She's kidding. Right? A Guardian columnist looks at the subtext of Thomas the Tank Engine:

Yes, she's kidding. Has to be. Every parent does this: analyzes their kids' shows to death for fun, because you're stuck at home watching something inane. Everyone has that "hmm: this is a show about slavery, in a way." It also lacks class consciousness:

Well, it's Guardian writer, so yes, she does, but the proper kind.

BYE-BYE Roundy's is leaving the Twin Cities. Some of the Rainbow stores will turn into Byerly's, which is a head-snapping transition; others will become CUB stores, which isn't too much of a change. From Roundy's house brands to Everyday Essential, which is Cub's boringly designed house brands. I stopped going to Rainbow for two reasons: the handles on the bags. They always broke. The glue used to affix the handles was actually spit, I think.

Also because the stores were depressing. One day I overheard - not that it was difficult - two bakery workers laughing about an enormous mess a co-worker had left in the break room lavatory, and that was the end of that.

UH-OH Plague in China. Bubonic Plague, the richest kind.

And how did the fellow get sick?

Somewhere someone is using a meme generator that has Yoda saying Begun, the Marmot Plague Has. Do I need to search for it and post it? No. We're reaching the point where it's sufficient simply to imagine them, knowing they exist.

SOUND AND FURY The Awl (no link, cuss word in URL because the author is full of RAGE and swearing proves it) says:

The author points out that there are free alternatives. Thanks!

Wonder if they have this one.