Wednesday, November 30. 2005
Dear Editor in Chief, For a supposedly Christian-oriented blog, are you aware that you have two naked people on your front page right now, plus a frankly erotic, dare I say "post-coital" painting? This is not appropriate for a wholesome Christian family blog like Maggie's Farm, in my opinion, and I would respectfully request that you avoid such sorts of overly-stimulating and exciting postings in the future. Sincerely, Deeply Offended and Disappointed, in South Carolina Dear Deeply, As you have very perceptively noted, we have made a strategic editorial decision to become a sex-focused blog instead of the obscure, eclectic, thinking person's blog we have been in the past. We believe it will increase our readership if we limit ourselves to the subjects of guns, sex, violence, and rock 'n roll in the future. So, my dear Offended, just bear in mind that Markets Rule, Sex Sells, and humorlessness kills. Sincerely, Bird Dog, Editor Dog in Chief and Chief Financial Officer, Maggie's Farm, LLC
"Towards Europe?" That's the title of a Barone piece this week, in which he provides an optimistic overview of the extent to which the US is not moving in the direction of European-style welfare statism, (which I think of as a modern-day feudalism). While we all enjoy mocking the ways busy-body government chips away at liberty by telling us where we can smoke, making us wear seat-belts, banning fox hunting, restricting our gun rights, etc., it is the Nanny State that is the greater threat to freedom, initiative, and personal autonomy by trading human spirit and vitality for security and safety. A quote: "The Bush administration came into office with plans to get us off the European trajectory, and has had partial success. At the moment, it seems inclined to let the Republican Congress set the course on domestic policy, which means letting the workings of regulated private markets in pensions and health care determine our direction. Democrats would like to move us some distance toward Europe, but how far they neither say nor, so far as I can tell, know. The Bush years have not produced a crisp decision to get off the European trajectory. But they have produced some significant movement in that direction, notwithstanding narrow Republican congressional majorities and harsh partisan divisions." Read the whole thing.
We are on a Botticelli (1445-1510) kick at the moment. If any college in New England needs someone to teach Europe: 1400-1565, we will do it with pleasure. Email us a generous contract, with benefits.
Venus and Mars (1483). 
Time Lines Without a mental time line, or, preferably, a visual time line, I have a tough time getting a good grip on history. While one can learn the most from making one yourself (I've always wanted to make one on the upstairs hallway with magic markers), there are good ones you can buy. Hyperhistory has an online World History timeline, and you can push Hard Copy to buy one. Good Christmas present for history buffs.
A nicotine vaccine for smokers? Good idea. How journalists spread crazy rumors during Katrina. Reason The moslem war in southeast asia. Awaiting Saddam's return - Libertarian Leanings: "Only Saddam can save us. It felt terrible but I am willing to hang and torture again. Saddam taught us about force. He is a strong personality," he said. Boston Globe advises the Church on theology? Squaring the Boston Globe John Dos Passos, Hemingway, the Spanish Civil War, and useful idiots: neoneocon
When giving treats to friends or children, give them what they like, emphatically not what is good for them. G.K. Chesterton
Tuesday, November 29. 2005
Another book I forget which blog recommended Istanbul: The Memory and the City, by Pamuk, but it looks excellent and goes on my Christmas list.
Did anyone miss this? Frank Rich's War, in the NY Sun. Or this on civilian deaths in Iraq: Logic Times? In praise of Joe Lieberman. Ex-Donk
What is this? Click Aliyah Diary category to find out. Ulpan: Progressive Judaism, and the Bankrupcy of Judaism in San Francisco. 11-9-05
The Ulpan was so famous, I expect more physically imposing
structures, some international style of Mies, or perhaps Courboisier,
form following function, as our mental forms would follow the function
of our new language, new Semitic thoughts, biblical, spare, yet clear,
unwasted breath, nomadic laconicism. Biblical brevity we learn, but
such knowledge is transmitted in tin sheds, concrete bunkers with
corrugated roofs, in the Mediterranean summer. Our brains have Hebrew
baked into them.
Situated at the Southern tip of Netanyah, the town itself is sun-worn
with streets named yearningly after the Riviera -- Nice, Aixe,
Provence -- by French-tongued North African Jewish transplants,
refugees who continue to long after La Patrie.
