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Thursday, March 12. 2015

Birds of the Week: Blackbirds with proof of global cooling

Usually we begin to see the first flocks of northward-headed blackbirds in New England around Feb 15, but in recent years their arrivals are later and later. This year, the first wave arrived here yesterday.

"Blackbird" isn't a species - it's a category. Around here, it is mainly Red Wing Blackbirds and Common Grackle, who have spent their winter in the southern US and are headed for the marshy breeding grounds in the northern US and Canada. Very early migrators, they don't seem to mind nasty weather as long as it does not persist. (In the midwest and west, there are other species of Blackbirds.)

Photo below of male Red Wings. The females are an inconspicuous brown. In spring, the males get up on a branch, flash their red epaulets, and crow, in their territorial ritual, while the drab females skulk around and build nests in the rushes.

Posted by Bird Dog in Natural History and Conservation, Our Essays at 15:10 | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)

Are progressive pols and policy-makers more deceptive than conservatives?

I think so, but I might be biased. John McGinnis argues that they believe that they must in order to maintain a fragile coalition of votes and interests.:

From its inception, progressivism has posed a threat to constitutional government. It has sought to replace limited and decentralized governance with dynamic, centralized authority in order to force some arrangement of equality on the nation. Because the world has a way of upsetting abstract designs, progressivism depends on empowering administrators to impose its frameworks while disempowering citizens from resisting these coercions. The Obama administration’s push for unilateral presidential authority to disregard the law is thus the logical extension of the progressive program. Opposition to this program requires nothing less than a rededication to our Founding ideals: our nation must be governed by the rule of law, not the rule of an elected monarch or of a legally privileged aristocracy.

Posted by The Barrister in Politics at 13:10 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Being reminded of The Clinton Way

I'd be surprised if people have not had enough of these people: The Clinton Way

Posted by The News Junkie at 11:42 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Thursday morning links

Department of Corrections: Those Carville boxed quotes which we linked to yesterday were not real - but they are truthy

Image of America's favorite convenience store via Never Yet Melted

The Millennial’s Guide To Reaching Adulthood - Here are seven ways millennials can reach adult milestones such as paying off student loans, getting married, buying a house, and starting a family.

American Millennials are among the world's least skilled

But the most self-confident

The Greatest (Party) Generation - Raising children wasn’t always an all-consuming job. Humorist Dave Barry on his parents’ wild parties and the grown-up escapades of the ‘Mad Men’ era

Why are van Gogh's paintings slowly turning white?

Cannot possibly process this: The Galaxy May Be Way Bigger Than We Thought

Medical Ed Goes Online and Ivy League

100% of America’s current eighth graders have not lived a day of global warming, as temperatures haven’t peaked since 1998

Cool: First photographs emerge of new Pacific island off Tonga

Why Do Violins Have F-Holes?

Girl Coders, Patriarchy, and Despair - More Social Engineering

Why Do Circus Elephants Get All the Sympathy?

Author makes the case that all farm animals should be let loose in the woods or something. Bring popcorn.

Facing facts on the pill and the poor

Study: Being Nice to Women Is a Sign of Sexism

Professor Judith Hall, of Northeastern University in Boston, said: ‘Benevolent sexism is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing that perpetuates support for gender inequality among women.'

I hold doors for both ladies and gentlemen. Some women can never be happy

Is David Brooks "evolving"?

Jay Leno Hates Ethanol - And so should you.

Well, in cars I hate it

Six Years Of Bull Market Bull

When the law does not apply to the lawmakers and law-enforcers, you are not being governed: You are being ruled. And we are ruled by criminals.

Boxer: GOP Should Leave Hillary Alone So “We Can Hear What She Has To Say About This Great Nation”…

Bruni in the NYT:

It was what kept coming to mind as she stood before the cameras once again, under fire once again, aggrieved once again by Americans’ refusal to see and simply trust how well intentioned and virtuous and good for the country she is:

Yesterday.

It was all so very yesterday.

