It's My Monthly Look at Headlines

Olivio Rodrigo, sharing royalties.

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, Claude LePew of Stowe, Vermont) that I have made this is a regular feature -- to enthusiastic acclaim. Here then is the September 2021 edition of this critically-acclaimed monthly feature.

From the New York Times:

Supreme Court, Breaking Silence, Won’t Block Texas Abortion Law

Dark times ahead. Expect this to be the start of a trend that spreads throughout the south. It's one of those stories that is too depressing to think about so better to take action. We simply can't go back to those bad old days that so many conservatives long for.

After Quick Victory, Taliban Find Governing Is Harder

Yes, it is easier to kill and terrorize than it is to govern. Go figure.

What if the Coronavirus Crisis Is Just a Trial Run?

Oh stop that! Haven't we got enough to worry about with the current crisis and every other damn thing going on today without this. Geez, give us a break.

From CNN:

Texans can now openly carry guns in public without a permit or training. Police say the new law makes it harder to do their jobs

Insanity. I swear it feels we're moving backward as a society and there's no better example than the idiots who insist on parading around with their guns showing. Many of these are doubtless the same people who yell about how "blue lives matter" yet they don't give a fig about police concerns. I'm staying the fuck out of Texas.

A Texas school district closed all its schools after two teachers died from Covid-19

Teaching used to be such a safe profession, other than constantly getting colds. Now in some places, teachers are risking their lives merely by showing up for work. 

This Texas high school principal was put on administrative leave after being accused of promoting critical race theory

Here's our third straight story from Texas. What a state! And people complain about Florida. The principal in question is African-American and he had the audacity to hold the view that racial prejudice has influenced American history and Black people in particular. Wow.

From the BBC:

Top Gun and Mission: Impossible films delayed due to US Covid spike

So you're saying Covid-19 isn't all bad.

Beaten and humiliated by Hindu mobs for being a Muslim in India

My god, there are bigoted assholes everywhere. Apparently such attacks are "routine" in India. In this one, the victim's young daughter was with him, pleading for the mob to stop beating her  father. What the fuck kind of world are we living in?

Perseverance: Nasa's Mars rover makes second drill sample bid

Meanwhile while many humans are behaving terribly toward one another we have actual good news as scientists continue to do their thing and we learn more from the Red Planet. Keep up the good work, folks. You give us hope for humanity.

From The Washington Post:

Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond cleared to come down by Virginia Supreme Court

Good. We don't need any memorials to slaveholders who led an insurrection against the United States government.

Vaccine skeptic and podcast host Joe Rogan has covid-19, says he is taking unproven deworming medicine

Another vaccine skeptic gets the virus. Maybe there really is such a thing as karma.

Religious exemptions from coronavirus vaccines are expected to become a legal battleground

Perfect. Now people who are too stupid to get the vaccine are going to claim religious grounds for their refusal to do the right thing. Many of these people will ultimately get the virus, some will die and worst of all they'll spread it to others. Ignorant bastards.

From Billboard:

Split Decisions: Olivia Rodrigo Has Given Up Millions in Publishing Royalties

She seems like such a nice person. Sharing credit for songs of hers that were influenced by others. The lack of greed is so wonderfully un-capitalistic.