Flat-eyed monsters

Humans: the Orcs of Space

Turncoats

Barney Frank said that half the Republicans in Congress are Michele Bachmann and the other half are afraid of running against her in a primary. Here's an immodest proposal for the latter. It would be nice.

Thanx to onyxlynx

At play in MacArthur Park

Some people hate the word genius because it implies that abilities are not given out in a fair and equitable manner. So every year when the MacArthur Foundation gives out its awards, there are those who don't want to use the G word. In any event, this year the foundation did a good thing in declaring Ta-Nehisi Coates one, as explained by Yoni Appelbaum. Bonus: The winner himself wise-asses about it.

Antivenom for brownback bites

If you're in the mood to read some obscene abuse, here's The Rude Pundit passing verbiage upon Sam Brownback, who declared Zombie Month because he has nothing to fear from them.

Criminal organizations

The Fake College Racket

Thanx to arkuat

Throwup Throwback

The Past is a foreign country, and it sometimes sends us the wretched refuse of its teeming shores. Arizona (unsurprisingly) has a Loyalty Oath. That excellent writer James Sallis told them to place it where the sun don't shine.

ETA: Which inspired George R. R. Martin to note that he lives in New Mexico, rather than the state that aspires to grow up to be Mississippi.