Wednesday, November 26. 2008
 On September 6, 1620, our Pilgrim Fathers and Mothers set sail from Holland, where many Puritans had fled, to England to furnish the boat and pick up more passengers, and headed to what was called "North Virginia" - New York harbor, specifically.
They left too late in the year. The leaky Speedwell slowed them down, and the Mayflower herself was an old tub. On November 9 they made landfall in Cape Cod (a mere 2 degrees off course), but found heading south to NY was treacherous with the autumn storms, so they gave up that effort and returned to the Cape, anchored in Provincetown Harbor, and began exploring Cape Cod (and stealing caches of Indian corn) until deciding on Plymouth as the spot to settle down for the very hard first winter. Only 50 of the 110 on board the Mayflower survived the first winter. Had they anticipated that catastrophe, they never would have left Europe. Samoset and Squanto appeared in March (Squanto spoke English, and had already been to England, and probably to Spain too), and helped them figure out how to live, farm, hunt, and fish, in rugged New England. Plymouth, fortunately, had many large, abandoned Indian corn fields so it wasn't too difficult to get the spring planting underway. How differently history might have developed had they ended up where they had intended in the environs of the soon-to-be wealthy Dutch mercantile colony of New Amsterdam.
Our strange pop culture has a habit of identifying, or labelling, "victims," and then idealizing them. I think of this sort of thing as an extension ad absurdum of Marxist victim- and oppression-seeking, but I could be wrong about that. Anyway, we posted on the topic of idealizing the cancer victim patient in Pinkapalooza Debunked.Today, a Psychiatrist with cancer discusses Two Stories we Tell Ourselves about Cancer - "The Fighter" and "The Hero's Journey." He points out that these dramatic narratives may help some people cope with their fear and pain, but the truth is that having cancer simply sucks and messes up one's life. I believe it is the people without cancer who enjoy these comforting narratives. Those with cancer know better.
Gwynnie and companions, around an hour from Lake Winnipegosis in Manitoba a couple of weeks ago: 
 Pilgrims as Nazis? I thought immigration was a good thing.
Why the dimples on golf balls? A new edition of Thornton Burgess' animal stories. Classics, for sure. First-ever online spending decline Viking beavers arrive in England en route to Scotland. Cool. Does Europe really believe in International Law? Only when it suits them The Western $ that flows into Gaza. Chesler. What is it buying? Kudlow: Revive the animal spirits with lower taxes. Related: Wilkinson on Romer The myth of Obama's small donors. The people of Iceland mad at their government Riehl: My biggest fear isn't that these bailouts won't work... My bigger fear is that the bailouts will "work" in preventing a total meltdown by ensuring that future generations of Americans will come to know the grinding pain of a system that will give us permanent and almost total government control and responsibility for nearly everything in America.
Just the notion that a government can "fix" an economy is ridiculous. Or "fix" anything else, really. That sort of thinking raises dangerous and insidious expectations.
Tuesday, November 25. 2008
 Our occasional commenter "Retriever" has had her own blog up and running for a little while. She writes (and thinks) well.
Check it out: The Retriever. It's about life. Yes, the photo is a tough Chessie, which seemed appropriate.
 Tax-The-Rich Charlie Rangel will, no doubt, be protected from his behavior, despite daily revelations of his seemingly sociopathic and highly-enriching ($) career in politics. It just never ends.
I have always maintained that politics is far more corrupt than business, and is an attraction to corruptable people who do not like, or can not handle, real productive work. The "public service" thing is a big sanctimonious scam and a cover-up for many feckless, sneaky and glib schmoozers who lack marketable skills (with some exceptions). But we all know that, and I do not think it is cute. (I believe that we recently read that the Clintons - not that they are ever together in the same room - are now worth $100 million bucks. Maybe Socialism works...) Does Rangel's constituency enjoy the way he gets it over on "the power"? I do not. This is the guy who writes the incomprehensible tax code which I try my best to obey and which I require my clients to obey, but who dodges the rules every chance he sees. I resent that. Charming rascal or scumbag? You tell me but, if it's OK to be that kind of socialist rascal, can I be one too? I want my free piece of that Socialist Pumpkin pie. Real work is a bummer, ain't it? It's just so hard to do, and competing with others seems so unfair because the others try so hard to get ahead. That's just not fair. The government should do something about that.
