As I'm packing everything up, getting rid of most of my possessions, and most of my late wife's possessions, here's Stephanie's vibrator.

I've given away her favorite books, so someone else can read them. Her favorite clothes and boots went to Goodwill, so someone else can wear them. I've tossed her childhood report cards, because much as I loved that woman, I don't much care that she aced 4th-grade Social Studies and had excellent posture.

She loved this damned toy, though. I'm not sure anything else she owned gave her so much pleasure.

It's not something I'd ever use without her, but I can't simply toss it. Can I give it to Goodwill? Would they even accept it?

For several minutes at a time, several times over several days, I've looked at her Hitachi Magic Wand, and wondered which pile to sort it into.

It made her happy, and Steph happy is a happy memory for me, so it's decided. It fits into a milk crate, and it's coming to Seattle.

♦ ♦ ♦

And now, news and amusements, from my internet history for yesterday…

♦ ♦ ♦

Texas Supreme Court shuts down final challenge to abortion law

Don't talk to me about "what if" Roe v Wade is overturned. It's already been overturned.

♦ ♦ ♦

Raised crosswalks are coming to New York streets

… but very, very slowly.

I love the idea of raised crosswalks. Every city should add raised crosswalks at every intersection. Done right, the slope is gentle, so they're not quite like speed bumps; more just a recurring reminder at every intersection that the crosswalk is not an interruption of cars' right-of-way, but instead that cars are an interruption of people's footsteps and humans' right-of-way.

Of course, even suggesting such a change is whistling in the dark while a mugger approaches from the shadows. Realistically, before a significant percentage of New York City's crosswalks are raised, all of New York City will be underwater.

♦ ♦ ♦

Premier League disqualifies Putin pal from Chelsea FC ownership

I know as much about soccer as I know about physics, but it's a major sport in Europe, so this is a big deal. It's like telling Jerry Jones he no longer owns the Dallas Cowboys, that the team will be sold but Jones will get none of the money.

Which, now that I think of it, sounds excellent.

♦ ♦ ♦

• Putin's pre-war moves against U.S. tech giants laid groundwork for crackdown on free expression

Russian agents came to the home of Google’s top executive in Moscow to deliver a frightening ultimatum last September: take down an app that had drawn the ire of Russian President Vladimir Putin within 24 hours or be taken to prison.
Google quickly moved the woman to a hotel where she checked in under an assumed name and might be protected by the presence of other guests and hotel security, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The same agents — believed by company officials to be from Russia’s FSB, a successor to the KGB intelligence service — then showed up at her room to tell her the clock was still ticking.

So Google took the anti-Putin app down, said nothing, and continued raking in the rubles.

• These companies are still doing business in Russia

• Russia, China and Tucker Carlson are among those spreading a false — and dangerous — story about biological weapons

♦ ♦ ♦

New York Times shuts down Wordle archive

The Times is going to kill Wordle accidentally, by pissing off the fans.

♦ ♦ ♦

In an about-face, liberal US cities target homeless camps

Donald H. Whitehead Jr., executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said at least 65 U.S. cities are criminalizing or sweeping encampments. "Everywhere that there is a high population of homeless people, we started to see this as their response."

♦ ♦ ♦

• COVID is not over yet

• China battles worst COVID outbreak for two years as cases double in 24 hours

♦ ♦ ♦

Angela Davis on the power of protest:

"We can’t do anything without optimism"

♦ ♦ ♦

"It’s a scare tactic":

Pamela Moses, the Black woman jailed over voting error, speaks out

♦ ♦ ♦

Judge temporarily blocks Texas investigations into families of trans kids

♦ ♦ ♦

Mississippi educator fired for reading kids a silly book

♦ ♦ ♦

Despite the pandemic, despite losing $4.2 billion, and despite the 737-MAX debacle, Boeing paid its CEO $23-million last year

♦ ♦ ♦

Disney accused of removing gay content from Pixar films

♦ ♦ ♦

OAN sues DirecTV, alleging some kind of Dominion conspiracy

♦ ♦ ♦

"Insidious and seductive":

Uber funds new lobbying group to deny rights for gig workers

♦ ♦ ♦

Leaded gasoline and leaded paint in last century shrunk IQ scores of half of Americans

♦ ♦ ♦

"What is a Yute?":

An oral history of My Cousin Vinny

♦ ♦ ♦

Best name ever for a generic apartment complex:

The Dude Abodes.

♦ ♦ ♦

One-word newscast, because it's the same news every time...

• climate

• cops

• cops

• cops

• cops

• Fox News

• Republicans

♦ ♦ ♦

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

—①—

—②—

—③—

♦ ♦ ♦

♫♬ Sing along with Doug ♫

"Time" — The Alan Parsons Project

♦ ♦ ♦

The End

• Dennis Cunningham

• uuɐɯuǝʇuƎ .Ǝ sǝʅɹɐɥϽ

• Mitchell Ryan

• Ken Waldrep

3/13/2022
Tip 'o the hat to All Hat No Cattle, Linden Arden, ye olde AVA, BoingBoing, Breakfast at Ralf's, Captain Hampockets, CaptCreate's Log, John the Basket, LiarTownUSA, Meme City, National Zero, Ran Prieur, Voenix Rising, and anyone else whose work I've stolen without saying thanks.
Extra special thanks to Becky Jo, Name Withheld, Dave S., and always Stephanie...
Cranky Old Man