Thursday, August 16. 2007
Big doings this week: WaPo
Before the SAT, colleges gave their own achievement tests to see whether you were prepared. In 1926, the SAT was intended to be a "progressive", democratizing influence by testing your "aptitude" instead of your mastery of Latin, Greek, French, chemistry and trigonometry. At the time, the elite prep schools did the best job preparing kids for the elite colleges' requirements. Charles Murray on educational testing, college admissions, class and genes. He suggests dumping the SAT, but keeping the Achievement Tests. His discussion makes sense to me: a college ought to be able to state what they expect in terms of preparation. On the same subject, Ivy Leaguers take untimed SATs. ADD and dyslexia, ya know?
The Global Cooling Crisis. See the Newsweek piece from '75, at the bottom. h/t, Memeorandum - Discussed further by Tigerhawk
There are 20,000 species of Sunflowers. This is one of them. This happy patch sprung up on the edge of our stream, and it is welcome to stay as long as it wants to. 
Wednesday, August 15. 2007
 We like all of the DR products (a great Vermont company) but the one we use the most on the farm is our sturdy and indestructible 17 hp Field and Brush Mower.
The machine really does take down 2" saplings and chews them up, and it can run faster than a weary, sweaty, dirty man can walk. The only downside is that using the thing is hard work: you have to muscle it around to turn and maneuver it, and it is heavy. Using it for a few hours ends up being a good work out, unless you are just mowing tall grass on a flat surface. I hate saying it, but it isn't a machine for most females. We tend to use it in places that the tractors can't get to with the brushwacker, and on slopes that are too steep for the tractors.
Two links to our friend Dino: Two books from 1962: Harrington and Freidman A Petraeus Preview
VJ Day. Photo is the White House lawn, Aug. 15, 1945. (Thanks, Roger de H.) 
Mostly Joe Pye Weed and Goldenrod on this tiny sand island in our trout stream. The butterflies love the Joe Pye Weed, mostly Monarchs and Tiger Swallowtails. 
Tuesday, August 14. 2007
 When the Marquis de Lafayette snuck out of France against the King's wishes in 1777 to join the many unemployed French - and some German - officers who wanted to aid the Revolutionary cause, he was 19 years old, with a pregnant, lovely - and enormously wealthy - wife at home. He loved to spend her money, but what he really wanted was the glory of his military ancestors, most of whom, like his father, died in battle.
And, like any French aristocrat, marriage was no obstacle to his skirt-chasing. A wonderful summer read: Adopted Son: Washington and Lafayette, and the Friendship that Saved the Revolution.
On Maggie's Farm, our Jewelweed (aka Touch-Me-Not) is now in bloom everywhere there are damp, semi-shady spots. Where there is Jewelweed, there will be Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds if you sit down and watch. 
Monday, August 13. 2007
It is all explained here. h/t, American Digest
 The Porn Myth, by Naomi Wolf, via Dr. Bob who, speaking of porn, needs to learn more about beavers.
Porn is popular, but is it any good? Our view is that the human mind is the most pornographic thing that exists, and probably should be banned.
Finally, a Che t-shirt I would wear, via NE Repub. Be the first on your block to proudly display the body of the "doctor" mass-murdering thug and pig of a human being. 
Sunday, August 12. 2007
Today on the Farm, 5:30 AM. For the full effect, add the sound of an early-rising croaking raven to the photo. 
A Bird Dog pup practicing lawn mowing on slopes. It's always exciting when the front wheels leave the ground. The photo doesn't capture the slope. 
Share Maggie's Farm - don't hoard us! Help keep us inspired and chugging along during these dog days of summer by sending us around to your million friends. That is all we will ever ask for. But if our readers insist on continuing to mail cash to our Maggie's account, well, that is just great too. Nothing smaller than wrapped ten-packs of circulated 100s, please, or it isn't worth our trouble. Mail cash to: Mr. Churchie la Femme, c/o CYA Assets Associates, Ltd, George Town, Grand Cayman. 
Photo: A handsome 1925 Doble steamer. I remember my Granny explaining to me why her next-door neighbor had a funny low extension on the back of their garage. The prior owner needed the extension to fit their fancy new Stanley Steamer. That funny lean-to extension remains there today, and is surely useful for today's cars.
From La Nozze de Figaro, Bartoli and Fleming. Dang Spanish words in there are annoying.
Saturday, August 11. 2007
Gen. Philip Sheridan, an avid hunter and ornithologist, played a large role in the early conservation movement, especially at Yellowstone. Painting: Sheridan's famous 20-mile ride from Winchester VA to Cedar Creek, on his war horse Rienzi. The Union victory at the Battle of Cedar Creek helped an unpopular Lincoln gain re-election by a war-weary nation. Every school kid once knew this poem.
Mostly pre-posting this weekend, because your editor (photo below) will be in cow-land and happily without modern conveniences, and thus unable to serve the gate-keeping function. 
Dr. Bliss on Do Americans expect too much from marriage? Fish Chowda' and Fish Fumet Almost Everything about Concrete Does a college degree mean anything nowadays? Motor-sailers
Sonnet XCVll How like a winter hath my absence been From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! What old December's bareness everywhere! And yet this time remov'd was summer's time, The teeming autumn, big with rich increase, Bearing the wanton burthen of the prime, Like widow'd wombs after their lords' decease: Yet this abundant issue seem'd to me But hope of orphans and unfather'd fruit; For summer and his pleasures wait on thee, And thou away, the very birds are mute; Or if they sing, 'tis with so dull a cheer That leaves look pale, dreading the winter's near.
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