Bitchin Dave's newsletter

The Nobel Committee is a mostly apolitical organization, that doesn't kowtow to pressure to simply give the award away. Pretty much since he took office the first time, a certain man with an orange complexion says he deserves it, and has pressured the committee to award it to him. But they have ignored him. And then Maria Corina Machado - the person who became the president of Venezuela after T-rump invaded the country and installed her - decided to give him the medal she won in 2025, awarded for: Her tireless work in promoting democratic rights for Venezuelans and working to move from dictatorship to democracy .   ...

This week, the State of Florida introduced a new driver's license.  It represents the state through its imagery, which is all fine and nice … but of course it has a racist overtone.  On the back it has the  phrase Let Us Alone. This phrase appeared on a Florida state flag adopted in 1845, along with a series of colors (a rainbow flag of sorts?) symbolizing the state's desire for sovereignty.  The flag was a middle finger aimed at the at-the-time-accepted government, and wasn't well received.... ...

We're taught a version of the Revolutionary War that is somewhat incomplete.  One aspect that is often overlooked is the time George Washington at Valley Forge.   Washington set up a camp there at the end of 1777, and remained there through the summer of 1778.  The very high-level, simplified story is that he went there to prepare for the future of the war, and to train the troops while he waited for reinforcements, word on the French, and so on.   The British knew full well they were there, and just let them be - but kept an eye on them. ...