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.
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.
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.
Individualism is a philosophy and group of ideas, expressed in symbols, practices, and stories that supports a belief that self-sufficient individuals are rational beings that freely make consumer-like choices, independent of political influences, living conditions or historical context. Among these ideas is the concept of meritocracy, a social system in which advancement in society is based on an individual’s capabilities and merits rather than on the basis of family, wealth or social background. Individualism is problematic in obscuring the dynamics of group domination, especially socioeconomic privilege and racism. In health care, this narrative appears as an over-emphasis on changing individuals and individual behavior instead of the institutional and structural causes of disease.
For dinners, Mrs. BD and I typically order one antipasto, one primo, and one secondo, and share them. That way, many tastes but no gluttony. Sometimes we skip one of the courses. The primi are usually small and tasty (one or two pasta dishes are usually among the primi, never a Secondi - meaning meat course).
Typically a nice dinner for both of us will run around 50-55 Euros, not including a glass or two of wine. Tip? In Euroland, 10% is more than enough.
I plan to do an Italian food post one of these days, but for starters here's a pic of a restaurant's offerings in Volterra. If your Italian is terrible, Pasta al Nero is squid with a squid ink sauce. We will try a pasta as a primo on rare occasions, and only if it seems unique:
17:8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
17:9 "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you."
17:10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink."
17:11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."
17:12 But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
17:13 Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son.
17:14 For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth."
17:15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days.
17:16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elija
On their excellent highways. Autogrills have excellent coffee bars, clean bathrooms, and food. And other stuff, like Euroland phone and electric plugs. Gas and diesel, of course.
Ten years ago, I showed up for my first day as a high school teacher. I had landed a job in the best school of what is often called a “destination district.” Still, I knew I was facing an uphill battle. Warnings abounded of an American public school system in decline. But I was undeterred. I had that youthful sense that education needed change and I was just the one to change it...
Even adventurous tourists like us prefer to stay in old towns, or the old town centers of cities. Sometimes country villas, but that is different. I've stayed in the real, ordinary Italy, and it's not so great for me. I like the Disney Italy.
Thing about the Italian life style is that most people do not work long hours. Whether in small towns or in cities, the passagiatta at around 5 or 6 pm is a ritual with kids, old folks and, of course, dogs on leashes. Delightful. After that, some wine or aperatifs in a cafe. Dinner begins, mostly, 8-9 pm. That's when restaurants fill up. Many do not open for dinner until 7:30 or 8. After dinnertime, lovers are all out in the piazzas while kids kick soccer balls around in the dark. Cool.
Night is the time to get out and about. No danger except from growling dogs. Everything stays open at night.
Being American, dinner at 8 seems late but I am a guy who likes to get to the gym at 5 AM so I like to get to my books at 9 pm. (Readers know I do not do TV or movies.)
Sunset over the lagoon in Orbetello, which is not really a foreign tourist place but some Brits seem to like it (more night pics below the fold):
With the Maggie's General Fitness protocol (2 hrs of calisthenics, 2 hrs of HIIT and endurance cardio, and 2 hrs of difficult weights), there is no need to do any single exercise twice in a week.
Some examples:
For legs etc, you can do deadlift one day, barbell squats another. Or leg-press.
For HIIT, you can do stairmaster one day, treadmill sprints on another.
For triceps, you can do press-downs one day, skullcrushers on another.
For calisthenics, the list of choices is so long that you always vary what you do.
Varying the things you do reduces boredom, but also keeps your neuromuscular system nimble and adjusting.
Desserts in Italy are not worth it. If you need a sweet, grab a gelato on the street. Or a lemon ice, which the Italians learned from the Arabs who, remarkably, imported the snow and ice from the Alps.
Tiramisu seems to be a popular Italian dessert. I think it's ok, but I rarely eat dessert anywhere. I had one gelato (coffee) in Italy, and it was disappointing.
The eccentric 
The Newest Insanity Out Of Yale Law School - 
