Thursday, December 27. 2007
Is "diversity training" a tyranny of virtue? Of course it is (see my two previous posts about benevolence yesterday). It's OK, I believe, to maintain a tyranny of virtue within the home as a parent, but public life and home life are not the same - and your ideas of virtue may not be the same as mine. Interestingly, diversity training often leads to lawsuits (h/t, Insty). I much prefer greedy, nasty, flawed or corrupt SOBs to virtue tyrants.
 Whither the Conservative coalition? Blankley
Mutual exploitation: Sharpton and the MSM Praise for Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism There's a lesson in this: Eliminating traffic signals improves driving safety. How to get a real person on an automated phone message. Buying stuff people cannot afford. 7 medical myths. Tammy Everybody always bitches about their election choices. If they were voting for a Messiah, I would understand that, but they are just voting for an executive politician. Sowell discusses the field. Sailing to the Galapagos Islands. NYT. I would do that. Quoted by Sen. McCaskill at Polipundit: “Why is it that hundreds of bar owners can be sanctioned in Missouri every year for letting somebody with a fake ID have a beer, but we can’t manage to sanction hundreds of employers for letting people use fake identities to obtain a job?”
Micro-lending: a good deed for the world's poor. Should states be permitted to require an ID for voting? Former French ambassador warns of the "suicide of Europe". Related: Muezzin callling from minaret in Oxford. "The only thing more over-rated in education than teacher creativity is student creativity." RWN Read the Pajamas bit about "culture being a massive sham perpetrated by rich capitalist oppressors"? The lexicon at the end is amusing. Politics vs. Good Cheer. Jonah Goldberg Those crafty Jews: Their soldiers don't rape Palestinian women for a sneaky purpose
Wednesday, December 26. 2007
I took note of two quotes in a comment by Jim C. about the Kimball piece quoted below: 'Rousseau warned that “Those who dare to undertake the institution of a people must feel themselves capable … of changing human nature, … of altering the constitution of man for the purpose of strengthening it.”' Hillary Clinton, 1993: "Let us be willing to re-mold society by redefining what it means to be a human being in the twentieth century; moving into a new millennium."
Indeed. Does that mean that I get to redefine Rousseau and Hillary for their own good?
 From a heavy-duty but brief essay by Roger Kimball, a quote:
Political correctness tends to breed the sort of unaccountability that Stephen warns against. At its center is a union of abstract benevolence, which takes mankind as a whole for its object, with rigid moralism. It is a toxic, misery-producing brew. The Australian philosopher David Stove got to the heart of the problem when he pointed out that it is precisely this combination of universal benevolence fired by uncompromising moralism that underwrites the cult of political correctness. “Either element on its own,” Stove observed, is almost always comparatively harmless. A person who is convinced that he has a moral obligation to be benevolent, but who in fact ranks morality below fame (say), or ease; or again, a person who puts morality first, but is also convinced that the supreme moral obligation is, not to be benevolent, but to be holy (say), or wise, or creative: either of these people might turn out to be a scourge of his fellow humans, though in most cases he will not. But even at the worst, the misery which such a person causes will fall incomparably short of the misery caused by Lenin, or Stalin, or Mao, or Ho-Chi-Minh, or Kim-Il-Sung, or Pol Pot, or Castro: persons convinced both of the supremacy of benevolence among moral obligations, and of the supremacy of morality among all things. It is this combination which is infallibly and enormously destructive of human happiness.
Read the whole thing. As our readers know well, we view individual liberty as a moral issue in itself and as the American ideal.
 Here's the once-secret story of the CIA and Brit-led coup against Premier Mossadeq. It is not a pretty story, and the Shah had little recommend him other than his affection for the West.
The Report to London is particularly discouraging. Churchill did not have his act together. We see, today, the unintended consequences of that clever scheme. To be fair to all, though, the retrospective view is always smarter.
Two of the most important events in American history involved George Washington at Christmastime. The first, of course, was the crossing of the Delaware and the Battle of Trenton which took place on Dec 26, 1776. That victory proved to an uneasy Continental Congress that Americans could stand up to European troops (in this case, Hessians). The second was Washington's resignation in 1783.
 Illegals self-deport - but to where?
