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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Monday, November 11. 2019Monday morning linksPanoramic View Of Mars, Captured By NASA’s Curiosity Rover The unbelievable night the Berlin Wall fell NASA astronaut says we need a shield around the world, before it's too late San Francisco Voters Elect Radical District Attorney, Son of Cop-Killing Terrorists How States Like Virginia Go Blue: Education, immigration, and densification New Yale Study Estimates 22.1 Million Illegal Aliens in US Today — More People Than the Population of Florida Bloomberg Isn't Even Formally Running Yet But Has Democrats Scared Stiff Democrats' Deep-State Denial Morphs Into Deep-State Salute Facebook Scrubs All References To Alleged Whistleblower Eric Ciaramella The Radicalizing of Eric Ciaramella - It starts at Yale and a professor of Arabic who romanticizes terrorism. 32 writers beg the NYT not to use "quid pro quo" because it's important to stick to words people understand in "these... parlous times." Liberal Democrat Dershowitz Compares Democrats To Russian Secret Police Under Stalin, Blisters CNN Trump Pokes Fun At Himself. Why Do Only Some People See It? It's obvious to me THE UKRAINE SCANDAL SPREADS Is Trump a Chinese Asset? The USMC is changing Is Iran winning or losing? Swedish Government Grants $175,000 To Fund Drag Queen Shows For Children Authoritarian governments blocking internet is new Berlin Wall, says US ambassador to Germany Nobody Will Stop Africa From Developing Its Fossil Fuel Resources Sunday, November 10. 2019Dorothea LangeTrailer of a 2004 film about the photographer
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From today's LectionaryJob 19:23-27a 19:23 "O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! 19:24 O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever! 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; 19:26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, 19:27a whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. Saturday, November 9. 2019OkefenokeePlanning an early Spring visit to Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp. A wildlife trip, kind of rustic in the Georgia wilderness. You have to go before bug season. It's way north of the Everglades (also a fine place to visit). I like Georgia. Not moving there, but a fine place to visit and the southern food is amazing. Natural History of the Okefenokee Swamp. 500,000 acres of blackwater swamp filled with gators and other Pogo critters. Here's a Youtube:
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Saturday morning links
The 1918 Flu Pandemic: Photos From a Century Ago Authorities Horrified At Woman Who Killed Baby With Meth Instead Of Traditional Brain-Sucking Device Honolulu Sues ExxonMobil For Ending The World Or Something Why Extinction Rebellion seems so nuts - The more dogmatic environmentalism becomes, the more it loses touch with reality. 11,000 SCIENTISTS? JUST KIDDING 99% of Scientists Agree Human Population Must Be Reduced Planned Parenthood Partner Admits Selling Intact Livers, Lungs and Brains From Aborted Babies WSJ: He Thought His Phone Was Secure; Then He Lost $24 Million to Hackers - Security researchers agree that for most people, adding text-message authentication is a big step up from only using a password, but that can leave you open to a relatively new attack called SIM swapping Flashback: Michael Bloomberg Defended The Chinese Communists In September Popular Title IX training techniques ‘are at odds with the available science,’ Iowa State researchers find Lindsey Graham: IG Report on FISA Abuse Will be 'Stunning' and 'Damning' OMG: Christopher Steele Has Written Another "Dossier," This One Alleging That Russian Spies Attempted to Collude With Conservative British MPs, Including... Boris Johnson Joe Biden’s Friends and Backers Come Out on Top—at the Expense of the Middle Class That’s the “Delaware Way.” How The Insufferably Woke Help Trump Al Sharpton: Facebook Not Censoring Trump is Racist Trump’s unheralded border success Despite Constant Liberal Media Attacks Trump Approval Rating Hits 50% – 3 Points Higher Than Obama as Same Point in His Presidency The Democrat/Media Choir Sings “A Sad and Solemn Day” Bad acting, as Scott notes The curious timeline for taking down Trump Dems Fund Border Security — But Not for USA The Myth of the Nazi War Machine Testimony: How Trump helped Ukraine Saturday Verse: Seamus HeaneyFollower My father worked with a horse-plough, An expert. He would set the wing Of reins, the sweating team turned round I stumbled in his hob-nailed wake, I wanted to grow up and plough, I was a nuisance, tripping, falling, Friday, November 8. 2019Do art and music come from God?It sure can feel like it. Mr. Vanderleun considers the topic with a little Leonard Cohen and this bit which barely fits his theme: In the beginning, I never thought that with all his warts and his tweets and all his rants and ravings that the broken human named Donald Trump could be God’s chosen instrument to try and mend this broken kingdom, but there he sits astride the world like some Strange Colossus. This feels like it comes from some supernatural place:
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Autumn colorsMost of our Yankeeland leaves have fallen now, but this explains the short-lived glory of our autumns: The chemistry of autumn colors
For New Yorkers and NYC visitorsMrs. BD and her friends say the Citymapper app for NYC transportation is amazing. It tells you quickest routes, when the next bus or train is coming, and speaks to you too. You can get the app here. Friday morning linksThe Many Benefits Of A Four-Day Work Week Not for most people I know. Williams College students boycott English Department, claim it’s ‘whitewashed,’ ‘racist’ Lesbian Priest Tapped To Head Major Abortion Group, Calls Abortionists ‘Modern-Day Saints’ Arizona’s Success with Charter Schools Is a Model Other States Would Be Wise to Follow Why $4.5 Billion From Big Tech Won’t End California Housing Crisis - Efforts by Apple, Facebook and Google to address the California housing crunch must contend with the forces that created it. Most illegals in Mississippi ICE raids stole Americans' identities Calif. Taxpayers on Hook for Six-Figure Government Pensions - Retired law enforcement exec collected $1.5 million in 2018 California Killing Its Gig Economy - A last-ditch effort by Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash could rein in a new labor law, but entrepreneurs need to recognize that new ideas will have to start elsewhere. Many people do not enjoy being employees. Me, for example. Obama administration tried to partner with Hunter Biden’s Ukrainian gas firm but was blocked over corruption concerns Johnson, Grassley Call for State Department to Release Documents on Hunter Biden and Burisma Michael Bloomberg poised for possible 2020 campaign - Former New York mayor fears current Democratic candidates are not equipped to defeat Trump, adviser says I think he'd be a strong candidate. Imagine two NYC biz moguls, amateur pols, running against eachother! Trump Derangement Is Destroying Political Analysis Trump Reads Whistleblower’s Lawyer’s Tweets At Rally, Crowd Goes Nuts A Military Camera Said ‘Made in U.S.A.’ The Screen Was in Chinese. Iran's network of influence in Mid-East 'growing' What Democrats Need To Learn From Obama About Aid To Israel Pic from a hike last weekendThursday, November 7. 2019QQQIdleness is the enemy of the soul. St. Benedict, who recommended a life of hard work and prayer Thursday morning linksWhat 3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Wheat Tells Us About the Genetics of Bread Yes, you can make bread from antique wheat. Heritage wheat. Remembering LBJ's phone call ordering new pants The Scientists Are Muttering About Population Control Again Environmentalists: If You Want To Save The World, Skip Thanksgiving I do not want to save the world that much 22 Year Old Instagram Star Says Learning About WWII Harms Millennials’ Mental Health… No brain, no pain Censored: YouTube Silences Doctor Warning Against Transgender Mutilation Running Out Of Other People's Money, New York And Federal Versions Biden describes Elizabeth Warren’s elitism: “If you were only as smart as I am you would agree with me” Eric Ciaramella Attorney, January 2017: “Coup Has Started” – July 2017: “We Will Remove Him”… More: Fake Whistleblower's Lawyer in 2017: "The coup has started," Brags That Deep State Will Impeach Trump and His Friends at CNN Will Play a Key Role Donald Trump Jr. Tweets Name Of Whistleblower Heck, we posted it last week Testimony Transcript Shows William Taylor Never Talked To Trump, Wasn’t Even On July 25 Phone Call - A top anti-Trump witness for House Democrats admitted he wasn't on the July 25 phone call and had never even spoken with Trump about Ukraine military aid. Don Jr. on If Trump were a Democrat U.S.-Israel Security Cooperation Is A Win-Win Iran Is Doing Just Fine - Tehran Has Survived U.S. Sanctions. Its Nuclear Program and Regional Activities Will, Too. Wednesday, November 6. 2019You do not have to love Donald Trump to approve of what he has been doing
Trump Thunderstruck from Mr Smith on Vimeo. Wednesday morning links21 of our favorite gag gifts Dating Deception: When Sex Is On Our Minds, Lying Comes Naturally Why should the rest of the country continue paying for California’s bad decisions on forest management and urban development? 11,000 Experts Propose Final Solution To Global Warming: Just Kill Billions Of People A Racially “Woke” Agenda Is Now Hardwired in Public Schools Jeffrey Epstein’s social contacts with Katie Couric, George Stephanopoulos, other celebs scrutinized How did he accumulate so many friends? It wasn't just the girls. Sociopathic charm? ABC News Says Epstein Bombshell Didn’t Satisfy Its ‘Standards,’ Ran Unfounded Allegations on Kavanaugh Easy to understand. Their standards are political Sanctuary County Rolls Back Its Anti-ICE Policy Following String Of Illegal Aliens Charged With Rape Mugged by reality Vote Harvesting: A Recipe for Intimidation, Coercion, and Election Fraud Donald Trump, Jr. on ‘Woke Culture’: ‘It’s Never Enough,’ Left Always Pushes For More CIA staff complained about Obama White House's political correctness, new book claims A Farewell to Paris Accord: The opposite of reckless. US Jewish umbrella group slams Democratic hopefuls’ calls to leverage Israel aid Powerline: RATE THE HATE Hate for those with an R is routine. Media gins it up The Democrat Party has veered far left very fast, without any pushback from within the party. EMAILS REVEAL BIDEN/BURISMA INFLUENCE AT STATE DEPARTMENT Elizabeth Warren’s Meme Team Gets Dysentery Sheesh. So dumb it's embarassing. Retired Army Officer Remembers Lt. Col. Vindman as Partisan Democrat Who Ridiculed America Tuesday, November 5. 2019Witch-hazel in bloom nowSaw lots of Witch-hazel in bloom on one of our hikes last weekend. It's a subtle flower but glows in autumn sunshine. My photo came out poorly. Look for it on autumn hikes. The name has nothing to do with witches. There are Asian versions which bloom in mid-winter, sometimes used for ornamental plantings. Witch-hazel waters, etc., have no real medicinal use. About Witch-hazel. Free ad for Scott Adams' new bookLoserthink, out today. " From the creator of Dilbert and author of Win Bigly, a guide to spotting and avoiding loserthink: sneaky mental habits trapping victims in their own bubbles of unreality." Tuesday morning linksPeter Collier, 1939-2019 Like Horowitz, he grew up when the smart people were lefties. Then the smart lefties had second thoughts. How C.S. Lewis Predicted Our Doom New evidence shows FDR’s bigotry derailed many Holocaust rescue plans WW2 Jewish survivors in rare reunion with Greek rescuer PA MAYOR ASKING FOR REMOVAL OF SOLDIER SYMBOLS AT VETERANS PARK Glacier National Park Quietly Removes Its "Gone By 2020" Signs The Giga And Terra Scam Of Offshore Wind Energy Do You Eat Alone? That’s Bad For ‘Climate Change’ Scary Detroit scores make case for charters Chicago Headed For Insolvency, Get The Hell Out Now! THE LEFT SEEKS TO “NORMALIZE” CRIME O'Sullivan's Law Hits Habitat For Humanity Trump Is Derailing The Elite’s Gravy Train Record 158,510,000 Americans Employed in October; 23rd Record for Trump Yale, Moody’s and Oxford Economic Polls Show President Trump Winning in Landslide in 2020 EVEN IN A RECESSION Why Play Calvin-Ball With democrats? Top House Dem Steny Hoyer: ‘Truth And Facts Are Constraining Us’ On Moving Forward With Impeachment What do those things matter? John Durham: The Last Trusted Prosecutor in Washington CIA, FBI Informant Was Washington Post Source For Russiagate Smears Thanks to the Likud, Israeli Arabs Are Flourishing Ray Charles in Israel - When the ‘Genius of Soul’ sang ‘Hava Nagila’ with David Ben-Gurion Monday, November 4. 2019Monday morning linksTraversing the Landscape of Transgender Politics New York's Place as America's Fine-Dining Mecca in Jeopardy As City Bans Foie Gras Ban everything except pot OLD WHITE GODS, NOT YET DEAD: Why Architectural Elites Love Ugly Buildings. Nearly 40% of 2019 farm income will come from federal aid and insurance "California," argues Victor Davis Hanson, is "becoming pre-modern" California Governor Threatens To Take Over Energy Company As Wildfires Rage Are You A Moral Grandstander? Andrew Cuomo: ‘We Didn’t Have Hurricanes’ Before Climate Change Warren's Wealth Tax Elizabeth Warren Promises IRS Will Have “Super Duper Enforcement” Powers If She Wins Is she for real? Democrat Front-Runner Crazy Uncle Joe Biden Turns His Back on Audience – Starts Talking to Screens During Major Iowa Event That was fake news Soros Advocacy Group Spent $72M On Lobbying Since Trump Elected Democrats are stealing old ideas from Europe just as Europe abandons them The AMERICAN Party: I Am Not “Republican.” I Am Not “Conservative.” I Am Not “Alt Right.” None of These. “I am an AMERICAN. Reclaiming Common Sense in the USA Birth coach is 'hounded out' of industry charity Doula UK after transgender activists branded her Facebook message claiming only women can have babies 'offensive' Where’s the Mysterious Maltese Mifsud and Where Did He and His Associate and Lawyer Stephan Roh Obtain Their Millions? Doug Wead: I interviewed the Trump family for two years and THIS is what I found Why Obama Got A Nobel Peace Prize For Nothing — And Trump Never Will For Anything Sunday, November 3. 