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. |
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Saturday, November 18. 2017Wonderful
Posted by Bird Dog
in History, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:33
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Tuesday, November 14. 2017Prof. Peterson's daily exercises, and his advice to young people
That is a hell of a lot better than a lazy and sedentary schlub, but it's not a program we would recommend. It's not varied enough, for one thing. Repetition builds efficiency, and thus reduces effectiveness. Anyway, the Prof has high vitality and productivity so it works for him. Years ago, I ran 10k every morning in the dark. A complete waste of time even though I enjoyed the supposedly "healthy" ritual. Since I know Peterson's IQ is at least 20 points above mine, I would not presume to give him fitness advice though. Here's his advice to younger people, which is basically something like "Do anything, do not feel "above" any sort of work, grab any opportunity, be humble. Life is very difficult so you need to be in it as much as you can."
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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16:43
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Sunday, November 12. 2017People who think they're good at things often are not. People who see their limits tend to be more skilled than those who rate their skills highlyLess competent people tend to rate themselves more highly. It's Dunning-Kruger If you think you're good at something, think again.
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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16:14
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Saturday, November 11. 2017CleaningThursday, November 9. 2017Race and America’s Soul
Wednesday, November 8. 2017Paglia on her studentsSunday, November 5. 2017Life in America: The long route up Storm King MountainBest-named mountain in the US, in my view. Ten of Bird Dog's pals did the long loop (orange up, yellow down) on Storm King Mountain on Saturday. Actually, it wasn't the longest route which we would have preferred, but we missed the turn to make it 4 hrs. Would have been 12 people, but two spouses were under the weather. Perfect weather, high 40s to low-50s. Colder up top. There is some rock scrambling, just enough stair-climbing stretches when you can't catch your breath, and all of the trails are rocky but there are magnificent views of the Hudson River up top. It's just north of West Point, and we ran into some cadets doing a point-to-point over the mountains with 60-lb packs. Nice kids. The route up that we took might be rated a 5/10 of 3/5 in some American systems, a 2-3/9 in the European system - but all rating systems vary and all are lousy. Descriptions are better. This hike quite manageable if not crippled or frail. Hiking poles definitely came in handy but our rule is always bring poles and especially if carrying a pack. We brought a drone and did some drone group pics from the top, and some drone panoramic views. We did it in 3 1/2 hours, but we didn't really stop for snacks or rests. Stopped only to fly the drone a couple of times, which is so cool to play with. We saw migrating Broad Wing Hawks, a Merlin, an immature Bald Eagle (maybe a Golden - no binocs), and of course some migrating Turkey Vultures. We finished up at Prima Pizza in Cornwall for great pizza and beer. Great choice. Try it. Here's one of our team, perhaps familiar to our NYC Maggie's Urban Death Marches. More pics later, including the drone photos.
Saturday, November 4. 2017Presidents and Provosts Gather to Consider Free Speech Issues
Presidents and Provosts Gather to Consider Free Speech Issues. What a humorless bunch these people are. So earnest, take themselves so seriously, agonizing over nonsense like Yiannopoulos. Milo is just a gay George Carlin. The kids want to avoid Shakespeare? Well, all the world's a stage, kids. And guess what? That observation is far more profound that it seems.
Posted by The Barrister
in Education, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:37
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Friday, November 3. 2017Reviewing "I, Pencil"Reposted, a fresh look at "I, Pencil."
We recall that American Indians had traded clam shells from Long Island (NY) for obsidian from the Dakotas. Free trade. I once saw that somebody tracked the pre-Columbian Indian trade routes across the Americas. I can't find it now. " My family tree begins with what in fact is a tree, a cedar of straight grain that grows in Northern California and Oregon...."
