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, October 5. 2018Friday morning links4 Billion Birds Will Fly Through American Airspace This Fall Relax, Ladies. Don’t Be So Uptight. You Know You Want It - Remember the ’80s, when men preferred Hanes and could legally rape their wives? Sheesh Update: Labor Regulation and How It Harms Unskilled Labor, My Favorite Line of the Day - Amazon's $15 Minimum Wage Proposal is A Brilliant Way To Get The Government to Hammer Amazon's Competition Surprise: ‘Climate Change’ Is Barely An Issue For Midterms The most amazing greening on Earth – thanks to increased Carbon Dioxide Should the Stupidity of Youth Be Used Against Us? Ummmm, no. Breaking the Immigration Impasse - Reihan Salam offers a roadmap for the future, but one that will require compromise on both sides. Senator: Air Force Recruitment ‘Increasingly Difficult’ Amid Lack of Eligible Pilots - Joni Ernst: 'The pool of folks that we can recruit from is very, very small' Explosive Report Details Chinese Infiltration Of Apple, Amazon And The CIA New York Times finally admits how Obama screwed up the economy in 2016 Howie Carr: Elizabeth Warren's castoffs? Priceless! US weekly jobless claims drop to a near 49-year low IT’S HAPPENING=> Comey Confidant James Baker Gives ‘Explosive’ Testimony on ‘Abnormal’ Handling of Trump-Russia Probe Conclusion: “The activities of congressional Democrats and Dr. Ford’s attorneys likely affected Dr. Ford’s account” Women Who Actually Know Kavanaugh Share Why They #StandWithBrett In The New Yorker, Ronan Farrow Disgraces Himself Once Again Kavanaugh classmates back him up, ‘Devil’s Triangle’ was a drinking game at their High School - Sheldon Whitehouse hardest hit Former ACLU leaders blast 'appalling' anti-Brett Kavanaugh ad campaign Why they had to try to destroy Kavanaugh personally Lindsey Graham to Democrats: 'What y'all have done is bullsh-t' HOW FAR WILL DEMOCRATIC PARTY VIOLENCE GO? The hideous Blumenthal: The FBI Participated In “A Cover-Up” Even Democrats are noticing how their Kavanaugh stunts are poisoning their blue wave GOP May Deliver a Chastisement of Biblical Proportions in November Collusion bombshell: DNC lawyers met with FBI on Russia allegations before surveillance warrant Thursday, October 4. 2018Thursday morning linksPhoto came in over the transom APARTMENTS IN NEW YORK CITY SKYSCRAPER OVERLOOKING CENTRAL PARK GO ON SALE FOR $57 million Don't move in with that unemployed boyfriend Surprise: Californians To Pay Even More To Fight ‘Climate Change’ A new set of academic hoax articles Another Cuomo Crony Heading To Prison Ted Koppel mocks Brian Stelter: 'CNN’s ratings would be in the toilet without Donald Trump' The way we live now - On rewriting history and romanticizing evil on college campuses. In the NAFTA Deal, Trump Got What Democrats Couldn’t - Critics are panning the president’s new trade deal with Canada and Mexico as a minor update. They’re wrong—it’s a significant accomplishment. Even Joe Scarborough says media carried out biased hit job on Kavanaugh The Senate Judiciary Horror Picture Show Top FBI Lawyer Flips: Russia Probe Was Handled In "Abnormal Fashion" And Rife With "Political Bias" Russia collusion bombshell: DNC lawyers met with FBI on dossier before surveillance warrant United Nations Court “Orders” U.S. To Lift Sanctions On Iran Good luck with that
Wednesday, October 3. 2018The Maggie's Balanced Fitness Program, Revisited for AutumnThe Maggie's Balanced Fitness Program for adults of all ages and for all gender identifications. Weekly Program: - 2 sessions calis classes (or 1 class and 1 hr of do-it-yourself calis). Most gyms have classes in varying levels of challenge. - 2 one hr sessions powerlifts and related heavy wts and cables (including 10 mins warm-up time) - 2 twenty to 25- min sessions of HIIT (running sprints, jump rope, ski erg, rower sprints) combined with 2 half hrs of accessory weights (eg curls, dips, pullups, pushups, farmer walks, heavy ball games, Roman Chair, etc etc) - 1 hr mixed medium intensity "cardio" - rower, stair machine, bike, treadmill, swim, elliptical - as an "active recovery" day. Or a longish (2 1/2 hr+) hill hike/rock climb. I think the logic in this is clear: it is "balanced" because it covers bone and muscle strength/maintenance, general endurance, athleticism, and improved cardiac function. My three years of this program has revised my body, my ability, and my energy to an extent that keeps surprising me. Surprises Mrs. BD too. No bulging muscles though. That has to do with your genetics. A program with this regularity requires decent sleep habits and rational nutrition. Can you lose fat with this program? Minimally. What about Crossfit instead? Fine. Try it. I have friends who swear by it. No, it's not a cult. It's congenial and upbeat while they kick your ass. One caveat: About every 3 weeks I experience my (trademarked) "Double Gravity" when I get up at my usual farmer's 4 am. It means I can get up to pee, but an overwhelming force flops me back onto bed for an hour. I take that as a signal that my body wants a day off from intense exertion so I will usually just do the mixed cardio a little later that day.
