Welcome back to another fall issue of Laura's Links!
It's a lovely October day in the Deranged Dominion. Even though it's bright and sunny, I'm hearing good old Emily Brontë in my head, to wit:
Fall leaves fall
Die flowers away
Lengthen night and shorten day.
Weird, right? But I'd certainly rather hear fall poetry in my head than have my head fall off, and then be eulogized in Trumpian poetry for posterity.
I refer of course, to the "austere, religious leader at helm of Islamic state," who died 'like a dog", and about whom Mark commented earlier this week.
Rot in helm, Baghdadi!
Speaking of Mark, in addition to laying seeds for next year's content crops in central Macedonia (so lovely this time of year) while whistling golden oldie gadulka songs, His Most Mostess Most Eminent Sartorial Steynship did a bang up job guest hosting Tucker Carlson Tonight this past Friday night. Watch the clips before Hillary Clinton gets them sent way, way deep into the Dark and Eeeeeevil Sooper Doooper Hatey Scary Web where her e-mails are apparently stored as well.
Now, as per the official bylaws of the Amalgamated Union of SteynOnline In-House Jewish Mothers Local Number One Coz Obviously I'm Number Uno, I have once again been scouring the internet for the stories that will make you think, laugh, and groan. Some may even make you want to take refuge from the insanity in a fully loaded MAGA-themed SCIF, somewhere deep in flyover country, replete with freeze-dried, homophobic Chick-fil-A sandwiches, but if you stick with me till the end, you'll probably crack a smile or even wipe away a happy tear or two so let's get to it!
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North America:
Good stuff from the great Rush Limbaugh: leftist angst at Trump and Parscale winning the online war.
This is pretty wild: "far right", "anti-Islam" candidate (i.e Jewish independent journalist) Laura Loomer out-raises her rival, incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel. Take a look at how many Big Tech, Big Social Media companies are trying to not just ban but erase Ms. Loomer entirely and you will probably get a satisfying chuckle out of this story as you well should.
Woke Canadians totally struggling with The New Rules for Halloween. Spoiler alert – it is totally OK and dignified for our prime minister to dress up in black face, black legs and a blackened Day-O banana if you get my drift, but it is not OK to dress up as Prime Minstrel Hairdo in blackface.
Question: What the hell is in the water in North Carolina? Throw another few children on that burning pyre of multiculturalism and open borders, nothing to see here...
Charlotte Gainsbourg (yes daughter of Serge and Jane Birkin) laments how boring everything is now that it's so politically correct.
Victor David Hanson with an excellent essay about how America now values credentials over merit, tracing how this vapid phenomenon started.
A must read from the great Caroline Glick on Trump, Israel and the Democratic Party crack up. She makes a lot of excellent observations, but the most important one in my view is defining the Trump election as the moment when the Democratic party went from (reluctantly) being "in opposition" to being the "resistance". This is a brilliant point and one that is informing the future of the party and the American political divide.
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The Formerly Great Britain:
Anti-Semitic thugs of no particular known race, religion or motivation use sledgehammers to smash Jewish gravestones. Imagine being so animated by Jew-hatred that you will not even let the dead sleep. Now who on earth could do such a thing? A real mystery.
The past of English Jewry is its future. It's a graveyard.
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Europe:
Charming diversity report from Sweden. Spoiler alert: It's always about the ethnic food. If you ask any average liberal why diversity is good, you will inevitably hear about the wonderful curry and kebab that you can now eat! So lovely, so yummy! Diversity! Such a small price to pay for such lovely ethnic food and exciting cultural diversity. So a few kids get raped, and bombs go off every day-at least we can get spicy food that we must pronounce in an authentic accent and that's the main thing.
Some Germans not too excited about Merkel's CDU.
France: Within 5 years, the situation could be irreversible. By "situation" they mean France turning into a Third World Islamic sh&thole. I think it's already irreversible. Also, duh.
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Israel and Jews:
The incredible story of the IDF's Iraqi Arabic instructor (really cool).
Another great Glick essay: Netanyahu, the media and the fate of Israeli democracy.
Palestinian man beaten to a pulp by the Palestinian Authority after converting to Judaism.
Israel and the Gulf States are "going public" with their relationship.
Stupid Jews gotta keep stupiding.
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Celebrate Diversity:
Ireland, home of leprechauns, clovers, Guiness and Female Genital Mutilation.
