I listened to a bit of Tuesday's show when he had the Phelps sisters on. He had made a deal with them that if they would agree not to appear at the funerals of the Blacksburg victims, he would give them Tuesday's show to do their thing. I had never paid much attention to them or their church, Westboro Baptist. I'm not going to link them - their website name would make even Ann Coulter blush.
From what I had read about them, I thought they were just anti-gay nuts, which they are, but they actually have a theology that goes way beyond their signs and their anti-gay rhetoric, which I now see they do for the pub to reach what they perceive as the maximum audience. They believe (fervently is too weak a word) that it is a Christian's duty to rebuke non-Christians in an effort to make them see the error of their ways and become Christians. The rub is that if you don't believe in 24/7 rebuking of those who don't agree with Westboro, you're not a real Christian. They have 71 members of their church apparently, and their belief is that they are the only true Christians following the teachings of Jesus. Everyone else is destined for Hell.
The sisters are not dumb and both are lawyers (and no LJ I'm not claiming that lawyers are necessarily smart). But boy are they pissed off.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
More Miller
Skipped around his website some last night and it appears that Mark Steyn will be on fairly regularly; Miller really schmoozes.
He also had Peggy Noonan (my fantasy girlfriend) on and he seemed pretty much as infatuated as I. I've read almost all her books and never miss a column. Best prose in the biz.
LJ, you may never be able to get beyond his schtick or his politics but I bet this is going to hit once he gets enough stations to drag him out of that time slot. Would that my local Talk Radio 1370 AM would dump Savage or Gallagher for him, not that I think Gallagher is even close to Savage regarding the cringe factor.
He also had Peggy Noonan (my fantasy girlfriend) on and he seemed pretty much as infatuated as I. I've read almost all her books and never miss a column. Best prose in the biz.
LJ, you may never be able to get beyond his schtick or his politics but I bet this is going to hit once he gets enough stations to drag him out of that time slot. Would that my local Talk Radio 1370 AM would dump Savage or Gallagher for him, not that I think Gallagher is even close to Savage regarding the cringe factor.
Re: Jonah Goldberg and Mark Steyn on US Air Carriers
Monday, April 23, 2007
The Stand
It's long, as you know. It's the only King book I've read where God shows up. In everything else I've read, there is Paranormal that may be Evil or may not. Certainly the Clown in It is evil but there's no countervailing god or God.
English-speaking Peoples Since 1900
I'm up to the 90s. The decade/chapter entitled The Wasted Breathing Space.
70s:
More favorable treatment of Nixon/Kissinger than I would have thought: the theory being that the political will of the 70s only allowed for Detente rather than aggressively pursuing the end of Communism. Nixon was rightfully excoriated for his economic policies as was Carter; Edward Heath, the Conservative Prime Minister even more so for most of his policies.
80s:
Thatcher and Reagan rightfully hallowed for their efforts both economically and in terms of foreign policy. Wish that the details of Reykjavik had been explored in greater detail.
In addition, I've always felt that administrations (and most other things) really need at least 20 years of distance before they are really treated properly from a historical (as opposed to a journalistic) perspective so from Reagan/Thatcher forward, I'm treating this a bit more like an opinion piece though there is certainly plenty of opinion in the first 80 years.
70s:
More favorable treatment of Nixon/Kissinger than I would have thought: the theory being that the political will of the 70s only allowed for Detente rather than aggressively pursuing the end of Communism. Nixon was rightfully excoriated for his economic policies as was Carter; Edward Heath, the Conservative Prime Minister even more so for most of his policies.
80s:
Thatcher and Reagan rightfully hallowed for their efforts both economically and in terms of foreign policy. Wish that the details of Reykjavik had been explored in greater detail.
In addition, I've always felt that administrations (and most other things) really need at least 20 years of distance before they are really treated properly from a historical (as opposed to a journalistic) perspective so from Reagan/Thatcher forward, I'm treating this a bit more like an opinion piece though there is certainly plenty of opinion in the first 80 years.
The rug in the Oval Office
If Hillary is going to lift up the rug in the Oval Office in 2009, she’d better hope it was cleaned thoroughly after her husband’s term. Yuck.
Re: The Sopranos
I loved the series the first two seasons. The succeeding seasons left me less impressed. I'm not sure if that was because of a drop in quality or if I increasingly lost interest due to the length of the hiatuses. I've continued watching, however, and so far I've loved this season.
Come to think of it, buying may be the perfect way to go.
Come to think of it, buying may be the perfect way to go.
Baghdad on the Bayou
From City Journal:
The rocketing crime rate suggests that New Orleans’s bad guys are coming back to the city in disproportionate numbers. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. The hoodlums, mostly members of an entrenched underclass, are impulsive and mobile, while working- and middle-class New Orleanians face big roadblocks to returning, such as shuttered schools. Some of the lawbreakers may have hustled back, too, because they were having a hard time adjusting to functional cities like Houston, which initially took in more than 200,000 storm evacuees. Unlike New Orleans, which has long failed at crime fighting, Houston actually arrests, charges, convicts, and imprisons its criminals (see “Houston’s Noble Experiment,” Spring 2006).
And, of course, Michael has made similar comments about the crime rate increasing in Houston as a result of the Katrina cretins here, here, here and here.
