Maggie's Farm

You know you want this

The Roku Soundbridge. There's a Wi-Fi music system and a Network Music Player which, among other things, will send a wireless signal from the PC to your good speaker system. Too bad they don't combine the two products into one.

I think I "need" the Network Music Player. Hey, Santa - are you online?

Duck Hunting Safety

Drowning and hypothermia kill duck hunters each fall and winter. It figures, because going out on the winter waters in small open boats in bad weather, wearing heavy layers of clothing, probably isn't the smartest thing to do. But it's in the nature of guys to do stupid and reckless things sometimes. This company sells inflatable hypothermia camo outerwear made by Mustang. It could save your life. No, we do not get paid for this advt. All of our advertising has been free, thus far, in support of Commerce, Capitalism, and Good Stuff!

But is it "Art"?

"A distinction between art and entertainment isn't worth making."
George Balanchine

Reading a short piece in the CSM (my favorite newspaper right now besides the New York Sun) about how comic books are being featured, and presented as serious high art, at LA's Museum of Contemporary Art, triggered an ill-formed thought that has been percolating in the back of my mind.

And it's not the usual ranting about "That's not real Art."  It's that the notion of "serious art" or "high art" is the real problem. I'd like to replace the word "art" with the word "pictures." Then we can start to talk.

COLONEL DON CONROY'S EULOGY,
          by his son Pat Conroy, 1998

 The children of fighter pilots tell different stories than other kids do. None of our fathers can write a will or sell a life insurance policy or fill out a prescription or administer a flue shot or explain what a poet meant. We tell of fathers who land on aircraft carriers at pitch-black night with the wind howling out of the China Sea. Our fathers wiped out aircraft batteries in the Philippines and set Japanese soldiers on fire when they made the mistake of trying to overwhelm our troops on the ground.

Your Dads ran the barber shops and worked at the post office and delivered the packages on time and sold the cars, while our Dads were blowing up fuel depots near Seoul, were providing extraordinarily courageous close air support to the beleaguered Marines at the Chosin Reservoir, and who once turned the Naktong River red with blood of a retreating North Korean battalion. We tell of men who made widows of the wives of our nations' enemies and who made orphans out of all their children.

You don't like war or violence? Or napalm? Or rockets? Or cannons or death rained down from the sky? Then let's talk about your fathers, not ours. When we talk about the aviators who raised us and the Marines who loved us, we can look you in the eye and say "you would not like to have been American's enemies when our fathers passed overhead". We were raised by the men who made the United States of America the safest country on earth in the bloodiest century in all recorded history. Our fathers made sacred those strange, singing names of battlefields across the Pacific: Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the Chosin Reservoir, Khe Sanh and a thousand more. We grew up attending the funerals of Marines slain in these battles. Your fathers made communities like Beaufort decent and prosperous and functional; our fathers made the world safe for democracy.

Winning and Losing

All credit to Pennywit-Multifaria for highlighting this quote by Ann Applebaum, arguing in the Washington Post that "Iraq may turn out to be a mixed bag":

"[W]hat if all of this vocabulary -- winning, losing, victory, defeat -- is simply misplaced? There are, after all, wars that are not actually won or lost. There are wars that achieve some of their goals, that result only in partial solutions and that leave much business unfinished. There are wars that do not end with helicopters evacuating Americans from the embassy roof but that do not produce a victorious march into Berlin, either. There are wars that end ambivalently -- wars, for example, such as the one we fought in Korea."

Right. But what are our goals? 1. Get rid of Saddam. 2. Kill a bunch of terrorists. 3. Establish some political freedom in the middle east (hopefully friendly with the US). Three out of three ain't bad. Maybe we already "won," and just don't know it. Mad bombers breed like rats in the middle-east - you can never get rid of all of them - they are part of life. Witness Netanya.

Dems will go down on Iraq and Alito: Chapman. Wish they would learn - or glad they don't learn - that there would be lots more Dems if they didn't pander to their wackos. Hillary gets it.

"Raise the white flag, boys." Morrissey on the Dem. approach to warfare, at Daily Standard

What liberal media? Nice find, Lee. Israeli bomber?

Leonard Wood and running empires: Max Boot in WSJ

One feels inclined to say that the intention that man should be "happy" is not included in the plan of Creation.

Sigmund Freud

A Note from Netanya

An email from our pal Nathan in Netanya yesterday (author of our weekly - each Tuesday -  Aliyah Diary):

Bombing in Netanya yesterday. Quite terrible. The guard who was
killed, grabbed the fellow by the shoulder as he appeared suspicious.
At the same time, a policewoman driving by saw the same fellow and
shouted out to the guard to pull the man's hand from his bag.  She
jumped out of her car and ran towards them. As the man blew himself
up, she fell to the ground four meters away.

