May, 2020 archive
Etymology of “Jazz” 0
Thanks to the Kerry Greenwood mystery, The Green Mill Murder, I learned tonight that the word “jazz” has a much more interesting history than I would have ever expected.
Deficit Pending 0
As state and municipal revenues have cratered in these viral times, Republicans are balking at any federal effort to ameliorate suffering and penury for states, municipalities, and persons.
At the Portland Press-Herald, Greg Kesich points out that there are other deficits on which the party of Scrooges turns its back. Here are a couple of his examples; follow the link for more.
There is a long-term debt that comes with every lost opportunity for a child to learn, and every person who can’t afford to see a doctor. But we have been trained to think that cutting school funding and health care programs – the inevitable result of a “smaller government” – is sound fiscal management instead of calling it what it really is: recklessly borrowing from the future to get us out of our present crisis.
Sunday in the Park with Karen . . . 0
. . . watching our feathered friends.
A False Choice 0
At the Inky, Robert I. Field explains that the notion that you can somehow choose between the economy and public health is–er–misguided. An excerpt:
Meanwhile, PoliticalProf takes a look at the stock market.
Barefoot and in the Kitchen 0
From the intro to the radio program, Rocky Jordan, which ran from 1949 to 1951 and was picked up by Del Monte several months into its run.
Del Monte! The brand preferred by more women than any other line of canned fruits and vegetables in the world!
Not that it betrays any stereotypes or sexism or anything like that there.
All That Was Old Is New Again 0
Ina fascinating discussion, David speaks with Tulane professor John Barry about the 1918 flu epidemic.
The Epidemiologist and the Magic Elixirs, One More Time 0
Jennifer Senior reveals the formula for Donald Trump’s brand of hydroxychloroquine. Here’s a bit of her article.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Politeness is child’s play.
She died after being shot by an 11-year-old inside a house in Clayton County, Ga., in suburban Atlanta, a family friend told Fox 5.
Scapegoating Goes Viral 0
“It’s those people you-know-who-we-mean.”
I’m a Southern boy.
I know racism when I see it.
Indulgences for Sale 0
Donald Trump, seeking to appease the evangelical “Christians” in his base, has declared that churches are essential services.
E. J. Montini disagrees, because the Bible tells him so. A nugget (emphasis in the original):
The priest made a joke with the congregation, saying something along the lines of, “While I’m glad you’re all here, and I really do need this job, it doesn’t even take two or three of us to have the Lord with us. We’re able to have that on our own, any time we want.”
Snow White and the Seven Roombas 0
This article may make you grumpy, but don’t sneezy at it, because it makes a singularity point.
“Macho Macho Men” 0
At the Inky, Anna Orso explores why gyms are among the foremost challengers of stay-at-home orders in these viral times; the article suggests that there may be elements in addition to the loss of revenue and customers. A snippet:
“This idea that ‘I’m indestructible,’ it certainly is something that we see in masculinity more broadly,” Metzl said. “The problem during the pandemic is, people aren’t just putting themselves at risk. They are putting others at risk.”
Aside:
Gyms don’t make no never mind to me. I’ve always preferred working out at home.
Oblivious to the Obvious, Susceptible to the Stupid 0
Aside:
Someone I know has fallen for the “Bill Gates coronavirus microchip” pfiffle and was recently trying to convert someone else I know. This person is constantly urging friends to watch this or that nutbag Youtuber “to learn the truth.”
He also expects to make a fortune from Iraqi dinars.
We are a society of stupid, no longer capable of critical thinking.
