First Looks category archive

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett debunks de bunk:

Via C&L, which has the transcipt.

Farron debunks de bunk and details the misdirection play. (Warning: mild language.)

The Razor’s Edge, by W. Somerset Maugham.

I read it many years ago and was inspired to reread it after watching a movie adaptation on TCM. (My DL friend Spencer, who used to work in the movie industry, said of that adaptation, “Oh, that’s the good one.”)

I had almost forgotten what a fine writer Maugham was. I’m now working my way through another of his novels, Theatre, one I’ve not read before, which is in a collection of Maugham novels that my friend surprised me with because I said I wanted to reread The Razor’s Edge.

By heavens, the man could write!

Off to drink liberally.

At the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jim Lenkner makes a strong and disturbing case that we–at least, some of us–have devolved into a nation of tantrum-throwing three-year olds. He points to Donald Trump’s pardoning of the January 6th insurrectionists as an example:

Pardoning most of the rioters may be justified if it was rendered as an action of healing. Instead, our president created greater division, and sanctioned violence as a means to get what you want.

There is no contrition. Instead, we learned that violence is okay if it is for my cause. Stopping our government from performing its duties is okay if we smash and attack like toddlers for what we think is “mine.” And, we must never say I’m sorry. Contrition is for losers.

I can pick a few nits with some of his remarks, but methinks he makes some good points.

David discusses the storm of stupid that the California fires seem to have sparked in right-wing reactions thereunto. (Warning: Short commercial starts at the 4:30 mark.)

We are a society of stupid.

Florida Woman.

Off to drink liberally.

Mr. Lucky.

The tongue-in-cheek humor is quite delightful. And, as someone who was a fan of The Wild Wild West when I was a young ‘un, I quite enjoy watching Ross Martin in this earlier role.

I’m watching it on Tubi, but, given the proliferation of streaming “services,” you can likely find it in other places.

I have removed Yellowdoggranny from the sidebar as her site seems to gone dormant.

Yeah, I know.

Who pays attention to sidebars these days?

Juanita Jean is hanging up her keyboard.

She will be missed.

At Psychology Today Blogs, Jennifer Gerlach muses on what lessons we can learn from Bugs Bunny.

If you have not done so, I highly recommend that you read Lena Horne’s autobiography.

Give me a break.

Seth takes a closer look at the drone drama in New Jersey.

Jennifer Gerlach, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, reports on a recent study that seems to confirm that “social” media isn’t.

A study of 23,532 people explored possible relationships between self-esteem, narcissistic personality traits, and social media use. Of interest, low self-esteem and narcissistic personality traits are both correlated with high levels of social media engagement (Andreassen et al., 2017).

Follow the link for her thoughts on the matter.

And remember, you don’t use “social” media. “Social” media companies use you.