Thursday, April 13. 2006
Tawana Brawley redux, at Duke? LaShawn wonders. I will remain open-minded, but it was amazing, and disturbing, to see the widespread assumption of guilt because the story fit a leftist myth. Man, when this stuff happens, the Left just eats it up, with the MSM cheerleading all the way. You might almost imagine that they welcome such stories...but to think that would be "mean-spirited," would it not? The Medicare prescription plan: 8 in 10 are satisfied with it. Have you read that in the newspaper? Ca. Yank The Wishful Thinking Theory of foreign affairs. Maybe Iran will change its mind? Huh? Have you ever tried to change just one person's mind about anything? The WaPo has no fear of Iran. Kim du Toit announces a major immigration protest, to be held in November, 2006 and November, 2008. The reductio ad absurdum of affirmative action: DNA-based job and college applications. NE Repub. This could get good: Every male has one entire X chromosome, which makes them 50% female. Every person has some African blood - duh! Not some - 100%, when you think about it - it was just a while ago in history, before that strange skin mutation turned my ancestors to a pasty, sickly, blotchy pale color, but what does that matter? I am a little worried about my Celtic and Norman warrior DNA - nobody seems to care about them. But hey, Harvard - I am 100% African, and half woman, and my DNA proves it. My skin color? It's just a Michael Jackson thing. My genitalia? None of your business, you filthy-minded Admissions Dept. My character? Horrible: "malicious and so full of guile. Give it an inch, and he'll take a mile." It's a Human Thing. Wierd men, and why they should marry foreign women. By a wierd man: Marginal Rev. The Ugly Kid Crisis. What can the government do about this? If the government can solve the "Obesity Crisis" (shortly after abandoning the "Hunger Crisis") they can solve the Ugly Kid problem. I suggest we start with a $100,000,000 educational pilot program. Italy returns to instability. My opinion? Not a serious nation; nice place to visit, with the most beautiful women in the world. From Publius: Political instability is the result of political immaturity in a country that - in some respects - has still a fascistic mentality (statism, bureaucracy and wide corruption of politicians from both sides).
On Gambling, Stolen from News for Christians: From Agape Press -Apparently Americans have more money than they know what to do with. According to U.S. News & World Report's Kim Clark, each year Americans lose $80 billion to gambling in its various forms -- from casinos to bingo to online gambling to horse racing. Gamblers get plenty of opportunities to play. Forty-eight states have some form of legalized gambling, says Jeffrey Kluger of Time -- and that does not include the Internet, which is quickly becoming a wide-open portal for those with an itch to bet. Read the complete article here.
Wednesday, April 12. 2006
The backlash is growing. Thousands of illegals marching 
and making demands is not the way to endear yourselves
with folks who spent their day at work. Yesterday, our Barrister said his heart was hardening (scroll down). Today, our Chairman was moved to write about what citizenship entails. Today, I see the gentle Sensible Mom reach the boiling point. Pardon my English puts the lie to the old "jobs Americans won't do", noting how American workers were sent home from New Orleans because "the Mexicans have arrived." And everyone knows my opinion - Give California to Mexico and call it a day. Hawkins has a powerful piece which I hope, but doubt, is being read in DC. It's not only good politics, but it's right. Quote: Just imagine if the Republicans in the Senate took the same line as the Republicans in the House and pushed a bill that does nothing but secure the border and strengthen our immigration laws. Not only would it be wildly popular, but think of what a fantastic issue it would be for the elections in 2006. It would literally put the Democrats in a position where they would feel compelled to vote against securing the border. Plus, think about the other issues that this would put in play: -- The GOP would be the party that believes in respecting the law and the Democrats would be the party that believes in rewarding people for breaking the law. -- The GOP would be the party sticking up for the jobs of poor Americans while the Democrats would be the party that wants to bring in foreigners to take jobs from Americans. -- The GOP would be the party looking out for the American taxpayers, while the Democrats would be the party that wants to make illegals citizens so they can give them welfare and food stamps. -- The GOP would be the party that puts Americans first, while Democrats would be the party for people who believe that foreigners should be given a leg up over Americans in America.
