Commentary on GOP madness, remembering Lenny Bruce, more on China, gender divide and the price of poking Putin.

Divorced from reality.

New York Magazine -- When Did the GOP Lose Touch With Reality?
Some of my Republican friends ask if I’ve gone crazy. I say: Look in the mirror.

Bruce’s comedy changed how we think.

Table Magazine -- Lenny Bruce Everywhere
Acknowledging the comic’s gift to Zappa, Mailer, Roth, and the other macho titans of eccentric 1960s pop.

Lenny Bruce (1966) A Performance Film

Etc.

George Carlin’s Best Stuff

 

Bill Maher -- Crazy Stupid Politics

Chinadown.

Telegraph -- Hard landing for China as factory prices fall and deflation looms
Factory gate prices in China fell at an accelerating rate of 2.9% in July as the economy flirted with industrial recession, prompting calls for further stimulus to head off Japanese-style deflation.

I’m not coming.

National Post -- Philosophy gender war sparked by call for larger role for women
It began with a private email last month from one established male philosopher to four others: Proceed with a Berlin-based conference that features 14 male speakers and no women, the writer said, and I will essentially launch a campaign to take you down professionally.

Cartoon

Financial Times -- The punks on trial for blaspheming Putin
Who says punk is dead? For the past few weeks, the biggest musical stars in Russia have not been visiting celebrities such as Madonna and Sting, but a homegrown band whose biggest hit is an anti-Kremlin “prayer” called “Mother of God, Drive Putin Out!”