Maggie's Farm

More details on the warming conspiracy

nospam@example.com (The Barrister) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:52 -0500

Re the earlier post, see Tim Blair for the actual emails. h/t, reader. Quote:

...the 1079 emails and 72 documents seem indeed evidence of a scandal involving most of the most prominent scientists pushing the man-made warming theory - a scandal that is one of the greatest in modern science.

Piltdown Man, move over. Sample:

From: Phil Jones
To: ray bradley ,mann@XXXX, mhughes@XXXX
Subject: Diagram for WMO Statement
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 13:31:15 +0000
Cc: k.briffa@XXX.osborn@XXXX

Dear Ray, Mike and Malcolm,

Once Tim’s got a diagram here we’ll send that either later today or first thing tomorrow.

I’ve just completed Mike’s Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (ie from 1981 onwards) amd from 1961 for Keith’s to hide the decline. Mike’s series got the annual land and marine values while the other two got April-Sept for NH land N of 20N. The latter two are real for 1999, while the estimate for 1999 for NH combined is +0.44C wrt 61-90. The Global estimate for 1999 with data through Oct is +0.35C cf. 0.57 for 1998.

Thanks for the comments, Ray.

Cheers
Phil

Prof. Phil Jones
Climatic Research Unit Telephone XXXX
School of Environmental Sciences Fax XXXX
University of East Anglia
Norwich

Is this what they call "research"? These frauds need to be fired - or indicted.

Doc's Computin' Tips: Security software

nospam@example.com (Dr. Mercury) — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:56:00 -0400

I thought I'd take a minute and bring everybody up to date on the latest in computer security measures.

The biggest change we've seen in recent years is the role of Bad Boy going from viruses to spyware. Yes, it would a terrible tragedy if a virus ate your computer, but at least it wouldn't cost you much. At worst, a new Windows system and some setup time. At best, ten short minutes of your time if you did the backup lesson. No big deal, really.

Spyware, on the other hand, and specifically what are called "keyloggers", are a whole different breed o' cat. Keyloggers do exactly that; they log your keystrokes and then send the info off to the bad guys. All they have to do is look for 19 numbers in a row — your 16 credit card numbers and the 3-digit security code off the back of the card — and voilà! Now it's just a matter of trying out a handful of expiration dates on Cadillac.com until they hit pay dirt.

Don't let it happen to you.

(continued below the fold)

Continue reading "Doc's Computin' Tips: Security software"

Bird of the Week: The Woodcock, plus remorse and a classic hunting book

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:37:00 -0500

Somewhere in either Tolstoy or Dostoevsky there is a comment about the remorse of the hunter when holding a Woodcock in hand. You have noticed that our head image on Maggie's now is Woodcock hunting.

John Stuart Skinner in his classic 1883 The Dog and the Sportsman put it this way:

I have frequently felt something like remorse, when, on picking up a wounded
one, I have met the forgiving expression of its full and bright, yet soft hazel
orb. How many of the beauties who dazzle and enslave us would be proud of such
an eye.

Skinner's charming section on the Woodcock, written back before hunting seasons were instituted, is here.

The Woodcock is a fat little shorebird, fatter but not much larger than the American Robin, who renounced the shore and took up residence in our Eastern woods and swamps.

Like all shore birds, they are ground-dwellers and ground nesters, and do not perch. Because of their camoflage, their habit of feeding and being active at dawn and dusk, and their trick of freezing when approached, they are not commonly seen except in early spring, when the males perform their remarkable aerial mating dance at dusk.

Their long bills are hinged near the tip for capturing earthworms which they probe for in the soil and forest litter. They are thus necessarily migratory, to the Southern US.

A few other details: Woodock is the only "shorebird" which is a legal game bird in the US today. They are not widely hunted, but they make excellent sport and their liver-flavored breasts are a rare gourmet treat. The French especially favor the brains, on toothpicks. People who don't like to eat them should not hunt them. Their habitat overlap with the Ruffed Grouse makes a typical mixed bag for Ruffie hunters. Because of their small size and cute appearance, many hunters will admit a mingled sense of dismay and pleasure when they bag a Woodcock. Unlike grouse, they cannot be hunted without dogs, because you would never find them. A decline in Woodcock numbers has been noted over recent decades, which may be due to habitat loss, but the cause is not certain. They are fond of overgrown fields and orchards, wetland edges, and transitional young woodlands, especially birch and aspen. The European Woodcock looks like ours, but is larger. Woodcock's heads are oddly-arranged: their brains are upside-down, and their ears are in front of their huge eyes.

More about the Woodcock here. The Ruffed Grouse Society supports research on Woodcock along with grouse.

Sniper

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:15:00 -0500

Somebody let us know about The Sniper. Good stuff, plus eye candy for both boys and girls:

More Real Connecticut: The East Haddam Parsonage

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:50:00 -0500

They don't build 'em like this anymore. My lousy photo does not do justice to this house, which I assume to have been the parsonage of the First Congregational Church of East Haddam, right across the street.

In the old days, the minister was given a house to use and land to farm as part of his compensation. In the real old days, he was paid via town taxes too: The Congregational Church was the established church of CT. Not that that meant all that much: Congo churches did, and still, vote on everything - including their doctrine and their choice of pastor - within their own congregation. Zero hierarchy, for better or worse. Every person was/is considered to have his own hotline to God.

The wife typically ran the farming business: it paid the bills and kept her out of the pool halls.

Update: I think our reader is right - the addition is the part on the left. The congregation must have felt prosperous at the time.

Monday morning links

nospam@example.com (The News Junkie) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0500

Global warming: World leaders agree to hold off agreement. Related: Al Gore begins attracting protesters:

In addition to his nonprofit advocacy, Gore is a partner in a venture capital firm that finances "sustainable" and alternative energy businesses, prompting some critics to accuse Gore of promoting environmental policies that will fatten his bank account.

"Cap & Tax — Don't Be Fooled: Al Gore Will Make billions," read a sign carried by Alan Tudor, who drove from Tampa to attend Saturday's protest.

"Gore's Favorite Green Product? Your money in his pocket," said another sign.

Related: Rasmussen polls on climate hysteria and energy policy. The rationalists are winning the debate.

Is Deval Patrick an Obama leading indicator?

The bow: Japanese call it an embarrassment. I figure if "Japanese always bow," then why didn't the Emperor bow to Obama?