Wednesday morning links
University of Pennsylvania installs first ‘Chief Wellness Officer’ WTF? How the Radicals Became the Technocrats - The true legacy of 1968 Ivy League school has little to show for $185 million spent on 'faculty diversity' Nonsense. They hired lots of diverse administrators with that $ Uranium One: FBI Refuses To Release Three-Dozen Secret Memos Involving Clintons, Russia And Obama Kavanaugh clash reopens stolen valor allegations against Sen. Blumenthal Allegations? Nope. Accusations Cory Booker: Ultimately It Doesn’t Matter If Kavanaugh Is Innocent Or Guilty Bill Clinton would have been jailed under #MeToo, Kavanaugh standards With her obscene tirade against Kavanaugh, a Georgetown professor reminds us why people hate feminism Anti-Kavanaugh protesters accosting senators have ties to Soros Atticus Finch was on the wrong side Kavanaugh threw ice a somebody in a bar So did I, once. It is normal kid stuff "Dr." Ford lied about polygraphs Lying about polygraphs? That's weird Remembering Gaza Disengagement 13 Years Later: Personal Reflections on a Missed Opportunity Charles AznavourAznavour, whose family protected many Jews from the Germans, is dead at 94. He performed into his 90s - reader notes, until this September.
Tuesday, October 2. 2018Psychology experimentsTuesday morning linksScott Adams discusses the death of his son (died yesterday) of a drug OD - plus other topics. Genius and delightful commentator. I'm hooked, and I generally avoid podcasts. Utopian Dataism The Left's Unfunny War on Comedy Should Dried Up Tree Frog Sex Ponds Limit Property Rights? We All Live in a Yale Residential College Now Day Care Tells Parents They Must Give Their Kids Helmets for Recess Andrew Sullivan joins the "intellectual deep web" The hidden agenda behind 'climate change' Why Liberals Want People to Be Victims 5 Signs You’re In The Midst Of A Moral Panic STILL LACKING EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, DEMOCRATS NOW WANT KAVANAUGH INVESTIGATED FOR PERJURY U.S. reaches trade deal with Canada and Mexico, providing Trump a crucial win Another kept promise - and accomplished brilliantly President Trump Displays Commanding Leadership at U.N The Weekly Standard still hates Trump (even though Trump keeps doing what they want) Trump: "One of my only good traits is that I don't drink." Democrats planning to examine Trump’s tax returns after the midterms Judiciary Talks With 2 Men Who Think They Assaulted Ford, Not Kavanaugh, Report Says Here’s The Next Democratic Party Attacks On Judge Kavanaugh Monday, October 1. 2018Monday morning linksPhysical fitness makes people right wing? ‘We oppose biological essentialism’: Campus feminists embrace transgender ideology WaPo Goes All In On Socialism With An Attack On Capitalism Goodbye Nafta, Hello USMCA, Trump's "Wonderful New Trade Deal" Kanye West wore a "Make America Great Again" cap on SNL, and he said some pro-Trump things and got booed and cut off. Steyn: There's little I loathe more than twits who stage public bouts of conscience-wrestling. Dems take no prisoners Schneiderman: Questioning Christine Blasey Ford This Doesn’t Look Good: Business Was Listed Operating Out of Christine Ford’s Home–Would Explain Second Door Sex Crimes Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell COMPLETELY EXONERATES Judge Kavanaugh in NEW REPORT Five Red Flags Concerning Christine Blasey Ford's Credibility Sen. Kennedy to Feinstein: 'You Should Hide Your Head in a Bag'
The Problem with Ireland? It's 'Too Irish' Sunday, September 30. 2018Sunday free ad for Bob: Idiot WindTimely. A fierce rendition.