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Trans, Kook Left and the Wokestapo:
For your depilatory pleasure, files from the #WaxMyBalls human rights hearing.
Covered by Mark, but in case you missed it, let's have a round of jazz hands for Oxford.
Good summary here about what the Wokestapo really wants.
Har! "Liberals think this is a winning talking point."
Nothing to see here: Drag Queen flashes his crotch to children during library story time.
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Human Grace:
Little dude! Pint sized basketball fan has more balls than entire NBA management.
Mensch! CEO writes 7400 birthday cards each year.
Tissue alert! Six year old bursts into tears thanking his beloved football coach.
Rest in peace: local Idaho soldier finally laid to rest back home.
So nice. New Jersey program offers job opportunities within law enforcement community to young adults with special needs. Look at the faces of the officers who are their mentors-there's a whole lot of love and admiration in those faces. Just glorious.
Now off you go to comment!
As the lady says, do comment away below on these or any of the other stories, taking advantage of Laura's Links bearing our weekly suspension of the "no going off topic" rule. Commenting privileges are reserved for Club members so feel free to get in on the action by taking out a membership at this page. If you enjoy the revelry with fellow Steyn fans, consider joining the upcoming third annual Mark Steyn Cruise, setting sail next October along the Mediterranean, featuring special guests Michele Bachmann, Douglas Murray, Conrad Black and John O'Sullivan.
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33 Member Comments
Great Links Laura,
I start most days with a cup of coffee, Steynonline, Victor Davis Hanson and Andrew McCarthy.
Laura, you missed a USA news story that needs to be told. Terry Bean of Portland Oregon, the founder and a board member of the well funded LGBTQ "Human Rights Campaign", which is prominent in Pete Buttiegeg's massive campaign portfolio, has been arrested on multiple abuse charges. He and his 45 year-younger boyfriend are accused, among other things, of luring and raping a 15-year-old boy. Rather like the Rotherham, UK grooming scandal, but in Oregon (justly infamous for Portland's sex traffic in young people).
For background, look up "Human Rights Campaign to host Buttigieg at Las Vegas gala" on the Las Vegas Sun, or "Epstein, Bean & Buck" on RealClearPolitics.
But, don't bother using Google to find information linking Buttiegeg and the "Human Rights Campaign". It has, oddly (?), been scrubbed clean.
It's very appropriate that the female genital mutilation and "transwoman genital waxing" links are in succession:
Canada allocates vast resources to assessing the "human right" to the latter, while Ireland turns a blind eye to the former. #CelebrateDiversity-OrElse
Looking forward to the Links!
Good observation, Kate in keeping with the toddler-level developmental stage and interests of the left.
I kind of chuckled when you said 'looking forward' to the links because there are some ghastly ones in here this time. Just remember, nothing is my fault. It's all Mark Steyn's fault.
And yet he was so nice about you in the Q&A!
Laura, the headline "Young Liberals Want to Shut Down All Debate" is maxing out the oxymoron meter. We can tiptoe around the problem by saying "Liberals" (in quote marks), but Wokestapo is good because it reflects its predecessor Fascist thought police heritage. But Liberal can't be the word of choice anymore. Respecting PM Dress-up, it seems he has opened the door of Halloween creativity for everyone. If he can paint everything for his costumes, why can't the "rubes" do the same and say they are the PM himself? By now there are plenty of ethnic costumes and skin colors to choose from.
David, it's because rules are for little people and also, as Kathy Shaidle quipped "liberals-it's different when we do it". I usually only use a capital "L" when I refer to the Liberal Party of Canada, or when talking about actual liberal values. But there's very few classical liberals around nowadays, most have moved or have been willingly dragged to the woke left.
huh -- an entire article about FGM that fails to mention the primary religious affiliation of its proponents. Although once someone tried to "educate" me that it's a 'cultural" thing, unrelated to any particular religion. Guess I'm not very culturally broad-minded, because I can't understand how a mother could even hesitate to say "No way, Walaasha" to taking her daughter anywhere there is a risk of being terrorized and mutilated. Oh, wait, that appears to be pretty much anywhere these days -- Ireland, Michigan, Minnesota......
Hi Kim, yes, I've heard the "cultural" spiel before. Not a particularly convincing narrative. Pathetic actually.
"Pathetic Actually" Now there's a good title for a documentary film about this subject.
