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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Tuesday, October 3. 2017You can't say that!
Posted by The Barrister
in Education, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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18:28
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Monday, October 2. 2017Hiking pants
Mrs. BD and I are back in weekend hiking mode. I really do not like vigorous hikes when it's above 75 degrees F. Let's talk about non-winter hiking pants for men and women. Water-repellent, not waterproof. (For waterproof, you can roll up those light-weight REI waterproof overpants in your daypack. With a good long zipper, they are easy to pull over your hiking boots if you are a cat and hate getting wet.) Hiking and trekking pants are for long hikes with serious terrain, not for two-hour walks in the woods in nice weather when cut-off blue jean are perfect if there are no bugs. I've tested out several pairs of hiking pants. To be comfortable on hills, they have to have a little stretch to them. They also have to resist tears from brush and to be rugged enough to hold up to rock scrapes and random falls. Plus it is nice if they are light-weight, not baggy, and comfortable. The baggy ones are not pleasant to wear, and flap like crazy in wind. Most of the ones that are convertible to shorts are baggy. I like my Prana hiking pants, which are also great for weekend chores. Many regular mountain hikers like Montane (example in photo). I guess REI has most of the ordinary things that outdoor active people might need. What sorts of things do you use for rugged hiking? Sunday, October 1. 2017Change the World by Making Your BedReposted, University of Texas at Austin, 2014 Commencement Address, Admiral William H. McRaven
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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12:59
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Saturday, September 30. 2017Hidden miracles
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:30
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Friday, September 29. 2017Bastiat, Common Sense PersonifiedIndeed, Frederic Bastiat was one of those geniuses of common sense.
Posted by The Barrister
in Politics, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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13:39
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Wednesday, September 27. 2017A brief history of the idea of retirementFrom a brief history of retirement:
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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15:20
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Tuesday, September 26. 2017Multidisciplinary brilliance
He connects psychology, myth, art, philosophy, politics, religion, good and evil, heroism, parenthood, and almost everything except the kitchen sink. The man is a Canadian national treasure. "Any coherent organizing principle is better than none." Interpretive structures. I gave it a few listenings to fully appreciate this 2-hour talk.
Sunday, September 24. 2017VietnamRe Burns' Vietnam series, from DelVecchio's Burning History: Deceptions and A Teaspoon of Sand:
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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15:47
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'Plain old untrendy troubles and emotions'
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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13:50
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Small motorsSaturday, September 23. 2017Mocha DickI learned about Mocha Dick from Vanderleun's The Parable of the White Whale and the Good Ship “America” The Great American Novel can be re-read regularly with no loss of power. Read it.
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:31
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The Nurburg Ring TrackThe Nurburgring race track can be treacherous. They have some days when, for a fee and an insurance waiver, it's open to the public to test drive their own cars. Also, you have to pay for any repair to the walls. A good thing about it is, if anybody crashes, the followers stop to check up on them. Looks like fun.
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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14:20
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Tuesday, September 19. 2017Confederate Chic
I did think about Johnny Reb as some poor farmer's son valiantly taking up arms to fight a northern invasion of his homeland. Not romanticizing it entirely, just a bit, but I hate, hate, hate that avoidable war. This is good. I miss Levon:
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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16:02
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Saturday, September 16. 2017Adult formal education
My theory is that the purpose of higher ed is to prepare people for those Great Courses. These can enrich your life forever. Buy them when they are on sale, and trade them with friends and neighbors. That's what people do.
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
16:22
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A wee day in ScotlandDanny MacAskill's Wee Day Out
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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13:47
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Thursday, September 14. 2017What is "worthy"?
It seems to me that the social value of different personality traits, behaviors, and accomplishments varies widely across cultures and subcultures, and certainly across history. I'm not sure what "worthy" means, though. Christian praise songs say "Only You are worthy." All I can think of about "worthy" is worthy to marry one of my splendid kids. That is a high bar in many areas, I'm afraid. Wednesday, September 13. 2017BumsA "bum" was/is a term for an idle adult male. A shameful condition. These three bums are from the South Ferry (NYC) Flophouse, 1941. I wonder how they ended up. Maybe in the Army. Guy on the right should have gone to Hollywood.
Tuesday, September 12. 2017Life in America: I am not Fit yet. How about you?Lots of Americans try to stay fit to extend the energetic, functional, productive and profitable part of their life span for as long as they can. It takes work but, as I say, only 5 1/2-6 hours of unpleasant work/week before or after work, and rational nutritional habits so you aren't over- or under- weight. Mrs. BD and I tried a new fitness class early Sat. morning. We might be naturally lazy, but will not put up with that deplorable character flaw. Like my sister preaches about life, "Ignore how you feel. Always Go Do It." More below the fold, with two calisthenics I can barely do -
Continue reading "Life in America: I am not Fit yet. How about you?" Saturday, September 9. 2017Sen. Ben Sasse on perpetual adolescence
Posted by The Barrister
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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16:23
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Friday, September 8. 2017Pentatonic Scale
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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15:01
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Thursday, September 7. 2017How To Appear SmartReceived this piece today on 10 tips to appear smarter. The key word is "appear" because it's not about actually being smarter. Just to get people to think you're smarter. Most of it is common sense, anyway. Some is just plain silly. Don't have that extra drink of alcohol? OK, no problem. Wear nerd glasses? Thanks, I'll take a pass. ~Written by Bulldog T. Writer (the "T" stands for "The")
Posted by Bulldog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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12:59
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Wednesday, September 6. 2017The Highlands
The grouse and Red Deer hunting can be good. Now, the Scots themselves are quite amusing, cranky people and worth meeting and talking to. This only occurs in pubs or while smoking in front of pubs. If America runs on Dunkin, Scotland runs on whisky and tobacco. The Highlands are rugged, but not too wild really because the Clearance Laws entailed cutting down all the trees (Scotch Pine, of which there are probably more in the US than in Scotland now). One good result of the clearances was the emigration of Scots to the US and to Oz. Bob Dylan recently bought a castle and estate in the Highlands. Interesting song, Highlands. Goes between real life in Boston and dreams of the Highlands. Lyrics here. In our family, we often say "You look like you want a hard-boiled egg."
Posted by Bird Dog
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
17:14
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Monday, September 4. 2017Making a movie
Posted by The News Junkie
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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16:20
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Sunday, September 3. 2017Peterson & Weinstein
A great conversation.
Posted by Bulldog
in Politics, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
at
12:00
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Saturday, September 2. 2017The magic of 'Everclear'Sure, it's fun listening to a half-century old Dylan tune. Sure, it's a kick to hear about how a bunch of snowflakes were scared by a banana peel. Sure, it's interesting reading about how a 1926 tractor was rebuilt. But let's talk about an important issue, shall we? Booze. For those of you who like your booze mixed with a soda, allow me to introduce a truly wonderful product to you called Everclear. Because here's the fun part: It doesn't have any taste. Almost be definition, alone, all liquors (yes, even vodka) have a taste. The question then becomes, how does it affect the taste of your favorite soda? Usually in the negative would be my guess. In my case, I'm a confirmed gingeraleaholic. I've been buying Canada Dry Ginger Ale since it was located in the wine aisle of the grocery store, right next to the Tom Collins mix, simply because it was originally designated a mixer, not a soda pop. It wasn't until years later when the Dr. Pepper people bought Canada Dry and turned it into an everyday soda that it came into its own. Since I don't like drinking straight booze, I started experimenting, mixing different liquors with my Ginger Ale. I tried a number of different whiskies, scotch, bourbon, brandy, vodka, a number of rums, and they all failed the taste test. Basically, nothing goes with Ginger Ale. Then I raised my plaintive plight while sitting around the community table at one of the marinas I stayed at while living on my boat in the Florida Keys, and someone suggested Everclear. Et voila! Oh, and the reason it doesn't have any taste? It's pure grain alcohol. On top of that, it's 190 proof, so just a splash in your soda of choice does the trick, so one could argue that it's one of the most economical liquors out there. As a small side note, in case your local liquor store doesn't carry it, there's a similar product called Golden Grain, made by the same company. Thank goodness we finally got around to discussing an important issue!
Posted by Dr. Mercury
in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation
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15:00
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