Tuesday, October 21. 2008
 Our News Junkie noted the other day that ACORN and the Dems are playing for keeps. That is opposed to "playing for clearsies," which is the gentlemanly, softball, McCain approach.
Games with acorns and other nuts or rounded stones go back to the beginning of human time but, when I was a lad, marbles weren't a popular game. Games with marbles remain very popular in the Third World. Here are a few expressions from marbles: Playing for keeps
Knuckle down
Lost his marbles
Pick up one's marbles
Over the line I'm sure there are plenty of others. Help me out if you can, in Comments. I love the etymological and cultural derivations of expressions. Don't you?
Canada Goose Infestation Some parts of the US would love to have the problems we have in the Northeast: White-Tailed Deer and Goose infestations. (We now have tons of Wild Turkey too, but I would never term that an "infestation." These splendid birds are a blessing.) Trouble is, we have to bow the deer in many populated areas, and these non-migratory Canadas that we have in abundance tend to hang out where you cannot hunt, like town parks and golf courses. It's a damn shame, because they are big, and the breast, marinated then sauteed or grilled rare and thin-sliced, is as good as filet mignon, in my opinion - if not as tender. Our White-Tail deer are bigger than the southern version, or the Texas version, but with smaller racks. Who cares? Excellent dining. Our deer hunters tend to be meat hunters and, where I live, there is no limit on does. When I was a lad, both goose and deer were uncommon sights in New England: these are the kinds of problem you want to have. Photo: Our pal Yankee retrieving a goose in Manitoba, this October Latest USFWS report on Canada Goose, below: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Releases Final Environmental Impact Statement on Resident Canada Geese Management
Contact: Nicholas Throckmorton 202-208-5636 (Bold Ours)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the release of a final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that outlines various alternatives to reduce, manage, and control resident Canada goose populations and reduce related damages. Of the alternatives, the Service’s proposed action will allow state wildlife agencies, landowners, and airports more flexibility in controlling resident Canada goose populations.The Service took this action in response to widespread concern about overabundant populations of resident Canada geese, which can damage property, agriculture, and natural resources in parks and other open areas near water.
"Resident Canada geese populations have increased dramatically over the past 15 years," said Service Director H. Dale Hall. "These high population levels have been shown to cause problems for natural and economic resources, and we believe increased local management with national oversight is the best approach to reduce conflicts and bring the population under control. Through this approach, the Service will continue working to expand and protect hunting opportunity while providing airports, private landowners, and State and local officials the tools they need to address resident Canada goose issues."
Continue reading "From our archives: Goose Infestations"
 Obama cannot change the lives of black Americans
Somebody told me Iceland was a hedge fund, not a country. I guess so. Two faces of Socialism: RFK and Obama The most ancient dog What kind of diapers are the greenest? And who cares? Campaign finance reform is dead, and Obama killed it. He's up to $600 million now. 18 things you need for your computer. I do not understand this stuff. Anna Schwartz: The feds are fighting the last war America the Weak. Ralph Peters Lord Monckton's letter to John McCain Obama's taxes target small businesses, which is why Joe the Plumber made people pay attention Biden: The world will test Obama. You betcha it will, to find out whether there is any testosterone in that fancy suit.  Is it paranoid to be concerned about this?
The Obama Social Security plan. Mankiw Dems want to eliminate 401-Ks Ayers: An embarassment From a long non-rant by Villainous on The Politics of Fear: "It's incredible what the media can ignore when they want to." I like what she says about "pluralize." Toon on top from Theo. Photo from No Pasaran
Monday, October 20. 2008
 The article in Zombietime, The Left's Big Blunder, is about the famous Asch experiments on conformity.
Obama supporters presume that increasing Obama's perceived support will induce informational conformity in the American public. In other words, Obama supporters operate on the assumption that individual McCain supporters or undecided voters will in actuality change their minds about who to vote for if they perceive that a majority of people are supporting Obama. The imagined line of thinking is, "Gee, if so many people like this Obama guy, then my impression of him must be wrong; I trust the group's wisdom more than my own impressions."
