"In addition to banning lifetime coverage caps, the Affordable Care Act lets consumers keep children on their plans...

"In addition to banning lifetime coverage caps, the Affordable Care Act lets consumers keep children on their plans until age 26; requires companies with at least 50 employees to offer coverage; and makes preventive care, such as health screenings, flu shots, breast-feeding supplies and contraception, free to those with insurance."

I'm benefitting from these improvements to all US healthcare, and do not plan to give these up! #aca #obamacare
http://linkis.com/chicagotribune.com/E1QiC

It would be lovely to be soaking in hot, stinky, volcanic water right now...

It would be lovely to be soaking in hot, stinky, volcanic water right now...

#iceland
https://goo.gl/photos/d3WZLqfzMU6PTeRw7

Among the many places I was cold in Europe this year, Heidelberg made the list!

Among the many places I was cold in Europe this year, Heidelberg made the list!
#heidelberg #germany
https://goo.gl/photos/zYcrdbRJpMEGANxq9

As I catch up on my 2016 photos, here are a few from the industrial town of Mannheim, Germany.

As I catch up on my 2016 photos, here are a few from the industrial town of Mannheim, Germany. (This album is small but features cookies.)

#mannheim #germany
https://goo.gl/photos/f7vde4WxqYJ51sTC8

One nice thing about having time off is I can look back at where I've been and think about what I learned from it.

One nice thing about having time off is I can look back at where I've been and think about what I learned from it. One thing I learned is that I never really organized last fall's photos! (Doh!) Here are too many photos of the Louvre, some gushing about the Korea Now! exhibit at Les Arts Décoratifs, and photos of art supplies I was tempted to buy (as if I don't have enough).

#paris #france
https://goo.gl/photos/W8CtYVaJHYQNcN257

San Francisco's Asian Art Museum, in the updated old Main Library at Civic Center, is a treasure filled with...

San Francisco's Asian Art Museum, in the updated old Main Library at Civic Center, is a treasure filled with treasures! Here are some images of favorite details from yesterday's visit.

#asianartmuseum #art
https://goo.gl/photos/oLHQ5vsbcSYUkXjh8

This compact and brilliant exhibit of contemporary Japanese ceramic art is absolutely breathtaking.

This compact and brilliant exhibit of contemporary Japanese ceramic art is absolutely breathtaking. I'm so glad I went to see it. I recommend that you see it while you can!

#asianartmuseum #japaneseceramics #ceramics #contemporaryart
http://www.asianart.org/exhibitions/sculptural-turn

I believe self driving cars could be very useful in the future, especially to support mobility impaired people, and...

I believe self driving cars could be very useful in the future, especially to support mobility impaired people, and to prevent drunk driving. But, my optimism presumes that the cars will actually follow rules and be safer than human drivers.

This unilateral decision by Uber to impose upon the city of San Francisco cars incapable of following even basic rules suggests a level of idiocy that could damage the reputation of this technology severely.

"Local advocates noted that the Uber cars have been caught doing four out of the top five causes of collisions or injuries in the city – running red lights, going through stop signs, unsafe turns and failing to yield to pedestrians."

#selfdrivingcars #safety #pedestriansafety #bikesafety #arrogantbastards
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/19/uber-self-driving-cars-bike-lanes-safety-san-francisco?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I'm so proud of Governor Brown for being so passionately pro-science and pro-environment.

I'm so proud of Governor Brown for being so passionately pro-science and pro-environment. California has an excellent record in standing up to do what is right, regardless of Washington's action or inaction, and this fiery speech shows we will continue to lead. #governorbrown #science #environment #california #ourowndamnsatellites
https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/12/this-is-what-the-resistance-sounds-like/510899/

This is a remarkable conservative commentary satire.

This is a remarkable conservative commentary satire. I couldn't resist, because it is about Aliens. There are so many good lines...
#mcsweeneys #aliens
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/unused-audio-commentary-by-dinesh-dsouza-and-ann-coulter-recorded-spring-2003-for-aliens-special-red-state-edition-dvd-part-one

I've heard the first fact often, the second, not at all:

I've heard the first fact often, the second, not at all:

"Proponents of pipeline projects often argue that pipelines are a safer way to transport oil than by rail. And while its true that rail transport leads to more accidents than pipelines — by a margin of two to one, over the period between 2004 and 2012, according to data from the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) — pipeline spills are usually much larger, spilling three times as much crude oil as train accidents over the same period."

