We have snow outside. Not much, but a dusting. I warned the Wonder Dog that she may not see much more of that. This confused her, but when she heard that Swiss was going to visit her soon to say goodbye, all she could think was, “PIZZA!!!!” To be fair, I’ll miss the snow and the cold as much as she does. And Swiss, maybe more.

I will not miss birthdays, however. And today’s include the inventor of vulcanization, Charles Goodyear; air force pioneer, rebel, and namesake of my favorite airport to fly out of from here, Billy Mitchell; actual Russian collaborator Klaus Fuchs; nutbag but influential pseudo-historian Cheikh Anta Diop; TV icon Mary Tyler Moore; former owner of George Costanza’s car, Jon Voight; funny drunk Paula Poundstone; and Savior of Chicago Theo Epstein.


Nor will I miss links (hmmm, that suggests a theme…). And here they are.

 

In case you think the ELECTION WAS STOLEN! thing was Team Blue only, I’m here to remind you that it’s a general Team fashion these days.

 

Speaking of which, I wonder if the citizens of this district would be justified in withholding any tax remittances to the federal government until their representation is restored.

 

I don’t hear it, but maybe this week’s flavor of stupid Internet craze will amuse you.

 

Maps are sexist, mmmkay?

 

Here’s the thing about Chicago: everything is tied up in graft. Big things, small things, EVERYTHING.   Oh, and our yoots will steal anything.

 

Another casualty of Trump’s war on journalism. At least that’s my predicted spin.

 

More synthetic outrage over a likely accurate observation. Chicago is a food town, but its Chinatown is a sad joke, and it’s impossible to get first-rate regional Chinese food here. You’re not going to convince me that St. Louis or Tulsa or Cleveland will be any better.

 

Things in parts of the Middle East are just getting better and better. At least the parts we’re not bombing.

 

Where’s Heroic Mulatto when we need him?

 

What is it about restaurant workers and receipts? At least this one doesn’t LOOK like a clear hoax.

 

If you’re a Philadelphia cop, getting a beej in your car while you’re on duty won’t raise eyebrows. But if you say the wrong word… well… it’s more outrageous than shooting dogs.

 

I blame climate change. Because reasons.

 

I will indulge in my Quote of the Day from my very favorite poet.

No matter how nearly perfect an Almost Perfect State may be, it is not nearly enough perfect unless the individuals who compose it can, somewhere between death and birth, have a perfectly corking time for a few years. The most wonderful governmental system in the world does not attract us, as a system; we are after a system that scarcely knows it is a system; the great thing is to have the largest number of individuals as happy as may be, for a little while at least, some time before they die.

 


Old Guy Music! And all I can say is that Matt Lorenz is a genius.