I suppose the Dems' efforts to portray Obama as inevitable and wildly popular are an effort to exploit the conformist tendencies in people, but this seems rather usual in politics. However, the article offers a good depiction of how conformity can distort our thinking and cause us to doubt ourselves and our lyin' eyes. The desire to fit in and to be accepted is strong in all of us. It's important for survival, but we need to try to make room for thinking for ourselves too, based on our experience and not on received opinion.
 I had the pleasure of attending a small charity gathering last night for a good mental health cause at which Ashford and Simpson performed.
Ashford told the story of how the "dumbest, simplest song" he ever wrote (Let's Go Get Stoned) got picked up by Ray Charles, which set their songwriting career into high gear. He also talked about what it was like to present new songs to Berry Gordy with Smokey Robinson in front of you in the line. Daunting. They had a funky Motown-style band with a couple of back-up singers. They did "Solid," "High Rise," "Let's Go Get Stoned," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and a lot more. Nothing they didn't write. They have been married for 32 years and are humble, obviously grateful, and likeable folks. Their performance of Solid was much more powerful than this one.
Quoted from Peter Salins via Minding the Campus: According to the most recent (2007) data, 45 percent of all colleges or universities, and 66 percent of public ones, have no admissions criteria at all. In the public sector - which accounts for three-quarters of all higher education slots - among the 34 percent of schools with some kind of admissions screen, 69 percent accept more than half of their applicants. Even among the remaining somewhat selective institutions, the majority either do not require admissions test scores or they accept most low-scoring applicants, with the result that the average verbal SAT for all college applicants is 532, and that for the math SAT is 537 (both out of a potential score of 800).
If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. Saint Augustine
This is the sharp edge of the wedge. And it's not about loving trees, believe me. Guys from Chicago politics don't give a damn about trees and wouldn't know a Blue Jay from a Flicker. It's about power and control. We love trees and the outdoors and the critters as much or more than anyone, and we hate this sort of insidious BS.
The Manning Report. (He calls Obama "Senator Tarzan," but I call him "Senator Government.") h/t, Moonbattery:
Why do I think the support of people like Powell and Warren Buffet is helpful to Obama? It's helpful because these sober establishment folks are saying that he's not a bomb-throwing radical. Me? I doubt that any Repub would have an easy time defeating any Dem this year, and I think Hillary would be doing even better than Obama in the polls. It's the economy combined with Bush fatigue, even without the Obama Cult of Personality. Still, I dread the effects of an Obama-Reid-Pelosi triumvirate on America (and on my personal plans and goals). But that's because 
Undecided? Then you're a racist, says Joe Biden. Or just a moron, says a Princeton prof. "Sticks and stones..." The San Diego Union-Trib's endorsement of McCain Taxing the uninsured. Mankiw The world's oldest operating bank. A Harvard trial lawyer for McCain. Am Thinker Sarah Palin has the highest National Security rating of all 4 candidates Gaping holes in Obama's record. But who cares? Phony Joe the Plumber robocalls. These people are playing for keeps.  Eric at Classical Values:
If Team Obama happened to drive down my street, I probably wouldn't want to get caught asking Barack Obama any tough questions because of the consequences. Well then, suppose I were to ask a question about my inability to ask a question? Something like this: Senator Obama, if I were to ask you a tough question, why would my personal lifestyle be considered more worthy of investigation than yours? Nah, I'd better not ask. Wouldn't want to be subject to an investigation.