From today's LectionaryMark 9:38-50
9:38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." 9:39 But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 9:40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 9:41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. 9:42 "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 9:43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 9:45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 9:47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 9:48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. 9:49 "For everyone will be salted with fire. 9:50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." Saturday, September 29. 2018Saturday morning linksThe Latest In The Cholesterol Wars Why Atheists Are Not as Rational as They Like to Think Re NYROB: #MeToo Casualty Ian Buruma Was the Editor We Needed Google Admits Existence Of Censored Chinese Search Engine Project; Dodges Questions At Senate Hearing Is Brett Kavanaugh right that he can no longer coach girls basketball? Pedophile! It turns out the American Bar Association story on Brett Kavanaugh was FAKE NEWS Senator's dramatic demand spurs Trump to order FBI Kavanaugh probe CNN's Tapper Argues There's 'No Contemporaneous Corroborating Evidence For Any Of The Charges' Against Kavanaugh Bush To The Barricades For Kavanaugh Kavanaugh: Into the Twilight Zone I find myself wondering what would drive a middle-aged woman to seek to destroy a splendid and honorable family man who she alleges attempted to grope her 35-37 years ago at a high school beer party? Seems evil to me. Lucky me, I guess, but I was testosterone-fueled when I was 17 but the gals seemed hormone-fueled too. Hungary update: Did you two visit the same country? Friday, September 28. 2018Friday morning linksI Drove a Pickup Full of Supplies to a Town Flooded by Florence, and Here Is What I Saw When Conservationists Kill Lots (and Lots) of Animals - Invasive species are sometimes trapped, poisoned, and shot in large numbers to save native species from extinction. Some scientists say the bloodshed isn’t worth it. Kayaker gets smacked by an octopus thrown at him by a seal. Pray without ceasing, is one of the easiest and one of the hardest commands of scripture for me to obey. The Moon Is Open for Business - Commercial companies are proposing lunar missions at a pace the world hasn’t seen since the Apollo program. Chuck Todd: Ford Is a ‘Victim of the Democrats Playing Politics’. "She's done a great job of exposing the Democrats of playing games," Todd said. "It's almost as if Dr. Ford was a victim of the Democrats playing politics."
KAVANAUGH KILLED IT Ex-Czech President Calls For “Revolution” Of European Countries Against EU Trump: Two-State Solution 'More Difficult Because It's a Real-Estate Deal' But Better for Peace Thursday, September 27. 2018Thursday morning linksDunkin' Donuts to become plain Dunkin Everybody calls it Dunkin already Venice considers alcohol ban to combat tourism Too late. It's already Disney Venice Ketamine gives hope to patients with severe depression. But some clinics stray from the science and hype its benefits I had ketamine years ago for my first colonoscopy. It felt good (the ketamine, that is) A Credibility Crisis in Food Science - The fall of a prominent behavioral scientist tells of a system where research is judged not on merit, but on the attention it gets. University ‘Diversity Week’ hosts pro-Jordan Peterson session NY Governor Blames Weather For People Fleeing State This looks to be the next big Cuomo scandal Feminist Icon Hillary Clinton Hosting Fundraiser For Embattled NJ Senator Bob Menendez CURL: The Kavanaugh Case: Civilization As We Know It Is Finished THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF DISPROVING AN ACCUSATION Europe Flips Off America, Sides With World’s Largest State Sponsor of Terrorism Wednesday, September 26. 2018Wednesday morning linksBali Wants a Better Class of Tourist Americans Spent More on Taxes Than on Food, Clothing Combined in 2017 EU Justice Commissioner Says Media Must Be Regulated to Prevent 'Hate' Euroland heads towards the dark side again Big Labor Drops Big Dollars on Dems - 12 of the 25 highest outside spenders on midterms are labor groups How An Anonymous Accusation Derailed My Life VDH: We Are Living Nineteen Eighty-Four 10 Red Flags About Sexual Assault Claims, From An Employment Lawyer To this day, not one Democrat has spoken out against this monstrous plan to destroy a fine man who has led an impeccable life. Not one. Grassley Sends Scathing Letter to Feinstein – Refuses to Postpone Thursday’s Hearing – Warns About False Statements Made to Congress This is bullshit. Stop fooling around and take the vote. The assault on Kavanaugh is proving Trump voters right Ruth Bader Ginsburg Calls Kavanaugh Hearings a ‘Highly Partisan Show’ What South Korea Had to Give Up to Secure a Trade Deal With Trump Tuesday, September 25. 