Leftovers and Links #56

I want my Winnebago helicopter RV.

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An idiot in my email inbox challenged me to watch a video from Jordan Peterson. The video, I was told, would explain that climate change isn’t real or isn’t manmade, or isn’t something to worry about. All of which would certainly be good news, eh?

Having vaguely heard of Peterson but not knowing who the heck he is, I watched the video, which was (of course) filmed in front of an adoring crowd that applauded everything he said. Enthusiastically unimpressed, I Wikipediaed Peterson, and learned that he's a psychologist and a YouTube personality.

My reply, then, dear inbox idiot, is that the world is a complicated place where nobody can know everything, so to some extent we all need to trust the experts. On climate change, I'll trust people who’ve spent their lives studying and researching the topic, over some flippant shrink and YouTube personality.

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Libertarians are housecats. Meow, motherfuckers.

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I’m an admirer of the thinking and research of Michael Hobbes. Here he debunks the alleged ‘doxxing’ of J K Rowling, which barely and arguably happened, and he wonders why her much more blatant and intentional doxxing of activists got so little attention.

As for Rowling, what can I offer beyond a sad sigh? She’s a brilliant writer and an inspirational success story, and also a dumbshit. She has the same tendency toward enormous blind spots — and blind spots about her blind spots — as the rest of us.

If I was suddenly famous and successful, so people listened to whatever I said, I’m sure I’d still say dumbshit things, same as now. Maybe not about trans issues, but I'd say something equally dumbshit about something else. I hope I'd be a little less stubborn than Rowling about clinging to my dumbshittery, but to be human is to be a dumbshit.

Exceptions are rare, and don’t include anyone I’ve ever met.

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The New York Public Library has a wonderful Black Friday webpage.

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Let’s talk about the Louis Vuitton heists.

I haven't quite found the right words or the right article to explain how deeply untroubled I am by masked raiders targeting chain store monstrosities like Louis Vuitton. The linked article comes close, though — it has the right mood.

I do wish the raiders would be kinder to the employees, though.

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Apparently, I have a previously undiscovered kink for gorgeous dames with robots.

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Netherlands has joined Belgium, in offering to pay for abortions for women who can make it there from Poland.

Quote: The Dutch government will pay for women from Poland to obtain abortions in the Netherlands. Its decision follows the introduction of a near-total ban on abortion in Poland and was prompted in particular by the recent death of a pregnant woman in hospital, which many have blamed on the abortion law.

Hot coals up the rectum, please, for anyone who’d use the power of government to prevent and punish abortion — an easy, elegant solution to the life-ruining problems of pregnancy.

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An old memory comes to mind, of packing up an ailing typewriter and bringing it to the typewriter repair shop, and then coming back a few days later, picking it up again, fixed and ready to write, for maybe five or ten bucks.

Haven’t seen a typewriter repair shop since years before the last time I saw a typewriter.

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Chickenshit, but commonplace:

Disney bows to China leadership, omits Simpsons Tiananmen Square episode from streaming in Hong Kong.

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And in further news of the utterly expected, CNN host Chris Cuomo used his media sources to find out info on brother Andrew’s accusers.

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I am opposed to evil, cruelty, and apathy. The first two I’ve always opposed, but I’ve been apathetic about it, hence this is a change to my personal policy. Please keep a copy of this notice for your records.

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Mystery links — Like life itself, there’s no knowing where you’re going:

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Sing along with Doug:
Hello In There, by John Prine
Sincere tip 'o the hat:
BoingBoing • Captain Hampockets
Follow Me Here • Hyperallergic
John the Basket • LiarTownUSA
Messy Nessy Chick • National Zero
Ran Prieur • Shawna Smith
Vintage Everyday • Voenix Rising
Extra special thanks:
Clayton Barnes • Becky Jo
Name Withheld • Dave S.
11/30/2021
Leftovers & Links