One question asked here, is whether the guard should have simply shot
the man. But, there is also concern here that being too quick on the
draw (as happened with a soldier and a 15 year old a few weeks back)
can kill innocents.  Not easy at all. I was in Netanya studying
Hebrew; quite safe from the bombing, but somber the mood afterwards.
Four killed on the spot; a half dozen critically wounded and some
dozens wounded.  Life continues, but it dampens people's spirits. The
mall where it happened was splattered with blood for hours afterwards;
the tiles on the wall lifted away and pock-marked from shrapnel.

Too many are suffering. It does seem to me that the palestinians have
a talent mostly for destruction. Saul Bellow once wrote that the Germans
were good at two things: making cars and killing Jews. Seems that the
palestinians have only got the knack for half the job.

Update from Nathan today:

Those confirmed dead include Eliyah Rosen, a 39 year old mother of
three, a psychologist; Daniel Golani, 45 , who had come to the mall to
look at opening a store; Naim Amram, 26, the guard who apprehended the
bomber, but did not shoot him,  a graduate from the air force;
Alexhandra Garmitzki, 65 , from Ukraine, whose only son is a doctor;
and Keinan Tzoami, 19, who requested delay in army service in order to
help his father's carpentry shop.  Zichron L'vracha.

The policewoman, Shoshana Atiay-Deloya had drawn her gun as she ran
towards the bomber, but didn't shoot as there were too many people
around.

Polonius in Israel: Aliyah tales, 11-22-05

Polonius starts with my memory of  a Mr. T. key fob I saw in Toy Boat
Ice Cream Parlor and Assorted Toys Shop on Clement in San Francisco.
Some will recall Mr. T. from the TV show which was a comic echo of
Mission Impossible. Mr. T., the black man with a Mohawk, laconic,
strong, of fierce mien.  When he moved to Lake Park, Illinois, a tres
chic far north suburb of Chicago, known for its lots measured in
acres, its horse trails and its trees, and when he learned he was
allergic to pollen, T. got out his chain saw and cut down all the
trees on his multi-acred property.
    But the key fob is one such that displays his mug and beneath it a
series of multicolored buttons, which when pressed, will growl at you
with Mr. T.-isms like, "Don't mess with me, Man!"  or "The end of your
story is the start of my glory," and such.
    Nu, what's this got to do with Polonius in Israel?  Imagine a Mr.
Polonius key fob, which when pressed, spouted inanities.  Inanities
that finally pressed Hamlet to silence Polonius hidden behind the
curtain.  I generally picture this with a thrust of Hamlet's sword,
but once saw an updated version in which Hamlet uses a .22 caliber.
Not as moving. Something about the intimacy and immediacy of a fencing
move, a thrust, blade briefly buried in velvet curtain, a slow fall
and silence.
    But this Polonius, the one in my ulpan, spouts, generally biblical
exhortations.

And more Botticelli

Mystic Crucifixion, below, (c. 1500), is among Botticelli's latest paintings. The picture is, sadly, in very poor condition, but can be seen at the Fogg Museum in Cambridge. Worth a trip. Note c.1500 Florence in the background, with the walls of the city - it has not changed much. I'd enlarge the picture if I could.

What a contrast with the popular and charming Primavera and Venus and Mars. With this amazing, pseudo-Medieval and almost Expressionistic picture, we will leave Botticelli for a while so as not to test the patience of our readers.

When people are presented with the alternatives of hating themselves for their failure or hating others for their success, they seldom choose to hate themselves.

Thomas Sowell

DNC supports illegal immigration. There's a winning formula...if you let foreigners vote. (Why not let the whole world vote? A lame doofus Kerry by a landslide, with the French vote. Wasn't he French, or just look French, or whatever?) CA Yank

Got an idea - the UNternet: Let the UN start their own internet. Why didn't the UN think of that? All it takes is a big server and a good programmer. And they can build in all the controls China and the other dictator countries want, from the ground, up. It will be a big hit - Go For It, UN! Competition between free speech and bureaucratic totalitarianism. A good fight. Star Wars. They can call it the UNternet. A piece on the UN and the internet here: Belmont

The Prof. beats up on Jefferson. As always, he has a point. Tommy had a way with words, though, didn't he?

Fla. taxpayers supporting terrorist-founded school. Very bad idea. LGF

Merry Christmas, Tiny Tim

Anyone who is offended by the word "Christmas" is worse than a Scrooge. But I do not believe than anyone truly is offended: It's a pose. You'd need to be deeply paranoid to take offense at the mention of anyone's religious beliefs or Holy Days.

Nay, not paranoid - paranoid and hostile.

We, and the entire anglophone world, live in Christian-based cultures, and we are extremely fortunate to do so - or could I say blessed to do so. Whether we are true believers or secular Christians, or even non-Christians, the celebration means a lot to the human spirit in this culture. It deserves respect and, in my opinion, gratitude. And it is meant to be fun, too. So join in the celebration, people, and learn a little bit about Jesus, too. It won't hurt you: it's a message about love - a stern yet joyful message about love and grace and mercy.

That is why stuff like this ticks me off. It's worse than Russia during the Soviet era, or France.

