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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Sunday, May 16. 2021Good thingsMasks and distancingI was at a wedding last night. 150 people, none with masks, no distancing, and dancing. Normal except for the staff wearing masks. Stores, States Drop Mask Mandates in Wake of CDC’s Updated Guidance
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From today's Lectionary1 John 5:9-13 5:9 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 5:10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 5:11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. Our Wisteria, yesterdaySaturday, May 15. 2021Sex Negative?Humor du Jour: Puddles, and ex-Prince Harry
Here's Puddles with Royals:
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Saturday morning linksTurns out even if you move all day at work, it’s still not enough to keep you healthy You Do Know That The Cicadas Forshadow A World Of Insect Swarms From Climate Crisis, Right? EPA Updates Its "Climate Change Indicators" Penn State bans more words Christian Colleges Seek to Defend Title IX Religious Exemption Insanity Wrap #207: Literally Everything Is Going to Hell... Who Wants a Drink? Army Dog Tags Will Now List Soldier's Pronouns Andrew Cuomo defies CDC guidance, orders New Yorkers to keep masks on MASK MANDATES CRUMBLING Maddow: I guess I'm going to need to be less judgy now with people who aren't wearing masks 50% Of CDC Employees Refusing To Get COVID Vaccine… Manchin: I'll kill the Democrats' voting-reform bill 450 bombs in 35 minutes: This is how the IDF tricked Hamas Saturday Verse: YeatsFriday, May 14. 2021Testing positiveMany people have been asking me what "testing positive" for COVID means. See today's news on the NY Yankees. It seems clear that the more people you do nasal swabs on, the more positive results will occur. This virus will become endemic so many, and hopefully most, people will be exposed to it. Like the common cold, or the seasonal flu. Few will get significantly sick from it or even be aware of it. The point is, a positive test does not mean that you are sick, and, if vaccinated, doesn't mean much of anything other than that somehow you were exposed. Furthermore, there are many (but still really unknown) numbers of false positives. I think it makes sense to test people who are ill, but not random healthy people unless it is just an academic exercise.
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Paranoid style in politicsFrom The Paranoid Style in Progressive Politics
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Merriam-Webster, the Ministry of TruthI am now a proud "anti-vaxxer." Actually, I'm not. But Merriam-Webster does define me as one. The funny thing is, I've gotten vaccinated. For polio, smallpox, MMR, tetanus, and even recently I received my second shingles vaccine. I got the shingles vaccine on the day I turned down the coronavirus vaccine. I have my own personal reasons for turning down the new vaccine. After all, I've had covid, and it was a bit tough, but nothing I couldn't handle. I have other reasons, too, which I won't share since the information on all of this is convoluted and tends to spark arguments (not discussions). It is not hard science by any stretch. Even my doctor, when I gave my reasons for rejecting it, tried to convince me to get it by saying "we know so little about it, the vaccine is a good idea." I replied that if you know so little, it seems odd that you're convinced that the vaccine will help me. I hardly see that as a reassuring argument. She agreed (which surprised me) and said "just realize you may get it again." I told her I've gotten the flu many times, too. Even after I was vaccinated. My reasons are mine alone and I'll get the answers and make my determinations as I go along. I have that right (in the old United States I did...). I'm not opposed to the coronavirus vaccine, either. I suggested my father (85, with heart issues) get it when