Too Venal for Words category archive
The Fire This Time 0
Paul Krugman remarks on the apathy which has greeted the burning of Australia. A snippet:
But the world isn’t rational. In fact, Australia’s anti-environmentalist government seems utterly unmoved as the nightmares of environmentalists become reality. And the anti-environmentalist media, the Murdoch empire in particular, has gone all-out on disinformation, trying to place the blame on arsonists and “greenies” who won’t let fire services get rid of enough trees.
These political reactions are more terrifying than the fires themselves.
Afterthought:
Unlike Ripley, science doesn’t care whether you believe it or not. Science just is–and will be–regardless of whether anyone believes it.
“Can You Give Me Sanctuary, I Must Have a Place To Hide . . . .” 0
Above the Law reports that Donald Trump has decreed that the District of Columbia is his own little sanctuary city just for his ownsome. A snippet:
Much more at the link.
Licensed To Kill 0
David and his caller, a U. S. veteran, discuss Donald Trump’s pardoning of the Navy seals convicted of war crimes. (That part of the discussion starts just after the two minute mark.)
The Bully’s Pulpit 0
Sue Scheff reports that cyber-bullying is much more common than persons of good will might think and offers some hints for dealing with and avoiding it.
Just the Vaxx, Ma’am 0
At The Sacramento Bee, Mike Madrid argues that the anti-vaxx movement is a symptom of the unraveling of the social contract. Here’s a snippet; follow the link for the rest.
This self-selection by anti-vaccine “warriors,” as they call themselves, is the manifestation of a growing self-righteous ideology that believes we have no obligation for the health or well-being of each other. This emerging attitude is precisely the opposite sense of community that drove millions of Americans to be vaccinated in the early days of immunization efforts against polio.
And, from the “This Surprises You How?” Dept. . . . . 0
Shaun Mullen highlights a disturbing pattern.
Gun-Splaining* 0
The pretzel logic of gun nuts justifying possession of portable phalluses weapons of mass shooting as a Constitutional right does from time to time positively amaze.
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I think I first heard this phrase on The Bob Cesca Show.
Fly the Fiendly Skies . . . 0
. . . and get treated worse than a dog.
The Lies of the Land 0
David discusses the pathological nature of Donald Trump’s lying, illustrating his points with personal experiences with liars he has known.
Misdirection Play, Firearms of Mass Destruction Dept. 0
The Tampa Bay Times reveals Florida Republicans’ strategy for dealing with concerns about white supremacists and about access to firearms of mass destruction: Blame everybody and everything except guns and the people who fire them.
Full story at the link.
Misdirection Plays, Taxonomy Dept. 0
In the context of the Jeffrey Epstein case, Spocko describes the four types of “fixers” and discusses how their work manifests itself. Per Spocko, these are the four types:
- Thug fixers.
- Legal fixers.
- PR Fixers.
- Media fixers.
Follow the link for a detailed description of how each type manifests itself.
“Photo Op Prop” 0
David comments on a photo which he maintains captures the essence of Donald Trump.