Author's archive
Incompetently Incongruously Assembled
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Sam and Emma marvel at a Republican Congressman Dan Meuser’s inability to grasp that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau exists to protect (wait for it) . . . .
. . . consumers
Droning On 0
The marvels of modern technology . . . .
When Merola went outside to investigate, cops say, she spotted a drone hovering near the window. As she approached the drone, it began to fly away, but struck a tree branch and fell to the ground. Merola then grabbed the drone (pictured below) and dunked it in her pool, disabling the quadcopter’s electronics.
According to the report, the pilot has been–er–grounded.
Sunk, Reprise 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Noam Spencer looks at why the deaths at sea of five rich people overshadowed those of 700 refugees. Here’ are two of the points he makes:
- Wealth bestows power. Power attracts attention because it has the potential to be consequential in our lives.
- Media outlets driven by profit push stories that are compelling, rather than those that are important.
See his complete piece for a detailed discussion of these and the other points he raises.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Richard Nixon’s loathsome Southern Strategy continues to bear fruit.
“Because I Said So, That’s Why!” 0
Dan Casey of The Roanoke Times notes that Bob Goode, a Roanoke-area Congressman, said in a televised interview, “I’ve not had one reporter ask to do an interview with me, or ask me on the Capitol steps, about the Biden Crime Family . . . .” So Casey sought an interview; a week later, he’s still waiting for a response.
Casey decided to track down some of the allegations Goode made in his interview and realized that (emphasis added)
Casey’s journey to that conclusion is a fascinating tale of uncovering half-truths, misrepresentations, and outright lies. It deserves a read.
Vaccine Nation 0
Rebecca Watson finds the notion of anyone’s trying to have a serious debate with anti-vaxxer RFK Jr. to be–er–ludicrous.
Or you can read the transcript.
The Trojan Horse 0
LZ Granderson looks behind the curtain and concludes that
. . . the legislative attacks on drag are nothing but a Trojan horse.
Conservatives speak of protecting children, but laws aimed at drag are really about weaponizing homophobia and transphobia to score political points.
Go read the article for his reasoning.
QOTD 0
Bob Newhart, in the voice of Bob Hartley:
Thomas Paine was wrong. These are the times that try men’s souls.
The Rule of Flaw, Reprise 0
Thom suggests that the situation is much more subtle than is being suggested by the news coverage.
Sunk 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Pamela Rutledge looks at the reaction on “social” media to the sinking of the Titan submersible. She makes four main points (emphasis added):
- Disasters capture attention but stories keep us coming back.
- The Titan incident had all the elements of a blockbuster movie, it was too much for social media to resist.
- Social media is attention-driven and rewards extreme content and conspiracy theories.
- Continued speculation perpetuates the increasingly archetypal narrative, independent of actual facts.
Follow the link for a detailed exploration of each.
And, remember, “social” media isn’t.
Stray Question 0
Instead of bulldozing homeless encampments, why not do something to house the homeless?
On second thought, that might promote the general welfare.
Why, that must most certainly be unconstitutional.
Swiftie Justice 0
Prospective juror makes a concerted effort to avoid jury duty.