State Finance Directors Warn of More Trouble Ahead

New Study Says Costs Rise Under Health Bill

Althouse: Palin is dumb

On the other hand, it has often been pointed out lately that you catch the most flak when you are over the target. Via Riehl:

Amazingly, but not surprisingly, the AP somehow nabbed a copy of the
book before it was released. They're now erroneously reporting on the
book's contents and are repeating many of the same things they spewed
during the campaign and afterwards. We've heard 11 writers are engaged
in this opposition research, er, "fact checking" research! Imagine that
– 11 AP reporters dedicating time and resources to tearing up the book,
instead of using the time and resources to "fact check" what's going on
with Sheik Mohammed's trial, Pelosi's health care takeover costs, Hasan's associations, etc. Amazing.

KSM: A staggering ego, at the center of difficult issues

Res ipsa loquitur: Repubs are just complete a-holes

Again already? The decline of the Left

Wilkinson discusses income inequality: it's all due to the top .5% and not part of a large trend. Thus can stats be abused by politicans.

Soros' closed society. Insty

Columnists Who Blamed Conservative Media for 'Right-Wing' Killings Ignoring Fort Hood. It doesn't fit the narrative of the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy.

Our 'Constitutional Moment' The New York newspaperman says our founding document is especially vital today, in an age of expanding state power.

Friday links

nospam@example.com (The News Junkie) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Toon via Lucianne.

The Moonbats want to get rid of "Fighting Sioux." The Indians want it kept. How does "The Fighting Sue" sound instead? Or "The Pacifist Sue"? Beat us, please.

Somebody read Sarah Palin's book

Via Gateway on the weekend healthcare voting:

Senate Dems Will Only Deliberate 10 Hours Before Vote to Nationalize Health Care

The bill will nationalize the nation’s health care industry, increase costs, ration care, tax cosmetic surgery, cut Medicare, charge a monthly abortion fee, and take away your freedom.

Please take time tomorrow and Saturday to call your US Senator.

It only will take a minute.

** HERE IS THE PHONE LIST.

Don’t let the democrats destroy our health care system.

Support for this disastrous bill is down to 40% with 52% opposing.

At Am Thinker:

According to a recent paper by Drs. June and Dave O'Neill of Baruch College, the City University of New York, two national studies--the National Health Interview Survey and the Current Population Survey--put the number of folks who don't have health insurance because they can't afford it at 21.6 million. That's almost exactly the number that Dr. Reid's big spending plan would leave uninsured.

After spending $848 billion, of course.

Maybe it won't insure anybody, but it will achieve control of us. That's the point.

Pethokoukis does the odds on the heath care takeover.

Next on the Dem agenda: Legalizing illegals. Pete DuPont says Congress is hard of hearing, but they are not. They have a small window of opportunity to ram through their wish list before they are voted out next November. These are not issues that there is a national consensus about. Bad politics, bad news, bad everything.

Seven trees? Isn't the hockey stick graph dead already?

Will Osama need to be read his Miranda rights? Before some SEAL shoots him?

How times have changed. The CA students once protested for free speech. Now they protest about Gimme gimme. What pathetic, whining, entitled children this country has raised. Yes, I worked my way through UMass, and I am the better man for it. The young benefit from challenges. I did.

Big, Bigger, Biggest: Three Examples of Government-Induced Failure

Warming scientists caught in flagrante delicto

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:19:27 -0500

At Wizbang and Moonbattery.

It is worse than I thought - and I thought it was bad.

Many Reasons Thanksgiving Is Special

nospam@example.com (Bruce Kesler) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:44:50 -0500

I always celebrate my birthday on Thanksgiving. Selfishly, at least I’m guaranteed a turkey and good bottle of Beaujolais. When fortunate, I’m able to share it with family and friends, which is the ultimate of what Thanksgiving is: time to give thanks for others sharing theirs and our ability to share our bounty in America.

Aside from the 4^th of July, there is no other holiday in America that is in every respect for all Americans. Indeed, I’ve been with recent immigrants from many countries who eagerly look forward to joining in our Thanksgiving rituals and meals, because it is for them an important rite of passage to becoming Americans and showing their feelings of gratitude for being here in our land of opportunities.

Thanksgiving, also, says much about the American character, that we early on officially enshrined a national holiday for giving thanks.

In 1789, George Washington issued the first national Thanksgiving proclamation with these words: “Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be….” (Read the whole proclamation.)

As you make your plans for Thanksgiving, this early post is to remind you of why we celebrate and dedicate ourselves, in gratitude for all we’re given, achieve, and share, thanks to G-d and each other in America.

Palin-mania

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:22:20 -0500

She's a pheenom. She's a non-elite, non-Hollywood celeb. She is beautiful, fertile, and athletic. Her hard-working, macho hubbie supports whatever she wants to do. The MSM hates her.

She's a yokel with common sense. Like Truman, Lincoln, and Andrew Jackson.

Even if you do not want her to be President, it is difficult not to like her.

She is doing something right. Here's some of her interview with Rush.

P-38 replica

nospam@example.com (Gwynnie) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:47:17 -0500

This came in over the transom -

Jim O'Hara is a member of EAA chapter 493 in San Angelo. He is a retired college professor (I believe in Aeronautical Engineering) who learned to fly when he was about 60 years old. He's now 81 years old. 15 years ago, he began construction of a 2/3 scale P-38. Using information he obtained from various sources about the P-38, he drew up a set of plans using a computer aided design program. Jim and his wife Mitzi built the entire aircraft by themselves. I've been fortunate enough to know Jim for almost the entire 15 years that he's been working on his "project." He first flew his plane in July of last year, and has just completed flying off the time (I believe it was 50 hours). He designed the plane to have a small jump seat behind the pilot for his wife. She's tiny, and it's a good thing; the jump seat doesn't have much room.

He made his first cross-country with Mitzi from San Angelo to Fredericksburg Saturday, accompanied by many of his friends from Chapter 493.

Now there is a build-it-yourself P-38 kit available.

More photos of Jim O'Hara and his airplane below the fold -

Continue reading "P-38 replica"

And Another Thing...

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:15:00 -0500

Part Whatever of The Hitchhiker's Guide is out, this one written by Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl. If you live in a cave and missed Douglas Adams' series, it's an amusing science fiction spoof.

It's called And Another Thing...

And now for something completely different

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:43:00 -0500

It goes against against my instinct, judgement, taste, and sense of proportion to do a Christmas post before Thanksgiving, but I couldn't resist this bizarro Dylan offering. (All money from Dylan's Christmas record goes to charity.)

