- Digby writes about a disturbing video that was ahead of its time.
- Flablog writes about two surprisingly smart appointments announced by Florida Governor-Elect Charlie Crist. I agree they’re good, especially Bob Butterworth for the cesspool at the Dept. of Children and Families. But I’m slightly more cynical than Flablog here: part of DCF’s problem is criminal mis-management by far-right wingers. But another part of it is that DCF has been starved for resources. Putting a heavyweight honest Democrat in charge may fix the first problem (if he’s given a free hand with personnel), but that appointment alone will not fix the second. And meanwhile, the appointment conveniently hangs the albatross one of Florida’s biggest problems around the Democratic party — or at least away from the GOP. Smart politics, absolutely. Potential for good outcomes — amazingly so. But far from in the bag.
- As Lifehacker notes, This one rates a high on the geek scale, but it’s still sort of interesting to learn what you get if you have an eight-page-long URI: A graphic! Got to wonder how sp*mmers will use that one…
- Read my brother’s column, The Carpetbagger Report, TalkLeft…if you don’t already.
Recent Bluessky Posts- Small tidbit in the story about Galliano fiasco at the Met: Met has a titular board of about *100* members, most of whom are treated under the mushroom principle--not consulted about much and not even invited to the Met Gala! I guess their main job is to write checks. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/02/s... September 3, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- Jotwell Crim: Alma Magaña, Counseling at the Edge of Decisional Autonomy, JOTWELL (September 3, 2026) (reviewing Marisol Orihuela, The Lawyer's Quandary: Client-Centered Lawyering in the Treatment Paradigm, 102 N.C. L. Rev. 1655 (2024)), crim.jotwell.com/counseling-a.... September 3, 2026 Jotwell
- A powerful message by three distinguished former Coast Guard officers with several decades of experience. On the one year anniversary of U.S. boat strikes. America’s War on Drug Smugglers at Sea Is Unlawful—and It Is Failing Must Read www.justsecurity.org/155570/ameri... September 3, 2026 Ryan Goodman
- Is this why they need the shock gloves? To zap the interfering election judges and poll watchers? September 3, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- After all, your implicit premise is Congress used to work somewhat better and modulo Unitary Exec & Chadha, it's still more or less the same Constitution. September 3, 2026 Michael Froomkin
Here are a couple of things about the linked video, though. First, the singer refers to America using female pronouns. I’ve never understood why countries get gendered, and in this context, given that it was largely men who began the Iraq war, if America needs representational gonads, I’m thinking a big dick might be most suitable. Seriously, I know it sounds like a small point but language has power. Second, I wonder if the familes of the soldiers depcted in the video, who I assume are soldiers who were killed, were alerted or asked for permission with resect to the use of the photos. I know this probably isn’t legally necessary but I think it is ethically required.
I think your brother’s right on substance but “increasingly few”? CLANK!