A tumble down the rabbit hole reminded me of something I don’t do any more — write political satire. I swore off the satiric stuff for reasons written up here. I marvel that anybody can write political satire these days, since every time you turn around, government does something weirder than any satirist could dream up. No surprise people are always mistaking Onion articles for real news. But it’s a great surprise to me that Onion writers don’t scream in despair and run off and get jobs as White House press lackeys. Same talents, probably higher pay. Regardless, at the…
Category: Humor
When an American artist came under unjust scrutiny from the feds, he conceived a modern variation of the old “over-compliance” trick originated by 1960s draft protestors. (Video of him giving a talk about it.) (Tip o’ hat to MJR) This is such a cool, clever, innovative idea. Wonder how long before the feds hit it with a drone strike? (H/T C^2) Sharp-eyed Kent spotted this review of Safety Not Guaranteed, the movie inspired by the classified ad written by our own John Silveira. The film was a smash at Sundance, is just coming into theaters, and currently stands at an…
Back from a good — but busy and tiring — weekend. As Dave says, the Mother Earth News Fair was even bigger and better than last year. My friend and I were there only a few hours in a very full weekend. Some links and a couple of funnies for you: Part one of a four-parter on how DC cops SWATTED a vet because they thought he might have some unregistered guns. (Several people sent me this one, thank you.) The FBI and ATF bust yet another harmless but idiotically careless victim. Check out the middle name on that young…
Ah, such sweet, sweet justice. (Tip o’ hat to Karen.) London Olympics. Tax dollars at work. Double dosage of cuteness: “50 Toddlers Who Are Best Friends with Their Dogs.” (Actually, in a couple of cases, I doubt that would be the dog’s opinion. But gosh darn, they’re still so cuuuuuuuute.) The electronic medical records being pushed so hard by the Obama administration (and previous) distance doctors from their patients — and their patients’ real condition. Drone attacks from victims’ point of view. TSA removes 18-month-old terrorist from plane. Finally (via Radley Balko), we have an explanation for why so many…
Tech blogger announces he’s leaving the ‘Net for a year. Oh, the freedom. Oh, the boredom! (Tip o’ hat to PT) “Eating well without the flavor of shame.” Not primal per se (who cares about the labels?), but influential people are increasingly walking away from the fedgov’s disastrous notions of “healthy” eating. No longer just something from one of your weirder dreams: xkcd meets Gilbert & Sullivan. An in-depth look back on a Joe Arpaio arson and puppycide. In somewhat lighter dog news: a scientist has figured out a way to read dogs’ minds. Well, read their brain activity, anyhow.…
Entering the home stretch on deadlines and having lunch at my place for friends today. Getting more sane by the minute … but will it last? Is there anybody left that Obama, the Pentagon, and the CIA don’t claim the right to kill at random? Oliver nails it: never trust the cloud. “How social media are both enabling and undermining trust is a really important thing for us to understand.” (H/T jed.) Concealed Carry Clothiers. For a non-tactical (e.g. non-obvious) look in vests and belts. (From NTIsurvivor in recent comments.) House passes CISPA. On to the Senate. Special jail wings…
Okay (she says rubbing hands and getting down to work). I may not be capable of brilliance at the moment. But hyperlinks? Those I can manage. xkcd on Skynet. Between the feds and utility companies who you gonna believe on the dangers of solar storms? Mac the Knife reminds me that my Neighbor from Hell could be a whole lot worse. Seriously? We need another spy agency??? Interesting: Ron Paul and the Lucifer Effect. (Tip o’ hat to PT.) So … how much ground do you intend to stand? And for the guys in the audience (with H/T to JS),…
Of course! This is exactly what the U.S. needs: a federal government that can do more. Now why didn’t we think of that? How exactly does a “civil servant” steal $30 million from a town of 12,000? Ten completely ridiculous (and not necessarily SFW) road signs. (Tip o’ hat to C^2.) SOPA is dead. Long live CISPA! Or maybe we should say SOPA is dead; will somebody fer cryin’ out loud put a stake in its heart and bury it at the crossroads??? Does that take-away-your-passport-if-you-haven’t-paid-your-taxes law that’s making its way through Congress also give the IRS the authority to…
Stuff I’ve been collecting for you while having the living room flooring done, ripping siding off the house, and extracting rusted bicycles from the foliage.* Oh, and deadlining, too. “Neighbors confront alcoholic child abuser about his lawn.” (Don’t worry, it’s only The Onion this time.) Not that you actually needed proof that government is filled with idiots … An ISP that puts privacy first? Did you know there was a U.S. holiday called Loyalty Day? I didn’t. But it’s coming right up. Clearly we need to celebrate! “Born this way.” This article would be fascinating if it admitted the existence…
Internet’s been down all day. Just came back up. I’m behind. So … courtesy of MJR (whose timing absolutely could not have been better), here are “13 Simple Steps to Get You Through a Rough Day.” Enjoy! And hope you get as many laughs as I did.