Read the whole thing.
 American and Canadian citizenships are the most desirable in the world. Both countries are the most welcoming in the world, sometimes to their detriment.
We were both, long ago, huge empty expanses in need of sheep-herders, ranchers, pioneers, miners, farmers, and shop-keepers. Both countries made it easy to obtain citizenship, compared to all other countries on the planet. Far too easy, if you ask me, because true citizenship is not only a gift, but a privilege which is accompanied by many dead-serious responsibilities and duties. Acceptance as a citizen is not a free lunch. I suppose I view Duties as more important than Rights, because, as a social contract nation, rights and freedom can only be protected by a dutiful people. Jefferson: "A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society." (In these times, the word "right" has been perverted and twisted to mean "a right to get" something rather than a "freedom from state power".) As I observe all of the complexities of the illegal immigration issue, and peruse the Aliyah Diary series posted here, depicting the long and difficult process of becoming an Israeli citizen, I begin to wonder what American citizenship means, and what it should mean - not the legal part, but the thing itself. When I call someone a "good citizen," or a "desirable citizen," this is at least part of what I mean, as a regular American: - They try to obey all of the laws of the land (excluding speeding).
- They aspire to honest and honorable behavior in all of their dealings with people and institutions, as defined by our civilization.
- They are interested in, and know, the history and traditions of the country and its philosophical underpinnings.
-They have some concept of what freedom means, and are skeptical about government power.
- They take care of their kids and their families.
-They aspire to personal independence and responsibility
-They seek ways to give of themselves ("Ask not...")
-They are willing to fight and die for their country when called upon, even if they think they know better.
- They speak their mind fearlessly.
- They keep themselves informed about world and national issues.
- They like to work and to assume responsibilities.
-They vote, even if they hate their choices, and get involved in community activities.
- They love our capitalist heritage, because it provides opportunity and freedom to try to do whatever we want without the weight of government on our backs.
-They Pledge Allegiance, and mean it - not so much to a flag, but to an idea, embodied imperfectly in a nation of people.
- They help a neighbor in need; they are charitable.
- They delight in the words of the Constitution on which we are founded.
-They respect our abundant and wonderful free worship of God.
-They are grateful for the remarkable system we have.
-They love our land, want to protect and preserve our heritage, not as real estate, but as a precious gift and a heritage to be passed on without destruction.
- They receive and profess citizenship as a sacred blessing for us as a precious island in a world full of danger, tyranny, insecurity, lack of opportunity, ignorance, hopelessness, brutality, and inhumanity.
There is no higher honor or achievement in life than that of being a "good citizen" of a free republic. It is not easy. I aspire to it, and it is my highest compliment.
The meaning of Passover. Extracted from a lovely and profound piece by Bruce Kesler: Standing before Pharaoh, Moses did not merely demand, in the name of G-d, that he "Let My people go," but "Let My people go, that they may serve Me." What is the significance of this liberating "service"? It means that man, no matter how free of external constraints, is a finite creature, ever subject to the limits of his own nature and character. That to attain true freedom he must therefore transcend his humanity - his emotional, intellectual, even spiritual self - and access the "spark of G-dliness" that is his infinite, supra-human self…. For freedom is more than the drive to escape foreign and negative inhibitors: no matter how free of them we are, we remain defined by the boundaries of self and self-definition. Freedom is the incessant drive to "Passover" these boundaries, to draw on our divine, infinite potential to constantly overreach what we are.
Too funny. New Orleans using school busses to bus voters for Nagin into New Orleans. The role of International A.N.S.W.E.R. in the pro-illegal immigration protests. Totaly ignored by the MSM. Driscoll 75% of Chinese like free market capitalism. What are the numbers for those of other countries? The Conspiracy "Instant Democrats"? Will on immigration reform. Excellent essay on the history of gunpowder.
Tuesday, April 11. 2006
Please welcome Roger as the newest outspoken denizen of our dank and dark slave quarters, wantin' to fly like an eagle while bein' chained to the floor in the basement of Maggie's Farm. It is not an everyday occurrance to snag a deceased Norman King of Sicily to channel through one's blog.
