We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
In a chat with an Italian guy from Torino with his two little kids and wife on the flight to Milan, he said "You are only visiting for ten days? In Italy, we have 8 weeks of vacation. We have been in the US for a month, two weeks in New York."
In a chat with a Brit on a ferry on Lake Como: "When you travel with a wife, you see villas and gardens. That's just what you do." They were on a one month trip around Italy.
When do these folks ever work? We talked with plenty of friendly people on our trip, including a Swiss gal who had come down from Bern to the lakes with her dog (travel in Europe is very dog-friendly) for a long weekend.
Some more Italy photos - a cafe in a pleasant piazza in Stresa with a bottle of our staple - the local Barbera:
Another shot of the Isola Bella gardens:
A view from the funicular which connects Stresa with the ski village of Motterone. In the "Borromean Gulf," the left island of the triangle is Isola Pescatore, the far one is Isola Madre, and the one on the lower right is Isola Bella:
All men knew that already, but were askeered to say it for fear of the innate female propensity for violence, vengeance, grudge-collecting - and their use of their sexual charms and sharp tongues to oppress, manipulate, and control the hapless males of the species. Why the professional feminists never discuss this is a mystery, but females are a mystery to men anyway.
Photois a no-doubt future mother, eagerly awaiting - or inviting - vigorous fertilization, via Theo. From her spectacles, surely one of the bookish, intelligent ones (like Mrs. Barrister).
Me? I am certainly one of the stupid men, as the simple fact of my posting this link must make obvious.
I was a bit of a nerdy, introverted kid, with a strong naturalist, conservationist, and hunting bent which has continued into my so-called adulthood.
I owe my Mom (and my Dad) gratitude for introducing me to these interesting things. They are both curious people who do not like to not know about things around them, in whatever depth they are able to pursue.
The energetic curiosity of parents, as of teachers, must surely be a good inspiration for growing rugrats. Thanks, Mom and Dad.
While an expert in nothing, I have learned enough over the years to see and understand more of what's going on outdoors than the average bear. As our readers know, I am interested in the geology, the geography, the wildlife, the plants, the seas, and habitats in general.
I have been birding since I was around 10, when I started with weekend groups from the local Audubon Society, but I remain a novice. Female warblers can drive me nuts, and Fall warblers - forget about it.
Birding can be challenging, physically like hiking and mentally like Organic Chemistry: birds have seasonal plumages, and many vary during their first couple of years of life. Like hunting or fishing, it provides a mission for one's expeditions to the Great Outdoors. I am not one of those obsessives who pursue a Life List: I just like to see what is around in whatever corner of Creation I happen to find myself.
Even when hunting, I tend to have my binoculars with me.
Using data from 2006, a new report, "Wildlife Watching in the United States," found that expenditures for watching birds and other wildlife were equivalent to the revenues generated from all spectator sports, including football, baseball and NASCAR; amusement parks and arcades; nonhotel casinos; bowling centers; and skiing facilities -- combined.
Photo is a tough diagnosis for amateurs, especially when among flocks of Herring Gulls. Sometimes seen on the coast in the Northeast in winter: Glaucous Gull. A big, tough denizen of the high Arctic.
Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange For the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!
No regular American would want to be anything like Europe, however much we like to visit them to try to experience their interesting and colorful history, and to hear their quaint accents and languages. The real Disney Europe is what I call it. A receding, suicidal civilization. The charm comes from their having been frozen in time by insane governments - not from their present condition.
Go see it before it disappears and becomes a subject for anthropological study.
It's the thick of warbler migration season now on the Atlantic Flyway. Step outdoors at 6 AM and you can hear them all (especially the Parulas).
Last time I saw one of the large warblers below was in Central Park, skulking in low brush along the Reservoir (CP has the best birding and the best girl-watching on the East Coast, in May). Male and female:
Douglas told a news conference today that Vermont's student population declined by about 1,600 last year, while schools around the state added 218 new staff. Reformer
Big tits tips for bigger boobs. It's not fair, and I think the government should do something about it. If we really care about equality, that is. My opinion? Vive la difference.
