Wednesday morning links

The Hermeneutics of the Expensive Watch. Why I wasn't a success, I guess. Had never worn a watch. When I started flying for pay, they gave me a watch and told me I had to wear it while flying. I asked why? They said in case the aircraft clocks quit working. The aircraft I flew (L1049) had three electric clocks on the flight deck, powered by four engine generators, an APU and the emergency bus, which used the battery in case all five generators quit. They said I had to wear the watch while flying anyway. So I did, but I hated every minute of it. Since I retired from flying, I've never worn a watch. Same for rings, bracelets, anklets, earrings and necklaces. Hate having anything hanging off of me.

#1 BillH on 2016-10-05 10:00 (Reply)

from the article:

QUOTE:

When you reach a certain point of middle-age, not owning a real watch, i.e. an expensive name brand watch, tends to suggest that you have never at any one time had a whole bunch of free cash and/or that you are some kind of Puritanical hippy with an ideological thing about high-end consumerism.

says someone who reached a certain point of middle-age and still needs someone else's approval.

#1.1 2...e5 on 2016-10-05 15:03 (Reply)

re No proof that shooting predators saves livestock

Ha!

If you believe that I have a global warming scam to sell you.

#2 feeblemind on 2016-10-05 10:02 (Reply)

Do you know what else has heretofore lacked large-scale randomized controlled trials?

Parachutes.

#2.1 Douglas2 on 2016-10-05 10:25 (Reply)

Heh, heh.

#2.1.1 Zachriel on 2016-10-05 10:29 (Reply)

"studies" written by people who never leave their office/urban enclave

#2.2 fjord on 2016-10-05 10:28 (Reply)

Watches as cues to wealth.

Certain items provide a more accurate clue for disposable income. Many people can lease a high end car, but are still not going to plunkb15 or 30 k on a watch when a mall brand to $100 looks 'just fine '.

I remember reading an article by a woman who provided expensive 'entertainment for gentlemen ' explain that a high end watch was a good clue she was dealing with actual wealth and not a poser.

#3 Jay on 2016-10-05 10:05 (Reply)

When I hit middle age, a friend bought a Rolex, Hmm. Being frugal, I went to Costco and bought an Omega Seamaster, before the lawsuit. Must say, I have enjoyed the watch. Never take it off, except for showers, have wacked it hard enough , that I was afraid to look at it, no damage, still works fine, never been in the shop. Before the Omega, I wore a LL Bean field watch. If the Omega dies, I will probably go back to Bean. A tune-up on the Omega costs almost as much today as I paid for the watch almost 20 years ago.

#4 OldPhoto on 2016-10-05 10:09 (Reply)

The Hermeneutics of the Expensive Watch

I wonder if the impression of being treated differently when wearing an expensive watch is more related to an internal difference in self-confidence, rather than any external recognition of the watch as marker?

I'd have to say that anytime I've noticed someone taking an extra glance at my Omega Seamaster, it turned out that they were a watch-nerd rather than someone taking stock of my socioeconomic status.

The watch that gets the comments is the $60 Skagen with its clean simple thinness, and I've noticed that after asking me about it (or hearing others do so) several of my colleagues and acquaintances are now wearing Skagen watches themselves. I wear it because I want to wear a watch, like its appearance, and it has so far been indestructible when I clumsily bash it against the edge of the table or whatever.

#5 Douglas2 on 2016-10-05 10:17 (Reply)

"[My Skagen watch] has so far been indestructible when I clumsily bash it against the edge of the table or whatever."

As a brand new young subaltern in the Canadian Army, I went out and bought myself a powerful all-singing, all-dancing Seiko chronometer. I somehow lost it within a year. But by then, cheap Casio multi-function digital watches were beginning to flood the market.

For the rest of my military career, that's what I'd wear. If I bashed my watch against the side of an armoured vehicle in the dark, no great loss; $20 or $30 bought me a new one at the base exchange.

#5.1 JJM on 2016-10-05 11:18 (Reply)

I see Skagens at Amazon start at $82.

#5.1.1 Sam L. on 2016-10-05 11:41 (Reply)

"Expensive watches are jewelry."

My son wears a great clunking Emporio Armani watch with various technical-looking dials and toggles. One day I noticed that neither the time nor the day date was properly set.

"Yeah, I know," he replied.

"I only wear it for the effect."

#6 JJM on 2016-10-05 10:41 (Reply)

Re: The danger of imaginary arrows

Another reason not to watch the NFL.

#7 mudbug on 2016-10-05 11:06 (Reply)

Re: Surprise: Warmists Link Hurricane Matthew To ‘Climate Change’

QUOTE:

Scientists have linked worsening Atlantic storms to global warming. “Rising sea levels exacerbated Sandy’s storm surge, for example, a direct link between global warming and storm damage. And abnormally high sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic probably intensified the storm,” writes NASA.