The school, on grounds of a half-star hotel, more a youth hostel,
often sans youth, is too far to walk on baking summer days; too long
to wait for the bus, a heat-beaten mini-van, still run by North
African schedule, in a time warped by Camus' sun, slowly, belatedly
(in American time). The driver, should he be rushed, makes an upward
gesture with his hand, fingers pursed and tips pulsating at each other
as if to say, "I'm coming, I'm coming."
From the town square, pass the beach and as the road ends, veer left
onto a rutted, gravel-embedded path that bounces you to the gate, a
pseudo-security, a guard in the darkened shed, acting as if he has
smoked his nargilah at the last break. The gate is motorized,
electrified, slides open slowly, creakily and only partially, on
rusted rails.
Continue reading "Guest Author: Aliyah Diary #6"
Divorce According to Marquardt, the author of the excellent Between Two Worlds, two-thirds of divorces in America are "optional" or elective, ie not a consequence of abuse, violence, addictions, adultery, or similar lethally destructive misbehavior. Orson Card has written a wise, thoughtful, and mature review of Marquardt's book, and I agree with every word in it. In my experience, many "unhappy" people are unwilling to see that much unhappiness comes from within, not from without, and refuse to see that they have the power to make things work, or not work. Or to see that much human misery comes from people's unwillingness, or inability, to grow up. And both Card, and Marquardt, are emphatic about the point that a family is not a casual institution entered into for "personal fulfillment" or selfish gratifications: it is meant to be a rock and foundation for growing people - both the married people and any kids. Being married is difficult, sacrificial, possibly sacred, and oftentimes happy and peaceful, especially when we take it for granted and do not even realize that we have a good thing going. Marriage is not "natural." Honeymoons never last; passion fades when faced with daily reality; everyone has terrible, nasty flaws; the grass is rarely greener except for a brief time. It's too bad that the adolescent fantasies of true love that lasts forever is not automatic, but must be built and re-built over time. Some quotes from Card's review: "....Between Two Worlds is not just an important book, it is a highly readable one. And, to put it plainly, I believe that anyone who has children and is contemplating a divorce should regard it as a solemn duty to read this book first, and take its findings into consideration." and: "Given that our whole society seems to believe the myth of romantic love -- that hormonal yearnings should trump rational commitments -- it's hardly a surprise that many perfectly good marriages break up over matters that should have been left behind in adolescence. Bad enough the heartbreak such misbehavior causes among the formerly married. But when children are involved, the selfishness and callousness of the behavior of some supposed adults should earn the disapproval of all civilized people. But we are all so nice, so nonjudgmental, that we have to assure everyone that we aren't condemning anybody, that "it's your life." " Read the whole thing.
Thomas Fraser to enter Country Music Hall of Fame. Who? A Scotsman. Here. H/T, Norm. Brits censor Christopher Marlowe, to not offend Moslems. WTF? What happened to the progressive line that art is meant to unsettle people (a loony idea with which I disagree, anyway)? : GOP Bloggers Iowahawk has a Christmas present suggestion - a charming item. Tax cuts for whom? Env. Repub. Democide numbers. Marg. Revolution
Savonarola, Erasmus, and the pre-Reformation I found a piece (actually, part of a lecture series by Kreis) which nicely and succinctly addresses what was going on in Italy, and in Europe, during the 1400s and early 1500s. Specifically, the differences in trends between northern and southern Europe; the power of Savonarola and his Bonfires of the Vanities; and the poor reputation of the Church at that time leading up to Luther. To view Savonarola as a "bad guy" is to make the error of viewing history through our present point of view. He was a reformer, an evangelist, and a true believer with many intellectuals and artists as followers (including Lorenzo the Magnificent and Botticelli), and it was the Church's fear and distrust of him which led to his execution at the spot below, outside the Palazzo Vecchio, where I took this photo 12 days ago. 