Hillary acts stupid when she plays dumb

Nurse Ratched's press conference

Obama Considers Allowing Student Loans to Be Wiped Out in Bankruptcy

That would be ok with me - except that the taxpayer is in most cases the guarantor

Why America Invaded Iraq

In retrospect, it was an error. Iraq is over, done finished.

Does suffering make Russians happier?

The Historical, Legal, and Political Contexts of the Russian Annexation of Crimea

U.S. asks Vietnam to stop helping Russian bomber flights

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 04:58 | Comments (34) | Trackbacks (0)

Wednesday, March 11. 2015

About Magda Goebbels

At neoneo

Posted by Bird Dog at 17:53 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

Gender confusion

It is getting strange out there. Fifty-Six Shades Of Gender Insanity

In fact, most people in my field view these things as mental symptoms if not mental disorders.

Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss at 17:07 | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)

Fury 325, the world’s fastest and tallest roller coaster

Barf City

Posted by Bird Dog in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 15:35 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

The World Fails to Follow Hillary’s Careful Script

That's what Jonah Goldberg says.

Erikson: America’s Ex-Wife

An unpleasant blast from the past: "Truth is what you can make the voter think it is." - with more quotes from the poisonous Carville

Posted by The News Junkie in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 15:06 | Comments (6) | Trackbacks (0)

Citizenship

I received an email from my alma mater, the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University. It was a request to join a social media campaign about professing what you believe citizenship is. The idea is to download a 'thought bubble', write your view in the bubble, take a picture of you holding it, then add the picture to a social media outlet with the #ToMeCitizenship on it. For those of you unfamiliar with hashtags, this is the social media equivalent of joining a discussion in a somewhat indirect fashion.

At first I considered joining, if only to share a slightly different viewpoint than the ones I'd seen posted (click and take a look). I saw comments like "Serving people & Loyalty to government" (loyalty to government? Why is this always absolutely necessary? What would Jefferson and Washington have said?). Or "Respect for Authority" (this is so wrong, I can't even think of where to begin. I'm not sure 'authority' is generated from winning a popularity contest). Then there are some really bizarre ones like "Identity, Belonging, Altruism" (not sure when being a citizen provided me an identity, helped me feel like I belonged and don't get me started on the concept of altruism).

So I figured, I'd start my own here and find out what Maggie's visitors consider citizenship to be. Here was my stab at it, the one I never posted:

To me, Citizenship is loving my country and the rights of the individual which are protected by the Constitution while questioning the nature of human authority. Acknowledge and respect individual rights while exercising individual responsibility which strengthens those rights.
#ToMeCitizenship

What would your thoughts be?

Posted by Bulldog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects, Our Essays, Politics at 11:14 | Comments (17) | Trackbacks (0)

Wednesday morning links

A book by a fellow blogger, Robert Stacy McCain: Sex Trouble: Essays on Radical Feminism and the War Against Human Nature

Another book: Charles C.W. Cooke's A Conservatarian Manifesto

Genome of America’s Only Clovis Skeleton Reveals Origins of Native Americans

Why are they termed "native"? They were Asian invaders and they destroyed the existing ecosystem including the megafauna

Stop Pretending Sex Never Hurts

A New Life for Dead Malls - Developers have had to to get creative when it comes to salvaging America's failing shopping centers, turning them into hospitals, churches, and even parks.

Disgusting places if you ask me

Monster Black Holes Are Devouring Billions Of Suns… Yikes!

'American Sniper' highest grossing war film of all time

A 70 Year Old United Flight Attendant Rebels Against the Airline’s Uniforms in an Anonymous – and Graphic – Viral E-Mail.

Two Teens Have Sex. Neither Could Legally Consent, But Only the Boy Gets a Felony Charge. - Underage teens having sex is awkward, but it shouldn't be criminal.

Sorority cancels fundraiser over 'offensive' maraca poster

Racist speech is constitutionally protected

It can't even be defined anymore

Navy chaplain facing discipline for faith views in private counseling sessions

A chaplain with God? God forbid!