The rocketing crime rate suggests that New Orleans’s bad guys are coming back to the city in disproportionate numbers. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. The hoodlums, mostly members of an entrenched underclass, are impulsive and mobile, while working- and middle-class New Orleanians face big roadblocks to returning, such as shuttered schools. Some of the lawbreakers may have hustled back, too, because they were having a hard time adjusting to functional cities like Houston, which initially took in more than 200,000 storm evacuees. Unlike New Orleans, which has long failed at crime fighting, Houston actually arrests, charges, convicts, and imprisons its criminals (see “Houston’s Noble Experiment,” Spring 2006).
And, of course, Michael has made similar comments about the crime rate increasing in Houston as a result of the Katrina cretins here, here, here and here.
The Sopranos
While I am on the cutting edge on many things, especially as compared to my com padres, I am not as it relates to television. I am rarely, if ever, "on" a program or series before it gets big or wins awards or is hyped as the next "best thing ever".
Case in point: "Seinfeld". I had heard of it, but had never watched it when it was in it's early years. I'm in a car with fellow SSJ Michael and he is talking about it and keeps saying that "dude, you are George. You are SO George." I had no idea what he was talking about, nor would he explain how I was "so George". So, my interest piqued, I watched. And watched and kept watching.
In the DVD age that we are now in, I've only bought 2 TV series. They are Ken Burns' "The Civil War" and "Seinfeld". I can, and have, watched both of these multiple times. As for "Seinfeld", I'm anxiously waiting for season 8 to come out in June.
Which brings me to "The Sopranos". As I've mentioned before, I have never had HBO, so I've never seen any series produced or aired on HBO. But with this being the final season (as I understand) of "The Sopranos", I'm seeing article after article talking about how it is the greatest TV series ever. EVER. Can that be? I mean, the reviewers and pundits and authors can't ALL be wrong, can they? So now I'm thinking, I have to check it out. I have to watch it.
I'm trying to decide if I want to start buying the DVD's, starting with season 1. My concern is that while it may be great, will it and can it stand up to multiple viewings, ala "Seinfeld". Or will I watch all the episodes, say yes, that was very good, even great, but never watch them again?
In thinking about the multiple viewing question, is that something inherent to the comedy genre? How many times have I watched the great comedies over and over again? Even though I know the story, the jokes, the twists, it is still entertaining and I still laugh out loud at the same time every time. But with a drama, when you know the outcome, does it lose something?Loses the "kick" or "punch"? And therein lies my conundrum. If "The Sopranos" is a great as the hype is suggesting, it should be able to pass the multiple viewing test.
What to do? What to do....
Case in point: "Seinfeld". I had heard of it, but had never watched it when it was in it's early years. I'm in a car with fellow SSJ Michael and he is talking about it and keeps saying that "dude, you are George. You are SO George." I had no idea what he was talking about, nor would he explain how I was "so George". So, my interest piqued, I watched. And watched and kept watching.
In the DVD age that we are now in, I've only bought 2 TV series. They are Ken Burns' "The Civil War" and "Seinfeld". I can, and have, watched both of these multiple times. As for "Seinfeld", I'm anxiously waiting for season 8 to come out in June.
Which brings me to "The Sopranos". As I've mentioned before, I have never had HBO, so I've never seen any series produced or aired on HBO. But with this being the final season (as I understand) of "The Sopranos", I'm seeing article after article talking about how it is the greatest TV series ever. EVER. Can that be? I mean, the reviewers and pundits and authors can't ALL be wrong, can they? So now I'm thinking, I have to check it out. I have to watch it.
I'm trying to decide if I want to start buying the DVD's, starting with season 1. My concern is that while it may be great, will it and can it stand up to multiple viewings, ala "Seinfeld". Or will I watch all the episodes, say yes, that was very good, even great, but never watch them again?
In thinking about the multiple viewing question, is that something inherent to the comedy genre? How many times have I watched the great comedies over and over again? Even though I know the story, the jokes, the twists, it is still entertaining and I still laugh out loud at the same time every time. But with a drama, when you know the outcome, does it lose something?Loses the "kick" or "punch"? And therein lies my conundrum. If "The Sopranos" is a great as the hype is suggesting, it should be able to pass the multiple viewing test.
What to do? What to do....
Alaska
I struggled to finish. I usually don't have a problem getting through Michener and for the past few years I have been reading lots of stuff about this part of the world. Perhaps it was the difficultly trying to follow characters with very similar names (Russians, Aleuts, Inuit, etc.). Or it was that I really wasn't as interested in the history of Alaska as I thought I would be. Whatever the reason, I was bored with it about halfway through and only finished because I hate not finishing a book I start. Not his best effort.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
English-speaking Peoples
Roberts has gone too far. His attack on The X-Files as indicative of the English-speaking peoples' tendency to question authority and look for conspiracies is beyond the pale.
OK, I know he was, as a former boss of mine used to say engaging in a literary device, "I exaggerate to illustrate." But, The X-Files? How else am I to fall asleep at night?
OK, I know he was, as a former boss of mine used to say engaging in a literary device, "I exaggerate to illustrate." But, The X-Files? How else am I to fall asleep at night?
Boomsday
Ugly and unfair review today in the NYT Book Review. The authors are apparently well-qualified to review Buckley's book, having written this masterpiece.
My review of Boomsday here.