Who are you going to believe - NASA or your own lying eyes?

#8 mudbug on 2016-10-05 11:09 (Reply)

BD and friends, you do present an amazing array of articles every day. You keep the ole brain working. Kudos!

#9 jma on 2016-10-05 11:14 (Reply)

"The Spanish-Speaking William F. Buckley"

Not a bad article, though the author predictably lets off the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War too lightly.

(For what it's worth, I consider both sides in that nasty conflict to have been absolutely appalling. A stark confrontation between two of the worst and most murderous ideologies ever conceived by humanity: fascism and communism. A pox on them all.)

#10 JJM on 2016-10-05 11:31 (Reply)

Not a bad article, though the author predictably lets off the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War too lightly.

Yes, it was predictable, as the standard narrative on the Spanish Civil War pits the democracy-loving Republicans against the evil Fascists who wouldn't have won without Hitler's support.

I didn't change my mind until the last decade, courtesy of Orwell and Stanley Payne. Orwell's Homage to Catalonia pointed out that it was the Communists, not the Fascists, who were murdering the Anarchists. Stanley Payne's histories of Spain and the Civil War gave me a much better idea of the background for the conflict, such as the failed insurrection-revos in 1934 in the North, and the political assassinations before Franco took to war.

I recently started La Guerra Civil contada a los jóvenes [The Civil War as told to young people- only 50 pages, about right for my level of Spanish] written by the popular Spanish author Arturo Perez-Reverte. He gives little or no background to the war, which is an egregious shortcoming: 126 words of about 5,000 words are dedicated to Political Causes. This begins with the overthrow of the monarchy in 1931. His summary of the causes could be summed up in the last sentence: "Some wanted to give more power to the people; others wanted to limit power to the people." Bit too simple. For example, Perez-Reverte neglects to mention that the right won the election in 1933. Power to the people, you see, but only if you are the right kind of people.

Though to be fair to Perez-Reverte, he does also point out that both sides had extremists, and that not only Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy but also the USSR were models for the protagonists. However, the book mentions Hitler 5 times, but never mentions Stalin.

#10.1 Gringo on 2016-10-05 15:18 (Reply)

Gringo: Orwell's Homage to Catalonia pointed out that it was the Communists, not the Fascists, who were murdering the Anarchists.

Anarchists were also murdered by the fascists, and the overall murder toll by fascists was significantly higher than it was by communists and other leftists. The reason why the Spanish civil war looms so large in history is because it largely prefigured the fascist conquest of Europe.

In the well-known U.S. propaganda film, Casablanca, the hero, Rick Blaine, had run guns to the Ethiopians against the Italians and fought for the loyalist side in Spain, all for nought. The movie suggests that the world slept while fascism gained strength.

"I'd bet they're asleep in New York. I bet they're asleep all over America." Rick Blaine, Casablanca

#10.1.1 Zachriel on 2016-10-05 16:46 (Reply)

I point out books I have read. You point out a movie.Way to go, Z-Team.

#10.1.1.1 Gringo on 2016-10-06 11:07 (Reply)

Gringo: I point out books I have read. .

You claimed that "it was the Communists, not the Fascists, who were murdering the Anarchists." That is not correct. Both sides engaged in murder, including most of the disparate groups on the political left, as well as the political right.

Gringo: You point out a movie.

Yes, to show why the Spanish Civil War was considered a seminal event leading up to WWII, a warning sign of impending danger ignored by the West.

#10.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2016-10-06 11:20 (Reply)

"Trump appears to be the default position for millions of voters. And if he stops working every day to drive them away over the next four weeks, Trump could still be elected the 45th president of the United States."

Please provide a "Joe Scarborough/WaPo Warning" so I won't waste 15 seconds of my precious life linking over to his disgusting drivel!

Hey, Joe! Knocked up/off any interns lately?

#11 B48 on 2016-10-05 11:34 (Reply)

I'm with bd on Timex. Of course, I'm old and not trying to impress anyone. Pretty much any inexpensive quartz-crystal watch will keep very good time.

#12 Sam L. on 2016-10-05 11:37 (Reply)

It's raining here today. Obviously due to Climate Change because it sure as heck wasn't raining yesterday.

#13 SteveS on 2016-10-05 15:35 (Reply)

After Anita Hill's accusations the NOW (national Association of Women) said that was intolerable and they were out demonstrating against Thomas for months. When Bill Clinton was accused of having sex with an intern, they said, so what? Double standard anyone?

#14 Ray on 2016-10-05 19:01 (Reply)

When Willie Jeff was accused of such things, the FemiNazis said he was entitled to one free grope and that several of them would perform oral sex on him so long as he voted in favor of abortions.

#14.1 Old Codger on 2016-10-05 19:57 (Reply)

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Wednesday, October 5. 2016

Wednesday morning links