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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Friday, December 21. 2018Friday morning linksDNA tests: The Christmas present that could tear your family apart Who's yo daddy? As Chick-fil-A surges, McDonald’s and Wendy’s are under threat What Makes Chickens Happy? Nobody Is Quite Sure Who cares? Decades of data suggest parenthood makes people unhappy Happiness is a momentary thing Loony Lefty Churches Sing Rewritten Christmas Songs About ‘Climate Change’ Break Up Google For the Sake of National Security Greenpeace Business Report When Will It Be OK To Laugh At The Climate Campaigners? Who Gets to Look Out to the Edge of the Universe? For years, more men than women were allowed to use the world's most powerful telescope—until the system changed. Feminism"s dependency trap:
Gallup: Top Problems Are Government, Immigration U.S. Cites Sovereignty as One of 5 Countries to Vote Against UN Migration Compact Good. Still waiting for China and japan to accept immigration. Even CNBC’s Jim Cramer Agrees! – Fed Chair Powell “Trump’s Worst Nightmare” — Who the Hell Raises Rates w/Dow Down 12% in 3 Mos.? Wrong. Strong economy needs rate hikes. Dow doesn't matter WikiLeaks, Julian Assange’s Official Account and Legal Team All LOCKED OUT of Twitter Influencing Foreigners Is What Intelligence Agencies Do Is that news to the New York Times? The Art Of The Deal: Mexico Agrees To House Asylum Applicants Mattis Always Understood Trump’s Severe Defects - And his resignation means he knows that the president will never change. Trump has great strengths and great flaws Why Trump Is Right to Withdraw Troops. Withdrawal from Syria will be Trump’s first practical application of a true “America First” foreign policy. It has been long overdue. President Xi Jinping opened the 40th Anniversary of China’s reform by warning of “unimaginable” perils that only his leadership of the Communist Party can control. China goes full out against labor unions Thursday, December 20. 2018Gotta Serve SomebodyThey Shall Not Grow Old
The Atlantic: They Shall Not Grow Old Is a Stunning World War I Documentary - The director Peter Jackson discusses the process of restoring 100-year-old footage for his new film and capturing the humanity of soldiers with unprecedented clarity. A short trailer for the movie:
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Thursday morning links
It's getting closer to the time to begin Christmas shopping. Whether you like Bezos or not, Amazon Prime is your friend. A daughter says Macy's is her friend now, too (the big store in Manhattan). A book: Scouting and Scoring: How We Know What We Know about Baseball Not out til March though. Looks cool. ‘Equal Pay Day’ this year was April 10 — the next ‘Equal Occupational Fatality Day’ will be on May 3, 2029 I do not like seeing pilots so high on the list. Those are not commercial pilots, though. GA pilots. This year in museums - On movements within, and reactions against, art museums in 2018. The secret of Apple's success in selling premium tech as an affordable luxury Democrats Promise “Dawn Of New Era” On ‘Climate Change’ Or Something Appeals court rules colleges must censor and block online services if they offend someone Everything offends somebody, but grievance-collectors are the worst 5 most outrageous professor statements of 2018 University offers students contradictory instructions on sexual consent: “One should never assume by the way a person…acts, that they [want] to have sex with you.” What? It's pretty obvious when men want sex (most of the time). Radicals, left or right, are high in dogma, more resistant to evidence Lefties more so than conservatives Get Ready for the Coming War Against Merit I am not convinced that the SAT is a measure of merit. It's really just an IQ test. Achievements tests are better merit measures but lots of schools do not have AP courses. Grades are not very reliable measures these days. If I ran a school, I'd use an IQ test, a Curiosity test, a Talent test, and an Energy test. No straight-A drones please. CNN's "Journalist Of The Year" Committed Journalistic Fraud "On A Grand Scale" At Der Spiegel US Government Announces $10.6 Billion in Aid to Mexico and Central America — But ZERO DOLLARS for Border Wall Mexico is not a poor nation. Lots of oil This payment is a deal to make them stop the caravans, probably. Trump Wanted Out of Syria. It’s Finally Happening. The announcement is in stark contrast to recent remarks by senior U.S. officials on the presence of troops. I'm with Trump on this. Not my problem, not essential to US security. Trump’s Syrian Retreat: A Disaster in the Making Maybe their disaster, but not mine. Disasters are normal all over the world, due to human nature. Looking for China’s spies Of course they have tons of them. No surprise. Russia Russia Russia. They elected Trump? Some feckless Russians spent $4000 in Facebooks ads about masturbation. How much did Hillary spend on her Russian info? Related:
Wednesday, December 19. 2018Another Christmas present ideaGive your kid, or spouse, or family, an Outward Bound adventure. I know it is safely-packaged adventure, but it's a lot better than no adventure. Freestyle Canoeing
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Another Vigilia supper item
I've never refused a well-made Linguine alla Vongole. Delicious. Those European and Mediterranean clams are small, sweet, and just right. Around here in Yankeeland, you just have to find the smallest Littlenecks you can find and if overcooked, they get too chewy. It's how to do pasta too - cook with the sauce in the pan. Never on top. Usually needs some of the pasta water too.
