The Strange, Explicable Appeal of Train Dog. By Megan Garber
The initial joy of the thing is visual: dog head, train body, the proportions of both wildly, delightfully amiss. Art critics might see, in Train Dog’s awkwardness, a bit of sprezzatura—the beauty and nonchalant elegance that springs from strategically placed flaws. But Train Dog, though undeniably insouciant, is notably lacking in elegance. That is part of its allure. The meme—the character, really—shows its work. It is a two-dimensional rendering that conveys, with remarkable efficiency, three-dimensional effort. Train Dog chugs. Train Dog pants. Train Dog struggles, and perseveres, in a way that is admirable and relatable and endearing. Train Dog is more than a meme; it’s a bit of a mascot. It is a new version of that storybook striver, the little engine that could—only with wise eyes and a shiny snout and a tongue that is, it must be said, exceptionally tongue-y.
Going outside is bad for MAGA. “The World Cup has been a real challenge for right-wing influencers…. Maybe this is because, after a decade of Trump (and a pandemic), our local governments have learned how to largely govern by themselves.” By Ryan Broderick at Garbage Day.
Zuckerberg’s increasingly bizarre war on whistleblowers. “Under no circumstances should you rush out and read the book that prompted Mark Zuckerberg to demand $111m and eternal auctorial silence.” By Cory Doctorow
A Reasonable Analysis of the Social Web: or, How Not To Promote A New Tech Alternative. By River Seeber. Stop saying “fediverse,” nerds.
