Maggie's FarmWe 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. |
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Sunday, May 19. 2019From today's LectionaryRevelation 21:1-6 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 21:2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 21:4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." 21:5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." 21:6 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Saturday, May 18. 2019Bird du Jour: Whooping CraneSeeing Endangered Whooping Cranes Step Through the Fog of Extinction -"I traveled to southern Texas to see a wintering population of the birds now 500-strong—a major comeback from just 15 cranes in 75 years." These birds are similar to the very abundant Sandhill Cranes, and can interbreed with them. Sandhill Cranes are huntable and highly edible. They taste like Swan, I am told. Do not shoot a Whooping Crane. The US has an eastern flock, and the famous western flock. With a flock this small, conservation is promising but not guaranteed.
Saturday morning linksWhy 85% of Solar System Must Be Nature Preserve Leave the Martians alone More on The Rules of sex and dating It's complicated. Everybody likes sex. It's, like, biological. Provides Why Is Fat a Feminist Issue? Lots of guys are fat too Camille Paglia: Neo feminism teaching women to live in ‘a permanently juvenile condition’ DEMOCRATS UNANIMOUS AS HOUSE PASSES BILL FORCING SCHOOLS TO LET MALE ATHLETES COMPETE IN GIRLS’ SPORTS Just call it co-ed sports Buttigieg Backs Idea Of Erasing Thomas Jefferson’s Name: ‘It’s The Right Thing To Do’ Facebook Suspends Candace Owens For Saying Liberal Policies Incentivize Fatherless Homes The Mental Health Community Is Bracing For Eco-Anxiety Or Something Grievance Proxies -The College Board plans to introduce a new “adversity score” as a backdoor to racial quotas in college admissions. SCORING THE ADVERSITY SCORE Quantifying Your Privilege - The evils of fate. Pelosi: Tolerant Is A “Condescending Word To Me”… Pelosi: "'Merit' Is Really a Condescending Word" AG Barr On Government Activities In 2016: The Explanations I Received 'Don't Hang Together' Five Reasons The Pundits Underestimated Joe Biden Joe Biden beats Trump in 2020 by most secure margins, new poll shows. Mr Biden is the only Democrat in the poll whose lead over Mr Trump is outside the margin of error in the new Fox News poll Do We Need NATO? China has a master economic plan. Is it better than America’s? Hamas Thanks U.K. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn For His Support Friday, May 17. 2019Friday morning linksMick Jagger at 75, 2 weeks after heart surgery, practicing dance moves Ultra-processed foods 'make you eat more' So tasty food "makes you eat it"? Really? Their example of "highly-processed food" is quesadillas. These nags want you to live on fruit, greens, nuts, and seeds. Sicilian pistachios need police protection Notre Dame rebuild proposal would bring solar glass, urban farm to cathedral roof What a joke In Order To Stop White Men From Legislating Women's Bodies, Democrats Fight To Overturn Roe V. Wade Disrupting the Pharmacy - Innovative technology could eliminate the inflated costs that Americans pay for drugs. How Diversity Training Widens the Gulf Among the Races CAN THE COLLEGE BOARD MEASURE ADVERSITY ON THE SAT? The College Board plans to score a student's adversity from one to 100. COLLEGE BOARD OPENLY TRYING TO SKIRT THE SUPREME COURT WITH SECRET ‘ADVERSITY SCORE’ California Wants To Ban 'Racist' Single-Family Zoning To Correct "Historical Wrongs" Infrastructure: President Trump and Democratic leaders have discovered the one policy that unites Washington: spending money we don’t have. Nobel Laureate Shiller: Market Overreacting to Trade War 'Theater' Duh Blame Game: Clapper, Brennan and Comey Start Turning on Each Other as Barr Turns Up the Heat Joe diGenova: For the First Time I Believe These Guys are Going to Jail Judicial Watch Releases Email Exchange Between State Department Official and Bruce Ohr Targeting Trump Weeks AFTER 2016 Election Thursday, May 16. 2019Buying earthworms
So every couple of years I order 2500 of these rapid breeders. If you have decent soil, to a decent depth, regularly replenished with good mulch and fallen leaves, these guys will do a good job for your borders and other gardens while feeding the worm-eaters. All of my shrub, lawn, and vegetable gardens have been carefully prepared. No pesticides, etc, with good deep loam fortified with maure, etc. I let grass clippings lie, and fallen leaves too (until autumn). Feed the worms! How can you tell whether your soil is lousy? If you dig up a shovel full of earth and do not find 5 or 6 wigglers, it's either not very good or it's been a rough winter for them.
