Thursday, February 5. 2009
 In a way it's surprising that even one European Dark Ages manuscript survived, but in another way it's surprising that we don't have more of the doubtless many lost Beowulfs. (When you think about it, it's a miracle that we even have Boswell's letters from the 1700s. Some were found being used as wrapping paper in Marseilles. Long story.)
Prof. Sutherland inspired Mrs. BD to dig into this intricately-constructed story, but she elected to do it with Seamus Heaney's wonderful translation from the Anglo-Saxon instead of with the original.
The illustrated edition helps bring the times to life, but it comes in a plain version too. We like Seamus very much.
In response to my shout-out about MacFarlane's book last weekend, our friend Tom Brewton sent this (which he had posted previously):
 The simple, undeniable, and clarion fact is that our personal freedoms came about only, exclusively, and entirely because, centuries before, enough Englishmen had owned enough private property to compel the crown to recognize their rights. When individuals hold the nation’s purse strings, the rulers can’t afford to be too arbitrary.
Evolution of individual property ownership and individual liberties was a process that took place only in England, and it was the very heart of the ethos brought to America by the English colonists.
As Alan Macfarlane (The Origins of English Individualism) explains, England’s traditions of property ownership and the rights of contract, along with its supporting legal system, are historically unique in the world. Only in England did the legal right exist for individuals to own and freely dispose of property. As a consequence, according to accounts by visiting merchants and diplomats from the 15th century onwards, England had a per capita wealth and standard of living, even among the peasant farmers, vastly greater than that of any other European country. It is no accident that the 19th century industrial revolution was more extensive and more effective in England than on the Continent.
Elsewhere in Europe, property was a vague concept based, not on a legal title as in England, but on the feudal tradition of occupancy by generations of the same family. A peasant farm was “owned” by the whole family. No member of the family had any legal way to dispose of any of the property by contract. Every member of the family was entitled by tradition to live on the farm. When a family grew larger, there was less produce from the farm for each member.
The Continental peasant economy was characterized by subsistence farming. Peasant families hardly ever possessed money, but lived by bartering produce at local markets. There was almost no hired labor working for wages. The effect was social and economic stagnation with little prospect for increasing the wealth or living-standards of individuals.
In contrast, England at least as early as the 13th century, around the time that Henry II instituted the common law, had a well developed legal system of individual ownership. Church and court records of the time, both in the rural districts and in the cities, show continual sales of all or parts of farm land and other property by the legal owner, who was always an individual, not a family. Fathers could, and did, disinherit individual children; women owned and sold property in their own name, appearing by legal right to represent themselves in such transactions before the local courts.
The expected pattern in rural England, described by Henry de Bracton in the 13th century (On the Laws and Customs of England), was for sons to leave their families at an early age and hire themselves out as laborers on other farms or in the trades. They usually worked and saved their wages until they had accumulated enough to buy a small farm or business, then they married and began to raise their families. Harder-working and more capable individuals often became well-to-do by continually adding to their property holdings, but there was nothing guaranteed by law or tradition. Indeed, records over several generations in any given local jurisdiction show a constant turnover of family names in the property ownership and tax records. The grandchildren of a wealthy yeoman farmer could easily be poor, if they were not equally hard-working and prudent.
The result of this ethos was an unparalleled degree of economic and political individualism in England, and later in the British North American colonies. For an additional perspective, note the striking contrast between British North America and Latin America, where the Spanish crown originally controlled or owned all property. Latin Americans have never enjoyed the secure personal freedoms found here from the earliest days of the English colonists.
For non-English immigrants to America, especially the millions after the Civil War from historically-feudal Continental Europe, this almost universal private ownership of property was both a jarring social and legal ethos, and, at the same time, the source of their great opportunity for a better life in the New World. Their European heritage led them to identify property ownership with the hereditary landed aristocracy and therefore with repression. They had heard all their lives that liberty was to be taken with armed revolution against existing authority. With no conception of the English heritage of working and saving to accumulate private property over the long term, small numbers of them simply transferred their radical socialism to American soil.
The rule is perfect: in all matters of opinion our adversaries are insane.