The Nail that Sticks Up Must Be Hammered Down How many millimeters outside the left-wing circle of acceptable opinion are you allowed to stray without bringing the "We Shall Overcome Lite" protests to your doorstep? Public figures in the United States whose views would make them eligible for the Vice Presidential slot on the Kennedy ticket in 1960 are routinely called Rethuglicans and Nazis today and shouted down. Look at poor Joe Lieberman, wandering the landscape, and wondering: Where'd my party go? Professor Ann Althouse is a feminist liberal, by any sane person's definition of it. But she has the audacity to have an open mind about things, and doesn't think Bush is Hitler, and so attracts a diverse and literate commentariat to her blog. And she's put her foot outside the circle twice in one day, bless her heart. She's caused a bit of a stir by being invited to dinner before a public appearance by Camille Paglia at UWisconsin that Professor Althouse graciously recommended on her blog. The invitation was withdrawn and Ann was then told her presence would not be required at dinner after all, because she wasn't quite 100% cheerleading for Ms Paglia on her blog. Professor Althouse is simultaneously fending off an assault by the organizers of a "punk" music festival recently held in Madison, called "Slutfest" who took exception to Ann allowing commenters to point out that their punk festival sounded like "My Little Pony Nihilism." What do you do when you don't get 100% cheerleading for your "Slutfest?" Threaten to get The Professor reprimanded or fired. Read the potty-mouthed Slutfesters idea of salty language --it's a hoot. Visit the Professor's fine and fun blog salon, and tell the fainting couch feminists the real feminists are Constitutional Law Professors, not Madonna Ciccone wannabes and Slutfesters.
I try to bring a soft heart but a hard-headed approach to things in general, but I am afraid the illegal immigration issue is beginning to harden my heart. Here is why: 1. It is not right for foreigners, in our country illegally, to demand things. They are in no position to demand anything. Every one of them is deportable at any time. 2. I am suspicious of the Left's apparent support of open borders. No nation has open borders. Is it a nihilistic impulse, or pandering, or both? 3. I object to the application of the concept of "rights" to illegal foreign nationals. This is not a civil rights issue, because we are not dealing with citizens. There are legal pathways to American citizenship, open to all, and more readily available than in any other nation. "Get in line," as they say. 4. If the illegals have so much to protest about, then why are they here? Why no protests about conditions in Mexico? 5. If we will have a de-facto open borders policy with Mexico, then why not with China, India, Russia, Poland, Iraq, etc.? Sneak in, and start making demands. These protests are what I consider "working the system." 6. I resent the Administration for bringing this issue up at all, now. Stupid. Enforce our borders, and let the people think about the issue for a while. We are too far from a consensus. 7. Just out of curiousity, are our Meican and Guatemalan and Phillipino illegals paying their taxes to their home nations, as they are required to do? Linkzona has some more thoughts from Arizona.
Docks in winter storage. 
 Aliyah 3-15-06: Galilee
We hit the road to the upper and lower Galilee, in opposite order. A week ago Wed, off with the Ulpan, rising at 530 to get to Ulpan bus by 7 am. There is a quality of herding cats in such groups, with people meandering off and occasionally back. One girl from Switzerland insists that we stop the bus mid road, as her friend has just arrived at the Ulpan, which we left some ten minutes earlier: she's only three minutes away, she insists. And we stop. Miss Swiss exits the bus, assuring that we cannot leave, and we learn that her friend is still on the highway, being driven by someone, who doesn't' know Netanya, so can't find us. About ten minutes later, some reason prevails, and Opher -- our Yemenite guide-song leader-accordianist-pianist-overall core of patience -- negotiates Swissy back on the bus, with assurances that it is easier for her friend's driver to find us downtown Netanya (where another group has been patiently waiting for our now-late arrival). This was a bit like reverse-hostage negotiation: Opher trying to convince Miss Swiss on-board so that we can be held in thrall en route, rather than mis-en-scene. When Swissy's friend boards, both of them have a mad on for our not waiting mid-road, rather than going into town. This lasts for a few hours.
