CLOSE THE BORDERS AND PRAY FOR THE BEST? Latin America’s Burning Question: What to Do About Venezuela.

The waves of migration caused by Venezuela’s impending implosion have affected Colombia and Brazil most severely, although the two neighbors have pursued widely divergent policies on how to deal with its root cause – the country’s foundering economy. Colombia backs heavier U.S. sanctions as part of an attempt to drive the Venezuelan government from power so that a successor can begin addressing the profound economic deterioration. Brazil, by contrast, has long espoused a policy of non-intervention in Venezuelan affairs, restricting itself to encouraging political dialogue between the opposition and the government to steer them toward free elections. At present, however, the gap between Colombia and Brazil may be narrowing after the Brazilian Finance Ministry agreed during the G-20 summit that it would coordinate financial actions against Caracas. As a result, Brazil will likely allocate some of its sizable intelligence resources to the Lima Group.

That’s all fine and good, but “the country’s foundering economy” is not the root cause of the Venezuela’s troubles. The economy is but a symptom of the real root cause: Socialism.

I’M GOING TO ARBY’S TODAY FOR LUNCH: Honestly. Powerline is reporting that, unlike some advertisers, Arby’s hasn’t pulled its ads from Laura Ingraham’s show. So I’m going to the Arby’s on 3777 Midway Drive in San Diego. You can find your location here.

I don’t like boycotts. It’s not good for society when people will only do business with those who agree with them about politics. I’m also not good at boycotts. I always forget. You need to a really passionate person to be good at it. And … well … I’m not all that fond of passionate people. I like people who just want to have a nice lunch. Alas, a positive boycott is sometimes necessary to counter a negative boycott. So here’s to Arby’s! Bon appetit!

CREEPING GALLOPING SHARIA: German Headmaster Tells Christian Girl to Wear a Hijab to Avoid Beatings From Muslim Classmates.

MORE THOUGHTS FROM WILL BAUDE on the Supreme Court’s latest stupid immunity decision.

I’ll repeat what I’ve said before: Governmental immunity, of both the qualified and absolute varieties, is a made-up product of judicial activism that has no grounding whatsoever in the Constitution. If it exists at all (and it shouldn’t), it should exist only because of specific legislation.

Related: Make Cops Carry Liability Insurance: The private sector knows how to spread risks, and costs. And evaluate and limit risks. “Consider how that could work with police. Most misconduct is committed by a relatively small fraction of cops. . . . Unfortunately, police departments have a hard time getting rid of their own bad apples: For example, the officers who tried to frame Wiggins are still employed by the NYPD; no charges have been filed against them. But insurance companies have powerful incentives to identify the greatest risks — whether drivers, doctors or cops — and charge them accordingly. If cops had to carry insurance, the worst offenders would quickly be identified and charged higher rates. If they failed to clean up their act, they would eventually become uninsurable and thus unemployable. This is the policy change we need to better align police incentives with public safety and respect for constitutional rights.”

WHITE PEOPLE ARE THE WORST, AMIRITE? Panel condemns “white saviorism” in nonprofits.

IN THE EMAIL FROM FRANK J. FLEMING OF IMAO.US FAME:  Sidequest: In Realms Ungoogled.

Terrance Denby takes an unusual route to work one day and finds himself in an enchanted forest where winged fairies give him a sword and tell him, “Your journey is about to begin. Learn to use this sword or perish.”

Terrance doesn’t have time to go on a magical quest: he’s late for his job as a computer programmer. But when he gets to work, he suddenly notices things he hadn’t seen before. Like the fact that his boss is a demon with scaly skin, horns, and bloodstained fangs. Or that an “unnamed thing below” feasts on human victims in an arena filled with people absorbed in their cell phones.

Set up on a blind date with a perky blonde named Shannon, Terrance finds that she is wearing a full suit of armor complete with a helmet and sword. “I’m a Sister of Torment,” she explains. “We’re a group of women who serve the Darkness.” Terrance can’t help wondering how such a nice, attractive girl ended up beheading people with an ax.

But their budding romance is complicated when Terrance is recruited by The Infinite, a shadowy group that is at war with the Sisters of Torment and their demonic overlords. Will Terrance join them? Or will he try to return to his old life and forget the evidence of his now-awakened senses? Faeries, elves, warriors, mermaids, and his dark-souled girlfriend will help him decide.

