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. |
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Tuesday, June 16. 2020Moons are migrating awayAnd in a few billion years (not too long) all of the planets will be consumed by our Sun's inevitable explosion. The knowledge that all of human history, earth history, critters, human creations and thoughts, etc will all be instantly erased is a big thought, ain't it? So where to invest one's money, long-term?
Turtle SoupTuesday Is Just Monday's Ugly Sister
Well, it's Tuesday. There's no "fresh week" feeling to Tuesday. You don't unwrap a Tuesday. The package is already broken open, and inexpertly taped back up, like most of the tools at Harbor Freight. In geologic terms, it's really not any closer to Friday than Monday was, so you can't even lie to yourself about being one day closer to the weekend with any gusto. Tuesday just is. Let's get on with it. Hacker Dosed With LSD While Restoring Historical Synth
My car mechanic took LSD once. He said he had an auto body experience. AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine enters phase 2/3 clinical trial
And just like all flu vaccines, there will be cardboard signs outside of every pharmacy and supermarket offering free flu shots, which no one will get. Six Former eBay Employees Charged with Aggressive Cyberstalking Campaign Targeting Natick Couple
It sounds like everyone involved works part time at Hardbodies
Once upon a time and a very good time it was H.G. Wells was coming down along the road and this Wells that was down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby Joyce and told him he was a jerk. The biggest myth of modern nutrition: healthy plant-based diets
Want to go vegan? Cut out the middleman and become a Seventh-Day Adventist India says three soldiers killed in 'violent faceoff' on border with China
Both sides have nuclear weapons, but they're bashing each other's heads in with sticks and stones. A parable for our times. Why abandoned domain names are so dangerous
Domain names are like herpes. If you don't want to have it forever, don't get it in the first place. New Research: There Could Be 36 Alien Civilizations in Our Galaxy
And according to new research I just finished, Blake Lively could be trying to phone me right now.
Cameo now lets people pay up to $15K to have a Zoom call with a celebrity
That's funny. I would pay five bucks to avoid a Zoom call with Tony Hawk or Brett Favre. We Shouldn’t Sit in the Stands Anymore
Everyone already refuses to sit in the stands at their kids' Little League games. They're all on the field having fistfights with the umpires and the other parents. Have a milquetoast, non-denominational, vibe-less, nondescript, average Tuesday everyone. It's the best you can hope for.
Posted by Roger de Hauteville
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Monday, June 15. 2020CHAZ, in ContextThe larger French Revolution era extended all the way until the end of the Franco-Prussian War. This current situation, as I'd written about the other day, is much like the French Revolution. The general approach of this crowd isn't too dissimilar to the Spanish Inquisition, either. If you're not in, you're out, and you're going to have to be punished. They claim their 'goal' is peace and freedom. They prefer to see people suffer. They have marketed themselves to their constituency well, shifting everyone's eyes away from historical precedent. 1906 in San FranciscoGet Thee To a Mummery. I'll Pass
Hello all. Roger de Hauteville here, sitting in for Bird Dog. He's gone for his yearly sojourn to get a flea bath and his nails clipped. If he plays his cards right, maybe he'll even get a belly rub from Mrs. Bird Dog. While it's true I'm "sitting in," there will be, thankfully, no sit-ins on my watch. I'm Sicilian, remember? Haven't you seen the Godfather movies? We don't do sit ins. We don't riot. We don't hold placards and march in a circle. We say nothing about our affairs to strangers, and precious little about them even to our friends. If any action is required, we visit you in the night, and whisper your transgressions in your ear. These remonstrations beat demonstrations every time. Act accordingly. Woman in China, 45, made $589,800 by buying insurance on flights she predicted would get delayed ACH payments cost less. Will online shoppers ever switch? Zoom Acknowledges It Suspended Activists' Accounts At China's Request This is the word that exists in all human languages, according to research. Scientists close in on 12-billion-year-old signal from the end of the universe's 'dark age' The First Woman PhD in Computer Science Was a Nun Popular Pirate Sites Slowly ‘Disappear’ From Google’s Top Search Results Kids these days. You're pirates! Look up the word in the dictionary. Banks don't have drive-up windows reserved for bank robbers. Have a little gumption. It's no fun stealing movies if they make it too easy, anyway. Archaeology: Thracian pit sanctuary found in Bulgaria’s Bourgas Astronauts say riding Falcon 9 rocket was “totally different” from the space shuttle Engineers find neat way to turn waste carbon dioxide into useful material
Have a great Monday, everyone!
Posted by Roger de Hauteville
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06:24
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Sunday, June 14. 2020The power of white stigmaFrom 2007, Shelby Steele explains white guilt
The Old TestamentThat's what Christians call it. At The Great Courses, Prof. Amy Levine does a wonderful job with it. Only $45 right now. She's a fast talker, so she keeps you engaged.