Nothing would sleep in that cellar, dank as a ditch, Bulbs broke out of boxes hunting for chinks in the dark, Shoots dangled and drooped, Lolling obscenely from mildewed crates, Hung down long yellow evil necks, like tropical snakes. And what a congress of stinks! Roots ripe as old bait, Pulpy stems, rank, silo-rich, Leaf-mold, manure, lime, piled against slippery planks. Nothing would give up life: Even the dirt kept breathing a small breath.
Capt. Tom thought we needed to post some Django Reinhardt. He emailed me a good one, but I think we'll start with the famous duo of Reindardt and Stephane Grappelli.
Perfect timing: Comedy Central developing Jesus Christ cartoon. I really could not care less. Bad taste is part of pop culture, but it no longer serves to epater le bourgeois. It just seems stupid and adolescent.
Congressman Joseph Cao, elected to replace "Ice Box" Jefferson in Louisiana, faces an uphill battle to keep the seat. Cao is unafraid of speaking up for what he believes.
Recently, the Vietnamese government asked him to arrange meeting with the US Vietnamese community for Hanoi to present its case. As Cao replies, Hanoi has no case.
In his reply letter, Congressman Cao says the premise for the request is misguided. The Vietnamese left their homeland because they rejected tyranny. Until the government of Vietnam demonstrates real changes, respecting human rights and freedom, it will not be taken seriously by the Vietnamese-American community: release political prisoners, stop oppressing democracy activists and religious freedom, respect the rule of law.
That's just a quick summary. Read Cao's entire letter for much more. It is eloquent, heartfelt, and quite an education for those not familiar with the conditions in Vietnam.
The California Republican primary on June 8 will decide the nominee for Governor and for US Senator.
Sarah Palin just endorsed Carly Fiorina as best chance to unseat Barbara Boxer.Congressman Tom McClintock endorsed Steve Poizner to take on former governor Jerry Brown who is trying to leave his Oakland exile (mayor) for Sacramento again.
Most California Republicans have a weak preference among the primary contenders, according to the polls. Heck, even Hugh Hewitt, of California, who usually has a sharp political opinion on most things has not written at his blog about Republican US Senate contenders DeVore, Campbell or Fiorina.
This lack of excitement is due to having to make hard or distasteful choices.
I attended the funeral of a colleague and pal of 20+ years early this afternoon. Jewish funeral, very short notice. Just took him and his wife to dinner ten days ago. Massive stroke. Second close death for me in one week. They played Louis Armstrong. The last year of his life was probably the best he had ever had. Recently retired (wife still working), biking through Asia with his lovely Mrs - who is a doctor, a month in Cabo, visiting kids in Lake Como and in California. Loved four things the most: deep thinking, bicycling long distances, his family - and good meals with good wines. Always cheerful, except when stupidity or dishonesty pissed him off. So modest, I never knew he was a Harvard grad til today at the funeral. Full scholarship, worked as a janitor for spending money. Tough for me to lose two special pals who loved life so much, in one week: I am not old yet. It connects to this "passing through" theme for me right now:
The issues around being a Christian in the real world are a regular topic for Bible study groups - and likely for students and followers of any religious discipline. "In the world, but not of it" is the way a part of John 17 is often paraphrased, viewing this life as a swift passage to another version of existence.
Anchoress posted this well-known (but new to me) second century letter to Diognetus, presenting an ideal version of A Christian In The World, in her Paradoxes of Christianity:
Christians in the World
Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.
And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not theirwives.
They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven.
Quickest way to increase grad rates would be to simply sell degrees, or to hand them out for free like the Wizard of Oz.
Now I do realize that a "college degree" no longer necessarily means a Liberal Arts degree as proof that one has mastered a language or two, calculus, sciences, masterworks of philosophy, theology, and literature, etc: many colleges today entail various combinations of remedial education, high-school level coursework, and job training. Flunking out is a thing of the past, so lots of folks must just figure it's not worth the trouble. They could be right.
As a nasty antidote to the usual saccharine, sentimental, schmaltzy, Hallmark-created Mother's Day, I will dare to offer this provocative link: 
I was a bit of a nerdy, introverted kid, with a strong naturalist, conservationist, and hunting bent which has continued into my so-called adulthood. 
Root Cellar 
Cask-aged vintage Dominican Romeos
Not kidding. 
Ah, there the two of you are:
The issues around being a Christian in the real world are a regular topic for Bible study groups - and likely for students and followers of any religious discipline. "In the world, but not of it" is the way a part of