"Diversity" Hits A Dead End with Asians in NYC

Great News: ATF Backs Down (For Now) on Big Ammo Ban

The ‘Disparate Impact’ Racket

The Other Dumb Thing the FCC is Doing: New Rural Call Completion Rules

They said this: "We felt there might be a role for government here."

Fox News Most Trusted – Media Matters Hardest Hit

Daniel Hannan: Kill Obamacare, or U.S. healthcare will suffer same fate as Britain

Bribes Disguised As Charitable Gifts: Hillary Clinton’s Possible Legal Trouble

Clintons and controversy: The circus is back in town

Back to the world of lies

The Left’s Mess in Venezuela

Green Fiasco: 92% Of Swiss Voters Reject Carbon Tax In Referendum

French PM: Anti-Zionism is Really Anti-Semitism

Obama Officials: Non-Lethal Assistance Not Getting to Ukraine

I oppose getting involved with the Ukraine for several reasons. Let Euroland deal with it if they want. I think Bruce feels otherwise.

'We need to recognize that Islamic State is positioned to make inroads elsewhere in Mideast'

On Iran, Arabs deeply mistrust Obama

I deeply distrust Iran, Arabs, and Obama

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 05:32 | Comments (26) | Trackbacks (0)

Pico

From a friend, a pic yesterday from the top of Pico Mtn, Vermont

This is why we ski - for the high and the cold and the exercise and the exhilaration.

Posted by Bird Dog at 00:30 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Tuesday, March 10. 2015

Tuesday free ad for Bob

Gonna raise me an army, some tough sons of bitches
I'll recruit my army from the orphanages
I been to St. Herman's church, said my religious vows,
I've sucked the milk out of a thousand cows

I've got the pork chops, she's got the pie
She ain't no angel and neither am I
Shame on your greed, shame on your wicked schemes
I'll say this, I don't give a damn about your dreams.

Posted by Bird Dog at 17:38 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

Liar, liar, pantsuit on fire

Let's face it. The Clintons are pond scum. Not even genuine Lefties, just opportunistically left-ish. No core, no integrity, nothing. Neither has held an honest job in their life.

Hillary Tells Press She Only Kept One Phone – That Isn’t What She Said Two Weeks Ago

"I have an iPad, a mini iPad, an iPhone and a Blackberry."

Anyway, you do not need two "devices" to have 2 email addresses. I have 2 email addresses, one for work and one for life.

Woops. Nothing classified?

Hillary explains, eyes roll

"At least Bill is a good liar."

Harsanyi: The Clintons are back.

We support Bernie Sanders as an honest Democrat-Socialist candidate. Would not vote for him, but honest at least. I think the Dems will soon decide they have had enough Clintonian slime.

Posted by The News Junkie in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 17:14 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)

Is it them or me that's insane?

His son is his brother …

People talk about how the shrinks are making all sorts of normal variants into diseases, but how much insanity are they now regarding as normal variants?

Posted by The Barrister in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 15:16 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

Cape Cod, today

A Wellfleet beach this week. Proof of global warming, I'd say. The warming makes it colder. I understand that part, but it's a little too nuanced for most people.

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 14:48 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

QQQ

“Striving for spiritual perfection is an ego trip. Faith is falling into grace.”

A friend

Posted by Bird Dog in Quotidian Quotable Quote (QQQ) at 11:33 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Tuesday morning links

Top 10 secrets of Grand Central Terminal

Why I Am Catholic - It saved my life.

Definitely the tweet of the day

Extramarital Dating Site Unsettles the Land of Discreet Affairs

How not to raise a narcissist

Duh

Is Submission Sexy?

No comment.

The Church of the Liberal Pieties has its own set of virtues.

Is it a Hate Crime to Call Madonna a Shriveled-Up Old Hag?

Sheesh! So much for ageism

Planet Fitness Revokes Membership for Objecting to Male Pervert in Ladies Locker Room

I don't blame her at all for complaining

LGBT Group at George Washington U. try to Get Conservatives Labeled as Hate Group

Elementary school scraps homework, parents irate

A book: Landscapes & Cycles: An Environmentalist's Journey to Climate Skepticism

EPA Chief Can’t Answer Whether Climate Models Correct Or Not

Teacher admits he wrote Common Core to end white privilege

Notre Dame’s Class on Shaming White People

What's all this about white skin?

