Maggie's FarmWe 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 Recent Essays Behind the Front Page
Categories
QuicksearchLinks
Blog Administration |
Wednesday, November 3. 2010Rough seasI love this stuff, testing your boat-handling skills against serious seas. I always loved to take my 23' cuddy cabin Sea Ox out after storms and hurricanes, for practice. The big following seas are the ones that frighten me. (h/t, Theo):
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
21:22
| Comments (4)
| Trackbacks (0)
Monday, November 1. 2010Why men have shorter lives than womenMore at Theo -
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
15:09
| Comments (2)
| Trackbacks (0)
Another Ohio picFrom the prior weekend. Big fields, especially compared with our small fields in New England. This is south of Gambier, near Homer.
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
13:34
| Comments (3)
| Trackbacks (0)
Friday, October 29. 2010My first time At WalMartReaders might doubt me, but last Saturday was my first visit to a WalMart. It was the "Supercenter" in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. What a place! Open 24 hrs/day. Humongous. I realized one thing about this place: Sam Walton did not really have a new idea. He just took the old country General Store, expanded the hell out of it, and got big enough to control the prices of his suppliers. I may be the last person on earth to learn these things. Why didn't Woolworth's do what Sam did?
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
22:43
| Comments (29)
| Trackbacks (0)
Thursday, October 28. 2010Doonesbury's Trudeau Satirizes HimselfGarry Trudeau's Doonesbury comic strips have been featured on newspapers� funnies pages for four-decades. Some newspapers have moved the strip to their editorial pages, since their theme is often � aside from unfunny � starkly and one-sidedly political. In a Slate interview, Garry Trudeau unknowingly satirizes himself.
Then,
Trudeau says in the interview that �Any obvious satirical target I pass up is usually spared because of a failure of imagination.�
Posted by Bruce Kesler
in Our Essays, Politics, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
12:47
| Comments (9)
| Trackbacks (0)
Today's Poll: Halloween TricksWhat sorts of petty vandalism did you engage in on Halloween? I got in trouble for chalking somebody's driveway with vulgar words one time. As an adult, I also got in trouble with my wife one year when a neighbor and I escorted our young kids, and we ourselves trick-or-treated our friends and neighbors for cocktails and beers. We got too many. Not our fault for being overserved.
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
10:55
| Comments (12)
| Trackbacks (0)
StandardbredThe Amish breed Standardbreds, trotters and pacers, for transportation. They are longer and heavier than Thoroughbreds. It's a delight to see an Amish trotter weaving through the strip mall traffic in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, head held high, prancing along, and mostly keeping up with in-town traffic. This one was tied to a lamppost while the couple shopped at GoodWill. Another below the fold - Continue reading "Standardbred"
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
05:30
| Comments (11)
| Trackbacks (0)
Wednesday, October 27. 2010Only one artwork per dayIt's taken me many years to realize that I can really only take in one piece of art per day. One painting - not a gallery-full. One poem, not a collection of poetry. One dance, not a whole dance concert. One piece of classical music, not a whole concert. One Chippendale highboy, not a room full of Chippendale. Maybe it's my limitation in what I am able to process. Maybe it's my ADD, or maybe I am slow, but to me a wonderful thing is like a found jewel, or like finding an ancient coin washed up on a beach. I assume that the people who make these things put a lot into them, and they can demand the same of me. Thus one very special thing per day is plenty for me. I do not like to linger in museums - I prefer to hit and run.
Correggio, Venus with Mercury and Cupid, c. 1520
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
16:20
| Comments (4)
| Trackbacks (0)
'Stranger Danger' and the Decline of HalloweenWSJ: No child has ever been killed by poisoned candy. Ever. (We'll do a poll on Halloween tricks tomorrow.)
Posted by Gwynnie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
14:02
| Comments (13)
| Trackbacks (0)
Garrison Keillor has me peggedHow does Garrison Keillor know me this well, without having ever met me? This describes me to a T:
Truth is, I am a registered Repub but think of myself as a Conservative, despite my always testing out as "Centrist." Why is Gary so angry? Why are Lefties always angry? I am almost never angry, but often cranky and indignant. Why does Gary hate me? I have enjoyed his humor very much over the years, but his politics are puerile and hyper-emotional. I should add that I am a "know-noting flat earther" too. Yep, that's me: an Ivy Chem major and dumb as a post, clinging to my Bible and guns for dear life. P-town Harbor, September.
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
05:00
| Comments (2)
| Trackbacks (0)
Tuesday, October 26. 2010I don't really like her very much (the new Queen Elizabeth)The new Queen Elizabeth. h/t, Theo. She has the hull of a liner, but the superstructure of a Miami Beach hotel. Everything is quite elegant inside, but on ships like this you can too easily forget that you are on a ship at sea. I prefer smaller ships, like many of the Holland-American line, that feel like big boats instead of like giant hotel-resorts. Call me a snob if you want to. I like the Ryndam, below. I was looking at her because we need somewhere new to go to in 2011 - and I love ships 'n boats.
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
17:50
| Comments (10)
| Trackbacks (0)
Cannot and AnymoreI cannot stand my confusion anymore. The word is "cannot," not "can not." "Can't" always works informally, of course. "Anymore" and "any more" are more confusing: "Any more (two words) means "no more"; anymore (one word) means "now," "currently," "at this time.""