Christmas present idea in New YorkFor those around the NY area during the holiday weeks: The Screwtape Letters is back. Devilishly wonderful theater experience which, as you may know, is about how Satan works. Amusing but definitely gets to you. Include lunch or supper at the West Bank Cafe (not expensive and right across the street, with fine small plates), and that's a darn good present. Unless you're giving cars or diamonds, people want fun and surprising experiences, not junk. Mind and spirit stuff. Or hiking gear, if you're a mountaineer. Or a good hiking trip. Matt 6:19: 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: As it happens, I consider rare stinky cheeses a spiritual item, so my kids can find these for me. They like Grace's Market in NYC for rare cheeses but the Grand Central Market can be interesting too. Best cheese? I found out that a daughter brought me some special pecorinos from Tuscany in her suitcase so I eagerly await them. Also brought a Vin Nobile for her grandfather. "All good things come from Italy." Wednesday Fitness: Picking things up from the floor . How do you measure up ?
Deadlift standards for men or women, and by age. These are one-rep maxes. My one-rep max is around 300 lbs, no prob with 3 reps at 275. Not impressive because I know a gal who does that. OK, she's 35 but whatever. With the age-adjustment on that site, though, it's "Advanced." What? Me? No way am I advanced. I have much further to go... My one-rep max is hard and slowwwww. As it should be. People rarely go for their one-rep maxes except for amusement and ego. Well, also as one index of progress. Every 3 months maybe. 5X5 is a good powerlift program for twice/week but I only do each powerlift once/week. Not enough time to be a serious gym rat lifter. Body architecture is not factored in, but of course heavier people are presumed to have more strength and power.