Related: Who hired detectives to attack Cindy McCain? As far as I know, nobody tried to track down Obama's coke and pot dealers. Look at this Obama rally in St. Louis. Good grief. Even Sarah can't draw like that. This is rock star stuff. Reality will set in sooner or later. Obama's Brave New Deal Ayers and Obama: Destroyers of schools. Dr. Sanity The Dems' plan to bring back the Fairness Doctrine The takers in society will never be happy. By definition, they will always want more from their neighbor. Kling on the banking crisis. A quote: The claim that this crisis was caused by "deregulation" is a claim that government needs to exercise more power. Right now, that is the conventional wisdom of the establishment. There is no mainstream newspaper or politician raising any doubts about the wisdom of increasing government power. The free market is now a fringe phenomenon, and those of us who support it are irrelevant.
Capitalism is moral. Communism is not. Cafe Hayek
Sunday, October 19. 2008
Couldn't resist stealing this from Theo - 
 Taking a little break from fall planting. Last chance to do some lawn reseeding and to transplant, and to plant the last shipment of perennials hereabouts. I had to make a new small perennial border, under orders. Many bags of cow manure and peat moss from Home Depot, along with compost, to happify the lousy glacial soil we have here.
Simple pleasures. I like digging in the dirt, and I believe in digging and enriching 18" for new perennial plantings. You can only do it once. Mostly rare Hostas, of course. Mrs. BD is an afficianado. Photo is "Dance with Me." Nice enough Hosta, but you have to get into it to fully appreciate. To get a clue, try Hosta Library. Do me a favor: never plant Hostas in the sun. Terrible thing to do. And always en masse, or they will offend my delicate gardening sensibilities.
He claims it's not about race, then proceeds to make a series of statements that make little sense outside a racial context: "I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said. "He is a new generation coming ... onto the world stage and on the American stage. And for that reason, I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama."
The linked story, which refers to Powell as "one of the country's most respected Republicans" -- an odd choice of an adjective in light of Powell's reputation having been knocked down and dragged through the mud by the left after his WMD testimony -- also features the following curious quote: As a key reason, Powell said: "I would have difficulty with two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, but that's what we'd be looking at in a McCain administration."
No, that's what we'd be looking at with a Republican administration. Assuming that Powell knows that the House and Senate will have substantial Democrat majorities as well, this "Republican" is voting for the Democrat on the basis that he would have "difficulty" with conservative justices? It's been well known for years that Powell leaned toward the left on most domestic issues, and this charade of continuing to call Powell a "respected Republican" is wearing more than a little thin. More from NE Republican. The Left is already rejoicing at the news, despite the fact that some of the the very same people spent endless hours cataloging Powell's alleged lies and deceptions to the UN in 2003, essentially destroying the man's public reputation.
I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden. Saint Augustine
 Hot Hardware has gone video
Wealthy teen nearly experiences consequences Obama betrayed his message on race. Krauthammer The Pelosi-Obama-Reid economy. The carbon offsetting biz is still doing fine. At first I thought this was a satire. Alaska glaciers are growing again Finally, drilling off the coast of Florida: maybe we'll be able to buy that oil from Cuba. McCain compares Obama to European Socialists Just some guy who lives in my neighborhood? Obama's lead slips Quoted from a piece at Dino: We’re not sure to what extent we agree with the analysis by Sam Schulman in the Weekly Standard. He asks: “Why is Bill Ayers a respectable member of the upper middle class and Sarah Palin contemptible?” His answer: social class. Maybe he is on to something. Those rather condescending interviews by Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson (as contrasted with certain earlier Couric and Gibson interviews) suggest that there is a ring of truth in Schulman’s argument.
Thanks for all of the interesting comments on our Influential Books post.
Matthew 22:1-14 22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, | 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, | 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. | 22:4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. | 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: | 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. | 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. | 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. | 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. | 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. | 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: | 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. | 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. |
Saturday, October 18. 2008
Thought I'd never see the day when our Comrade Sipp did Politics! Who knew that he was a closet pundit? I happen to drive over the Sippican River on the way to Cape Cod. Here's Leonard's Pond on the East Branch of the Sippican River: 
Here's Brigg's Marsh (looks good for ducks) near the outlet of the Sippican River. There is nothing on earth as lovely as a brackish salt marsh (except for a pretty girl and, in duck season, it's a toss-up): 
We already linked it, but I want to highlight this excellent essay in The Economist: A Short History of Modern Finance. It's a good clear intro for amateurs like me.
