Maggie's FarmWe 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. |
Our Recent Essays Behind the Front Page
Categories
QuicksearchLinks
Blog Administration |
Monday, January 5. 2015Monday morning linksWhy are we so obsessed with plane crashes? Our old friend Tigerhawk is now a contributing writer at Conservative Wahoo Markets in everything, spas for seven year olds 2014: The Year of Peak Stupidity "You see, Elly, I raised you like a boy, and I was wrong to do it." Here's the main problem with feminism. Bat shit crazy broads Home Schooling: More Pupils, Less Regulation Klavan: we will have to offend people. A lot of people. A lot of the time. Markets in everything, spas for seven year olds Gun Trouble - The rifle that today's infantry uses is little changed since the 1960s—and it is badly flawed. Military lives depend on these cheap composites of metal and plastic. So why can't the richest country in the world give its soldiers better ones? Listening to Dr. King, I wonder what happened to us How Sharpton gets paid to not cry ‘racism’ at corporations What’s your top priority in 2016? Let this poll help you pick! We’ve got 99 problems, and we can’t run on all of ‘em. Government is the Country's Biggest Problem, Say Americans Government Orders Wage Hikes in 20 States "...imagine if at some point from late 2001 through the end of 2008, a troop of American soldiers turned their backs on George W. Bush during a speech*, they’d be praised as brave dissent demonstrators, and possibly “Salon’s People of the Year.”" Cause of Pause in Global Warming Snow in Palermo, Sicily Kim Jong Un: Slavetrader - North Korea is actually a vast slave labor plantation and human trafficking operation run for the profit and hedonistic pleasure of its morally degenerate rulers. India's Government Will Now 'Check and Verify the Use of Toilets' - It's an unprecedented plan aimed at eliminating open defecation across the country. Could it work? France Joins the Supply Side: Paul Krugman Hardest Hit Mental patients, screaming "Allahu Akbar," are storming France. Egypt’s al-Sisi Makes Extraordinary Speech on Islam Maoists in China, Given New Life, Attack Dissent
Sunday, January 4. 2015Despite the college bubble, why is a college degree still valuable monetarily?
However, the reason that is, despite all of the studies showing that most kids benefit little or nothing from college, is because work aptitude tests are now mostly illegal: Thank SCOTUS for Credential Inflation Crossfit
Do you know what it is? There are now Crossfit gyms all over America. It's a new arena for athletic, especially strength, competition.
Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
11:21
| Comments (9)
| Trackbacks (0)
Why smart people sometimes do dumb things
It's not "sometimes" - it's frequently. Intelligence and rationality are separate things. Rational and Irrational Thought: The Thinking that IQ Tests Miss
Always clear and illuminating
From today's Lectionary: In the beginning was the WordJohn 1:(1-9), 10-18
Saturday, January 3. 2015Abandoned AmericaThe Top 1 PercentThe Top 1 Percent: What Jobs Do They Have? It's an interactive site.
Posted by The News Junkie
in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects
at
15:49
| Comment (1)
| Trackbacks (0)
Surviving secondary
When returning to the US, Global Entry is a cool thing.
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
15:30
| Comments (0)
| Trackbacks (0)
Saturday morning linksToon via the WSJ I'm an "aye," especially if the vote is to remove laws, rules, and regulations. Related: A political system is often at its best when it does nothing. Doctor: "death from cancer is the best" “Those that get up at 5 a.m. rule the world.” I'm a 4:30 guy myself, and I rule nothing Hot Sauce Maker Blisters Federal Nanny Common Core Sparks Rise in Home Schooling Are UNC centers politically biased? The numbers add up to one fact: Cops are a blessing to NYC Want a President Who Loves America Oh Yeah, Jeb’s Running — But Should He? Salon: Our scary new Congress: Meet 5 Tea Party extremists taking office this month Jonah quotes:
Land is subsiding but they call it sea level rise Cleric Shakes Up Saudis: Uncover Your Face, Wear Makeup, Mingle with Men The logic behind President Obama’s Cuba normalization, assuming there is one, is the nylon strategy. Saturday Verse: KiplingThe Gods of the Copybook Headings, 1919 (here's what a copybook is, and, by "markets," he means the political speakers in the marketplace of ideas) AS I PASS through my incarnations in every age and race, Good bye, treeAfter a holiday brunch this morning, the tree goes outdoors for a while dressed in his CVS lights with an extension cord. Thus the dude abides. It saddens me to see and hear how many people use fake trees these days. Me? Never. There's enough fake and phony in the world, I feel. Why add to it? We like our farmy-comfy parlor. We do not use it enough, because we work too much and have too much to do. We can shove the furniture to the side and fit 40 people in there for jolly sit-down dinner parties, Are cigars allowed? Definitely yes. All tobacco is welcome. Boob tube? Absolutely not. Home-made and recorded music? Certainly. The pianny is excellent. Bring yer fiddle. Best instruments in the world? The fiddle and the pianny. Just my opinion. Ye organ is just a different pianny. Ye guitar is just a half-baked fiddle.
