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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Wednesday, December 5. 2018Wednesday morning linksVanderleun: On Advent: “We Are All Lying in the Mud, But Some of Us Are Looking at the Stars” What Is Channukka? "Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein reaches last-minute settlement ahead of jury selection for civil trial, avoiding testimony from his sex assault victims." Wall Street Rule for the #MeToo Era: Avoid Women at All Cost What’s Really Happening to Retail? Manhattan’s shuttered storefronts tell a larger American story: Only Amazon-proof businesses can now survive in brick and mortar. Minimum Wage Creates Robot Janitors UN climate chief has solution to ‘urgent’ climate threat: ‘We require deep transformations of our economies and societies’ Wind Power Lunacy in Virginia The left’s nauseating love affair with “Beto.” POP CULTURE CLOBBERED CONSERVATIVES IN 2018 Return to civility means surrender to the Democrats and media The Guardian’s Reputation In Tatters After Forger Revealed To Have Co-Authored Assange Smear On Losing the Thread -- Update on What Actually Remains of the Russia Collusion Tale The view from PMSNBC: Mueller Could Ensnare Trump And Family In Conspiracy Case THE DANES HAVE HAD IT WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINALS Mattis calls for help in ending war in Afghanistan: ‘40 years is enough’ Dan Hannan: The open conspiracy to foil Brexit is having its day, but it will fail Tuesday, December 4. 2018Vodka for your PaperwhitesIt's the time of year when people begin forcing bulbs indoors, especially Paperwhite narcissus but other bulbs too. The trick we learned but keep forgetting from my garden club Mom was to regularly give those forced bulbs a shot of cheap vodka or gin. Paperwhites and Amaryllis benefit most from some booze. I don't know how it works, but they grow stouter, somewhat less tall and tippy stalks that way. No effect on the blooms. We rarely have hard booze in the house, but I'll pick up some cheap vodka to keep the bulbs happy and strong. Tuesday morning linksImage via Pirate The War On Advent - Death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell UC Berkeley settles landmark free speech lawsuit, will pay $70,000 to conservative group UMass: Qualified faculty candidates must be 'appropriately diverse' How college campus bureaucracy makes ‘snowflakes’ A site keeps tack of hoax hate crimes (h/t reader) Understanding the Data: The American Working-Class and the Economy 63% of Non-Citizen Households Access Welfare Programs Compared to 35% of native households 35% of native households get welfare money? That sounds crazy, but maybe it includes Medicaid Rutgers Profs Outraged After Illegal Arrested for DUI, 'Reckless Endangerment' Mueller's Perjury Traps The Only Good Republican Is A Dead Republican People in the White House listen to Scott Adams re China's Fenanyl (pod) EU Mulls Making Criticism Of Migration Policy A Criminal Offense Brilliant solution Monday, December 3. 2018Toccata on Veni EmmanuelIt's Advent. Who wrote this one? Austin Lovelace?
Metadata: We know where you areUnlike all normal people, I never have my phone with me unless I am traveling and might need to phone AAA. Not paranoid, just no need for it. Mrs. BD says I am a Luddite. h/t, reader
Monday morning links, and Happy ChanukahWhat It Was Like To Work For George Bush "When I come to your city, please just pour me a Macallan 15. Neat." It's about whiskeys. But neat? Never. Always a splash to "open it up". Hollywood Is a Sex-Grooming Gang. Being kind to older men seems to be the price women pay in show biz Hawkins: The 5 Worst Things About Getting Older That is obnoxious. He is 47 First They Came for Confederate Generals, Then for Black Conservatives Black college lacrosse player, 21, is arrested for spraying N-word and swastika graffiti targeting HIMSELF and other minority students in two incidents that terrorized the campus And yet another one last week: Another Hoax: Racist Notes Found at Drake University Were Written by the ‘Victim’ These stories have become routine At Least 6 Deep State Operatives Attempted to Infiltrate Trump Camp During 2016 Election Dowd: It's curtains for the Clintons What's the point? France In Chaos; Macron Mulling State Of Emergency Amid "Yellow Vest" Protests; "All Options" Considered China and America Compete for World Dominance Afghanistan: “Pack up and go” doesn’t seem so bad after 17 years. Sunday, December 2. 2018"The best historical fiction ever written."That was the New York Times' opinion of Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey series of nautical novels, set during the Napoleonic wars. You might have seen the Russell Crowe movie about the first book of the series. Royal Navy Master and Commander Aubrey and his ship's physician/spy Dr. Maturin are quite a pair. Maturin is the more interesting character, with his estate in Spain and his passion for natural history and for spying (for free). Aubrey is a skilled seaman and lucky warrior. The two men connect mostly by playing Handel on strings after dinner. One theme of the series is that living on land is just too complex financially, romantically, socially, politically, and practically, while going to war at sea is comfortably simple with the possibility of becoming wealthy by seizing prizes. This series offers a similar delightful escape. The sailing details are said to be remarkably accurate. You can learn a lot about topgallant sails. I had to look up quite a few antique nautical terms. I've never sailed on a square-rigger, but I would love to. O'Brian died recently. We owe him many thanks for his efforts. Writing novels that anybody is willing to read, given limited free time to do so, is always remarkable. From today's Lectionary: There will be signs...Luke 21:25-36 21:25 "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 21:26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 21:27 Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 21:28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." 21:29 Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 21:30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 21:31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 21:32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 21:34 "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, Better timesSaturday, December 1. 2018Cockpit Porn: Cargo flight, Frankfurt to NairobiThe captain discusses some of the challenges in landing on a high-altitude airport like Nairobi's. Also interesting to hear about the cargo. I love this stuff. English seems to be the international flight language. What pilots do. Like ship captains, these guys (or gals) have to have their wits about them. What a cool job. This is the not-so-beloved MD 11.
