‘Twas in truth an hour
Of universal ferment; mildest men
Were agitated, and commotions, strife
Of passion and opinion, filled the walls
Of peaceful houses with unquiet sounds.
The soil of common life was, at that time,
Too hot to tread upon; oft said I then,
And not then only, “What a mockery this
Of history, the past and that to come!”
— Wordsworth, The Prelude, Book 9
Morocco launches mass deportations to block Europe migration route: As the EU rolls out its new, stricter migration pact, Morocco intensifies crackdown and interceptions of sub-Saharan Africans at Europe’s behest
Middle east eye | 22nd May 2026 | Kate McMahon
Europe has a behest?
Since 14 April, Morocco has been conducting large-scale deportation operations targeting sub-Saharan Africans migrating to Europe, reportedly arresting over 100 per day, local sources told Middle East Eye.
According to Moroccan human rights groups, around 800 people . . .
How does that square with “over 100 per day”?
. . . were detained during coordinated raids in the forests between Fnideq and Belyounech, in the northern tip of the North African state, where many were sheltering before attempting to reach Europe.
They still have forests?
Keep your browser here for more news from Fnideq, Belyounech!
I never read Beowulf — as far as I remember. If I did, the fact that I don’t remember says something.
Now I think I would, because of this guy’s description of it on the web:
The first 100 lines are basically “I’m going to tell you a story of this guy. He murders his way up and down the coast until everyone pays him to stop; that was a great king! Also, he had kids; this is the story of how his wealth got them in trouble.”
Imagine Hollywood effects and celebrity actors, and it might be an enjoyable read!
from our own Bob B:
.
If you are a rich man,
We will take your money, buck by buck, accounts we’ll surely drain
All day long we’ll tax and fine and fee
‘Til you’re not a wealthy man.
I wouldn’t have to work hard.
Living off the grift that fraud-based NGOs always obtain
If you’re even a little bitty rich
You’re a target of our evil plan
I’d build a big McMansion from your former riches,
And so will a dozen of my pals
I’d get a new EV with the stolen loot I took
There might be one long lawsuit filed in the courts
And one IRS probe coming down,
But they will all lead nowhere, ‘cus you’re a schnook
Once you’re not a rich man,
We’ll move on and find another sucker we can bleed wealth from
Anyone who has that thing we want
All day long we’ll break ‘em to a bum.
OK, say I. Let it. Doesn’t bother me.
“If x + y = 7, . . .”
. . . which is as likely or unlikely as x + y equalling 6 or 8, and furthermore is assuming facts not in evidence . . .
“then what is y?”
What, indeed?
Why drag y into this at all?
If you’re able to assume the godlike power to deem that x has a certain value — out of infinite possibilities — why, then, can’t I do the same for y? Let someone else reconcile the discrepancy in the equation. We’ve both made our cases, and I say they stand on equal ground.
Come to think of it, it’s why all levels of government generally suck. I’m looking at you, SCOTUS.
Racist criteria suck.
The Four DEI Standards
To qualify for Best Picture consideration, a film must satisfy the following criteria:
Standard A: On-Screen Representation. The film must meet one of three conditions:
Cast a lead or significant supporting actor from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.
Ensure at least 30% of the ensemble cast consists of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, or underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (from at least two of these categories).
Center the main storyline or subject matter on an underrepresented group.
Standard B: Creative Leadership. At least two department heads (e.g., director, cinematographer, editor) must be from underrepresented groups, with at least one being a person of color. Alternatively, the film can meet this standard by employing six or more crew members from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups in technical roles, or having 30% of the entire crew come from at least two underrepresented categories.
Standard C: Industry Access. The film’s distributor or financing company must provide internship or entry-level opportunities to at least two individuals from underrepresented groups.
Standard D: Audience Development. The studio’s marketing, publicity, or distribution units must include at least two senior executives or consultants from underrepresented groups, including at least one person of color.