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
15:25
| Comments (7)
| Trackbacks (0)
I am an eliteI suppose people would classify me as a member of the American "elite." Like several of us Maggie's Farmers, WASP New England roots, prep school and double-Ivy-educated, fairly well-bred with a good pedigree, decent table manners when sober, a semi-entertaining but pedantic dinner companion, and in a supposedly-respectable profession. I am a member of blue blood clubs (and clubs that used to be), and I try to watch my grammar. I wear tweed jackets and a bow tie in order to emphasize my existence - and my adherence to tradition. I avoid a flashy life style, and buy my work clothes at good old, fashionless Brooks Brothers like my Dad and Grandpa. I am not wealthy, but relatively comfortable for now, with my kids through with college. Yes, I am in some elite category, for better or worse. But not an elitist, I think. In my life, since my arrogant youth, I have dedicated myself to learning new things every day. We isolated and insulated elites can learn a heck of a lot of wisdom, and a lot about life, from getting away from the elites. America has no class system. Wise and savvy people are found everywhere, in equal proportions. Fools, also. Most people are like me, just another human: Part fool, part smart, part insane, and a teeny bit wise. The latter came from life, not school. The regular American fellow with his boots on the American ground and struggling on the American soil knows more about life than any elites in Washington. The "problem" is that most regular American folks do not seek power over others - and thus do not seek political careers unless they are personally insecure or failures (there are rare exceptions). The tea party warns of a New Elite. They're right. Elites are the people who overestimate themselves and
Posted by The Barrister
in Our Essays, Politics, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
11:32
| Comments (8)
| Trackbacks (0)
Monday, October 25. 2010Glenn on the ElitesThe Instyman posts something which might almost be considered a blog post instead of an Instyism. Good stuff, with some Heinlein for dessert. One quote:
"Read the whole thing."
Posted by Bird Dog
in Politics, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
20:06
| Comments (4)
| Trackbacks (0)
Not just for aging yentas anymore
Mah-Jongg and Martinis? WSJ: Dust Off Your Old Game Table: Mah-Jongg Is Making a Comeback
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
15:02
| Comment (1)
| Trackbacks (0)
Sunday, October 24. 2010Truthy outdoor furniturePurists might object, but these things are made of "resin," not wood. They are heavy. They have been outdoors for over a year and had accumulated mildew and dirt, so I decided to give them a bleach spray bath last weekend. It worked like magic. I asked Mrs. BD whether she wanted me to put them inside someplace for the winter and she told me not to bother. "They're resin." I said "You mean plastic." I never realized it. I am happy to know that a lifetime of scraping, painting, and replacing rotting Adirondack chairs is over. Seaside Casual Furniture, from Rhode Island. Only somebody like Sipp would notice that they aren't the real thing.
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
13:21
| Comments (7)
| Trackbacks (0)
A fine work boat
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
05:00
| Comments (5)
| Trackbacks (0)
Saturday, October 23. 2010Needs workOne of the good things about this handyman special on Route 6 in Wellfleet is that you can just walk up the dirveway to the Cumbie and the liquor store. What does anybody really need that cannot be got at one of those places?
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
04:50
| Comments (6)
| Trackbacks (0)
Friday, October 22. 2010How the poor are differentA re-post of Shrinkwrapped's fine and thoughtful essay on the causes of poverty in prosperous and opportunity-filled places. He begins with a quote from Heather MacDonald:
We have often discussed here that modern life is not only packed with opportunity, but that it is more demanding and challenging than that of the life of a serf on a Lord's estate or of a slave on a plantation. Freedom and free markets are part of what makes it challenging and worthwhile. America is about opportunity, not security. That's why people want to come here. People who just want freebies go to England or Germany. Perhaps this sounds like a heartless post during an extended recession. We believe in charity, but we also believe in holding people accountable for their fates and expect them to take charge of their lives as best they can. Furthermore, we do not view truckloads of money as the ultimate goal of life. Our shrink friend has another post on the topic this week: The Culture of Poverty. Those without socialist ideologies know that poverty in America is often temporary, often by life-style choice, sometimes by bad luck, and often because of dysfunctional life choices and/or character flaws and mental disability and illness. And, for contrast, here's the view from the Left. SurfOver the transom:
Here is Little's website.
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
12:13
| Comment (1)
| Trackbacks (0)
Cave-parentsIs it time to return to caveman parenting?
It sounds like Noble Savage silliness to me - the idealization of the primitive - although I am sure stone-age tribal people did share in watching the kids. Tribal kid-watching still makes sense today. The
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
11:04
| Comments (9)
| Trackbacks (0)
Thursday, October 21. 2010How to start a fightOver the transom: One year, I decided to buy my mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift... The next year, I didn't buy her a gift. A few more below the fold - Continue reading "How to start a fight"
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
17:59
| Comments (13)
| Trackbacks (0)
Wednesday, October 20. 2010Shamelessly stolen from TigerHawk (who is welcome to steal from us any time):
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
12:28
| Comments (5)
| Trackbacks (0)
Comfort zone: The Arts!Quoted in an otherwise appreciative City Journal review of a Normal Rockwell show, this supercilious comment:
I can't stand people who write like that. I almost thought it was satire, at first. Whoever decided that art was meant to afflict comfort? Comfort is a good thing, and difficult to obtain. Sure, art ought to be stimulating in some way - like any other sort of entertainment - or nobody would buy it. Art is entertainment. We love looking at pictures and designs of all sorts. Here's Rockwell's 1962 Saturday Evening Post cover pic, The Connoisseur. It makes me think new thoughts and try new acts, and I think his Pollock imitation is better than Pollock:
Posted by Bird Dog
in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
12:26
| Comments (28)
| Trackbacks (0)
« previous page
(Page 135 of 250, totaling 6233 entries)
» next page
|