Remain strange and unpredictable, Bob. We like you that way. This is a good Minnesota Polka:

Indian Pudding

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:02:00 -0500

In New England, Indian Pudding is as essential a part of Thanksgiving dinner as Pumpkin or Squash Pie.

It's called "Indian" because it is made with corn (maize) meal - the staple food of North American Indians.

Simple rustic ingredients. No sugar? You use molasses. No flour? You use corn meal. The only trick is to make sure it is neither too firm nor too runny. Serve warm.

Here's a bit of the history of this dessert, with a good recipe.

Saying good-bye to a patient

nospam@example.com (Dr. Joy Bliss) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:09:00 -0500

I said good-bye to a fellow I have worked with on and off for over 15 years yesterday.

His wife died last winter, and he has finally decided to move to Florida to live with one of his daughter's families. Lonely. He is in his 80s. Most of his old pals in town that he worked with, grew up with, and worshipped with are dead. A sad farewell for both of us. He gave me a big bear hug. He was never a regular psychotherapy patient, but an irregularly-regular patient when things got tough.

Strong guys are not afraid of getting help when they need it.

I nursed him through panic attacks (cured them easily with medicine), a major depression after his heart attack, a major depression after the death of his wife, the suicide of one of his daughters. In the process, I learned a lot about his life. A lot about life. It is my privilege to learn a lot about life through people's lives. Their stories enrich mine.

Today, he reminisced about his troop ship trip home from England after having been a tail-gunner - a teenager - for a couple of years in WW2 in Italy and France, and finally in Germany. He was based in Dijon for a while. "We got the news about FDR's death on the ship. Some liked him, some hated him, but he was our boss. Ship was half-filled with guys like me headed for furlough, and half-full of POWs. Why, at that point in the war, they were bringing German POWs to the US I have no idea, but the military never makes sense. That's a given when you're in the service. For my furlough, they took me from New York to Massachusetts to Miami to New Jersey before I could get home to Massachusetts. After my month furlough in the local pub, I had to spend three months down in New Jersey to get enough points to qualify for discharge."

"Doing what?" I asked. "Basically, nothing," he said. "They just had to make us wait out our time. The action then was mopping up in the Pacific." He said "It feels so long ago now that it's like another life."

He is a retired mailman who remembers horse-drawn fire trucks, played trumpet in the Volunteer Fire Department marching band for 50 years, and still sings in his RC choir and delivers food to the elderly. "I'm older than most of the people I deliver to." He was the guy who told me that flak on an airplane sounds like "a bucket of gravel being dumped on the fuselage. You get used to it after a while. We all assumed we would die, and got used to that too."

An American fellow to the bone, and one of the finest, humblest, most giving and unselfish people I have ever known. He dedicated his life, and especially his retirement, to being a good companion and to doing unto others in whatever ways he could.

Long life to you, friend, and God bless.

Palin week

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:01:00 -0500

Sarah seems to be a subject of great fascination. She was charming, smart, and funny on Hannity last night. Yes, her political points were shallow - but more substantial than "hopey-changey," and she has had more experience than he had - both in life and in government.

Here's her book tour schedule. Alas, nothing in New England. She should go to Boston.

From VDH with Palin-odes:

The AP supposedly hired 11 fact-checkers to discredit Ms. Palin’s memoir (Did Fox News hire 11 to question the very questionable things found in the two Obama memoirs?)

(I wondered, as did Jammy, whether the AP will assign as many to studying the details of he health care bill: "Considering the AP assigned 11 "fact-checkers" to pore over Sarah Palin's 415-page book, I figure they'll assign a proportional amount to this, right? That would be 55 of them, assuming they're interested.")

From Wehner on Palin (good piece):

If you believe, as I do, that the GOP once again needs to become the “party of ideas” — as it did under Ronald Reagan — then Palin is not the solution to what ails it. At this stage, based on the interviews I have seen with her, she doesn’t seem able to articulate the case for conservatism in a manner that is compelling or even particularly persuasive. She is nothing like, to take three individuals I would hold up as public models, Margaret Thatcher, William Bennett, and Antonin Scalia — people brimming with ideas, knowledgeable and formidable, intellectually well-grounded, and impossible to dismiss.

True, but those folks are not American politicians -

Finally, a word from our commenter MM on our Palin-mania post yesterday:

Sarah is doing a lot of things right. Holding true to her principles in spite of the ugly backbiting of the liberal media, remaining a faithful wife to Todd and a good mother to their children -- these are admirable things. Since I come from 'flyover country' myself, I have learned to discount what the limousine liberals have to say about most things and people. They view the world through a skewed lens of anger and resentment. But I still haven't figured out why they reveal their worst and ugliest selves whenever Sarah Palin is mentioned or comes on the scene. As a New England based commenter said on Neptunus lex the other evening, by all rights, by all they say they believe in, feminists ought to love her. She got her college degree, she married her high school sweetheart, she has five children, and she has been a successful governor of the largest state in the Union, and got a more than 60% approval rating from her constituents..

What's not to like? Of course, she has had more real world experience in managing effectively a large complex enterprise, meeting payrolls, and solving problems by concentrated effort. But what's so bad about that? Ohh, right. I forgot. Our present President hasn't done any of that. No governing ... no meeting payrolls ... no solving difficult diplomatic problems.

I guess you just have to hate a woman [or a man] who can do all of the above, successfully.

Or maybe it's just because she's beautiful. And her husband adores her. And encourages her in her achievements. Yeah ... that's probably it.

$100 million

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:24:55 -0500

for Sen Landrieu's vote? Hey - that's my money.

Gov. Mitch Daniels

nospam@example.com (The Barrister) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:28:19 -0500

Per Redstate, "Here he is from the other night at the Indiana Republican Party’s Fall
Dinner, using just notes, no prepared text or teleprompter:"

Thursday mid-day links

nospam@example.com (The News Junkie) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:56:00 -0500

The social psychology of subways

The importance of social networking in life:

...the history of humanity is a history of social networking all the same, according to Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler, authors of Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. “Our connections affect every aspect of our daily lives,” they write.

Men often treat their friends better than women do.
Duh. h/t, Retriever

The '09 rally vs the '82 rally. I think the '09 rally is full of hopey.

Check the net for your stolen ID

Voters say what we say: To Create Jobs, Voters Say Cut Taxes and Stop Spending

Hewitt: In A Sane World, This Report Would Kill Obamacare.

Related: Harry Reid has a health care tax increase for you. Of course he does.

Some scientists puzzled: Why doesn't nature fit our computer models? Mother Nature defies your human models, sillies.