QQQ: The simplest Christian“The most experienced psychologist or observer of human nature knows infinitely less of the human heart than the simplest Christian who lives beneath the Cross of Jesus. The greatest psychological insight, ability, and experience cannot grasp this one thing: what sin is. Worldly wisdom knows what distress and weakness and failure are, but it does not know the godlessness of man. And so it also does not know that man is destroyed only by his sin and can be healed only by forgiveness. Only the Christian knows this. In the presence of a psychiatrist I can only be a sick man; in the presence of a Christian brother I can dare to be a sinner. The psychiatrist must first search my heart and yet he never plumbs its ultimate depth. The Christian brother knows when I come to him: here is a sinner like myself, a godless man who wants to confess and yearns for God’s forgiveness. The psychiatrist views me as if there were no God. The brother views me as I am before the judging and merciful God in the Cross of Jesus Christ.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community Wednesday morning linksWho Were the 1st Americans? 11,000-Year-Old DNA Reveals Clues This 87-Year-Old Woman Donated Her Body So Doctors Could Slice It into 27,000 Pieces The Pitfalls of Too Much Security I disagree with our friend. This is simply what happens when young males and females spend a lot of time together. Biology happens. Harvard Zealots Abuse Title IX to Nail the Accused HOW TOTALITARIAN REGIMES WILL TAKE OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND DESTROY THE WEST Is Michael Savage the latest victim of TDS and the left's 'pacification effort'? Big corporations hate conservatives Liberal Media Loves Immigrants, Except for Melania Trump Correction: Media loves illegal immigrants Advertisers flee Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s show as controversy grows over immigration remarks Officials baffled by large migrant groups at remote crossing Two-Tiered Justice: Mike Flynn and Tony Podesta Did Same Work for Turkey, Both Filed Retroactively. Flynn’s Life Is in Tatters As Podesta Walks Free KLAVAN: James Comey, Sanctimonious Crapweasel Former FBI chief lashes out at Trump, Republicans Christians 'Standing in the Way' of China's Xi Jinping's Totalitarian Rule Brexit: How Europe does second referendums Make the peasants vote until they vote right Venezuela update A lesson in how to destroy a wonderful country Tuesday, December 18. 2018Hassling package-stealersTuesday morning linksWhy the Boston Tea Party Was Such a Great Event Sexy: Sensual Goddess Fresco Discovered in Ancient Pompeii Bedroom The Biggest Junk Science of 2018 Is abortion "medical care"? Google isn’t the company that we should have handed the Web over to. Analysis: Microsoft adopting Chromium puts the Web in a perilous place. Poorer Than Other Generations - Millennials are less wealthy and are lower-income than previous cohorts. Here's why. Metropolitan Police Testing Facial-Recognition Technology In Central London Very creepy. So 1984 was a How-To manual. Don Boudreaux hates limits to immigration Life as a Trump-Supporting Female in Manhattan Wow: Christopher Steele Says He Was Hired To Help ‘Challenge The Validity Of The Outcome’ Of 2016 election It worked. A mess ever since Reporter who broke news of Steele dossier used to surveil ex-Trump aide calls its claims largely 'false' New Legal Filings Reveal Hillary Camp Funneled Cash to Chris Steele to Help Her Challenge 2016 Election Results Justice Department careerists, led by special counsel Robert Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, have now served notice that they are targeting the presidency of Donald J. Trump. NYPost: If he’s ever brought low, it’s less likely to be from the pressures of his responsibilities than his cussed inability or unwillingness to make a minimal effort to conform to his role. Minorities held in China sew clothes that can end up in US China’s Bizarre Program to Keep Activists in Check - As part of “stability maintenance,” people the state considers troublemakers may be sent to jail—or sent on vacation. It's a different culture Will China Rule The World? China’s worldwide influence campaign requires a coordinated response from all segments of American society—not just politicians and policy-makers. Big waveThe big-wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner of Germany drops in on a large wave at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal, on December 14, 2018. We visited that beach a couple of years ago. Nazare is famous for surfing.
