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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Wednesday, December 6. 2023Bird Dog's One Hour Rule for artsy things
Yeah, I get a kick out of all such things - including architecture. OK, last weekend we went to the Picasso show at the MOMA. Wonderful. An easy and interesting one hour. This weekend in NY we checked out the Met Museum's Manet and Degas show on Saturday. Too much, too many masterpieces I've seen in books, and it would have taken 2 hours to get through it with good attention and my natural interest. Yes, it's a very popular show. And yesterday a 2+ hour Baroque concert at Lincoln Center (Alice Tully Hall). Mind you, Mrs. BD is far more advanced in music and dance than I am, but by intermission she seemed to be fading due to music overdose. (Opera and dance never have that effect on her.) Here's my point of view: Re visual arts, these were made to decorate churches or, in recent centuries, wealthy homes. You checked out one or two at a time. Nice pictures, but not lined up in museums for the masses. Fun. Re music, it's different because there's all sorts. Pop music with lots of rhythm and repetition is easy but more ambitious music - masses, or symphonies, or long concertos - were not mostly written for 2+-hour performances (except opera). However best in world The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center is, after a while you get music-museum brain. Or I do. Another thing that bugs me about museum art and what I call "museum performances": the reverential attitude. Sure, cool things are precious but if you feel you can't cough it is silliness. Things are made mainly for entertainment and sales. Much as I admire, envy, and respect musicians and musical composers, they would let me cough or make a snarky comment to my wife. It's not church. I liked this casual painting in the Manet/Degas show: Manet's painting of the Monet family on vacation. The kid looks bored. I do have a spot in my house for that pretty picture, but it's not for sale:
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Sunday, December 3. 2023A Connecticut barn, then and now1950s and today, in Litchfield County. Can't make a living fairy farming in CT now.
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Friday, November 24. 202383 year-old ballerina
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Tuesday, November 21. 2023Lead us not into Penn StationPenn Station is a sort-of terminal in NYC for the Long Island Railroad, AMTRAK, and the New Jersey Transit - all heavily used. One cool - if only 150 years late - is a new stop for the LIRR in Grand Central. Grand Central Terminal has a total of 67 Metro North tracks serving the New Haven line (to Boston), the Harlem Line (s commuter line to Dutchess Co., NY), and the Hudson Line which connects to Yankee Stadium but mainly goes to Poughkeepsie. There is also a train to Montreal (The Adirondack). It might be AMTRAK - I get confused about all of the lines and destinations because there are so many.
The magnificent old (1910) McKim, Mead and White Penn Station was knocked down in the 1960s. Apparently there were some good reasons to do that . Since I almost never use that station, I am grateful that the also grand Grand Central Terminal, which I use frequently, was saved from the urban renewal wrecking ball. Lifetime of memories there. I have not seen the new Penn Station (sort of renewed in time for the holidays). What do readers think about it?
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Saturday, November 11. 2023TreeSpent a great day in NYC, mainly looking at the Picasso Fontainbleau show at MOMA, urban hiking, and getting to one of our favorite lunch places. Readers know that I am a Picasso junkie, and the amount of varied stuff he produced during a 3-month summer vacation is mind-boggling. However, on our walking we happened to see the crane lowering the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Cool. City jammed with tourists. All good, mostly.
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Monday, November 6. 2023Brooks Brothers: "It is an off the rack suit, M'am."Mrs. BD dragged me down to Brooks, cuz moths destroyed my wedding and funeral suit. Plus she wanted my dressing to be up-to-date. Spent a fair amount of money. We do go out quite a bit and I am lazy with clothing because I am not looking to pick up chicks these days and have nobody to impress with clothing except to be appropriate for the occasion. FYI, they have excellent help and service, and also do bespoke stuff if you want with good Italian wool. She was not entirely satisfied with the fit of the two suits she wanted for me, but the title tells you the response. Yes, well-tailored by their folks, but not perfect like some prosperous people have. Whatever. Mrs. BD is right - men look their best in well-fitted suits, assuming they are in decent shape. Can say the same for womens' dress, of course. I'm happy to use this stuff for a wedding, but want no more damn funerals right now. Or my own. Local Italian men and women look great. That's how you can tell them from the tourists. Not the kids though who try to look American.
