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.
Every now and then some zealot suddenly decides those horrid anonymous commenters need to be put in their place. Here's a typical screed, which asks:
So, is it OK that so many bloggers and commenters use pseudonyms? Are their opinions godlike? Or, are they just afraid to reveal themselves completely?
Yep, that's your only choice, folks. Either your opinion is godlike — or you're afraid to reveal yourself completely. No other choice will do.
...and others just want to be rude or snarky or such without responsibility, accountability or consequence.
Consequence? So, you read an article that really makes your blood boil, you let the blogger have it with both barrels, then it turns out a devoted acolyte takes severe umbrage at your comment, looks up your real name and hunts your ragged ass down with his 12-gauge shotgun, literally giving you both barrels for daring to call the great god blogger "a lowly scumdog". Ho-hum, just another consequence in the life of the average blog commenter. Or former commenter, in this case.
The days of anonymous commenting on The Huffington Post are numbered. Founder Arianna Huffington said in a question-and-answer session with reporters in Boston Wednesday that the online news site plans to require users to comment on stories under their real names, beginning next month.
It's quite the noble mission, all in all, meeting the highest of standards and setting an exemplary example for blog sites throughout the world. There's only one tiny little piece missing from this otherwise brilliant plan:
Our mighty leader has taken off for the faraway land of Italia for ten days, leaving you in the clutches warm, caring hands of the staff.
Which is exactly what staffs should have.
While it won't be the circus we had when the big guy went out to the Cape a while back (20 posts in 5 days was a bit much even for prolific ol' me), we'll still have fun.
As far as Bulldog goes, ol' Droolie is pawin' at the ground and slobberin' at the bit in anticipation of the mountains of adulation and heaps of scorn that go along with being a modern-day blogger. And who could resist such a temptation?
And the rest of the gang should be pitching in unless they're also out of town. Barrie in particular has been on fire lately.
Oh, and it wouldn't be an official "while the cat's away" vacation without opening up the Maggie's Farm Smut Guide for the duration.
The case of Army Pvt. Bradley Edward Manning, who insists his name is now Chelsea Elizabeth Manning because he wants to spend his 35 years behind bars as a woman, just won’t go quietly into the Fort Leavenworth prison night.
Meanwhile, Fox News host Gregg Jarrett said on air — and in response to the growing pressure from various entities who are sympathetic to Manning — during a segment a few days ago, “I don’t do what Bradley Manning wants me to do.”
Neither does CNN. Executives announced its reporters and anchors would continue to call Manning a “he” because the soldier, who’s in a Fort Leavenworth military prison for releasing classified documents to WikiLeaks, is not actually taking hormone therapy or undergoing any medical procedure that would change his gender.
+1 for Dylan Thomas reference.
The post is on The Washington Times site, and although they didn't mention themselves in the article, the above illustrates they're not jumping on board either.
Say, speaking of gender-based issues, it appears one of those "black" guys you read about named something like Marty Louie King has been in the news lately. He apparently made some famous speech about "I'll have an ice cream", which I'm sure was appreciated by dairy manufacturers throughout the country. If I'm reading this right, he was actually the founder of the Democratic Party.
People have been writing articles recently on "What Dr. King would think if he were alive today". I think my answer would be, he'd throw up.
As I understand it, there's a large country to the north of us called something like "Canadoi"? "Kanaday"? Something like that. Anyway, they're pretty proud up there because they won the War of 1812. In other words, what you may have learned in school about its outcome is purely a demographic issue, open to interpretation.
Sadly, though, like we have our anti-America rebels down here, they, too, have the same type of degenerates allowed to speak out due to that silly 'freedom of speech' business, like this treasonous subversive: The Real Legacy of 1812? It Never Happened Again
Finally, on a fun, upbeat note, were you aware a million Muslims are going to march on Washington to celebrate 9/11 and complain about how bitterly and angrily they're treated (oh, and don't forget "constantly spat upon") here in America?
Well, as a means of showing their support for this noble cause, my buddies Jimbo and Shorty and the rest of the boys have offered to pitch in.
