June, 2024 archive
This New Gilded Age 0
Thom explains Trumponomics.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
It’s happened again: More politeness on the pavement.
One more time, “responsible gun owner” is an oxymoron.
State of Secrecy 0
Scott Maxwell discusses the underhanded strategies that Florida’s Governor DeSantis is using to keep Florida’s citizens from knowing the state’s public employees are doing. Here’s a tiny bit:
(snip)
Fortunately, the court system has so far rejected DeSantis’ secret-keeping scheme involving records his staff created while plotting to fly migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard.
The Match-Up 0
No, I will waste my time watching the debate, as I already know who I’ll be voting for (and I already know who I would not under any circumstances vote for).
I’ll read about it in the morning,
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
Today, it is Lynne Roy, writing at the Portland Press-Herald, who hears a rhyme.
_____________
*Mark Twain.
No Surprises Here 0
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gene Collier considers tonight’s debate between Biden and Trump and wonders
Put another way, the same question goes, debate what?
Methinks he has a point.
Follow the link for the rest of his thoughts.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Thom points out that, under the policies of today’s Republican Party, a rising tide lifts only those who own the boats.
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Alain Samson takes a deep dive into how and why “clickbait” works, noting, among other things, that it
. . . exploits cognitive and emotional traits, triggering impulsive clicks
I must warn you that it’s not the best-written piece, but I think it still worth at least a skim. It might help you protect yourself against the nattering nabobs of nonsense trying to suck(er) you down their rabbit holes of rubbish.
The Privatization Scam 0
The Arizona Republic’s E. J. Montini finds himself disgusted, but not surprised, at the money grab.
Our Trumpled Polity 0
Thom runs the numbers that show that, since Donald Trump entered the political scene in 2015, hate crimes have escalated dramatically.
Thom also notes that “hate is a cheap effective political weapon” and warns not to be taken in by it.
The Climates They Are a-Changing . . . 0
. . . and some of the (possible) side effects may be–er–somewhat disconcerting.
Republican Thought Police 0
At the San Francisco Chronicle, author Seema Yasmin points out that there has been a rise in “soft” book bans, that is, book bans that go on in the absence of any stated rules. The public doesn’t hear of them, but they’re there.
A snippet:
