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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Saturday, September 1. 2018Three cities which used to be sea harborsJust three of them jump to mind, but there must be many more examples where changing geography left cities built on sea-going commerce sitting on silted rivers, and further from the ocean. I am thinking of Florence, Seville, and Pisa. Oh - Pompeii was a seaport too, which is partly why it was so full of whorehouses. Whorehouses and temples and fast food joints - that was Pompeii. Here's The lost harbour of Pisa revealed Classic visit to Pisa (which is actually a charming antique town like San Gimignano or Siena): Grab a slice of pizza, take a selfie in front of the bell tower, then get back on the air-conditioned bus. Other examples of cities which were once important seaports? Saturday morning links
The Bizarre Story of Britain’s Last Great Auk How a plan to save Kenya's rhino left 11 dead in historic blunder New Zealand council plans to ban all pet cats in bid to protect native bird species Let's hope the world follows that example How America Killed Mass Transit - Streetcar, bus, and metro systems have been ignoring one lesson for 100 years: Service drives demand. NYT: Overtourism’ Worries Europe. How Much Did Technology Help Get Us There? Story of bombshell charges against Pope more surreal by the minute David Warren: What to do about the Church Postmodern leftism even lays waste to the Catholic Church. When was the Church entirely pure and holy? Dem Socialist Candidate’s Brother and Mother Say She’s Lied About Her Upbringing She's a cute little liar Good quote this week from Marco Rubio:
Weiner Laptop Scandal, the Mueller Witchhunt, the Clinton Foundation and China Hacking Hillary’s Emails All Have One Thing in Common The Case for Sessions' Resignation Grows “THE BIG MONEY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS NOW ON THE LEFT” Is South Africa quietly planning a genocide? Friday, August 31. 2018Friday morning linksPETA Hopes To Build Memorial Where Lobsters Died In Maine Crash More lobsters are killed in a day by Striped Bass than died there Bear News: Black bear spotted in Davidson County for 1st time in more than 100 years More: First Yellowstone-area grizzly hunt in 40 years blocked by federal judge The growth of the world’s middle class may be the greatest story of our age Brown U. censors ´gender dysphoria´ study, worried that findings might ´invalidate the perspectives´ of transgender community Facts do have a funny way of invalidating perspectives Archbishop’s shocking letter reveals scandal and priority schism in Catholic Church I Sold My Soul on Twitter. Now I’m Trying to Win It Back At campus orientation, speaker bashes Fox News, rugged individualism, says America not that great Failure: The $1.7 Billion Federal Job Corps Program Doesn’t ‘Demonstrate Beneficial Job Training Outcomes' Duh California update: State Which Uses Lots Of Fossil Fuels Vows To Move State Off Fossil Fueled Electric Grid ‘Cause ‘Climate Change’ More on Suspicion and the Corruption of the Liberal Mind. Elites still disconnected from voters Kanye West Goes All In To Win Black Community Over For Trump Democrat Threatens ICE Agents Conducting Deportations: 'You Will Not Be Safe' Chuck Schumer: Illegal Immigration Is Wrong, Plain and Simple VDH: Mueller Is Looking At The Wrong Collusion Scandal Is It Worth Cutting Global Warming By Tenths Of A Degree If It Means Millions Starve? J-Post: An open letter to Jeremy Corbyn Steyn: Danes, Davos and Denial London Deplorables Strike Back: Bikini-Clad Blimp of Mayor Sadiq Khan Ready to Fly Over City Thursday, August 30. 2018Cape CodNice Wellfleet house, short stroll to town on a sand/gravel road. Some core of this house is mid-1800s, but much done since then. Magnificent tree. I usually know these things, but not sure what species. I did not wish to intrude.
Deception in warA pal of mine (and MF reader) who knows everything and is interested in everything - I am lucky to have a few pals like that - sends a 1988 research piece from The US Air War College about camouflage and deception in warfare. Cool article, going back to Gideon's horns.
Thursday morning linksThe highly privileged lady who invented White Privilege The transgender fad Reading Teens Become "Dying Breed": A Third Of Teenagers Haven't Read A Single Book In The Past Year The School Shootings That Weren't The Trump administration brings much needed improvement to the Endangered Species Act. U.S. court rejects atheists' appeal over 'In God We Trust' on money Why is it on money? Task force suggests 'compulsory social justice training' College deems students’ 9/11 ‘Never Forget’ posters bias incident for highlighting Islamic terrorism We should all be worried about Google’s power Who was the Jacksonville shooter? You Won't Find the Words "Fired" or "Terminated" In This Article VOX: Just Uncaging Fake Animals On A Cracker Box Isn't Enough. You Must Dismantle Capitalism. Contrary to Media Coverage, Most Americans Aren’t That Into Politics - It’s the politically obsessed who may not know what's really going on. U.S. Workers Report Highest Job Satisfaction Since 2005 The MSM's Revisionist Love Affair With McCain Is a Bit Much to Stomach Why California's Gavin Newsom campaigns for free health care for illegals SARA CARTER: Congress Seeks to Question Nellie Ohr After Explosive Testimony by Bruce Ohr How the war on climate change slams the world’s poor A special morning treat for Labor Day weekendA charming piece from Kevin Williamson about work and fulfillment at Amazon in Ohio I learned that Amazon is big on kaizen. So am I, in as many ways as I can.
Wednesday, August 29. 2018Calisthenics challenge: Jumping jacks/Jump ropeIs giving up on fitness a sign of giving up on a vigorous life? I don't know. Could be. Last year we had a 100 push-up/day challenge which many readers found illuminating and even inspiring. Readers know we love calisthenics as a way of bringing together your gains from other exercises into physical activities that require some strength, plenty of endurance, athleticism, and a good share of cardio fitness. Jumping is one darn good calisthenic. Done right, jump rope is close to zero impact. Jacks are slightly more impact, but minimal. All toes. Harmless to joints. This morning I watched a bit of a fitness class which I was glad I didn't take today. The warm-up was 5 minutes jump rope - free-style. After a 10-second rest, 20 push-ups. 10-second rest, then 3 minutes of jacks. Sheesh. Then one more time around. All ages and all genders in there including a 75 year-old lawyer I sort-of know. That was the warm-up. I've taken that class (it's outdoors mostly) plenty of times, but I've never seen the boss push the crowd so hard in a warm-up. About 1/3 of the folks needed little breaks to complete these things. So here's the fitness challenge: In one month, can you get to 5 minutes of jump rope or 3 minutes of jacks? Continuous. If you are in good condition, this is not difficult but for most of us civilians it is highly challenging. I noticed a guy the other day who did 20 minutes of jump rope, mixing up all the variations to avoid boredom, seemingly effortlessly. Wonderful. My jump rope routines are only 1 minute each. I do variations. I want to up my duration and call it calis or cardio, whatever. How to approach that goal if it is beyond you (and me)? Do the thing 10X/day for as long as you can. Remember, calis require no rest days. Gradually reduce the number of times/day while increasing the duration of each event. Stick with singles on the rope unless you can do variations. Singles are the least stressful. Same with jumping jacks: if you can mix in star jumps, go for it. Want to see some impressive jumping? This guy is fit. Wednesday morning linksHow to be human: the man who was raised by wolves. Abandoned as a child, Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja survived alone in the wild for 15 years. But living with people proved to be even more difficult. University will allow students to opt out of anti-stress program … if they’re too stressed If people are too stressed by school, wait til they see real life Berkeley students teach peers about 'whiteness,' 'decolonizing' Thank God for higher ed Men only at The International: Why are there no female competitors at esports' biggest event? May I opine that these games are the biggest waste of life that exists? Group at Facebook reportedly challenging its 'intolerant' liberal culture - More than 100 employees have joined the group, The New York Times reports. The Latest 'Privilege' Scam: Decorated Dorm Rooms Chicago Cardinal Cupich: The Pope Has More Important Stuff To Talk About Than Sex Abuse, Like Climate Change And Immigration Catholic Cold War Turns Hot ‘Why Socialism Failed: A 2018 Update The world is on the brink of a historic milestone: By 2020, more than half of the world’s population will be “middle class,” according to Brookings Institution scholar Homi Kharas. Greenfield: TRUMP'S 5 RULES FOR RULING THE WORLD - Trump isn’t reacting to the world. The world is reacting to him. Merkel Facing “Xenophobic Riots” After Migrants Kill German Citizen As Land Confiscations Loom, South Africa Rules 300,000 Gun-Owners Turn Over Their Weapons China May Scrap Two-Child Policy, Ending 40 Years Of Limits The Man Who Predicted the Venezuelan Catastrophe in 1893 Tuesday, August 28. 2018Tuesday morning links
