I am incapable of hearing the words "Istanbul" or "Constantinople" without launching into song

[conuly]

"Turkish delight" and "New Amsterdam" are iffy risky too.

********

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Comments

[mommy]

I'll never understand people who insist that the American territories are somehow not American.

The Medicaid work requirements are terrifying. All it takes is one larger employer shutting down operations in a rural area to cause an upswing in the unemployment rate, and it's not like small towns have a lot of alternative job options for people who need work. And not acknowledging self-employed income restricts things even further.

[conuly]

The Medicaid work requirements are terrifying.

You can say that again.

[siderea]

And not acknowledging self-employed income restricts things even further.

Yeah, that's appalling. I'd have thunk Arkansas would be aware of the existence of farmers on hard times, of all things.

[conuly]

But they don't seem to care.

[author_by_night]

I bet a lot of people hear "Istanbul, Not Constantinople" when they hear "Istanbul." At least, I know it happens to me! Same with "Constantinople." I watched a documentary about a mosque/church/mosque there (it kinda went back and forth) and had trouble concentrating because I kept hearing the song in my head. :P

I'm reading the article on Baltimore. I think you know I actually live near Baltimore, but... it's easy to forget WHY Baltimore is the way that it is. Yet it's also really important. There's this "Baltimore is shit" narrative around here, and I don't think people get what led Baltimore to be "shit." There ARE a lot of great programs, but it's going to take time, and also... there may be families who are unaware of them, or even if they are, are distrustful of them. That's not to downplay the programs - I'm sure they're great and do very good things. But I can see why fewer families and teens turn to them.

People are also deeply hateful. Two months ago, a female police officer was killed by four black teenage boys. (The article may mention it, I haven't finished.) One comment online actually said "time to bring back public hangings." I was horrified. And the legal system let one of the kids down; his own mother begged for him to be put in jail, but he wasn't. So... there you go. Who wants to turn to racists for help? And who wants to seek help when you're turned away once? It's a much deeper cycle than "just don't sell crack."

[conuly]

I watched a documentary about a mosque/church/mosque there

The Hagia Sophia?

One comment online actually said "time to bring back public hangings." I was horrified.

For children!?

[cloudsinvenice]

Probably the same people who are okay with putting children in cages "because their parents brought them here illegally!" (I mean, I know it's not illegal to seek asylum, but that's the line...)

[dark_phoenix54]

"Annnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddd not Byzantium!"

Well, at least it's better than some other earworms I've had...

[moem]

I have that with Birmingham and Louisiana. Blame Randy Newman.

[kshandra]

My husband and I would be perfectly happy NEVER to hear that song again. Because every time we talked about our anniversary trip - EVERY FRAGGING TIME - someone would make the joke like we hadn't heard it before. Think it all you want, but for the love of whatever you might consider holy, don't say it around us, please?

[conuly]

Noted.

[kshandra]

[brigantine]

I blame Tiny Toons for the Istanbul/Constantinople pavlovian response thing. I mean, sure I'd heard it initially from TMBG (I had the CD, couldn't escape it), but Tiny Toons provided imagery. So evil.

[conuly]

You mean the racist and geographically inaccurate Tiny Toons version?

There's a reason I linked to a plain lyrics vid instead.

[greghousesgf]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ooV6e7b5d4

[jesse_the_k]

...reporting that the earworm started when I saw your post title, and I first heard the song thirty years ago!

[cloudsinvenice]

That one about the medieval castle was amazing!! And it's going to be great fodder for Freeform Friday at vc_media, so thank you. :)

[siderea]

Couple find 23-year-old message hidden in their bathroom

But has anybody located the Shinsekis???

[conuly]

They're hiding really well.

[siderea]

When Scientists “Discover” What Indigenous People Have Known For Centuries

*teethgrinding* I know the Smithsonian thinks they're helping....