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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16:33
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Thursday, November 2. 2017Sports actionIt was one heck of a World Series, but look at this, from Baseball and Long Games MLB Average game time: 176 minutes NFL Average game time: 191 minutes Wednesday, November 1. 2017Why does it take two years for physical fitness? The mental strength and growth occurs alongside the physical.Most experienced trainers will tell you that it takes that long for a middle-aged-to-older person get into decent functional condition. The human body is remarkably adaptable, but adaptation is not quick except at the very beginning of a 5-6 day/week program. Progress can seem fast for the first few months, assuming the starting point is poor condition, but then it gets slow. What is poor condition? It's where I used to be. To find out, take a gym calisthenics class and see how you do, or get a trainer's assessment. He or she will discover your limits very quickly with agility tests, cardio tests, strength tests, endurance tests, and just by observing your body at rest and under effort. When I began, I was not overweight on a scale, but I was - with excess fat, and underweight in muscle. I ended up gaining 15+ lbs with little visible fat. Why does it take that long to build a good foundation for future fitness-building and maintenance? Not for great fitness, just for passable fitness? Continue reading "Why does it take two years for physical fitness? The mental strength and growth occurs alongside the physical."
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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16:08
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Monday, October 30. 2017JerusaLandA friend of Maggie's has a new book, JerusaLand: An Insignificant Death
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:59
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Sunday, October 29. 2017Here we go again - Winter gear: Waxed cotton vs. Gore-texRepost - I guess this is Part 2 or 3 of our Outerwear mini-series, and part of our world-famous Winter Warmth series which we will begin to post in view of the coming Global Cooling Crisis - The invention of Gore-tex rendered plenty of waterproof and windproof fabrics obsolete - or quaint. For example, rubberized raingear, or waxed cotton or waxed canvas. Gore-tex is much lighter, it breathes, it requires no maintenance, and Gore-tex outerwear is cheaper to produce and can be made with the blaze orange patches which American field hunting (unlike European) requires by law. Trouble is that waxed cotton jackets, wellies, a dog, and a nice gun look so natural together. It's about fashion to some extent: how many Americans wear their Barbour when brush-busting for grouse or mucking the stall vs. the number that wear theirs to the hardware store, the mall, and their kids' soccer games? I own a Lewis Creek and an old Browning waxed jacket, but I have plenty of Gore-tex parkas and field gear for various purposes: camo, blaze, parkas, outer-jackets, etc. Gore-tex hunting brush pants, too - insulated and uninsulated (insulated hunting trousers was a waste of $ - all you need is winter underwear of whatever weight you select for the weather of the day). Despite all the above, I'll just address waxed cotton here despite its impractibility. Gore-tex is great stuff, but it's boring. Waxed cotton has character and Gore Tex is industrial. Image is the Barbour Beaufort, at Cabelas. Here's the main Barbour site, with all of their stuff. Orvis has plenty of men's and women's Barbour stuff. Lewis Creek. Good stuff, distributed from VT but made in Scotland. LL Bean is doing waxed cotton too. For true heavy-duty waterproof outerwear, Filson's tin cloth is the ultimate. That waxed canvas is so tough that it stands up by itself after you take it off. In fact, if you died standing in a goose blind or in the woods the tincloth jacket and tincloth trousers would probably still hold you up straight like a scarecrow until a strong winter storm blew you over. Their "shelter cloth" is lighter weight. I have some of the stuff. Its durability:comfort ratio is high. Feels like medieval armor before it warms up and softens a bit. Remember: Always check Sierra Trading Post first for good deals. Solzenitzen's CathedralsGary Saul Morson: Solzhenitsyn’s cathedrals - On the literary works of Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
Posted by Bird Dog
in History, Politics, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
14:06
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Saturday, October 28. 2017The wisdom of a third grade dropout will change your lifeInspiring. Gotta love this guy:
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:24
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Tuesday, October 24. 2017Grammatical annoyancesThe worst thing about these f-ing errors is that one tends to discount everything else the person is writing. The thing is, they could have something smart to say but somehow missed class the day they reviewed The Common Writing Errors of People Who Did Not Pay Attention in 3rd Grade. You know how it is. People with English accents sound smarter than what they are saying and, for many Yankees I am sad to say, people with Hillbilly accents sound dumber than what they are saying. Both of these biases, interestingly, can work to the advantage of the object of the bias. A reader offered this comment: " I heard Prince Harry or William express appreciation of a gift given “to my brother and I”. We’re doomed!"
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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17:17
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Sunday, October 22. 2017La Carrera
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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12:54
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Thursday, October 19. 2017Oofah!
It's a real NYC expression of surprise, not for the effete. Can be good or bad surprise. It can also be used for sarcastic surprise, as in "Hillary fell down the stairs holding a cup of coffee? Oofah."
