You Down With Friday Odds & Sods?

Hello, friends. As ever, I hope this week finds you well. I myself have been having pleasant week, enjoy the slow cooling of the weather that marks the end of summer and the approach of fall. These transitional times have always been my favorite part of the year, containing as they do all the pleasure of anticipation of opening a new life chapter in addition to the satisfaction of closing an old one. May autumn bring such satisfaction to you as well, dear readers, but let's first turn to this week's Odds & Sods.

• To start the round-up, an interesting article that uncovers a new perspective on the  Southern rationale for secession: Stopping the Red Menace! 
• Speaking of the Confederacy, this article explains the disturbing number of White Supremacists who are latching onto the Donald's presidential campaign.
• Finally, two stories that use the Ashley Madison hack to prove the truth of the old adage that on the internet, nobody knows you're a dog: No women actually used the site, and the women who were on it were company-made profiles.
• A little blues-y number for your late-summer-early-fall listening pleasure.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Saturday Odds & Sods wgah'nagl fhtagn

Hello once again, amici and amicae. I hope this penultimate full week of August finds you hale and hearty. I want to take this opportunity to extend belated birthday wishes to the Old Man of Providence, H.P. Lovecraft. Although certainly not without his flaws, both artistically and ethically, Lovecraft tapped into a vein of horror that will continue to resonate as long as we suppress a shudder when thinking about the yawning abyss of time and space revealed above our heads in the night sky. Let us turn our heads (not too quickly, lest the Great Old Ones see us) back to more terrestrial matters and take a look at this week's Odds & Sods,.

• To begin with, a horror story of a different sort, an account of the lynching of Leo Frank.
• Two interesting looks at the workings of modern writing: An interview with the New Yorker's book reviewer and finding out how Joan Didion became Joan Didion.
• Although I cannot personally vouch for their efficacy, if you happen to run into Cthulhu or Nyarlathotep when out for a stroll it might not to be a bad to idea to try some of these magic spells from Late Antiquity.
• Finally, some poetry from Mr. Lovecraft

Friday Odds & Sods is Hard at Work or Hardly Working

Humans are, on the whole, expert at dealing with set categories and states.  These situations play to our ancient strengths: Present someone with a definite binary scenario, say whether to flee a sabertooth tiger or not, and 99 times out of a hundred they will accurately and concisely distinguish between their two options and make a choice that will result in the cat going hungry.  On the other hand, force an individual to distinguish between 17 essentially identical varieties of catsup (not to mention ketchup) in the grocery story aisle, and even the most stout-hearted soul will be reduced to the muttering of vile epithets sotto voce. Hence bewilderment of modern life, a plethora of options but none of actual consequence. Let us, my friends, act with firm conviction and turn to this week's Odds & Sods!

• To begin with, two articles from the Horseman section of the archive: the shocking discovery of the Volos Centaur and the bleak humor of Bojack Horseman (about which my own thoughts anon).
• And if one needs a further dose of bleak absurdity after the above, check out the Wikipedia editing wars on George W. Bush.
• Finally, happy anniversary to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, 40 years young today! May you still be playing as a science-fiction double feature for many, many years to come.

Friday Odds & Sods Can't Even Anymore

My dear friends, there are times when one must wonder at the depths of perversity hidden in the human soul. Such was the case yesterday when, against my better judgement, I was a witness to the combination Lusitania/Hindenburg/Johnstown Flood that some have termed a Republican primary debate. Even back in the days of Aristophanes, democracies have had their buffoons as well as their heroes. The people deserve to be represented by someone like themselves, after all! Yet it is terrifying to think that of the 10 men on stage last night, nine of them seemed to be acting more like Survivor (or is that The Apprentice?) contestants than possible next presidents. I leave out of this condemnation The Hon. Sen Cruz, who is clearly serious about running for the office. That office is unfortunately Reichsfuhrer-SS. Dark days indeed, my friends! Let us take what comfort we can from this week's Odds & Sods.

• In more somber news from last night, Jon Stewart hung up the reigns on The Daily Show. It was certainly nice to see the many tributes from his correspondents and staff, and the Boss' send-off was appropriately moving. In honor of the occasion, a look back at the near-two decade span of his tenure. 
• Not to return too much to unpleasant topics, but this article has a very interesting look at the sort of people who think Donald Trump is exactly who this country needs as its next president. 
• Finally, if things get too tough out there, remember that NASA is discovering more and more options for relocation every day!