Maggie's Farm

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.

Our Recent Essays Behind the Front Page

Much Sorry with Delays
Birth, Death and All That Stuff in Between
How to Honor Labor Day, Every Day
My Yom Kippur Miracle (Repost from 2010)
Good intro to fly casting
Peach update, with pie
NYC update
Easy for you to say: To the elites on mass immigration
For NYC on 9/11, Sailors' Snug Harbor
Pickled Peaches
Water Shoes
Labor Costs in U.S.
Your "identity"
Good news about The Great Courses
Uses of Hot Pepper Jelly/Sauce, Chutneys, and Jams
A Saturday Drive to Litchfield County, CT
How to Pick a Kayak
Civilized: Fruit forks and knives
Loads of kayaking on Cape Cod
Psychology Experiments' Questionable Results

Categories


All categories

Quicksearch

Links

Blog Administration

Open login screen

RSS Readers

Add to Google

Subscribe with Bloglines

Wednesday, July 31. 2013

Weds. morning links

What's the best Champagne in the world? My chef friend claims it is Salon


If you want to avoid a headache, it's cheaper just to skip the Champagne altogether. That friend thinks that Veuve Clicquot is a close second.


Why Are Google Employees So Disloyal?


Letter to the Editor re home schooling


The Ideal English Major


America The Nice?


A 280,000% Mark Up For... Water? A Look Inside The Bottled Water Industry


San Antonio Exclusion from Government Commissions of People Who Have Ever “Demonstrated” “Bias” “by Word or Deed”


A woman who is not fit to carry a firearm


Why Obama doesn't dare speak about Detroit


World Trade Center Memorial Didn't Want A Ground Zero Picture


PPP poll: Palin leads Alaska Republican Senate primary by 10 points


1,122 Record Cold Temps in the U.S. in one week


Georgia Insurance Rates Spike Under Obamacare


Sultan: The end of shame


Mead: We Really Don’t Understand Our Climate


Barack Obama’s clueless message to America’s middle class shows a presidency out of touch with reality


Detroit bankruptcy could flood Obamacare exchanges

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 05:23 | Comments (27) | Trackbacks (0)

Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

Just yesterday I read an article that claimed, conclusively, that no one in Alaska wanted Gov. Palin to run for the senate. Overwhelming majority! Are you telling me that the "free press" in our country, that operates like a third-world branch of the ruler's cabinet, was lying to us?
#1 J on 2013-07-31 07:02 (Reply)
"Letter to the Editor re home schooling"

Pretty funny ending to his little rant on homeschooling:

QUOTE:
Sincxerely,
Willibald Peach, Ormsby.

Looks like ol' Willie could have used a little homeschooling himself.
#2 Dr. Mercury on 2013-07-31 07:20 (Reply)
Given the author's familiarity with the socializing afforded by public school attendance, there is every indication that while the son is being homeschooled, the father was not.

But what they call "socialization" and attribute to the public school is really institutionalization, not unlike that afforded in prison. The most efficient institutionalization can be afforded the boy by sending him to sea, with the added thrill of a chance of drowning.
#2.1 JKB on 2013-07-31 08:31 (Reply)
Since you couldn't just let my chipper comment be without comment, let's continue:

1. The father does not know how to type. People who know how to type look at the monitor, not the keyboard, and don't make typos like that. Ergo, since the father doesn't know how to type, the homeschooled boy will also grow up without adequate keyboard skills, another lame hunt & pecker in a digital world.

2. The father thinks so little of his piece that he never even proofread it. He just spat out the rant and hit the Send button. Ergo, one assumes his son will learn the same lackadaisical inattention to detail.

It's easy to make the case for homeschooling. What's left out of the equation is that the people doing the homeschooling need to be examined just as closely as the public teachers they're criticizing.
    #2.1.1 Dr. Mercury on 2013-07-31 09:08 (Reply)
    With all due rexpect Doc, I learned to type ax a high xchool frexhman in '49. At that time monitor wax an ironclad warxhip, or maybe a lizard if you were already educated (I waxn't). We were taught that typixtx look at the paper. To help ux along with thix, the typewriter keyx were blank, i.e. there wax nothing to look at on the keytop (there wax no xuch thing ax a keyboard back then). Thankx to thix training, I have been a lifetime, error free typixt.
    #2.1.1.1 BillH on 2013-07-31 10:54 (Reply)
    One time when my Significant Other was tapping away at the keyboard I asked her if she was 'a-huntin'pecker'. In a distracted voice she said, "yeah...." and that was that. The double meaning sailed right over her head. That was probably a fortunate thing for me.