My review of Boomsday here.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Re: Blacksburg question II
Rich Lowry notes a statistic on "rampage killings" and one doctor's take on the recent rise of such events: "According to an extensive survey in the New York Times a few years ago, about half of rampage killings are committed by mentally ill people, a much higher percentage than the roughly five percent that commit all murders. Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, president of the Virginia-based Treatment Advocacy Center, believes there has been a rise in such killings in the past 20 years, which coincides with the period when we have dumped many severely mental ill people out into society without treating them."
Charles Krauthammer: "In a previous age, such a troubled soul might have found himself at the state mental hospital rather than a state university. But in a trade-off that a decent and tolerant society makes with open eyes, we allow freedom from straitjackets to those on the psychic edge, knowing that such tolerance runs very rare but very terrible risk."
Turns out Charles Whitman had a brain tumor that may have affected his mental state.
Charles Krauthammer: "In a previous age, such a troubled soul might have found himself at the state mental hospital rather than a state university. But in a trade-off that a decent and tolerant society makes with open eyes, we allow freedom from straitjackets to those on the psychic edge, knowing that such tolerance runs very rare but very terrible risk."
Turns out Charles Whitman had a brain tumor that may have affected his mental state.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Redd - the end
I spent a lot of time on the blog today (for better or worse) and have been back and forth reading and checking. The more I see "redd" the more I hate it.
Therefore, on the very day [update note: actually the next day] that I called for a revolution: I rescind that call, ask you to sheath your weapons, and go with the flow. For now.
"This is not the time, but time is on our side."
Therefore, on the very day [update note: actually the next day] that I called for a revolution: I rescind that call, ask you to sheath your weapons, and go with the flow. For now.
"This is not the time, but time is on our side."
Our visitors today
include persons in Canada, Puerto Rico, Spain, Brazil, and Chile. No kidding.
UPDATE: I'm not buying it. I can't get a referring URL for any of them, must be a glitch. Doh!
Re: Blacksburg question
I saw just a bit of the video, but I think I've redd enough to know that this guy wasn't simply very pissed-off, he was mentally unstable. There are dozens of posts at DU (!) from people who know or knew people who were psychotic (and one who was himself), and they all seem to think this guy was a classic case. If that's so, 30 years ago he would have been in a facility and couldn't have done this. I'm not suggesting that everyone who loses it in the way LJ describes is mental (I don't think for instance that anybody believes the Columbine guys were mental) but perhaps that is one part of the puzzle: We used to lock them up, now we don't.
NBC
I don't really have big objection to NBC's airing of the tape save for the insensitivity to the families so soon after the event. Having said that, Why not say:
We received this package from the killer, but we here at NBC have chosen not to air [even if only temporarily] the video. We may air it at a future time once things have settled down. For now, though, out of respect for the families and the Hokie family, we withhold.
This would have been the way to go...sing our own praises while doing the right thing.
We received this package from the killer, but we here at NBC have chosen not to air [even if only temporarily] the video. We may air it at a future time once things have settled down. For now, though, out of respect for the families and the Hokie family, we withhold.
This would have been the way to go...sing our own praises while doing the right thing.
Re: Interesting redd fact
There won't be salmon redds when I go to Canada in August, but plenty of trout.
I'd redd all that Teddy Roosevelt simplifying the language stuff before. Although I have the exact same difficulty with "read" in the past tense, I think I'm a bit Frenchman-like regarding the language. Now that English is the lingua franca, I hesitate to monkey with a good thing.
I'd redd all that Teddy Roosevelt simplifying the language stuff before. Although I have the exact same difficulty with "read" in the past tense, I think I'm a bit Frenchman-like regarding the language. Now that English is the lingua franca, I hesitate to monkey with a good thing.
Re: Blacksburg
LJ,
I couldn't agree more about these leaps that we've taken. Used to be that if one got fired/dumped, one sought a new job or a new squeeze; now we open fire. We live in the best of times materially. The poorest in this country live like only royalty could aspire to only a hundred years ago yet even the smallest deprivation, real or perceived, sparks acts like this?
This guy was deprived in no measure.
I cannot fathom this.
I couldn't agree more about these leaps that we've taken. Used to be that if one got fired/dumped, one sought a new job or a new squeeze; now we open fire. We live in the best of times materially. The poorest in this country live like only royalty could aspire to only a hundred years ago yet even the smallest deprivation, real or perceived, sparks acts like this?
This guy was deprived in no measure.
I cannot fathom this.
Re: Hostage
Saw the movie a couple of years ago but thought it forgettable. No idea what the "I" stands for....
Interesting redd fact
"An egg sac or collection can be called a 'redd' as in 'salmon redd' for the eggs attached to the stream bottom. Specifically, a salmon redd is the space at the bottom of a stream that a spawning salmon makes for its eggs."
Prager channels Scooter
"I believe that this early healing talk is both foolish and immoral.
It is foolish because one does not speak about healing the same day (or week or perhaps even month) that one is traumatized -- especially by evil. One must be allowed time for anger and grief. To speak of healing and 'closure' before one goes through those other emotions is to speak not of healing but of suppression.
Not to allow people time to experience their natural, and noble, instincts to feel rage and grief actually deprives them of the ability to heal in the long run. After all, if there is no rage and grief, what is there to heal from?"
It is foolish because one does not speak about healing the same day (or week or perhaps even month) that one is traumatized -- especially by evil. One must be allowed time for anger and grief. To speak of healing and 'closure' before one goes through those other emotions is to speak not of healing but of suppression.
Not to allow people time to experience their natural, and noble, instincts to feel rage and grief actually deprives them of the ability to heal in the long run. After all, if there is no rage and grief, what is there to heal from?"
Site meter
I just noticed we had lost our site meter. Guess it dropped off when we made the switch to new Blogger. I've put it back so we can again marvel at our extensive readership.
Blacksburg II
Michael - just for your information, the original draft of my post below had several...."begs the question..." references. And though I relish in pushing certain buttons, I felt in this case it would be a distraction.
Blacksburg
To date I haven’t commented on the events in Blacksburg. I can say in all honesty that I haven’t seen 1 minute of news coverage on this. I have heard snippets here and there on the radio, mostly discussions on 1) what the school administration and police officials did or did not do and 2) whether or not the video/ writings/pictures that this guy sent to NBC should or should not be broadcast. What I would like to hear a discussion about is the how (not in how it was done, but in how have we, as a society, gotten to the point of anger = mass killing).
How have we gone from middle or high school “angst” issues (bullies, depression, break-ups with girlfriends, etc.) that used to be settled with, at worst, fist-fights across the street from the school that lasted maybe 10-15 minutes to taking multiple weapons to school and killing not just the bully or the ex-girlfriend, but seemingly random others, then killing yourself?
How have we gone from “road rage” issues (slow drivers, getting cut-off, not turning right on red) that used to be settled with shaking a fist or finger gestures to ramming the other vehicle/running them off the road and/or pulling out a gun and shooting them?
How have we gone from getting fired/let go/downsized from your job that used to be settled by yelling at your boss or going to the local bar and getting drunk to first killing your spouse and/or children, then going to your ex-employers office, killing the boss and any other random employees that you run into, then killing yourself?
I truly can’t comprehend the leap that Americans, for the most part, have made in this regard. Is part of the problem about our understanding of the “why” or “how” the fact that professionals don’t have the opportunity, after the event, to talk to these individuals because for the most part, the event ends in their death, usually by their own hand? Is part of the problem the American, as compared to the rest of the world, “gun culture”? Is part of the problem the individual freedoms that we enjoy which make it more difficult for authorities to more closely monitor (observation, arrest, confinement, etc.) those in our midst that have been identified by others as potential “problems” or “risks”?
I’m not very interested in discussions about “triggers” or what may or may not have happened in these people’s past. I would hazard to guess that break-ups and parental abuse and depression and stress and mental illness have been with us for eons. The causes have always been there – it’s the effect that has changed and escalated.
How have we gone from middle or high school “angst” issues (bullies, depression, break-ups with girlfriends, etc.) that used to be settled with, at worst, fist-fights across the street from the school that lasted maybe 10-15 minutes to taking multiple weapons to school and killing not just the bully or the ex-girlfriend, but seemingly random others, then killing yourself?
How have we gone from “road rage” issues (slow drivers, getting cut-off, not turning right on red) that used to be settled with shaking a fist or finger gestures to ramming the other vehicle/running them off the road and/or pulling out a gun and shooting them?
How have we gone from getting fired/let go/downsized from your job that used to be settled by yelling at your boss or going to the local bar and getting drunk to first killing your spouse and/or children, then going to your ex-employers office, killing the boss and any other random employees that you run into, then killing yourself?
I truly can’t comprehend the leap that Americans, for the most part, have made in this regard. Is part of the problem about our understanding of the “why” or “how” the fact that professionals don’t have the opportunity, after the event, to talk to these individuals because for the most part, the event ends in their death, usually by their own hand? Is part of the problem the American, as compared to the rest of the world, “gun culture”? Is part of the problem the individual freedoms that we enjoy which make it more difficult for authorities to more closely monitor (observation, arrest, confinement, etc.) those in our midst that have been identified by others as potential “problems” or “risks”?
I’m not very interested in discussions about “triggers” or what may or may not have happened in these people’s past. I would hazard to guess that break-ups and parental abuse and depression and stress and mental illness have been with us for eons. The causes have always been there – it’s the effect that has changed and escalated.
More "redd"
From the Journal of the Simplified Spelling Society:
"When we did this we found that we could make these words regular in most cases by changing only one letter. These you can see in our book called Bridges to Old Spelling. Here is a sample line from that book:
good new spelling: hedd bredd redd (p.t.) dredd reddy.
bad old spelling: head bread read dread ready.
But why, you may ask, use double-d? Why not bred, red, led? For two reasons:
1. If you read red, led, bred, in a sentence they suggest a quite different meaning. In new spelling we save every semantic difference just as we do in old spelling.
2. Our experiments prove that the eye stumbles when it runs across a word with one letter missing. But good reading forbids stumbling, it demands instantaneous comprehension."
TR was an advocate of phonetic spelling:
"During his presidency, Roosevelt tried but did not succeed to advance the cause of simplified spelling. He tried to force government to adopt the system, sending an order to the Public Printer to use the system in all public documents. The order was obeyed, and among the documents thus printed was the President's special message regarding the Panama Canal. The New York World translated the Thanksgiving Day proclamation:
When nearly three centuries ago, the first settlers came to the country which has become this great republic, that confronted not only hardship and privashun, but terrible risk of their lives. . . . The custom has now become national and hallowed by immemorial usage.