Jerry Brown and ACORN

Circling Sharks Smell American Blood

Neoneo: The liberal meme de jour: those cowardly conservatives, afraid of the US criminal justice system

Vanderleun's book: Let It Bleed

Did Holder stiff Senate on Justice Dept. lawyers who defended jihadis?

Some Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee were taken aback Wednesday by Attorney General Eric Holder's refusal to reveal conflicts of interest involving Justice Department lawyers who, before joining the Obama administration, worked on behalf of Guatanamo detainees.

This is cute, BL:

Business Trip

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:10:00 -0500

h/t, Theo:

Some Weds. evening links

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:25:18 -0500

Hard words from VDH: When reality catches up to rhetoric. One quote:

The health-care mess grows worse: The Chinese have caught on that Obama wants to borrow more billions for us, who are cash
poor, to create entitlements that they, who are cash rich, would not
create for their own people. The new government suggestion that women
not begin receiving routine mammograms until age 50 comes at a bad
time, given that critics of Obamacare have been arguing that it will
lead to rationing of service.

Dems alarmed as Independents bolt

Sure makes it sound like a show trial:

Americans who are troubled by the decision to send alleged Sept. 11
mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to New York for trial will feel
better about it when he's put to death, President Barack Obama said
Tuesday.

Rick Moran on why Palin isn't good for conservatism

Will Americans be forced to buy health insurance?

India scientists get cold blast

Read now if you missed the first time we posted this penetrating piece from Ace: Pelosi: It's Very Fair That We Jail You If You Don't Buy Health Insurance

Read now if you missed the first time we posted this: Sippican's Snappy Elastic Pricing Synopsis

The Obama Administration is financing oil exploration off Brazil. Not off the US.

What does Tom Hayden know that we do not?

Jesse Jackson: 'You can't vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man'

The profoundly racist - and wrong - assumption is that is that black people cannot figure out how to get medical care.

Palin Fun Day

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:15:06 -0500

Quote from Palin yesterday, via Hot Air:

‘I love the tea party movement,’ she said. ‘It’s beautiful, it’s healthy. It’s part of that good healthy competition that’s needed in a political party.’ She contrasted the somewhat tumultuous state of the GOP to what’s going on in the Democratic party today. ‘It seems like the Democratic party is filled with more sheep-like individuals, who go along and get along,’ she said.”

Cloudware

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:38:00 -0500

Microsoft brings WordPress onto its cloud: Automattic blogs will go Azure

Is President Obama An “Idiot”?

nospam@example.com (Bruce Kesler) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:25:59 -0500

Two prominent blogs raise the question of whether President Obama is an “idiot.”

John Hinderaker at PowerLine wonders, “One seriously hesitates to draw the conclusion that Barack Obama is an idiot, no matter how strongly the evidence may point in that direction. But what are we to make of a man who is ignorant of history; who is ignorant of economics; who despises his own country; and who appears to believe that awareness of his own wonderfulness is enough to guide him? Has such a fool ever played a leading role on the world stage? I think it is fair to say, no: not until now.”

At HotAir, Allahpundit’s headline is, “Japan expert to ABC: Yes, Obama’s bow made him look like an idiot.” The post continues: “So much of an idiot, in fact, that according to Tapper’s source, at least one Japanese paper isn’t running the photo out of embarrassment. This tool actually groveled himself into a minor international incident.” Then, adds: “And yet, having said that, I’m not convinced that the “groveling” explanation for the bow is necessarily the correct one. For one thing, his protocol office is famously run by imbeciles. They may very well have simply given him bum advice: 'Be sure to hunch way the hell over and stare at the ground. They all do it that way.' ” Though, they don’t all do it that way. Jim Hoft, at GatewayPundit, brings us the video, “47 World Leaders – 46 Handshakes – 1 Bow.”

One could make a verrrry long list of President Obama’s ignorant statements and actions, and outright lies, apparently believing the MSM will continue to cover for and excuse him and the American people will continue to believe him. But, does that make him an “idiot”?

In strict definition, “idiot” is an outmoded term for someone so mentally retarded that their mental development is less than a 3-year old’s, with an IQ of 25 or less, but connotes an “uneducated, ignorant, ill-informed person.” In more common usage, Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “idiot” as “a foolish or stupid person.”

So, this jury holds that, yes, President Obama is an idiot, “a foolish or stupid person” who believes the American people are “uneducated, ignorant, ill-informed” idiots who can be gulled to believe in dangerous foolishness by he and his excusers.

The education provided by President Obama, along with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, in their versions of liberal fixes to our health care, economy, and foreign policies has been a boon to Americans, as polls demonstrate, who are now well-informed about the idiocy of Obama-Reid-Pelosi and their apologists. More and more of the Americans who voted for Obama may have been "foolish and stupid", but are no longer. President Obama is, still, an idiot. A very dangerous one.

P.S.: A professor friend at a leading university, who is learned in exegesis, just emailed me: "It's the kind of idiocy that only great arrogance and hubris can produce." So, maybe the strict definition, above, does apply to President Obama, acting like "less than a 3-year old"!

Glove sizing, plus shooting gloves

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:56:00 -0500

In the course of our basement water pipe flood this summer, I seem to have lost my couple of pairs of light shooting gloves. I like to shoot with gloves even when it isn't too cold. Most of the hunting I do tends to be in cold weather so I like to get used to the feel of gloves on a trigger.

And I have a mild case of Raynaud's.

Glovemakers vary in what they mean by L,M, S, etc. Here's a great way to determine your numerical glove size when ordering online. Leather, of course, tends to stretch a bit with use.

Sierra Trading Post almost always has nice shooting gloves at a meaningful discount. Those are for cool - not frigid - weather. Not just for shooting either - good cool-weather all-purpose gloves.

The right gloves for hunting grouse in the snow or ducks in the sleet at 10 degrees F is another topic. The perfect gloves for those things do not exist, as best I have been able to determine. Heavy waterproof gloves, obviously, do not fit rapidly and easily inside a trigger guard, and if you are using a double-triggered old s/s, it's really a problem.

Ideas are welcome. I wonder what the Army uses in Afghanistan in the winter. Maybe things like this.

Mincemeat Pie

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:42:00 -0500

Re-posted and revised, from 2007

It's time to review mincemeat pies. I just bought a bottle of decent French brandy for the purpose.

Regular readers know that the history and the making of mince pies is a favorite winter hobby down at Maggie's Farm. They were once banned in Boston. Made with lard, of course, and preferably venison (I am using local venison shank this year), well-aged with brandy.