Something curative of the above upon entering "god's vineyard" -- Carmel. We put Zikhron Yaakov on our right and Haifa north and behind us as we descend into god-will-sow valley, the Jezreel. "To sow," the word in Hebrew, shares a root with the word, "arm," connecting us bodily with the limb used to broadcast seeds, signs of hope, of future. This is a very "bodied" land, Israel, also one with sudden, even stark shifts of weather, and we are edging into the season of hope, of spring. Our guide, Sara, points out that this is the best time to see the flowers in the Galilee, before the summer heat wilts them. Life buds, even blossoms here, sometimes in hidden corners, such as the forests we will visit, in spite of the acrimony surrounding. Freud, after receiving Stefan Zweig's enthusiastic book about Israel, thanked him, and remarked eliptically, that this is a strange land, from which little art or science has emerged, but only three illusions. (And of such illusions, Freud saw little future.) Freud finishes, it should be studied more.
Continue reading "Guest Author, Aliyah Diary #15"
Look who is running for the Human Rights Council of the UN. Atlas Another view of the Mass. Health Insurance Law: Headed for an Iceberg? NE Repub. Moslems for open borders. See, the problem is this - open borders for Mexicans means open borders for anyone. And then you are no longer a country - you're just a place. Did global warming stop eight years ago? Ex Donk And this piece on how cleaner air adds to warming.
Monday, April 10. 2006
It is the beginning of Forsythia season in Yankeeland. 
 Today is "Celebrate Illegal Alien Day." Let's make it a national holiday, GW. Michelle. Is this not a case in which foreigners, illegally in the US, are attempting to influence American politics? Does that make sense? My political intuition tells me that these protests will backfire, badly. Since when can you sneak into a country, and then make demands? As our reader comments, what is Spanish for "chutzpah"?
When I last returned from the US after a vacation in Italy, with a US passport, they put me through a meat-grinder. Easier to fly home to Mexico, and walk through the river. They would not have gone through my bags and done a passport check - not that there was anything to find. Well, I had an apple from the airplane in my pocket which I forgot to carry in my stomach - an illegal agricultural product. Shame on me. Here's the list of places where the protest marches will be occurring. These marches seem to be coordinated by the Center for Community Change. Auster points out that normalizing illegal immigration means, in essence, an open borders policy in which the US abandons the right to control immigration of any sort. In my opinion, that is an abrogation of nationhood because, as I have said, half the world would come here if all they had to do was wade across the Rio Grande.
In reply to our email, asking Borders to confirm that their cartoon decision was reported accurately, we received the following profession of dhimmitude, dated 4/9: Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your expression of concern about our decision not to carry the issue of Free Inquiry magazine featuring cartoons depicting Muhammad. Borders is committed to our customers' right to choose what to read and what to buy and to the First Amendment right of Free Inquiry to publish the cartoons. In this particular case, we decided not to stock this issue in our stores because we place a priority on the safety and security of our customers and our employees. We believe that carrying this issue presented a challenge to that priority.
We value your thoughts and sincerely appreciate that you invested your time to tell us how you feel about the issue. I can assure you that our management team gave careful deliberation to this decision and considered all sides of the issue before reaching this conclusion.
I hope that this information is helpful. If you should have any other questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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Borders Customer Care
http://www.bordersstores.com
 It's vacation time again, in France. Watch the protests in France fizzle. What a country. The protesters will be at the beach in Spain with their parents! Vive la revolution des enfants.
