For newcomers, some items from the archives:
Black Women Climb Hill.
The defining triumph of our time.
We have, it seems, entered a world in which basic map reading and remembering to take a coat are deemed noteworthy achievements. Of course, it’s not just a matter of waterproofs and picking out suitable footwear. There are other complexities to be navigated: “Taking a selfie for social media… is an important way… to feel represented,” says Ms. Fatinikun.
Progressive Dining Protocol.
When the neurotic eat out.
So far as I can make out, the rules are as follows.
First, you should expect the restaurant’s serving staff to be conveniently categorised by their sexual inclinations or some other “ally” attribute, as if that weren’t presumptuous and intrusive – and, you know, weird. And should a pleasingly downtrodden identity be available – and said person dragged into your luminous presence – then you can bestow upon them your glorious and not-at-all-self-serving affirmation.
Naturally, you should make sure everyone sees. And hey, who wouldn’t want to be wheeled out as a prop, an accessory, for someone else’s attention-seeking project?
Radical Farce.
On Vanessa Engle’s three-part documentary series Lefties.
With a mix of archive footage and modern-day interviews, the leftism of the 70s and 80s is captured in all of its staggering glory. For those who haven’t seen the series, it is quite revealing – and often darkly funny. Among the gems to savour are the endless factional disputes over exactly how capitalism should be toppled, an earnest exposition on “penile imperialism,” and interviews with former self-styled radicals, now sitting by private swimming pools, fretting about fridge ownership, or planning to work on llama farms.
Other highlights include the tale of a bewilderingly inept attempt in 1987 to launch a radical left-wing tabloid, fuelled by the fever-dreams of Cambridge Marxists. The project was, unsurprisingly, a disaster, with its failure a direct result of ideological pretension. As illustrated by the scene in which, with the paper’s first edition about to go to press, most of the staff is out of the office on a deafness awareness day.
Deleted Scenes.
Laid-back driver meets wound-up cyclist. Strangeness ensues.
If you haven’t seen the exchange above, I do recommend watching it, if only as an instructional tale. Or a test of your own self-restraint. In the video, the cyclist, the aptly named Mr Peacock, goes out of his way to generate conflict, repeatedly, then descends into some paranoid fantasy, in which he is somehow both the hero and the victim. His fabulist construals of what is happening are quite remarkable. As I said at the time, someone should write a paper. Or beat him with a stick until the demon leaves.
For those craving more, this is a pretty good place to start.
Oh, and consider this an open thread. Share ye links and bicker.
One among many shit tests.
As if on cue, this outright lie from the NHS.
One can only assume that our National Health Service regards the actual feeding of the infant as a matter of no great consequence. At best, a secondary concern. In short, “Screw the hungry baby, what matters is affirming the dysmorphic man.”
Again, this is where we are now.
Previously and related.
The name ‘Isla Bumba’ sounds like something from a tale aimed at children – ‘Isla Bumba and the Forty Genders’ or something.
I would disagree. The left has always been intolerant of everyone else – the demand was for their viewpoint to be tolerated. Once sufficient influence was gained, they were able to enforce their intolerance.
Again via Ace…bird hands explains everything.
[ Rummages in bin, slides cardboard toilet-roll tube to Aelfheld. ]
But they framed their demands in terms of tolerance of all viewpoints, knowing that many naive people would be taken in.
I won’t disagree that they were always liars.
It was not an ideal time to only have one arm.
A little context here.
Not exactly how I pictured the actual Terminator would be.
“I only have one arm. I’m sorry.”
But isn’t this exactly what the French do?
“If there is a single most deplorable intellectual failing on the conservative side, it lies in reducing every question of law, constitution, culture and society to a question of economics.”–Sir Roger Scruton (original source unknown and unverified)
Harsh, but fair.
I’m concerned about David.
I had to look up what an appletini is.
As did I.
But your caring and selfless readers need to save you by drinking all your gin for you.
I really, really tried not to binge-watch Ballard. Was doing 1 episode per day. Got to episode 5, then finished the balance (10-episode full season) in 2 days.
And yes, I really want to see a Season 2. Writing, acting, plot arcs, directing … a very polished and effective show. Harry Bosch shows up a few times and that’s just the cherry on the sundae. Integrated seamlessly into the show.
Like any new show, the ensemble cast took a few episodes to gel, but you really get invested in the characters during the latter half of the season.
Well worth the watch.
[ Slurps rhubarb and ginger gin. ]
“Grab your foot?”
“No, her foot”
Oh…omg…I just…lol’d. Literally.
Yeah. Right. Sounds like something someone who doesn’t understand economics yet also doesn’t know that he doesn’t understand economics would say. Unless your entire understanding of economics is a function of monetary profits and losses. That I would agree is a huge intellectual failing by many/most conservatives. Which also might explain why so many “conservatives” have recently been exposed as not understanding who pays for tariffs (hint: no one really knows) and even fallen for the BS that tariffs cause inflation*.
*in other countries, yes. At home, no.
That chart…seems I saw an earlier one that was more…accurate? Seems to be missing a few items as well.
Cool. Need something to sidetrack us after season 5 of Bosch. I don’t think my marriage would survive a season 6.
Gotta ask…Maddy…she’s gone right?…right?
Yeah, No. Sounds like you don’t understand Roger Scruton: He expressed disappointment in Margaret Thatcher and others whose philosophical foundations were pretty much entirely economic–free markets as the only yardstick of value, profit/loss, maximizing trade, etc.–with little or no awareness of other conservative principles and values such as the preservation of the existing culture in all its forms. For instance, libertarianism sees nothing wrong with open borders and/or high immigration, but these pose existential threats to the UK’s indigenous culture. Likewise, a libertarian policy which allows developers to build anything anywhere can result in the replacement of beautiful livable human-scaled neighborhoods by high density housing, and the elimination of the green spaces that make England so beautiful.
Sounds horrid.
Someone’s been in the cooking sherry.