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
05:00
| Comments (9)
| Trackbacks (0)
Friday, January 2. 2015Everything's gonna be alrightThe statin controversiesMario Cuomo RIPSome years ago, after his governorship of NY, Cuomo had a short-lived national radio talk show. I phoned in once, on a whim. He was gracious, warm, and pleasant, and I was pleasant to him. I asked him what was on liberalism's agenda. He said government needs to provide and run medical care in the US. I said "OK, what after that?" He hesitated. I said "How about government car insurance?" He said "That's definitely something to look into." Then I got to my point: I asked him "At what point is the progressive agenda complete - where does it end?" He hesitated again, then said (approx) "Government needs to assure that all Americans get what they need." I cheerfully responded "That's what I thought." It went on for a brief while. He emailed me the next day, and asked me to call again. Said I had interesting comments. I never bothered to do so, though, figuring he was hopeless. An affable guy, though, unlike his son "Evil Eyes" Cuomo, aka Michael Corleone. They took Mario off the air a while later because he acquired no listeners. Sleazy politician, good speaker, decent fellow, and deeply misguided which is disappointing in an immigrant family. Friday morning linksBarrels: a history of hogsheads, kegs and puncheons Don’t Like Guns? Then Regulate Them Like Cars! Re guns: "hilariously pretentious" Biological bad luck blamed in two-thirds of cancer cases Cheer up. Things are not all that bad for the world Can’t Find Enough (Excellent) Programmers Here France Finally Runs Out of Other People’s Money Climate: Ask Questions and Endanger Your Career Giant fans kill birds Williamson: 2015 Non-Predictions And one prediction, too
WALL OF SHAME: Top 10 most outrageously biased professors of 2014 Professor – It’s Time for UVA to Apologize Unarmed White Man Killed by Alabama Police; No Protests, No Riots, No National Media Goldberg - A Year of Liberal Double Standards What seems like staggering hypocrisy is actually remarkably consistent from liberals’ perspective:
Thursday, January 1. 2015Travel avoidance and phobic anxieties in general
It's time for 2015 travel planning if we have not done that yet (most have done so already, I suspect, but some people are last-minute "planners"). I have a new case of a fellow who has developed a travel phobia. To be accurate, he has not really developed it, it has just been exposed by his frustrated family. Many people with fears of all sorts never have them exposed because they find ways and excuses to avoid the things that make them uncomfortable. Typical excuses: "I hate cocktail parties," "I hate going to sports stadiums," "I don't want to go to that stupid place," "It's dangerous," "I hate cities," "Airplanes suck," "It's too expensive," "I don't need any new friends," etc etc. Phobias are more often identified by avoidances than by real episodes of fear or discomfort. How does one tell what is a phobic avoidance from a plain dislike? Well, a little ruthless dose of self-scrutiny can answer most of your questions about your own fears and insecurities. Like agoraphobics, travel phobics dart from place of safety to place of safety and familiarity no matter how often over-visited, never enjoy the trip or the adventures of life, and constrict their experiences and the richness of their lives in the process. Carpe diem. Life is short and shorter with each new day and each new year. Men are particularly reluctant to admit flaws and weaknesses. Pride and shame prevent people from owning up to the personal weaknesses of their fears and frailties. I give blogger Ann Althouse, for example, credit for acknowledging her travel phobia (she feels that a driving trip from Madison to Austin is a daunting adventure). Properly naming one's fears, instead of making excuses, is the first step towards addressing them and conquering them. What we term "simple phobias" are among the easiest things we shrinks have to deal with. In my experience, people with travel phobias and adventure phobias, once mastered, want to go everywhere and do everything. Best of 2014: How Eva Moskowitz Outmuscled the Teachers Union"Dear beautiful America, please, stop moving Forward"
From a Russian immigrant: "Dear beautiful America, please, stop moving Forward"
Life in Yankeeland: New Year's Day menuFor in-laws, kids, and their significant others Roast Boneless Leg of Lamb to 120 degrees (F) - rare - au jus of course Prosecca, Mt. Etna Rosso, Martinelli's Christmas cookies and espresso from my Christmas machine Thursday morning links2014 Man of the Year: Hillary’s Service Dog A Farmer Discusses How His Marshmallow Crop Is Threatened by Heavy Rains The Benefits of Being Cold - Year-round warmth is a modern luxury, and one that could be affecting body weight and health. Rescuing Boys from Disney Princesses You Might Think This Was The Most Maine Thing Ever For Paul McCartney, "it’s ridiculous, and yet very flattering" that college students now take courses on the music of The Beatles. "Ridiculous because we never studied anything..." And The Highest-Paid US Government Employee is.... A streetcar not desired? U.Va. professor, son want apology to those 'wrongfully punished' Of course: Anti-police protesters call the police after road blockade goes bad PSA To Kids: Steal Parents’ Guns, Give Them To Teachers 4 Ways Neo-Victorianism Reared Its Ugly Head in 2014 Hands up–I’m lying–Thomas Sowell comments on race hustlers and demogogues Is Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Catching On? Bad idea White Liberals and the New Racism SHOTS FIRED at Ferguson Police During Burglary Call – Six Arrested There goes the neighborhood The Effect of Broken Windows Policing in New York City White Liberals and the New Racism High Taxes, Regulations Send New Yorkers Fleeing Fleeing the state, not the city Obama said 'Tehran is a large, sophisticated country.' Imagine if Bush... Commenter re the EU here: "They've been killing each other for centuries to avoid shit like this..." Commenter here: "Never, ever hire a person with a degree in ethnic or black studies, Obamacare: Even More of a Scam Than You Thought - A welfare program by another name... It’s time the good Muslims cleaned house. It’s time they swept the jihadists and terrorists into the well. Gaza Is Nowhere It's their own darn fault
« previous page
(Page 6 of 6, totaling 146 entries)
|