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.
There are other jays in North America, but the bold and noisy Blue Jay of eastern North America is the most familiar. Like some other bird species, the Blue Jay is not so much common as it is conspicuous.
A mystery about Blue Jays is their migration. When I lived on Riverside Drive in NYC a century or two ago I watched thousands of Jays flying south in early October, all day long, through Riverside Park. I was confused by that, because Blue Jays are wintertime residents in the Northeast.
I suspect that Blue Jays, along with other species, move a bit south but within their breeding ranges (like Robins, Red-Tailed Hawks, and others). There is some evidence that yearling birds are more likely to travel.
Thus, in wintertime, New England Jays might be Quebec or Ontario breeders, or might be local breeders. Can't tell the difference.
Bird Dog turned me on to the Dilbert creator's daily podcasts. Now, I am addicted. Nobody on TV is as smart as him, he cuts to the core while being friendly, non-partisan, and with a rare degree of clarity. There is no way not to like the guy.
He has been in some pain this week as his 18 year-old stepson died of a drug overdose last week. Still, he carries on.
He admires Trump not because he likes him at all, but he enjoys persuasiveness and effectiveness. I enjoyed his argument this week that all registered Democrats should throw away their guns.
If you buy into the Maggie's Farm approach to "Balanced Fitness for Life", the issue of scheduling comes up (altho not if you do Crossfit, which has a good stew of everything, varying every day, so most Crossfitters go 4-6 days/wk).
Our approach (with expert consultation) is to do your calisthenics classes or calisthenic routines on the day after a weights and powerlifting day. That sort-of counts as an "active recovery" day. If you do a tough calisthenic athletic cross-training hour the day before lifting, most people over 35 will not be at 100% for their weights day.
So that's 4 days right there, assuming you do weight sequences twice weekly. On days before weights, there is no problem with cardio like HIIT or even "long, slow" as a recovery day. (I do "long slow" - elliptical, stairmaster, treadmill - on Sunday mornings before church if there is no big hike planned. Day of rest.) Important to move with intention every day to remain functional.
Every three months it's not a bad idea to take a complete week off from a tough exercise regimen. A week off means away from the gym, and just doing recreational things like hiking, jogging, and swimming. That's a "recovery week." Just bear in mind that, after ten days without hard exercise, fitness measurably declines after age 40.
I had never heard of them. They are evaporative cooling systems which are efficient in low-humidity areas. Deserts, for example. In the desert southwest of the US, they are often roof-mounted. A lot cheaper than a/c, but won't work in most of the US.
The famous psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott came up with the term Transitional Object. His idea had to do with things that symbolically connect with Mom during the process of independence and separation.
Since then the term has expanded to encompass a larger territory. We all understand that humans live in conflict between safety and comfort, and adventure and newness. Winnicott, in his psychoanalytic way, connected it all to connection with Mother but it goes beyond that.
Things and ideas that connect us with our past (which includes our orienting culture in general) are meaningful to those who have strong attachments.
Jordan Peterson often speaks of the importance of the instinctive "orienting reflex" in animals and humans. We all observe how much people vary in their fearfulness and adventurousness. You could view adventurousness as a way of creating excitement by becoming somewhat disoriented, away from safe, familiar, and orienting things, places, and people.
Then for most people, the somewhat disorienting adventure is finished with a return to the things and symbols which signify, or actually are, safe, comfortable, and familiar. Adults do what little kids do.
Just learned: in the last few months the #FBI received over 1400 calls and emails saying Brett #Ķavanaugh raped them. #HystericalLiars. Ritual defamation.
Mao began his Cultural Revolution after the failure of the Great Leap Forward. The Democrats are now enforcing their version of Cultural Revolution now that their economic policies have failed to yield their Utopian Vision.