Cyberspace swallowed up my morning post, and it's too late for me to try to reconstruct the items. Just a few, plus some that Bird Dog forwarded: This will be fun. The no-nonsense and thus far sole Honorary Maggie's Farmer Vaclav Klaus next head of EU. (The terminally-arrogant NYT makes their feelings about him quite clear.) Now that we have Dems in power, the AP changes its tune on Iraq. Suddenly, success matters. Intellectual integrity is so pre-pomo. Boiling Frog Socialism comes to America A black Republican quoted at Villainous:  I can vouch that being a moderate black Republican isn't easy. My black GOP colleagues and I endure endless ridicule and questioning from other African Americans, including close friends and family members who wonder how we can belong to a political party that is so overwhelmingly white, male, Southern, conservative and seemingly closed to ethnic minorities.
Critical thinking about "critical thinking." A quote from Prof Deneen's essay: “Critical thinking” is a form of intentional deracination and displacement. Its basic assumption is that students enter college or university with a set of under-explored moral commitments that they have inherited from the broader culture. Most dangerous and of concern are those students who enter college with traditional, particularly religious commitments that represent an obstacle to “critical thinking.” The implicit opposite of “critical thinking” is faith, understood as an unreflective set of commitments to pre- or anti-rational beliefs. An education in critical thinking takes on the appearance of contentless inquiry, but is in fact deeply informed by a considerable set of Enlightenment beliefs, including the effort to inculcate deracinated reason, a conception of the individual as a monadic “self,” antipathy to culture and religion, philosophical skepticism, a deep-seated materialism, and a devotion to a cosmopolitan outlook that permits one to be comfortable everywhere and nowhere in particular. The vast panoply of our “diverse” institutions of higher education are increasingly dedicated to the uniform formation of this particular sort of human being, and in the absence of a good understanding of the implicit content of “critical thinking,” are successful in that endeavor.
Indeed, "critical thinking," "deconstructionism," multiculturalism, and general Pomo Thought need more of their own attitudes applied to themselves. They are flimsy constructions, the plastic hula-hoops of our generation. The name of the game is being cool - and tenure.
Monday, November 24. 2008
h/t, Theo. 
This reminds me of the old genie joke: 60 year-old guy tells genie that he wants his wife to be 30 years younger than he is. Genie: OK, Poof - You're 90.
This is something different. You need to stick with it. It's in English, despite the intro. Here's the scoop on Freddie Frinton.
 We posted the website, HuntFishCook.com, a couple of years ago.
They have a good Game Cooking Basics.
The following is from our regular guest poster Bruce Kesler: We won the war, but lost the victory. That charge can legitimately be made about Iraq. It could also be legitimately made about World War I, World War II, and Vietnam. In all these, initial goals were not achieved of either preserving the status quo or creating a more peaceful world order. Inevitably, domestically and abroad, new inimical forces are strengthened or unleashed, encouraged by our turning inward. World War I led to the rise of state fascism and communism, as we focused on our own comforts. World War II led to Eastern Europe and China behind the Iron and Bamboo Curtains, and Russia and China feeling able to take South Korea from our inattention. Vietnam (which was won, only to be tossed to the wolves of an overwhelming invasion) led to a generation of US defeatism and half-measures that encouraged today’s jihadism. On the other hand, World War I spread the ideal of self-rule and led to the end of colonialism that sapped rulers’ wealth and honor. World War II led to the world-wide wealth-producing leadership of American free enterprise. Vietnam bought the time for emergence of vibrant economies among those that allowed greater freedom.
