Below are 20 journal entries, after skipping by the 60 most recent ones recorded in Boing Boing's InsaneJournal:

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Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017
10:03 pm	Arlington National Cemetery is the only monument we need to Robert E. Lee http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/arlington-national-cemetery-is.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542903 I was surprised to hear people suggest that removing statues of Confederate traitors would somehow lead to us tearing down the Jefferson Memorial. That is patent bullshit. Arguments attempting to equate slave owning founding fathers of the United States, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and their resultant memorials, with statues of Confederate General Robert E. Lee that are currently being removed across the nation are ridiculous. This fantastic article at Smithsonian.com describes how Arlington National Cemetery came to be, and why it is the perfect monument to the traitorous general who led an invasion of Pennsylvania in an attempt to preserve slavery on American soil. While the Lees worked to reclaim Arlington, Meigs urged Edwin Stanton in early 1866 to make sure the government had sound title to the cemetery. The land had been consecrated by the remains buried there and could not be given back to the Lees, he insisted, striking a refrain he would repeat in the years ahead. Yet the Lees clung to the hope that Arlington might be returned to the familyif not to Mrs. Lee, then to one of their sons. The former general was quietly pursuing this objective when he met with his lawyers for the last time, in July 1870. "The prospect does not look promising," he reported to Mary. The question of Arlington's ownership was still unresolved when Lee died, at 63, in Lexington, on October 12, 1870. His widow continued to obsess over the loss of her home. Within weeks, Mary Lee petitioned Congress to examine the federal claim to Arlington and estimate the costs of removing the bodies buried there. Her proposal was bitterly protested on the Senate floor and defeated, 54 to 4. It was a disaster for Mary Lee, but the debate helped to elevate Arlington's status: no longer a potter's field created in the desperation of wartime, the cemetery was becoming something far grander, a place senators referred to as hallowed ground, a shrine for "the sacred dead," "the patriot dead," "the heroic dead" and "patriotic graves." The plantation the Lees had known became less recognizable each year. Many original residents of Freedmen's Village stayed on after the war, raising children and grandchildren in the little houses the Army had built for them. Meigs stayed on, too, serving as quartermaster general for two decades, shaping the look of the cemetery. He raised a Greek-style Temple of Fame to George Washington and to distinguished Civil War generals by Mrs. Lee's garden, established a wisteria-draped amphitheater large enough to accommodate 5,000 people for ceremonies and even prescribed new plantings for the garden's borders (elephant ears and canna). He watched the officers' section of the cemetery sprout enormous tombstones typical of the Gilded Age. And he erected a massive red arch at the cemetery's entrance to honor Gen. George B. McClellan, one of the Civil War's most popularand least effectiveofficers. As was his habit, Meigs included his name on the arch; it was chiseled into the entrance column and lettered in gold. Today, it is one of the first things a visitor sees when approaching the cemetery from the east. While Meigs built, Mary Lee managed a farewell visit to Arlington in June 1873. Accompanied by a friend, she rode in a carriage for three hours through a landscape utterly transformed, filled with old memories and new graves. "My visit produced one good effect," she wrote later that week. "The change is so entire that I have not the yearning to go back there & shall be more content to resign all my right in it." She died in Lexington five months later, at age 65. Read more here. (Thanks, Jane!) (Comment on this)
10:03 pm	Sassy Trump Talks Nazis http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/sassy-trump-talks-nazis.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542769 It was supposed to be Infrastructure Week, but neo-Nazis and Charlottesville happened. Sassy Trump was in a real pickle. (more…) (Comment on this)
10:19 pm	Laura Lam's 'False Hearts' is a gripping tale http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/laura-lams-false-hearts.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542914 Rarely does a novel grab my attention like Laura Lam's False Hearts. I started reading Laua Lam's False Hearts and could not get out of my chair until I was done. I then rewound my Kindle to page one and handed the device to a friend who read 3-4 chapters before handing it back and saying "Wow, I want to keep reading!" This novel is wonderful. A dystopian tale of near future San Francisco, Lam's world building is excellent. The opening, reminiscent of Roger Zelazny's EPIC Nine Princes in Amber, takes off at a blistering pace and the novel never slows down. A murder mystery surrounding separated-but-formerly-conjoined twins and the oppressive commune they were raised in fascinates. I don't want to spoil anything. Read it yourself. False Hearts: A Novel by Laura Lam via Amazon (Comment on this)
7:22 pm	2-pack of battery powered LED string lights with remote http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/2-pack-of-battery-powered-led.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542856 I bought these LED string lights for a friend who has been stringing up little incandescent A/C powered plugs on her backyard terrace. These are much better. They don't get ruined by sprinkler water, and you don't need an extension cord. They have a timer function so you don't drain the battery. Two 20-foot strands (60 LEDs per strand) cost $12. (Comment on this)