We've seen the revolution begin at leading digital firms, which release people like James Damore, who provide well-written and well-documented critique of hiring practices, while offering better alternatives which don't happen to fit the political agenda. It's called a "gender memo" and he is a pariah. The claim is he 'got the science wrong', but while it's not 100% spot-on, some scientists said it's pretty good and certainly not a rant or screed. Nevermind. It doesn't meet the level of agenda-setting which Silicon Valley is pursuing. Fire him. More importantly, find ways to limit the speech of employees and online users.
Now, with Kavanaugh, you can keep your job if you commit slander, but try to provide some semblance of balance and you're going to have to go.
For now, the Cultural Revolution will seek to take away reputations and livelihoods. I worry that it's on the verge of getting violent and taking lives. As the anger and outrage of the Left continues to grow - and if the much-ballyhooed "Blue Wave" does not appear in November (I, for one, do not think it will) - you can be sure it will get increasingly more violent. Reputations and jobs won't be enough.
I did manage yesterday get rid of my quota of 1000 books, with the help of two energetic Philipino helpers. (I do not mind stereotyping: I love all Philipinos. Just the best brand of people in the world.) Some to the book exchange, lots to dumpster, but I saved many old friends to replenish my shelves when repainting and floor-refinishing of my work space/library is done. Because they mean the most to me. Difficult choices for sure.Why keep a book if nobody ever intends to read it again? Books are not decor - they are friends, worlds. A painful chore, purging a home of excess.
Amongst it all, I found my journal of my first trip to Europe at age 10. I did not recognize the author - so detailed, so serious. Details about a pet store in Edinburgh. The Zermatt hike to the foot of Matterhorn, worrying about my baby brother on the cliffs. Whenever we traveled, Mom made us keep daily journals. Even then it was clear I loved traveling on ships. Unless the Navy tired you of blue water, nothing is more exciting and North Atlantic weather can be a real kick.
Also found my copy of L'etranger in French from high school, with my penciled notes. Stuff like that. My first copy of Peterson's Bird Guide, with my notes from childhood, falling apart. I noticed my excited notes on my first Bobolink. I took a deep breath and tossed it.
I am all about books, hate TV and movies, generally. My problem is that I forget too much of what I read. Born that way I guess. Mrs. BD reads less than I do, but remembers everything. Quiz her on opera plots or play plots sometime if you see her. You will get an earful.
My son Jason, who just started at UCLA, was honored last night at a banquet by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
It's a generous scholarship, though quite small compared to the whole bill at UCLA. But beyond the money lay a bigger honor and lesson nailed home to Jason.
(BTW, you'll note from the awardee photo below that many of the recipients are female children of Marines. Female Marines are an increasing number and force within the Marine Corps, and all that I've met are fully Marines. As with them, these female award recipients will add much to our heritage and nation's strength.)
As with other award recipients, all awardees stressed the character lessons drummed in by their Marine Corps parent. What gave me extra pleasure was Jason seeing something additional I've always told him: The Marine Corps is the tightest, most lasting, dependable fraternity (that includes female Marines) in the world. From a bevy of Lieutenant Generals and other top officers and executives, down to this Sergeant, all there interacted and discussed as equal-- and honest and humble- brothers. No need to embellish or brag. We've already proven who we are: Marines.
Among the Board members there was the actor David McCallum. (NCIS; Man From Uncle) Everyone was so thrilled to meet him. He is a kind man with a real sparkle and caring in his eyes.
Here's a few more photos from the event.
That's my son Jason, fifth from the left (above), second from left (below).
If you'd care enough to continue this furtherance of building the next strong American generation, please contribute, whatever you can, to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
You can also contribute by drinking Firestone winery Jarhead Red. Over $700,000 has been contributed from sales of this wine.
Chicken Soup is a force for good in the world. Without being Jewish (my Mom used Campbell's), I try to make it the Jewish grandma way but with minor adjustments.
Here's what I do about 3 times a year:
Take a half-eaten chicken carcass (so there's plenty of meat left on it), cover it with water in a big pot, and simmer. Meanwhile, cut up a bag of carrots, a few onions, a few parsnips, small bag of celery, some chopped garlic, and toss them in whenever.