Favorite mincemeat pie quote: "Dad, what's a mince?"

Here's a photo one of ours from last Christmastime. I used cranberries in it along with raisins and currants. Serve warm, with vanilla ice cream or hard sauce.

The Englishman recently posted his favorite recipe. It must be well-aged, weeks or a month, but it will work fine with a couple of weeks of aging.

Weds. morning links

nospam@example.com (The News Junkie) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:55:20 -0500

Non-elites: Joe and Carrie

Report: FOX is fair

Top Ten Reasons Black America Fears Rush Limbaugh

Kossers are angry old white men?

Is Obama planning a $3 trillion income tax increase?

Barone: A Jacksonian sweep?

China questions costs of U.S. healthcare reform. They own us now, don't they?

Al Gore, Ignoramus

Little Benefit Seen, So Far, in Electronic Patient Records

From the Dean of the Harvard Med School:

...the majority of our representatives may congratulate themselves on reducing the number of uninsured, while quietly understanding this can only be the first step of a multiyear process to more drastically change the organization and funding of health care in America. I have met many people for whom this strategy is conscious and explicit.

We should not be making public policy in such a crucial area by keeping the electorate ignorant of the actual road ahead.

McArdle: Deciphering The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Report

QQQ

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:57:00 -0500

"People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything."

Thomas Sowell, via Dr. Sanity's One Big Fathead

Ten weirdest physics facts including an erroneous one about bananas

nospam@example.com (The Barrister) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:18:08 -0500

Here. h/t, Linkiest

Death, taxes, and death taxes

nospam@example.com (The Barrister) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:16:00 -0500

Readers know that I am opposed to death taxes - estate taxes. The wealthy find ways around them (how long has it been since a Kennedy or a Rockefeller held a real job as opposed to an optional job?), but merchants, the middle class, and farmers get screwed by them.

My friend in southern CT recently told me about a third-generation (the grandpa was an Italian immigrant) family-owned flower shop in their town which had to close up shop last month when Mom died. Why? They had to sell their small building to pay the estate taxes. Like a family farm, that is generations of dedication, good will, hard work, and a long-established part of a community down the drain.

Furthermore, I like the idea of middle-class families being able to build wealth over generations - and most people who work hard like that too. People like to feel that they are building something for the family's future, and for their family's independence from the kindness of strangers - and the government.

I do advise everyone, even if not wealthy, to do the best that they can to avoid the crushing effects of death taxes by getting the best estate-planning advice you can afford.

Brit Ted Dalrymple takes on the Fabians on the topic, in Let Them Inherit Debt. One quote:

There are many unfairnesses in life that we must learn to put up with, if we are to have any chance of happiness or even of tolerable contentment. For example, I should like to be taller, better-looking and more intelligent and gifted than I am. Every time I meet someone better-looking than I, taller than I, or more talented than I, which I do very regularly, I experience a brief spark of envy. What did they do to be as they are, my superiors? Why did providence, or chance, endow them with characteristics so much more attractive than my own? Needless to say, I never stop to think that, just possibly, some people might ask the same of me when they meet me.

But the differential endowments of nature are unfair, not unjust, because (at least as yet) no human intervention can prevent them. The inheritance of wealth is not like this: it is a human arrangement that could be abrogated if not easily, for political reasons, at least with some effort. And if injustice is unfairness brought about by human means, then inheritance of wealth is unjust. Ergo, inheritance of wealth ought to be forbidden because it is unjust, and we must always seek justice.

The question, then, is whether we should always seek justice to the exclusion of other desiderata. Is it true that justice always and everywhere trumps other considerations? I think the answer is no.

Doc's Computin' Tips: The Snipping Tool

nospam@example.com (Dr. Mercury) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:08:00 -0500

One of the best new features in Vista (it's also in Windows 7) is the Snipping Tool. I only started using Vista a month ago, so it took me a while to blunder my way across it. What a great find.

If you just want a grab a picture from the Web for your own use, you right-click on it and save it. The problem arises when you just want part of a picture, or part of a web page (or program) that's not a picture. The traditional method is to hit the 'Print Scrn' key on the keyboard, which puts a snapshot of the entire screen into memory, then paste it into a paint program and do your cropping. The Snipping Tool eliminates the entire process.

In Vista's Start Menu, the entry is in Programs/Accessories. In Win7, it'll either be on the main Start Menu list or buried somewhere. If you don't see the entry, open Control Panel, 'Programs and Features', click on 'Turn Windows features on and off' over to the left, then checkmark the "Tablet PC" entry and let it load. If it's already checked and you swear you can't find the entry on the Start Menu, uncheck 'Tablet', reboot, then put it back in. (Why it's tied in with the tablet's features is anybody's guess.)

Update: A commenter noted that the 'Tablet' feature isn't offered in his 'Home' edition, so if you don't see a 'Tablet PC' entry in the 'Features' box, check out the couple of free snipping tools available here.

To use Snipping Tool, just fire it up. It automatically goes straight into 'capture mode'. Grab the mouse, hold down the left button and d-r-a-g it over the area you want to snip. When you let go, a box pops open with the sniplet. Do a 'Save As' and there ya go.

There are a couple of other features in the sniplet box you might find useful, such as a 'pen' tool where you can manually write words or circle something, and a yellow 'highlight' tool. If you don't like what you circled or highlighted, click on the 'Eraser' tool and then the area you want erased. You can also send the snip directly to someone via email without even bothering to save it, another time-saver.

There are a couple of Options you might want to change:

— You can add it to the Quick Launch tool bar if you use it.

— The 'ink' color is the color of the border it puts around the snip, so you might prefer black or some dark color over the default red.

Kudos to Microsoft for an excellent time-saving tool that works perfectly.

Abortion, Money, and Freedom

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:53:00 -0500

I am going to comment on some things our friend TigerHawk said here in his piece on government payment for abortions. Says he:

I do not believe that the Constitution can reasonably be read to confer a "right" to an abortion.

The US Constitution was not designed to "confer" rights: it was designed to circumscribe the power and jurisdiction of the Federal State by a group of independent states who, knowing human nature, were deeply suspicious about any expansion of Federal, centralized power after their experience with Britain. According to our founding documents, human freedom is conferred by God to us as individuals, not by man and not by government.

