Wednesday, February 6. 2008
Q: You are driving along a narrow two lane road with a NO PASSING sign posted, and come upon a bicycle rider. Do you follow this slow-moving bicycle rider for the next 2 miles, or do you break the law and pass? (Answer on continuation page below)
Continue reading "A driving dilemma (for guys)"
Election time is Silly Season. Happened to hear Rush while doing a quick errand today. Rush re McCain: "They are trying to run us out of the Republican Party." Rush is usually right about things, but this proves to me that he has MDS bad. It's nice, in a way, to see that he is imperfect in his insights. My comments for Rush: 1. Who is "they"? "They" are Republican voters, like me. There is no vast anti-conservative conspiracy.
2. "run us out"? That's crazy. I voted for McCain, but I am much more conservative than McCain, and I have no wish to run anybody out. I just voted for the guy who I think can win, and who will put sane folks on the courts and benches.
3. The "Republican Party." The GOP, as we have said before, is not owned by Conservatives. There are times when I wish it were, but a diversity of opinion is a healthy thing, overall. People need to get a grip. One more point: I do not think people vote simply on proposed policies and positions. If they did, you could run position papers for office. Sometimes they vote simply for who they "like" or trust as a person. How people vote is often complex, but they own their vote, and can do with it whatever the heck they want. It's silly to blame them and it is silly to blame McCain, because no-one is forced to vote for him. Addendum: Wizbang on why to get behind the peoples' choice
 Dalrymple doesn't want to live in a world without Falstaffs, criminals, fatty foods, messiness, alcohol, smokers, and trailer trash - a too-sterile world of "rational tyranny" and perfect post-Puritan morality. I agree. One quote:
When I read the medical journals these days, I feel I am reading the medical equivalent of Ella Wheeler Wilcox. They speak only the best of good sense (one doesn’t argue with a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox). They tell us how we, or rather they, that is to say the general public, ought to live. Not too fat, a certain amount of exercise, no smoking, drinking in moderation of the right kind of wine taken purely as a medicine to ward of heart attacks and strokes, in short, every activity and comestible to be treated as a medicine to be taken in the correct dose.
It is not easy to argue against this rationalistic tyranny, just as it is not easy to answer a puritan without sounding as if you are positively in favour of sin, the more of it the better. No doubt properly conducted studies have shown precisely how much alcohol one should take to achieve the greatest possible longevity; or if they have not been conducted yet, they will be conducted in the very near future. Science will establish precisely how much butter one is allowed per week. Epidemiology will hunt down all the dangers lurking in our habits. From this, prohibitions and imperative duties will inevitably follow. It is only natural, after all, that doctors should advocate whatever saves and prolongs life.
Read the whole excellent thing.
Reposted from May, 2005: Haven't read the book, and never saw South Park either. I don't watch TV - total waste of life. But Anderson's book is rapidly becoming a Big Book, so I had better take a look at it real soon. It concerns the culture wars. There is a very nice interview in Frontpage by Jamie Glazov with Brian Anderson, author of South Park Conservatives: The Revolt Against Liberal Media Bias. Among his statements in the interview:
"Technology has radically undermined this liberal media dominance. South Park Conservatives is in part a brief history of new media, and I show how talk radio, cable television (above all Fox News), and now the Internet and blogosphere have brought right-of-center views and perspectives long excluded by the media mainstream right to the heart of national debate. The change has taken place virtually overnight: the oldest of these media, political talk radio, is really only 15 years old or so, and the newest, the blogosphere, didn’t really exist five years ago."
And (this is becoming a familiar theme):
"In the academy, change is harder to achieve, because the tenure system has guaranteed a certain kind of intellectual—reflexively left-wing culturally and often quasi-socialist or out-and-out Marxist in their views on political economy—remains the norm. Left-wing professors are going to hire other left-wing professors and give tenure to other left-wingers. The difficulties experienced by cultural and political conservatives or even defenders of the Western cultural tradition in getting tenure means fewer and fewer of them go into academe. "
Read the interview.
...but I have a conscience and would not be comfortable participating in a scam like the Climate Change Industry. Climate lawyers charging $700/hr.
