Sunday, January 14. 2007
Fuller Seminary's new worship center. Wow. But didn't we used to call these churches, or chapels? Worship Centers? h/t, Smart Christian The argument against government negotiating drug prices. WaPo (h/t Bruce Kesler) The Moslem "bitchslap culture" No Pasaran The urbanization of the world continues apace. Eliminate disgusting "farmer's tan." Dust my Broom You will not believe this Duke Prof. Durham in Wonderland. What she says sounds psychotic to me, both in structure and content. Vietnam loves America. Not your father's Vietnam
 From G. K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy, as posted in Dr. Bob's good recent piece on Faith and Reason:
… [T]he materialist philosophy (whether true or not) is certainly much more limiting than any religion. In one sense, of course, all intelligent ideas are narrow. They cannot be broader than themselves. A Christian is only restricted in the same sense that an atheist is restricted. He cannot think Christianity false and continue to be a Christian; and the atheist cannot think atheism false and continue to be an atheist. But as it happens, there is a very special sense in which materialism has more restrictions than spiritualism. … The Christian is quite free to believe that there is a considerable amount of settled order and inevitable development in the universe. But the materialist is not allowed to admit into his spotless machine the slightest speck of spiritualism or miracle. … The Christian admits that the universe is manifold and even miscellaneous, just as a sane man knows that he is complex. The sane man knows that he has a touch of the beast, a touch of the devil, a touch of the saint, a touch of the citizen. Nay, the really sane man knows that he has a touch of the madman. But the materialist’s world is quite simple and solid, just as the madman is quite sure he is sane. The materialist is sure that history has been simply and solely a chain of causation, just as the interesting person before mentioned is quite sure that he is simply and solely a chicken. Materialists and madmen never have doubts.
Saturday, January 13. 2007
The problem with government-controlled health care is that it tips a fundamental balance, and an important psychological balance, between individual citizen and the state by transforming everyone into a client/supplicant/dependent in relation to the state in one of the most important areas of their life. This is a paraphrase of something I read or heard in the past week. Wish I could remember who said it. Whatever. What it captures, I believe, is the reason the Left wants government health care. Power over your heart - literally. One step closer to that bowl of lentils - and serfdom. Guess what - your doctor won't work for you anymore. They will work for "the greater good." How about if your plumber worked like that? Or your lawyer? They are all just technicians, right?
Reposted from December, 2005 Scotland was a feudal, corrupt, barbaric land where the warlords had all the weapons, until the late 1600-early 1700s. But when they discovered capitalism and French enlightenment thought (the wild Celts never had much connection with the strange and foreign Brit land to their immediate south), they really ran with it. Along with everything else, they were especially interested in how the newfangled capitalism (which was replacing the concepts of mercantilism at the time) might be consistent with Christian virtues. David Hume and Adam Smith were just the tips of a giant iceberg that thrived for one hundred years until squelched by a pious Presbyterian religiosity which stifled intellectual adventure. For a fine synopsis of this splendid period in Scotland's history, read here. After refreshing your memory with that, let me introduce you to a jewel of an essay by David Denby in the New Yorker from 2004 entitled Northern Lights: How modern life emerged from 18th century Edinburgh. It begins: "On January 8, 1697, at some time between two and four in the afternoon, an eighteen-year-old student named Thomas Aikenhead was hanged in Edinburgh. Aikenhead had been found guilty of a serious charge: the previous year he had several times told other young men that the doctrines of Christian theology were “a rapsodie of faigned and ill-invented nonsense.” Aikenhead’s friends, testifying against him, told the court that he had spoken of “the Imposter Christ” and had rejected the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Redemption. Aikenhead recanted all these sentiments—he said he had fallen under the spell of atheistical tracts—but no one defended him, and the jury voted for death. On the scaffold, Aikenhead declared that he had come to doubt the objectivity of good and evil, and that he believed moral laws to be the work of governments or men. His disastrous misstep—the joshing blasphemies about Christianity—point toward the anti-Christian side of the French Enlightenment, toward Voltaire’s suave pagan ironies and sarcasms. The student’s last statement—that moral laws are the work of governments and men—is one of the assumptions behind the American Revolution. The remark anticipates, as well, the British liberalism of the nineteenth century and the enduring work, and enduring trial, of modernity."
Read his entire piece. (The flag is the cross of St. Andrew, wherein whose connection with Scotland lies a curious finger and tooth tale.)
 In defence of Bishop Ussher. Makes good sense to me. Asst Village Idiot
Another scientist lines up among the warming doubters. Moonbattery World's largest flower. Scarey: looks like a man-eater, meat grinder, bad loser. Science Daily Am I the only cool dude who doesn't watch 24? Am I the only cool dude without a TV? When I need TV, I drop in at Rudys, with my CFM buds. Mark Steyn, Doggerel King. His Sandy Burglar tunes. Powerline As Nifong makes his exit, a parent says (via Drudge): 'Mr. Nifong, you've picked on the wrong families … and you will pay every day for the rest of your life.'"
