Yippee! It's the August Edition of Headlines

Lily James in the Pursuit of Love

Last Summer I started printing headlines from various news sources and writing comments about them that were either pithy, snarky, wise or brilliantly on point (or a combination thereof). The response was so overwhelming (thank you, Gwendolyn De Gaulle of Brookings, Oregon) that I have made this is a regular feature -- to enthusiastic acclaim. Here then is the latest edition of this critically-acclaimed monthly feature.

From the New York Times: 

Don’t Want a Vaccine? Be Prepared to Pay More for Insurance

Another way to stick it to those idiot anti-vaxxers. You'd think the risk of death would be inducement enough to get the vaccine...but no. Maybe hitting the pocket book will do the trick. 

Belarusian Sprinter Who Feared for Her Safety Is Offered Asylum in Poland

You've got a helluva country there, Belarus. Anytime people are fleeing your country to seek asylum you've gotta figure you're getting it wrong.

State Dept. Offers Potential Refugee Status to More Afghans Who Worked With U.S.

Talk about the least you can do. Translators and others who worked with the U.S. in Afghanistan are now targeted for death by the Taliban (and when you're targeting people for death you should realize you're doing it wrong). Let's be sure we keep them safe, after all we got them in this mess.

Review: ‘The Pursuit of Love’ Against All Odds

It stars Lily James and is directed by the actress Emily Mortimer. Looks good, but mostly it allows me to use a photo of Lily James above this post.

From CNN:

HBCUs are canceling students' debt, highlighting how integral they are to Black Americans' lives

I not only applaud this but give it a standing ovation. Next step: canceling student debt for everyone else. What kind of country allows/forces young people to amass tens of thousands of dollars in debt for the sake of their education. It's a ludicrous system that has only ever benefitted the rich and entitled. Gotta go.

Too much zucchini is never enough! How to use up summer squash in so many ways

Yes it is. I love fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and all manner of healthy foods, but zucchini is the easiest food to burn out on -- fast. You can't fool me on this one.

Lindsey Graham tests positive for Covid-19 and has had ‘flu-like symptoms’ despite being vaccinated

I wouldn't wish illness on anyone but if that has to happen to someone, why not Lindsey "Being Blackmailed" Graham?

From the BBC:

Neanderthal markings in Spain suggest cave art, study says

I've read recently how neanderthals weren't quite the...uh...neanderthals they've been made out to be. While not intellectually equal to early humans they could certainly outwit your present day Republican.

Matt Damon says he has never personally used gay slur

Good. End of story. Let's move on to real news.

Twitter works with news sites to tackle disinformation

The infamous words, better late than never come immediately to mind. Social media have been terrible about allowing people to spread all manner of prevarications, exaggerations and innuendo. It's done great damage to the country and needs to be curtailed. Free speech is not freedom to deceive.

From the Washington Post:

As many Republicans try to rewrite history of Capitol riot, Sen. Johnson suggests FBI knew more than it said

Lying liars and the lies they tell. This is among the more dangerous strain of lying that has emerged from a certain political party recently. They've lied about the elections, about Covid, about climate change and now about the true nature of the attack on the capital building last January 6. Now they're mixing nonsense about the FBI into their stories. Shameless.

Liberals erupt in fury at White House over end of eviction moratorium

As well they should. This will result in countless poor and vulnerable people being on the streets just in time for winter. I didn't expect such callousness out of the Biden administration. Hopefully this decision will be reversed.

Saudi crown prince seeks to cut influential clerics down to size

We're allies with this motherfucker? Saudi Arabia is one of the great human rights violators of the world and now their crown prince is looking to cut off any avenue of dissent. Unreal.

Tyson Foods will require all U.S. employees to be vaccinated by November

A tip of the cap to Tyson Foods!