Throw in some thyme and bay leaf, a few whole cloves (of clove, not garlic), some chopped parsley, a bunch of peppercorns, and salt. Simmer for a couple of hours..
Do not skim off the fat. Then strain it all through a coarse strainer and put the soup into another pot. Salvage all the carrot, some onion, celery, parsnips - and all the meat you can find in the strainings - into the soup. Salt and pepper to preference, and a little more chopped pasley.
Now for the noodles, because Jewish chicken soup needs some noodles. Some people prefer just a few, some people like lots of noodles. Regardless, the only correct noodles for chicken soup are luchen (Jewish), aka kluski (in Polish). Very firm egg noodles which stay firm and expand minimally. Throw in a handful or two when you warm up the soup for serving.
She is a recovering liberal but no right-wing nutjob and she offers Maggie's links very occasionally (many people send in links for my morning offerings), but she wants our readers to read this. She has always seen Mitch as a shrewd gamer despite his RINO slurs. He picks his fights, like any good parent.
I lived through the Clarence Thomas Wars, the Sarah Palin Wars, the public destruction of John McCain and Mitt Romney… This was different. This was murder — the first-degree, cold-blooded murder of a man’s reputation, his young family, and his entire future using the Soviet-style revolutionary tactics of vile lies in pursuit of power.
This was a leftist mob backed by the billions of corporate dollars that flow through CNN, NBC, etc., throwing an innocent man, his wife, and traumatized young daughters into a volcano as a sacrifice to the cause, as a means to appease the hysterics stalking the halls of the Senate screaming.“Witch! WITCH! WIIIIIIITCH!!!!!!!!!"
This is how nice moderate/lefty Moms of America are turned to the conservatives.
1:1 There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
2:1 One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD.
2:2 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it."
2:3 The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason."
2:4 Then Satan answered the LORD, "Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives.
2:5 But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face."
2:6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life."
2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
2:8 Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.
2:9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die."
2:10 But he said to her, "You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Strangest thing about it is that he is a relatively non-partisan, moderate judge. He is no Scalia, not a ideologue. He was not my top choice. Trump's next choice, the lady, will be a tough nut to crack because she is not a drunk gang rapist.
A reader made a point about job vs. vocation on Thursday's retirement post. I sort-of get that, and sort-of do not. All productive work is ennobling, I believe, whether for family, friends, customers, community, nation, or world. Job vs Vocation might be just a state of mind, an attitude. Whether killing or harvesting for food, or working in a cubicle, we all need to work profitably unless we and our family are fixed for life. Even then, many of us seek ways of being valuable.
People love this one. It's clever the way he replaced "life" with "light," as he was going blind when he wrote this sonnet. The "talent" refers to the parable of the talents - double meaning. But what does he mean by "wait"? When I was in high school, I imagined waiting on tables: waiting on table is surely valuable.
When I consider how my light is spent
When I consider how my light is spent, Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hide Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide; “Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?” I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need Either man’s work or His own gifts. Who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed
And post o’er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait.”
There are other jays in North America, but the bold and noisy Blue Jay of eastern North America is the most familiar. Like some other bird species, the Blue Jay is not so much common as it is conspicuous.
Pop History: ‘Pile it High, Sell it Low’: 
The famous psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott came up with the term 
Good book on Columbus: 
Chicken Soup is a force for good in the world. Without being Jewish (my Mom used Campbell's), I try to make it the Jewish grandma way but with minor adjustments.
A reader made a point about job vs. vocation on Thursday's retirement post. I sort-of get that, and sort-of do not. All productive work is ennobling, I believe, whether for family, friends, customers, community, nation, or world. Job vs Vocation might be just a state of mind, an attitude. Whether killing or harvesting for food, or working in a cubicle, we all need to work profitably unless we and our family are fixed for life. Even then, many of us seek ways of being valuable.