Schubert teaches "the folly of despair." He died at 31! Telegraph, Via A&L If you'll be my Dixie chicken, I'll be your Tennessee Man. Great guitar. Youtube at Blue Crab. (the link breaks. scroll down on Blue Crab's site - it is worth it) Yes, Little Feat is still in business. The Now I Get It Department. Conspiracy to keep you poor and stupid. Image: Why the photo of Diane Lane, besides pure love of beauty? Because our link about "24" gave us an excuse to steal a photo from the semi-obsessive Diane fan and fellow Yankee Ex-Donkey. Hope he won't mind. She is a charmer, even when fully clothed.
Friday, January 12. 2007
We have been very boat-oriented this week. Is Spring coming? 1. A father's life advice to his 21 year-old son: "You only need to know two things: you can marry more money in a minute than you can make in a lifetime, and always have friends who own boats." 2. "A boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into."
 While hunting (unsuccessfully) for an online image of Cornelius Vanderbilt's yacht North Star, of which I have seen a painting, I learned that the yacht I was seeking was one owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt 3rd - not the original North Star which was a 270' paddle-wheel yacht built in 1853, and owned by the first Cornelius, aka Commodore Vanderbilt.
I was sidetracked by a brief but excellent bio of Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877). It's quite a life story. The guy was no push-over, and he wasn't much for philanthropy, although he donated a modest 1 million to start Vanderbilt University. We associate his name with railroads, but he made his fortune in shipping before he took an interest in railroads in the 1860s. This site has a good outline of all of his entrepreneurial ventures. In his desire to deliver mail to California faster than his competitor, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, he developed a route across Nicaragua instead of Panama and cut two days off the trip. (US mail delivery was entirely contracted out until 1914.) A brief survey of the history of US mail led me to the Pony Express, officially known as The Central California and Pike's Peak Express Company, which I recalled only functioned for 1 1/2 years, in 1860/61, until the telegraph went through to California.  Drawn back to railroad history, I decided to refresh my memory of the history of the New York Central Railroad (for which Vanderbilt built the still-glorious Grand Central Station in NYC). And there I learned about Erastus Corning's role in the building of the railroads of the eastern US, before Vanderbilt took over.
While tempted to look into the construction of the Albany-Chicago line, instead I followed a path into Erastus Corning's businesses, one of which was the St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal Company. The St. Mary's River flows from Lake Superior to Lake Huron, and Corning built the locks (known as the American locks), now part of the Soo Lock system - still among the busiest locks in the world. They even have a webcam. In 3 days, the locks close for the winter. Hope you enjoyed my ramble. The history of America is not the history of its government leaders - it's the history of its doers. I never found the image I was seeking. OK, back to work.
 A reporter can create controversy, and thus a story, almost effortlessly. All you do is ask enough people a suggestive question until you find someone who disagrees with whatever it is. Then you have your story.
Whether they're a nut, or uninformed, matters not. Apparently some people do not care for coyote hunt contests. We did a piece on the eastern Coyote last year. We would welcome such contests in New England.
Christian Fascist Militias (CFMs) from Portland, Maine to San Francisco have been wanting to know what sort of modest, but cute uniforms our super-super secret Lady's Auxiliary wears when on practice maneuvers. See Continuation page for the warm-weather super-secret uniforms of the Ladys' Auxiliary, The Crusader Legion, Massachusetts Division, Unit 2703 of Pittsfield, MA (alas, not work-safe in most work settings nowadays). And don't tell - we have more than enough members already, eagerly awaiting the right time to take over and turn the USA into a totalitarian theocracy. Bush will tell us when to make our move: We await Dear Leader's signal. Our first target will be Rudy's Pizzeria and Lounge, for a few shots 'n beers with The Auxiliary.
Continue reading "Christian Fascist Militia Lady's Auxiliary Uniforms"
I like Rick Moran's take on the embassy raid. Indeed, how can they complain?
Like totally frogified. C'est so Paris! Reminds a reader of this classic French exchange (video). "Your mother was a hamster...")
"Trying" is lying. A reader's mom. Do, or do not. There is no try. Yoda
We have recently stumbled upon two blogs we enjoy. First, La Vida Vica. The intriguing and mysterious author does not post often enough, but she is good. (h/t, S,C and A). She is amusing in her piece about wanting to be lesbian because she can't get a date. Second, M. Simon's Power and Control. So many blogs, so little time.
Best explanation I've seen of the Shia-Sunni history and conflict. Strategy Page (h/t, Instap.)
From Tim Blair: If you ever feel deeply annoyed by a person sitting next to you on an airplane, bus, subway, or train, you can open your laptop and push this button, and see if things settle down.