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15:34
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Tuesday, October 31. 2023Some Thoughts on Travel and AuthenticityI was about 55 years old the first time I went to Disneyworld. I'd been to Florida and Orlando several times before, but never any of the theme parks. I'd been to Disneyland with my boys while I was in my late 30s. The comparison between California and Florida is stark. Not that Disneyland is bad, if you're into theme parks and Disney in particular. Orlando just offers so much more. I'm not writing about Disney, though. What I found really intriguing was, when I visited Disneyworld, I was surprised to see how well it has adapted through the years (Disneyland still has work to do to catch up). I realized, upon visiting Epcot, what Disney's original goal was. At a time when long distance travel was rare, and still a luxury, he sought to bring foreign lands and foreign experiences to the United States. As authentic an experience as possible, whether from abroad or from entertainment. Disney hired locals from the regions represented in Epcot, and they continue to do so. In fact, when I was in Britain I met a former pub owner who was one of the first Disney had brought over to run the "authentic" English pub in Epcot. My Italian dinner in Epcot was served by a native of Tuscany. Continue reading "Some Thoughts on Travel and Authenticity" Sunday, October 29. 2023PalladioIn the Veneto, outside Venice, we stopped by a few Palladio designs around Padua and Vicenza. This is Villa Foscari (aka Malcontenta) from the back, in the rain. The grander front faces a canal. When Tomas Jefferson saw Palladio's work, he ripped up his design for Monticello and just copied.
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Wednesday, October 25. 2023Making Good ChoicesI'm not a UFC fan, and I'm not a Bud Light (or even Budweiser) fan. I don't follow extremely violent sports like UFC, though plenty of my friends do. I also don't drink that much anymore, but Bud was never on my "oh, I really like that" list of products. Nor were many of their now subsidiary brands. I have lots of friends who only drank Bud. I use the past tense for a reason, since they no longer do. The recent attempts by Bud to rehab their image, such as aligning with the UFC, reek of desperation. A friend had asked me if I felt the CEO was aware of the choice to engage this marketing disaster that was Dylan Mulvaney. I simply said "I don't care what they say otherwise, but ultimately yes, in my experience, the CEO had to be aware." I was then asked if I agreed or disagreed with that decision, and I simply replied "Given how much marketing drives my industry, and what I know about how it is engaged, I would have disagreed and warned against it." That said, I didn't really care one way or another. Budweiser tastes awful. Mulvaney barely registers on my radar and what little I know is that he is a annoying twit engaging in idiotic behavior which, if I were a woman, would be insulting. But I'm not a woman, I don't care, and his attempts at humor and "activism" always fell flat with me. My position on this debacle was one of interested but rather disengaged onlooker.
Continue reading "Making Good Choices"
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Friday, October 20. 2023Books that keep you laughingWhat books or authors can keep you laughing out loud, even if you feel grumpy? My personal top two are Carl Hiassen and the Jeeves books. Also, Peter deVries. What about you?
