It’s hard to say what’s dumber, Lochte’s stunt in Rio or the actions of the so-called protesters who rushed the stage to call attention to themselves. Just like Lochte had done.

There is a bizarre procession of people on TV announcing, “We are not deplorable!” I’m beginning to wonder if they understand what the word actually means. 

To deplore means to abhor, to disapprove of strongly. It points to an emotional reaction that can’t be disputed. If somebody deplored something, nobody can tell them they are wrong because the action is not undertaken in the field of right or wrong. If I say “I’m saddened by your actions”, you can’t tell me I’m not, it’s ridiculous. If I say I deplore your behavior, you can’t tell me I don’t. 

It’s especially cute that they argue with a subjective emotional reaction to themselves but not with a statement that they are racists which has the potential of being disproved.

Everybody likes to feel exceptional. I’m reading a collection of articles by Spanish authors who keep exclaiming, “Our government lied to us back in 2004! In what other country is this even possible?!?”

Well, actually, in any country. Hell, I know a place where people were led to believe that 9/11 had something to do with Iraq. And that led to an endless war, compared to which the pathetic little lie of your government blaming the Basques for an Al Qaeda bombing is really small fry. Especially since your government fell a few days after proffering this lie.

Hey, show me a country where a government doesn’t lie, and then we’ll talk about being exceptional. But don’t nominate business as usual for the title of The Most Aggrieved Citizens Ever.

Trump’s new ad reminds me of an old Russian joke that, adjusted for current realities, goes like this: 

A father discovers that his 14-year-old daughter posts ads on Craigslist offering strangers sex in exchange for candy. 

“Masha!” the horrified father exclaims. “How can this be?!? You eat non-organic candy???”

In a similar manner, the ad goes, “She called us racist, sexist and Islamophobic? Well, duh. But deplorable? That was really hurtful.” 

Yale Daily News has another ridiculous article about my department. I can’t get rid of a suspicion that there is an administrator with a vendetta behind all this onslaught of absolutely idiotic, dishonest pieces about the department. 

I could discuss many of the department’s problems but these articles are simply deranged. 

Does anybody know when it’s ok to start covering a baby with a blanket at night? Klara has moved to a big-girl crib from her bassinet. But she is clearly cold in the big bed. She wears pajamas and socks but it’s not like we want to make her sleep in a winter coat. 

Is it too early to cover her with a baby blanket at this age? 

Guess who turned 7 months old today?

She is a very smart little baby. She learned how to hold the bottle a long time ago but after doing it a couple of times she realized that it’s much more fun when somebody else holds it and now simply refuses to do it. 

She also loves licking everything that has letters on it. I run around Cutting off labels from everything because if there’s a label with letters, she will find it and start chewing it with abandon.

The university made several efforts to entice me to put my online course on Blackboard. But I’m not an idiot, and I see how LIU Brooklyn is using this kind of material to get scabs to teach courses instead of locked out professors. 

My online course consists of dozens of completely original videos I created. Nobody is touching them under any pretext. I retain full control over the videos and the rest of the course. I made it clear that it’s either this, or the course doesn’t get taught. Which is perfectly fine by me. 

People, protect yourselves and your labor. They aren’t bugging you about how super duper convenient Blackboard is out of actual concern for your convenience.