6:30 pm	Trump is a human void http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/trump-is-a-human-void.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542832 Talking of Trump's beliefs is pointless, because there are none. The barking comedy of his speeches and statements goes nowhere because "he cannot understand anyones response to them except as it relates to him." David Roth in The Baffler: Trump doesnt know anything or really believe anything about any topic beyond himself, because he has no interest in any topic beyond himself; his evident cognitive decline and hyperactive laziness and towering monomania ensure that he will never again learn a new thing in his life. He has no friends and no real allies; his inner circle is divided between ostensibly scandalized cynics and theatrically shameless ones, all of whom hold him in low regard and see him as a potential means to their individuated ends. There is no help on the way; his outer orbit is a rotation of replacement-level rage-grandpas and defective, perpetually clammy operators. ... Instead of hate, there is simple resentmentabject and valueless and recursively self-pitying; instead of love, there is the blank sucking nullity of vanity and appetite. Always an egomaniac, Trump suffered deep narcissistic injury in his personal and business failures. His modern persona is invincible because it is reconstructed from nothing. It's a gold-plated concrete replica of the motormouthed vulgarian that America remembers from the 1980s. His presidency is a political superbacteria formed from the few parts of his ego, his brand, that were not annihilated in bankruptcy. If you're hoping something emerges that will wash the Trump presidency away, I've got bad news for you. Even piss will not sterilize it; it will only make it shinier. (Comment on this)
6:39 pm	Red Dwarf XII slated for October http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/red-dwarf-xii-slated-for-octob.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542837 Fun, fun, fun in the sun, sun, sun. Lister, Rimmer, Kryton and the show stealing Cat are back this October on Dave. From the Red Dwarf blog: Red Dwarf XII is the twelfth series of the legendary comedy, once again written and directed by Doug Naylor and following last year's series XI, voted "Best Comedy of the Year" and "Best Returning Comedy" by British Comedy Guide. The original cast of Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat) and Robert Llewellyn (Kryten) are back for six brand new episodes recorded in front of a live studio audience at Pinewood Studios. For the very first time, the rest of the crew discover just how it feels to be Kryten when they're arrested by the Mechanoid Intergalactic Liberation Front. The Dwarfers come across a ship where criticism is illegal, and a space station where the crew have developed a cure for evil. When all the machines on Red Dwarf go on strike Rimmer and Kryten hold a Presidential election, while The Cat faces an identity crisis like never before when he discovers he needs glasses. Lister discovers a simple update of the ship's latest software could be a matter of life or death. Finally, Rimmer decides to leave Red Dwarf in search of a parallel universe where he isn't such a massive loser. Featuring a whole host of star guests, smart sci-fi and ingenious comedy, Red Dwarf XII returns to Dave exclusively this October. Coolest cat in the universe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HOsbbD4IKc (Comment on this)
5:46 pm	Everything, even a rock, has some degree of consciousness http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/everything-even-a-rock-has-s.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542825 Philip Goff, associate professor in philosophy at Central European University in Budapest, argues that the idea of panpsychism ("mind is everywhere") shouldn't be dismissed just because it sounds crazy. (more…) (Comment on this)
5:30 pm	Former CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson wants to buy Twitter and kick off Trump http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/former-cia-operative-valerie-p.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542817 Valerie Plame Wilson, who was outed as a CIA operative during the Bush Administration, has put up a GoFundMe page so that she could buy Twitter - and then give Trump the boot. "Donald Trump has done a lot of horrible things on Twitter," says Wilson on her campaign's page. "From emboldening white supremacists to promoting violence against journalists, his tweets damage the country and put people in harm's way." "The company is currently worth nearly $12 billion, with its shares going for around $16," according to USA Today. The goal: $1 billion. That might be a stretch, though. Wilson has raised more than $3,000 since she launched the campaign on August 16. "At the current market rate that would require over a billion dollars  but that's a small price to pay to take away Trump's most powerful megaphone and prevent a horrific nuclear war," Plame wrote. If they aren't able to meet that goal, the plan is to buy a "significant stake" in order to push the proposal at the annual stakeholder's meeting, Plame said. And what does Twitter have to say on the matter? No comment as of yet, according to USA Today. Image: crystal.village (Comment on this)
5:35 pm	How to hear the true sound of your own voice without recording it http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/how-to-hear-the-true-sound-of.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542826 When we speak, sing or shout, what we perceive gets a mighty bass boost from our own head matter. But what the lister (and the microphone) hears — the reedy, whiny, nasal true self! — is their reality. In this video, vocal coach Chris Beatty shows off a neat trick to cutting out the frequencies that only you hear, allowing you to train and temper your tone of speech as others hear it. All you need do it put two thick boards, magazines or notebooks either side of your face — but it's nicer listening to him explain. (Comment on this)
4:51 pm	Longread: what will it take to re-decentralize the web? http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/late-stage-web-capitalism.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542789 In 2016, the Internet Archive convened a decentralized web summit to discuss ways to make the web less centralized and thus less vulnerable to censorship, corporate abuse and "shadow regulation" (I gave one of the keynotes). (more…) (Comment on this)
