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, January 14. 2017Extinct creatures
The extinction of species and genera is the earth's history. In recent history, some extinction has been brought about by mankind, mainly hunting for food. The giant ice-age mammals of North America probably were all hunted out like the White-Tailed Deer in nothern New England are today. Mountains of good meat which seemed endless. The North American Bison barely escaped that fate, but the European Bison did not. The sentimentally-sad story of North America's Passenger Pigeon is similar. The complete eradication of those vast, sun-blocking flocks was inconceivable. They were tasty birds, and there were no hunting laws. The smaller, and not large-flocking Mourning Dove stayed around, thankfully. It is tasty too, with a slab of bacon in the oven. Interesting: The Case for Bringing Back the Passenger Pigeon - One geneticist’s quest to de-extinct what was once one of the world’s most abundant birds
Posted by Bird Dog
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13:59
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Friday, January 13. 2017Students don't want to learn anymore.Not really true, I think, but there is an obnoxious and arrogant minority which grabs the news and smears an entire cohort of eager and curious learners: Students don't want to learn anymore. They want to teach. Humility is often in short supply among the youth, but if they lack the virtue of humility, life will correct that problem in good time.
Posted by The Barrister
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15:31
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Sunday, January 8. 2017Story-telling
The ability to write down a story seems to be much more common. Film scripts, short stories, novels, plays are all constantly written but rarely published or performed. It seems to me that written stories do not need high-level wordsmithing to be successful, but high-level wordsmithing can turn the simplest story into art. Shakespeare, for example. Good plays and good TV scripts can do fine with simple conversational dialogue if the tale has a good engine and cool characters. When I think of wonderful written storytelling with mediocre wordsmithing, I think of people like Tom Clancy and Robert Parker. When I think of extraordinary wordsmithing with uninteresting stories, I think of Updike. When I think of current transcendent prose, cosmic imagination, truthful expression, giant intelligence, knowledge, and life experience - and simple stories raised to the level of art, right now I think of Mark Helprin. Perhaps because I am in the middle of his collection of short stories, The Pacific and Other Stories. Especially his story about Ralph, the possible baal shem tov, but the story about falling in love on the Staten Island ferry was soul-piercing too. Over the years, he has opened my eyes to many things which I will not recount now. But back to story-telling. Much of TV writing is formulaic. It has to be. I think The Sopranos was brilliant TV, great story-telling. So was Downton Abbey even though that was more of a chick thing. For those who are filled with stories to tell, but are not naturals like Mark Twain, there is a now-classic book: The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby. It's not a formula except in the broadest sense: he just tells you how all successful stories work. It is like a textbook. Can the wordsmithing be taught? I dunno. I doubt it, given that the talent is rare and life is short. Is that how you see it?
Posted by Bird Dog
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15:33
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I mailed in my DNA and they sent me a pic of my ancestors
We do know for certain that we are all descended from Eve. Humanity is one terrible, dysfunctional family.
Posted by The News Junkie
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04:18
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Saturday, January 7. 2017Trump's new tailor
Posted by Bird Dog
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13:39
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Wednesday, January 4. 2017The Babbitt and the Bromide
Posted by Bird Dog
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18:26
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Tuesday, January 3. 2017No pain, no gain - For 2017. Stress is good for us.
Same applies to weight-loss plans: it hurts. Indulgence is briefly rewarding, pain and deprivation are painful. Good pain, but pain. It turns out that resisting the deterioration of age requires stress and pain - mental and/or physical. It is no surprise to me that much-maligned "stress" is what can keep us physically and mental fit until something inevitably cuts us down: How to Become a ‘Superager’
Interesting that the brain deteriorates also with lack of physical stress. Who knew? Up here in Yankeeland, many of us still view "leisure" and "relaxation" with Puritan suspicion, and the notion of retirement the same. Maybe we are right to seek challenge, discomfort, and stress and to avoid leisure and passive recreation. Learn piano, or a language. Get a hard job. Lift heavy weights. Let's all get deep into life this year to try to slow down Time. I will. Sunday, January 1. 2017A brief history of Christmas
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:26
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Wallpaper repairUseful advice to get the cabin shipshape for 2017
Posted by The Barrister
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14:25
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A tune for 2017Thanks for this, Gerard, and HNY to you and yours - and to all readers. Lots of people can use this today (listen to both performances if you have a minute): Fight Song And then we have this: How dieth the wise man? As the fool:
Posted by Bird Dog
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06:15
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Wednesday, December 28. 20162017 Resolutions to keepWhy kid ourselves? Maintain your self-respect by resolving to meet realistic goals. One cool aspect to these is that, if you fail to keep them, it's a good thing instead of a cause for self-loathing. Samples (feel free to borrow): 1. I will not exercise at all and will avoid all forms of difficult or tedious exertion beyond walking around and looking at stuff
Posted by Bird Dog
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15:09
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Why Universities became crazy and how to fight back
Posted by The Barrister
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13:07
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Monday, December 26. 2016Happy Kwanzaa!