Brit smoking ban kills pubs. Now people are drinking at home, alone, where they can light up a cigar. Who in the UK deliberately voted for such a Nanny? There are two Christmases. Quite right. One of them is Saturnalia. What's So Great About Christianity? Am. Thinker Just war, the UN, and Iraq. Asst Village idiot Tortoise Thompson? Tony Snow interviewed at Reason What exactly is Hillary Clinton's experience? Perhaps she is pumping the experience theme because there isn't much of it, which is a weak point. John Kerry - unprincipled pimp Christmas in Bethlehem The persecution of Christians in Moslem lands Those tiresome manipulators. Dino The Dem racist history they want you to forget. Opinion Journal, A quote: The Republican Party committed a great public crime when it gave the right of suffrage to the blacks. . . . So long as the Fifteenth Amendment stands, the menace of the rule of the blacks will impend, and the safeguards against it must be maintained." - The New York Times, 1900
A critique of George Bailey. What I Saw in America. Fair enough, but Scrooge-like, Dr. Pat: it misses the reason the movie brings tears to our eyes. Massachusetts health care plan is a mess. Of course. You can use teh power of the State to make me insure my car, but leave my body alone. Related: The untold story of the disaster of French medical care. What American accent do you have? I have Northern Inland. All I want for Christmas is an EU-approved slurry tank. I guess the EU doesn't believe in the nitrogen cycle, in which animals eat the stuff, and then recycle it by pooping it back on the fields. Business success must be stifled. No Pasaran. It's just not fair to the losers in the sport. "Culture" is a sham perpetrated by the rich to oppress their poor victims. Pajamas. No doubt. Those despicable rich are the only people who want filthy lucre. A clever solution to restaurant and bar smoking bans. The imaginary coming Recession. It might happen, and it might not. Like global catastrophe. Dems try to cut eachother's throats at Christmastime. Some people like dogfights, some like cockfights, some like streetfights, and some like politics. Bare ruined choirs. Europe's empty cathedrals. American Thinker Why is Greenland ice melting? After all, the ice sheet is growing in Antarctica. I want our federal government to have less power and less money. Nevertheless, these Laffer data should please governments, from Willisms: 
Tuesday, December 25. 2007
I stole this from Dan: Remember, the gift of Christ that God gave us:
- is always the right size
- is always the right color
- never needs a receipt
- will never go out of style
- doesn't need batteries
- comes as no assembly required
- doesn't come with excess packaging
- and is exactly what we need!!!
Christmas Day is the one day when you can indulge so many of your pleasures that you end up doing each in moderation—a little gin and tonic, a little champagne, a little white wine, a little red wine, a little dessert wine, a little port ... Psychologist John Masterson
Thanks to Middlebrow for informing me that Psalm 98 is a traditional Christmas psalm, despite the fact that it mentions neither Santa Claus nor Christmas shopping - nor Christ, except in eager anticipation. 1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Monday, December 24. 2007
This charming little home is of very recent vintage, yet exhibits some fine Craftsman details, delicate brickwork and an ornate roof. It has recently hit the market and is available in move-in ready condition following a foreclosure. Great curb appeal: your neighbors will all want a piece of this property. 
Powerline Related: Altruism feels good. Indeed it does, for many if not most of us. Getting is fun, but giving feels like soul food.
At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child - miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.
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"I thought 'By golly, I'll give it my all.' " It's about love and the glory of God (h/t, my pastor):
 Why legal immigrants come to America. Anchoress.
George Bush's excellent year. Kudlow The Peace march in Baghdad. Gateway Reintroducing beavers to Scotland. h/t, Englishman. Next on the agenda: snakes to ireland? Is it really all about Bill? Maureen Dowd, via Lucianne. I am sick of these people. In 2008, the US will become the world's largest consumer of wine. Speaking of which, The Art of Drinking Well. A Jew responds to "Merry Christmas." h/t, neoeneoneoneo How to read the newspaper. Sippican Al Quaeda's quagmire. Small Dead Little Cuddly Animals Virtual Science. We have frequently noted that no meaningful "climate change" has occurred yet other than random variation. An ex-Greenpeace guy discusses the hysteria. As we remind our readers frequently, the real threat to civilization will be the next Ice Age, about which we will be able to do little other than to drive our SUVs as much as possible, hoping it will make a difference. "Mr. Bush has bought into some of the Beltway's most useless climate superstitions." Sisu Free Mark Steyn! Sign me up The Star, at American Digest, which begins: Theirs was the Age of Myth; a world where night was not clad in the web of lights that now obscures the stars. It was a world lit by flaring torches, dim oil lamps, guttering candles, the phases of the moon and the broad shimmering river of the Milky Way. When the sun went down and night ascended, life withdrew into homes. Only the very rich or the very poor were abroad.
Read the whole thing. A holy and merry Christmas to our readers. God bless you all. Your NJ will be back on duty after Christmas.
Sunday, December 23. 2007
 We periodically write about flying toys, which we believe are for all ages.