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14:53
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Saturday, October 7. 2023Life in America: Moths ate holes in my one wedding/funeral suitI'd guess my Dad took me to Brooks Brothers since I was 13 years old. It was on NYC trips, to the old flagship store on Madison Ave. What an emporium that place was, with elevator operators and ancient but well-dressed salesmen. Naturally, the visiting also included Abercrombie and Fitch right down the street, my favorite store in NY, to look at the fancy fishing and hunting stuff. Both of those wonderful places are now gone. I do happily own an old A&F 20 ga s/s. Brooks Brothers (since 1818) has been through some ownerships over recent decades, but I think they have it right with this new guy. Mrs. BD claimed that my one grey suit had been outdated anyway. So on a rainy Saturday she dragged me to a big Brooks Brothers store way down in White Plains, NY to do some shopping with/for me. First time in a long marriage that I ever let that happen. I played passive and grouchy while they suited me up - 2 suits, cashmere blue sports coat, shirts I didn't need, and a bunch of khakis. No more clothes shopping for the remainder of my life... It's a shame that they no longer use Alden for shoes, so I got no dress shoes which I didn't need. I have narrow feet, and need "Narrow." Good dress shoes last 30-40 years anyway. Excellent service, excellent tailor - all good. Now I guess I will be ready for a wedding or funeral - whichever comes first.
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14:45
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Friday, October 6. 2023The Early Days of American EnglishAmerican English incorporated lots of Dutch and Indian, and changed some Brit words: How English words evolved on a foreign continent.
Posted by Bird Dog
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14:08
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Monday, October 2. 2023What's a "Novi"?
A quote: "The days of Novi boats having a reputation of being a 15-year boat – work them hard (and in weather you probably would not want to be out in in a “Maine-hull”), and when they get nail-sick just take the engine out and install it in a new hull and leave to old hull on a mud bank, ended with the introduction of fiberglass. The commonest style Novi seen in New England for decades was probably the Cape Island Launch. As said on an earlier Novi thread, some of these boats had the advantage over Maine-style hulls in being comfortable -- spanker sail up -- laying-to at night. Thus, their cruising range and ability to stay out in rough water exceeded that of the “Downeast”-type. The nomenclature gets confusing, as Nova Scotia was always thought of as being even more culturally, as well as directionally, down-east than Maine..." Here's one, in Rockport, Maine.
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Playoff TimeI am a Philadelphian, for the most part. I was born there, but I really only lived there for 6 years, only the most formative years of my youth. I spent 9 more years, a few hours north of Philly, in a region evenly split between Philadelphia people and New York City people. However, that split shifted as I lived there. More and more New Yorkers arrived, and today it's a pretty solid ex-NYC region. Given it is equidistant to both cities, during the pre-cable/internet days you had a choice of which games you wanted to watch on TV or listen to on the radio. Of course, I opted for the Phillies. Not really a popular choice in my high school, but the team was amazing during the late 1970s. Even if they didn't win a World Series until I'd left for college, their teams were always in the mix. My father-in-law sent me this article, knowing my penchant for all things Philadelphia (I married into a Yankees/Mets/Giants family - talk about mixed marriages!). The one memory my father loves to share about baseball is related only tangentially. He had taken the family to Germany so he could attend a conference. We spent the last 3 days in Hamburg at the Hotel Intercontinental. I was getting the International Herald Tribune each morning, early, before anyone else was showered and ready for the day. I had to see how the Phillies were doing. They were about to make the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, after all. For me, it was an experience I had to indulge as fully as I could. I couldn't watch, or listen to, the games. We were too busy, but I was thinking about it constantly. Continue reading "Playoff Time"
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11:46
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Saturday, September 30. 2023Computer-controlled powerboats, etc., for end of our boating seasonRecreational powerboating (well, most sailboats have engines too) has been going through a rapid change. Boat designs have changed, but there are still beautiful traditional designs. I'm talking about power plants and controls. First, power. Multiple outboards are taking over. Plenty of reasons besides easier service. Oh, another good thing about multiple engines is that you'll never be without an engine. Yes, just one 200 hp Yamaha is costly, and four could buy a house in some places. Jet Drives are a whole nother thing which I know nothing about other than that they are way cool.
Second, controls: Joysticks. For instance, if your 37' boat has 2, 3, or 4 200 hp outboards the computer controls can help you easily go in any damn direction with minimal sea skills. Maybe go 50+ knots too if in a hurry or for the thrill. Magic backing into a slip regardless of wind or current. Just jiggle the thing. It would be nice if cars would parallel park like that. We're old-fashioned, or old school, salt-water people with a single diesel, a wheel, and a Maine lobster boat hull.
