your daily reminders:

Racists are a problem

White people are not

Homophobes are a problem

Straight people are not

Transphobes are a problem

Cis people are not

Sexists are a problem

Men are not

And most importantly,

Hating an innocent person solely because of their race, sexuality, or gender makes you a fucking asshole

[thepageofhopes]

Just some actual daily reminders:

All white people do racist things without being aware they are

All straight people do homophobic things without being aware that they are.

All Cis people do transphobic things without being aware that they are.

All men do sexist things without being aware that they are.

Saying things like ‘some men’, ‘some cis people’ absolves the blame of individuals and only seeks to comfort those with privilege and power.

When a post says ‘some X’, the X will always assume that they are not because THEY ARE NOT AWARE.

And most importantly,

It’s called metonymy, when anyone who is oppressed makes an exasperated statement like ‘i hate straight people’, they are substituting straight people for the concept of a system and a culture that teaches, incentives, and legitimizes homophobic acts and normalizes homophobic acts so that straight people constantly do honophobic things without realizing it and that’s really fucking annoying.

And just as important,

The concept of sjws dehumanizes marginalized people and categorizes them as an ‘angry and emotional’ stereotype and only adds to the oppression of marginalized people under the guise of being 'fair’, while the only thing you are doing is cushioning privileged people from their own ignorance and privilege.

[mooserattler]

Reblog this picture of me holding a Family Size box of Honey Nut Cheerios? I’d really appreciate it.

[moonblossom]

How can I say no to such a great photo and such a polite request?

[allthelittlebeagles]

i will always support this post

[freshrosemary-deactivated202303]

@mooserattler back on my dash!

[jjflow]

Why isn’t this at a million notes, yet, Dante???

[mooserattler]

I’m not sure. Hey lovely people who have taken me over half way to a cool million! If you’d like to reblog again, I’d love that, if not, I still love you, and hope you’re having a great day. I’m gonna go do some stand up tonight.

[gelana78]

We will get you to a million. We believe in you.

[phunkyvanspam]

What an adorable photo! Your smile is infectious. :)

[weavemama]

Here are some tips on how to further use your voices about the election results and hopefully make a change. 

[micdotcom]

John Oliver gives 2016 the proper fucking send off it deserves

[thefibrodiaries]

Please stop excluding disabled people in your posts about minorities who are being affected by the election results. Disabled people in the US are being affected too and we matter.

[too-many-problems-to-list]

People have no idea how terrified every disabled person is. I’m not going to minimize any other group rightfully terrified; I just want people to know there’s a group you’re all forgetting. Republicans have been trying to destroy social security forever. Riled up old folks, a key part of their base, have stopped them so far. But those were “reasonable” republicans like we had 10 years ago. Pre-tea party “burn it all down!” ideological zealots.

Now? There’s nothing to stop them. Except all of us. In the same way we have to protect LGBTQ, women, racial groups, we MUST protect the disabled. Because dismantlement of social security, Medicare and Medicaid are LETHAL to the disabled. Who already constantly struggle financially. If they cut benefits 1%? 5%? 10%? Well when you’re struggling on $800 or $1200 a month… do the math.

And we disabled? We literally can’t march in protest. Because most of us are, well, not able! So we’re dependent on you all to help keep us alive. Because while Republicans might claim empathy for us, they’re priorities are monetary. They’ll couch it in “cutting waste” or making social security stable “longer” or giving power to “states” to run things. “Efficiency” and such are the things they’ll pretend to be seeking. But its just code.

So please, please, help the disabled just as we help LGBTQ, just as we help racial minorities, just as we help women. We’re in this together. But the disabled can’t even go protest in the streets or march on Washington or any of that. We need you all to be our bodies, while we use our only tool: our voices.