    I gotta look at the keys when I type and proof read. I still don't always get it right.

    Back in HS I took typing and wasn't very good. However the teacher said not to worry as "you men" would work in offices and have women to do your typing for you!

    Heh.

    Hey. I believed it.
    #2.1.1.2 feeblemind on 2013-07-31 11:45 (Reply)
    Stick to subjects you know about. Like TV.
    #2.1.1.3 DrTorch on 2013-07-31 13:47 (Reply)
    DrTorch:

    I just spent a minute going back over your comments over the past handful of my threads, and while in general you're acerbic pedantic asshole whose only purpose in life seems to be haunting backwoods blog sites and correcting every tiniest thing you can find, you do tend to agree with me on AGW matters.

    So that would be two things I know about, not one.
      #2.1.1.3.1 Dr. Mercury on 2013-07-31 15:06 (Reply)
      Bwah-hah! Well put, Doc! Screw this guy. Lookin' forward to tomorrow!
      #2.1.1.3.1.1 BobZ on 2013-07-31 15:17 (Reply)
      I don't remember specific things said, but I do have an 'Assholes' list in my mind, and DrTorch is definitely on it. He's one of those types who almost cant say anything nice. My ex-husband was like that. As you said, screw 'em. People like that aren't worth the time of day.
      #2.1.1.3.1.1.1 Katharine on 2013-07-31 15:39 (Reply)
      Last week frosts, this week temps in the upper 50's for the high 3 days straight. Some foliage peaking already. I think we will be laying wood for the winter soon.

      Saw these guys recently. Quite enjoyable. http://www.steepcanyon.com/about
      #3 Karen on 2013-07-31 07:44 (Reply)
      Steep Canyon. Good sound. Thanks for reminding me.
      #3.1 jma on 2013-07-31 11:23 (Reply)
      GOVERNMENT ALERT !

      We are planning a trip out of country for vacation this summer--just received the following alert from the international carrier leaving the country. As I read it this means that no American is allowed to leave the country less than three days in advance, and all itineraries will be scrutinized by Hillary and her girls.
      Here is a copy of what I received from the airline this AM
      ------------

      Increasingly, countries require the collection and submission of key documentation prior to a passenger’s arrival. The USA Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secure Flight Program covers all flights to/from and within the USA. The purpose of Secure Flight is to enhance the current security of air travel through the use of improved government watch list matching
      Later this year, all ""named carrier"" flights to, from and through the United States will be subject to the requirements of the Secure Flight Program. This means that 72 hours prior to the departure of any ""Named carrier"" flight to or from the United States (flights to or from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu) ""named carrier"" will need to electronically transmit your passport and other travel document details to the US authorities. These details include your full name, date of birth, gender and any Redress Number or Known Traveller Number (if applicable).
      This is where we need your help.
      We need you to call us with these details, as your current travel plans include flights now covered by the Secure Flight Program. Just have your booking reference from this e-mail handy."

      GOD BLESS AMERICA !
      #4 apple pie on 2013-07-31 10:16 (Reply)
      I am reminded of how they handled international travelers in old Europe. You checked into a hotel and gave them your passport. By 6 pm the Gendarmes or policia came to every hotel and got a list of all foriegners and looked at their passports. Later that evening this was all compiled into a master list of all foriegners in their country that day (at least all the ones not sleeping in their cars). It seemed quite intrusive to me way back then. Today the U.S. has no clue who comes here legally or illegally or why. They don't know if they come for a week, a year or to stay. They don't know if they are terrorists or tourists. It would seem to me that everyone coming into this country should be looked at and their passport looked at and a computerized list generated as well as some system to identify when they left or that they didn't leave. It also seems that entering the country illegally should at the least be a felony and not a reason to get welfare and free or lowered tuition. When I went to Australia two years ago they had to have my passport numbers and itinerary. That doesn't seem too unreasonable for the U.S. as well, does it?
      #4.1 GoneWithTheWind on 2013-07-31 10:32 (Reply)
      all ""named carrier"" flights

      i.e., the wealthy and connected will not be inconvenienced.


      I do see a market for a nice international airport in Northern Mexico. Just drive over the border and off you go with far less hassle....at least at first.

      This happened right after 9/11. They made travel to and from the US for foreign nationals so troublesome, meetings were set up in Mexico and Canada with the US people traveling there.