NYC
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From today's Lectionary: Abraham and SarahGenesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7) 18:1 The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 18:2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. 18:3 He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. 18:4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 18:5 Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on--since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." 18:7 Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 18:8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 18:9 They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." 18:10 Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" 18:13 The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' 18:14 Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son." 18:15 But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. He said, "Oh yes, you did laugh." 21:1 The LORD dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as he had promised. 21:2 Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. 21:3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. 21:4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 21:5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 21:6 Now Sarah said, "God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me." 21:7 And she said, "Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." Sunrise, Cahoon's Hollow, Wellfleet No bugs, sea breeze, 57 degrees F at night, biking, boating, kayaking, hiking trails, running, day-fresh seafood, ocean beach, harbor beach, bay beach, and big ponds. Lots of fun family restaurants. The protection of the vast National Seashore. If you squint, you can see Portugal on the horizon.
A few more Wellfleet pics below the fold Continue reading "Sunrise, Cahoon's Hollow, Wellfleet" Saturday, June 13. 2020QQQShelby Steele Explains Who's ProtestingSaturday morning linksDecluttering: The Delightful, Awful Pangs Of Human Molting Next Up In The Stupidest Litigation In The Country: The Science? SPME Stands By Professor William Jacobson CANCEL YOURSELVES, YOU LOUSY TWITS A Plague of White Submissiveness WALSH: The Only Real Privilege In America Is Leftist Privilege Three indicted for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at NYPD vehicles, face life in prison Is there an epidemic of racist violence? Andrew Cuomo’s sad bid to blame Florida for New York’s mismanagement Trump’s excess drama only helps hide his achievements Biden is invisible; Trump is running against himself Stockman Calls "Bulls**t" On The Latest COVID-19 Fear-Mongering About Spikes In Texas, Arizona Virus: One way or another, I think the credibility ship has sailed. The U.S. Troop Reduction in Germany is Not About NATO Is Assad About to Fall? While the world wasn’t watching, Syria has edged toward collapse, and the dictator is in his weakest position ever. The U.S. now has a narrow chance to prevent a catastrophe. Friday, June 12. 2020Locust Valley Lockjaw: White privilegeA northeastern accent, now disappearing
Posted by The Barrister
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14:41
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Scott does his best to get cancelled
Posted by The News Junkie
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Friday morning linksInsty's advice: Get a copy of Blazing Saddles before it's banned HBO Pulls ‘Gone With The Wind’ From HBO-Max Streaming… ‘Cops’ Cancelled Re: The Disturbing Campaign against Tucker Carlson Narcissistic Sociopaths with Childlike IQs and the Morals of Rutting Cats, But with an Elevated Ability To Feign Emotions to Manipulate Others, Have an Important Message for America. Yes, Let’s Defund The Police … At The EPA Joe Biden Says George Floyd’s Death is Bigger than Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. CHAZ Inside The People’s Republic Of Seattle Seattle "Autonomous Zone" Now Has A "Heavily-Armed" Warlord As Crime Spikes 300%. "The power vacuum has apparently been filled." Thursday, June 11. 2020Are viruses alive?Yes and no. They are more like parasites, able to exist and reproduce with a living, functioning host. Are Viruses Alive? Perhaps We're Asking the Wrong Question
So Much Free SpeechApparently, Seattle is now epicenter of the revolution which we have all waited breathlessly for. The NYTimes has headlines saying it's "Free Food, Free Speech and Free of Police", which I suppose is a start. We are expecting great things from these people. 'New ideas' we've never seen before. Lovely. Maybe the food is 'free', though nothing is ever free, and we certainly know the speech is only free if you agree with them. But I'm fairly certain the area is free of police. For now. Remember a few years ago at Malheur, and those supposed 'right-wing extremist' loony birds were roundly misrepresented by the press? Yeah, me either. Didn't happen. The Feds didn't kill anyone there, either. I'm sure this Seattle experiment will go really well. Just like Christiana did originally (cough, cough). By the way, can I just also mention how proud I am of my alma mater's devotion to presenting fact-based opinions and respecting free speech? We're leading the way! Future donations on my part will not be part of the plan. I can show my point of view by withholding money.
