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.
I only do the Conventional, because I do deads mainly to sturdy-up my "posterior chain," ie neck to back to calf to ankle. It has done a lot for my posture and my overall power. See recent pic of me, below (actually, not me but I self-identify as that so you have to accept it - and if you do not you may not use my bathroom):
A good narrator, or orator, can make anything sound interesting. Vin Scully, long time voice of the Dodgers, is a great one. I'm not a fan of the Dodgers, and my exposure to Scully is limited to his coverage of nationally televised games, but his skill is evident. So much so, he once deigned (a strong word, by most accounts he has a great sense of humor) read a grocery list on air. The results were, not surprisingly, intriguing and entertaining. Or, as my Dodger fan friend who sent this to me said, "enthralling." As he begins his 67th and final year as the voice of the Dodgers, it seems a fitting tribute.
No other announcer can boast Scully's experience, beginning in Brooklyn in 1950, following the Dodgers to Los Angeles, there are few team voices as unique and recognizable as Scully's.
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
21:2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;
21:4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."
21:5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
21:6 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
Completed successfully. Group of about 18, from as far away as Maine and Illinois. We made it from the Dunkin Donuts on Delancey St. by the Williamsburg Bridge up to Riverside Church and Grant's Tomb (with many scenic detours) but still not quite sure who is buried there.
Tired, covered about 11.7 miles. More later from others who took pictures. I need to rest the barking dogs.
Mrs. Bulldog says I, as tour guide, started strong, had a weak middle, but we finished strong.
Pic is our sign at our meet spot in the Dunkin on Delancey St.
It's not just the terror that Johnny might break his arm in the playground. It's not a "sticks and stones" country any more, at least among the coastal elites.
Scoop of Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream. Splash with a shot of your best Scotch whiskey, then lightly dust with freshly powder-ground dark espresso coffee bean. Scotch whiskey on an Italian dessert? I call that cultural appropriation.
If you don't like this, there is something wrong with you. Plus, it combines a sweet, an after-dinner drink, and after-dinner coffee, all-in-one.
Last night, friends served us home-made vanilla gelato with a handful of raspberries on top, then sprinkled with mini chocolate chips. Damn simple and tasty.
The other day, I tackled the vexing question of why so few Americans seem able to save enough. Today I’ll tackle the vexing corollary to this question: the assertion that if individuals can’t manage to save, the government must step in. Corporate pensions are dying, the argument goes, and private savings is laughably inadequate. Obviously, what we need is a much more generous Social Security system...
The Average American 29-Year-Old - Forget media archetypes of older Millennials as college-educated singles living in cities. The typical 29-year-old is living with a partner in the suburbs—without a bachelor’s degree.
But be contented: when that fell arrest Without all bail shall carry me away, My life hath in this line some interest, Which for memorial still with thee shall stay. When thou reviewest this, thou dost review The very part was consecrate to thee: The earth can have but earth, which is his due; My spirit is thine, the better part of me: So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life, The prey of worms, my body being dead, The coward conquest of a wretch's knife, Too base of thee to be remembered. The worth of that is that which it contains, And that is this, and this with thee remains.
It's my belief that most gaps that we see in performance, gender, income and other areas are simply the result of certain groups pursuing perceived opportunity more aggressively. Why are there more black people in the NBA (or many major sports)? Because there was the belief sports offered an opportunity out of a difficult situation, so a larger number of that group spent time practicing. I love basketball, but early on I saw I lacked the talent regardless of how much I practiced (10,000 hours seems to be the accepted societal myth these days). I also knew I had other skill sets in which I could excel if I focused on them.
Why are there so many Canadians and Russians who play hockey?
Why are most of my friends Jewish?
Why is one side of my family comprised overwhelmingly by educators, while the other is in some form of business management?
There is a knee-jerk response by the Left to always and everywhere explain gaps by relying on 'discrimination' of some kind. While this may be true, it's rarely the sole or even the primary reason for gaps. Gaps sometimes happen because certain groups pursue opportunities and benefits differently and/or more effectively. But there are many reasons for gaps, and discrimination isn't even the most interesting one to study.
Ever wonder why people say "codfish" instead of "cod"? Easier to understand with Tuna: "Tuna" is at the fish market, "Tunafish" is that stuff in a can you make sandwiches out of with white bread, mayo, and capers or sliced gherkins.
Cod, Scrod, or Haddock all work.
Like the best crab cakes, codfish cakes are best without any filler like mashed potatoes or dough. Maybe just a dash of flour and egg to hold it together.
The ingredients in this recipe are good, but I disagree with putting the meat in a food processor. Best to simply steam the meat a little until it begins to flake, and then stir it around with the mix so it breaks up somewhat.
Probably the most classic version is made from dried salt cod, "bacala", but there is no need to use that.
Serve with lemon, tartar sauce, or even red seafood sauce. Or best, nothing but salt and a glass of wine.
We'd like to meet ya regardless of any political nonsense.
By or before 10 am at 140 Delancey St., outside the Dunkin Donuts there. Our Great Leader Bulldog will have some identifying something. (God knows, the Dunkin had better be there or we're all screwed up.) Tall skinny hipster-looking dude with some cap or hat and a nice wife.