McCain? I have a few major disagreements with him, but far more major disagreements with the Dems. When it comes to the folks, like Rush and some bloggers, who are mad at McCain: don't blame McCain - blame the Repubs who seem to have selected him. Are they stupid? Also, VDH has some thoughts. If I had had a slave, maybe I could feel badly Feelings of fraudulence. Not necessarily neurotic: often justified. NYT What's with Scientology? David Thompson Another example of how light rail makes no economic sense. Coyote Putting out public feelers. Clinton-Obama? Speaking of which, I guess politics and religion do go together after all - if it's Dem politics. Obama's appeal. via Drezner. He does smoke cigarettes, which is in his favor. Thomas Sowell's new book. Interview via Betsy Inequities in medical insurance. From a piece in the WSJ: The core problem is that people who get insurance through their employers pay no income or payroll taxes on the value of the benefit. The Treasury defines this as a "tax expenditure," meaning it's revenue the government forgoes to encourage certain behavior. If these losses were converted to the equivalent of direct spending, the tax exemption would have cost more than $208 billion in 2006. The only federal programs that cost more are Social Security, Medicare and national defense. But all that money props up only employer-provided insurance. Individuals who buy policies don't get any tax breaks and pay with after-tax dollars.
“A life is either all spiritual or not spiritual at all. No man can serve two masters. Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire. “ Thomas Merton (h/t Anchoress)
A photo on Saturday from the South Street area, downtown Manhattan: 
Tuesday, February 5. 2008
 Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf put this grimly humorous book together. My copy of the book is dated 1993, but it is more relevant today than it was back then as this self-parodying stuff has permeated the language - some as jokes, eg "vertically-challenged," and some seriously, eg "special child" and "partner."
I am sad to report that the book is out of print, but it still can be gotten via Amazon. Sample entries: Vagrant. Nonspecifically-destinationed individual; directionally-impoverished person. Phallocentrism: The use, by white heterosexual males, of such discredited devices as reasoning and logic to maintain a position of sexual and political dominance. First Baseperson. The correct gender-inclusive term for first baseman, recommended by the Little League. Prisoner. Client of the correctional system, guest in a correctional institution, incarcerated American. Pro-abortion. Pro-choice. Shoplifter. Nontraditional shopper. Grammar. Defined by Lewis Lapham as "arbitrary rules of procedure subservient to a sexist political agenda." Pet owner. The American Humane Society says the appropriate term is "human companion of a nonhuman companion." Morally different. Dishonest, evil. Jungle. Tropical Rainforest. The term "jungle" is ideologically unsuitable because of its use in such insensitive phrases as "It's a jungle out there." Difficult-to-serve. Canadian educators' term for sociopathic. Example: "Professor McLaughlin was robbed at gunpoint by one of his difficult-to-serve students." Smellism. Discrimination against, or stigmatization or oppression of a human or nonhuman being because his/her/its nondiscretionary body odor is deemed to be unpleasant. Ableism. The Smith College Office of Student Affairs defines this as "oppression of the differently abled by the temporarily able." Every entry in the book has an academic citation.
Since it seems to be Mule Day at Maggie's, here's Dolly with Mule Skinner Blues. Merle after with the same song. (thanks, reader):
Read all about this annoying hazard of changing lenses on digital cameras.
 The post yesterday with the photo of Brooklyn reminded me that I have wanted to post a free plug for Peter Luger's Steakhouse.
Manhattan has the best steak houses in the world, and many of them. I have been to all of the great ones over the years, but Peter Luger's in Brooklyn - a short cab ride from midtown Manhattan, is my favorite - the best and the most fun. They select and age their beef themselves. T-bone for me, please. The same wait staff has been there since 1887, it would seem: serious men. And Luger's now has valet parking for the "bridge and tunnel" crowd.
 McCain too "mavericky" for you? Mitt too unelectable for you? Hillary and Bill too morally-challenged? Barry O. too lightweight and commy?
It was ever thus. If you want government to reflect your own views, then run for office yourself. Otherwise, cheer up, quit grumbling, and spend some time with the Spring Wayside catalog. Photo: Rose Double Delight, from the catalog. PS: I do not know who to vote for today. McCain might be able to win an election, but I agree far more with Mitt's current positions. Since appointments to the Supremes is my bottom line, and requires winning, I may hold ye olde schnoz and go with John. Sorry, Mitt - you are one fine fellow and deserve better, but I do not see you winning a national election this year. PPS: We need a Gardening category on the blog.