2019Two years building his cabin in the Canadian wildernessNYC Marathon Sunday"On Sunday, I’ll run the New York City Marathon at age 65, having trained on a strict diet of edamame and mixed vegetables. O.K., I didn’t eat a ton of these foods. I iced my knees with packs of them..." From today's Lectionary: Though your sins are like scarlet...Isaiah 1:10-18 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 1:11 What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. 1:12 When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; 1:13 bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation-- I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. 1:15 When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. 1:16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 1:17 learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. 1:18 Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Busy, cold nightBusy, cold night at Stonehenge as they move the rocks back an hour
Saturday, November 2. 2019"Rembrandt was not afraid of the dark."Many, like Van Gogh, felt he was a magician but in his lifetime his work became unpopular and less profitable, he made some bad investments, and died in poverty. It seems that what we value most about Rembrandt today are his portraits, but he did all sorts of work in all sorts of styles. The 17th C Dutch art show at the Met Museum now was interesting to me for a few reasons. One was that Rembrandt was an outlier in much of his work. Baroque, and humorous/bawdy, were popular, money-making styles of his time. Franz Hals, for example. Also, landscapes of rich guys' estates. Also interesting to me that this was going on during the time when the Pilgrims were in Holland, or planning to leave to New Amsterdam (but accidentally ended up in Cape Cod). Pilgrim clothing was conservative Dutch Reform dress. My photo of one of Rembrandt's many self portraits. He was 55 at this time. He often used himself and his family as models.
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A good hunt and a great Onion PieA repost from a past November - A great hunt this morning at a pal's rod and gun club. Heavy snow flurries and a stiff breeze made things interesting. Had two good Labs working for us today. Had to break the ice in their water tubs. Being Labs, naturally one insisted on climbing into the water tub to play with the floating hunks of ice and was not eager to come out.
Before a late lunch we had some venison sausage and I fixed myself a Clamato Bloody Mary while we cleaned and oiled our weapons. For lunch, they made us rare roast beef with Onion Pie, with a nice Chateau Simard '86 (Simard remains an excellent wine for the price). I do not know whether it was just the effect of a long cold day in the field, but this onion pie was about the tastiest, most savory thing I have ever eaten. The cook made it with a plain white-cracker piecrust and maybe sprinkled cracker crumbs over the top. This pie is to a kiche as a Grizzly Bear is to a Teddy Bear. Rice Pudding for dessert, of course: what else would you serve at an old-fashioned guy's club where women are not allowed? As my friends know all too well, it's great to have somebody else to drive so I can indulge a post-prandial, post-hunt snoring snooze. I do not know why my friends put up with me. 1 unbaked pie shell - try a plain cracker crumb crust 2 or 3 very large white onions, thinly sliced 2 tbsp. butter 1/2 lb. Swiss cheese cut into 1/2" or 1" chunks 1 tbsp. flour 1/2 tsp. salt 3 eggs 1 c. milk or light cream 1/8 tsp. pepper Prepare unbaked pie shell. Start heating oven to 400 degrees. Saute onions in butter and dump into pie shell. Toss the cheese with flour, sprinkle over onions. Beat eggs well. Stir in milk or cream, salt and pepper. Pour over cheese. Sprinkle crack crumbs on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Then reduce oven heat to 300 degrees and bake 25 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve hot, in wedges. That is soul food with a rare roast beef. Might be a good treat for a holday, too, as an alternative to creamed baby onions (which I also love).
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