Image via Yet another climate change boat trapped in Arctic ice Meet an ivory trafficker's 'worst nightmare Sounds of Music: A Salzburg Journal Protestants Should Care Deeply about the Catholic Catastrophe We do. What I learned when I met a real life exorcist. Padre Manuel Acuña is famous in his home city of Buenos Aires, Argentina – and I helped him perform an exorcism THIS PROFESSOR WANTS JOB TRAINING TO START AT AGE 12 With good parents, work training begins earlier than that
Klavan: Why Are We in Media Hell? Lanny Davis admits he was source for CNN´s Trump Tower story, lied about it on air Candace Owens: ‘I absolutely love this president … he’s killing political correctness’ Trump is a splinter in the establishment U.S. SLASHES AID TO WEST BANK AND GAZA Trump deal with Mexico eases fears of trade wars, offers template to end other conflicts "Canada Just Got Played": How Mexico Stabbed Canada In The Back Life Without Water: Sweaty, Smelly, and Furious in Caracas A lesson in how to turn a vibrant nation into a s-hole Germany’s retreat from Paris Climate Accord goals Monday, August 27. 2018Cardio ConditioningThis post is a bit repetitive, but worth repeating as people begin to plan their post-Labor Day life routines. It is prompted by a link sent by one of my sisters: FORGET SWIMMING LAPS FOR DAYS- A SHORT, SHARP POOL WORKOUT CAN TRUMP SPINNING AND RUNNING FOR RESULTS. HERE’S HOW TO NAIL A WATER WORKOUT For general conditioning/fitness, we recommend that 1/3 of your exercise time be spent on pure cardio conditioning. That entails two 20-30 minute sessions of HIIT and a one-hour "long slow" session (eg jogging). What formats? Best to mix them up: Rowing, running, swimming, elliptical. Reason to mix them up is because repetition increases efficiency so reduces effectiveness. That's enough pure cardio for anybody who is not in training for races. Remember, with our plan, you also have about 2 hrs of calisthenics/week which are good cardiac stressors too. To summarize the Maggie's Conditioning Program: 1. 2 hrs of power lifting and accessory weight training (for power, muscle, and bone strength)
Monday morning linksLennon and McCartney sons come together for selfie Re McCain: Insty claims that the only Repubs that the MSM like are dead ones. Nordlinger: About McCain That ice-free Arctic Parents fight back after school drops Pledge of Allegiance for student-authored oath to ‘global society’ Why You Can’t Stop Creating Problems in Your Mind - We’re not built to be happy. We’re built to survive. One way to get rid of a problem: Stop defining it as a problem. THE CRISIS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DRIVER LOSES SPONSORSHIP OVER RACIST REMARK FATHER MADE BEFORE HE WAS BORN Facebook’s Definition Of “Hate Speech” Grows Even More Bizarre ESPN Pays Big Bucks To Break Up With Trump-Bashing Jemele Hill ACLU DEFENDS THE NRA AGAINST ANDREW CUOMO’S ‘BLACKLISTING CAMPAIGN’ 7 Things I'd Do if I Wanted to Keep Poor People Poor EXCLUSIVE: Agenda for 2020 Democrat National Convention DEMOCRAT RUNS ON OPEN BORDERS: Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke Calls for Legalizing Unauthorized Border Crossings How Trump can survive this onslaught against his presidency Zero Hedge on Starr and Mueller:
Sunday, August 26. 2018I Like Me Better When I'm With YouVia one of my daughters who is in love in New York City. Actually, both of my daughters are in love and in New York City. That's pretty cool. I'm afraid that one is headed for LA, though. I've been in love in New York City too. Long ago. No money, no nothing. It was great. Great moment: sledding in a blizzard late night in Riverside Park on cardboard boxes. Many other fun things like that.
Belief in angels and demonsFrom David Warren: He put a Baudelaire quote in there: “Everyone believes in God, but nobody loves Him. No one believes in the Devil, and yet his smell is everywhere.”
