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.
Apple’s vice president of inclusion and diversity, Denise Young Smith, who once whitesplained how hiring 12 white, blond, blue-eyed men could actually be seen as promoting diversity, has been replaced. By a blond, blue-eyed white woman.
Deplorables grew furious as amnesty Democrats and especially corporate Republicans preached about the values of open borders and unchecked illegal immigration—but never quite experienced first-hand the effects their policies had on distant others. Influential advocates of lax border security tended to put their kids in private schools, lived in mostly apartheid communities, saw illegal aliens largely as cheap labor and personal servants, did not have any personal desire to live among, befriend, tutor or mentor those they championed—and assuaged their guilt by blasting their own fellow conservative with charges of xenophobia and nativism...
Yes, Centrist. It's only in contrast to Obama that he seems conservative.
And, in international affairs, he has been better than most of his predecessors. Obama, for one, was an embarrassment to the US. Even China humiliated him by making him get out the rear of his airplane with no big welcome.
... I've been reading Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion," which posits 5 foundations of moral reasoning, one of which is sanctity/degradation. Haidt has studied how conservatives and liberals do moral reasoning, and liberals stick to only 2 of the 5 foundations — care/harm and fairness/cheating — which is why they have a terrible time understanding (and appealing to) conservatives, who use all 5. (The other 2 are loyalty/betrayal and authority/subversion.)
I have a problem with that term "moral reasoning." I don't think it exists to any extent in real life. Some people know right from wrong, some do not, and some know but don't care. Aside from the Ten Commandments, most peoples' moral rule of thumb is to avoid, or to feel uncomfortable, doing anything their Mom or Dad would be unhappy about or dismayed by. Morals are mostly cultural, tribal. Are you listening to me, Prof. Haidt?
As I’ve predicted in the past, the first time a major employer winds up standing in front of a judge in an orange jumpsuit and being handed a ten year sentence, the hiring of illegal aliens will plummet overnight. And when the word gets around that there are no jobs to be had, many of those thinking of jumping the border will have second thoughts and probably stay home. You don’t need the same massive level of enforcement resources if far fewer people are coming in.
The New York Times a few days ago ran a column called "I Believe Juanita". I believed Juanita, too - way back when, eighteen-and-a-half years ago, when it counted and when the Times was covering the story only as an illustration of "shadowy, subterranean" media "mechanics"...
If you listen to the stories of some young starlet or aspiring reporter and force Kevin Spacey or Charlie Rose out of their industries, maybe you’ll help the next young woman trying to make it in either business. But who is going to help the bank teller, the nurse or the real estate agent who is putting up with invasive groping because they can’t afford to lose their jobs? If they come forward and nobody believes them, reports on it or publicly holds the perpetrator to account, they’re going to wind up out of work and the next woman who applies to be their replacement will be in the same position.
Two smart guys, Peterson (a mostly-Libertarian, or at least anti-authoritarian sort) and Haidt (non-Leftist Liberal). Warning: Once you begin, you will not want to turn it off because these are thoughtful, knowledgeable guys.
We're cooking two smaller ones this Thanksgiving, one on the barbie cooked/smoked on wood, and one in the oven. To make them tasty, we recommend injecting the heck out of them.
I tend to use a warmed-up mix of honey, beer or white wine, a splash of hot sauce, and butter. Almost anything makes turkey taste better. When it comes down to it, though, good stuffing is what it's about. The turkeys are just an excuse for the other things.
Seen on our hunting outing Saturday. Outdoor fireplaces were common in the past, and are now coming back into fashion like firepits, which are really just campfires.
Reason I want to build an outdoor fireplace is because Spring and Fall are the best times to hang out outdoors, and humans need a fire to hang out around.
In light of the frequency of human and grizzly bear encounters, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while in the field. They advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears.
They also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear dung. Black bear dung is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur.
Grizzly bear dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper.
Mental arithmetic is excellent brain exercise. Also, it is practically-handy. There are many strategies with which to approach it, but I think it's considered "too hard" for the kids of today.
I oppose any corporate taxes. They make no sense. We already have income taxes and dividend taxes and capital gains taxes, etc. High business taxes just drive business away. That's the opposite of a rational goal, which is to nurture business and thus job growth. This chart via NR
90:1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
90:3 You turn us back to dust, and say, "Turn back, you mortals."
90:4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.
90:5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning;
90:6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
90:7 For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
90:8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
90:9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; our years come to an end like a sigh.
90:10 The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.
90:11 Who considers the power of your anger? Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
90:12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.
Seen on the way to our hunt yesterday. I get a kick out of the way country folk keep their old broken stuff on display.
Re snapshots, I am beginning to leave any cameras behind most of the time when I go places. That iCamera (happens to have a phone as part of it so some people call it an iPhone) is good enuf for me.
My buddies with whom we did the big pig roast party last summer did a Turkey Fry party last weekend. Deep-fried seventeen 12-13-lb. turkeys (had to fit them in the frying cylinders - we had a 2-cylinder fryer set-up). Had around 100 guests, and they each had to bring an hors d'oevres or a dessert, and some wine or beer. Lots of cornbread and stuff.
I decided that small turkeys are better and easier to manage. I usually cook 2 big ones for TG, but I think I'll go for 3 small ones this year. They cook faster, are maybe more tender, and you can gnaw on the legs like chicken legs.
It was outdoors of course, about 25 degrees F, with torches, firepits, and outdoor fireplace blazing. Gals in their parkas. What are we? Yankee gentry rednecks? Well, we just like informal fun I guess.
That's a good party. The turkeys? Cajun rub, and all thoroughly and I mean thoroughly injected with Cajun spices to the point that Mrs. BD had trouble with it but, as I said, first turkeys I ever ate that did not taste like cardboard or smoke (I cook mine on barby with wood - smokey turkey).
This week we will review turkey injections and rubs (necessary for a good meal). Due to various circumstances, the Maggie's HQ will have a small group this year I think, about 13-15 people instead of 25. We'll invite some friends to fill it out. Always need hands to clean up...
How plants 
Photo via 
Why We Love Farmers Markets - 
Image stolen 
