Mistah Kurtz, he dead. A penny for the Old Guy.

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

Not with a bang, but with a whimper.

I was going to do the obvious Shakespeare parody, but Swiss beat me to it last night. But before we rejoice in a death, let’s look at life and what today really means. It is the birthday of transformative inventor Lee deForest, thieving fanatical Albanian dwarf Mother Teresa, and true-gift-to-humanity Albert Sabin.

I’m not sure which was worse: the halftime tribute to McCain during the football game that never mentioned the word “Keating,” nor his disgusting personal life, nor his consistent war-mongering, nor his self-serving utter disregard for the constitution, OR the fawning encomiums from the networks and major news outlets who were branding him a racist and a Nazi when he had the temerity to run against The Lightbringer in 2008 but are suddenly his biggest fans because he hated Trump, so all is now forgiven. I won’t bother to link to a story here, you’re likely inundated with them. Oh fuck, sure I will.

American politics was badly out of balance during Mr. McCain’s final years, and while he angered some and made his share of mistakes, he accomplished as much as any politician of his time toward restoring some sense of equilibrium — and of truth, honor and integrity — to the governing of a nation that he served well and courageously in war and in peace. He became a dominant figure in the Senate through willpower, persistence and determination, because he commanded the respect due one who has sacrificed much for his country, and because, more often than most these days, he knew what he believed and stuck to it.

Truth, honor, and integrity? I couldn’t even have written this as parody. Anyone care to defend this despicable and thoroughly corrupt piece of shit who has finally shuffled off the stage?

And while on the subject of pieces of shit, let’s look in on the lawsuit between Tavis Smiley and PBS:

Smiley also sought information related to PBS’ decision to cancel his show. He contends the sexual misconduct allegations were a smokescreen and claims the network is “racially hostile.” In denying the motion, [Judge] Epstein also denied Smiley’s request to file a 145-page memorandum in support of his motion to compel. Epstein criticized the filing as “mind-numbing” in its repetition and full of “wholly unnecessary” details, such as where Smiley got his undergraduate degree.

I have an image in my head of PBS executives in KKK hoods.

Wasn’t this a Talking Heads song?

US cops described Mr Brosnan as “gleeful” when they found him leaning against his car watching the house burn down on Linden Avenue in Swampscott. The father-of-two branded one officer a “buzzkill” for blocking his view of the blaze, reports the Boston Herald. Additionally, a firefighter had to to stop the Irishman from lighting a cigarette and reported that he stank of petrol fumes.

I’m sure there was no alcohol involved.

Vegans, Frenchmen with guns, what could possibly go wrong?

The French town of Calais has been no stranger to public disorder in recent years, with recurrent battles between police and migrants or striking ferry workers making headlines across the world. But now the port town is facing a bizarre new threat, according to its council: an alliance of hunters and farmers seeking to take revenge on vegans bent on turning the largely carnivorous French off meat.

I cannot have respect for anyone in France who won’t eat cheese.

This is even better than tulip bulbs and wooden shoes.

For the first time it has been calculated what is earned in the Netherlands on synthetic drugs. According to the researchers, 18.9 billion is a conservative estimate. The amount is probably significantly higher. This amount, higher than the annual turnover of companies such as Philips and Albert Heijn, can be regarded as the contribution of Dutch synthetic drug criminals to the illegal world economy.

I note that this amount is also more than double the Dutch defense budget. Maybe their priorities are better than ours.

There really is no other choice for today’s Old Guy music.