Thursday morning linksUS Birth Rate Plunges To All-Time Low As More Women Choose Careers Over Families Highly Potent Weed Has Swept The Market, Raising Concerns About Health Risks Say, Is ‘Climate Change’ Causing Problems With Home Values Near The Sea? Salon Media Announces $5 Million Sale, ‘Bankruptcy and Liquidation’ Threatened If Deal Fails White House To Unveil Sweeping Overhaul Of Immigration System, Including Merit-Based Admissions NYU Journalism Teacher: The GOP Is 'A Terrorist Organization' Harvard Betrays A Law Professor — And Itself Alan Dershowitz Slams ‘McCarthyism’ Behind Removal of Harvard Law Prof Ron Sullivan as Residential Dean Nearly 100 charged in massive Green Card marriage scheme What are the odds that the Durham investigation is for real and will bring the bad actors to justice? Special Prosecutor John Durham Targeting CIA in its Role in Origins of Spygate – Brennan’s Actions Will ‘Come Into Sharper Focus’ CIA, DNI Joining Probe Of FBI’s Russiagate Activities AG Barr Mocks Pelosi to Her Face: “Madam Speaker, did you bring your handcuffs?” Moscow to Implement Facial Recognition AI to Monitor City Wednesday, May 15. 2019Hey JudeFrom 1968. They never figured out how to end this lovely and inspirational tune.
Deadlift programming to maintain functionality and physical sturdiness
An addendum to Mondays's link - The reason for guys and gals of any age to do total body resistance exercises like squats and deads is to maintain or build muscle and bone strength and overall functionality. They are not just for athletes, and yes, they are preferable to machine exercises which tend to isolate muscle groups rather than being full-body, functional exertions. BUT proper technique is important. Beginners need to be trained to do those things correctly. Even with excellent training, I had a painful back during my first few months of deadlifting. As I grew stronger with the movement, the pain went away and never returned. I began doing deads 3 years ago. I began with 95 lbs, with trainer. The bar weighs 45 lbs, and the lightest bumper plates weigh 25. I have the movement pretty-well grooved in by now so I do deads on my own. However, my trainer still programs what I do. Occasionally I use the trap bar, for no reason other than variety. At this point (mind you, I am not a youngster, and do not have a husky lifter's build) my programming looks like the below note from my genius trainer - This is a strength program for a not-young guy, not an endurance program although I mix it up sometimes: Think: after 115 lb. 5 rep warmup, with 90 second rests between sets. Set 1—135 for 5 reps If you add a 6th set add another set at 135. Even if you feel you can/should do more weight, don’t. Master the weight(make 135-155 move smooth and easy, with no sticks)- Master the hold. Get to a point where 135-155 for 5 reps “feels” like you could do it for 15-20 reps. Bonus links via reader: Dan at age 72 beginning squats, and two years later. My father-in-law's visit to NormandyMrs. BD has been traveling around Normandy with her Dad for the past week. Yes, they did it the high-end way. Wherever they went, people walked up saying things like "Thank you, Americans, for what you did for us." Europeans of all types from all counties (not Germans) showing gratitude to Americans. Very moving, obviously. Story goes that the old guy was too young to join the army. He lied about his age, but the recruiters phoned his Mom to check. His two older brothers were in the war (one on Omaha Beach), and both survived and went on to great educations, great careers, with fine families. Photo is Mrs. BD's Monkfish supper last night in a tiny seaside port in Normandy. She says they poached it right, tender, juicy, delicate, and not chewy as in the US. Those French know how to cook. Wednesday morning links
Jane Brody: Good Vegan, Bad Vegan A Chain of Species Destruction at Yellowstone - The havoc caused by stocking the park’s lake for sport fishing ravaged ospreys, pelicans, bald eagles, grizzly bears and the lake’s own native cutthroat trout. Trapped Nebraska farmer cuts off leg with pen knife CNN Spreads Deceptive Info On School Shootings, Calls For Gun Confiscation 1984 Turns 70-Years-Old In A World That Looks A Lot Like The Book CNN Panel: Americans Too Dumb To Stop Trump… Democrats Claim ‘Constitutional Crisis,’ Media Repeat It 386 Times BARR REPORTEDLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH CIA TO REVIEW RUSSIA PROBE ORIGINS Senator Lindsey Graham Discusses 2016 “Spygate” With Maria Bartiromo… Louie Gohmert: ‘This Came Very Close to Being the First Successful Coup’ in U.S. History Morning links will be late today
Tuesday, May 14. 2019Pieter Breughel
It's worth a trip to Vienna only to see the Breughel room at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. However, I doubt any of our readers made it to this winter's Breughel show at that same museum. Still, a half-million people did. It is unlikely that any museum will ever be able to assemble such an exhibition again.
