What is this? Why, it's the kickoff to 2013's Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. Why is the nice hostess complaining about the crumbling roads and bridges? And why is the nice hostess mocking America's War On Terror? Because Barack Obama is president! And you know what happens, etc., such as "Michelle Obama gets Beyoncé." These themes will be consistent throughout the convention at the Gaylord National Hotel, and tickets sold for as much as $1,000. Next week, when you see endless clips of fresh-faced rising stars of the conservative movement saying insanely racist or just insane things into a microphone on a trade-show stage, this [...]

Malcolm Gladwell apparently decided to stuff and mount his strawman Twitter arguments again: "He said he has it on his BlackBerry and made a 'chh-chh' technology sound effect while miming with his thumbs as if he was pressing buttons on a small device. He likes to read things his friends tweet. 'Like I said, these are awesome tools,' he added, fidgeting with the top on a water bottle resting next to his chair. 'I just don’t know why it has to be perfect—right?—or why anyone would claim that it’s good at absolutely everything. Isn’t it enough that it’s an extraordinary means of sharing ideas and bringing people together?'