We posted part of the McCain speech at the Al Smith dinner yesterday, but this is the entire thing. It's a kick - guaranteed, and it would make a heck of a campaign ad:
 This week we had Joe the Plumber in front of his modest home with an old rusty basketball hoop for his kids, burdened with tax debts but uplifted by his aspirations, and we had Sarah Palin stopping the campaign bus to get diapers at WalMart for her baby.
By way of contrast, we had Michelle Obama, a highly privileged Limo Liberal with millions in the bank and a $350,000/yr "administrative" job for some hospital or something, ordering lobster, Iranian caviar, and champagne for a snack from room service - and whining all the while about how mean and tough life is in America if you have two kids, as her husband preaches about taking from Joe to give to...whom? Those are called "defining moments." We shrinks understand defining moments, because those are the moments when patterns come into focus. Me? I love caviar... if I earn it.
 Obama: "I will change the world." Good grief. If I said that, they'd send the guys in white coats to take me away.
Who knew that the US Supreme Court defined "vegetable" in 1893? Is a pumpkin a vegetable, then? More press lies perpetuated. We expect this from politicians but not from the press. Well, I guess we expect it from the press now. How would Obama do with this questionnaire for national security positions? Quoted at Marginal Rev: The Bush administration, having entered office as social conservatives, leaves office as conservative socialists, proprietors of the most sudden large expansion of the state's role in the US economy since mobilisation for the second world war.
Credit indicators show progress. Good. That's the fuel for the economy. Obama mocks plumbers. Is that smart? Everybody appreciates plumbers. NYT digging deep for dirt on Cindy McCain. That is infra dig. Why do it? Is there no infra to their dig? Mark Steyn on David Brooks' "elite cocoons" and "conservative cocoons." One quote: ...any PBS-watching inbred stump-toothed knuckle-dragging plaid-clad mountain man not yet face down in the moonshine or enjoying a bunk-up with his sister might think that Mr Brooks' bizarre metaphor gives the game away: the "conservative cocoon" is somewhere you drive through en route to the hiking trip.
 Why is the Left and the press going after Joe the Plumber so hard? Because the moment with Obama captured something important. As Cardinalpark at Tiger puts it:
Obama probably hurt himself with Joe the Plumber. If you think about it, Obama has done a brilliant job articulating exceedingly liberal political and economic philosophy in a fashion which sounds acceptable and fair and not altogether different from McCain. However, when he responded to Joe the Plumber about the inherent value of "spreading the wealth", it rang an alarm bell. Most Americans, especially aspirational Americans, like reading Robin Hood, but don't want his philosophy put into practice. This may be the moment that the distinction between Obama's political philosophy and McCain's is finally made clear in a fashion the press can't edit out. The media - even the in-the-tank leftist media - can't resist Joe the Plumber.
We must remember that Robin Hood was a thief. That's what Joe is reminding the voters.
Exactly. Joe doesn't want somebody else's wealth: he wants to make his own. Betsy says "Think of the film of Obama's photo op on Joe's street as Obama's macaca moment." Yes, somebody picked the wrong street. Interesting comments on Dr. Bliss' Influential Books post. I'd like to read more comments to that post from our readers.
Emily Dickinson's life was not as isolated or loveless as had been thought. How's this for seduction, spiritual or otherwise?
 He fumbles at your spirit
He fumbles at your spirit
As players at the keys
Before they drop full music on;
He stuns you by degrees,
Prepares your brittle substance
For the ethereal blow,
By fainter hammers, further heard,
Then nearer, then so slow
Your breath has time to straighten,
Your brain to bubble cool, --
Deals one imperial thunderbolt
That scalps your naked soul.
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