Monday, December 17. 2018Monday morning links
More Evidence Organic Farming is Bad Schools Ordered to Teach Eight-Year-Olds That ‘Boys Can Have Periods Too’ Yikes Is practicing yoga cultural appropriation? Students react. Baltimore County Spends $147 Million On School Laptops; Four Years Later Test Scores Still Terrible HOW THE LIBERAL PRESS SHAPES THE NEWS Good Riddance to Obamacare Mueller's ‘Enterprise’ Witch Hunt Mueller Destroyed Messages From Peter Strzok's iPhone; OIG Recovers 19,000 New "FBI Lovebird" Texts Europe: "Nothing Scares The Identity Politics Left Like An Actual Working-Class Uprising" VDH: The Globalist Mindset: They Hate You
Sunday, December 16. 2018The Rev. Bob Bryan is dead at 87I knew the guy in youth as a football coach. Superb human being. The least of his accomplishments was the creation of Bert and I. He was a stalwart and core of the the Grenfell Labrador mission. Samples below:
From today's Lectionary: He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit...Luke 3:7-18 3:7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 3:8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 3:9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 3:10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 3:11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 3:13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 3:14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." 3:15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 3:16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 3:18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. Saturday, December 15. 2018Does Free Speech Offend You?Saturday morning linksVia Insty, It’s Not A Carry Gun If You Don’t Carry It Daughter of India's wealthiest family marries. Video The Clintons were there, of course Organic food worse for the climate "You, Too, Are in Denial of Climate Change." Professor hired mercenaries to rescue student from ISIS in Iraq after he said he wouldn't finish his thesis The Left Attacked A White College Student For Saying He Loves White People. That's Wildly Hypocritical. Here's Why. Former FEC Chief: Actually, Those 'Hush Money' Payoffs Were Not Campaign Finance Crimes Mueller releases Flynn files showing FBI doubts over ‘lying,’ tensions over interview Clinton Foundation Whistleblowers Testify: "It Operated As An Unregistered Foreign Agent" New York Times photographer posted support for terrorism on Instagram Jerry Brown Says Dems Are Becoming Too Extreme Trump sprang three traps on Pelosi and Schumer yesterday Surber on Trump: Those who complain about his style are superficial people. The real test is substance, not style. IF TRUMP WERE A DEMOCRAT, WE’D BE SEEING COMPARISONS TO JFK NOW Deportations under Trump are on the rise, but still lower than Obama's, ICE report shows Trump Releases Video Showing Hypocrites Schumer, Obama and Hillary Pushing Border Security Dems Voted For Border Fencing In 2006, Now Claim Oppose Wall Because ‘You Can’t See Thru It’ Brexit falters over a faux border problem South African Political Leader Defends Comments to “Kill Whites” – “Kill Their Children and Women” NYT: ‘UNCLEAR’ WHAT MOTIVATED GUNMAN WHO YELLED ‘ALLAHU AKBAR’ BEFORE ATTACK Friday, December 14. 2018Christmas Day dessert (re-posted)
Struffoli:
Do not even try to make a Bouche. Order it from the bakery. They will make whatever size you want.
Bring me a Figgy Pudding. Easy to make yourself. What do you like for Christmas Day dessert? Gratitude for translatorsTranslating is a tough job.
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Friday morning linksSurvey reveals America’s favorite Christmas song to sing in the car Everybody wants to be a writer, but I feel sorry for the gal. Climate change causes more animal bites 10 YEARS AGO TODAY – Al Gore Predicted North Pole Would Be COMPLETELY ICE FREE in Five Years Gary Sinise Flew 1,000 Children of Fallen Soldiers to Disney World for Christmas Google CEO Exposes Shocking "Full Extent" Of Russian Meddling In 2016 DOJ investigation turns up thousands of missing texts from Peter Strzok and Lisa Page Being conservative is more stigmatizing than being gay Conservatives are the only "marginalized group" left Cowardly Republicans defend due process for Kavanaugh but not accused students A sea change for sexual conduct on campus GETTING IT WRONG ON DEMOCRACY, PART TWO University of California First to Issue Academic Boycott Condemnation 'If you go to another country, you must abide by its culture. If not, don't go': Egypt's president decries migrants heading to Europe and refusing to integrate instead of fixing their own countries He is right Members Of Congress Will Now Have To Pay Out Of Pocket To Settle Sexual Harassment Claims Scientific American: If you like Trump, you suffer from 'antagonism' Seems like plenty of "antagonism" from the Trump haters That Oval Office sit-down? Pelosi and Schumer got skunked. Border Patrol chief urges senators to support border wall Nikki Haley: Trump's 'unpredictable' behavior was advantageous at UN China readying plan to widen foreign access to its economy: WSJ Thank you, Pres. Trump. Crazy dumb guy wins again And this: Trump Gets Win as Xi Makes Good on Pledge to Buy U.S. Soy Mexico announces crackdown on illegal immigration: 'Get in line and you can enter our country' Their new pres. doesn't want to piss off Trump. The contrast with Obama shows what a pussy he was. Thursday, December 13. 