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Saturday morning linksImage via Never Yet Melted I wasn´t supposed to like George H.W. Bush -Then I got to know him Radio station drops "Baby It´s Cold Outside" over #MeToo concerns What? Is seduction off the table? It's a charming song, the romantic dance. Gun Sales So Low At Dick’s They May Yank All Hunting Gear Results of Colorado Marijuana Legalization 4 Years Later Why your state is smaller than you think (video) It's about federal land MEDIA SUDDENLY INTERESTED IN JEFFREY EPSTEIN Mueller Racks Up Yet Another Process Crime with Michael Cohen's Guilty Plea Process crimes are lame without a real crime Powerline: A MUELLER UPDATE Donald Trump Jr Responds To NPR Finally Retracting False Story About Him "I guess this is as close as I’ll get to an apology where yet another 'bombshell' bites the dust." Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister: New Global Compact on Migration Makes it Criminal "Hate Speech" To Criticize Pro-Immigration Policy Are you kidding me? Sixteen FBI Agents Raid Home of Clinton Foundation, Uranium One Whistleblower It's dangerous to be a whistleblower Blue State Blues: Democrats Stole the Election in California — Legally, Through ‘Ballot Harvesting’ Democrats find the secret sauce: No more 'pandering to white people' Establishment Media Admit Caravan Migrants Looking for Jobs, Not Asylum Duh CNN FINDS A QUARTER OF EUROPEANS ARE ANTI-SEMITIC. Revealed: Emptying of the Iranian “Atomic Warehouse” at Turquz Abad The Iranian Regime's Transfer of Arms to Proxy Groups and Ongoing Missile Development For Israel, a rearmed Hezbollah in Lebanon is top concern Winter imagery: Sonnet 73Shakespeare probably wrote this sonnet in his late 30s, making it, I suppose, a creation of sentimental imagination. It seems to be addressed to a younger man. Here are some thoughts, etc about Sonnet 73. Interesting to me that John Berryman believed it to be the best poem written in English, despite its flaws. That time of year thou may'st in me behold
Friday, November 30. 2018Friday morning linksPhoto: FYI, Advent begins this Sunday Gerard sees what is left of his home in Paradise Betsy retires from blogging. It went from a hobby to a chore Payless sold its discount shoes for $600 a pair at mock luxury influencer event How overparenting backfired on Americans - Being raised indoors might the reason young Americans struggle in the adult world. First world war paintings go on show for first time since 1919 Wow Is Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer “Problematic”? Is the US really so racist? No. There is almost no racism in America today. Chinese scientist's gene-edited babies have opened Pandora's box. Brace yourselves. Brazil Cancels Hosting Of 2019 UN IPCC Climate Change Conference The ACLU Declines to Defend Civil Rights - The civil-liberties organization has taken a stand against stronger due-process protections in campus tribunals that undermines its own principles. Is New York's "Safety Net" A Success? Jerome Corsi explains the perjury trap Mueller's team sprang on him Why Trump will look back fondly on the Mueller probe Joke of the day: Obama takes credit for oil boom CNN’s Chris Cuomo Compares Criminal Illegal Aliens to Baby Jesus Tijuana Official Slams Caravan Organizers: Not 'Coming Through' on Promises to Migrants The Russians and the Kerch Bridge: What Would Reagan Do? ICC Takes Anti-Israel Bias to New Heights - A betrayal of justice. Tracking China’s Muslim Gulag Thursday, November 29. 2018Re Trump-hatersFrom that Thompson piece: "I'd wager dollars to donuts they cannot identify one single aspect of their lives which has changed for the worse since January 22, 2017."