#nodapl #safety #accidents
https://thinkprogress.org/north-dakota-pipeline-spills-analysis-744daad63543#.9crldbcwf

Oh yes!

Oh yes!
#earthfromspace
#time
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/

<3

<3
#freedom #read #johnlewis
https://twitter.com/nbcnightlynews/status/799661509139787776

Babies blowing kisses at me and this helped my view of Americans this week. #progressivesunite

Babies blowing kisses at me and this helped my view of Americans this week. #progressivesunite
#unitedwestand #neverisnow
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38026825

This seems topical!

This seems topical! I'm using the best quote, in case you don't have time to read it all now, though it is worthwhile:

"Above all, [The Authoritarian Personality] was correct in its key argument: that there are personality differences among individuals in the degree to which they prefer clear lines of social authority, strict social norms, and social uniformity as opposed to diversity. It was also correct in arguing that individuals who score high on authoritarianism in this respect tend to be more intolerant of those who are different (e.g., racial, ethnic, or religious minorities) or those [who] appear to deviate from traditional social norms (e.g., LGBT folks). They are also more likely to gravitate toward political figures (e.g., Trump in the present context) who embody intolerance and willingness to attack minorities who are believed to pose some kind of social threat."

#facism #authoritarianism #bias #unconsciousbias #psychology
http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/06/how-world-war-ii-scientists-invented-a-data-driven-approach-to-fighting-fascism/

The USA has not mastered elections, despite 200+ years of practice.

The USA has not mastered elections, despite 200+ years of practice.

More specifically, the USA has a tradition of allowing states to allocate resources in a way of it deprives selected communities of complete access to democracy.

#votingrights #election2016
http://www.vox.com/presidential-election/2016/11/6/13542680/there-are-4000-people-in-a-half-mile-voting-line-in-cincinnati-today-this-isn-t-okay?utm_campaign=vox&utm_content=entry&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

City three of three on this wonderful trip: Stockholm!

City three of three on this wonderful trip: Stockholm!! I've been to Stockholm (twice!) before, since I have two WONDERFUL photographer friends who live there, and I was delighted to get to spend time with them again.

I arrived in clear weather, which didn't hold long, so I'm glad I got out and walked my legs off while I had the chance. By the end of my visit, it was SNOWING (!!), and as a native of San Francisco, it was too cold for me to fully function in that weather. I felt so brave just for leaving my friend's flat, only to see that parents were pushing their babies in strollers everywhere as if it was no big deal... Those Swedes are secretly and modestly rugged! :)

This photo set includes some scenes from wonderful museums. (The set is also captioned, as all my Google Photo collections are, so hit the "i" button to see my descriptions.)

#stockholm #sweden
https://goo.gl/photos/28GZrAChTtHUAtsu7

My second city on my proper vacation was Copenhagen (København), Denmark.

My second city on my proper vacation was Copenhagen (København), Denmark. I had a WONDERFUL time there, visiting museums, going for walks along the water, and trying not to spend all of my money on Danish designed items.

Here, I get to show off my love of mineral pigments used to make Danish buildings so festive, and try not to obsess over the minimal, clean lines of posh Danish clothes. (I'm not a clothes horse, but Copenhagen made me fear I could become one.)

Note to self: I'm not accustomed to being blond yet, but being blond in Copenhagen made people assume that I am a (middle aged) Dane (despite not looking Danish at all). I had many moments of incomprehension, because even if I spoke English, they didn't really believe I wasn't capable of speaking Danish. Ooops.

#copenhagen #København #Denmark
https://goo.gl/photos/KNy5V4H7BUk4UwJY9

It had been years since I went on a proper, long vacation, so I have corrected this with a three city European tour...

It had been years since I went on a proper, long vacation, so I have corrected this with a three city European tour to visit dear friends and enjoy northern Europe!

My first of three great cities: Berlin.

#berlin #germany #berlinerweisseiskindofgross
https://goo.gl/photos/vovCE2EvEBAhzGpn8

I heard my first Emergency Alert System broadcast today!

I heard my first Emergency Alert System broadcast today! Southern Santa Clara county may be prone to flash flooding, and there are some specific warnings related to landslides in burned areas from recent wildfires.

This link to alerts.weather.gov leads to current weather alerts for California, which I'll keep handy.

Yes, it is shocking to experience real rain again!

#weather
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/ca.php?x=1