he asked me if he should. He is a retired doctor, I laughed when he asked me, but I was honest. He agrees with my reasons for not getting it. It could be he's not seeking to have a discussion, but I know he has his own questions. Mrs. Bulldog got it (and, as I suspected, had no side effects, as she has been exposed to covid several times and never gotten it. Long exposures, both from me and friends. She really is a Viking.) and I supported her decision to get it. My mother (85 and frail) got it. Other members of my family have gotten it. I just have my own questions about this particular vaccine. I have a right to question it, and be skeptical. Even today, it's not uncommon to see or hear about fully-vaccinated people testing positive. I doubt this means they have covid. In fact, I'm willing to bet heavily the tests are incorrect (as so many are). I'm also not afraid of getting covid again. I dealt with it once, and it wasn't bad. I'm in better shape now than I was then (lost about 5 lbs, lifting more, using the elliptical for longer stretches - I made it a goal to get in better shape), and know how to deal with it (low sugar, lots of water, Vitamin D and lots of sun and fresh air). There are also improved treatments if I'm wrong. All that said, I'm not an anti-vaxxer. Not even a little. Not even a tiny bit. I'll get the vaccine IF my questions are resolved by my doctor AND if I reach a point that I feel it is useful and necessary. In the meantime, I'm not a threat. At least not health-wise. That said, I do oppose mandates and forcing people to do things they don't necessarily want to do. And if opposing mandatory vaccine programs makes me an anti-vaxxer, then I am a political problem to some people. What annoys me is that I'm defined by Biden and Merriam-Webster as an anti-vaxxer. That's wrong. The dictionary has extended its definition far too broadly. It's also wrong to have a President tell me that I have to choose between a mask and a vaccine. He, of all people, is unqualified to make this determination. He's just a power-mad elderly man with dementia (at least I think he's got dementia, he certainly behaves that way). I've gone without a mask pretty much everywhere (mostly outdoors, though I keep one in my pocket). Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Block Island, New Orleans, North Carolina - I've done quite a bit of traveling. I wear the mask if I'm asked to, but not otherwise. As time goes by, people will see I'm not a risk. But for now, politically, I am. I am a massive risk politically. And I'm loving it. I won't make people do things they oppose. I appreciate others who realize this is the essential reason for the creation of our great nation. Friday morning linksThere’s Only One Way To Beat The Speed Of Light China and Overfishing Austrian man leaves fortune to French village that saved his family from Nazis Ten million reasons to vaccinate the world Epidemiologists Still Urge Dubious Levels of Caution, Even for the Vaccinated. Most would still refuse a hug, according to a New York Times survey. BREAKING: CDC to issue new guidelines telling vaccinated to "mask off" But The NYT seems to be stimulating fear When Will Biden Apologize For His ‘Neanderthal’ Smear? 4 More Ontarians Were Just Charged For Riding In A Car Together During Stay-At-Home Order San Francisco Teachers’ Unions Are the Ultimate Grifters Nomination of Catherine Lhamon a return to ‘old, failed policies’ CNBC Host Laughs at Pete Buttigieg Trying to Sell 'Infrastructure' Biden administration to fill in gaps in border levees left open after Trump wall construction halted Asked About Israel, Biden Refuses To Name Or Condemn Hamas For Their Terrorist Attacks… WHY WON’T ISRAELIS LET THEMSELVES BE KILLED? Thursday, May 13. 2021Bob Dylan's artworkBob turns 80 this month. Still on the road, doing shows (not sure about this past year, but he will be back). He has a show of his paintings coming up. Maybe they are not great, but they are accomplished.