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Tuesday morning linksDoris Day: America’s Sweetheart Watching Harvard, My Alma Mater, Surrender to the Mob Employees Of 'Socialist' Brooklyn Food Co-op Discover Downside Of Socialism, Demand Union VDH: Journalism is Dead—Long Live the Media! States fight Trump rollback of Obama lightbulb rules Is there no limit to the reach of government? Whenever government regulations lead to higher prices, the champions of regulation blame the free market for failing to fix the problem. New EU Declaration Mandates Europe ‘Empower’Children to Help Set Policy Agendas “DIVERSITY” AND THE WELFARE STATE' The Partner Chase - An elite law firm’s inability to promote enough minority partners exposes the unrealistic expectations of diversity mandates - Heather Mac Donald Whatever Happened To Obamacare? The Atlantic offers proof of Trump's racism CNN Wonders If Trump’s July 4th Speech Will Call “For Violence”… Byron York: Why was FBI so wrong in Trump-Russia wiretap warrant? William Barr appoints US attorney to examine origins of Russia probe A prosecutor? That's a big deal. It means they suspect crime. I am agnostic on that, but I do not trust the deep state at all. Never did. Obama’s Defense Secretary Just Destroyed the Democrat Narrative on Trump and Russia China’s Latest Crackdown Target Is Liberal Economists Monday, May 13. 2019I Remember YouA goblin affecting Maggie's FarmSomething strange has been going on with Maggie's for the past ten days or so. Mainly redirections or failure notices. We are trying to figure it out. It might help if people give us more details on their problems getting on to Maggie's.
Update: Thanks for comments. I think we fixed it. Did we? Monday morning linksLittle-known types of eclipses Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs ‘Creepy tech oligarchs want to dictate your opinions’ - Paul Joseph Watson on being banned from Facebook. Expert Psychologist Blocked on Twitter for Expressing Clinical Opinion on Transgenderism Harvard DROPS a professor as a faculty dean after students protested when he joined Harvey Weinstein's legal team Conservative Student Expelled from Berkeley for Using Hate Phrase “I D*sagree” DOES PROTESTING PLANNED PARENTHOOD MAKE YOU A RACIST? Superstar rapper Drake, who rails against climate change, buys massive private jet High-Speed Alternatives to High-Speed Rail - California needs to shelve its boondoggle and consider alternative proposals from the private market. Democrat Darling Rashida Tlaib Says Thinking of Holocaust Gives Her “Calming Feeling” ‘Hilarious’! Kamala Harris’ apron in this kitchen photo has sparked some authenticity questions Schiff: Biden Ukraine Scandal Should Be Off Limits Cory Booker: “If I Had The Power” To Ban Guns “I Would”… Adam Schiff Latest Democrat Who Doesn’t Accept 2016 Election Result to Suggest Trump Might Not Accept 2020 Outcome 2006 Biden: 'We Need A Border Wall' And To 'Punish American Employers' Who Hire Illegals AOC: Don’t Let Rich Capitalists Deny You A Living Wage Or An Iced Coffee Trump Administration to Crack Down on Illegals in Public Housing – Only Families where ALL MEMBERS are Citizens or Legal Residents will Qualify Trump’s policies are doing the exact opposite of what Democrats warned Beast: Trump doesn't understand economics Liberals Were Very Wrong About Tax Cuts. Again. To be this wrong this often deserves recognition. " This is what happens when your reality becomes so thoroughly defined by conspiracy theories that you no longer know how to find your way back to reality." Cuba launches widespread rationing in face of crisis Sunday, May 12. 2019Mother's Day supper for Mrs. BD in BayeuxBetter than I could have done: Fish Terrine (Sole) It's a darn shame that the Chateau de Bellefontaine doesn't deliver. If interested, the foods of Normandy
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Dinner for a Mom today
I know it's a "Hallmark Day," but, just like giving thanks to God on Sundays, if we were better people we'd show some gratitude every day. I do try. My Mom is gone, and Mrs. BD (a Mom of 3) is in France with her Dad. Still, I am going to cook up some pan-fried ribeyes for a Mom. Better yet, if no kids at home, take the relevant Mom or Moms out for a fancy dinner (champagne, lobsters, oysters, etc). It's not easy being a good Mom, harder than being a good Dad. Often boring, frustrating, worrisome, disappointing or even heart-breaking despite the rewards. From today's LectionaryPsalm 23 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 23:3 He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me. 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long. Saturday, May 11. 