The Clinton years were the ascendancy of those whose lesson from Vietnam was, at best, half-measures in the face of clear threats and attacks. The irony of much these same people populating the Obama administration is not lost on aggressors, despite Obama saying during the campaign “The real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result.” While WMD’s were not discovered in Iraq, neither has the extant capacity to produce them survived. While sectarian competition simmers, none are subjugated nor victims of state oppression. While democracy has not spread through the region, neither has any power the strength to impose itself. While terrorist organizations continue their threats, their power and draw has been stifled and we have avoided domestic attacks. What will Iraq bring that’s more positive? A recognition that others must take greater responsibility for their own fate would be welcome, but unlikely. Perhaps more likely will be a greater recognition and appreciation for the US’ leadership and sacrifices. But, that will only come after a period of suffering reduced US willingness to bravely lead and sacrifice. The ending of prior wars led to our electorate relaxing and turning its attentions internally. That led to increasing the potentials for those with nefarious objectives to try their chances. We’ve done it again. And so will they. Comparatively, The US will emerge from the global economic meltdown as strong or stronger than ever, as our innate and predominant values of free and responsible initiative are strengthened while others are more committed to statist stultifying. Good thing, because we have also repeated the error of turning in, which will only encourage those abroad with nefarious objectives. The operation will, again, have been successful, and the victory lost. History continues, and future generations will pay the price.
 Obama reconsidering tax hikes. related, Obama irritating all the right people
Times' Mark Halperin discusses "Extreme pro-Obama press bias" Roast Brined Turkey. It works. I tried it last year. If fat people get two seats, should skinny people get a 1/2 seat? E=mc squared seems to be true. But why should that be? NYT spins history Palin's star power increases In appreciation of Bush. Wizbang Home on the Rangel. What other laws does this guy break? Am I crazy, or is the world crazy? Look at this new NYC statue. Surely the NYT is pulling our collective leg? From Volokh: Lessons from the Great Depression: Tyler Cowen on the lessons for today from FDR and the Great Depression: In short, expansionary monetary policy and wartime orders from Europe, not the well-known policies of the New Deal, did the most to make the American economy climb out of the Depression. Our current downturn will end as well someday, and, as in the ’30s, the recovery will probably come for reasons that have little to do with most policy initiatives.
Eric at Classical Values considers mens' room gay sex. I had to look up the meaning of "trade." Social politics. Why do we care so much about things that don't directly affect us? Quote from a piece by AVI: We care very deeply about these expressions of who we are as a society, locally or nationally. Some people don’t want to see strip malls. Some don’t want to see litter. Some don’t want to see sexual advocacy in the children’s section of the public library. Zoning, historical districts, wilderness areas, nude beaches, prayers before football games, public smoking, girlie magazines at the convenience store, transvestites, mosques, loud music next door, ORV’s, communications towers, homeless people, Wal-marts…We don’t want to see it! Or we do. It says something bad/good about us as a people. We want to feel that the place is ours, that it expresses us. I don’t want to live in a society that…
A flock of Brant ("Brent" in the UK) over Long Island Sound this weekend. Thanks, reader. 
Sunday, November 23. 2008
Voters making over $200,000/year (which is upper-middle class, except in NY, CT, and parts of CA) voted well over 50% for Obama. Will Wilkinson discusses the demographics of the election with Andrew Gelman, author of Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State. Among many other topics, he attempts to understand how formerly Repub states like NY, CT and California became Democratic. Also, a bit on happiness and "progress." Video here.
A GOP strategist earlier this year, as quoted via Rick Moran in Will Nationalized Health Care Kill Conservatism? - “Let me tell you something, if Democrats take the White House and pass a big-government healthcare plan, that’s it. Game over. Government will dominate the economy like it does in Europe. Conservatives will spend the rest of their lives trying to turn things around and they will fail.”
Rick disagrees, but opines that further govt entitlement obligations will be catastrophic for the US. There's no doubt that a government grab of 14% of the economy would be a huge shift.
Take the Turkey and Thanksgiving Quiz. (I scored 15, with a few calculated guesses.)