The "Bill of Rights" Amendments were not designed to confer rights either. They were added, on the insistence of the feisty New York delegation, just to make some of the implied meaning crystal clear (and I suppose they were wise to do so, but it makes it appear that unspecified freedoms - or "rights" - do not exist)... except for Amendments lX and X which were intended to cover almost all human actions:

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Thus, in my view, abortion should have been ignored by the Supremes. Not a Federal case. It may be rightly a legal issue on the state level, and is certainly an individual moral issue.

The language of "rights" is tricky, easily abused and distorted, and I do not like it. As an American, I do not and should not need specified "rights" to anything - all I need is a clear delineation of the limit of the powers of government, and I will find a way to get on with it in life.

I can bear arms - and do a million other things that aren't listed. But that doesn't mean that the government should buy me guns. So the question of who pays is another issue entirely. Insurance plans vary widely in the elective things they cover. Most people prefer less expensive plans which do not cover elective procedures, and clearly most people do not want to pay for other peoples' elective abortions.

They don't want to pay for other peoples' IVF either.

Am I right or wrong about all this? Just to be clear, this is not a pro-abortion post...

Euroland vs. America

nospam@example.com (The Barrister) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:37:00 -0500

Quoted in a piece at NYM on homicide:

By the time European states became democracies, the populace had
accepted the authority of the state. But the American Revolution
happened before Americans had got used to the idea of a state monopoly
on force. Americans therefore preserved for themselves not only the
right to bear arms—rather than yielding that right to a strong central
government—but also medieval manners: impulsiveness, crudeness, and
fidelity to a culture of honor. We’re backward, in other words, because
we became free before we learned how to control ourselves.

We Americans are so darned uncivilized. Heck, I shoot people anytime anyone bothers me. Like when somebody tries to sneak into the 15 items or less supermarket line with 16 items. We all shoot jerks like that, here in the back woods of Connecticut.

Europe has a long tradition of feudalism, and they still emotionally cling to it like small children while speaking condescendingly about the messy freedom we have in the US. I'll take our messy freedom anytime over "respecting the authority of the state."

The Euros still seem to think of themselves as serfs, at heart. "L'etat, c'est moi" says me, a proud American.

A matter of definition - The Fort Hood reporting

nospam@example.com (Dr. Mercury) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:20:00 -0500

I was offline reading a good book (as crazy as that sounds) when news of the Fort Hood tragedy broke. Luckily, hours later, my introduction to the story was a post on Hot Air, which had already discerned from the British press (since the American press was studiously avoiding the subject) that the perpetrator was Muslim.

My first reaction to a Muslim shooting up the place was, "Here we go again!"

(I was ever the cynical one.)

My second reaction was, "Stand by for all the 'Muslims fear reprisals' articles in the MSM."

(Practical, too.)

But my third reaction was, "Hey, wait a sec..."

Spot the incorrect word:

Ft. Hood Motive: Terrorism or Mental Illness? — ABC News

YOU DECIDE: An Act of Terror, or a Horrific Crime? — Fox News

Probe so far shows Fort Hood attack wasn't part of a broader terrorist plot — CNN News

A senior administration official told NBC News that the shootings could have been a criminal matter rather than a terrorism-related attack. — MSNBC News

It is not clear whether terrorism laws would apply or not. Evidence would have to show that the act was inspired by a terrorist group or influenced or directed by terrorists or terrorist ideology. — CBS News

Domestic terrorism: New trouble at home — USA Today

If reports about him are true, Maj. Hasan clearly was a terrorist. — Washington Times

Did Hasan commit his act of terror alone? — Ed Morrissey, Hot Air blog

But there are very, very strong warning signs here that Dr. Hasan had become an Islamist extremist and, therefore, that this was a terrorist act. — Senator Joe Lieberman

(etc)

And from yesterday's Best of the Web Today column by James Taranto:

In fact, this was not a terrorist attack. By definition, terrorism targets noncombatants. When an irregular force like al Qaeda attacks a military target, such as the bombing of the USS Cole, that is more accurately termed guerrilla warfare.

The real question here is not whether the attack was terrorism but whether it was an act of war as opposed to personal aggression. ABC News reports that "U.S. intelligence agencies were aware months ago" that the suspect "was attempting to make contact with people associated with al Qaeda," which if true certainly bolsters the case for the affirmative.

When a soldier attacks members of his own force in an act of war, it seems to us the most apt term is treason.

Agreed. It didn't take long before it occurred to me that, by definition, "terrorism" means killing civilians, not soldiers. Thanks to James for stating it perfectly.

And, by way of Instapundit, a couple of sharp quotes on the subject:

In regards to the liberal MSM's worry about the 'Muslim backlash', here's Michael Nehring writing on Facebook:

"What says more about America – that we always, ALWAYS manage to refrain from an anti-Muslim backlash, or that progressives are always, ALWAYS, convinced that one is on the way?"

And in regards to the American press doing its usual dance around the matter of the perpetrator's Muslim faith and its bearing on the event (as highly evidenced in a number of the above headlines and quotes), here's David Warren:

"For a person with old-fashioned values, and an old-fashioned sense of English word meanings, the reports of the Fort Hood massacre were almost as provoking as what happened there. In the larger view of things, they may be more consequential."

Veterans Day: “Before You Go”

nospam@example.com (Bruce Kesler) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500

This song, “Before You Go,” will be performed today at the National Celebration of Veteran's Day, 2009 at the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. The song's authors Dr. Sam Bierstock and John Melnick have received the honor.

The "Before You Go" project now has a formal affiliation with "Veterans Helping Today's Returning Heroes", designed to directly benefit our returning heroes. Veterans Helping Today's Returning Heroes (VHH) is a charitable 501(c)3 organization providing support dogs and guide dogs to wounded, blinded and disabled veterans returning from the global war on terror. These dogs cost between $35,000.00 and $50,000.00 to raise and train, and are not funded by the government. To date, VHH has raised over $2,000,000.00 toward this worthy cause which allows our veterans disabled in war to enhance their quality of life with honor and the companionship of one of these wonderful dogs, each of which is trained to support the specific disability of each wounded veteran.

For that reason, Sam and John do not allow websites to post embedded videos of their song, so that purchases will be made at their site, and part of the funds go to VHH.

But, they do allow you to visit their site and see the videos for free that they’ve made to accompany the song.

For the WWII and Korean War version, click here.

For the Vietnam War version, click here.

Here’s some of the national TV features that have been made about this song-writing duo, how they came to do this, and why. As one says, “we’d have nothing without them,” our veterans. “Thank you, before you go.”