Whereto Schooling Post-Pandemic?Political QQQ
That's a paraphrase of Scott Adams. I'm not sure that it is true, but I get his point. Thursday morning linksIdaho is going to kill 90% of the state’s wolves. That’s a tragedy – and bad policy California's Zero Carbon Plans: Can Anybody Here Do Basic Arithmetic? The New York Times just won’t quit its dishonest COVID fearmongering CDC Exaggerated Risk of Outdoors Coronavirus Transmission VDH: Biden Mocks Ancient Wisdom. When an arrogant present dismisses the wisdom of the past, then an all too predictable future becomes terrifying. Betsy DeVos: ‘Let’s be Really Clear. The 1619 Project is Not History’ If black lives matter, due process must matter The Strange Death of the British Labour Party Palestinian Miscalculations Have Led to a New War Palestinian Islamic Jihad Officials: Iran Is Giving Us The Rockets We Use To Attack Israel Progressivism’s Moral Atrocity in the Middle East Wednesday, May 12. 2021Jordan Peterson is backThis one, with Ben Shapiro
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IT upgradesRenovating the entire Maggie's HQ tech system. Takes time and money, but should be good. Thorough IT update. The expert is a wizard but even wizards have limits. We should be back to speed tomorrow, God willing and with the tech god's expertise. In the meantime, this is good: Five Incredible Ways Birds Change Their Bodies for Spring and Fall Migration
Wednesday morning linksA psychologist says parents of ‘exceptionally resilient and successful’ kids always do these 7 things: ‘Yes, some are a little intense’ Cancel Culture Comes For Darwin Doctor says there’s no legitimate medical reason to mask children Science with the union label - Despite the reopening happy talk, more than half of all California’s k-12 students remain in distance learning. SCENES FROM THE COLLEGE MELTDOWN Book: Cry Bullies: Protecting yourself against social muggers and victimhood aggression Can we please ditch the term "systemic racism"? Orthodox Jews Are Overwhelmingly Republican and Growing in Number Tuesday, May 11. 2021If you have kids who have motivation to learn stuff...
Online classrooms have not proven to be very useful. Probably better than nothing, but barely, but Khan has it figured out for motivated kids. Khan Academy is excellent, and free.
Free the Gig Economy!The Biden administration wants to keep the labor market stuck in the past. Many people love the freedom of gig jobs. Not just Uber drivers working when they have free time, but also writers, catering staff, bartenders, dog-walkers, retired people wanting to be useful, and a hundred other things. Government doesn't get it. Lots of people, maybe not most, prefer to work on their own, on their own time. Less security, more freedom. That's an American tradition.
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Plyometrics The classic plyometric exercise is Box Jumps, but I would include Sled exercises in the same category. The general category is Calisthenics.
"Gifted and talented" kids in NYC
NYC has many desirable private, parochial, and charter schools too, but, of the latter, only the private schools tend to have entry standards. Related, Kids will pay a steep price for this War on Merit in schools I was a bright kid without any particular talents, no genius and not entirely dedicated to school. I grew up in an entirely non-diverse neighborhood and town. Lily-white. Every boy wanted to be an Eagle Scout. The notion of racial disparity did not exist, but there were clear distinctions between the smart kids and the slow kids, the athletically talented kids and the not, etc. I doubt I would have been admitted to a public NYC accelerated school, but I was forced to learn discipline when I went to a private high school with high demands and expectations. I think what is going on in NY is about skin tone and ethnicity. Tuesday morning linksMan Caught Three Whole Diseases From a Single Tick Bite We may finally know where young turtles spend their ‘lost years’. A spot in the Atlantic Ocean seems to house baby Green Turtles Nearly Half of Female Soldiers Still Failing New Army Fitness Test ‘Dude, Where’s My Workforce?’ New Jobs Report Shows the Government Gets the Unemployment It's Paying For. High unemployment benefits are getting the blame for disappointing job growth in the midst of a worker shortage Scientific Publishing Is a Joke. An XKCD comic—and its many remixes—perfectly captures the absurdity of academic research. New Scientific Scandal Shaking The Climate Alarm Industry NPR at 50 Years: Still a Liberal Sandbox How the New York Times has published lies to serve a biased narrative The father who fought Brearley School racism has a message for everyone NBC Will Not Air 2022 Golden Globes. NBC has dumped the annual awards show from its schedule next year following widespread criticism of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. STARBUCKS THREATENS TO ABANDON FACEBOOK Disney Goes Full Moonbat ‘The drop CNN is experiencing is profound’: CNN’s ratings drop from January is stunning "... for the left, it is only “democracy” when Democrats win. And of course pointing this out is racist." Monday, May 10. 2021Monday Verse: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d
I link Walt Whitmans' remarkable poem. Really, his best in my view. The bird he refers to is the Catbird. Yesterday morning before church I heard a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak calling, and looked around, Nope. It was a Catbird. Mimic thrush. Fooled me.
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