4:56 pm	Watch the new Blade Runner 2049 trailer with unseen footage http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/watch-the-new-blade-runner-204.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542792 If only you could see what Ryan Gosling has seen with your eyes. (Comment on this)
4:59 pm	13 years after Katrina, New Orleans plans to evacuate if bad storms come http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/heck-of-a-job-brownie.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542795 New Orleans is in an official state of emergency, thanks to 15 of its 120 pumps being offline (thanks to chronic underfunding) and a major storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. (more…) (Comment on this)
5:07 pm	The psilocybin in magic mushrooms is an insect repellant http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/the-psilocybin-in-magic-mushro.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542801 The psilocybin in magic mushrooms is a potent psychedelic for animals. But what good is the psilocybin for the shrooms? New genetic research from Ohio State University suggests that the psilocybin might act as an insect repellant, protecting the mushrooms. From New Scientist: The gene cluster (linked to psilocybin production) is found in several distantly related groups, suggesting that the fungi swapped genes in a process called horizontal gene transfer. This is uncommon in mushrooms: it is the first time genes for a compound that is not necessary for the fungis survival  called a secondary metabolite  have been found moving between mushroom lineages. Since these genes have survived in multiple species, Slot thinks psilocybin must be useful to the fungi. Strong selection could be the reason this gene cluster was able to overcome the barriers to horizontal gene transfer, (researcher Jason Slot) says. Hallucinogenic mushrooms often inhabit areas rich in fungi-eating insects, so Slot suggests psilocybin might protect the fungi, or repel insects from a shared food source, by somehow influencing their behaviour. (Comment on this)
5:11 pm	Small town Uber driver quits, launches a one-driver rival http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/uber-for-uber.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542812 Suzanne Ashe was the only Uber driver in Haines, Alaska, and the app wouldn't let her stay logged in and available because the rides came so infrequently. (more…) (Comment on this)
5:11 pm	Car repossession goes awry http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/car-repossession-goes-awry.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542784 This astounding video advances one level at a time, from amusing to beautiful. First, bystander Brittany Nyiesha chances across a repossessed vehicle being towed and begins filming. Then we realize that it hasn't been attached properly to the tow truck, but is instead being dragged on its rims. Then it blows through a stop light. Then the car starts flailing wildly, like a ball and chain attached to some huge street weapon in a Mad Max movie —what is going on? The Proper Authorities get involved! And it's still only getting warmed up. (Comment on this)
5:18 pm	Video of the International Space Station passing in front of the solar eclipse http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/video-of-the-international-spa.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542816 SmarterEveryDay's Destin Sandlin captured this astonishing video of the International Space Station transiting Monday's solar eclipse. Fast forward to 3:50 for the magical moment. And in case you missed it, below is NASA's still photo of the ISS transiting the sun at five miles per second. (Comment on this)
4:25 pm	A movie accent expert comments on 31 actors playing real people http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/a-movie-accent-comments-on-31.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542760 This is a fascinating deep dive into actors' portrayals of famous people like Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Muhammed Ali, Julia Child, Bob Dylan. From YouTube description: "Dialect coach Erik Singer takes a look at idiolects, better known as the specific way one individual speaks. To best break down this concept, Erik analyzes some actors playing real people. Just how close was Jamie Foxx's Ray Charles? What about Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Bob Dylan? Is Daniel Day-Lewis' Lincoln accurate?" (Comment on this)
4:27 pm	Carl Sagan sadly still dead http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/carl-sagan-sadly-still-dead.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542761 Carl Sagan: Neil deGrasse Tyson: The modern stars of science and its enemies are in alignment. All agree that wonder is more dangerous than certitude. (Comment on this)
4:36 pm	Rube Goldberg machine of the day http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/rube-goldberg-machine-of-the-d.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542779 As relaxing, amusing and intriguing as any other: "an impressive Rube Goldberg machine with a 4-minute course. The beads move in a chain reaction divided into several more complex steps, including the one with a whiteboard that turns to release new balls positioned on the back side." (Comment on this)
4:37 pm	Massive Cincinnati nudist resort closing down after nearly 50 years http://boingboing.net/2017/08/23/massive-cincinnati-nudist-reso.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542774 Paradise Gardens, a huge nudist resort that's been open in Cincinnati, Ohio since 1970 is closing its gates. The owners sold to a developer who will build five new homes on the 34 acre property. The resort has raised the ire of neighbors for decades. Just a few years ago, residents complained about the resort's plan to build a nudist adventure park complete with zip lines. Interestingly, the resort's peak time was in the 1990s. "We've been for sale for 10 years," (Paradise Resort Inc. president Ron) Coleman told Cincinnati.com. "We just couldn't get a deal done until now. "It's a completely different economy now than it used to be back in the 70s and 80s when both parents weren't always working,'' he said. "Now, it's hard for families to schedule a time to utilize the place, which has limited new members." (Thanks, Charles Pescovitz!) (Comment on this)