Thursday, October 19. 2006
Your actions, and your action alone, determines your worth. Evelyn Waugh (h/t, Samiz.)
Wednesday, October 18. 2006
You know that you can left-click anything on our blogroll, but for links in text, you should right-click. But you all know that. Membership on our blogroll on the left side of the column means that these are among the sites we find interesting - not that we agree with them! We are belatedly adding to our blogroll left-click list the following worthy sites this week: Inside Higher Ed BusinessPundit Opinion Journal The Corner Gay and Right
 From Basil's blog:
Mexico, which annually deports more illegal aliens than the United States does, has much to teach us about how it handles the immigration issue. Under Mexican law, it is a felony to be an illegal alien in Mexico. At a time when the Supreme Court and many politicians seek to bring American law in line with foreign legal norms, it’s noteworthy that nobody has argued that the U.S. look at how Mexico deals with immigration and what it might teach us about how best to solve our illegal immigration problem. Mexico has a single, streamlined law that ensures that foreign visitors and immigrants are: - In Mexico legally;
- Have the means to sustain themselves economically;
- Not destined to be burdens on society;
- Of economic and social benefit to society;
- Of good character and have no criminal records; and
- Contributors to the general well being of the nation.
The law also ensures that: - Authorities have a record of each foreign visitor;
- Foreign visitors do not violate their visa status;
- Foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country’s internal politics;
- Foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are imprisoned or deported;
- Foreign visitors violating the terms of their entry are imprisoned or deported;
- Those who aid in illegal immigration will be sent to prison.
Whole thing is here.
Tuesday, October 17. 2006
 What a story behind this treasure trove of Roman silver.
Story at Blue Crab. (He should write the book, or someone else will.)
Shades of the New York Times! Taxpayer-supported BBC spending taxpayer money to cover-up report on itself. Just too funny - and too sad. Telegraph (h/t, Instap.) But what would you expect? They are better than you and me.
 We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
You might be surprised to learn what the nation's preeminent college of education stands for. As FIRE notes: Teachers College’s Conceptual Framework, which represents the “philosophy for teacher education at Teachers College,” requires students to possess a “commitment to social justice.” Moreover, students are expected to recognize that “social inequalities are often produced and perpetuated through systematic discrimination and justified by societal ideology of merit, social mobility, and individual responsibility.”
Somehow, they forgot to add intelligence, ability, energy, honor, determination, persistence, and character to their list of evil excuses for discrimination by The System, not doubt for the benefit of the "ruling class." (This is like entering a time machine to 1968.) However, the point is that if you like the idea of merit, mobility, and individual responsibility, you are not cut out to be a graduate of Teacher's College. They actually assess their students on these political criteria. This is ridiculous politically-correct drivel worthy of the late 1960s - but if they really believe it, our kids are in trouble. I am so grateful that I was taught "critical thinking" in school. I learned to see through this sort of nonsense.
. Added comment from Dr. Bliss, at the editor's request: When they use the term "social justice," I get the creeps. It generally means quasi-totalitarian state control when people use it these days. But social justice can be seen in many different ways, depending on your reading of Plato, Montesquieu, Locke, Adam Smith, de Toqueville, etc; depending on your understanding of history and, perhaps most importantly, on your understanding of human nature. What is fascinating - if stereotypical - about the Teacher's College manifesto is that it is based on a vision of students - and people (except them, who get to make the rules) as victims of a "system," rather than free persons in the most free country in the world, with more abundant opportunity than has ever existed in history. Theirs is an oppressive message, designed to nurture blame, defeatism, dependency, resentment, and helplessness rather than to nurture optimistic, brave, energetic Americans with the can-do spirit. . Coment from The Barrister, of Maggie's Farm: . Ditto to the above. A couple of points: 1. This is warmed-over 60's stuff. I suspect the people who run the place are all in their 50s, and still fighting "the revolution" and seeing themselves as part of "the movement." Sheesh - you'd think they would have grown past that by now. 2. Who appointed teachers to be propagandizers? No-one would hire teachers to do that - that's the lowly, undignified job of politicians, journalists, and commentators! Don't they have to teach trig and calc and physics and chemistry and econ and music and all that? Isn't that enough to do? 3. The excuse-making angle: If kids don't learn much, it's not the teachers' fault or the schools' fault - it's the system. The system doesn't want them to succeed. Bad, bad system! The system should go sit in the corner for ten minutes. 4. But wait a minute - the public education system is already controlled by the Teacher's Unions. Woops. Oh, well, it must be the other system that wants the kids to be oppressed. Like, the kids' parents, who work and vote and pay the schools' bills and comprise the "American system"? This makes no sense. With these attitudes, it is no wonder that most Americans would quit the state schools if they had the choice to do so.