Say, I have a rather delicate question for you guys:
How many push-ups can you do?
And I don't mean those tough chin-has-to-touch-the-ground military type; more like 'camp style' push-ups, where you go down most ways then back up.
How about 25?
And you're not even breathing hard?
The point, of course, is that it's one thing to sit there in your elite ivory tower, claiming how America should get off its collective butt and start exercising and eating better...
Salif Keita is "an afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the "Golden Voice of Africa" but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita."
He was scheduled to appear at a charity fundraiser in Israel for albinos. Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) zealots tormented and threatened him, which is their common tactic to get artists not to appear in Israel. The "Golden Voice of Africa" used his voice, via his albino foundation, to tell off the BDSers. This is what he experienced:
August 22, 2013 Dear Sacred Music Festival, Hadassah Hospital, Salif Keita fans, On behalf of Salif Keita and the Salif Keita Global Foundation, we would like to thank you for organizing a magnificent unifying music festival, and a visit of the albinism treatment center in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, Mr. Keita will not be able to attend either events because of the cancellation of his show at the Sacred Music Festival. Although, the show was cancelled, Mr. Keita (and his foundation for albinism) would like to convey his most sincere apologies to all concerned, such as the concert organizers, the Albinism Treatment Center and especially all his wonderful and diverse fans in Israel. The reason for the cancellation is not one which was made by Mr. Keita, but by his agents who were bombarded with hundreds of threats, blackmail attempts, intimidation, social media harrassment and slander stating that Mr Keita was to perform in Israel, “not for peace, but for apartheid.” These threats were made by a group named BDS, who also threatened to keep increasing an anti-Salif Keita campaign, which they had already started on social media, and to work diligently at ruining the reputation and career that Mr. Keita has worked 40 years to achieve not only professionally, but for human rights and albinism. Of course, we do not agree with any of these tactics or false propaganda, but management’s concern is to protect the artist from being harmed personnally and professionally. Although, we love Israel and all his fans here, and the fantastic spirit of unity of the Sacred Music Festival, as well as the important work your hospital is doing for albinism, we did not agree with the scare tactics and bullying used by BDS; therefore management decided to act cautiously when faced with an extremist group, as we believe BDS to be. In addition, Mr. Keita is not a politician who plays for governments, but a musician who performs for his fans who are of all faiths and origins in Jerusalem. It is unfortunate that artists like him are threatened by this group who falsely claim to defend human rights, when they should take their concerns to governments or ask for support of their cause in a lawful way, and not by endangering the freedom of expression of artists, or using harrassment and intimidation of artists who play for peace and for all people, in order to bring some kind of justice to the Palestinians they claim to represent. Since Mr. Keita, during his stay and performance in Jerusalem, had planned to visit the Hadassah Hospital and albinism center, he had also planned to make a donation of certain goods to the hospital which he would still like to offer. The boxes are already in Jerusalem and were shipped for his planned visit to the hospital. The modest donation consists of about a couple of hundred new UV protected sunglasses, as well as UV protected clothing, swimgear and hats for patients with albinism. Again, we thank you for your invitation to Jerusalem, and are deeply saddened and disappointed by the outcome of this planned performance and visit. We hope that you will receive this donation with the love it was intended to bring to the patients, as we determine a future time to be able to perform in Israel, and visit your important center for albinism and skin cancer treatment. Sincerely, Salif Keita and Coumba Makalou The Salif Keita Global Foundation INC Washington, DC
While elsewhere in Africa, at a South African university, members of the BDS there "sing, “dubula e juda” (“shoot the Jew”) as concert attendees to hear an Israeli saxophonist were entering the music hall, according to a newspaper affiliated with the university.
Despite the hateful rhetoric, Muhammed Desai, coordinator of BDS South Africa, rejected the notion that anti-Semitism played a role in the group’s protest, telling Wits Vuvuzela that “the whole idea [of] anti-Semitism is blown out of proportion.”