Posted by Bird Dog
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15:03
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Sunday, September 24. 2023I Am KenoughFor weeks, Mrs. Bulldog resisted seeing Barbie with me because she feared I'd have a negative reaction to the pro-female message, as some in the conservative media have. I assured her that not only am I not a conservative, but I have a sense of humor. One rainy Saturday afternoon, I finally got her to shift enough and we took it in. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's funny and the story is absurd in the extreme. Yes, there's an outlandishly Woke overtone of "men rule the world" as a message. It's only a part of the story. The main story really is much more subtle. Yes, it's partially about empowering women, but it's also a story about how Wokeness and Intersectionalism are dangerous, while individualism and self-awareness are critical. If you (like me) do not mind spoilers, then feel free to read on. I found Barbie to be funny, engaging, and intelligent, requiring an open mind and a willingness to engage absurdity to gain insight into deeper thoughts. Sadly for the scriptwriters, I believe they underestimate consumers and their own intelligence exposes the massive flaws in the agenda the writers hoped to push. It actually promotes capitalism (success of Ken's Mojo-Dojo Casa Home), civility and avoiding thoughts and behaviors which promote gender supremacy. Ken's hoodie, at the end, more or less sums up my view. Be yourself. Barbie was just a comedy that tried to (poorly) push a leftist agenda and wound up undoing itself with other, better, themes while making me laugh hysterically. Ken, inadvertantly at the end, promotes individuality. The movie begins by paying homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey and an openly ironic narrative describes how Barbie, the doll, "saved girls" and helped improve their lot in the world and in life by empowering girls to achieve. This was, arguably, the most inspired part of the production, because it parodies itself and, throughout the movie, it incorporates recreated scenes from classic films. Is there an overriding theme or message to Barbie? Yes there is, but it is poorly done. What the theme may be, ultimately, is up to you, and I'm sure we'll all have different views. I did not see what they wanted me to see (I rarely fall for Hollywood nonsense).
Continue reading "I Am Kenough"
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Sunday, September 17. 2023Lots about human naturePeterson is so damned skilled at putting things into words. This is an oldie but goldie.
Posted by Bird Dog
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Saturday, September 16. 2023Gift Basket Season: CheeseWe were sent one recently, and Mrs. BD and I were impressed by that collection: Jasper Hill Farm Cheese Tasting Box I don't need to mention that I know good cheese. These are serious cheeses.
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15:43
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Sunday, September 10. 2023When car batteries go dead
He advised taking it for a 100-mile drive, but that's not my plan today. Interestingly, he was from Morocco so we talked about Marrakesh and the Atlas Mountains. We've been to Marrakesh and have hiked in those mountains. Terrible. I've been to those remote mountain villages, with the Berbers. Wild camels, blue-eyed French-speaking Berbers. What are your experiences with car batteries?
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15:12
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Wednesday, August 30. 2023Jackie Gleason, Band LeaderHe was, of course, a famous comedian. Famous drinker too: "It worked fine for me." I did not know that he had been a successful band leader and music producer.
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13:23
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Monday, August 28. 2023Piper Cub
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Sunday, August 27. 2023Johnny AppleseedThe Connecticut-born John Chapman was an eccentric but a successful businessman. At the time, "west" meant Ohio.
Posted by Bird Dog
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12:15
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Saturday, August 26. 2023How boating is like recreational flyingNavigation is the big deal for both, especially in inclement weather. But in boats, it's 2D instead of 3D. Docking is like landing. Taking off from a mooring can be tricky too, especially a slip. And yes, boats float. Until they don't.
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Friday, August 25. 2023The limits of infinity, or how many infinities can you handle?
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Wednesday, August 23. 2023Some humor can not be translated into filmEvery decade or so I go back to the world of Jeeves. Maybe it's because the stories are fresh again. I find the dialog to be hilarious.
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