Stirrings at Mar-a-Lago w @realDonaldTrump motorcade on the move to undetermined location. #WinterWhiteHouse: image via Stephen Crowley @Stcrow, 4 February 2017

Jorge Luis Borges: Diálogo sobre un diálogo

A - Distraídos en razonar la inmortalidad, habíamos dejado que anocheciera sin encender la lámpara. No nos veíamos las caras. Con una indiferencia y una dulzura más convincentes que el fervor, la voz de Macedonio Fernández repetía que el alma es inmortal. Me aseguraba que la muerte del cuerpo es del todo insignificante y que morirse tiene que ser el hecho más nulo que puede sucederle a un hombre. Yo jugaba con la navaja de Macedonio; la abría y la cerraba. Un acordeón vecino despachaba infinitamente la Cumparsita, esa pamplina consternada que les gusta a muchas personas, porque les mintieron que es vieja… Yo le propuse a Macedonio que nos suicidáramos, para discutir sin estorbo.

Z (burlón) - Pero sospecho que al final no se resolvieron

A (ya en plena mística) - Francamente no recuerdo si esa noche nos suicidamos.

Canada mourns their 6 citizens killed in deadly mosque attack.: image via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 4 February 2017

A Dialogue About a Dialogue

A: Absorbed in our discussion of immortality, we had let night fall without lighting the lamp, and we couldn’t see each other’s faces. With an offhandedness or gentleness more convincing than passion would have been, Macedonio Fernandez’ voice said once more that the soul is immortal. He assured me that the death of the body is altogether insignificant, and that dying has to be the most unimportant thing that can happen to a man. I was playing with Macedonio’s pocketknife, opening and closing it. A nearby accordion was infinitely dispatching La Comparsita, that dismaying trifle that so many people like because it’s been misrepresented to them as being old. . . . I suggested to Macedonio that we kill ourselves, so we might have our discussion without all the racket.

Z: (mockingly) But I suspect that at the last moment you reconsidered.

A: (now deep in mysticism) Quite frankly, I don’t remember whether we committed suicide that night or not.

Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986): Diálogo sobre un diálogo(A Dialogue About a Dialogue), from El hacedor, 1960; English version by Andrew Hurley

AlternativeFacts. Meet #AlternativeBooks.: image via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 4 February 2017

Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump
The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!

Matthew Miller Retweeted Donald J. Trump

Matthew Miller added,

Hope this so-called judge lets this so-called president know what he thinks of his legitimacy being questioned.
tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017

Will check the record, but don't think this so-called judge was confirmed w/ help from the Russian govt and the Senate voting agnst him 54-46: tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017

Surprised it's taking DOJ so long to appeal. Lot of people at DOJ agree with Sally Yates on this order - wonder if that's the hold up.: tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017

Subtle @charlie_savage brag about getting his hands on this executive order anyway.: image via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017

Pity the DOJ atty trying to figure out how to answer this q from a judge: so what did the president mean when he said "so-called judge?": tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017

Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump

Because the ban was lifted by a judge, many very bad and dangerous people may be pouring into our country. A terrible decision
Matthew Miller Retweeted Donald J. Trump
Matthew Miller added,
If the executive branch truly believes this, why hasn't DOJ rushed to file an emergencyappeal? The decision was issued almost 24 hours ago.
tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017

Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump
What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions, can come into U.S.?

Matthew Miller Retweeted Donald J. Trump
Matthew Miller added,

With every tweet, he is just making it harder and harder for DOJ attorneys to win in court. So keep it up, I guess.
tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017

Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump

The judge opens up our country to potential terrorists and others that do not have our best interests at heart. Bad people are very happy!

Eric Geller Retweeted Donald J. Trump
Eric Geller added,

Notice that Trump deliberately and repeatedly pins any future harm on the Seattle judge. Goal seems clear.

tweet via Eric Geller @ericgeller, 4 February 2017

More Americans killed by toddlers than Islamic jihadists. Maybe start with banning Islamic jihadist toddlers. That's a twofer.: tweet via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 4 February 2017

Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump
What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions, can come into U.S.?

ian bremmer retweeeted @realDonaldTrump

ian bremmer added,

Merkel explained Geneva Convention to Trump. Can somebody explain the independent judiciary? tweet via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 4 February 2017

Two White House statements, 15 minutes apart. Someone decided to pull "outrageous.": image via Edward-Isaac Dovere @IsaacDovere, 4February 2017

Justice Department appeals judge's immigration order: image via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 4 February 2017

BREAKING: Judge's block of Trump's travel ban harms the public by 'thwarting enforcement of executive order': Justice Dept. appeal filing: tweet via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 4 February 2017

MORE: Judge's ruling 'second guesses the president's national security judgment': Justice Dept: tweet via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 4 February 2017

BREAKING: Appeals court denies Trump administration request to immediately reinstate ban on travelers and refugees: tweet via The Associated Press @AP, 5 February 2017

U.S. moves to resume admitting refugees, including Syrians: image via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 5 February 2017

Today's ponderable: How many holes does @realDonaldTrump have left to play? #golf #presidenttrump #whitehouse #presspool: image via Stephen Crowley @Stcrow, 4 February 2017

Trump currently golfing at Trump International golf course about a 3 iron from Palm Beach airport: tweet via Steve Holland @steveholland1, 4 February 2017

Donald Trump's reasoning for rolling back Wall Street regulations is terrifying: image via The Independent @Independent, 4 February 2017

Trump announces rollback of financial rules introduced after the 2008 crisis: image via Tom Gara @tomgara, 3 February 2017

Suggestive gesture as GOP runs the table. (That's #Sessions, btw, w Budget Chair Enzi.) #Bernie #higherpowers Photo Scott Mahaskey @Politico: image via @Politico: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017

Meanwhile, anti-corruption protests picking up steam in Romania. #wow: image via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 4 February 2017

Closed bodega during a Yemeni protest in Brooklyn: image via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 3 February 2017

To extent @whitehouse target also American #Muslims, @LucasJackson photo is a bull’s-eye. #reuterspictures #Yemeniprotest #nyc: image viaReading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017

Afghan tea vendor Imran, 15, prepares tea on a hillside during snowfall near Qargha Lake on the outskirts of Kabul. By @kohsar #AFP: image via AFP Photo @AFPphoto, 4 February 2017

Afghanistan - An Afghan shepherd herds sheep on a rainy day in Jalalabad. By Noorullah Shirzada #AFP: image via AFP Photo @AFPphoto, 4 February 2017

Not sure WH gets power of cultural backlash. Pluralism in #fashion @privatepolicy @newyorktimes #MenWearShows: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017

WH turmoil riling multiple runways. #Fashion flip side of banker romance. Photo @nowfashion @nytimes #MenWearShows: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017

Indonesian protester during rally against Donald Trump's executive order on immigration in front of US embassy in Jakarta. @b4yismoyo #AFP: image via AFP Photo @AFPphoto, 4 February 2017

President Donald and First Lady Melania Trump arriving at the Red Cross Gala in the Mar-a-lago ballroom, Palm Beach, FL.: image via Stephen Crowley @Stcrow, 4 February 2017

Students learning at school in Afghanistan: image via Classic Pics @History_Pics, 4 February 2017

Women are from Venus, and men ... Photo @Barria_Reuters @ReutersPictures @ReutersPictures of the week: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017