Barron’s AP Test Prep Guide: Clarence Thomas Is A Fascist In League With KKK

Everybody knows that

Paul Krugman Takes on the Pizza Lobby

Social Security Administration Expects Beneficiaries of Obama’s Amnesty Will Be Covered Starting Later This Year

Without paying in?

Clinton Inc. is what’s wrong with America

Hillary Supporters: Criticism Over Email Scandal is “Sexist”

Nice try

Salon: The twisted morality of climate denial: How religion and American exceptionalism are undermining our future

They just don't get it - we want warming

California: Screw the science, we need the money!

How manufactured outrage works in politics

Hillary being hung out to dry by her own

She has the old ~~lady~~ car smell - and nobody ever liked her anyway, including Bill

Buried Lede: Brian Williams Killed Stories Damaging to Obama

Carville Defends Hillary Clinton in Heated Exchange

Oh no, not that guy again

And this guy too again: "Do you ever get tired of cleaning up after the Clintons?”

Do you ever get tired of cleaning up after the Clintons?” - See more at: http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=56373#sthash.LKuWGqYd.dpuf

GAO: It Can Take More Than A Year To Fire A Permanent Federal Employee

As Cover Oregon dissolves, it leaves behind costly legacy

Modern China - Papa Xi and the Cult of Personality

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 06:00 | Comments (15) | Trackbacks (0)

Monday, March 9. 2015

Brant

Pic from a reader of Brant in the surf on the Long Island Sound coast. They'll be heading north soon.

Posted by Bird Dog at 23:56 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

Dog P*rn: The Canoe Labrador

News to me: Mini Labs that hunt like big Labs. Best thing - they probably can't reach that birthday cake on the kitchen counter.

Posted by Bird Dog in Hunting, Fishing, Dogs, Guns, etc. at 21:12 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

How to Get the Best Return on Investment For College

We recently discussed the two major ideas about higher ed: The job-prep German (Bismarckian) approach, and the soul-food Liberal Arts approach.

How to Get the Best Return on Investment For College. They mean Bismarckian, ie practical for society's interests and your work/career. Germans always thinking about society's interests.

Posted by The Barrister in Education, Our Essays at 17:59 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

Nobody Can Make Sense of Economists

The other day, our esteemed editor made this statement in one of his posts. It was a good post, though I don't agree with much of the bias in it (Dalio is very intelligent, and quite successful, so his working model explains much of why he can be successful, though it's certainly not a good explanation of how economic cycles operate).

I happen to agree with Bird Dog's statement, too. But I believe economists often do themselves a disservice. Usually it's the economists who make predictions about macroeconomic outlooks which do this. By and large, it's the economists with Progressive tendencies. Though certainly some in the Republican camp get a bit outrageous.

I'm fond of saying economists can't make predictions, nor should they. They should offer scenarios. That's what I tend to do. Options of potential outcomes. Economics involves far too many variables to be a predictive science, though the basic rules can explain many things we see quite well, and that's what science is for.

To better understand economists and economics, perhaps this would help.

Posted by Bulldog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects, Our Essays at 16:26 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Good advice: Always seek to learn from those who disagree with you

Don't argue, just give them a listen. Ray Dalio explains how he does it, and what "open-minded" means to him.

It's about humility, it's not just about money, and it certainly works for him.

Posted by The News Junkie in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 15:51 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

How Libertarian are you?

Take the quiz and discover your political identity!

I scored very high. 100%, in fact.

Posted by The News Junkie at 14:34 | Comments (11) | Trackbacks (0)

Why Do Universities Hate Christianity So Much?

I thought we knew the answer (in leftist politics), but it's getting muddled because "identity groups" can be so darn confusing. Now the Jews are hated on campi too because they are said to oppress Arabs, which makes Arab religion ok because they are termed a victim identity group even though religion of any sort is a negative for the left.