Hey Sy Hirsch. We consider all options. That means consider. Can you consider anything other than reflexive anti-Americanism? S,C and A has had it with the "colonialism" theme. Me, too. Those ex-colonial countries are lucky. They were given a chance to come out of the stone age, but many of them do not appreciate the opportunity, and wish to return. A French econ professor tried the real world for a few weeks - and was converted. Of course. She was surprised to find out that people work fairly hard, with enthusiasm, and enjoy working. Why is the Left anti-work? Work is good. Work is fun. Work is interesting. Work is ADULT. Will the MSM ever admit that Saddam was supporting Al Quaida? No. It doesn't fit their theme. Don't bother me with facts. Lib. Leanings The economists at Marginal Rev. look at the Mass. Health plan. They sort-of like it. Uncle Norm does the 101 best screenplays. Reducing pollution is worsening global warming. Oh, man. Can we forget this yet? Whatever the cause, nothing effective will be done. Let's get over the hysteria. Ten years ago, the hysteria was the next ice age. Ed Rendell is a good ol' boy, but he has a problem with Lynn Swann. Swann will win. French "tribalism" is interfering with the Communism they need. Sheesh. What dopes. Hopeless. For Cape Codders and Cape Cod lovers: Cape Cod Today. Roots was a big deal. Fake, but accurate? Classical values takes a retrospective look at the TV series. Will is upset about Junk Science. So are we.
“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.” - Edward Abbey, naturalist and author Quote thanks to LaShawn, with these quotes of hers, too: The rule of law has been eroding for some time now. Think about the effect amnesty will have on criminal aliens who commit additional crimes, especially the ones prone to drinking, driving, and killing innocent people. The word illegal is rendered meaningless. If flouting immigration law isn’t illegal, why should drunk driving be illegal? Or selling drugs? If you think there’s too much race-talk now, just wait until a critical mass of black people finally “get it” and realize how criminal aliens are hurting black workers forced to compete with them. Elite politicians and “the wealthy” are insulated. They don’t and probably will never have to compete with criminal aliens hired for low wages by criminal businesses. It’s the average person on the street who suffers. And think about the message this sends to home-grown criminals. Under Bush’s plan, millions of foreign criminals would go unpunished just so they can continue providing low-wage and low-skilled labor. As I said, if you think you’re fed up with race now…
Read it all.
 We will try to do a Holy Week post daily. I remembered yesterday why Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem for Passover. A horse meant war - a donkey meant humility. A quote from David Warren's Palm Sunday post:
...Which is not to present Christ as the gliberals paint him today -- as some kind of fatuous pacifist preaching tolerance and multiculturalism. He was the one who said, in the Gospel of Matthew, “I bring not peace but a sword,” and that he would “set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother.” In Luke: “Do you think I come to bring peace on earth? I tell you, no.” Upon entering Jerusalem through St Stephen’s Gate, he turned left and into the Temple -- to do what? He pushed over the tables of the money changers, made a whip to scourge the sellers of sacrificial cattle and sheep, told the dove-sellers to (euphemism) “get out of here”. This is the Christ that Western man has deleted from his collective memory. The Christ who was not, incidentally, making some effete protest against the commercialization of religion. Rather, the one who, as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and Amos before him, was denouncing the cult of animal sacrifice -- the reduction of religion to cheap acts of propitiation; the violence done to God. And the remark he makes about the “den of robbers” is quoted from Jeremiah, who had stood at the same spot, making the same point, six centuries before.
Saturday, April 8. 2006
 Anytime the government gets involved in do-gooder projects, they screw it up.
