January, 2025 archive
This New Gilded Age 0
Farron follows the money.
Gag Order 0
Heaven Trump forbid that federal agencies charged with protecting the health of the populace be allowed to have the unmitigated gall to warn persons of dangers to their health and well-being.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Up in your business? Darn tootin’.
A Tune for the Times 0
From the Youtube page:
In case you were wondering who the new Secretary of Homeland security would be, Kristi Noem, the South Dakota Governor of “I shot my dog’, fame is one step away from taking over that position. She still has to be approved by the full body of the Senate but that looks increasingly likely. The Freedom Toast and Cinebot Video made this video back when she was being considered for VP. It’s a good reminder.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but If Often Rhymes”* 0
Michael in Norfolk hears a most disturbing rhyme.
Follow the link to find out why he feels that way.
____________________
*Mark Twain.
Twits Own Twitter X Offenders
0
SFgate’s Drew Magary explains why he deleted his account at Twitter X.
The Rule of Lawless 0
Thom comments on Trump’s pardon of his violence-prone fanboys the January 6th insurrectionists.
This topic was also discussed in somewhat more detail on Thursday’s episode of The Bob Cesca Show.
I have listened to Bob’s podcast almost since its beginning–certainly since its first year–and commend it to your attention.
Dis Coarse Discourse 0
Steven Stosny argues forcefully that one of the forces coarsening dis coarse discourse is that shaming has replaced discussing. A snippet:
I think his article is worth your while.
Just look around.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
The dialog, spoken by a policeman: No fixed address.
The closed caption: I’ll fix the dress.
The dialog (in the same episode): Nottingham Shire?
The closed caption: Knotting, I’m sure.
The intelligence: Artificial.
The stupid: Real.
A Questioning of Identity 0
The stupid. It burns.
The hate. It rages.
The Crypto Con in This New Gilded Age 0
Here’s the lede, via Truthout. Follow the link for the details
Not that those pushing crypto might have any ulterior motives . . . .
Donald Trump, the Tantrum Yogi 0
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:
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.