He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Monday, October 16. 2006
In today's piece at TCS, Prof. Bainbridge put into words some things we have been thinking about lately: is it reasonable, or dangerous, or foolish to extend the family analogy, in which individuals gladly sacrifice for the whole, to a nation state? Our bias is to say "no," because it's a false analogy. From his piece: University of Chicago law professor Geoffrey Stone recently offered 10 tenets of modern liberalism, which included the following nugget: It is liberals who maintain that a national community is like a family and that government exists in part to "promote the general welfare."
It is this communitarian aspect of modern liberalism, of course, which marks a principal difference between the modern version and classical liberalism. I suspect it is this over-broad understanding of what it means to be a community that is one of the things conservatives and libertarians steeped in the classical liberal tradition find most off-putting about modern liberalism. The great moral difficulty with communitarianism is that, if taken to extremes, it treats individuals as though they were little more than cells of a larger organism. Just as when doctors kill cells to prevent cancer from spreading, communitarianism readily justifies state intrusion into the private sphere in the name of some communal good.
Yes, the creepy concept of "the greater good" erases one's individual power and significance. And, as we say at Maggie's Farm: "Whose concept of the greater good?" What if freedom is the best route towards a greater good? Whole piece here.
...many people believe that you must first somehow decide whether or not God exists before joining a religion, but the opposite is true. One becomes religious so as to make God present in one’s life. Whether or not God exists is a separate issue. The important point is to make him present and real, and thus inhabit the space where our true humanness emerges. Gagdad Bob (link here.)
Sunday, October 15. 2006
We had another wave of the little  guys last night,
because they were much in evidence this morning. Another flock of Robins and another flock of Blue Jays. And a bunch of warblers - some singing, for no good reason, and if you don't know their calls, you cannot identify fall warblers unless you are an expert. In their non-breeding plumage, they all look alike. Among other birds, had a migrating Phoebe this morning, snagging bugs on the driveway. One of my favorite birds. This common flycatcher likes to nest on or near houses, bridges, etc., has a sweet song, and is readily identified without binocs by his tail-wagging. Some of the other flycatchers are far more challenging. Birders often claim that waves of migrants tend to precede cold fronts. That could be true. On the other hand, there are always cold fronts coming during migration season. Anyway, many species do pass through in waves. The Eastern Phoebe image borrowed from CLO. More about the likeable Phoebe here.
First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster)
Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster)
Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster)
Faster it's alright.
As Bob would doubtless point out on his radio show, this song was a Beach Boys cover of the 1964 orginal Little Honda by the Hondells. Lyrics here. My next vee-hicle. My friends say a real man wouldn't buy a Jap truck, but I tell them that they are just insecure about their manhood. They say "Buy American." I say "How many American-made parts are in your Ford?" And so it goes. Honda Ridgeline. 
 Psalm 90
1Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3You turn us back to dust, and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”
4For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.
5You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning;
6in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
7For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed. 8You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
9For all our days pass away under your wrath; our years come to an end like a sigh.
10The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11Who considers the power of your anger? Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
12So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.
13Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants!
14Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil.
16Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.
17Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands! Image: Rembrandt's David Playing the harp for Saul
Saturday, October 14. 2006
 Thanks to one of our fave bloggers, Betsy, for reminding us that today is the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.
The evil, evil Normans - Norsemen - led by William, successfully invaded and conquered England from what is now part of France, on October 14, 1066. Yes, that is a piece of the Bayeux Tapestry - a treasure trove of cool historical detail.