Here’s the letter President Bush and wife Barbara sent Sam Bierstock, and the “tears in our eyes.”:

Equal Justice for All: Socialize Legal Care Now to Solve the Crisis!

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:33:50 -0500

The legal costs to individuals and businesses are destroying the American economy. America, the most litigious nation and the most-lawyered nation (per capita) in the world is burdened by a broken, and crushingly expensive system of legal care.

Few Americans can afford high-quality legal care at $500-$2000/hour when needed, and end up in legal clinics or representing themselves. Few, if any, have legal coverage. Legal costs sap profits from business in ways that are entirely unproductive. The poor, minorities, and women are, of course, most hard hit by the difficulty finding justice in a money-driven legal system, while the Mafia, politicians, and Wall Streeters skate and the lawyers drive Lexi and Mercedes in their Valentino and Armani suits.

It costs more to contest a speeding ticket or a routine Maggie's Farm disorderly conduct ticket than to pay it. And when you die - forget it: You are forced to pay lawyers all over the place.

There is no affordable justice in America today, and God knows how many bankruptcies, heartaches, and ruined lives result. It's unfair, unjust and un-American. 10% of American African-American youth rot in jail for lack of legal care while rich white guys like Bill Ayers are walking the street and hosting cocktail parties for politicians.

Meanwhile, hordes of tort lawyers are watching for every time you fail to clear your driveway, and checking the lead levels in the toys and books you produce. Hungry divorce lawyers prowl around your home at night, waiting to hear an argument. They are everywhere, looking to either defend you or to prosecute you.

There are more laws up against you than there are diseases in this world.

Furthermore, unlike medical care, the US Constitution does concern itself with justice more than a little bit.

Just think about your annual direct and indirect legal care costs: they are included in your auto liability insurance, your homeowner's insurance, your tax guy, the guy you paid to get your kid reduced from a DWI to a DUI, the guy who managed the refinancing of your house, the indirect costs to your employer and in your town taxes for having to maintain a legal department, and the legal costs built into everything you buy in America - including doctors' malpractice insurance - which is basically legal insurance. Create a pension: you need a lawyer. Even your lawyer has to buy legal insurance, inflating his charges. And even your investments - every mutual fund has a legal team paid for with your fees. The list goes on and on.

Something must be done immediately to correct this drag on the American economy and on the American spirit. Short of killing all the lawyers (I am quite fond of a number of them), I suggest a government take-over of this broken, unjust system by 111 Federal bureaucracies, and with the help of our politicians, to solve this crisis.

And a 5% Federal tax increase to pay for it all.

German Idiot Fits In Hollywood

nospam@example.com (Bruce Kesler) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:22:43 -0500

This morning I told a friend I often watch idiotic escapist movies. Those who make the better ones need to be creative wonders. A look behind the scenes at one of the more successful reveals that he needs also to be an idiot.

My local newspaper carries a wire service profile of the director of the upcoming $200-million special effects movie “2012.” This director, Roland Emmerich, from Germany, “has earned the unofficial title of ‘Master of Disaster’” for his prior hits, “Independence Day” (1996), “Godzilla” (1998), and “The Day After Tomorrow.” (2004) They were, indeed, fairly good idiotic escapist movies, to me.

His soon to be released topper will have “a collapse of the Earth’s crust, giant floods and hellish rains of fire (yet not enough to kill the main character, played by John Cusak).”

Wow! Can hardly wait. New York destroyed again. Been there, done that, you say.

Emmerich does more, but notice what he doesn’t do: "In fact, the man who rose to fame as a cinematic escapist is an activist in real life. In Germany, he’s a strong supporter of the environmentalist Green Party. He campaigns for gay rights, and he doesn’t hide his contempt for organized religion.” OK, he does fit in with Hollywood.

As the profile continues: “In 2012, the pope is buried under debris when St. Peter’s dome comes tumbling down, and peace-loving Tibetan monks are not spared by the great floods. No Islamic site is seen perishing, though. ‘We didn’t destroy Mecca because we didn’t want to have to deal with a fatwa,’ Emmerich says.” OK, he does fit in with the PCers who made the Ft. Hood massacre possible and the media community apologists for poor, misunderstood, stressed Hasan. Can’t wait for that Hollywood film version, huh? What courage it takes to trash Western civilization, and make the world safe for its destroyers!

Emmerich puts the idiot cherry on his half-baked cake of a mind with this one, why he “couldn’t make a patriotic feel-good movie like ‘Independence Day’ anymore: ‘These days I have a much more pessimistic outlook for our civilization, despite the good America can do for the world under Barack Obama.” OK, we’re waiting for his film about how Obama’s abandonment of oppressed peoples in Tibet, in Iran, in Honduras, in the growing list to include Afghanistan and maybe Iraq, will cheer shmuck Emmerich up. (Couldn’t resist the alliteration.)

BTW, I’d love to give you, dear reader, the url to see this profile in idiocy for yourself. But, due to the past triumphs of idiocy in media my local newspaper’s falling circulation cannot afford to pay extra anymore for the wire service reports in its dead-tree edition to also appear at its website, and the MCT wire service website – unlike AP's, even – doesn’t even steer the reader to a newspaper that does.

Feminism and Femininity

nospam@example.com (Dr. Joy Bliss) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:31:00 -0500

While lesbian feminista Democrat Camille Paglia admires Pelosi's "grittiness" and "mettle" (but detests what Pelosi has produced. BTW, we like Paglia a lot. She is the kind of person it is pleasant and interesting to disagree with, and we appreciate grit in women), Dr. Laura has another view of the world at home: The Evolution of ‘Feminism' Saddens Me. One quote:

...it’s pretty easy to make men happy.

It is remarkable that each and every one of the women who has
called my show complaining about her husband, and who was then asked
the question, "Would you want to come home to you?" has said,
haltingly, no. There it is. When women disdain masculinity and their
own femininity, all is lost for the family.

These sorts of discussions, however interesting at times, are a bit off the point. Men need to be gentle sometimes, and women need to be tough sometimes. Both obviously have these capacities. However, I think that if a woman wants to have a happy marriage she would do well to at least give Dr. Laura a listen. She understands men pretty well, and likes them for what they are.

Woodstock, CT, #1

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:42:00 -0500

We have asked our friend Capt. Tom Francis to share some photos and info about his home town of Woodstock, CT. (Maybe in April we'll invite him to write about trout fishing in New England, as he is a fresh and salt-water fishing guide.)

Here's his first offering -

Roseland Cottage.