The reform annoyed the public, forcing him to rescind the order. Roosevelt's friend, literary critic Brander Matthews, one of the chief advocates of the reform, remonstrated with him for abandoning the effort. Roosevelt replied on December 16: 'I could not by fighting have kept the new spelling in, and it was evidently worse than useless to go into an undignified contest when I was beaten. Do you know that the one word as to which I thought the new spelling was wrong — thru — was more responsible than anything else for our discomfiture?' Next summer Roosevelt was watching a naval review when a launch marked 'Pres Bot' chugged ostentatiously by. The President waved and laughed with delight."
"When we did this we found that we could make these words regular in most cases by changing only one letter. These you can see in our book called Bridges to Old Spelling. Here is a sample line from that book:
good new spelling: hedd bredd redd (p.t.) dredd reddy.
bad old spelling: head bread read dread ready.
But why, you may ask, use double-d? Why not bred, red, led? For two reasons:
1. If you read red, led, bred, in a sentence they suggest a quite different meaning. In new spelling we save every semantic difference just as we do in old spelling.
2. Our experiments prove that the eye stumbles when it runs across a word with one letter missing. But good reading forbids stumbling, it demands instantaneous comprehension."
TR was an advocate of phonetic spelling:
"During his presidency, Roosevelt tried but did not succeed to advance the cause of simplified spelling. He tried to force government to adopt the system, sending an order to the Public Printer to use the system in all public documents. The order was obeyed, and among the documents thus printed was the President's special message regarding the Panama Canal. The New York World translated the Thanksgiving Day proclamation:
When nearly three centuries ago, the first settlers came to the country which has become this great republic, that confronted not only hardship and privashun, but terrible risk of their lives. . . . The custom has now become national and hallowed by immemorial usage.
The reform annoyed the public, forcing him to rescind the order. Roosevelt's friend, literary critic Brander Matthews, one of the chief advocates of the reform, remonstrated with him for abandoning the effort. Roosevelt replied on December 16: 'I could not by fighting have kept the new spelling in, and it was evidently worse than useless to go into an undignified contest when I was beaten. Do you know that the one word as to which I thought the new spelling was wrong — thru — was more responsible than anything else for our discomfiture?' Next summer Roosevelt was watching a naval review when a launch marked 'Pres Bot' chugged ostentatiously by. The President waved and laughed with delight."
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The Watchman
Joe Pike. He's a mono-syllabic Jack Reacher without a sense of humor. Which is funny if you know Reacher.
The Watchman
The Watchman
Redd
I deleted the earlier reference so I'll duplicate it here: I've always had a hiccup reading "read" if it's in the past tense and there isn't a contextual clue that it is the past tense.
It seems to me that "redd" would eliminate my problem. Let's try it; maybe we'll start a movement.
It seems to me that "redd" would eliminate my problem. Let's try it; maybe we'll start a movement.
Re: King Hack
Although I've only read, er, redd, two of his novels, I've always thought him an artist, at least linguistically. Pure beauty with the language.
Danse Macabre
Bagged it halfway through. For serious students of the genre only I think. I have not read/redd most of the books or seen most of the movies referenced, so was at a distinct disadvantage. Two more points: 1. King's a good writer, and this book shows he's a scholar by any measure of the word. I hate it when he is dismissed as a hack. 2. It's fairly clear to any persistent reader of King's fiction that he's an Unreconstructed Lefty. This non-fiction makes it crystal.
Danse Macabre
Danse Macabre
Scooter a Racist
I love History of the English-speaking Peoples Since 1900 so far, so I am a white supremacist.
From Jonah Goldberg at The Corner, Johann Hari has written, “Pigmentation—the old basis for dominance—is now discredited, so he [Andrew Roberts] has politely switched to linguistics.”
Or so Hari contends Roberts has advised George W. Bush. I know nothing of the Springbokers so I hope I don't eventually find out I have been duped, but I'll be shocked, shocked I say, if that turns out to be so.
It just couldn't be because we (the pigmentally-challenged) have gotten some things right. I personally prefer the term "The West" but that might take in too many of the EU. Probably too much Tolkien influence.
From Jonah Goldberg at The Corner, Johann Hari has written, “Pigmentation—the old basis for dominance—is now discredited, so he [Andrew Roberts] has politely switched to linguistics.”
Or so Hari contends Roberts has advised George W. Bush. I know nothing of the Springbokers so I hope I don't eventually find out I have been duped, but I'll be shocked, shocked I say, if that turns out to be so.
It just couldn't be because we (the pigmentally-challenged) have gotten some things right. I personally prefer the term "The West" but that might take in too many of the EU. Probably too much Tolkien influence.
Mona Charen channels Scooter
"Yesterday, literally before the blood was cold at Virginia Tech, I heard some university official telling the press that they planned to import a phalanx of psychologists and counselors so that the 'healing' could begin. Sorry, but this is unnatural. When something so monstrous happens, you need time for shock, rage, even for numbness. A decent interval is required before you can or frankly should think about 'healing.' The therapeutic instinct, so ingrained in our culture, feels almost indecent."
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
"Healing" in Blacksburg
After 9/11 when the late Peter Jennings was hosting a bunch of kids on the following Saturday on an ABC Saturday Morning Special, I made an unfortunate comment to my hostess essentially saying, "What what the heck do we care about what these kids have to say?"