“If JRR Tolkien and Mike Judge got drunk and wrote a book together with the sole purpose of making it epic, it might be Sidequest: In Realms Ungoogled. With cleverly written dialog and dry humor set against a fantastical, apocalyptic backdrop, Sidequest reads like an episode of Silicon Valley that cross bred with Lord of the Rings.”–Ethan Nicolle, creator of Axe Cop and Bearmageddon

“Starts off in a world much like our own, where the woman in HR sets you up for a date with a demon slayer, and the boss holds human sacrifices in the basement.  And then it gets weird.”–Michael Z. Williamson, author of the Freehold Series

FRANK J. FLEMING WROTE A POST FOR MY BLOG:  Woke-ify Your Fiction.   Look, it’s just a suspicion, but my feeling is that he’s trying to get into the puppy blending equipment…

I’VE HAD A FEW:  The Great Idea.  But if you try to give me yours, I’ll brain you with a sock.

YAH, I REMEMBER THAT AMENDMENT GRANTING AMERICANS OPAQUE BACKPACKS:  Parkland MSD Students Whine About Security: Clear BackPacks Violate Our Rights.

VICTIMHOOD MAKES NO ONE: Unassailable.

NAH.  IT’S JUST THAT THE LEFT AIN’T GOT NO CULTURE. THEY NEVER DID:  Is Our Culture Dead?

THIS IS THE DEMOGRAPHIC WE’RE LOOKING TO FOR PUBLIC POLICY GUIDANCE?  Moronic condom-snorting challenge takes over social media.

NO, YOU CAN’T PUT SUNSCREEN THERE:  Yes, even your eyeballs can get sunburned.

NO MORE SECRETS:  I thought this was an April Fools’ joke, but it’s dated March 31.

IT’S COOL – HE WILL WEAR OSHA APPROVED REFLECTIVE VEST, SAFETY GLASSES, AND EAR PROTECTION WHILE ON THE JOB:  Airport pays $7,500 for dog to chase away birds on runway.

NEWS YOU CAN USE? THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY I WAS EXPECTING:  How to hack your brain to improve focus and creativity.

AS IF THAT SIGNATURE EVER STOPPED FRAUD:  You may not have to sign credit card receipts ever again.

#METOO!  Obama is ‘relieved’ to no longer be president.

NEWS YOU* CAN USE: Your Breakups Are Not Grand Revelations about Society.

* Particularly if you’re a journalist or editor at the Washington Post.

DAN MCLAUGHLIN: There’s No Ban on Studying Gun Violence.

But the reasons for CDC restrictions come from the fact that CDC gun “research” was politicized junk.

DISPATCHES FROM THE MEMORY HOLE: Nets Ignore Dem Lawmaker Elizabeth Esty Not Running After Shielding Abusive Staffer.

As Jim Treacher likes to say:

SHE’D BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER THE DISGRACED FELON MEGAN BARRY: Carol Swain, former Vanderbilt professor, conservative commentator, to run for Nashville mayor.

WAR ON BOYS: Why raising my son made me question what female empowerment is doing to boys.

It recently occurred to me, however, that if I had a daughter I might be more concerned with passing on different messages.

Just as my own mother repeatedly told me throughout my youth, I would be advising my daughter of the importance of being independent, becoming educated, earning her own money and not relying on anyone. I would be encouraging her to be strong.

But I’m not teaching my son any of those sorts of things. Why? I suppose I’ve always thought it was a given that males will grow up to be strong and independent, self-sufficient and confident, no matter what messages they receive in childhood. . . .

While we’re all happy to talk about our desire for ‘strong women’ in society these days, I’m ashamed to admit that I somehow feel disconcerted to hear someone discuss a ‘strong man’.

Because, if I’m honest, when hearing the words ‘strong man’ I subconsciously think of negative connotations — things like misogyny or bullying. But when I hear the words ‘strong woman’, I think of victory over oppression.

So engrained has this divide become that any display of male strength seems almost discouraged. And when I imagine Fin growing up, that doesn’t sit well with me.

Well, it’s nice to see at least a glimmer of awareness.

Totally, completely, unrelated: Sarah Vine: Women are going off sex because the modern man has lost that raw, masculine edge in this #MeToo world of ours…which doesn’t make for much fun in the bedroom.

Sorry, Ladies: Not everyone can be as hypermasculine as me.

Related: Why Millennial Women Are Dating Older Men.

SAUDI CROWN PRINCE: ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO EXIST. Remember when people made fun of Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia because of that picture with the orb?

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