Among various other business interests, my Gramps had the Elco dealership for New England in the 30s. Although he was mainly a sailor, he loved all sorts of boats, and the dealership made it possible for him to have a new Elco every year. I still think of the Elco as the classic yacht. You can still buy them, if you want to can afford to mess with wooden hulls. The history of Elco here. (BTW, PT 109 was built by Elco.) He donated his last Elco to the war effort. It was shipped to Britain, and used at Dunkirk. Here's a 1925 57' Flat Top Motor Yacht ($195,000): 
Here's a 1938 34' Sedan Cruiser ($137,000): 
A sight for sore eyes, especially considering the vulgar, non-nautical appearance of most modern motor yachts. You can look at other old Elcos for sale here.
Thursday, January 11. 2007
Nick Saban's deal at Alabama sounds generous. James Joyner spells out the rationale, at TCS: Crimson With Envy. Some folks just refuse to understand that market forces apply to labor. Alabama football is a big business. Anyone would envy Saban's deal. So do whatever you need to do to compete with the Sabans of the world, if you want the same deal. But you cannot compare them with English Profs. Any moron can blather about phallocentric hegemonic narratives, but running a world class football team is something entirely different.
INSTRUCTIONS: Read each question carefully. Answer all questions. Time Limit: 4 hours. Begin immediately.
1. HISTORY Describe the history of the papacy from its origins to the present, concentrating especially but not exclusively on its social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical impact on Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Be brief, concise, and specific. 2. MEDICINE You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze, and a bottle of scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until your work has been inspected. You have fifteen minutes. 3. PUBLIC SPEAKING 2500 riot-crazed aborigines are storming the classroom. Calm them. You may use any ancient language except Latin or Greek. 4. BIOLOGY Create Life. Estimate the differences in subsequent human culture if this form of life had developed 500 million years earlier, with special attention to its probable effect on the English parliamentary system. Prove your thesis. 5. MUSIC Write a piano concerto. Orchestrate and perform it with flute and drum. You will find a piano under your seat. 6. PSYCHOLOGY Based on your knowledge of their works, evaluate the emotional stability, degree of adjustment, and repressed frustrations of each of the following: Alexander of Aphrodisias, Ramses II, Gregory of Nicea, and Hammurabi. Support your thesis with quotations from each man's work, making appropriate references. It is not necessary to translate. 7. SOCIOLOGY Estimate the sociological problems which might accompany the end of the world. Construct an experiment to test your theory. 8. ENGINEERING The disassembled parts of a high powered rifle have been placed on your desk. You will also find an instruction manual, printed in Swahili. In three minutes a hungry Bengal Tiger will be admitted to the room. Take whatever action you feel is appropriate. Be prepared to justify your decision. 9. ECONOMICS Develop a realistic plan for repaying the national debt. Trace the effects of your plan on the following areas: cubism, the Donatist controversy, the wave theory of light. Outline a method for preventing these effects. Criticize this method from all possible points of view. Point out the deficiencies in your point of view, as demonstrated by your answer to the last question. 10. POLITICAL SCIENCE There Is a red telephone on the desk beside you. Start World War III. Report at length on its socio-political effects, if any. 11. EPISTEMOLOGY Take a stand for or against truth. Prove the validity of your position 12. PHYSICS Explain the nature of matter. 13. PHILOSOPHY Sketch the development of human thought. Estimate its significance. Compare with the development of any other kind of thought. 14. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Describe in detail. Be objective and specific.
 Dracula's castle for sale. BBC. Cheap, but can you afford to heat it?
17 cool and unusual buildings.
Yes, it's a whole new world out there for the trial bar. Coyote explains it.
It's not a Hinckley, but the Fortier 26 seems like a fine boat, for less than half the price of the Hinckley Picnic Boat. You can find one used between $60-90,000. Certainly enough boat to handle the blue water off Block and the Islands, or Maine. 
Michelle is in Baghdad. With photos. Bravo. Sensible Mom has a round-up of reactions to Bush's speech.
A man who has nothing in particular to recommend him discusses all sorts of subjects at random as though he knew everything. Sei Shonagon, Hateful Things, 900 AD (h/t, Sippican). Somehow, the quote reminded me of Maggie's Farm.
 Still sick. Thought you'd like to know.
Sippican loves the Elvis on Ed Sullivan DVDs Rick Moran is disappointed in Bush (pre-speech). Me too. The guy has no capacity to inspire. Black Sheep movie trailer. YouTube. The violence of the lambs. Crittenden has ideas about how to talk with Iran and Syria. Is there any doubt that Al Sharpton is a con-man? Calif Yank 4.5 billion to die from global warming by 2012. Can you top that for a scare headline? SDA found the piece. Hey - what's the problem? It would solve the population crisis, right? I am going to buy a cemetery plot for myself today, so I'm prepared. Any thoughts about Bush's speech? Image? That's the coffee mug our local super-secret Christian Fascist Militia uses. Shhhh - don't tell Chris Hedges. What mug does your militia use? Do you have a Lady's Auxiliary? And do you have cool uniforms?
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