Stop all the clocks

 It doesn't feel good when you read that 37 children have been killed in a daycare center and your response is "Thailand.  Not here at least."

By way of apology I can only suggest that the last few years have eroded my humanity.  The relentless downpour of bigotry, violence, stupidity and lies make it almost impossible to understand how our species holds its undeserved place at the top of the food chain.  Surely we should be dinner for more decent and humane creatures like dolphins.  Is it the prehensile thumbs?

Today's word is feiseanna.  The world of Irish dance has been roiled by accusations of cheating at international competitions, with claims being investigated by a former judge at the invitation of the Irish Dancing Commission.  (The Guardian doesn't say if this is a real judge or a dance competition judge.)  It is alleged that at least one competitor exchanged sexual favors for higher scores.  Participants invoke The Godfather and The Sopranos, attesting to the multicultural world we share.  It would be more shocking if we hadn't been softened up by revelations of cheating in poker, chess and walleye fishing.  I blame multi-million-dollar contracts for major league baseball players.   Not even Elon Musk could afford to fix the World Series today.

In the slapstick world of Pennsylvania politics, the Fetterman campaign has released this new sticker:

I wish my teeth were as white as that dog's.  It comes in response to an Oz tweet purporting to show him with his "therapy dog" (the one in yellow plaid):

to which Fetterman responded, "Has anyone seen this dog since May?"  It's going to be like having Al Franken back in the Senate next year.

Professor Maitland Jones, Jr., has been fired by New York University after 80 (out of 350) students signed a petition complaining that his class is too hard.  Jones, who is 84, is the author of a textbook on organic chemistry, a course required for pre-med students.  I'm sure it's demanding, but I also think it's not unreasonable to expect future doctors to know all about organic chemistry.  There's nothing wrong with weeding out the Ronny Jacksons as early as possible.

The Republicans should start charging for the Democratic campaign slogans they generate.  Last week it was "Fetterman:  He wants to kick authority in the balls."  This week they overheard Joe Biden, chatting with a hurricane survivor in Florida, say, "No one fucks with a Biden" and repeated it so often, with so much phony outrage, that it's practically the refrain of a song.  Of course, they had already given him the gift of "Dark Brandon" when the childish "Let's Go Brandon" got away from them.  Republicans should shut the fuck up, starting with Herschel Walker.

(Sigh.)  Yes, he's explaining things.  He had no choice when the woman told the Daily Beast, "He didn't accept responsibility for the kid we did have together, and now he isn't accepting responsibility for the one that we didn't have."  He accepts no responsibility and besides he's been forgiven, by Jesus if not by the woman.  Blood of the lamb, washed in, etc.  And it's just people lying to distract from crime/inflation/border, the three words they coached him to repeat.  Or as his acknowledged son Christian put it, "Wear a condom, damn."  A week from tomorrow the Warnock-Walker debate is scheduled to happen.  Might be best if Herschel just runs a few pass patterns while shouting "Crime!  Inflation!  Border!"

"THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO CONTROL WHAT YOU BELIEVE" shouted the chyron as Tucker Carlson went completely Howard Beale last night.  He is one thousand percent certain that the administration sabotaged the Nord Stream pipelines.  He needs this to be true.  He couldn't even convince Tulsi Gabbard, but she's probably part of the Deep State.  Remember when we thought Putin had kompromat on Trump?  Maybe not only Trump.

The anti-government protests continue in Iran following the death of Nika Shakarami.  The government stole the sixteen-year-old's body and buried it secretly, according to her family, while the "supreme leader" blames the US and Israel for the unrest.  I suppose Tucker agrees with the ayatollah, too.  In Cuba people are demonstrating over something more basic, the lack of electricity caused by Hurricane Ian.  And in Michigan Judge Elizabeth Kelly ruled that there are "no valid charges" against the seven state officials who rendered the water in Flint toxic.  People are angry and they should be.

Not this idiot, however.  A 65-year-old American damaged two Roman busts in the Vatican Museum because he apparently thought his ticket entitled him to see the pope.  Italian authorities charged him with aggravated property damage and released him.  I hope they don't regret it.

I thought the Swedish Academy would jump at the chance to honor Salman Rushdie because 1. He's a great writer, 2. He's had a hellish year, and 3. What better time to stick it to the ayatollahs?  (If he spent much time in an American hospital he probably needs the money.)  I forgot they like to be contrary and inscrutable.  Am I the only Anglophone reader who has never heard of Annie Ernaux?  I'll bet I'm not.  Anyway, congratulations to the French novelist.  Enjoy Stockholm in December.  

It's National Poetry Day in the UK.  So go read a poem.