Comic Book Rules - John Scalzi reviews Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War. I think that he is right that comic books, and really the economics of Hollywood, dulls the impact of the movie. One scene, in particular, should have been a gut punch, but it lacked teeth because we all know the rules. Serious spoilers included, be warned.

Coming To A Confused Aunt Near You - I used to rail on this kind of stuff in video games when I was working at Dignews. Terrible and broken toys that only exist because of well-meaning but unsavvy relatives buy them for kids. Nice kids merely bury them beneath their legit toys, while jerky kids throw fits and hurt the relative's feelings.It should be said; you might need to be more than a little confused to fall for these particular bootlegs.

Nobody Knows Anything - Though there are quite a few people trying to make hay from the idea that the Pence and Trump speeches are going to be gun-free zones is just silly. The Secret Service could give a shit about the NRA's positions, and they set the terms of events where the President and VP are showing up.

Microsoft Update Needs You To Go To Prison - Microsoft is downplaying its role in sending an E-Waste recycler to prison for creating restore discs that only worked with a valid Windows license. Tech Crunch breaks down the facts behind the case.

Highway Design School - Ever wondered about the rules and designs for the highway system, or how they vary state by state? 99% Invisible has you covered with an explainer that has enough trivia to keep you busy on your next road trip.

Comedy Still Isn't Activism - I'm sure that Michelle Wolf was funny skewering the White House and the media alike. There are plenty of people ready to give her a slow clap and assume that the work is done and everyone can go home because someone spoke truth to power. You can pretend that the work of activism is as simple as a one-liner and an excellent personal insult, but deep down you know that it isn't the case. Wolf's mockery of the Washington circus is no different than the comedic farce of the same spectacle during the election. The media may have upped the ante by turning the entire news cycle into a constant election pitch, but the game didn't change. Don't read this as an indictment of Wolf, who is an entertainer, she did her job and made fun of the people her audience expects her to make fun of. The media needs to act outraged because they can't break kayfabe and admit the majority of their jobs is to be entertainers as well.
I'm sure that the reality show that passes for the government has their particular outrage faces ready to perform for the cameras until the next story hits. This is the symptom of a country so far up its own ass as to have lost all perspective. Performative ideology for a government so corrupt no one is even sure what masters they're really serving, as even the lobbyists are playing all sides. The media wrings its hands, all while hoping you don't notice how much information has been replaced by opinion.
I love political comedy; I love comedy period. It should skewer bullshit, hypocrisy, and social convention. It's why it been a great art form, but you can't mistake it for meaningful action. It isn't going to get people elected, and it can't help you organize a coalition to get your Senator to pay attention. It can't even get the pothole filled by your Alderman. Comedy can help you see that your alderman is spending more time taking city-funded furloughs, or that the President has a rabid weasel stapled to his head, but it can't actually change shit. Laugh, and then get the work done.