More Sausages

Links. And you really, really don't want to know how many of these were made.

• Everyone loves book covers. Or, at least, loves to argue about them. Sometimes, though, there isn't any room for argument, as in this collection of inappropriate children's book covers. (May be NSFW.) Partly, though, that may depend upon what one's bookshelves reveal. Smartasses will probably assert that my bookshelves reveal a truly disordered mind and explain the strength of my glasses; I don't think either is much of a revelation.
• A BBC news story asserts that children's magazines are damaging the ability to write but probably not any more than journalistic "style," such as the one-sentence paragraphs in the story. Or maybe typical journalistic "style" is just proof that this damage is far from new.
• The Department of Schadenfreude — of late, it's the only fully-staffed department at the Scrivener's Error media conglomerate — notes Micro$oft's problems with the European union with more than a little glee. (Apple, you're next.) The latest fine is rather large and interesting, but given the extensive EU history with Micro$oft — including an extensive history of noncollection of previous fines — this story is far from over. I'll therefore assign two unpaid interns full-time to distort future developments out of recognition for Fox News keep me up to date.
• A UK-based psychiatrist claims that there is a good side of depression, or at least that it has unrecognized benefits. I dare him to watch a season or two of US TV, particularly if one accepts CBS's sweet grapes as anything other than a post hoc rationalization (question: if it really didn't hurt them, why didn't they say so during the strike, or act like it?), and continue to hold that view. Especially in light of a pending lawsuit on a Cops-like attitude that may have led to suicide. Now there's some must-see TV.
• Last, and far from least: Even if he wins, can McCain even take office? Since he was born in the Canal Zone, he may not be truly a "natural born citizen." My oldest son would be watching this development with some interest — England for him — but for his natural aversion to elective office. Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee doesn't seem to think that retrieving White House e-mails is important enough to actually do. And I just heard on the radio that more than one in 100 Americans is behind bars; that very same son remarked that those we don't convict, we elect.