Events

In case you needed proof that the world didn't suddenly become an Enlightenment paradise on January 20th, I give you: Georgia Republicans (and perhaps soon Florida Republicans) seem to have blundered badly with their new anti-voter law. Frank Bruni wants to retire the phrase "gun control." In a shocking development, police brutality at protests aimed at curbing police brutality have sparked yet more protests. Illinois auto dealers, a collectively useless lot of people who provide a parasitic service...

The Ever Given continues to plug up the Suez Canal, halting some $10 billion a day in global trade: Canal authorities said on Saturday that dredgers had managed to dig out the rear of the ship on Friday night, freeing its rudder, and that by Saturday afternoon they had dredged 18 meters down into the canal’s eastern bank, where the ship’s bow was stuck solid. But after a salvage team failed once more to dislodge the four-football-field-long leviathan from the sand bank where it ran aground on Tuesday...

Cassie, maintaining her dignity in public:

I'm David Braverman, this is my blog, and Cassie is my 2½-year-old mutt. I last updated this About... page in July 2020. A couple of things have changed since then, not least of which that Parker took his last walk late last autumn. The Daily Parker is about: Parker, my dog, whom I adopted on 1 September 2006 and who died 18 Novemgber 2020; and Cassie, whom I adopted on 16 March 2021. Politics. I'm a moderate-lefty by international standards, which makes me a radical left-winger in today's United...

Josh Marshall looks at the results of this week's election in Israel and concludes that only one thing has stopped the country yet again from forming a government: It’s all such a mess there’s a serious discussion of forming a short term government which would simply pass a law barring anyone currently under indictment, as Netanyahu is, from serving as Prime Minister. In other words, a government whose sole act would be to remove Netanyahu from the political scene before yet another election. This all...

Since Wednesday, a 400-meter container ship has blocked the Suez Canal in Egypt, disrupting international trade and costing the world economy millions per day: International efforts to dislodge the skyscraper-size cargo ship blocking Egypt's Suez Canal intensified but made little progress Thursday as the maritime traffic jam wreaked havoc on global trade. Egyptian authorities said navigation was still "temporarily suspended" after the container got stuck sideways across the canal because of a severe...

I've spent the last few weeks in my off-hours beavering away at a major software project, which I hope to launch this spring. Meanwhile, I continue to beaver at my paying job, with only one exciting deployment in the last six sprints, so things are good there. I also hope to talk more about that cool software before too long. Meanwhile, things I need to read keep stacking up: The BBC's Peter Mwai examines "the fake UN diplomat and other misleading stories" coming from the Ethiopian government. Jill...

Cassie went to the vet this morning for the wellness check required by (and paid for) by the shelter I adopted her from. The vet took a look at the incision site for her spay surgery, which Cassie has been licking frequently. You can see what's coming: She is not taking it well: She looks so sad, I can't stand it. But if her spay incision gets infected, she'll need a cone a lot longer than 10 days. Poor dog. I'll make sure she gets extra cuddle time tonight.

One of the two organizations backing the $75 million Uptown Theater rehabilitation project in my neighborhood has backed out: Farpoint Development is no longer involved in the efforts to revitalize the Uptown Theatre, the legendary movie palace and concert hall that has been shuttered since 1981. Jerry Mickelson, owner of the theater and founder of JAM Productions, and Ald. James Cappleman (46th) confirmed the news Monday. Mickelson and Farpoint Development’s plans envisioned restoring the venue to its...

It's difficult to resist this face: Difficult, but not impossible. She's also learning how to lie down and stay on command. I keep reminding myself that she's making rapid progress, but this will take some time. And yes, eagle-eyed readers: she has a FitBark on her collar.