Ha!

Hipster Hitler is the gift that keeps on giving.  Check out the latest cartoon here.

Robots Have Learned to Lie

Progress, indeed.  Tomorrow's headline: "Robots Have Learned to Run for Office."

"Beauty Is a Minefield"

Ain't that the truth.  Harper's has a thoughtful essay on the nature and history of beauty, prompted by (but not much lingering on) Umberto Eco's new book, History of Beauty.  The essay includes the first sound description I have come across of the distinction between the sublime and the beautiful - a distinction in which I have had a passive interest for some time:

Beauty, for instance, which is characterized by charm, harmony, simplicity, radiance, along with perfection of detail, derives from feelings of pleasure and has a relaxing effect on the "fibers" of the human body. By contrast, the sublime, which derives from feelings of pain, tightens these fibers. Beauty merely invites; the sublime commands.

This distinction comes from Edmund Burke, in his book known (in shorthand) as On the Sublime.  It might be right, it might be wrong - but it's a good starting point, anyway.

I had always thought On the Sublime would be a good place to start my inquiry, and I feel that more so now.  Perhaps I'll pick up a copy.  Or Eco's book, for that matter.

Luzhkov Out

In Russia, Medvedev has fired Moscow's mayor, Yuri Luzhkov.  (Yes, the president can do that sort of thing in Russia, thanks to Mr. Putin.)  Luzhkov is virulently anti-gay - but don't expect much improvement when his successor arrives on the scene.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota

Walter Mondale sees a bit of Carter in Obama.  Ouch.

Two Videos

Here's one on the failure of political leadership:

...and here's a bit of splenetics (with bad language):

Both with music!

HT: Savage.

Obama Heckled (on Video)

Not for the last time, I hope.