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:34
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Wednesday, October 18. 2017Systems
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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13:44
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Tuesday, October 17. 2017News to me
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:34
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Monday, October 16. 2017The Collins AxeA note from a reader: Dear Bird Dog, Well, as you know I love Maggie's Farm. I want to give back somehow. Consequently, I bring to your attention Collinsville, Connecticut. Formerly the home of the Collins Company, axe makers non pareil, it is a company town frozen in time right beside the Farmington river. Very picturesque, particularly at this time of year, and full of decent restaurants. And there is a museum there, full of Collins products. Heavenly. I just bought three very old Collins axes on Ebay (not expensive) and will be restoring them into working instruments, Very satisfying! For a history of the company, see here: http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears%20Tools/Collins%20Pt.%201.html http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears%20Tools/Collins%20Pt.%202.html For a rundown on Collinsville itself, see here: World-renowned Maker of Axes: The Collins Company of Canton | ConnecticutHistory.org
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
17:27
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Where does gold come from?Thursday, October 12. 2017A classic textPopular Law-making: a Study of the Origin, History, and Present Tendencies of Law-making by Statute by Frederic Jesup Stimson
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
14:46
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Sunday, October 8. 2017Connie Hawkins 1942-2017We don't have a "Sports" category, but maybe we should. I normally wouldn't call out a seemingly obscure sports obituary. However, it seems worthwhile, particularly in these 'racially troubled' times (let me be clear, I don't feel we are in any troubled times, but Connie Hawkins' story goes to show just how far we've come). I was surprised to learn Hawkins passed away. In fact, I'd forgotten about him, more or less. Not an extremely well-known NBA player after the early 70's, in his early years he had been blacklisted by the NBA because he was implicated in a point shaving scandal. The problem, of course, was he was a freshman in college, ineligible to play, and couldn't have been involved in any point shaving. During the investigation, he was denied the right to legal counsel while being interviewed by NYC police. As a result, he was expelled from school, and the NBA blackballed him. He played for the Globetrotters, the Wizards and eventually joined the fledgling ABA and proved he was every bit as good as expected. Unfortunately toward the end of the 1968-69 season, he injured his knee and it required surgery. That same year, his suit against the NBA's blackball was settled and he received a large payment as well as having his rights assigned to the Phoenix Suns. His first season, he again set out to prove he was a top tier player. But after 8 years of being denied the right to play professionally, many of his best years were behind him. Despite this, he averaged 24.6 points per game, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists. There's little doubt that, fully healthy, Hawkins would have been a premier talent, probably even an NBA legend, if not for circumstances lining up against him. 7 years later, his career was over. He remained a regular at Phoenix poker rooms for years, where his affable nature and celebrity kept him in good company. He was honored by the NBA and inducted into the Hall of Fame because of his overall contributions to the game, in 1992. The Phoenix Suns retired his number, 42. In the genre of sports literature, 2 books stand out to me. Ball Four and Foul! The Connie Hawkins Story. I read both in my early teens, and they taught me as much about life as they did about sports and celebrity. They are, in various ways, classics and paved the way for all the stories in that genre which followed. They broke the rules of silence surrounding sports, exposing the soft underbelly and dirt which were previously ignored because athletes were icons, and sports leagues seemingly incorruptible (despite the Black Sox Scandal, Americans had a love affair with sports leagues and even today these flawed organizations are viewed as leaders and examples for young athletes). Hawkins was a victim, as opposed to a perpetrator (unlike Jim Bouton), of bad behavior. What may have made him most well-known, toward the end of his injury-riddled NBA career, was a sketch on the second episode of Saturday Night Live, in which he played Paul Simon in a game of one-on-one.
Posted by Bulldog
in History, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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21:48
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Summer houses in New York City: The Irish Riviera
I visited Breezy Point last weekend. It's a small private beach community on the western end of Rockaway on the other side of Jamaica Bay and not far from JFK airport. No high-rises are allowed. It doesn't feel like New York City, but you can see the Manhattan skyline in the distance. Is it heavily Irish? Yes. Very comfortably rustic. Since Rockaway is an Atlantic barrier beach, the land (sand) is always in motion. It was hit hard by Sandy. NYC has so many unique neighborhoods that only one man, Curtis Sliwa, knows them all.
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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04:52
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