And it looks like we will have a White Advent in New England, tonight. Wonderful. Snow and Christmastime go together up here. If you cannot relate to Christmas, or feel hostile towards it, or just don't get it, watch this and this. You'll understand how the miracle of birth and the parallel miracle of rebirth affect people.

For another kind of approach to the subject, try this at RTP: "Keep pissing Santa off, neo-yuppie scum."

Afghanistan's Railroads

A Brit railroad buff named Grantham has written an interesting history of Afghanistan's railroads, which ends up being a history of Afghanistan itself. Afghanistan has been a part of "The Great Game" of international politics for a long time. At present, the country is basically a railroad-free zone.

Thanks, Chris, for forwarding this piece which, without the web, almost no-one would ever read.

Man errs as long as he strives.

Goethe

A Maggie's Farm Home Church

Bird Dog's, and, coincidentally, our long-lost cousin Gwynnie's, ancestral family church, Holy Cross, in Greenford Magna, Middlesex. Very pleased to hear from recent family visitors that the parish is still thriving, is blessed with a wonderful pastor, and is filled with the spirit of God. God bless them, with all best wishes for a holy and inspiring Advent this year to our friends across the big pond. The miracle of Advent is the re-birth of all of us, world-wide, in our hearts and souls, in Christ. What a joy that is, if we can keep it in us.

Lurkers vs. The Blog People

"Lurkers" was an "old" style term for those who visit blogs without leaving a comment or a trace. Nowadays, many popular blogs require registration (which never seems to work right for me - or I would spread my Bird Dog wisdom around more widely), and other obstacles to commenters, in an effort to prevent spammers, vandals, and the like. Others simply eliminated their comments capability, as we used to do. (We read all comments, eventually, but only respond when we have something to say.)

This comes to mind because Rick Moran, one of the finest bloggers in the world, tends to leave a comment when he stops by. We do appreciate that, being suckers for love and validation, like all dogs.

Just got back from taking the pup for a walk in the woods (sans gun today - tomorrow gunning), and the pup naturally leaves a drop of pee with his special scent on rocks and tree trunks -wherever appropriate. Please feel welcome to similarly mark your scent on Maggie's Farm. But in words, please. Do not pee on us - life does enough of that.

That is why we require no registration - and we never will, unless we run into a problem with destructive people. We aren't big enough (yet) to attract the bad guys, but we have had plenty of spammer problems.

More Botticelli

In his later years, Botticelli fell on hard times because, under the personal influence of the evangelist Savonarola, he quit painting secular works. His latest work refers back to Fra Angelico and medieval styles of painting, but with the added ingredients of prophetic and mystical references. Need I mention that I think these late paintings of his are mind-blowing? From about 1500, the one below is Mystic Nativity. Will show you the best one soon. It's difficult to believe that Sandro Botticelli died poor and forgotten, after having been Florence's most popular painter, in his prime.

Katrina was just another battlefield of the culture wars: Reason

Narnia already under ferocious attack from the Christian-haters. Chronicle of Higher Ed.

How Shadegg moved Bush on immigration - a little bit. The Hill

Art Town, USA. Paducah, KY? CSM

Limbo to be erased from RCC doctrine. Not the dance, one hopes. Bird

Isaac Hayes. Can you dig it? Good review at Blogcritics.

Sexomnia? Drunksex

Standing Up for Christmas

If you want to stand up for Christmas, the next time someone says "Happy Holidays," respond with "Oh? What holiday is it?"

We enter duck season these weeks, in many areas of the US.

The noble Mallard is the King of Ducks in the US. He is our most abundant and adaptable duck, and the tastiest, at least for those for whom the others are too gamey. (Not for me, tho.) He is found across the entire US and most of Canada, wherever water is nearby, from parks to prairies, and everyone is familiar with this handsome drake who is often seen in companionship with his plain, brown hen.

These ducks are highly migratory in the mid-west and west, following unfrozen water south. (Like most species of ducks, they tend to prefer fresh to salt water.) Thus their widespread population is heavily concentrated in the southern US during the winter. Many duck hunters will shoot nothing but drake Mallards. And they are a fine bird, even if you do not hunt them. More info about the sporty Mallard here.

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!

Charles Dickens

Will Iraq ever be ready to defend itself? Dirty War in The New Republic.

No Christmas Tree in Boston this year. Maybe no Christmas either. Blame Bush

Whose politics are filled with hate? Michelle

Overfishing in inland waters. Science Daily

CIA discovers it's been using black highlighters. Onion

Here's a shot from our Ducks Unlimited Dinner Thursday night. We have a superb committee of guys who put this together each year, and an excellent crowd of semi-rowdy and actively-bidding sportsmen. We must have raffled at least 15 rifles and shotguns, among the 100+ cool items and trips, etc we raffled and auctioned. Good, wholesome, well-lubricated American fun for the cause of conservation. Now we begin planning for next year, but first the committee will relax and enjoy a few pheasant shoots with the dogs before the snow flies.