She, rightfully so, shot me lasers. After a bit, I apologized.
The idea that we should already be calling for healing without a period for rage and then mourning strikes me as premature.
She, rightfully so, shot me lasers. After a bit, I apologized.
The idea that we should already be calling for healing without a period for rage and then mourning strikes me as premature.
Don't know if I can do this without audio...
but for the last several years I've noticed something aurally annoying to yours truly.
The sound made by the letters "tt" in the English language as spoken by Americans, particularly Californians.
There is an ad (for Efax I think) running on the Hewitt show lately that has pushed me over the edge. Generalissimo Duane says, "...and click on the radio 'button' and enter Hugh Hewitt...."
The way he says "button" sounds to me like he is pronouncing, very quickly, both Ts. It sounds like, "but-tin." Again, the two "t" sounds are said very quickly, but it just drives me nuts. Isn't it pronounced "bŭt´n?"
OK, thanks to bartleby.com maybe I can do this audibly.
This is really embarrassing but the first time I noticed it was in the movie Clueless about 10-12 years ago.
What a misanthropic curmudgeon am I.
The sound made by the letters "tt" in the English language as spoken by Americans, particularly Californians.
There is an ad (for Efax I think) running on the Hewitt show lately that has pushed me over the edge. Generalissimo Duane says, "...and click on the radio 'button' and enter Hugh Hewitt...."
The way he says "button" sounds to me like he is pronouncing, very quickly, both Ts. It sounds like, "but-tin." Again, the two "t" sounds are said very quickly, but it just drives me nuts. Isn't it pronounced "bŭt´n?"
OK, thanks to bartleby.com maybe I can do this audibly.
This is really embarrassing but the first time I noticed it was in the movie Clueless about 10-12 years ago.
What a misanthropic curmudgeon am I.
Re: Babe
Didn't hear the show so I can't comment on the substance but the "Babe" use is almost as annoying as Laura Ingraham's use of the "royal we."
And yes, I've adored Michelle Malkin since about 1998. Her sites are here and here and in the links section to the right of this post--Hot Air. (Warning, she periodically blasts Olbermann.)
Not sure I get the "taken out of context" issue, to me, context is essential. If not in context, how many of my comments could nail me to the tree? Certainly he might have been using the context argument as crutch, but I didn't hear the comments so I don't know.
Tonight he's blasting the Second Amendment.
And yes, I've adored Michelle Malkin since about 1998. Her sites are here and here and in the links section to the right of this post--Hot Air. (Warning, she periodically blasts Olbermann.)
Not sure I get the "taken out of context" issue, to me, context is essential. If not in context, how many of my comments could nail me to the tree? Certainly he might have been using the context argument as crutch, but I didn't hear the comments so I don't know.
Tonight he's blasting the Second Amendment.
Another Dennis Miller Update
Found out yesterday that he is on a local station here in Dallas at 8pm. So I thought I would give him a listen. I tuned in around 9:30pm and I lasted all of about 3 minutes, maybe. I don't know who he was talking to, but I could couldn't get past all the "babe" references. I don't have a transcript, so I'm having to do this from memory:
"So, babe, I mean I saw you on Hannity & Colmes the other night and what got you all amped up? I mean, babe, we're just sitting here, taking normally and while I disagree with you in some areas, I feel like we have a connection and I can at least hear what you are trying to get across. The other night, what got you so worked up man, talk to me babe."
But as amazing as that was, the response from his quest was even better. I assume the guest was on H&C along with Michelle Malkin (I have no idea who she is - I'm sure Mike and Scooter do). So as the guest is trying to explain what got him so amped up, Dennis breaks in and this exchange takes place - again, from memory):
Dennis: "I mean, babe, you called her a prostitute - where did that come from? I mean, man, a prostitute?"
Guest: "Yea, I called her that, but you have to understand, I meant it in a political sense. I said it in a political context - I didn't call her a 'real' prostitute, I was calling her a 'political' prostitute."
What??
What I gathered was that the guest didn't explain his context on H&C, nor did he throw in the "real" vs "political" part. He just used the term "prostitute" and everyone just missed his "context".
I just love the whole "taken out of context" arguement that most pundits take when they are called on their comments. I don't even think that Dennis was calling this guy out for what he said, he was just wondering what got him so worked up. But the guest went immediately to the "taken out of context" defense.
By 9:35 I had tuned out. I doubt I'll be tuning back in any time soon, babe.
"So, babe, I mean I saw you on Hannity & Colmes the other night and what got you all amped up? I mean, babe, we're just sitting here, taking normally and while I disagree with you in some areas, I feel like we have a connection and I can at least hear what you are trying to get across. The other night, what got you so worked up man, talk to me babe."
But as amazing as that was, the response from his quest was even better. I assume the guest was on H&C along with Michelle Malkin (I have no idea who she is - I'm sure Mike and Scooter do). So as the guest is trying to explain what got him so amped up, Dennis breaks in and this exchange takes place - again, from memory):
Dennis: "I mean, babe, you called her a prostitute - where did that come from? I mean, man, a prostitute?"
Guest: "Yea, I called her that, but you have to understand, I meant it in a political sense. I said it in a political context - I didn't call her a 'real' prostitute, I was calling her a 'political' prostitute."
What??
What I gathered was that the guest didn't explain his context on H&C, nor did he throw in the "real" vs "political" part. He just used the term "prostitute" and everyone just missed his "context".