 Why some people are lucky, and some are not. (h/t, YARGB)
Parents of fat kids charged with abuse in Britain. What's wrong with being fat? Why to be a well-dressed man What good is monasticism? Anchoress China's gruesome organ harvest Palin's gruesome turkey harvest Ten politically-incorrect thoughts. VDH Arianna Huffington: Online entrepreneur Dear Whole Foods: We're through... Insty: THE SHAM OF SEX HARASSMENT TRAINING: “It’s little more than politically correct indoctrination.” I’m shocked, shocked to hear this.
Saturday, November 22. 2008
From an Reuters story today: "Islamist militants in Somalia took steps on Saturday to attack pirates behind the world's biggest hijack and rescue the captured Saudi Arabian supertanker, an Islamist spokesman said." Who do you root for in this situation? The terrorists are using a religious rationale for recapturing the Saudi tanker, but they are clearly jealous of the success of the local pirates. Maybe it's best just to sit back and watch the game? 
 This via Am Digest: How to carve a turkey like a man from The Art of Manliness: just the blog title tells you it is essential in today's sissified world.
If my memory serves me, I think that photo is from Dr. Bob a few years ago.
What happy people tend not to do. NYT Get a room, David Brooks A single-celled organism the size of a grape. Repubs will never reach people who feel that they are owed stuff At least 25 years of global cooling now predicted. It's cold as heck here today. How bad will the recession be? Hawkins Eric Holder, gun-grabber, also makes the case for "reasonable" restrictions on internet The Waxman Dems: WSJ. A quote: It's obvious who now pulls the Democratic levers of power, and anyone in the energy or health-care business had better erect the barricades.
To A Waterfowl
Whither, 'midst falling dew,
While glow the heavens with the last steps of day,
Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue
Thy solitary way?
Vainly the fowler's eye
Might mark thy distant flight to do thee wrong,
As, darkly painted on the crimson sky,
Thy figure floats along.
Seek'st thou the plashy brink
Of weedy lake, or marge of river wide,
Or where the rocking billows rise and sink
On the chafed ocean side?
There is a Power whose care
Teaches thy way along that pathless coast,--
The desert and illimitable air,--
Lone wandering, but not lost.
All day thy wings have fann'd
At that far height, the cold thin atmosphere:
Yet stoop not, weary, to the welcome land,
Though the dark night is near.
And soon that toil shall end,
Soon shalt thou find a summer home, and rest,
And scream among thy fellows; reed shall bend
Soon o'er thy sheltered nest.
Thou'rt gone, the abyss of heaven
Hath swallowed up thy form; yet, on my heart
Deeply hath sunk the lesson thou hast given,
And shall not soon depart.
He, who, from zone to zone,
Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight,
In the long way that I must tread alone,
Will lead my steps aright.
The Dylanologist rolled into town on a ferris wheel yesterday, and managed to find some black market tix for Dylan's last performance of his touring season this year. The Dyl threw me in the horseless carriage and we drove down, through mid-town Manhattan, 
and past the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree (covered with scaffolding for the lighting), and down to Times Square to get the tickets from the scalper ticket agent, 
then down to 34th street, 
only to find that the ticket guy had already sent their left-over tickets way the heck uptown to the theater in now (largely-Hispanic) Washington Heights (where the Brits defeated Washington's army), so we had to turn around back north to do a cell-phone rendezvous in front of a restaurant across the street from the place (after finally finding a place to stow the car). The United Palace Theater on Broadway and 175th st: 
Here's our photo of the lobby of the 77 year-old Loew's movie and vaudeville palace as people were leaving, (recently restored by the current owners, Christ United Church): 
And here's the theater's (church's) photo of their splendid interior, minus people: 
And here's Bob last night on the piano (we smuggled a camera in, but it seems impossible to get good rock concert photos): 
Standouts were Thunder on the Mountain, Highway 61, Spirit on the Water, Ain't Talkin', and an acoustic Tomorrow is a Long time. They did a cheerful two-hour performance, and ended with Blowin' in the Wind with Bob on acoustic.
Continue reading "Photos: To NYC to see Bob last night"
Friday, November 21. 2008
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