Mark Falkenberg, deputy managing editor
The ever-eloquent Josh Marshall on how the chaos and criminality of the Trump era has undermined our capacity for shock:
“The sad truth is that we’ve gotten used to this – the casual law-breaking and bad acts, the aping of foreign strongman antics, the lies that come as easy as water flowing down a hill. It all seems normal now.” – Talking Point Memo
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-thing-is-upon-us
Jack Handey is working on some vaccines. He hasn’t had much luck with the Hangover Vaccine – “despite years of study, little progress” – but his Pseudo-Vaccine is promising:
“Doesn’t really do much of anything, but comes with a coupon for half off your next vaccine.” – New Yorker
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/26/vaccines-im-working-on
Timothy Renshaw, Managing Editor
New recipe for an anti-COVID-19 tonic: slurpees, saponins and soapbark trees. – The Atlantic
Add an estimated US$3.94 trillion drop in global GDP to the world's upwardly spiralling pandemic bill. COVID will cost the top 10 hardest hit countries a projected US$697 billion. – Buy Shares
https://buyshares.co.uk/pandemic-to-trigger-4-trillion-loss-in-global-real-gdp-in-2020/
Succinct description of 21st century social networks from former Google CEO Eric Schmidt: "amplifiers for idiots and crazy people." – The Verge
Emma Crawford Hampel, online editor:
There are many parallels between the U.S. election 100 years ago and the one now. “Sick president. Global pandemic. Racial injustice. Welcome to the U.S. election...of 1920.” – Maclean’s
Glen Korstrom, reporter
Given that it is election time, it's worth a look back at one of the most transformative elections in B.C. history – 1991. Longtime BC Liberal Mike McDonald tells the story in his blog post about the lead-up to that election, and how the stars aligned for a party that had no seats in the legislature but went on to become the official opposition. Well worth a read – Rosedeer blog
https://rosedeer.blog/2016/10/17/1991-the-election-that-transformed-bc-politics/