If you are going to Costco tomorrow to pick up some fixin's, they might still have some of these left: The world's first radio-controlled dragonfly.
This Yule story, which occurred 3 weeks ago, came in over the transom:
 It started last Christmas, when Bennett and Vivian Levin were overwhelmed by sadness while listening to radio reports of injured American troops. "We have to let them know we care," Vivian told Bennett. So they organized a trip to bring soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital to the annual Army-Navy football game in Philly, on Dec. 3.
They created their own train line to do it. Yes, there are people in this country who actually own real trains. Bennett Levin - native Philly guy, self-made millionaire and irascible former L&I commish - is one of them.
He has three luxury rail cars. Think mahogany paneling, plush seating and
white-linen dining areas. He also has two locomotives, which he stores at his Juniata Park train yard. One car, the elegant Pennsylvania, carried John F. Kennedy to the Army-Navy game in 1961 and '62. Later, it carried his brother Bobby's body to D.C. for burial. "That's a lot of history for one car," says Bennett.
He and Vivian wanted to revive a tradition that endured from 1936 to 1975, during which trains carried Army-Navy spectators from around the country directly to the stadium where the annual game is played. The Levins could think of no better passengers to reinstate the ceremonial ride than the wounded men and women recovering at Walter Reed in D.C. and Bethesda, in Maryland. "We wanted to give them a first-class experience," says Bennett. "Gourmet meals on board, private transportation from the train to the stadium, perfect seats - real hero treatment."
Continue reading "A Yuletide Train Story"
and builds a real church in the process. Almost like Clarence.
By our friend Elissa Gore (10X30, oil/canvas) 
 Postmodern Cold: Asst Village Idiot
DC has a new schools Chancellor, and she is kickin ass. Opinion Journal. Godspeed to her. Environmentalist supports a whale fishery. Tony Blair converts to Catholicism Will the climate hucksters take us to the cleaners? A blogger in Cuba. Video at Babalu Four Revolutionary battle flags come home to the US. No choice. Hillary had hoped to run as herself, but it didn't work. Now she has to run for co-President. Captain Ed Compulsory voting in Australia. Norm. Sounds utterly insane to me. And if somebody is running for an uncontested seat, it's like Saddam Hussein or Russia. My old hippie friends. NE Republican, which has a great new look Department of Sartorial Intimidation. Powerline An interview with a former ACLU lawyer, mainly about the ACLU's war on religion Sacha Baron Cohen is killing off Borat. I'll miss Borat. Saudis plan world's largest SWF: 900 bn. Is Al Gore God? London: Capitol City of the World. Looks like NYC is #2. Photo: The Wellfleet, MA First Congregational Church sits on a hilltop overlooking the harbor. It has curved pews and rings ship's bells instead of landlubber time.
Saturday, December 22. 2007
I'd vote for Fred with pleasure. I like him, I like his ads and I do keep those guys and gals in my prayers. (I do like plenty of the other guys too, though.) h/t, Insty
 A short piece at Stumbling helped me get a grip on a theme which had been nagging at me in an unformed way. As he says,
"Freedom doesn't make us happy." If my memory serves me, Freud said sort of the same thing about freedom from neurosis. Indeed freedom does not, nor is it intended to, by the usual uses of the term happiness. However, everyone defines happiness somewhat differently for themselves, and many do not find it to be a worthy pursuit in and of itself. Indeed, many look back in their lives and recognize that some of their toughest times were their "happiest" in retrospect because they were contending with challenge and discovering things about themselves and about life. Read the Stumbling piece. A QQQ earlier today noted that democracy is simply an effort to provide individual freedom from State power (but it can be a path to tyranny too). We believe that freedom has intrinsic value, and is a correlate of the dignity and capacity for self-determination of the individual. It is thus a Western ideal. Serfs and slaves know where they live and where their next meal is coming from, and thus have a foundation for material happiness. Being free is much more daunting and may not be for everybody (as Dr. Bliss often says) - but you get to chose your meal and take your own chances. In a free country, which the US still mostly is, each of us citizens can be an aristocrat of the human spirit. (And with a little luck and a little determination each one of us, even those on welfare, can live with more material blessings than King George lll had - eg endless hot water, large-screen TVs - which I will not permit in my house -, iPods, genuine medical treatments, central heat, and abundant fresh, healthy, delicious food from all over the world.) And, regardless of all of the above, I wish our readers a Happy Christmas and a re-birth of the Holy Spirit in all who seek it. Editor's comment: Yes, materialists understand simple animal happiness but not spiritual and psychological aspirations, and they tend to misunderestimate the soul and the capacities of everyone, except themselves, to figure out life and reality.
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