I’m a Real Boy!

This week I finally rejoined the full-time workforce, albeit on a 6-month temp contract. I did not miss the phenomenon of rush hour but everything else has been very nice. I get up each day and see the same bus driver on the 88 bus, and there’s work to be done and I’m helping organize a giant pile of information and learning all kinds of weird and novel stuff.

Still, there are unpleasant reminders everywhere of my inferior contingent status, beginning with an ID badge branded NON-EMPLOYEE, and continuing with a note that since Monday is a federal holiday, I am welcome to take the day off, but I won’t get paid. I now have a company email address as though I were an employee, which means that when HR sends out an all-hands note reminding employees that they have access to discounted event tickets and assorted fringe benefits, I get it. But when I click on the offer, I’m blocked from the section of the intranet that describes those benefits. Sorry, when I invited everyone to the party, I meant only the real people. Not you.

Our Current Political … Whatever
Quick roundup: Cardi B has the best political commentary on the shutdown (seriously, listen to what she has to say, especially if you’re too old to know, or think you don’t care, who Cardi B is) followed closely by the actual Yahoo! News! Headline! “TSA Workers, No Longer Giving A Fuck, Play Uncensored Rap Music In Airports.”

And just as a reminder of what the Republican party is, notorious holocaust denier Chuck Johnson was spotted in close company with two Republican representatives. He had apparently been visiting with them to talk about genetics. You know. Like you do.

Between AOC being ‘too young’ and Pelosi being ‘too old’ I’m getting the sense that for some people the only right age for a woman in politics is ‘male.’

— Tea Berry-Blue (@teaberryblue) January 16, 2019

And of course, plus ça change.

About the investigation of Individual 1, I have only this to say:

Which Mueller Indictment Are You? Take this Buzzfeed quiz to find out.

— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) January 18, 2019

In the UK, the Daily Show has a Great British Bake Off/Brexit Crumble joke that is almost too on the nose.

Cultivating Joy
I don’t have anything cute today, but on the plus side, scientists have genetically engineered spicy tomatoes. Add in some lime and cilantro genes and you have something that becomes salsa when you put it in a blender.

Plus, these very good photos are really neat.