Wednesday Miscellany!

[maxomai]

• Those photos that purport to show Russian troops in eastern Ukraine turn out to be very questionable, such that the New York Times has repudiated them.


• In Syria, rebels have almost lost control of their de-facto capital in Homs. Rebels are increasingly likely to desert, and some factions are making desertion harder by sparking new fights. By all appearances, the rebellion is done. It's just a matter of how bloody the end is.


• Nate Silver points out the obvious --- the polls do not favor Elizabeth Warren should she run for President in 2016 --- and the not so obvious --- that if she did run, she could force the other candidates to take more progressive positions. Details here.


• This is the most thoughtful analysis I've seen so far of a certain, very controversial scene in last Sunday's Game of Thrones episode. Major spoilers, fair warning.