From The Weekly Sift, November 21, 2016:
Like most people I know, I’ve been suffering occasional attacks of rage or depression. But it’s also oddly energizing sometimes. If you ever had fantasies of being a hero, well, gear up; the villains are taking the field. It feels like we’re in a trilogy, somewhere around the end of Book Two. Ancient evils have jumped out of history books and grainy newsreels, and are appearing on live TV. Their words and ideas are coming out of the mouths of our neighbors.
Who thought we’d have to deal with this in our lifetimes?
For some while now, everything that you can think to do about the situation is going to seem hopelessly inadequate. But it’s important that you do it anyway. That’s how it is at the end of Book Two.
You’re a hobbit with all of Mordor in front of you, or an Ewok facing a galactic empire. The idea that you’re going to turn things around is laughable. And a lot of the stuff that people think to do will come to nothing, just like it seems. But some of it won’t, and if anybody can say for sure which is which, I haven’t met them yet.
So anyway, today I plan to type a bunch of words onto a screen. It’s what I can think to do. You think that seems hopelessly inadequate? Tell me about it.
[I do SO relate!]
Also from the Weekly Sift: The Trump Administration: What I’m watching for and Should I Have White Pride?
Donald Trump and the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, explained
Trump summons a monster he can’t control – “White supremacists are acting as if they’ve hit the swastika sweepstakes.” cf Why I Left White Nationalism
“Sore winner” syndrome: Why are Donald Trump’s supporters still so angry?
Through a Looking Glass, Darkly
Donald Trump: Anyone who burns American flag should be jailed or lose citizenship
Welcome to the Trump kleptocracy, plus kakistocracy
Potential Conflicts Around the Globe for Trump, the Businessman President
More Weekly Sift, especially the section on corruption
An ethical double standard for Trump — and the GOP?
Professor predicts impeachment
Mike Pence’s top seven most homophobic moments (out of many)
79-Year-Old Trump Supporter Arrested for Allegedly Vandalizing Children’s Mural
Confederate States of America currency?
Rapp On This: As a Matter of Fact, the Sky Is Falling
TV News and Its Long Dark Night of the Soul, though, finally, The Associated Press has defined ‘alt-right’
Atlético Nacional, the Colombian team, asks that its opponent, Chapecoense of Brazil, be awarded the Copa Sudamericana soccer tournament title, after the plane crash which killed nearly all of Chapecoense’s players and coaches
The Kind of Christian I Refuse To Be
Aboard an overloaded ship carrying more than 500 refugees, a young woman becomes an unlikely hero
That disruption at a performance of Hamilton
They may well be sincere in what they say but they may just be buttering you up
Florence Henderson passed away – I never saw a single episode of the Brady Bunch during its original run but caught it in syndication occasionally. She played Florence Henderson at least a couple of times in later shows, but my favorite role of hers was as the wife in Amish Paradise by Weird Al.
The GREAT character Fritz Weaver died at the age of 90. Some know him for a few appearances in the original Twilight Zone, but he had a massive body of work
I know I liked Harris on Barney Miller because I didn’t often see the black intellectual on TV – RIP, Ron Glass
American comedy vs. British comedy
Internet Wading – Looking and listening
An interesting blog on family photo copyrights
Why can’t you go out and buy cashews in the shell?
Two Point Conversion Chart (football)
Now I Know: The Spaceship Graveyard and A Def Vacation
“Hipster” nativity scene for the holidays
The Strange History of Microfilm, Which Will Be With Us for Centuries
Accidentally Closing Browser Window With 23 Tabs Open Presents Rare Chance At New Life
Music
Tchaikovsky’s “fantasy overture” Romeo and Juliet
100 Days, 100 Nights – Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Albany songs, plus Albany by Roger Whitaker, lyrics here
LOVER COME BACK TO ME – The Peanuts
The Leonard Cohen song that saved Roger Ebert’s life