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.
A reader brought up the topic. Technically, a wooden Nova Scotia fishing boat. Fiberglass now, mostly. Do I like the look? You bet.
A quote:
"The days of Novi boats having a reputation of being a 15-year boat – work them hard (and in weather you probably would not want to be out in in a “Maine-hull”), and when they get nail-sick just take the engine out and install it in a new hull and leave to old hull on a mud bank, ended with the introduction of fiberglass.
The commonest style Novi seen in New England for decades was probably the Cape Island Launch.
As said on an earlier Novi thread, some of these boats had the advantage over Maine-style hulls in being comfortable -- spanker sail up -- laying-to at night. Thus, their cruising range and ability to stay out in rough water exceeded that of the “Downeast”-type.
The nomenclature gets confusing, as Nova Scotia was always thought of as being even more culturally, as well as directionally, down-east than Maine..."
I am a Philadelphian, for the most part. I was born there, but I really only lived there for 6 years, only the most formative years of my youth. I spent 9 more years, a few hours north of Philly, in a region evenly split between Philadelphia people and New York City people. However, that split shifted as I lived there. More and more New Yorkers arrived, and today it's a pretty solid ex-NYC region. Given it is equidistant to both cities, during the pre-cable/internet days you had a choice of which games you wanted to watch on TV or listen to on the radio.
Of course, I opted for the Phillies. Not really a popular choice in my high school, but the team was amazing during the late 1970s. Even if they didn't win a World Series until I'd left for college, their teams were always in the mix. My father-in-law sent me this article, knowing my penchant for all things Philadelphia (I married into a Yankees/Mets/Giants family - talk about mixed marriages!).
The one memory my father loves to share about baseball is related only tangentially. He had taken the family to Germany so he could attend a conference. We spent the last 3 days in Hamburg at the Hotel Intercontinental. I was getting the International Herald Tribune each morning, early, before anyone else was showered and ready for the day. I had to see how the Phillies were doing. They were about to make the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, after all. For me, it was an experience I had to indulge as fully as I could. I couldn't watch, or listen to, the games. We were too busy, but I was thinking about it constantly.
21:23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"
21:24 Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.
21:25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
21:26 But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet."
21:27 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
21:28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'
21:29 He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went.
21:30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go.
21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.
21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
Recreational powerboating (well, most sailboats have engines too) has been going through a rapid change. Boat designs have changed, but there are still beautiful traditional designs. I'm talking about power plants and controls.
First, power. Multiple outboards are taking over. Plenty of reasons besides easier service. Oh, another good thing about multiple engines is that you'll never be without an engine.Yes, just one 200 hp Yamaha is costly, and four could buy a house in some places. Jet Drives are a whole nother thing which I know nothing about other than that they are way cool.
Second, controls: Joysticks. For instance, if your 37' boat has 2, 3, or 4 200 hp outboards the computer controls can help you easily go in any damn direction with minimal sea skills. Maybe go 50+ knots too if in a hurry or for the thrill. Magic backing into a slip regardless of wind or current. Just jiggle the thing. It would be nice if cars would parallel park like that.
We're old-fashioned, or old school, salt-water people with a single diesel, a wheel, and a Maine lobster boat hull.
"You are old, Father William," the young man said, "And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head— Do you think, at your age, it is right?"
"In my youth," Father William replied to his son, "I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I'm perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again."
"You are old," said the youth, "as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door— Pray, what is the reason of that?"
"In my youth," said the sage, as he shook his grey locks, "I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment—one shilling the box— Allow me to sell you a couple."
"You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak— Pray, how did you manage to do it?"
"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw, Has lasted the rest of my life."
"You are old," said the youth, "one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose— What made you so awfully clever?"
"I have answered three questions, and that is enough," Said his father; "don't give yourself airs! Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff? Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!"
This enacted documentary suggests that the English government was not very upset about this horrible incident. No doubt that in 1915, just as in WW2, they wanted the US in the war.
Reporter who wrote in NYT that 900,000 children had been hospitalized with COVID when the real number was 63,000—and that 4,000 had died from MISC-C when the real number was 68—tells Harvard governments should be more active in policing “misinformation.”
On tour, he's been behind the electric piano in recent years. It was my impression that arthritis was a problem, and I'd not be surprised if that were so.
Anyway, last month he showed up for Farm Aid with his guitar. Here's Maggie's Farm, of course:
It seems that the North American Grey (Gray?) Wolf entered North America from Asia. It prospered in Canada and the US for a long time. As I recall, the last wolf in Manhattan was killed in the early 1700s.