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From today's Lectionary: A difficult messageJohn 6:56-69 6:56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 6:57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 6:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." 6:59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. 6:60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" 6:61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? 6:62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 6:64 But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 6:65 And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." 6:66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 6:67 So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 6:69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Saturday, August 25. 2018Life In America: The project at the Maggie's HQ proceeds
What are unemployed Americans doing? The painters began work today, following the sides of the place where the carpenters have finished their work. 3 Brazilians. Lovely guys, very polite and accommodating. Perfectionists. One has been to Lisbon/Lisboa, but not to Porto. Depending on weather, they predict 3 more weeks of work (prep takes the longest): scrape entire house, then power-wash, then re-scrape and sand, then prime, then paint. Doing the job the right way. These guys have never heard of Fado. I suggested that they check it out. We liked this club in Lisbon. We had some Portuguese dessert there and I had a glass of wine:
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Saturday morning linksThe Unusual Difficulty Of Photographing Pandas Defense Against Bears with Pistols: 97% Success rate, 37 incidents by Caliber That's a great website Why the Earth Has Fewer Species Than We Think - A primer on the epigenome. Why bigger planes mean cramped quarters. The incredible shrinking airplane. YDSA urges socialists to infiltrate public education Asia Argento's Time Is Up - A tale of fame, fallacy, and the perils of good intentions The Billion Dollar Homeless Scam Two officers suspended after body cam video was leaked of the Denver mayor's son berating cops America is experiencing a major culture war between its interpreters and the people. The NYT is doing an effective job at instilling revulsion for Trump. "Every day it becomes clearer that the true object of the investigation taken over by Robert Mueller is the removal of President Trump from office."
Just how communist is Mainland China? E U Meeting Ends With No Deal On Migrant Redistribution Netherlands Prosecuting Man for Insulting Turkish President Erdogan Friday, August 24. 2018Friday morning linksLife lessons from his friend in the face of death
America’s Invisible Pot Addicts - More and more Americans are reporting near-constant cannabis use, as legalization forges ahead. Magic mushrooms to treat depression? This Peter Thiel-backed startup just got FDA okay to begin trials David Horowitz: Visa, Mastercard Cut Off - Payments to My Think Tank Based on SPLC ‘Hate Group’ Label Suspicion of dark hidden motives is corrupting the leftist mind Sierra Club: Democrats are Losing Interest in Climate Change Why Are Democrats (And The Media) Still Trying To Rehabilitate Socialism? 8-Year-Old Girl Walks Dog Around Block, Police and Child Services Investigate Mom Majority of Public Employees Don't Want to Be Forced to Pay Union Dues Palestine: A false road to statehood Thursday, August 23. 2018Thursday morning linksWhy Prosperity Has Increased But Happiness Has Not Venice restaurant bill outrages Japanese tourists It's a tourist trap San Francisco "Poop Patrollers" Make $185,000 Passing the Torch - Why the eons-old truce between humans and fire has burst into an age of megafires, and what can be done about it Social Media Companies the Most Dangerous Monopolies Ever The Guardian: Men’s Fixation on Younger Women is Indicative of a Crisis in Masculinity Says Legal Insurrection, "Longest “crisis” in human history" If neo-Nazis didn’t exist, the left would have to invent them. And to some extent have. Texas School Removes 'Ladies' and 'Gentlemen' Quote After Single Twitter User Complains ‘Social Justice’ is Overrunning the University of Texas Kling: I think that the case for spending “public money” (i.e., money extracted from taxpayers) on schools is quite weak. Until I see a well-controlled experiment, I will be skeptical of the benefit of schools. College bans ‘racial’ and ‘offensive’ discussions on campus network for 11 years 52.1% of Kids Live in Households Getting Means-Tested Government Assistance THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER’S PERFECT STORM - And why religious freedom is at stake. What Socialists (and Most Other People) Don't Understand About The Oil Industry Anti-Trump Harvard Law prof ‘has lost his mind’ over Supreme Court nominee Steyn: The Priorities of US Justice Anatomy of a Sting: Robert Mueller Likely Used FBI and Foreign Intel to Set-Up George Papadopoulos in July 2017… Wednesday, August 22. 2018Help! I can't get up!It is floor to standing with a weight in your hand. Since I posted a photo of a Turkish Get Up yesterday, a bit more on this full-body calisthenic:
Wednesday morning linksWoodrow Wilson's biographer discusses the 28th president's racism and the disabling stroke he suffered in 1919 Don’t subsidize coal; just stop trying to kill it off Sea level rise has been average 7 inches per century for 7000 years Can Sexual Orientation Change? Cultural appropriation update New Jersey governor bans black bear hunting on state grounds, but not without backlash Asia Argento: I Deny Everything — And The Payoff To My Accuser Was Anthony Bourdain’s Idea Do People Really Think Earth Might Be Flat? A poll says lots of Millennials evidently do Not The Onion: PETA Frees Animal Crackers From Cages At UCLA, 20 paid diversity advocates isn’t enough Is Democracy Really Dying? Why so many commentators share an overly grim view of America’s fate When the Left admits they hate America and Americans Pulling Their Clearances Is Only The Start — It’s Time To Stamp Out Elite Privilege
Tuesday, August 21. 2018Do I ever "feel like" working out?