Hike details. Should be perfect weather and a good, long, tiring but congenial hike. Cameras, bottle of water, good shoes, binocs if you are into the early warblers in the Park. Around 12:30, snacks at the Grand Army Plaza food trucks.
I expect a good but not-unwieldy bunch, including at least 2 of my sisters and probably my bro.
Got a ride last night in a pal's new Tesla. After two whiskeys, even he was startled by the acceleration. Everything loose in the car flew to the back. Rocket Man. Then he had to demonstrate its no-hands driving. Sheesh.
When the angry bull-dyke Senator visits, they can show her how enthusiastic they are for girls in combat. This also requires a catalog of euphemisms and esoteric rules to game the theocrats. Everyone in the military now speaks in tongues.
Regulatory
Arbitrage, Rent-Seeking and the Deal of the Year - See more at:
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2016/04/regulatory-arbitrage-deal-of-the-year.html#sthash.0fa5Lo0p.dpuf
Regulatory
Arbitrage, Rent-Seeking and the Deal of the Year - See more at:
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2016/04/regulatory-arbitrage-deal-of-the-year.html#sthash.0fa5Lo0p.dpuf
Fancy folk have Chubb and the others, but good old Allstate has been a boon to our family over the past few months. Also, pleasant, helpful, and easy to deal with. Eager to please.
A near-total car crash and, this week, a burst water pipe in the basement. Whatever it is, they send people to fix and repair every mess, like the Cat in the Hat.
We have their Homeowner's, their Auto, their Business, and their Umbrella. Worth it.
We have been expensive to them this year, but 25 years with only one (also a basement water pipe) previous claim. Hope they don't cancel us. Thanks, Allstate.
When we give up our healthy skepticism about what we read and hear, we begin to enter the realm of faith.
Much has been written about faith, especially religious faith. In a post-enlightenment world, faith has been, supposedly, relegated to the religion category but, as in ancient times, faith, superstition, and imagination continue to effect non-religious attitudes and thinking. Human nature.
Much of what we all believe is not Truth. Maybe most of it. Thus healthy skepticism. Not paranoia but cheerful skepticism.
Regarding Science and Scientism, few if any scientists are Scientism-ists. Those in the hard sciences can be hard-nosed, but even they need grants and jobs and need to feed their families.
This letter was a hoax of sorts, posted somewhere on the internet as a response from Oxford to students attending as Rhodes Scholars to remove the statue of Oxford Benefactor Cecil Rhodes.
Not sure who wrote this. Best line to the students: "Understand us and understand this clearly: you have everything to learn from us; we have nothing to learn from you."
American higher ed administrators might bear that in mind.
Dear Scrotty Students,
Cecil Rhodes’s generous bequest has contributed greatly to the comfort and well being of many generations of Oxford students – a good many of them, dare we say it, better, brighter and more deserving than you.
This does not necessarily mean we approve of everything Rhodes did in his lifetime – but then we don’t have to. Cecil Rhodes died over a century ago. Autres temps, autres moeurs. If you don’t understand what this means – and it would not remotely surprise us if that were the case – then we really think you should ask yourself the question: “Why am I at Oxford?”
Oxford, let us remind you, is the world’s second oldest extant university. Scholars have been studying here since at least the 11th century. We’ve played a major part in the invention of Western civilisation, from the 12th century intellectual renaissance through the Enlightenment and beyond. Our alumni include William of Ockham, Roger Bacon, William Tyndale, John Donne, Sir Walter Raleigh, Erasmus, Sir Christopher Wren, William Penn, Samuel Johnson, Robert Hooke, William Morris, Oscar Wilde, Emily Davison, Cardinal Newman. We’re a big deal. And most of the people privileged to come and study here are conscious of what a big deal we are. Oxford is their alma mater – their dear mother – and they respect and revere her accordingly.
And what were your ancestors doing in that period? Living in mud huts, mainly. Sure we’ll concede you the short lived Southern African civilisation of Great Zimbabwe. But let’s be brutally honest here. The contribution of the Bantu tribes to modern civilisation has been as near as damn it to zilch.
Darn good job. Why the college admin called him a Nazi and deleted his speech/Q&A is beyond me. Why not just call him a poopy-face or something if you don't like his points of view?
Whittle is a likeable, humble, engaging fellow. I would enjoy meeting him over a beer.
Completed successfully. Group of about 18, from as far away as Maine and Illinois. We made it from the Dunkin Donuts on Delancey St. by the Williamsburg Bridge up to Riverside Church and Grant's Tomb (with many scenic detours) but still not quite sure who is buried there.
Scoop of Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream. Splash with a shot of your best Scotch whiskey, then lightly dust with freshly powder-ground dark espresso coffee bean. Scotch whiskey on an Italian dessert? I call that cultural appropriation.
You’re the Parent. 
Ever wonder why people say "codfish" instead of "cod"? Easier to understand with Tuna: "Tuna" is at the fish market, "Tunafish" is that stuff in a can you make sandwiches out of with white bread, mayo, and capers or sliced gherkins.