Mark Twain (h/t, Dr. X)
 Theater of the Absurd: It's 9 degrees here, after the coldest January since Christ was born. Or since Moses - I forget. Entire nation is in the freezer, and a homeless man reported seeing a Wooly Mammoth at 2 AM this morning outside the Blarney Stone on 9th Avenue. Predictably, that Mammoth story goes unreported. If this were a heat wave, the story would be about AGW. However, Sec of Energy Chu warns of loss of California's vineyards, and RFK Jr. claims hog farms more dangerous than Bin Laden. Even Lefties are beginning to make jokes, but Congress treated Al Gore's lies and distortions with respect. Good grief, he's talking about Venus.
Related: Save the children from GW propaganda. Please.
The only reason to highlight the Pelosi story is to wonder how the press would have handled the story if Sarah Palin had said it.
Now that Obama is in office, press feels free to report that Al Qaida is dying. More at Tiger
Related: Hawkins on Feith's War and Decision
The strange personnel problems at the White House. What they did to Gen. Zinni is unbelievable. It's not a good idea to piss off guys like Zinni.
Now this is really important: Woman achieves record boobs, proving that everybody is good at something.
Krauthammer: Let's return to what time?
$500,000 is chump change for well-connected Dems
The peanut allergy hysteria. Creating enough fear and hysteria to blind people's intelligence seems to be the current popular mode for cranks to drive their agendas: See Obama Catastrophe if bill not passed. Yes, a catastrophe for the Dems, not for the citizens. Related: Is Obama's arrogance beginning to wear on people already?
From Nyquist on Compound Errors:
More than 100 years ago Gustave Le Bon wrote The Psychology of Socialism (Psychologie du Socialisme). He said that socialism was a religion. “No apostle has ever doubted the future of his faith,” began Le Bon, “and the socialists are persuaded of the approaching triumph of theirs. Such a victory implies of necessity the destruction of the present society, and its reconstruction on other bases.” If we look at civilization closely, we find it to be a “tissue of ideas” and customs determined by heredity. “No society is firmly held together unless this moral heritage is solidly established,” warned Le Bon. And today we find that American society has abandoned its moral heritage – thanks to the cultural influence of the socialists. In the battle between socialist ideas and market freedom, the socialist have defeated their competition – in universities and Hollywood, in publishing houses and major media. “The modern bourgeoisie are no longer sure of their rights,” wrote Le Bon. “Or rather they are not sure of anything. They listen to everything and tremble before the most pitiable windbags.”
The capitalist system cannot defend itself against its critics. The system is not a “dictatorship of the bourgeoisie,” as Marx alleged. Instead, it is a distracted uncle who naively trusts that the best ideas will triumph. What we have seen, instead, is the progressive corruption of our terminology; the abandonment of our folkways; a failure to transmit the heritage of our forefathers to the next generation; the triumph of ideals diametrically opposed to those of our nation’s Founders. When the government’s policies lead us from disaster to disaster, and the people are suffering, the outcome will devolve into an ideological battle between differing brands of nonsense.
How many Army and Navy stores have closed over the past 20 years? Here's old Levine's, finally shuttered. My lousy photography makes it difficult to read the "Est. 1923" under the name. Note the signs on the little shop next door.
Wednesday, February 4. 2009
 Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) is remembered at Scriptorium, with an excellent quote.
The one in the air, not the Canvasbacks in the water. Photo from the Ducks Unlimited 2008 members' photo gallery.
 Hopey-changey pretty butterflies and pink unicorns and peace 'n love will not alter the fact that other nations pursue their power and money interests ruthlessly, are quick to deceive, and quick to to identify and exploit weakness.
A quote from Russia and Iran get Strategic, from FPIF:
Looking at the developments of the past 90 days through the filter of the new Russian security framework, a clearer picture emerges. It's no longer a question for the United States of whether or not Russia will support additional sanctions on Iran. That won't happen. Russia is on the path to make Iran a strategic partner, a counter to the United States in the regions of rivalry.
The United States falls into a trap in assuming that Russia doesn't want a nuclear- armed Iran. Russian officials repeat over and over that they have no evidence that Iran has a weapons program. U.S. officials discount that statement but shouldn't. The United States needs to remember that Russia has nuclear engineers inside Iran working with the Iranians.