I just love the whole "taken out of context" arguement that most pundits take when they are called on their comments. I don't even think that Dennis was calling this guy out for what he said, he was just wondering what got him so worked up. But the guest went immediately to the "taken out of context" defense.
By 9:35 I had tuned out. I doubt I'll be tuning back in any time soon, babe.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Beyond the Beltway
I know I'm the only SSJ, er, not "alum," uh, proprietor who lives alone but does anybody besides me listen occasionally to Beyond the Beltway on Sunday evenings? Although some of the guests are beyond the pale, I generally find them to be genuinely "fair and balanced."
I know, I need a life. At least I don't stay up late on Sundays to listen to the godfather of the Political Internet.
I know, I need a life. At least I don't stay up late on Sundays to listen to the godfather of the Political Internet.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Victor Davis Hanson's Dream
He dreamt that the British Marines fought back, but:
And then I woke up, remembering that the West of old lives only in dreams. Yes, the new religion of the post-Westerner is neither the Enlightenment nor Christianity, but the gospel of the Path of Least Resistance — one that must lead inevitably to gratification rather than sacrifice.
Would that his dream would come true.
And then I woke up, remembering that the West of old lives only in dreams. Yes, the new religion of the post-Westerner is neither the Enlightenment nor Christianity, but the gospel of the Path of Least Resistance — one that must lead inevitably to gratification rather than sacrifice.
Would that his dream would come true.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Re: The dirty 30
I read it and I'll report that I read 160 pages of Moby Dick. Literally nothing else. OK, a little Bible, very little Shakespeare, maybe parts of the US documents. Nothing else. There. Now you know the vastness of my ignorance.
Or do I?
*Scooter: "alum": "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
Or do I?
*Scooter: "alum": "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
Dennis Miller Update
He does seem to be getting guests including Rudy, Barone, Thomas Friedman, VDH and today Jeb Bush. List of audio files available here.
Hewitt's 30 Must Reads
Hugh Hewitt in his Wednesday third hour had a discussion on the 30 books everyone should read:
And so I conspired with David Allen White, professor extraordinaire at the United States Naval Academy, where he’s been teaching Shakespeare and other matters to the mid-shipmen for more than a quarter century, and John Mark Reynolds, professor of philosophy at Biola University, and the head of the Torrey Honors program there, to put together a reading list, and it’s the top 30 books that every one of you ought to have read, and certainly freshmen and sophomores ought to have read.
The full transcript is here and the audio here. It's embarrassing how few I've read but I bet confidently that I'm the only SSJ alum who's read Boethius (just a treatise on the Trinity, not the work discussed on HH, The Consolation of Philosophy).
And so I conspired with David Allen White, professor extraordinaire at the United States Naval Academy, where he’s been teaching Shakespeare and other matters to the mid-shipmen for more than a quarter century, and John Mark Reynolds, professor of philosophy at Biola University, and the head of the Torrey Honors program there, to put together a reading list, and it’s the top 30 books that every one of you ought to have read, and certainly freshmen and sophomores ought to have read.
The full transcript is here and the audio here. It's embarrassing how few I've read but I bet confidently that I'm the only SSJ alum who's read Boethius (just a treatise on the Trinity, not the work discussed on HH, The Consolation of Philosophy).
Re: Mobil Pegasus
Sorry, LJ, but I just love that old building. I could see the Proud Winged Horse from my boyhood home (if I stood on the fence).
Re: Mobil Pegasus
I am respectfully requesting a moratorium on anything related to 1) Mobil 2) Pegasus 3) Exxon 4) ExxonMobil for reasons that I don't think need to be rehashed.
I'm still rather bitter.
I'm still rather bitter.
Mobil Pegasus
A Dallas icon if there was one, the Mobil Horse sits atop the Magnolia Hotel, site of the old Magnolia Oil Company, which became Mobil. The horse was erected in 1934, on the 29 story building, which when it was built in 1922, was the tallest building west of the Mississippi.
RE: Jenny Agutter
Ok, now that I am able to post, I’ll try these again:
The "Zales" Building.
And don't forget the Fort Worth Watergardens.
I'm trying to figure out how to post some pics of the REAL Mobil Building with my beloved Red Pegasus. Great building.
The "Zales" Building.
And don't forget the Fort Worth Watergardens.
I'm trying to figure out how to post some pics of the REAL Mobil Building with my beloved Red Pegasus. Great building.
RE: Jenny Agutter
When the Mobil/Zales Complex was built in the 70s, it was considered "cutting edge."
Re: Jenny Agutter
I read Scooters comment about the movie being filmed at the Zale's Building in Dallas. That building (a complex actually) was sold to Mobil and was in fact where I worked when I transferred up here after the merger. The Mobil folks liked to talk about that movie being filmed there. EM still owns the property and has been trying to sell it for many years - so far no takers. I've never seen "Logan's Run" - I guess need to just to see if I can recognize anything. The whole place just looked like buildings to me - nothing "futuristic".
Vonnegut
If I could draw a picture that might remind you of a spider or might remind you of something else I might do it right here. And so it goes.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Update on Tito's Update
From an April 9, 2007, press release: "Expansion is in the plans, and despite rumors, Beveridge says he has no plans to cash in on his growing success."
