Today's batch

I've had a lot of things going on at work the past couple of weeks, and not many free evenings, leading to these link round-up posts that add nothing to the conversation.

But there should be a conversation, and here are some topics:

• President Trump and Jeff Sessions have shifted US immigration enforcement policy such that cruel, unfair, and harmful treatment of immigrants is no longer an unintended consequence—it's now the point.
• Let's not forget that Dinesh D'Souza, who Trump just pardoned, didn't just mess up some campaign finance paperwork. No, this guy funneled tens of thousands through his mistress and his assistant. Trump's pardon seems to be all about rewarding his racist trolling.
• Sears will close another 100 stores in the next couple of months, continuing Eddie Lampert's slow strangulation of the company.
• Roseanne Barr's sacking from ABC could be a learning moment for the right, but it probably won't be.
• Meanwhile, bluish-purple Illinois yesterday became the 36th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, first proposed in 1977. If one more state ratifies it, then it could become law—though there is enough ambiguity in Article V of the U.S. Constitution to stop us counting chickens just yet.

Finally, on Monday Parker will have his final check-out by his surgeon, which should clear him to go back to day camp on Tuesday. The poor fuzzy dude has spent way too much time home alone since his injury. I'm looking forward to him getting back into his pack.