      My brother-in-law did many of these meetings managing his business units Chinese operations instead of bringing the Chinese managers into the US. Bonus, you can look in on the Mexican customers as well.
      #4.2 JKB on 2013-07-31 10:51 (Reply)
      Only if you are living in some middle east country! You don't seem to understand what just happened. I don't want my carriers and my country using the El Al model.
      #5 another one on 2013-07-31 10:50 (Reply)
      We'd be lucky to have the El Al model. Real security based upon real world objective criteria? Perish the thought and be sure to molest the children and grannies.
      #5.1 JKB on 2013-07-31 10:54 (Reply)
      I believe that Israel is a "socialist styled" nation is it not?
      #6 faculty wife on 2013-07-31 10:55 (Reply)
      I wholly and completely agree with San Antonio: any one who has used the term “homophobe,” or “patriarchy,” or “rape culture,” or “white privilege” has fully demonstrated her or his hate-filled agenda, bias, and inability to serve in government, including schooling at any level. Get it on it, SA.
      #7 ErisGuy on 2013-07-31 11:01 (Reply)
      So, wonder if you have an emergency out of country--say BD and the Mrs are in an auto accident in Italy some day. If their kids want to go to Italy NOW they cannot leave for three days!
      #8 Apple pie on 2013-07-31 11:02 (Reply)
      Long-time lurker here. As the spouse of a former diplomat, I have drunk more than my fair share of bubbly, so the Champage question tickled my fancy. For my money, the best "Champagne" is neither French, nor Champagne strictu sensu.

      For my money, it's a toss-up between Cuvée de l'écusson and the Cuvée millésimée by Bernard-Massard of Luxembourg. Both wines have received numerous awards.

      We drink the Millésimée at Christmas, and the Ecusson (brut) the rest of the year round. Fantastic. They blow the French stuff out of the water on both quality and price.
      #9 Euph0ny on 2013-07-31 11:21 (Reply)
      ikinci el bilgisayar
      #10 ikinci el bilgisayar (Link) on 2013-07-31 11:32 (Reply)
      Veuve Clicquot. We had it at our wedding. Haven't been able to afford it since, but a nice start.
      #11 Retriever on 2013-07-31 11:49 (Reply)
      Our cable company --Optimum--has just been bought out by Charter Communications. They took over on July 1 and the first thing they did was to shut down the channel that had a listing of the tv programs on it. They told us to go to our computers and look up programming on the TV GUIDE site. How sweet of them.
      It's been 30 days now and there has been nothing but complete failure and problems with our internet system. The problems are constant and there is no explanations forthcoming.

      Our first cable owner was in business for years. Then Optimum bought them out less than a year ago and several months later Charter Communications bought out Optimum. Charter communications is a very secretive (not very transparent) company and is registered in CT. Can you folks back there on MF tell me anything at all about this company?

      Thanx
      #12 apple pie on 2013-07-31 12:44 (Reply)
      I believe it is one of Paul Allen's many hobbies, thus the lack of transparency.
      #12.1 phil g on 2013-07-31 15:34 (Reply)
      Palin: Seems to be liked by the non-elite and those who distrust the media (lame/lap dog/mass). I'd certainly give her consideration.

      Doc, I read Mr. Peach's letter, and I am convinced he doeth the right thing for his bairn. Regardless of one mispeling, and the enormous tongue in his cheek. I see Texan99, a commenter I've seen elsewhere, delivered him/herself of a good 'un. Further, I hath annointed my bookmarks thusly: http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/drboli/

      English Majors: Always outranked by English Lt. Colonels.

      America The Nice: May have to read this. Nordlinger is himself a most enjoyable writer.

      SA: Bias iss vot i zay it iss, und nozzing elsssse!

      Saints Preserve Us! Cold weather records! In summer! Save us, Gang of Z; you're our only hope!

      Barack's Message to America: Phhhhhhhhhhlxxxxxxxxxxxxt!!
      #13 Sam L. on 2013-07-31 15:17 (Reply)
      Mr. L, altho your attempt to render phonetically the 'Bronx Cheer' is admirably deft, I'm afraid that, due to the availability of the (attached) URL, the effort is structurally deficient in that it is entirely subsumed within, and mooted by, the aforementioned four-second audio/visual demonstration, viz:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnB_OFnchf4
      #13.1 buddy larsen on 2013-08-01 11:50 (Reply)

      Add Comment
      (Your e-mail will not show in your comment)

      By commenting on this site you agree to the site rules listed here. Email
      addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for email notifications.

      Quick reference guide: [i] italics [/i], [b] bold [/b], [u] underline [/u],
      [url] (web address) [/url]. More tips here.

      Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (*word*), underscore are made via _word_.
      E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

      To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
      CAPTCHA

      BBCode format allowed
       
       
      A Chris Southern Consulting website.