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.
Nobody imagined that anything remotely resembling The Red Guards of China in the 60s, but the mobbing of people today in the US brings The Red Guard to mind, especially on campuses. In fact, I feel that the Red Guards are a role model for some.
It feels as if there is the fad of a soft Cultural Revolution going on here. Down with The Five Olds, etc.
There are many new topics about which one can engage in Wrongthink these days. Justice, free speech, and tolerance are bourgeois concepts designed to oppress somebody.
"What is the chief end of man?” And we answered together so one of us could carry on if the other forgot, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”
Very doubtful that it was bubonic plague. It is more likely to have been a combination of European diseases like influenza, smallpox, common cold (a corona virus), etc first brought to the New World by Portuguese fishermen. The natives had no immunity to those things.
At the BD homestead Thanksgiving, everybody brings something. It is semi-organized. This year, we had an abundance of homemade desserts, all wonderful.
I am talking about pumpkin cheesecake, mini-mince pies with homemade rum ice cream, squash pie, and things like that.
All good but posting a pic of a daughter's homemade brie pastry thing with the surprise of toasted pecans and cranberries inside with the cheese. That is a meal in itself.
We all got a big kick out of seeing Bob and his band this week down in Westchester.
He sounded good, growly but good. Looked a bit frail at 80. Somebody needs to feed him some pumpkin pie or a Big Mac and fries.
He was on piano. Very tight band. Delighted, happy sold-out crowd - all ages. Played half rockers, half ballads. As typical for him, the arrangements always change. Played Masterpiece, Gotta Serve Somebody, I Contain Multitudes, lots more, and closed with Every Grain of Sand which makes me cry every time. Thanks for that, Bob, and for keeping keepin' on.
One interesting thing we noticed about Italians is how they go out to dine. Yes, they do that frequently. But we noticed that it tends to be groups of men, and groups of women. Small groups and large groups. Gregarious people who love to go out with pals and have a good time.
Any time we saw couples they seemed to be tourists or young lovers. But young lovers do not eat much of course. One more "real Italian" dinner we had in Siena, before Thanksgiving week when it's different foods.
Primi: Poached egg with goat cheese fondue and caramelized leeks
Second primi (yeah, we share each course): Chickpea puree with a hunk of cod, with crispy pancetta:
And more amazing, rare roast pigeon with some roasted corn and mushrooms, with a fig sauce drizzle. That's Italian:
Can SCOTUS Draw a New Line on Abortion? 
Towering Musical Theater Master, Broadway’s ‘West Side Story’ Lyricist,
At the BD homestead Thanksgiving, everybody brings something. It is semi-organized. This year, we had an abundance of homemade desserts, all wonderful.
The war on Thanksgiving is real 