Have you tried Under Armour? I have both the warm weather and the Cold Gear, and I find that it all makes me feel cold and uncomfortable, even indoors. I know many people swear by it: hunters, campers, hikers, athletes, etc. I think the line was designed for pro football players. It has strong wicking properties. It fits tight and it's light. It's expensive stuff, but I just do not like it. Since I own it, I guess I will stubbornly keep trying it, and will keep not liking it. Like anchovy pizza.
When You are Old When you are old and gray and full of sleep | | | And nodding by the fire, take down this book, | | | And slowly read, and dream of the soft look | | | Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep; | | | | | How many loved your moments of glad grace, | | | And loved your beauty with love false or true; | | | But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, | | | And loved the sorrows of your changing face. | | | | | And bending down beside the glowing bars, | | | Murmur, a little sadly, how love fled | | | And paced upon the mountains overhead, | | | And hid his face amid a crowd of stars. |
Friday, October 13. 2006
 Much as I am fond of many of my up-to-the-minute blog brethren, after 1 1/2 years of this blogging project I find that we at Maggie's Farm are still too wedded, or maybe addicted, to the news cycle.
While the news cycle itself is an interesting thing that I may feel moved to write more about some day, at the moment I just want to remind our team that we do not need to be chained to it, or controlled by it. We know, up front, that the Mark Foley (it's Mark, right?) story had about 7 days in it, and the airplane in NYC had about 36 hours in it, that the Lancet story has about four days, and that the Harry Reid paperwork thing has about 3-5 days. Truth is, these stories come and go, as Solomon in Ecclesiastes reminds us constantly. We would not be bloggers if we didn't want to add our two cents to the universe - or to our modest number of devoted readers. It's kind of funny the way we bloggers receive each "news" event - delivered to us by the professional press 99% of the time - as if it were a slow ball over the center of the plate. Or an assignment to say something interesting. Like hysteric valley girls, or newspaper people trying to sell soap, it's "omigod, omigod..." and, after a few days, it's off the front page and gone forever. And then, two weeks later, the story is gone - evaporated like a summer rain on pavement - just as the Harry Reid thing will be forgotten in a couple of weeks. Ho hum, just another US representative with deals on the side, and sloppy paperwork. The world needs a blog devoted to follow-up stories, a few months out. The MSM would never bother, because it doesn't sell. Headlines sell, especially with sex and/or crime. At Maggie's Farm, we not only try to put the brakes on our personal lives which move too fast and seem to pass too quickly - we try to put the brakes on our experience of the news cycle. We do this by interspersing the blog with things that are not transient; which are not opportunties to spout off or to get the scoop. News is fun, and everyone has an opinion or a talking point or a spin or an angle or an insight on everything. As the crude expression goes, "Opinions are like a-holes: everyone has one." But what survives from the Bridgeport Post-Telegram from 1968? I know, and can tell you. Walt Kelly. Not much else. Therefore, it is the cows and the dogs and the girls and the recipes that we offer which have the endurance and solidity: the newsy stuff and our opinions about it are the entertainment, such as it is. Yes, politics are important, but most of what we address so earnestly is, in the end, ephemera. It matters because liberty matters, and liberty is the food for the human soul. But we need to bear the transience of the daily issues in mind. Our reminder, to ourselves, about the things that endure and really matter are our posts on things like cows and dogs and plants and God, etc. However, our dear News Junkie, keep up the good work. I deleted your instantaneous post about the airplane in NY Wednesday afternoon because I knew it was a non-story (until the Yankee angle came out - sad) , and you were trying to keep up. Not to worry. Not necessary. As noted on our header, we all have ADD. Hey! We are VICTIMS! But SURVIVORS! And, thankfully, we all have day jobs. If anything, we produce TOO MUCH "content", and should cut back - if we can. Image: With those thoughts, we must provide another breed of cattle. This one is the semi-obscure but ancient Limousin, a breed of beef cattle from France, of course, which makes a fine rib-eye steak for the grill. Avec pommes frites, of course, and an expensive cabernet. Read All About It! - here. And thanks much to all for being a Maggie's reader. You are good folks, and the price is right, ain't it? As long as we can last, we'll be curious about the things that endure.