2019Saturday morning linksWhy Do We Forget What We’re Doing the Minute We Enter a Room? There are more tigers in cages than in the wild Are birds dinosaurs? video Bird that went extinct 136,000 years ago comes ‘back from the dead’ after evolving again - There is no other evidence of the phenomenon that has ever been so clear, scientists say Is ‘Climate Anxiety’ Real? CNN Says It Is, Then Blames Trump Parents Sue Oregon School District Over Attempts To Transgender 8-Year-Old The ongoing Gibson's Bakery Saga Reminds me of Alice's Restaurant This public university will spend nearly $3 million on diversity this year alone After Losing Nearly $4 Billion Last Year, Postal Service on Track to Lose $7 Billion This Year. Revenue and mail volume is basically flat, but the USPS' operating expenses are out of control. Renn: Providence Needs More People Who Care Less Huawei's imperial reach China has plans for you Amy Klobuchar Says Planned Parenthood Offers Mammograms. They Don’t. "They’re going there for mammograms..." Google Favors A Small Number Of Left-Leaning News Outlets The Linda Problem and Why Democratic Socialists Flunk Logic 101 - How do we overcome our need to make our story cohere with our preexisting biases? Washington’s Dirty Little Secret: No One Is Running the Show Is Trump Derangement Syndrome a Real Condition? Jim Jordan: Democrats Are Trying to Destroy AG Barr In Order to Blow Up His Investigation Into Their Deep State Allies/Fellow Operatives Sigh: Comey Says “Yes” It’s Possible Russia Is Controlling Trump… Stacey Abrams: If We Don’t Secure Our Democracy In 2020, We Might Be Speaking Russian In 2030 IG Horowitz Has 'Concluded that the Final Three FISA Extensions Were Illegally Obtained,' diGenova Says The Real Ballot Question in South Africa: How to Keep the Country from Falling Apart Friday, May 10. 2019What's for supper?Mrs. BD's supper last night at their elegant lodgings in Bayeux: Fish soup
My photo report from our 5th Annual Urban Hike - Upper Manhattan this time- Upper West Side, Harlem, and Washington HeightsY'all shoulda joined us last Sunday. This was our first urban hike with all-day cool (low 50s all day) rain. Very similar to northern Scotland. Undaunted, our team marched on despite some discomfort and got to see all sorts of cool things along with the always-interesting (or more interesting) street scenes. Along with us we had famous website owners, family members, of course Dear Leader Bulldog and his adorable Mrs., and representatives from Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and NYC. Ages 22 to 70+. Such an enjoyable, interesting, amusing, adventurous, and high IQ group. Friends. We covered 11.5 miles with all of our detours while trending north, with lots of uphill in Washington Heights. The Maggie's Urban Hike tradition is to stop for pizza and beer around 1 pm. Victorio's on 145th St. had pretty good greasy pizza. Our team occupied every seat in that hole in the wall joint, deeply immersed in this amazing city. Below, the elegant Victorio's Pizza Plus, in north Harlem near City College on 145th St. Very efficient pizza joint but no damn bathroom and no beer!
Photo tour of our hike, etc, below the fold -
Continue reading "My photo report from our 5th Annual Urban Hike - Upper Manhattan this time- Upper West Side, Harlem, and Washington Heights" Friday morning linksThe Knotweed Crisis A nasty plant for sure. I see it everywhere CDC Warns Consumers That Kale Is Still Disgusting Where Did All the Free-Flowing Rivers Go? A map of the world’s free-flowing rivers shows a shrinking number can still meander as they please. New plans for hydropower will further constrain flow. Is tribalism undermining objectivity about low-carb, high-fat diets? Disney's 'Tolkien' Movie Cuts Out the Christian Faith That Inspired His Life and Work Tesla Story Gets Even Weirder as $TSLA Completely Changes Its Business Strategy Major British University Warns Jewish Students Not To Celebrate Israel Independence Day Offended By What Someone Said? Now You Can Report Them To Law Enforcement Break up Facebook? Teddy Roosevelt would cheer Denver voters reject ‘Right to Survive’ homeless camping initiative Homeless is a euphemism. AOC Wants a Government Bank Operated by the Post Office Comey: “Reasonable,” “Totally Normal Step” To Plant Undercover Sources In Political Campaign Dem Rep. Jackie Speier: Trump “Has In Many Respects Become A Dictator”… Why not just call him Hitler and be done with it? Who Were the Mueller Report's Hired Guns? Liberal Law Professor Clinically Dismantles Democrats' Contempt Case Against Barr It's all theater Trump being highly amusing (and clever too) Yup, theater " Democrats want secret grand jury information and investigative files so they can doxx, harass, and attack political opponents. Unless and until the courts finally rule, there is no crisis, much less a constitutional crisis." Turkey Venerates Its Violent Conquest of Christian Territory with Conversion of Hagia Sophia to a Mosque Just politics. Regardless, when in Istanbul definitely see this cathedral. U.S., Japan, India and Philippines challenge Beijing with naval drills in the South China Sea BerlinA daughter sent me this snap in a Berlin cafe. If you have been to Germany or Austria, you will see that everybody has a dog. Just like Italy. However, the German dogs are well-trained while the Italian dogs are untrained and feral.
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