Their motive is generally some combination of "caring" and vote-buying, and the effect is usually a reduction of freedom and choice, a diminution of personal responsibility, and numbers of people working the system. I am not convinced that there is any huge national demand for more government involvement in medical care. We already have Medicaid for the poor, and Medicare for both the wealthy and the non-wealthy older folks. More and more doctors are opting out of Medicare, though. I no longer accept it, mainly because the coding is impossible to understand, and if I make a mistake, it is a felony. I would rather offer charity when needed, as docs have done forever. But I no longer do any costly procedures. However, medical practice has changed, and the costs of procedures is large. Every responsible person should have Major Medical coverage these days unless you are so wealthy that paying $20,000 for a bypass, or $16,000 for a hospital stay after being hit by a truck, or $100,000 for a dubiously-effective long drawn out treatment for metastatic cancer, is easy for you to pay out of the checking account. In addition to the costs of running a hospital these days, and the cost of procedures, there is no doubt that concerns about law suits have increased the cost of medical care. Prudent and practical medical judgement becomes replaced by fear-driven decisions, resulting in enormously expensive tests in search of the 1-in-10,000 possibility. Thus, between the costs of malpractice insurance and the cost of low-probability tests, trial lawyers, insurance companies, and hospitals are the beneficiaries of medical insurance. They all get paid. Who are the people who really "need" Major Medical insurance, but lack it? Not the poor - they are covered. Not the over-65 - they are covered by their under-65 neighbors via Medicare taxes. Not the prosperous - they buy it, or are insured through work. It's the under-65 non-poor (and their families) who have either not arranged their lives in such a way as to buy or to obtain coverage through work - and illegals. Plus those with chronic problems who cannot buy insurance and are unemployed. That is who we are talking about when we talk about the "uninsured." In Mass., most of the uninsured turn out to be young single men who don't want to spend the money on it - their foolish choice should not be our problem. A healthy married couple, both working at Walmart, with a family income of $56,000, can certainly afford to buy medical coverage, although it might mean driving an older car. In my opinion, any medical insurance law ought to recognize that those are the targets for it. Also, any medical insurance law should be Major Medical - with a choice of deductibles anywhere between $500-10,000. And no coverage for quackery and elective things such as chiropractic, yogurt enemas, homeopathy, gym memberships, abortions, routine check-ups, herbal wraps and massage "therapy." While everyone wants a free lunch, there is none. Somebody pays the bill - either you, or your next-door neighbor pays it for you. As I always say, if you want to have a body, and kids, then figure out how to take care of them. It's part of being a grown-up. Do what you have to do, and make good choices. Life is hard. Nobody promised us a rose garden. Utopian dreams of government "solutions" usually end up turning into nightmares, while emptying our pockets, nurturing an un-American sub-culture of weakness, dependency and entitlement, and reducing our freedom. If you cannot take care of kids, or would rather buy a new car, do not have kids. It's your choice. They can be expensive, but do not dump their expenses on your next-door neighbor. That is lame unless, due to grieveous misfortune, you need charity. Americans love charity, but they hate to be ripped off by people with options. Kesler has a follow-up piece on the Mass. laws, looking at its shortcomings. And a conservative Mass. reader offers a fine rant in our Comments about the unwelcome burdens of government's efforts to do things for him. Recent posts on the subject: Scroll down. Other pieces we have done on the subject here and here. Image: MRI of the head. Cost: $400-800. There happens to be a brain inside that one.
The Mafia campaigns against Berlusconi. Sadly, in Italy that isn't a problem - it helps. In the US, we still got some towns like that, ay, Ton'? Hamas determined to eliminate Rotary Clubs. They are really getting serious, now. You would think killing all of the Jews would be enough for them. And now even the EU blows them off. Who are the really cool radicals of today? The Libertarians. Ed Driscoll. It is true. The Left is old, dusty, obsolete, rejected, and done. Trial lawyers and Vioxx and Merck: The doctors want Vioxx. Great drug. But all durgs have side effects. Duh. And guess what? If 500,000 people take Vioxx for arthritis, some of them will have heart attacks. They are mostly older folks, so some will get cancer too. This legal system remains corrupt as hell, while lawyers get rich with scams. Is that clear? Hunting and illegal immigration. The swarms of illegals are interfering with hunting in Arizona. That is not good. Linkzona. The Dartmouth Review got Mark Steyn. Wow. How can I attend? How can we expel San Francisco from the union? Wish they would declare war, like the Confederacy. We could just say "No, thanks. Keep it." Power, idolatry, Islam, etc. From One Cosmos: The worship of power is the source of all idolatry. Thus, let's not pretend there haven't been Christian idolaters. It's just that the worship of power is a human flaw, not something intrinsic to Christianity. Jesus emphasized this point time and again: "the meek shall inherit the earth," "blessed are the poor in spirit," "blessed are you when they revile and persecute you," etc.