Read the whole brief article. Lovely as Persian carpets may be, the Russians are after the oil and the geopolitical leverage, not pretty rugs. This is a game for big boys.
 I hadn't heard about the Hollywood stimulus. Does that mean the gummint controls their pay, like it wants to with TARP? Related: Best stimulus idea ever, from Anchoress. Why not?
Aliens from Planet Islam. Yes, they do view the world differently.
Welcome to the big leagues, Obama. Dr. Clouthier says "Try to act Presidential." There is something light-weight, casual, and un-serious about his manner and his comments.
A State's Rights resolution from NH. Good stuff.
Daniel Pearl and the normalization of evil. WSJ
Busheron! Neocons attack Obama for doing to defence what they did to America's culture
Well, Badminton sounds like a great idea. But the Iranians want to play Badminton with nuke missiles.
The good and the bad about Newt. Rick Moran. He's still the best conceptualist the Conservatives have.
NYT has its panties in a bunch over nativists. I think a nativist is somebody who wants our laws followed. But I am part nativist, on my mother's side.
Stumbling over a sense of entitlement, at WaPo. It begins:
Tom Daschle still doesn't get it.
John Thain never did.
Barack Obama gets it sometimes, Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner not so much.
Corporate executives think they get it but aren't even close.
College presidents, governors and union leaders, for the most part, don't have a clue.
"It" is an understanding of how fundamentally the political and economic environment has been transformed with the bursting of the bubble economy and how that has jeopardized basic assumptions and expectations and the way we do what we do.
Tom Daschle's problem wasn't that he didn't pay his taxes. It was that he -- along with those who vetted his nomination as health and human services secretary and many of his colleagues in the Senate -- found it perfectly ordinary and acceptable that he would be able to cash in on his time in the Senate by earning more than $5 million over two years as a law-firm rainmaker, equity fundraiser, corporate director and luncheon speaker, all the while being driven around town in a chauffeured town car. Not exactly Cincinnatus returning to the plow.
For the American public, Daschle became the latest symbol of everything that is wrong with Washington -- the influence-peddling and corner-cutting and sacrifice of the public good to private interest. Now that this system has let them down, and left them poorer and anxious about the future, people are angry about it and no longer willing to accept the corruption of the public process and the whole notion of public service.
The irony, of course, is that Barack Obama understood all this and tapped into Americans' frustration as the central message of his "change" campaign. But even he, with only four years in Washington, failed to see the depth of the problem or anticipate the ferocity of the backlash.
The incredible case of Phineas Gage. Neurophilosophy. Most famous case in neurology.
No cussing please. Trying to out-Puritan the new Puritans
Teasing, arguing and fighting are normal for kids. Is that news? Related: See the Borderline Sociopathic Blog for Boys
Ancient hot cocoa cups. h/t, Jungleman
What Macy's is doing to stay alive
Old Jews Telling Jokes: Health Care
An Epicurianism update
Just in case you are not feeling cynical enough about politics yet, a campaign ad from 1986:
Tuesday, February 3. 2009
From Rep. John Carter:
WASHINGTON, DC) – All U.S. taxpayers would enjoy the same immunity from IRS penalties and interest as House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Obama Administration Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, if a bill introduced today by Congressman John Carter (R-TX) becomes law.
Carter, a former longtime Texas judge, today introduced the Rangel Rule Act of 2009, HR 735, which would prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from charging penalties and interest on back taxes against U.S. citizens. Under the proposed law, any taxpayer who wrote “Rangel Rule” on their return when paying back taxes would be immune from penalties and interest.
From Bruce Kesler. I no longer will term him "guest poster" because he seems to be turning into a regular.
Above the law? Thank you Mr. Daschle.
We should all be thanking Tom Daschle for his behavior in not paying all his taxes and evading lobbying laws. The even larger issues are highlighted for public discussion that some of our rulers do not follow the same laws expected of the rest of us, and that they exploit the loopholes in the ever expanding laws.
At issue are to what standards our rulers are to be held and whether laws are enough the answer. Laws help keep honest people honest, by providing guidance, but personal integrity and shame are essential as well. Strict enforcement is also critical, especially for those who anyway breach the law and public trust.
