With the government on the verge of yet another partial shutdown, funding for children’s healthcare funding running out, the number of uninsured Americans spiking, and a poorly-vetted tax bill hurtling toward implementation of unknown loopholes, The New York Times devoted its editorial page to letters from Trump supporters yesterday, demonstrating yet again its commitment to allowing everyone to have their own personal set of facts rather than focus on actual reality. They also did a feature piece on the folks in western Oregon who support armed takeovers of wildlife reserves, think that the government is out to get them, and cannot process the fact that their well-documented armed takeover of federal buildings ended in acquittal for no apparent reason.
(For contrast, recall the 1985 MOVE standoff, in which police burned a city block to the ground and shot anyone trying to escape the fire).
I don’t know why I keep reading the Times or giving them money. They’ve “both-sides-ed” themselves into a hole, and won’t stop digging.
I finally understand Bitcoin
update: she has explained bitcoins in a way I now understand. bitcoin is math beanie babies. thank u. — łopatologia (@mslopatto) January 17, 2018
Nothing to see here
Trump Organization owes Deutsche Bank a lot of money. Trump Administration grants them waivers after criminal activity.
Education Department headed by Betsy DeVos grants contract to debt collection company tied to Betsy DeVos.
To defend the president, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security just said under oath that she does not know if Norway is predominantly white. — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 16, 2018
The Department of Justice claims that 75% of terrorists are immigrants. They count as “immigrants” people who commit crimes overseas, are caught overseas, and are extradited to the US to stand trial. They also exclude white terrorists from the list of people counted as terrorists. The ADL issued a different report, noting that domestic terrorists are mostly white men.
PS: The word of the week is kakistocracy.
We’re all gonna die
Life goals: As chill as this dad in the face of a crisis. (Or as chill as Luke brushing his shoulders off).
This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a push notification. — Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) January 13, 2018
Also: Panopticon, Canadian edition, and Chinese edition.
Cultivating joy
Pigeons looking like they’re about to drop the hottest rap album of 2018.
Weather report gets a curious visitor.
I think this is some kind of longhaired beef in a field of flowers.
Seductive kangaroo.
Sadly, this extinct giant sloth is not known as the guacamoledon.
Secretly Ironic 