Built by Henry Chandler Bowen in 1846 - a local resident who made his fortune in New York City - Roseland Cottage, also known as "The Pink House", is located in Woodstock, CT. Designed by Andrew Jackson Dowling whose design concepts stressed the practical as well as the aesthetic. It's exterior design is called Gothic Revival. I wouldn't know Gothic Revival from Greasy Gravy, but that's what I've been told.

Roseland Cottage also has original Lincrusta wall coverings produced by Fredrick Walton of Walton Linoleum fame. The Lincrusta process produces embossed coverings made from linseed oil and wood flour on linen.

Bowen was an ardent abolitionist, Congregationalist, and Republican. He often entertained many of the heavy hitters of the day including Presidents - most notably President U.S. Grant who was enchanted by the in-home bowling alley. Bowen was known for his philanthropy and he had a huge impact on Woodstock and local towns. More on Bowen later in the series.

What's all this about Happiness?

nospam@example.com (The Barrister) — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 12:50:38 -0500

A re-post from our dusty archives -

Lanchester in The New Yorker reviews two books on the subject of happiness. Interesting stuff. A Quote:

He (McMahon) points out that the Founding Fathers, who queried, crossed out, and haggled over every line of the Declaration, let the “pursuit of Happiness” stand unedited and unamended. But he also points out that the eighteenth-century understanding of “pursuit” was rather darker than it might seem now. Dr. Johnson’s dictionary defined it as “the act of following with hostile intention,” and McMahon adds that “if one thinks of pursuing happiness as one pursues a fugitive . . . the ‘pursuit of happiness’ takes on a somewhat different cast.”

The legacy of that ambiguity is with us still. We are pursuing happiness to this day, and it is by no means clear that it is a happy process. The self-help section in any bookshop is easy to mock—indeed, it sometimes seems that the titles of self-help books are almost mocking themselves—but there is nothing to mock about the people standing in front of the shelves looking for guidance. In fact, the advice in self-help books is, by and large, pretty good. The trouble is that it is very difficult to take.

Read entire.

William Sidney Mount (1807-1868)

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:15:00 -0500

Eel Spearing at Setauket (1845)

You can read a blurb about this painting here.

The picture is part of a current show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Stories: Paintings from Everyday Life 1865-1915.

Tuesday morning links

nospam@example.com (The News Junkie) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:23:31 -0500

"Green fuel" destroying the rain forest

Catholics Organize Against Annual Church Drive to Fund ACORN Groups

Engineering degrees on the upswing

How the Dems got health bill thru the House:

What is the goal of the so-called conservative Democrats? We can infer from Charlie that it is merely to escape the wrath of the voters back home.

Pelosi & Emanuel allow a carefully deduced number of Democratic Members from conservative districts to be untouched because, you see, that serves their ultimate goal — pass a suicidal healthcare bill as they earlier passed a job-killing cap & trade bill out of the House.

The case against the Stupak amendment. Forbes

The Importance of Being Lieberman

Union protests volunteers

QQQ

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:21:00 -0500

There is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women, and there are families.

Maggie Thatcher

Woodstock, CT, #2

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:38:00 -0500

Our ongoing occasional series from Capt. Tom on his home town -

Samuel McClellan House

Built in 1736, the McClellan House is an example of an early American large farm home. Located across from the S. Woodstock Commons and Codfish Flats (Codfish Flats was an area where farm hands lived in homes provided by wealthy farmers). Its basic structure has remained unchanged since 1736 with the exception of electricity and
modern appliances. The roof is still cedar shingles and the frame is post and beam style with massive chestnut beams. The colors are original and were researched extensively by the current owner prior to painting.

Samuel McClellan was a Revolutionary War hero. McClellan raised one of the first Horse Calvary units of the war from Woodstock and the surrounding area. He purchased this home sometime after the French-Indian War - historians believe in 1763.

One point of interest: this home has several examples of Louis XV furniture built into the walls of the home - two dressers and one writing desk.

Editor's comment: I would speculate that the 1736 house is the part on the right, facing the road, and that the later addition off the rear, typical of New England, was cleverly integrated to enhance the original dwelling.

Moved to the top - Where do you go? A reader poll

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:04:00 -0500

I moved this poll back up to the top tonight to see if we can squeeze out any more reader responses -

Besides work, what are the five most frequent places you go to in a normal week?

Bank, post office, minimart, a walk outdoors, hardware store, pub, gym, deli, fish market, supermarket, visit friends, visit boyfriend or girlfriend, hairdresser, church, dock, stable, theater, liquor store, places to eat or to get food, massage parlor - where do you all go most often?

My own list is dull as dishwater reflecting my ordinary life: Post office, minimart or Dunkin Donuts, supermarket, bank, places to eat. That's about it, and then there are plenty of places I go to around once a week.

Bureaucrats and busy-bodies

nospam@example.com (The Barrister) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:38:24 -0500

A propos our earlier post today about Immune from Logic, here's what they are doing in the UK: Health and safety snoops to enter family homes. Why people would put up with that is beyond me. Oh, I forgot. It's for the Greater Good. Meaning the good of the government.

It makes sense, however, in a sick sort of way: who pays the piper calls the tune. The more government controls the funding of medical care, the sooner they control what we do in our lives. Thus we get to things like this: A cost-benefit analysis of abortion vs. live birth.

Abortions are cheaper, of course. As Chicago Boyz says,

It’s as if we in the U.S. are moving toward a system where just about anything
can be justified because some government official says that it should
be so. It’s all for the greater good, right? What are pesky little
things like individuals and predictable rules in the face of all that
wonderful greater goodness?

The Treasonous Clerk

nospam@example.com (Bird Dog) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:10:00 -0500

Part 4 of Wilson's The Treasonous Clerk: Art and Beauty against the Politicized Aesthetic

Why does he hate us?

nospam@example.com (The Barrister) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:01:31 -0500

Paul Mirengoff: Why does he hate us? Barack Obama's America-effacing
presidency

Shea Stadium, 1965

nospam@example.com (Opie) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:46:00 -0500

Immune from logic

nospam@example.com (The Barrister) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:39:00 -0500

Via Protein's Progressive utopia — enemy of Liberty:

If liberals are so disturbed by Congress dictating whether abortion is
a legitimate health care issue or not, it only makes sense that they
should be equally troubled by government management of other health
care decisions.
Undoubtedly, this is zealously naive thinking on my part. Reaching
such a conclusion demands a modicum of consistency. And as we’ve seen,
health care “reform” is an ideological crusade immune from logic.