no, i am spartacus

As Dear Leader is launching yet another disastrous and deadly public-relations stunt in order to deflect attention from his rank, unhinged incompetence, there comes news that his regime is moving to pressure his mouthpiece of choice to unmask the identities of the US civil servants behind anonymous social media accounts critical of his stewardship (or lack thereof). So far the social media network is resisting calls to reveal the names of administrators behind alt- and rogue agency web presences and has rebuffed repeated summonses but we’ve been treated multiple times to Dear Leader’s relentless bullying and hope the network has the stamina to not be browbeaten.

well played, democrats or meals and incidentals

As an official inquiry into the costs of the flying circus that is Dear Leader’s insistence on receiving dignitaries at his southern White House franchise and being a geographical bachelor (apparently, but at least Number One Daughter is close at hand) is being conducted, a committee of concerned congress members have been a bit more creative in naming their legislation than what’s been trialled of late.
“Making Access Records Available to Lead American Government Openness” Act forms the initialism MAR-A-LAGO. It makes me think of that anecdote that Anthony Bouvier told Suzanne Sugarbaker about the domestic helper that introduced himself to the family that he served with his name but added that they could refer to him “by my initials.” Among other things, the act would require that Dear Leader’s regime to disclose the names not only of those who have access him and his viceroy in Washington—where there’s a visitors’ log, but also at his various properties, where there’s currently no accountability. Dear Leader surely prefers it that way and would like to keep conducting official business way beyond the Beltway.

tool kami

There is a Japanese folk tradition that holds after a century of service that tools or artefacts either acquire or are possessed by a soul. Conflicting narratives of the nature of tsukumogami (付喪神) encourage some householders to divest themselves of older objects before they attain the critical age due to accounts that their well-worn implements will become haunted by mischievous spirits but most have softened their suspicions and have come to cherish antiques. With an animated, enchanted sake jar, clock, gong and various musical instruments among the cast of identified tsukumogami, the tradition can been seen reflected in more contemporary portrayals as in the Beauty and the Beast franchise with Lumière, Cogsworth and Missus Pots.

el muro fronterizo

Just as bidding closes NPR presents a gallery of some of the design proposals for Dear Leader’s great wall submitted by construction companies eager to build the barrier that will divide the US from México for the Customs and Border Protection agency. Plans range from soul-crushing to absolutely utopian lampoon.

beta-testing

Later this summer, the Museum of Failure will open to the public in Helsingborg, Sweden, which will curate some of the biggest marketing and commercial flops and ill-advised innovations—like the infamous “female” pen. The motivation for assembling such a collection is not to ridicule but rather celebrate failures as true advancement comes with its share of foul-ups—and companies would rather that these object lessons not appear in the spotlight, and the exhibitions hopes to make them available for study so others might glean something from them.

tears of a clown

Via Boing Boing, we learn that Russia has just banned the propagation of the image that depicts Vladimir Putin-like person “with eyes and lips made up” accompanied with an implicit slur suggesting “the supposed non-standard sexual orientation of the president of the Russian Federation,” qualifying it as “extremist material.” As there are many gay clown memes out there—having incubated since September of 2013 when Russia outlawed homosexual propaganda, this very specific prohibition is causing domestic news outlets to scramble to try to guess which image exactly that the ban applies to. Under no circumstances share these images.

latch and locker

Hyperallergic features a nice appreciation of the overlooked Pop Art artist Dorothy Grebenak, active from 1950 to 1970.
Though she never quite owed up to being attached to that particular genre, Grebenak’s creations were as iconic as those of Roy Lichtenstein or Andy Warhol. Possibly relegated to a secondary status due to her medium of choice—almost exclusively working in hooked rugs meant to be displayed on the wall like a tapestry—Grebenak’s work made it into some prestigious museums but got no further than the gift shops, until being championed by one collector and gallery owner. Find out more about this forgotten artist at the link up top.