Thursday morning linksThe Myths of Troy Mass. Pot Shops Ring Up $2M-Plus in Sales in 1st Week Mysterious, paralyzing disease has now spread to 31 states and Canada Why GM CEO Mary Barra killed Chevrolet cars, approved likely plant closures A researcher’s claim that two CRISPR-edited baby girls have been born has been met with widespread condemnation from scientists and ethicists alike. Different culture over there Lord of the Rings Slammed for Perpetuating Racism through Depiction of Orcs We need more masculinity, not less "Ah, another article about “strong” women. That is, women who become emotional wrecks and lose all self-control" Unstable women are not good feminist role models. BTW, Thompson can be quite witty when he has the time. ‘I’m Broke and Mostly Friendless, and I’ve Wasted My Whole Life’ Sheesh, Polly. She should be an artist? Unleash her inner Picasso? Twitter Has Gone Full Trans-Activist On November 15, I woke up to find my Twitter account locked, on account of what the company described as “hateful conduct.” She actually said what? White Liberals Dumb Themselves Down When Talking To Blacks Dem politicians sure do Berkeley prof wants to nix student evals after white male profs score higher OUR ROTTEN LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES Students at Williams College Demand Freedom from Speech Except their own Why do so many academics dislike the market? New Orleans looks underground as parts of city slowly sink Martha McSally campaign says it's not, not, NOT her fault she lost to Kyrsten Sinema Blaming others is neither attractive in adults or children The Continuing Lunacy Of The Neocons If government unions have a choice, why shouldn’t workers have it too? Janus and the Free-Rider Myth Sorry Lib Media: Bill Clinton Took 26 Junkets with Deviant Epstein—Trump Banned the Perv From Mar-a-Lago New York Times Columnist on Trump Supporters: ‘Maybe They’re Just Bad People’ IT WAS A HOAX: Guardian Report Blows Up – Manafort Passport Shows NO UK TRIPS – Never Met with Assange What's up with The Guardian? The Guardian’s Desperate Attempt To Connect Assange To Russiagate Backfires Libel time Dershowitz: Number of ‘Credible’ Witnesses Mueller Has Are ‘Shrinking by the Day’ USA Today: As American troops install razor wire in Arizona, images of the Berlin Wall resurface The whole world wanted to move to the East German paradise The problem with those in favor of ‘illegal’ immigration Poll: 7 Of 10 Mexicans Have Negative View Of Migrant Caravan Marching Through Their Country Racists What Hillary got right (and wrong) about Europe’s migrant mess A Sobering New Report on the State of US Military CNN poll reveals depth of anti-Semitism in Europe In Dramatic Reversal, Theresa May Will Allow Parliament To Change Brexit Deal
Wednesday, November 28. 2018Squats
I am talking about squats (barbell squats especially) and deadlifts. Here's 8 Reasons to Do Squat Exercises. Did I forget to mention that squats are hard? With weights, they are f-ing miserable. Body-weight squats are good fitness calis, but the weights are a bitch. Lunges and step-ups are more purely leg focused, and in the calisthenic category even when done with dumbells. And the stair machines are great stressors, but mostly cardio and endurance. I have found that doing five tough sets of barbell squats and 5 of deads (different days), plus, on different days, a set of goblet squats, of dumbell lunges, and a set of dumbell high step-ups, have improved my energy and ease of movement remarkably. Serious lifters would do those things twice weekly, but that's not me. I can't credit at all to those, though, because I do other sorts of workouts each week too. Still, when you see progress with the weights you know it's all working.