[enjolrasjosette]

Just want to say here, the most you can get on SSI is $733… That’s already not survivable. We can’t afford for it to get cut more. Plus he wants to cap medicaid/medicare coverage. Which means not only do we not get enough to survive on, we’re also going to lose our healthcare. Millions are going to die just because of the ACA repeal alone because we won’t be able to get insurance due to preexisting conditions. You NEED to fight for us because we can’t. I have been stuck at home terrified for the past 3 days planning how to survive for as long as possible and for when I die. This is real. We know its going to happen. We are planning our own funerals. We are already mourning our loved ones. You better fight for us.

[funkysafari-deactivated20260131]

A snow leopard cub that fell asleep during playtime by Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

[average-smoothie-enjoyer]

Denver

Boulder

Portland

New York

Seattle

Detroit

Berkeley

Los Angeles

San Francisco

Dallas

Chicago

Miami

Expect more of this. We are uniting. We will be your worst nightmare if you take away peoples’ rights. We’re not fucking around.

[skidar]

Moscow, ID

[yulinkuang]

In the next couple days / weeks / always, I’d like to remind people to check the sources and dates of articles they’re sharing/reblogging. Misinformation spreads via clickbait titles on disreputable/non-news sites, or old articles with relevant titles but out-of-date information. 

This is, at best, extremely frustrating and at worst, very very dangerous. There are people out there, for whatever reason, who are taking advantage of public sentiment and creating false news stories that play to our worst fears. Every time you share a false news story, you make it less likely that people will believe the real ones that come after them.

Please check your sources. Don’t help spread misinformation.

[millenniumfucko]

THERE IS A PETITION TO STOP THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE FROM VOTING FOR TRUMP

For those of you who don’t know, the Electoral College has the final say in December. It’s only happened once or twice, but sometimes they vote against a candidate who’s already “won”. Candidates can win the popular election and still lose the electoral college’s election. THIS IS OUR LAST SLIVER OF A CHANCE TO KEEP BUTT TRUMPET OUT OF OFFICE!

There’s been multitudes of posts going around, talking about fighting back, never giving up, doing what’s right.

ITS TIME TO WALK THE WALK:

https://www.change.org/p/electoral-college-electors-electoral-college-make-hillary-clinton-president-on-december-19?recruiter=2107322&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=mob-xs-share_petition-no_msg

[egwood]

OVER 600,000 SUPPORTERS ALREADY. IT’S DAY 2. BOOOOOOOST.

[hamishwatson]

2.5 MILLION OUT OF 3 MILLION DONE. Let’s goooooo.

[phunkyvanspam]

I'm a firm believer that the electoral college should be abolished in the first place, since it is archaic and has ties to slavery. Since its probably not going away any time soon, please PLEASE do this!

[my-name-is-long]

this is why the electoral college fucking sucks.

[kaayytiee]

Without the electoral college, the determining factor of the elections would be California, Chicago and New York just because they have more people concentrated in one area. Our system is the best of the best and the people spoke. I’m hurt as well as most of America but the best thing we can do is keep an open mind, accept, and move on.

[my-name-is-long]

So what? Why does it matter if the majority of votes come from one area? If most of the people in the country want one person to be president, then that person should be president. Why should it matter where they’re from?

And that’s not even the reason the college was made in the first place. It was made for 2 reasons. 1. The founding fathers didn’t trust the citizens. They thought the citizens were too uneducated to make a good choice. And 2. It’s easier to count the votes of a small group of people all in one place rather than millions across the country when there’s no cars or internet.

In today’s age, neither of those reasons are valid anymore. There is no good reason for the electoral college to exist. If the majority of people want someone as president, that person should be president.

[morpha613]

Here is why the electoral college sucks:

Without the electoral college, every single vote would count exactly the same.  No vote anywhere in the country would be worth more than any other vote.  Now you may ask, but Raymond, isn’t it like this already?

NO.  IT FUCKING IS NOT.

