Nikki Haley, in a public meeting, persistently refused to recognize slavery among the causes of the US Civil War.

Dissembling about this is a traditional part of defending the Confederate side and deflecting criticism of its system of slavery (and, later, segregation and discrimination).

A leader of the Hong Kong democracy movement accuses the UK of bending over backwards to reject requests for asylum from refugees for Hong Kong.

The UK made a trade agreement with China recently. Since China is rich and the UK is poor by comparison, it makes sense that the Tories would suck up to China in this way.

However, it could simply be the an instance of the general incompetence of UK bureaucracy in government and business. Or a general lack of sense of proportion.

Online tracking dis-services, and tethered appliances, are trying to teach customers to love Big Brother — by sending them summaries of what they did during the year.

If you'd like a list summarizing the music, movies, food products or humidifier hours you have used during the year, the free software you use for this should be able to keep such lists — for your eyes only.

Meanwhile, join me in saying "Out, out, damned Spotify!" and never let them know anything about you again.

The UK plans to exile Dmitry Lima to Portugal, on account of a sentence for nonviolent crimes. This despite the fact that he was born in the UK and has never been outside the UK.

I wonder whether Portugal would admit him. Has it got legal grounds to block the deportation?

Since his parents were/are Portuguese, I suppose he is or at least was entitled to apply for Portuguese citizenship — but does he actually have that citizenship? Would it be granted under these circumstances, if he does apply? What if he (rationally) declines to apply for this help in deporting him?

Perhaps this is simply yet another example of the UK state's lack of capacity to implement its own rules reliably.

US citizens: call on Congress to save lives by insisting on a ceasefire in Gaza.

If you phone, please spread the word! Main Switchboard: +1-202-224-3121