Posted by Bulldog
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13:07
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Thursday morning linksIt's Time to End Qualified Immunity for College Administrators, Too. The doctrine lets courts allow public universities to get away with eroding their students’ speech rights. Harvard Chemistry Professor Indicted For Concealing Connection To China’s Thousand Talents Plan Knee-Benders Cancel 'Gone With the Wind' & 'Cops' on Same Day to Appease Frothing Rage Mob No more free speech Homeless people reportedly ate all the food in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, situation dire They want soy Trump: Elderly Buffalo Protester May Be an 'Antifa Provocateur' Even the protesters knew he was trouble Buffalo Officials Duped By Professional Antifa Provocateur – Arrest and Charge Two Police Officers – Righteous Police Team Stand Together and Walk Out… Begging the Mob’s Forgiveness Doesn’t Work LA City Council President Nury Martinez, Who Introduced Motion to Cut Police Funding, Caught Using Private LAPD Protection at Her Home Top De Blasio Aid Quits In Protest, Accuses NYC Mayor Of Being Too Kind To Police America Deserves a New FBI Better look at your social media — chances are you’re next to be canceled America is Not Racist AG Barr On Durham Investigation: ‘I’m Very Troubled By’ What ‘Has Been Called To My Attention So Far’ CDC Expects 200k COVID-19 Deaths By October As Dreaded 'Second Wave' Arrives COVID-19: Straight Answers from Top Epidemiologist Who Predicted the Pandemic “You’re Not My Brother”: The Trainwreck Cornel West-Leo Terrell Segment You Can’t Miss For Journalists, The New York Times’ Social-Justice Meltdown Is a Sign of Things to Come WSJ Editorial: Cancel Culture And Identity Politics Now Dominates Journalism And American Culture France: Post-Pandemic Disaster? Wednesday, June 10. 2020QQQ"Americans have the constitutional right to instant gratification" - Somebody, somewhere
Posted by The News Junkie
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13:48
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Wednesday morning links'She still lives!' Famed Yellowstone bear emerges from winter – with cubs Democrats Propose Replacing All Police With Traveling Bands Of Hippies Singing 'Imagine' What It’s Like to Get Doxed for Taking a Bike Ride NY Times: Boycott Your Own Relatives Until they Get Woke, Donate Money UCLA professor on leave after refusing to cancel final exam following George Floyd's death More Cancel Culture Democrats criticized for wearing Kente cloth stoles in honor of George Floyd A lady says “BLM IS A JOKE” Minneapolis Manufacturer: The City Doesn’t Care About Protecting Us — So We’re Outta Here Chicago: ‘What Are We Going To Have Left In Our Community?’ Aldermen React with Panic, Sorrow to Unrest Antifa Seizes Seattle PD, Sets Up 'Autonomous Zone' Just Like ISIS and the Paris Commune Watching in real time as Seattle descends into anarchy SENSE AND NONSENSE ON THE POLICE Recession Began In February — Will More Wasteful ‘Stimulus’ Kill The Recovery? Hydroxychloroquine saga: Researcher involved in retracted Lancet study has faculty appointment terminated, as details in scandal emerge Satellite images and online searches indicate China had coronavirus in the fall, Harvard study finds Tuesday, June 9. 2020The only self-help book you’ll ever needHow to manage impossible problems. It's a bit of an oldie, but a goodie: F- Feelings. Many people have found it to be helpful, clarifying.
Tuesday morning linksThe End of Minimalism/ Keeping a cluttered house has long been considered a little tacky, a little weak. But now it’s looking very wise. Fuji Bicycles’ parent BikeCo suspending sale of police bikes. Company did not like how some police were deploying their bicycles during a recent string of protests. Canadian professor canned for opinion that biological sex is a real thing Cornell students demand Chemistry Prof. David Collum be fired for tweeting that Buffalo incident was not police brutality To save black children, abolish teachers unions Never happen Welcome to Maoist America Reebok Cuts Ties With Crossfit After CEO Tweets George Floyd “Joke” They Blinded Us With “Science”. Throughout the pandemic, political leaders have consistently relied on questionable expert guidance—and ducked responsibility for their own choices. Now they tell us: Now WHO Claims Asymptomatic Transmission Of Wuhan Coronavirus Is ‘Very Rare’ And Just Like That the Cure for COVID Was Unveiled – Massive Riots, Looting, Destruction in the Millions and Wholesale Persecution of Police Chicago Mayor Now Pleading With Walmart And Other Companies Not To Leave The City Bush Aide: NYT Fabricated Trump Story Fake news never ends The Guard Is Always Changing at the New York Times THE CAMPUS RIOT REACHES THE NEWSROOM Justice Is Coming: 'As Many as 16-17' Obamagate Criminal Referrals Headed to DOJ The historic opportunity awaiting Trump to stabilize Iraq, eventually withdraw troops. The stakes are high for a strategic dialogue later this week between U.S. officials and new Iraqi prime minister Monday, June 8. 2020The Turn of the ScrewGhosts don't exist, except in history. These ghosts live in our minds, because we are aware of history and hope 'it can't happen here', or that lessons are learned. But some choose to not be aware of history, and make every effort to bring ghosts to life. For several months, since listening to the French Revolution portion of the Revolutions podcast I mentioned here at Maggie's, I've told friends we're moving toward a new French Revolution. As Minneapolis moves to defund its police department, one can only wonder, will it be replaced with a Committee of Public Safety? In a perverse way, I hope they do create one. The ghosts of Marat, Robespierre, Danton and countless others are alive again. I'm sure our modern day radicals will say "This time is different" or "It wasn't done right the last time" or some other excuse will be provided. I have to admit, though, it's fun to see these people turn on their own kind. It's also frightening. A friend of mine was sending me pictures today from Manhattan of the destroyed store fronts. It's pretty extensive, and the minimal news coverage of how bad it was provides a kind of rationale for the radical influence to keep pushing. There is no shame in destruction if it's not visible. But the destruction, too, is a ghost - not visible to many. Jonathan Turley puts his own spin on it here. Being a modern-day Abbe Sieyes isn't something I thought I'd begin to aspire to, but it may be a worthwhile goal nonetheless.
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