Editor's note: Indeed we do. I created one, but it will take a while to backtrack. BTW, I am going with Mitt. Tough decision: practicality vs. policy. You are correct, B. - it was ever thus. In this life, we never get exactly what we want, except for lovely roses.
We must love one another, yes, yes, that's all true enough, but nothing says we have to like each other. Peter De Vries
 It's been quite a while since we reminded our readers that they can read Samuel Pepys' Diary online. Here's Feb 4, 1664:
Lay long in bed discoursing with my wife about her mayds, which by Jane’s going away in discontent and against my opinion do make some trouble between my wife and me. But these are but foolish troubles and so not to be set to heart, yet it do disturb me mightily these things. To my office, and there all the morning. At noon being invited, I to the Sun behind the ‘Change, to dinner to my Lord Belasses, where a great deal of discourse with him, and some good, among others at table he told us a very handsome passage of the King’s sending him his message about holding out the town of Newarke, of which he was then governor for the King. This message he sent in a sluggbullet, being writ in cypher, and wrapped up in lead and swallowed. So the messenger come to my Lord and told him he had a message from the King, but it was yet in his belly; so they did give him some physique, and out it come. This was a month before the King’s flying to the Scotts; and therein he told him that at such a day, being the 3d or 6th of May, he should hear of his being come to the Scotts, being assured by the King of France that in coming to them he should be used with all the liberty, honour, and safety, that could be desired. And at the just day he did come to the Scotts. He told us another odd passage: how the King having newly put out Prince Rupert of his generallshipp, upon some miscarriage at Bristoll, and Sir Richard Willis1 of his governorship of Newarke, at the entreaty of the gentry of the County, and put in my Lord Bellasses, the great officers of the King’s army mutinyed, and come in that manner with swords drawn, into the market-place of the towne where the King was; which the King hearing, says, “I must to horse.” And there himself personally, when every body expected they should have been opposed, the King come, and cried to the head of the mutineers, which was Prince Rupert, “Nephew, I command you to be gone.” So the Prince, in all his fury and discontent, withdrew, and his company scattered, which they say was the greatest piece of mutiny in the world. Thence after dinner home to my office, and in the evening was sent to by Jane that I would give her her wages. So I sent for my wife to my office, and told her that rather than be talked on I would give her all her wages for this Quarter coming on, though two months is behind, which vexed my wife, and we begun to be angry, but I took myself up and sent her away, but was cruelly vexed in my mind that all my trouble in this world almost should arise from my disorders in my family and the indiscretion of a wife that brings me nothing almost (besides a comely person) but only trouble and discontent. She gone I late at my business, and then home to supper and to bed.
 Would you want to try to run against Obama? Am. Spectator
Forced neutering of dogs? Why? Vanderleun goes to the heart of the problem of the McCain-hating syndrome. The internal contradiction of liberal society - tolerance of the un-liberal. Powerline Another view: Old age sex is disgusting, say Docs. Earn more, work less. A government job. Sorry, Al. Sea ice back to normal. Whatever "normal" is. What would Dem penalties be for not buying medical insurance? Death? The real story about the Sandy Berger burglaries. It is beyond me why he was not criminally prosecuted. Thanks for the help, Germany. Polygamy now legal in England. Think about what Henry Vlll might have enjoyed. A Wonder Bread national security plan. RWNH War and Love. From AVI on war fatigue: A human being can only remain in love 12-18 months. If you're still together after that, it is because you have built something more permanent along the way. It's a good thing, too. Imagine how tiring it would be to have twenty years of "I wonder if she is thinking of me right now, right this minute...if I don't see her as we pass at lunch it will ruin my whole afternoon..." There is apparently a brain fatigue which sets in. The level of excitement which being in love generates is unsustainable. The mind adapts, as it does to anything else, to a new normal. A fever pitch of excitement cannot be maintained indefinitely.