I hate to imagine what my life would be like if I only did what "I feel like doing." Worst case? Living in retirement or on welfare as a TV addict or internet or heroin addict - but then I would hate myself for laziness and passivity. I am already a book addict. It's sort of moot for me, because I have never known the meaning of "relax and take it easy." Probably never will. I was made for work. What does "motivation" mean? I don't know. I do know what desire means, and what fear means. Desire for results, and fear of decay, affect me but so does the simple physical need to be active. My genius trainer always says "The hardest exercise of all is dragging your lazy ass to the gym every morning." The answer to my title question is "No - never." That's because it is so hard and stressful compared with, say, yard and garden work, or going for a scenic hike. I just want to get it done with and then to begin my day in a good state of mind. Once I get in the gym, though, there is some perverse satisfaction in pushing myself and testing my will, and good satisfaction after completing a hard hour. Being driven by a slave-master helps a lot too. Endorphins are over-rated, but an atmosphere where everybody is busting their ass is inspirational. As all of our readers know well, discipline, determination, and delayed gratification are darn important in making a decent life. It does feel good to me to be in better shape than I was in 20 years ago, but it's taken 3 years to get here with much further to go. Trying to turn back that clock, baby - it's only semi-delusional. Photo: Those people are doing Turkish Get-ups. It's a tricky calisthenic. Tuesday morning links
Above: Perry's Venn Diagram related to MacDonald's Gender is a construct - except when it's not Tyler Cowen is visiting Baku Most wildfires are started by humans, we can do a lot to prevent them too Ethanol Is Terrible for Health and the Environment, but Government Keeps Backing It. The US federal government still strongly pushes corn- and soy-based ethanol despite the EPA's new study showing its harmful effects. US military having trouble finding good recruits California Dems Pass Bill Banning Sale Of Soda And Juice To Kids… Public Housing’s Most Notorious Failure - Revisionist history notwithstanding, Cabrini-Green more than deserved its reputation for crime and squalor. Dalrymple on bureacratese The Pernicious Impact of Government Intervention in Healthcare, Captured in a Chart. This “third-party payer” system basically means market forces are absent. Weinstein accuser Asia Argento made deal to pay her own sexual assault accuser, bombshell report says Asia Argento Paid Off Sexual Assault Accuser (Report) ANDREW CUOMO: TRUMP’S AMERICA CONSISTS OF ‘SEXISM, RACISM, BIGOTRY, AND INTOLERANCE’ "...conservatives also cave in large numbers even when their most sacred cows are in danger." Chelsea Clinton Now Calls Running for Office a ‘Definite Maybe’ David Horowitz: Trump’s Character and Trump’s Presidency This is why all Americans should support President Trump on immigration Trump is gaining black support because his policies are improving the lives of all Americans
Why the New Winnie the Pooh Movie Is Banned in China South Africa farm seizures BEGIN: Chaos as first expropriation of white-owned farms starts Sweden riots: Why is Sweden rioting? Is it to do with the Sweden election? i Sultan: Why should Kofi Annan’s death cause us to forget how bad at his job he was? Failure falls upwards.
Monday, August 20. 2018Lost years"At 37, I’m stronger than I’ve been since I was 27, probably the same as when I was 17. I should rejoice, I know, but..."
At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!
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