We 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.
Our post about White Sharks got me thinking about the human hazards of conservation. Balanced conservation requires habitat, predators, and prey.
Some of those predators do not always play nice with people and human activities. I am thinking about sharks, Grizzlies, Black Bears, wolves, Cougars, Tigers, etc.
I think most people are more comfortable with conservation of a benign, pastoral Nature, but that is a pipe dream. Nature kills stuff. The natural imbalance where I live is mainly an infestation of White Tailed Deer. We have no wolves to control their population, and the hunters can not get to enough of them. Deer hunting is not easy, especially in semi-rural areas.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “In all your Amours, you should prefer old Women to young ones.”
Franklin delivers eight reasons for this, which I’ve condensed:
1. They know more, conversation is better. 2. They try harder. 3. Decreased if nonexistent chance of conceiving children. 4. They’ll keep the relationship quiet. 5. Sexual pleasure is the same. 6. Younger women get too involved emotionally. 7. You’ll feel less guilty than if you “debauched a virgin.” 8. “Lastly They are so grateful!!”
The author is right about much of this, but does not make enough of the reality that the students are consumers, and are seen as such by the education industry.
Flank steak is from the abs of cattle. It's inexpensive, lean, a bit tough, and tasty. If a ribeye is made for pan-frying, Flank is made for a hot charcoal grill.
Here's how we make it great: Marinate overnight in supermarket Italian dressing with some honey added. Throw on a very hot grill for a few minutes on each side so you get a good crust from the marinade and the honey. It should look like the photo inside. Rest for a few minutes, then slice thin on the bias against the grain.
Really good served with grilled vegetables: peppers, asparagus, tomatoes, squash, mushrooms, etc.
Well, the media reaction is strange. Normally the media would be interested in letting the sunshine in and finding out what the truth is. And usually the media doesn't care that much about protecting intelligence sources and methods. But I do and I will.
Except for our technologies, I say that we live today much as did wealthy Romans. Same culture. I agree with this comment at Quora, responding to a query about whether modern-day Italians are descendents of the Romans (not much):
What is more important than the genetic aspect of the "Roman" question is the legacy which Rome left to posterity: its concepts of organized society, of the Law, of tolerance of assimilated cultures and religions (up to the moment when Christianity prevailed!), its keen interest in science and culture and, last but not least, its ability to shape a language that still survives in practically all European and American languages today in its alphabet and vocabulary. Even the language we are now using to communicate owes most of its vocabulary (48%) to the language of Rome.
In this sense we can say that we are all "Romans."
Something reminded me that I have not seen any 
PRAGER:
Our post about White Sharks got me thinking about the human hazards of conservation. Balanced conservation requires habitat, predators, and prey.
I have always preferred my marshmallows to catch on fire to produce a somewhat burnt crust. Others like them just browned.