Image via Kentucky's Slower Pace
Southeast Georgia, 1940s. For those who wouldn't know, them is mules, not hosses. The horse whip makes it obvious. Believe it or not, your Editor has driven mules, but does not intend to do so in the future. A whip, or a 2X4 between the ears, is required or they will not listen. One must get a mule's attention. 
Monday, February 4. 2008
From a piece at Mr. Free Market on the BBC: 
Here come the tears again. Is there a primary election anywhere, soon? Oh, tomorrow? Well, it seemed to work for her in New Hampshire. This is just one day after this sensitive, caring person was caught using push-polling against Obama in California.
"The government is merely a servant - merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them..." Mark Twain
 Up to 2 billion people on the planet are infected with tuberculosis - one third of the earth's population. That doesn't mean that they have contagious pulmonary TB, just that they contain the bug which has the capacity to attack them viciously at any time, especially if something weakens them, such as HIV, other illness, or malnutrition.
Most of the cases are in Africa and Asia - the so-called TB Belt which, in Africa, overlaps with the HIV Belt. (The combination of HIV and TB is termed "the perfect storm" of infectious disease.) However, over a million Americans are infected with TB. I learned during my Yale Continuing Medical Education series this weekend that most HIV in the Northeast is transmitted by sharing needles, not via homosexual activity. I also learned that man-to-woman HIV is on the rise in the US. Woman-to-man transmission remains essentially impossible, apparently. I have been told that the rare reported cases were probably guys lying about their IV drug use or their homosexual activities. In our New England cities, drug addiction, mental illness, HIV and TB is a common mix and a huge challenge to the dedicated docs who try to take care of these people, not only because of the medical difficulties but because these people are not reliable patients. Throw in a pregnancy too and you have a case that could take up half your time taking care of just one of these poor souls, who usually have few-to-no social supports in their lives but who also avoid, or will not cooperate with, government help. Often, these folks break appointments as often as they make them because their lives are out of control, and nobody has the power to fix that. You send a visiting nurse, and they have moved out. "Lost to follow-up," until they reappear feeling desperately ill again. During one of the talks, a famous clinical researcher on infectious disease just could not resist gratuitously throwing in a snarky Power Point slide mocking George Bush's intelligence (implicitly comparing it to his own, and "ours"). It always bothers me when these Ivy types (of which I happen to be one, along with Bush with his Yale BA and Harvard MBA) just assume that everyone in their audience has the same view of things...because we are, of course, the elite bien pensant folks, aren't we, all thinking alike? Speaking of Moonbats, that reminds me of an email from a medical friend attending a medical conference and giving a talk in San Fran last week. He said that a young and lovely California doc approached him after his talk and said "I just needed to tell you that you have a special, beautiful aura." I emailed back and asked "Was she hitting on you?" He replied "I don't think so. I think it's just that California is a different planet." I said "Guess so, because I think your aura is rather ordinary." Photo: Robert Koch, the great man of infectious disease and historic benefactor of mankind, who discovered the TB, Anthrax and Cholera bugs, and created "Koch's Postulates" which made possible the conquest of most of the diseases that ravaged man through history.
 Steyn revisits his 1998 review of The Ice Storm
Looking forward to this year's spaghetti harvest. Rove: No Imminent Demise of the Repubs Iran endorses Obama The Race, Class and Gender Campaign. VDH Did you miss yesterday's Carnival of the Insanities? Hillary caught again. Her push polls in Calif. Apparently utterly incapable of playing by rules. Does she think she is Queen Elizabeth l ? Also, Hillary in Love What is really killing newspapers? Rogue Columnist (h/t, Businesspundit) “We shall abandon them in the mountains! We shall abandon them in the cities! We shall run like frightened children! Out of my way, I’m trying to surrender!” Jules Few want Bill back in White House US Out of Berkeley Now! Michelle John H on compulsory medical insurance: There is an analogy between the compulsory aspects of the candidates' health care proposals and Social Security. A young man or woman would be crazy to participate in the Social Security system if he or she had any choice. If anyone saved 12.4% of his earnings over a lifetime, he would not only have far more money in retirement than Social Security can provide, it would, equally important, be his money, to invest and dispose of as he sees fit. But the government needs young people's money to support their grandparents' retirements, so Social Security is forced upon them. The same thing, in essence, will happen with health care if any comprehensive "reform" plan is adopted.
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