First, we must admit that none of us are saints, nor are any solons capable of foreseeing all eventualities. Imperfect men can only make imperfect laws, and imperfect men may err in following them. Despite partisan stances toward imperfections of our adversaries, most of us do observe reasonable tolerance toward imperfect behavior.
That acknowledged, tolerance is exceeded when imperfect behavior is clearly beyond the law, blatant, or frequent. It is a matter of our basic governance in a democracy that our rulers be held to, at least, the same standards as other citizens.
This is not a matter of policy differences, unless one wants to argue that our rulers are or should be above the law for whatever reasons of need or effectiveness.
Here, some minds might wander into consideration of some of the measures taken by the Bush administration, and some by the Clinton administration, in their efforts against terrorism. What makes them qualitatively different is that they literally involve national security, almost all were within or not outside the law as it existed, that they were not for personal enrichment, and that reasonable, qualified experts differ on them. As evidenced by the Obama administration¿s initial adoption or non-rejection - yet - of most of these measures, despite Obama's campaign rhetoric, these are policy differences.
Regarding Tom Daschle, we had two clear choices, allowing him to skate or holding him accountable. Tom Daschle had the third choice, having the shame and sense to withdraw, which he now has. If he had been confirmed, our Senators would undermine public confidence in and compliance with the laws and respect for themselves. If Daschle were rejected, our legislators' job would not be complete. They owe us more. Daschle's withdrawal still leaves their job incomplete.
There are enough other examples of tax and law evasion by other legislators and appointees to merit additional examination of their behavior and stringent enforcement actions. The suggestion here: http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2009/02/audit_them_all.html
for all to be subject to regular comprehensive tax audits is worthwhile. The Congressional ethics committees need to be more independent and active. That requires the addition of independent special investigators, as with the executive¿s agencies. Their work should be fast and their reports published immediately, avoiding burying by legislators. Laws passed by the Congress should apply to Congress itself, with any exceptions being at least justified by supermajorities. Lastly, our major media must take more seriously its self-professed role as nonpartisan guardians of truth-to-power. The extent to which it has not is far beyond evident.
These will go a long way toward ending attitudes of our rulers or perceptions of them being above the law. They may well, also, further more careful consideration of the laws passed, as their effects are more applied to themselves.
We deserve no less. Thank you Mr. Daschle for your contribution to our government's integrity. Now, go away in rightful shame.
The movie starring Kevin Bacon premieres Feb 21. Trailer here.
Look at the ends of aluminum foil boxes. There's a push-in thingy to hold the roll in the box. Thank me.
Two tax cheats remove themselves from consideration today, despite admin support. Furthermore, Europe and Canada are freaking out about "Buy American." A trade war? It's been a bad week for the O, and it's only Tuesday. I do not wish the admin ill; I wish them wisdom and honesty - and quickly.
Obama does dhimmitude? Powerline. That is not wise.
It's racist to ask Obama direct questions.
Obama changes his mind about hiring lobbyists.
Novice in Chief: Jules
France rejects an Obama-style stimulus
Lunatics running the asylum. Am Thinker
 My mentioning a pied a terre in Manhattan motivated me to locate this nice little 2 BR place on West 81st, facing the Museum of Natural History. I want this (photo of LR with working fireplace).
They are asking $1.2 million. Details here.
I used to own a 1 BR place with doorman on West 82, but that was long ago. Bought it for $62,000. and, had I kept it, it would have been the best investment I ever made.
Michelle Obama's salary, charted. You get the feeling that the Left is all about money. Conservatives are all about freedom. How simple is that?
The proposed performance Czar. These Dems have no clue how much time I spend to pay my taxes properly. No wonder they don't mind raising taxes - they don't pay them.
This is becoming a joke. Maybe paying honest taxes is for chumps, as Leona Helmsley used to say.
 Neoneo quotes herself from several years ago in a piece about Pajamas Media and blog ad money:
I don’t think my blog –or the blogs of any of us, including its founders–will live or die by the success of PJ Media. We all define success differently; right now, I consider this blog to have been successful, if not beyond my wildest dreams, then certainly beyond what I considered any realistic expectations. Great readers, and plenty of them–what more could a person want?
Neo, that's right on the money.
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