Our historical knowledge is really a history which praises, ends up praising, ourselves—how much wiser [voice drips with sarcasm] we are, how we have seen through the errors of the past…Hegel already knew this danger of history, of the historical human being, when he said that every German gymnasium professor teaches that Alexander the Great conquered the world because he had a pathological love of power. And the proof that the teacher does not have a pathological love of power is that he has not conquered the world. [laughter] We have set up standards of normalcy while speaking of cultural relativism, but there is no question that we think we understand what cultures are, and what kind of mistakes they make.
When was hard work a human value, other than in Northern Europe? A human necessity at times for most (other than the warriors and the princesses), but a "value"? InGenesis, wasn't labor a punishment?Those of us who love hard work and 14-hour work days may be the crazy ones.
Also, bear in mind the statistical fact that most people preoccupied with diet and food and health are a bit neurotic. "Health nuts," as they are termed.
DOJ
Declares Atheism A “Religious Movement”, Eligible For Religious Tax
Exemptions - See more at:
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/08/insane-doj-declares-atheism-a-religious-movement-eligible-for-religious-tax-exemptions/#sthash.hU5WRAPA.dpuf
DOJ
Declares Atheism A “Religious Movement”, Eligible For Religious Tax
Exemptions - See more at:
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/08/insane-doj-declares-atheism-a-religious-movement-eligible-for-religious-tax-exemptions/#sthash.hU5WRAPA.dpuf
The
Washington Post Oversimplifies The Value of College - See more at:
http://www.mindingthecampus.com/forum/2013/08/the_washington_post_oversimpli.html#sthash.5tVG3Ced.dpuf
The
Washington Post Oversimplifies The Value of College - See more at:
http://www.mindingthecampus.com/forum/2013/08/the_washington_post_oversimpli.html#sthash.5tVG3Ced.dpuf
The
Washington Post Oversimplifies The Value of College - See more at:
http://www.mindingthecampus.com/forum/2013/08/the_washington_post_oversimpli.html#sthash.5tVG3Ced.dpuf
That Richwine article generated plenty of heat. Truth is, everybody talks about or at least thinks about IQ all the time. At the least, every time we see somebody do something stupid, or express something without basis or thought. We also think about it when somebody says something that opens our eyes.
IQ is just one of the many personal traits across which individuals vary. It happens to be a valuable trait, but it is never determinative in life outcome. However, there is no measure for life outcome anyway. Life's outcome is death.
People have been talking about an American general-purpose post-college exam, presumably open to all because I see no reason why a college degree should be a precondition.
I suppose it would be like a post-college SAT, including specialized AP or achievement-like sections. It would doubtless help employers weed out the bullshitters - but many jobs are perfect for good bullshitters (see Animal House).
It doesn't seem like a radical concept to me. Anyone who applies to grad school takes some sort of post-college exam to evaluate knowledge and skills acquired, and mental fitness for the task. Many jobs require both an interview and an exam designed by HR. The simplest example is (was) the typing speed and accuracy tests for secretaries, in the good old days. My first post-college, post-military job required that I take an IQ test. I guess I passed it. The military got me used to test-taking.
As we have preached before, life itself is one exam after another, one test after another of what we have going for us and of our ability to stretch our strengths and to exercise our frailties. The ultimate exam can not be scored by a machine. It's not even our credit rating. The ultimate exam measures how near we get to achieving our goals in life, whatever goals we choose.
"Those who inherited the leadership of the Civil Rights movement looked deep into the content of their character...and decided they'd best be judged by the color of their skin or they were in trouble."
A public school is a really expensive, but shabby and ineffectual, private school that collects their tuition with the threat of eviction from your house.
The assumption that historical processes align with a forward motion, that the liberalization of a society moves it forward, are so innate that it goes unquestioned. It is why democracy is held to be a good, entirely apart from its outcome. Even if democratic elections lead to a takeover by a junta of fanatical cannibals, the very act of holding an election moves a society forward through one hoop in the great circus of historical processes. The immediate result may be cannibalism, but in the long run, as Arab Spring advocates remind us from the editorial pages, the society moves forward.