2018Tuesday morning linksWhat do do with spare change Invasive Reptiles Are Taking Over Florida—and Devouring Its Birds Along the Way Nepal doubles its tiger population, raising hope for global recovery of endangered big cats TRAVESTY AT MCGRAW-HILL: Third-Grade Civics Textbook Butchers American History Howard Zinn is their history god VDH on culture wars: Obama Won Henninger: Rather than try to argue or win public issues on substance, the Democrats have become a party that seems to think it can win with muscle alone. Yale Law Professors Cancel 31 Classes So Students Can Protest Kavanaugh Cal State Long Beach removing “Prospector Pete” statue because 1849 Gold Rush now politically incorrect CHARACTER ASSASSINS AT THE WASHINGTON POST And the fake news media. On Kavanaugh, We’re Through the Looking Glass Commenter at Althouse: At this point how long until the democrats start pushing to impeach Kavanagh from his current seat? They have to at this point don't they? Althouse thinks all college boys (and girls) devote themselves to drunken sex parties THE NEW YORK TIMES WAS UNABLE TO CORROBORATE SECOND KAVANAUGH ACCUSER’S STORY And they sure wanted to Inside Democratic prep for the Kavanaugh-Ford hearing How The Kavanaugh Circus Could Destroy the Me Too Movement Now #MeToo is coming for your thought crimes All named eyewitnesses dispute Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford’s story Almost every day brings new evidence that the New York Times cannot be trusted as an authoritative source about anything related to Israel and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Monday, September 24. 2018Monday morning linksNY TIMES WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL SEX LIFE No rape attempts on my part. My biggest problem was that the girls could not keep their hands off me. Teen girls are very horny critters. A defense of obesity, at HuffPo Women warriors: The Ranger School conspiracy Should Pluto be a planet again? New study reignites contentious debate Just words Yale Study: Twice as Many Undocumented Immigrants as Previously Thought in U.S. Polygraph tests don't work as lie detectors and they never have What Is Hillary Clinton Thinking? Is Rod Rosenstein Leading the Resistance? Everybody in Washington is resistance Trump Calls Out Violent Liberal Antifa Protesters: Guys With Tiny Biceps Living in Mom and Dad’s Basement 'Flee the country’? WaPo report about Christine Blasey Ford’s trauma over Kavanaugh (AND Trump) dials it up a notch Dershowitz GOES OFF on Christine Ford’s Outrageous Demands: “Every Civil Libertarian Should Be Outraged!… IT IS INSANE!” Another dubious accusation THE FBI IN NOMINEE AMBUSH CASES, THEN AND NOW Haley: We’re Not Going to Pay for Reconstruction of Syria As Long As There Is Iranian Influence There Sunday, September 23. 2018Labyrinth Report
Photo is one of the easy sections. I need to revise anything I said about Mohonk's Labyrinth scramble. It's not doable by the average person. I suspect very few people I know over 40 could handle the challenge. We were the only people we saw attempting it who had some grey hair - the only people over 40 for sure. In fact, I had a great sense of accomplishment after getting through the Lemon Squeeze up towards the top of Skytop. Proud of myself. We wondered how they cleaned up the bodies of those who slipped and fell, or got stuck and died of starvation. Must be a special clean-up crew.
Continue reading "Labyrinth Report"
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Wonderful Great Books podcastsJust pick any one of them and give it a try. I have listed to the one on Walker Percy, on Job, and on Brave New World. It's a keeper site for me.
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World's oldest animalFrom today's Lectionary: Draw near to God, and he will draw near to youJames 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 3:14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 3:15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 3:16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. 4:1 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? 4:2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Saturday, September 22. 2018Is France insane?Let's visit Paris
Paint drying vs. paint curing
Drying is just evaporation. Curing is a slow chemical process, as with cement. Related, When do you need a primer coat?
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Saturday morning linksGladiator Diets Were Carb-Heavy, Fattening, and Mostly Vegetarian Archaeologists Find Spectacular Iron Age Treasure in Denmark Is there a duty to die at age 75? Stopping Exercise Increases Depression Symptoms, Study Finds City Journal: The Future of the Nation - A historical description—and intellectual defense—of nationalism The Word “Problematic” Declared Problematic Student Editor Who Retweeted “Women Don’t Have Penises” Story Fired From University Journal Another Aide To NY Governor Gets Six Years In Prison GOOGLE EMPLOYEES SOUGHT TO MANIPULATE SEARCH RESULTS TO FIGHT TRUMP’S TRAVEL BAN: REPORT Schweizer: Stalin, Hitler, Mao 'Would Dream About' Google's Power Over Our Thoughts Rod Rosenstein, quit! DEMOCRATS: WE ALREADY KNOW KNOW KAVANAUGH IS GUILTY Due process, presumption of innocence do not apply to Kavanaugh He is accused of a violent sexual assault Only 5% Of MN Democrats “Believe The Woman” When It Comes To Ellison Someone Who Really Did Paw a 15-Year-Old: Cory Booker It’s like having an argument with your crazy girlfriend: the latest from Ford Christine Ford Adviser Told Democrats in July Call About Plot to Take Down Kavanaugh Saturday VerseThe Foggy, Foggy Dew (by Anon) When I was a bachelor I lived all alone I wooed her in the wintertime One night she came to my bedside She wept, she cried, she damn near died, O I am a bachelor, I live with my son He reminds me of the wintertime
Friday, September 21. 2018ThurberWhile cleaning out books, found a fine old Thurber collection. Thurber was a fine New Yorker semi-comedy writer, but his toons were plain charming. I want to re-read lots of these books before I toss them in the dumpster. Including Master and Margarita.
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