Monday, April 29. 2019
"If God only loved those of us who are perfect, He would have no one to love."
Same applies to us, and to our fellow men and women. Best rule of relationships is to forgive eachother's faults and flaws. Best hope for relationships is to hope people do the same for us.
Friday, April 26. 2019
The US government currently spends a higher % of GDP on higher ed than many countries with "free" higher ed.
So is American higher ed simply too expensive? And if so, why?
Wednesday, April 24. 2019
Tuesday, April 23. 2019
Like Yale, Middlebury College is terrifying its students with diverse points of view on life. In this case, a Polish member of the European Parliament.
At least the brave administration promises never to do such a frightening thing again.
Thursday, April 18. 2019
Making Middlebury safe for speakers: A modest proposal
Can we admit that American higher ed is mostly run by pussies (mostly male) without principles? Not setting a good example.
Wednesday, April 17. 2019
It depends on what one means by "equality," doesn't it?
Equality under law is the most important form of equality, and is remarkably standard now in Western nations. Equality of opportunity is important too. Equality of personal attributes, along with wealth and power, are another matter.
de Toqueville thought a lot about the topic. WILL TOCQUEVILLE’S DILEMMA CRASH AMERICA? Is equality a danger to freedom in a democratic United States?
1. The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
2. Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advance auction in stolen goods.
3. Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
4. Democracy, too, is a religion. It is the worship of jackals by jackasses.
5. Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.
6. Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
7. Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.
8. If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner.
9. As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
10. All government, of course, is against liberty.
Saturday, April 13. 2019
Last year I had a bit of spare cash burning a hole in my pocket, so instead of a second exotic spousal trip we decided to do a little work on ye olde homestead (it is, indeed, an old farmhouse, 1820) to enjoy as we begin to experience a touch of grey.
Not a large project, but everything is complex in an old rambling firetrap of a place. You have to make some steps. We combined two small bedrooms into one gracious one, and added 14' to the upstairs (while expanding the kitchen workspace downstairs) for a walk-in closet and space to put an upstairs washer and drier.
Not a big deal, really, but why we put off putting that washer and drier upstairs for all of these years seems crazy to me. Sure could have used it when the kids were little. It feels sinfully luxurious but I think I earned it. GE machines, ok but maybe not the best.
The plumbing was a little complex, of course. Plaster walls.
Friday, April 12. 2019
The Moose, a monster animal of the North Woods lowlands and marshes, has been moving south into Massachusetts and Connecticut. They now seem to be breeding in CT.
I blame global cooling. In any event, It's one more animal to try not to hit with your car.
Wednesday, April 10. 2019
Joel Kotkin on China today (podcast)
Sunday, April 7. 2019
What New York’s Public Schools Could Learn From Stuyvesant
These great books podcasts are excellent. I listened to the one on Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court yesterday.
Worth bookmarking.
Tuesday, April 2. 2019
About the global warming echo chamber:
As a university professor, I am best positioned to report on the widespread incompetence and malfeasance found specifically in academe. A work colleague once corrected me on a matter concerning the greenhouse effect. With no scientific training, he had recently moderated a panel discussion on climate change in an attempt to convince students to support our university president’s Green Initiative, which as far as I could tell reduced carbon dioxide emissions not at all but placed undue strain on the university’s finances, which in turn put upward pressure on tuition costs. I mentioned to my colleague in passing that, from an educational standpoint, the term greenhouse gas was an unfortunate misnomer since the architectural design of an actual greenhouse is not closely related to the physical properties of tropospheric greenhouse gases. ..
Saturday, March 30. 2019
Photo is a cabin at Phantom Ranch.
Arguably the best hike in the USA are the trails down - and back up - the Grand Canyon. It's the only way to see the Grand Canyon up close and personal. The hike up takes twice as long as the hike down, roughly. It's not too challenging but it is glorious.
We did it 12 years ago and stayed 2 nites at the rustic Phantom Ranch on the riverbank. That's the way to do it. That first cold beer at the bottom is the best beer in the world even if it's Bud Lite in a can. The food there is great, thanks to the mules who carry everything down and up all day. Phantom Ranch has some cabins, 4 dorms, and a wonderful mess hall.
Look at the photos.
It's not a hike for young kids, and it's a hike for spring or fall - not summer. Too hot. One handy service they have is that they will take a duffel bag down for you on mules, and back up when you leave. Thus all you need to hike with is a daypack with water and snacks.
When you're out there, why not hop over to Sedona for some easy hiking in red rock country? Lots of pleasant hikes, few of the basic ones long or arduous:
Thursday, March 28. 2019
From Christakis, the Yale Prof in our morning links
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