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Wednesday morning links
Image via Powerline's Why We Hate the Media Newsrooms continue to cut jobs, struggle with diversity America’s Epidemic of Empty Churches - Religious communities often face a choice: Sell off the buildings they can no longer afford, or find a way to fill them with new uses. Legalize Pay Toilets! Boston-area scientists criticize Chinese researcher who changed embryonic DNA - Use of reproductive cells could create unseen woes for future generations Mom Dresses Six-Year-Old Son As Girl, Threatens Dad With Losing His Son For Disagreeing - A Texas custody case splits a 6-year-old child’s gender identity in two. 5 colleges you're probably thankful your kids don't attend Loyalty Oaths, Diversity Mandates, Faculty ‘Training’ at San Diego State School alters whiteness workshop description following College Fix inquiry University of Michigan violated professor’s right to cross-examine accusers, judge says How the ‘new McCarthyism’ took down a female professor exonerated of Title IX claims LANDOWNERS HAIL PROPERTY RIGHTS VICTORY AT SUPREME COURT IN FROG HABITAT DISPUTE NYT: Climate Deniers are Depraved and Corrupt Washington’s Newest Gun Control Initiative Is Just A Step Towards Getting Rid Of Privately Owned Firearms Google employees push to halt creation of censored search engine for China
WAYNE ALLYN ROOT: Columbia vs Columbia: A Tale of Two Americas What’s the matter with Portland? The prosperous city has become the epicenter of antifa and political violence The Bill and Hillary show! Power couple kick off 13-city paid speaking tour in CANADA where bank executive lobbed questions at them in half-empty room Trump holds all the cards in caravan Mexico dealings Rep. Cummings: 'They Should Be Allowed to Come In, Seek Asylum. That's the Law' Winning: Caravan migrants packing up and going home Trump’s Crucial Test at San Ysidro Border Clash Leaves Caravan Migrants Dejected, Worried Asylum Claims Will Be Rejected Short History of the Ruin of Venezuela Residents of London To Become Skinny ASAP Macron talks about a unified Europe but presides over a divided France The French to their government: We are not your milk cows In Boycotting the West Bank, Airbnb Boycotts Jews Sweden Is On The Verge Of Going Completely Cashless: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Tuesday, November 27. 2018Border Collie watches herself perform on TVWhy I don't want you to miss a Dylan show this year
Tuesday morning linksStudy Finds Dogs Twitching In Sleep Are Dreaming About Tearing Owners Limb From Limb Dozens of dead turtles wash ashore on Cape Cod Tyler Cowen: The best book of 2018 Visit Portland! The Truth About Killer Robots: the year's most terrifying documentary Big Tech Is In Big Trouble Scientists on the Verge of Genetically Engineering Babies Social Justice Warriors Want Women to Ditch Their High Heels Experts on Climate Change Assessment: ‘Every Conclusion of This Latest Government Report Is False’ Gov. Jerry Brown okays utilities charging Californians to pay for fires utilities may have started The Idea That Just Won't Die: The Right Federal Program Can Solve Any Human Problem Are Dems the snob party? Trump’s critics were dead wrong about the caravan after all Border Patrol Chief: From What I Saw, The Caravan Members Were Not Seeking Asylum Hoaxed: The ‘Illegal Alien Mom with Barefoot Kids’ Photo was a Setup – Another Staged #FakeNews Production Whoopsie – MSNBC Accidentally Airs Ground Report Showing Vast Majority of Caravan are Military Aged Males… Tear gas used once a month at border under Obama Asia Bibi and the First Freedom: Why hasn't she been granted asylum? Monday, November 26. 2018What is a "Yankee"?
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Monday morning linksQuote via Moonbattery Walter WILLIAMS: Fruits Of College Indoctrination “It’s NOT OK To Be White” Says University Of Manitoba – “Reject White Interests” Feminists’ Undue Process - Ideologues react hysterically to the Trump administration’s suggested reforms to campus-rape tribunals. My New Vagina Won’t Make Me Happy California’s forest fire tragedy…… ‘We will close the Border permanently if need be’: Trump threatens decisive action if Mexico does not deport caravan migrants as hundreds storm border and guards open fire on women and children with tear gas and rubber bullets Media Begin Full Propaganda Push to Create Victim Narrative around Migrants… Anybody hearing about just how far left the caravan organizers are? THOUSANDS of Caravan Migrants Line Up for Food in Tijuana – No Women or Children in Sight Examining the Migrant Horde- Pt 2—The Power Behind the Horde North Korea Blows Up DMZ Guard Towers Thank you, Donald Trump MI6 Scrambling To Stop Trump From Releasing Classified Docs In Russia Probe The spies on Trump are known Beijing to Judge Every Resident Based on Behavior by End of 2020 The Uighurs and China’s Long History of Trouble with Islam Sunday, November 25. 2018Early Roman KingsA recently-new song. Tough lyrics here. All the early Roman kings Fly away, little bird
From today's LectionaryJohn 18:33-37 18:33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 18:34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" 18:35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 18:37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
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