2018Thursday morning linksChristmas Image: Looks like she's going postal with her gift. Annoyed with her brats, or pissed there were not enough carats in her diamond necklace? The Central Dogma of Mitochondrial Genetics Needs Rewriting Pope Francis Enacting Change to Lord’s Prayer: ‘Lead Us Not Into Temptation’ I never imagined that God would lead me into temptation. Always knew that life would/does. Daily. Our Nation’s Health: Obesity Rate at All-Time High It's become normal to be overweight in the US. Are you kidding? I view bread and crackers, etc., mainly as food delivery vehicles. Other than the rare sandwich, in an Italian restaurant I like hard-crust white bread soaked in olive oil with roasted garlic schmeared on top. I dislike other than white bread because other breads interfere with the flavors of the real food. Exception: Pastrami on rye. Boy Scouts of America may declare bankruptcy Me Too: Remember, they don’t actually care. This all just manipulative bullshit. Sports Illustrated’s Choice To Present Its Inspiration Of The Year Award: Christine Blasey Ford Students oppose new multicultural space because it’s too welcoming Not from The Onion: US colleges handing out colouring books to students to reduce stress - A growing number of student welfare bodies are picking up on the adult colouring trend as a form of therapy for stressed students YGBKM: TIL California Wants To Tax … Text Messages Powerline: GETTING IT WRONG ON DEMOCRACY Yes. There is a rebellion against the elites who claim to know what is best for us peons Why Dems Changed on Mass Immigration SUSPECTED TERRORIST LEADING MIGRANT GROUP DEMANDING ENTRY INTO US Flynn says FBI pushed him not to have lawyer present during interview When they want a friendly conversation, stay away. New York AG Announces Plans to Weaponize Office to Target Political Opposition…. Incoming New York AG Plans Political Witch Hunt Against Trump, Family, And Associates In the Image of Joseph Stalin — Incoming NY AG Promises to Target and Destroy Trump and Family — Will Find a Crime Later! Oh, they will find them. You can find them in anybody if you look hard enuf. Robert Mueller’s case against Michael Cohen has very little to do with Trump or campaign finance violations Wednesday, December 12. 2018Wednesday morning linksOn top of the world: Incredible new shots show 'free solo' climber on top of El Capitan as he became the first to climb it WITHOUT ropes, as National Geographic documentary about his exploits is released VICTORY: Radio Station Lifts Ban On 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' After Overwhelmingly Positive Poll 9 Secret Costco Tips From Frequent Shoppers Researchers find promise in new treatment for peanut allergy Mike Bloomberg Flew Ice From Greenland For Art Project About Global Warming From Carbon Emissions NAS: Comments On The Proposed Title IX Regulations ‘Gender gap in STEM’? Women are majority of STEM grad students and they earn a majority of STEM bachelor’s degrees Four Reasons Deplatforming Controversial Figures Is a Terrible Idea WALSH: Republicans Didn't Defund Planned Parenthood And Never Will. Here's Why. GOOGLE EMPLOYEES SOUGHT TO BLOCK BREITBART FROM ADS, EMAILS SHOW NPR Was Taken To The Woodshed For Peddling Straight Fake News About Donald Trump Jr. Stormy Daniels ordered to pay Trump $293,052.33 in attorneys’ fees, costs, and sanctions Stormy Weather for Campaign-Finance Laws House Dem Unity Falling Apart Already Over Medicare For All? China Moves to Address U.S. Economic Concerns - Beijing agrees to reduce auto tariffs and buy more American products, but key differences remain Trump: Let's Debate the Wall in Public, Now - Pelosi and Schumer: No Let's Hide the Debate and Stage-Manage It - Leftwing Media: This is Terrible, Why Won't Trump Agree to Stage-Manage the Democratic Process? The Gilets Jaunes Have Cowed Macron. But For Them, That’s Just The Start. Iran significantly expands missile testing Tuesday, December 11. 2018Landing gear troublePilot Porn: Landing gear trouble in a Bonanza. The mechanic is great.
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