Take Wyoming for example.  Wyoming has a population of 584,000 people.  They also have 3 electoral college votes. This means that each 194,667 votes is worth one electoral college vote in Wyoming.  Now let’s look at California.  California has a population of 38.8 million people and 55 electoral college votes.  This means that it takes 705,455 votes for each electoral college vote.  

A VOTE IN WYOMING IS WORTH 3.5X MORE THAN A VOTE IN CALIFORNIA.

It literally takes 3.5 times more votes to get 1 electoral vote in California than it does in Wyoming.  How tf is that fair?

Don’t come in here and tell me how it’s the best system and without it the only determining factor would be certain cities.  How does that even make sense?  Without it, a vote in New York City is worth the exact same amount as a vote in any other city, or town, regardless of population.  I personally would like my vote to count for exactly the same as anyone else.  My vote shouldn’t count as less because I live in a more densely populated city.

[rootqueen-deactivated20240223]

What a good explanation! ^

[wats-good-gabby]

The Electoral College was also devised as a means of appeasing primarily Southern slave-holding states and empowering the clout of Virginia in particular. Look at the comments made by proponents at the 1787 Constitutional Convention and the resulting Three-Fifths Compromise - it was meant to tip the political and electoral power in favor of the South and, at least for James Madison and his colleagues, Virginia against their political opponents. “There is an immediate connection between slavery and the electoral college.” 

Mind you, and it isn’t any coincidence, “for 32 of the Constitution’s first 36 years, a white slaveholding Virginian occupied the presidency,” (Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe). In tandem, Thomas Jefferson’s win against John Adams was decisively a result of the increased electoral power of Southern states as a result of the additional votes from slavery, it was said at the time that “Jefferson metaphorically rode into the executive mansion on the backs of slaves.” This ‘pro-slavery’ bias was widely commented upon in 1803 where the Twelfth Amendment, which made reforms to the Electoral College, was widely considered as a means to empower politically and electorally the South. Pennsylvania, granted, had more citizens than Virginia but as a result of Virginia’s expanding slave population Virginia had far more electoral clout than Pennsylvania if the 40% of its population who were slaves were counted (hmm wonder why so many of our early Presidents were from Virginia!). Therefore Virginia triumphed in electoral power because white slaveholders would count slaves as persons only to boost their ability to continue to preserve slavery, offering nothing to the usurped political power of the slaves than continued subordination and oppression. 

This isn’t to say that the Electoral College wasn’t introduced because founding fathers were not convinced that the voting population could effectively get educated about national races in a time before much of the technology and transportation of today was non-existent. This isn’t to say that it wasn’t introduced because, as mentioned prior, counting millions of votes by hand and delivering the results by horseback wasn’t a deep concern. This is to say that “not all academics agree that slavery was the driving force behind the Electoral College, though most agree there’s a connection.”

It’s also been argued that “in direct elections, candidates would campaign only in large cities,” because you would just have to reach out to the most people and urban areas have concentrated populations. However, “it’s the electoral college that shortchanges voters. Because it makes no sense for candidates to spend time or money in states they either cannot win or are certain to win, thriving cities such as Atlanta, San Francisco and El Paso get no love from White House hopefuls.” Shit I live in Texas and neither candidate gave much of a shit about us lmao (though that did mean not too many attack ads on TV haha!). 

So why do we have this archaic relic of colonial times as the deciding apparatus for the Presidency? We have modern technology and getting information about elections in a timely manner is possible. We don’t have an unhinged, tumultuous civil war between slaveholders and free states at hand in the early days of democracy. We have the House of Representatives (both federally and locally - I am looking at you State Houses of Representatives) to tip electoral power in favor of rural counties and states as it is as well as the Senate. 2/5 of the most recent general elections have resulted in a President who did not receive the popular vote, with this being the fifth time in our country’s history. This is not about whether a Democrat or a Republican wins this is about letting go of a colonial relic that was erected to navigate a technologically backwater time and to prop up a slaveholding elite.