Posted by The News Junkie
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13:43
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Friday, December 23. 2016Life in America: Tree is up Tree went up last weekend. That was our first family Christmas because a daughter will be vacationing in Asia during real Christmas. Our daughters love traveling in Asia. Still, we have the in-laws for Christmas Eve fish supper and candlelight church, and all the other kids for Christmas Day dinner. I think Christmas Day afternoon will be a good day for a chilly long hike with the puppy if the old guy feels up to it...meaning The Dog - not me. Then a long winter's nap.
Posted by Bird Dog
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16:48
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Family Christmas games
This year, I will bring this game for family fun: Cards Against Humanity: Cards Against Humanity is as despicable and awkward as you and your friends.
Posted by The News Junkie
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13:47
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Thursday, December 22. 2016Some Year-End Mental HousecleaningThe year is winding down and I'm still struggling with the same nonsense I've been dealing with in the office since last August. It is getting worse for a few reasons. But I'm not making a case for the year ending badly. Instead, I've got a different point of view because through these months I've kept a generally positive attitude. After all, there is plenty to be grateful for, and I am looking forward to 2017. I'll start with politics. This isn't something I'm grateful for, but I'm grateful for learning new ways to deal with the nonsense it represents. In part, I mean the election, though that's minor. I was unmoved by the outcome, but this is NYC and many are still having fits. My new VP decided to start sending a daily email update in which she shares articles and commentary on industry events. Every day includes the latest anti-Trump article. I understand she supported Clinton (I didn't support either major candidate), but I don't care for her bias infecting the workspace. It's unhealthy. I know many people in the office who voted for Trump and don't share her point of view. Neither me or any of them are in a position to say something. Continue reading "Some Year-End Mental Housecleaning"
Posted by Bulldog
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19:12
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Wednesday, December 21. 2016The danger of Christmas
Perhaps they should. It is a dangerous metaphorical story about how a rich, penny-pinching and emotionally-stingy wretch becomes a re-born joyful Christian at Christmastime through the work of the Holy Spirit. Dangerous for innocent kids. Dangerous for adults too.
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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17:28
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Tuesday, December 20. 2016The Psychiatrist: "Pretentious? Moi?"
Posted by Bird Dog
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13:12
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Monday, December 19. 2016Christmastime cigars, reposted
I would never recommend purchasing Cuban cigars for use in the USA as it is, or used to be, against some dumb law. However, I did happen to notice that Top Cubans has some appealing Christmas and End of Year specials right now. By the way, when are we going to take down that dumb cigar embargo? It just hurts the poor farmers - and us scrupulously law-abiding Americanos. Photo is a Habanos Romeo y Julieta BTW, where is the best cigar wrapper tobacco in the world grown? In my home state, Connecticut in the US of A. Also in Massachusetts in the Connecticut River Valley.
Posted by The Barrister
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13:02
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Sunday, December 18. 2016BowlingFading maybe, but still the most popular participant sport in the US. A fine thing about bowling is that you can join in even if you are terrible at it. Where I grew up, bowling was a routine winter Saturday night outing. Very popular for kids' birthday parties too. In summer, old Italian guys would do their lawn bowling game in the parks. A brief history of bowling. Martin Luther was a fan.
Posted by The News Junkie
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14:44
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Students need booksThursday, December 15. 2016Being Jewish, and being humanRabbi Sacks says "Why did Ha'Shem chose the Jewish people? Because he likes a good argument." Rabbi Sacks discusses being Jewish and being human in 2016.
Posted by Bird Dog
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13:55
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Words to live byWednesday, December 14. 2016A Retirement Plan With Less Golf
Is retirement a good idea? Would partial-retirement be a better idea for those who want it? And what about age of retirement? If "70 is the new 50", what then? Some people end up retired for as many years as they worked, and that seems crazy, a waste of time, skill, talent, and experience, not to mention taxpayer pension costs. Some have no choice, and that is a loss for everybody. Everybody has a need to contribute to society in a useful way as long as they are able. Wise greybeards are always needed even in the more physical trades. In my experience, many who retire early get a bit lost, aimless, and regress into purposelessness and hedonism. Free choice if you can afford it, so it's fine but...what? You're supposed to want to golf all day? It has become a cultural meme, a theme, a meaningless theme. Trump is 70 going on 50 and works harder and is far more energetic than I am at a much younger age. At his age, he is required to take Social Security whether he wants it or not! How dumb is that? On the job 16 hrs/day. He is the type that never retires and will always find productive outlets for his energy. Wilbur Ross at Commerce is 79, for heaven's sake. Indeed, they are a credit to their age cohort and good examples for everybody.
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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15:10
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Demystifying the blockchain
Posted by The News Junkie
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14:15
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