Thursday, October 12. 2006
If you missed The Barrister's series here on the risks of inaction, read it, beginning with an explication of the Null Hypothesis: Fun with the Null Hypothesis, then to Appendicitis, and False Negatives and False Positives, and concluding with The Risks of Action vs. Inaction - with a comment on luck. Basic, but good and useful. Check 'em out, if you haven't.
There were all kinds of things I was afraid of at first, ranging from grizzly bears to 'mean' horses and gun-fighters; but by acting as if I was not afraid I gradually ceased to be afraid. Teddy Roosevelt
Wednesday, October 11. 2006
Opie came up with this site assembled by Prof. Alan Godlas at the Univ. of Ga. Many links to many articles, from multiple perspectives, for those who are motivated to take a closer look at Islam and violence. From checking out some of the links, the site seems like a fine store of goods.
Tuesday, October 10. 2006
I've been rich, and I've been poor. Believe me, rich is better. Mae West
Monday, October 9. 2006
Submission is, of course, the translation of the word "islam," - and also the title of Theo Van Gogh's film - the one he was killed for making. Willisms has Part one of the film on YouTube. And, speaking of YouTube, will Google buy it for 1.6 billion? Or is it just a fad?
Ye olde blogge has been interested in cattle, lately.
We have recently featured the most popular American diary breeds - the Holstein, the Jersey, the Guernsey, etc - for our city-folk readers who cannot tell a Jersey cow from a Jersey girl, and who have never milked a cow. (A post-test will eventually follow.) While there are many wild species of cattle - American Bison, European Bison, Gaur, Water Buffalo, Cape Buffalo, Yaks, etc, the domestic dairy and beef cattle breeds are all derived from the Auroch, a Eurasian species which has been extinct since the last one was killed in Poland in the 1600s. The word "cattle" is the antique French word chattel - same word as "possession". The word "steak" derives from the Saxon word for "stick" - that is, beef on a stick over the fire. Those Saxons ate well sometimes, I suppose, even without Weber grills.  A brief history of domestic cattle here. They were a great choice for domestication: relatively placid (not the bulls) grazing beasts which could provide milk, meat, labor, and leather. Since at least 6500 BC they were domesticated in Turkey, following pigs, dogs, goats, and sheep, but before horses.
Images: Aurochs from my time machine above, and an auroch from Lascaux to left.
The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. D.H. Lawrence (that's the headline quote of the most recent addition to our blogroll: Never yet Melted)
Sunday, October 8. 2006
 Look at the longitude in the photo to the right. Samizdata checks out the new Greenwich museum, with GPS in hand.
Cosmic rays affect earth's weather. Who'd a thunk it? Space News (h/t, the astonishing Anchoress) More Castro cancer news. Does the press run the Dems? Libertarian Leanings What do Playboy bunnies study in college? (h/t, SDA) "Compassionate politicians"? From a piece at Coyote: I hate it when politicians are called "caring" or "compassionate" when the sole evidence for this is the fact that they take my money and give it to someone else or build something with it that they can put their name on.
Ditto, Coyote. What's wrong with being rich? Obviously, nothing. National Post. But in Canadanistan, they seem to find that subject controversial. (h/t, SDA) The IgNobel Prize and the science of smelly feet: Worstall Happy Ramadan! Dissident Frogman Will this be a trend to abandon AP courses, as Scarsdale is considering? Not a bad idea. Another useful idea would be to return High School to 3 years the way it used to be. Proof that God exists. Ten Napel. But who needs any more proof? Pay us back, you sketchy scumbag. Wizbang. The slow death of the UN. We agree with Tangled Web: The UN is a corrupt sewer, it is incapable of ANY moral leadership, it is institutionally pro-terror, it is anti-Semitic to the core, it is rabidly anti-American, and the election of Mr. Moon will hopefully bring about its total eclipse. We need a forum for democratic nations - for those who uphold pluralist values - and the UN has moved SO FAR away from its original mission that it really is time to drive a stake through its rancid heart. The anglosphere nations should leave it and stop bankrolling this most hateful of organisations. History will record the UN as being even worse than the League of Nations.
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