Tuesday, November 16. 2021
Driving through northern Lazio. Almost looks like Kansas or Nebraska.
VDH: The slurs and smears levelled by the elites are all the more toxic because they have always known these sins firsthand as their own.
As I understand it, projection (attribution of one's own evil or malevolence to others) is a so-called primitive defense mechanism. People hate to own their own evil because it feels bad. In politics, though, it seems to be a calculated offensive maneuver.
Monday, November 15. 2021
San Gimignano is a summertime tourist trap, but not much in October. We stopped by en route to Siena mainly to look at the remarkable 14th C frescoes in their little Duomo.
Why does this hilltop village have so many towers? No earthquakes. Lots of towns, like Siena, knocked their towers down for safety.
I had some speck (cinghiale speck, in fact) for lunch with a beer. Italian speck is not German speck. It is some sort of norceria. It came with those cheese-stuffed crackers which were amazing but I have no idea what they were.
"Diet and exercise" are typical suggestions for the sedentary or over-eaters. However, strict nutritional plans rarely work for overweight people in the long run, and exercise has minimal effect on fat loss (but is essential for general fitness). Nutritional self-control is difficult for most people. Most, not all. 70% of Americans are overweight by some measure.
Metformin is a typical medicine for overweight, pre-diabetes, etc. In my experience, it is not very effective and has many side effects.
In my view, semaglutide might be the current gold standard. It's a tiny weekly injection, done easily at home. Like everything, it has some side effects but not much. It can be labeled as Wegovy or as Ozempic. You have to qualify as meaningfully overweight to get a prescription. It definitely reduces appetite, but has other beneficial physiological effects especially on the insulin system. Can it permanently re-jigger your food compulsions after months of use? It is not clear.
Semaglutide is on-label for Type 2 diabetes, or pre-diabetes, and off-label for weight loss alone.
If you have overweight issues, discuss it with your doctor as an option. It could save your joints, your heart, maybe your life (for a while). I would try it, if eating were one of my hobbies.
Sunday, November 14. 2021
Scott on the trial, at about the 1:09 mark.
I still feel that the kid was foolish to be there downtown in his home town with a rifle, but I can't remember being 17 years old. I can imagine it, though. I did lots of things at that age but we never had violent riots.
A good supper in a cool cafe (Etruria) in Volterra. As usual, we showed up as the first customers at 7 but the place filled up at 8. It was chilly so we sat inside. No big COVID deal in Italy.
Our Primo: Gnocchi with a pumpkin and sausage sauce. Far tastier than the photo looks. I had a glass or two of Brunello:
Secondo: Roast Cinghiale with a dolceforte sauce (vinegar + chocolate) on a bed of fried polenta, with a cotorno of canellini beans in some tasty broth because they had no spinach that night. Spinach sauteed in oil and garlic is one of my favorites with a secondi, but the beans were just fine.
Go for a nighttime stroll after and get lost as usual. But this can be found. Go for the pistachio:
Andrew Sullivan gets it: When All The Media Narratives Collapse. In case after case, the US MSM just keeps getting it wrong:
We all get things wrong. What makes this more worrying is simply that all these false narratives just happen to favor the interests of the left and the Democratic party. And corrections, when they occur, take up a fraction of the space of the original falsehoods. These are not randos tweeting false rumors. They are the established press.
And at some point, you wonder: what narrative are they pushing now that is also bullshit?
Is it deliberate political lying, or do they want to believe their own BS?
Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25
10:11 And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins.
10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God,"
10:13 and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet."
10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
10:15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,"
10:17 he also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."
10:18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
10:19 Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,
10:20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),
10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
10:22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
10:23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.
10:24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,
10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Saturday, November 13. 2021
Friday, November 12. 2021
 I was working on some food posts about our Italian dinners when I found this image.
Funny thing is that millions of American kids grew big and strong on things like this.
Thursday, November 11. 2021
I have been neglecting my work to watch the Rittenhouse trial live.
It's interesting to watch trials. The police woman was so lovely that I fell in love. The judge is very cool. It's soap opera of the highest level.
Wednesday, November 10. 2021
Never a bad idea to mulch some leaves at this time of year. Not a good idea to leave a lawn blanketed with leaves for weeks, though.
A lawn is an unnatural garden - like all gardens.
Today is the 246th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.
Those of us who served and those of us who appreciate what Marines have always accomplished despite odds or suffering are proud of that birthday and what it signifies.
During the Iraq and Afghanistan commitments (the victories now tossed in the dumpster), the Marine Corps abilities to win were proven again and again in the worst combat conditions that Marines uniquely train for, have the attitude for, and the will for. The Marine Corps adapted and was used as a land army.
Now that China is increasingly competent and focused on taking over the Pacific, and is doing so step by step without much restraint, the Marine Corps is returning to its maritime roots. It has stepped up its training to even higher toughness and smarts. The Marine Corps is being missioned with a dispersed strategy to be on islands and ships spread across the Pacific and strike deathly blows back. But, there's a big problem there: the Marines will be sacrificed while the US leadership is not spending adequately to back the Marines up by building counterforces and lacks the political will to win. I am terribly saddened.
Will we get a new President who can smartly and determinedly stand up to lethargy and rouse patriots in America and Congress to be the overwhelming nation in readiness that will make war and sacrifice unnecessary? I pray so.
Honor, Loyalty, Courage are the Marine Corps values. May Americans also live those values. My son and I were honored to address the annual Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation's banquet. The theme was continuity of values. After I spoke about Honor and integrity, regardless the cost, Loyalty to country and comrades, regardless the cost, Courage to overcome obstacles, regardless the cost, my son spoke. He looked at me and said, "Yes, that's what he taught me." In a large room of seasoned Marines, my son brought them to their feet.
As you go about your day, about your life, take the time to pass on those American values. Especially to the young.
Tuesday, November 9. 2021
As I mentioned before, Orbetello is an old walled city on a peninsula sticking out from the Maremma in southern Tuscany. Americans do not go there. Some Brits do. Exception - I know one person who has been to Hotel Il Pellicano on the mountain above Porto Ercole. It is a steep cliffside drive.
I learned the word sprezzatura from there.
You can drive out the causeway to the mountainous island Monte Argentario and visit the cool seaside villages of Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole. They are about diving, sailing, and professional fishing. Also, duck and woodcock hunting, judging from some bumper stickers.
Excellent cafe on the waterfront in San Stefano. Good beer. Euroland does not pasteurize beer.
Fun pics, etc. below the fold -
Continue reading "Hanging out around Orbetello, with some food"
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