Friday, April 7. 2006
 Last chance to put in your orders:
A great source for native plantings on a large scale: Musser Forests
A great source for fruits and berries, and miscellaneous: Miller Nurseries
The premier place for perennials: White Flower Farm
Great source for unusual varieties: Wayside Gardens
A month or so ago we posted a snarky and unkind critique of a post by Mixing Memory, a blog concerning cognitive psychology which we read weekly because of our interest in the subject. Specifically, we erroneously claimed that his blog, or at least his post, ignored the religious and/or spiritual, and we also were ill-mannered in doubting the hard-science rigor of the post. I hope he will accept our apology. Here are some of his posts on religion. And here is his latest: How Motivated Cognition can Save your Marriage.
From an interview with Benedict: Asked by one student how he realized his own priestly vocation, the 78-year-old pontiff said that when he was young in Germany it was more "normal" to accept faith and vocations than it is today. "There was the Nazi regime," Benedict said. "We were told very loudly that in the new Germany 'there will not be anymore priests, there will be no more consecrated life, we don't need this anymore, find another profession."'
Looking for a "How-To" book on becoming a Manly Man - a review of a few books on the subject in the CSM: "A Guy's Guide to Being a Man's Man," is as full of practical tips as Mansfield's is devoid of them. He reminds men exactly how to behave with honor, respect, and gentlemanliness. That includes dating ("don't look too eager"), dressing ("no ties with animals, Looney Tune characters, or Spongebob."), dining ("order New York strip steak for three"), and listening to "man's man" music ("Sinatra was the ultimate"). His formula for men in 2006 is to get a manicure (but no pedicure), money clip (no Velcro wallets), and a DVD of "Saving Private Ryan."
Why aid doesn't work in Africa. It's a well-known fact, and even our State Dept gets it. Africa needs investment by bold entrepreneurs from all over the world. Samizdata. Rick Moran gets on a roll. One quote: There are even efforts in blue states to stop “trading” with people and companies who live in ordinary America, as if people who live, work, play, go to church on Sunday, take off their hat when the flag goes by, and get choked up when they hear the national anthem live in a different country than the urban sophisticates who dominate the culture and to a large extent, the national conversation. We are told what is proper to believe, what we should watch on television, what cartoons are blasphemous, and which European countries are better than we are. We are instructed in what is “good” and even what is funny and what is not. And when red state America rebels against this cultural tyranny by voting the way they think rather than the way they are told to, they are belittled as morons, mouth breathers, hicks, hillbillies, and dolts. And liberals wonder why they can’t win an election for dog catcher in most areas of the country? In truth, as we head into the silly season in politics, Democrats are going to have to find a way to put a lid on this attitude of loathing toward ordinary voters lest they be discovered for the insufferable elitist louts they truly are.
Thanks for that, Rick, from your loutish hillbilly friends at Maggie's Farm. Whole thing here.
I can think of a few others, but the main downside is that wives don't like men to take naps, according to the always-wise Joe at Evang. Outpost: We men realize that we are completely screwed up, yet, for some inexplicable reason, we don't feel the need to change. Since we can rarely muster the audacity to openly show disdain for the Master Plan, we have to take a more passive-aggressive approach. By napping we can enter an unconscious state where we don't have to think about our feelings, ponder where this relationship is going, or answer questions about why the floor around the toilet is always sticky.
Bird of Paradise says: "Been there, done that." Just another Gnostic Gospel. I agree, Reverend. But this old stuff is interesting.
The cost of liquids in my neighborhood: Whole milk: 4.75/gallon
Poland Spring bottled water: 2.79/gallon
Regular Shell gas: 2.91/gallon
Ballantine Ale: 7.67/gallon Another new blog to monitor the accuracy of a newspaper. In this case, The Baltimore Sun. The Sun Lies Milford, NH bans the Easter Bunny. Now it's the Government Bunny, I guess, that delivers the eggs for the Annual Egg Hunt. Art bloopers in the DaVinci Code. Middlebrow. Hard Life #1: Child Sorcery and the street children of the Congo. Remarkable photos. Hard Life #2: on-line interviews with Ethiopian villagers struck with drought and famine. Krauthammer on illegal immigration: Amnesty will only encourage more flow over the border. Build a wall. The wife-buying market in India.
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