The liberal understanding of history made it impossible to see the Muslim Brotherhood for what it was because its victory did not fit the march of progress. The victory of the Muslim Brotherhood in a democratic election meant that it was progressive. Because that is how the forward motion of history is meant to work. And its overthrow had to be considered reactionary, regardless of the issues...
Here at Maggie's Farm, where we use tractors and fossil fuel and the internet, we nonetheless tend to view the notion of "progress" as a false idol.
The oldest prominent participant in the (American) Revolution, by a wide margin, was Benjamin Franklin, who was 70 years old on July 4, 1776. Franklin was a full two generations removed from the likes of Madison and Hamilton. But the oldest participant in the war was Samuel Whittemore, who fought in an early skirmish at the age of 80:
On April 19, 1775, British forces were returning to Boston from the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the opening engagements of the war. On their march they were continually shot at by colonial militiamen.
Whittemore was in his fields when he spotted an approaching British relief brigade under Earl Percy, sent to assist the retreat. Whittemore loaded his musket and ambushed the British Grenadiers of the 47th Regiment of Foot from behind a nearby stone wall, killing one soldier. He then drew his dueling pistols and killed a grenadier and mortally wounded a second. By the time Whittemore had fired his third shot, a British detachment reached his position; Whittemore drew his sword and attacked.[3] He was shot in the face, bayoneted thirteen times, and left for dead in a pool of blood. He was found alive, trying to load his musket to fight again. He was taken to Dr. Cotton Tufts of Medford, who perceived no hope for his survival. However, Whittemore lived another 18 years until dying of natural causes at the age of 98.
It makes no sense to me for the Feds to be involved in primary education at all. These Washington experts and consultants are living in a dream world in which their fantasies can never be reality.
Seen on the street in NYC yesterday while delivering some necessary spare furniture to youngest daughter's new apartment in NYC. Three roommates, all of whom have been pals since grade school. I have known them since they were kids. They made an apartment compact - a Pilgrim Compact - designed to maintain harmony and to not damage their life-long relationships while sharing a miniscule apartment.
How cool is that? Who would not want to be young, beautiful (or handsome), talented, fancily-educated, and goal-driven in NYC today?
These three gals have plans, and they are deadly serious. We took the young BD gal out to a good brunch down the street after unloading the stuff. She took the steak half of her steak and eggs home in a doggie-bag for supper. That's being a smart youth in NYC. She only drank half of her horseradish-packed Bloody Mary but she ate the olives and the celery.
To some extent, yes. Every boy knew that when they were in school. On the other hand, some boys are natural, powerful scholars who are more driven by curiosity and competition than by pleasing teacher.
Co-education is a crazy idea. I am grateful that I was spared that for eight years, spared the social and sexual distractions which so dominated vacation time anyway. Most of our Masters were male, and each one had to coach a team on the side. The handful of lady teachers could never imagine what fantasies they were subject to regardless of their appearance. They did not coach: they worked in offices instead during sports time. I also hope the faculty wives were never aware of our terrible thoughts about them.
Yes, we had a couple of gay students and a couple of gay Masters, and everybody knew but nobody really cared. It was not a Big Topic in those days, just a subject of casual amusement. As far as I know, none of them acted on their desires on campus. However, I did know one prep school classmate who had a hot affair with a hot faculty wife. That did not end up well, for her or for her kids. He was the envy of all. Damn handsome, socially-precocious, rich, tall, blond Aryan quarterback. I still hate guys like that to this day. He went to Harvard, and made a ton of money after that and is still with wife #1. Big donor to the school, now.
A bit of an antique now. Bought it in Telluride. As I recall, it was high-end and rather expensive at the time. It came in handy during family skiing, when the kids needed to shed clothing as the days got warmer - and as the skiing warmed them up. Dad would carry the baggage, of course. We were a skiing family. Good times. I raised some fine skiers and tennis-players, but no golfers.
I've been looking for this for months. Need it now. We still must have too much stuff if it takes months to find the good old backpack.
I Say, How Did Hard Work 
Sipp 