The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be. Socrates (470 BC - 399 BC)
Monday, November 28. 2005
The Bible as a career handbook? Christian Science Monitor Repub pushback works. Protein and No Oil comment. Willis to make film about Michael Yon: Michelle Vouchers for Special Ed? Acton Inst. Roggio blogging from Iraq: Fourth Rail
Barone on the plight of the car companies: Op. Journal: "The end, or the beginning of the end, of a familiar and comfortable world: That's how General Motors' announcement last week of massive layoffs and plant closings, following the bankruptcy of Delphi last month, strikes one who grew up in the Detroit area in the two decades immediately after World War II." Increase immigration? I don't think this is what Americans have in mind. Calif. Yankee Another take on the Iraq poll: optimism about freedom in Iraq: Pardon my English Cindy's book signing. Kinda sad. Synthstuff Ice cores reveal carbon dioxide level changes. CSM Our shortage of skilled workers: Cafe Hayek
Ignorance is preferable to error. He is less remote from truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong. Thomas Jefferson(Thanks, Paxety, who let us share his collection of favorite quotes.)
Sunday, November 27. 2005
Guy Stuff I will refer our readers to three sites today which cater to outdoorsmen and hunters/shooters. Santa knows very well that guys like gear. First is Filson. Some of their stuff is more rugged than anyone ever needs - except for lumberjacks - but so are SUVs. Their famous heavy-duty waxed cotton "tin pants" trousers not only stand up by themselves, but they will hold you up too. Their unfashionable stuff is good for one or two lifetimes. The second is Griffin & Howe. Like Kevin's, they cater to the gentleman sportsman. They have very nice stuff, and will make you (or your wife or girlfriend) a very nice custom shotgun - and they are very good to our conservation charity.
More book recommendations, and blog linking I figure that Christmas is partly about getting, and giving, enough books to keep everyone out of trouble for a while. NRO has some book ideas (thanks, Charmaine), including Charmaine's recommendation of a Walker Percy, one of my favorites. But I think Love in the Ruins was his best - or maybe The Last Gentleman. And, speaking of Charmaine, she has a very pointed cartoon which raises the question of why so many bloggers, like us, offer so many brief links to other bloggers and to news sources, instead of limiting ourselves to original writing. We do it to share interesting things we find, and to be part of the conversation. Maybe it's a waste of energy and time: I don't know. As our contributor Opie famously said: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, link." We provide a mixed bag, reflecting our many interests, and, as I like to say, we all just follow our doggy noses and see where they lead us.
We're all victims, aren't we? John Leo on the victim culture: Town HallConcubines are back in style in China, but it gets expensive: LAT The Administration's immigration reform plan: Fred Barnes in the Daily Standard
Matthew 17:20 I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move.
Saturday, November 26. 2005
Another charming offering from the refined Brooklynite, on terrorists and Louisville Sluggers: myfeelingsexactly.wmv. At least he isn't hung up on political correctness.
Deconstructing the Pew polls on Iraq: Dinocrat The Second Amendment in New England: Alphecca Scott at Powerline on multiculturalism: " I don't know enough to judge whether France is in better shape than Great Britain with respect to the corruptions of multiculturalism. Moreover, it seems to me that elites in the United States -- the "leaders" whom John wrote about yesterday -- have similarly elevated multiculturalism into an operative principle, if not a principle of governance." A Marine reports the good news from Iraq: Democracy Project Grandma takes on Liberal Larry: Blame Bush Free Jack Idema. Cao's Blog Why did Welfare lose political popularity? Marginal Revolution Bill Richardson mishandles a baseball lie: Tammy Bruce Charitable giving, by red and blue states: Irish Pennants Why do Europeans work less than Americans? Kenneth Anderson
Friday, November 25. 2005
Liberal fear of American power: LLBS Buying medical insurance: Right Thinking Postal service eliminating Christmas stamps? Tell me it's not true. Darleen. Is anti-muslim racist? Daniel Pipes The great Aldous Huxley died the day JFK did. Grampa remembers. The new DDX destroyer: Calif. Yankee. Very cool. Makes you want to join the Navy. Nagin bitches from Jamaica: Sweetness The Chinese blogosphere: Samizdata
A Brooklynite, on Terrorism Crude, straight-talking, humorous, X-rated video: Terrorists.wmv
Thanks, Steve, for this charming slice of real New York.
The discovery of a new dish does more for human happiness than the discovery of a new star. Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
|
