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.
We end the week with the bombshell revelations, which in point of fact are the confirmation of our now long-held suspicions, that the fabricated Trump "dossier" was in fact used as a pretext to illegally obtain a FISA warrant as legal cover to spy on first the Trump campaign in order to derail it and then the nascent Trump Administration to for all intents and purposes overthrow it. It also had a parallel goal of obfuscating Hillary's and Obama's real crimes by manufacturing evidence that "see, Trump did it too, so no big deal" or something like that.
As of now, key Republicans are pushing to have this smoking gun, nay, still-flaming howitzer, released to the public while the Democrats, many of whom being part of this "investigation" can be considered co-conspirators in the coverup if not the actual crime, are desperately trying to keep it secret.
I find all of this deeply depressing. Corruption is what comes of having a government too big and powerful.
Many Democrats see their party as the working man's choice. They want to soften capitalism's rougher edges, humanize big industry, and give the average American a fighting chance. One may (and should) disagree with their methods, but their intentions are good and their beliefs sincere.
That is not how the party elites feel. Their mantra is "open trade and open borders,"...
Political Correctness Might Be Redpilling America. Pinker is a lefty Harvard prof, and utters his share of half-truths and flat out untruths, but still interesting. He has gotten a good deal of lefty flak for supporting free speech in academia.
Smart guy, but he could never get a real job with that absurd hair-do.
Actually he (James Jamerson) and Brian Wilson were my two biggest influences: James just because he was so good and melodic. Brian because he went to very unusual places. Brian would use, if you were playing in C, he might stay on the G a lot just to hold it all back, and I started to realize the power you had within the band.
Not actually vengeful power, just that you could actually... even though the whole band is going in A [sings single notes] you could go in E [sings surging single bass note], and they’d go, Let us off the hook! And you’re actually in control then, an amazing thing. So I sussed that and got particularly interested in playing the bass.
To many progressives and indeed elites of all persuasions, Trump is also the Prince of Anti-culture: mindlessly naïve American boosterism; conspicuous, 1950s-style unapologetic consumption; repetitive and limited vocabulary; fast-food culinary tastes; Queens accent; herky-jerky mannerisms; ostentatious dress; bulging appearance; poorly disguised facial expressions; embracing rather than sneering at middle-class appetites; a lack of subtlety, nuance, and ambiguity.
Donald Trump is certainly a vulgar fellow of questionable intelligence, and the country might be better off with someone else in the White House, but where exactly would that leave black America?
Good question. What have the lefties done to effect the lives of urban black Americans in 50 years other than enough free stuff to thrive? That is Trump's argument to them. Trump is no racist at all. He just expects a lot out of everybody. He's been an employer in private business, so he is tough. So are we all, regardless of skin tone. Just my perspective, of course. I hire and fire more frequently than I would like, of all colors.
Yet while a biased media hyperventilating is no virtue, Trump’s great flaw is that he keeps giving them ammunition. One minute he’s riding high, the next he’s running for his life.
Nothing scandalizes a leftist like the truth. Point out that women and men are different, that black Americans commit a disproportionate amount of violent crime, that most terrorist acts are committed by Muslims, and the Left leaps to its collective feet in openmouthed shock, like Margaret Dumont after a Groucho Marx wisecrack. This is racism! This is sexism! This is some sort of phobia! I’m shocked, shocked to find facts being spoken in polite company!
Photo is from a buddy who took a newbie skiing in CT on the weekend. Cold winter sports are great fun. Skiing is almost equal to sex, but it's (skiing) more of a hassle. Outdoor skating and pick-up hockey is a blast. Paddle is also, if you don't have a bum shoulder like I do. Our local paddle courts have been packed every night for the past week. Best thing about 5 degree (F) outdoor sports? Beers later. Winter is for outdoor fun.
It’s a zero-sum struggle for attention that rewards the most immoderate voices – and, without question, Donald Trump is a master of the game. His unbridled language mobilizes his anti-elite followers, even as his policies appeal to more conventional Republicans and conservatives.
Makes some sense. Almost everybody can do something useful. As I said before, we have a Down's gal bagging at my grocery 8 hrs/day, every day. A cheerful presence who clearly loves feeling useful.
The association os this speech with the National Lawyers Guild expressing his support for Olson/Soliah and Joanne Chesimard, for the Symbionese Liberation Army and the Black Liberation Army along with his respect for “Minister Farrakhan” and his prayer for Castro give us, more or less, the whole package on Keith Ellison.
He was formed by the New York press and continues to operate according to its Thunderdome-style rulebook. His scathing denunciation of the overrated Bannon was brutal, funny, over the top, and absolutely withering. Then his lawyers followed up with a cease and desist letter.
But it came with a price...
Yes it does. Nevertheless, Trump sells! He might even help rescue the news business by being so colorful and outspoken.
Maggie's has run an "Urban Hike" for each of the last 3 years. We've gone north from the Battery and Delancey Street, in NYC, all the way up to as far as Grant's Tomb. We even have traveled south from Lincoln Center to Washington Square Park.
All along the way, we checked out interesting historical, literary, and geographic sites as we got to know each other just a little better. Maggie's audience is a fun and interesting group of people, and we get together because we enjoy learning and having a good time.
To that end, Bird Dog and I have loosely planned our Urban Hike for 2018 in late April. It should be warm and sunny enough. No date yet, we'll have that in a month or two.
Meantime - remember - BROOKLYN. If you have any fun facts or trivia that you'd like to share, post them below in comments. We'll start by hiking over Roebling's wonder, the Brooklyn Bridge, and after that? Who knows (yet)? I know if I can get the Red Hook or Brooklyn Breweries tacked on, as well as maybe Widow Jane's Distillery, I'll be in good shape to let Mrs. Bulldog drive home.
Around the world 
Are Mothers Happier 