QOTD 0
John Dickson Carr:
Among unthinking chroniclers it is much the fashion, at certain movements of mysticism, to embark on a reflection as to how, if it were not for such-and-such a small thing happening, then such-and-such larger thing would not have happened, until they have ultimately proved King Priam’s bootblack responsible for the fall of Troy. Which is, demonstrably, nonsense.
Carr, John Dickson, The Blind Barber (New York: Collier Books, 1962), p. 149
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Elie Mystal comments on Attorney-General Sessions’s latest strategy to foster racism and bigotry. A snippet:
It’s like saying “the races shouldn’t swim together, so I’m going to pull the lifeguards until all the non-segregated pools are forced to close down.” Even if you agreed with the disgusting point, making everybody less safe is the worst possible way to force everybody backwards.
Divining Rod 0
In a remarkable and perceptive post, Josh Marshall struggles with Donald Trump’s fatal attraction. A snippet:
This may be unremarkable with the toadies and acolytes. But Trump is able to take people of some apparent substance and attainment and destroy them as well. The key though is that he doesn’t destroy them. In his orbit, under some kind of spell, he makes them destroy themselves. It is always a self-destruction. He’s like a black hole. But for this there’s no ready explanation. Because what is the power? The force?
Follow the link for his answer.
Kate for Windows 0
The KDE Project has released a Windows version of the Kate text editor, my favorite GUI text editor for Linux. If you aren’t sure what a “text editor” is, think Notepad. Then envision Notepad on steroids.
Kate is capable of tabbed editing; can hold multiple documents open and under development simultaneously; can be configured to use various mark-up languages, such as HTML and various Assembler and scripting languages; and much more.
Follow the link above to try Kate for Windows.
H/T to SMLR for this news.
The Enronning of America 0
Thom talks to Jesse Eisinger, author of The Chickenshit Club, on how justice fails to prosecute executives in this riveting two part interview.
Part One:
Part Two:
The Follower 0
Solomon Jones marvels at the obtuseness of John McCain.
Dick Polman has more.
Read it.
Aside:
I find it puzzling that John McCain has managed to keep a reputation (at least among the media) for being a mavericky statesman, as for the past two decades his record is one of toeing the Republican Party line.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Leave politeness about your path.
(snip)
Malphrus said the teens discovered a 9mm Springfield Armory XDS semi-automatic handgun inside a nightstand drawer.
One girl was in the bathroom when the gun went off in another room, Malphrus said. He said the bullet went through the bathroom door and hit the victim in the shoulder.
Had there been more guns lying about, no doubt this would not have happened. At least, I suspect that is what the NRA would say, as “more guns” is always their solution.