I'm going in blackface and a Trump wig. Progs won't know whether to rage or cheer?
Thanks for the Halloween ideas, by the way, Laura. I had decided to go as Climate Pippi, greeting homeowners with a grim visage and saying "How dare you", but now think that might be too scary. Jolson Trudeau? I'd risk it if I didn't have to apply the Kiwi polish everywhere--and I do mean everywhere. Ichabod Al-Baghdadi is timely, but I'm not certain how to go out as just a head. Maybe a dog costume, and I just play dead when they open the door. No, I think it's down to a choice between the junk-flashing drag queen and Hillary Clinton. It's pretty much the same costume.
"Jolson Trudeau"--dammit, why didn't I think of that?
I think Mark did, Kathy. It's not my coinage.
I think I came upon Caroline Glick and Mark Steyn at the same time--shortly after 9/11. As a recovering liberal transitioning to conservative, I was so grateful for their wisdom, insight, and counsel; Glick twice a week in the Jerusalem Post, Steyn in the National Review, National Post, Macleans, Orange County Register, etc., etc.--not to mention his Thursdays with Hugh (Hewitt). I'd add James Taranto's wry commentary in Best of the Web Today as worthy company. And then, of course, there was the day, I overcame my liberal prejudice (tautology alert) and figured out where in Boston I could listen to excellence in broadcasting (it wasn't NPR).
Eerily similar to my own post-9/11 curriculum.
And, of course, via Mark, Relapsed Catholic, later dba Five Feet of Fury. (When you put out a call for suggested names, I believe I suggested "I'm Walking Here!" From Midnight Cowboy, as any fool knows.)
Josh, I found Kathy and her Relapsed Catholic blog via Mark many, many moons ago. Now she's stuck with me!
Hi Laura
You were spot on about Marks fab hosting of Tucker show , was that great stuff or what !
All your other hits , ok haven't seen them all - were the buzzfeed - so appreciative of Vdh again , just gives us the real meat of the discussion with precision and clarity, Caroline G with her wonderful analysis, and of course your weird Mother Jewish wonderful commentary which we try to interpret, but's that's the fun girl !!
Damn that graveyard stuff , one cannot imagine the mind of a sick person capable of such abhorrent acts , but I do have a sledge hammer for them
Hi Greg, yes, Mark certainly aced that gig, lots of great stuff there. I try to be just a normal every day humdrum Jewish mother but apparently that's not in my genetic or psychological make up. I'm really lucky and very grateful that Mark Steyn has carved out a Safe Space for me here.
Al-Baghdadi was also known as Abu Dua, so an alternative headline could be:"Stern man at helm of ISIS drop-ships own head; embarks on Abu Dua honeymoon".
Abu Dua.
Sounds like a bad Flintstones spin-off.
Hi Laura
Thanks once again for the Links! Just one question; are Canadian actual black people allowed to dress as the Prime Minstrel?
Best regards!
Al, my pleasure. And questions are racist!
Re diversity and cuisine, Douglas Murray has raised the good question of, past a certain benefit that comes with the different-ness of an initial number of new arrivals, whether additional numbers above that add anything.
Sol. New arrivals definitely add lots of stuff. Some is "good stuff". And some of that stuff is pretty freaking awful stuff.
The American Library Association is a leftist organization that has infiltrated libraries all across the country. the ALA promotes policies that are separating parents from children, and use no judgment zones. Did yoiu know a parent is not allowed a print out of their children's reading lists?
I recommend people stop supporting public libraries, something I though I would never say, because their agenda is to erase the past by vigorous weeding of all books except the ones they approve, and current books, Realize I practically grew up in a library and this is difficult for me.
When I last visited my local public library many years ago, I discovered it was nothing more than a "homeless" shelter with books. The stench from the assembled "patrons" quickly drove me back onto the internet, never to return. Libraries are anachronisms run by far left loons at taxpayer expense.
Very similar here in Toronto. Public libraries in the downtown core are de facto "homeless" shelters. I've seen people defecate on the outside walls, fights break out and dozens of men with various substance abuse problems and mental illness simply encamp at the library when they are kicked out of the shelters in the morning.
I look forward to Laura's "Human Grace" section every week. Good thing we buy our Kleenex at Costco.
Thanks, Draidlebaum :))
Laura, a lot of your links today seem to be Glick bait.
RICHARD!!!!!!
That's a good one. How could I not have thought of that. Argh.