Re-introduction of Grey Wolf in the western US has been successful to the point that limited hunting and trapping is legal.
How Trauma Can Become a Catalyst for Personal Growth. For some people, adversity isn’t something to just get past. As I discovered, it can also be the impetus for new, positive behaviors.
I remember when the situation in Ukraine began, we were assured the Russian claims of "Nazis" wasn't true. Since that original falsehood, the NYTimes has walked back the position slowly. But sometimes reality gets even more absurd than you can imagine. After all, when the Left, which once called Trump a 'Nazi', offers up a real Nazi for a standing ovation, you have to begin to wonder who the 'real Nazis' are. I've always known it is the Left, masquerading as they do as "anti-fascist" which allows them to behave in a fascist manner.
Point is, when you celebrate a Nazi, simply because he's Ukrainian and fought Russians in WWII, you confirm that you have created a self-perpetuating cycle of BS which is beginning to pile up. It becomes even worse when you utilize your media ties to block the information surrounding that person. The Left will say "but lots of German soldiers weren't Nazis." Soldiers, yes. Waffen SS, not so much. Let's just get a grip and call things what they are.
The cycle of leftist hypocrisy and lies is growing. We're just caught in their vortex.
For weeks, Mrs. Bulldog resisted seeing Barbie with me because she feared I'd have a negative reaction to the pro-female message, as some in the conservative media have. I assured her that not only am I not a conservative, but I have a sense of humor. One rainy Saturday afternoon, I finally got her to shift enough and we took it in. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's funny and the story is absurd in the extreme. Yes, there's an outlandishly Woke overtone of "men rule the world" as a message. It's only a part of the story. The main story really is much more subtle. Yes, it's partially about empowering women, but it's also a story about how Wokeness and Intersectionalism are dangerous, while individualism and self-awareness are critical. If you (like me) do not mind spoilers, then feel free to read on. I found Barbie to be funny, engaging, and intelligent, requiring an open mind and a willingness to engage absurdity to gain insight into deeper thoughts. Sadly for the scriptwriters, I believe they underestimate consumers and their own intelligence exposes the massive flaws in the agenda the writers hoped to push. It actually promotes capitalism (success of Ken's Mojo-Dojo Casa Home), civility and avoiding thoughts and behaviors which promote gender supremacy. Ken's hoodie, at the end, more or less sums up my view. Be yourself.
Barbie was just a comedy that tried to (poorly) push a leftist agenda and wound up undoing itself with other, better, themes while making me laugh hysterically. Ken, inadvertantly at the end, promotes individuality.
The movie begins by paying homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey and an openly ironic narrative describes how Barbie, the doll, "saved girls" and helped improve their lot in the world and in life by empowering girls to achieve. This was, arguably, the most inspired part of the production, because it parodies itself and, throughout the movie, it incorporates recreated scenes from classic films.
Is there an overriding theme or message to Barbie? Yes there is, but it is poorly done. What the theme may be, ultimately, is up to you, and I'm sure we'll all have different views. I did not see what they wanted me to see (I rarely fall for Hollywood nonsense).
Why fish oil supplements
Recreational powerboating (well, most sailboats have engines too) has been going through a rapid change. Boat d
The Communication Revolution - 
ON BEING AMERICANS
Photo for our Woodchuck-hating readers. Our guy likes the tomatoes I put on the table to ripen
For weeks, Mrs. Bulldog resisted seeing Barbie with me because she feared I'd have a negative reaction to the pro-female message, as some in the conservative media have. I assured her that not only am I not a conservative, but I have a sense of humor. One rainy Saturday afternoon, I finally got her to shift enough and we took it in. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's funny and the story is absurd in the extreme. Yes, there's an outlandishly Woke overtone of "men rule the world" as a message. It's only a part of the story. The main story really is much more subtle. Yes, it's partially about empowering women, but it's also a story about how Wokeness and Intersectionalism are dangerous, while individualism and self-awareness are critical. If you (like me) do not mind spoilers, then feel free to read on. I found Barbie to be funny, engaging, and intelligent, requiring an open mind and a willingness to engage absurdity to gain insight into deeper thoughts. Sadly for the scriptwriters, I believe they underestimate consumers and their own intelligence exposes the massive flaws in the agenda the writers hoped to push. It actually promotes capitalism (success of Ken's Mojo-Dojo Casa Home), civility and avoiding thoughts and behaviors which promote gender supremacy. Ken's hoodie, at the end, more or less sums up my view. Be yourself.