Monday, April 09, 2007
Re: Damascus Nancy
Andrew C. McCarthy at NRO chimes in on Scooter's thoughts about Damascus Nancy, and goes a great deal beyond my analysis of the violation of the Logan Act:
It is settled beyond peradventure that the authority of the United States over the conduct of foreign relations rests exclusively with the executive branch. As John Marshall, later to become the nation’s most important Chief Justice, famously observed, “The President is the sole organ of the nation in its external affairs, and its sole representative with foreign nations.… The [executive] department is entrusted with the whole foreign intercourse of the nation.” In 1936, the Supreme Court explicitly acknowledged in its Curtiss-Wright Export decision, the “delicate, plenary and exclusive power of the President as the sole organ of the federal government in the field of international relations[.]”
I agree with McCarthy that this is about teaching and not prosecuting; why prosecute politics? This is a very "teachable" moment but moments are fleeting.
It is settled beyond peradventure that the authority of the United States over the conduct of foreign relations rests exclusively with the executive branch. As John Marshall, later to become the nation’s most important Chief Justice, famously observed, “The President is the sole organ of the nation in its external affairs, and its sole representative with foreign nations.… The [executive] department is entrusted with the whole foreign intercourse of the nation.” In 1936, the Supreme Court explicitly acknowledged in its Curtiss-Wright Export decision, the “delicate, plenary and exclusive power of the President as the sole organ of the federal government in the field of international relations[.]”
I agree with McCarthy that this is about teaching and not prosecuting; why prosecute politics? This is a very "teachable" moment but moments are fleeting.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Another English Speaking Peoples' Nugget
"'While this ugly and irritating business of the [First World] War Debt remains in suspense it is a real barrier to Anglo-American friendship,' wrote Churchill in May 1938 [emph. added], yet the debt and its interest was not finally paid off until the end of the year 2005 [emph. added]. The United States is rarely commended for her patience over this; but deserves to be."
Quite the understatement by Master Roberts.
Quite the understatement by Master Roberts.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Syria, Pelosi and the Logan Act
A caller to Newt on the Limbaugh show reminded me of something I hadn't thought of since an old law school buddy of Michael's and mine had a "US out of El Salvador" bumper sticker on his car.
The Logan Act was enacted 200 years ago to criminalize dealings with foreign governments by unauthorized U.S. persons. It reads:
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
I suppose we could argue that the Speaker of the House might have some implicit authority, but it would be the first time used since about ever. I suppose, too, we might argue that delivering an errant message from our strongest ally in the region was “in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States” or to defeat its “measures,” but just sitting down with the Iranian lapdog certainly lends a sheen to the Thugocracy behind the Lebanese assassination and the attacks on Israel last summer. It also sends a divided message from this nation at a time of war. Neither the White House nor the State Department granted her any authority and it is my understanding she met with Assad in spite of White House discouragement. Newt pointed out that this has never been used in Modern Times and I don't really encourage it here but Politics, Water's Edge, etc.... That used to be a tradition that both parties honored. Now, only one does.
I recall many Dems having to endure having their patriotism challenged during the 80s for getting cozy with the Sandinistas. As a matter of fact, I recall it was John Kerry and, I think, Tom Harkin who were at the forefront. All just as Ollie North was getting around the Boland Amendment and Reagan, Thatcher and John Paul were poking sticks into the Soviet carcass.
And wasn’t there mention during the last presidential campaign of Kerry meeting with some of the bad guys in Paris shortly after his discharge from his service in Viet Nam? I am too young to remember that but I think I recall some discussion in 2004.
Where are the Jacksonian (Scoop, that is) Dems when you need them? There is only one and he is now a Democratic Independent from Connecticut.
The Logan Act was enacted 200 years ago to criminalize dealings with foreign governments by unauthorized U.S. persons. It reads:
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
I suppose we could argue that the Speaker of the House might have some implicit authority, but it would be the first time used since about ever. I suppose, too, we might argue that delivering an errant message from our strongest ally in the region was “in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States” or to defeat its “measures,” but just sitting down with the Iranian lapdog certainly lends a sheen to the Thugocracy behind the Lebanese assassination and the attacks on Israel last summer. It also sends a divided message from this nation at a time of war. Neither the White House nor the State Department granted her any authority and it is my understanding she met with Assad in spite of White House discouragement. Newt pointed out that this has never been used in Modern Times and I don't really encourage it here but Politics, Water's Edge, etc.... That used to be a tradition that both parties honored. Now, only one does.
I recall many Dems having to endure having their patriotism challenged during the 80s for getting cozy with the Sandinistas. As a matter of fact, I recall it was John Kerry and, I think, Tom Harkin who were at the forefront. All just as Ollie North was getting around the Boland Amendment and Reagan, Thatcher and John Paul were poking sticks into the Soviet carcass.
And wasn’t there mention during the last presidential campaign of Kerry meeting with some of the bad guys in Paris shortly after his discharge from his service in Viet Nam? I am too young to remember that but I think I recall some discussion in 2004.
Where are the Jacksonian (Scoop, that is) Dems when you need them? There is only one and he is now a Democratic Independent from Connecticut.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Re: Syria
It's all over the right, but in case LJ missed it, even the WAPO [registration required] decried Pelosi's trip:
Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered an excellent demonstration yesterday of why members of Congress should not attempt to supplant the secretary of state when traveling abroad. After a meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Ms. Pelosi announced that she had delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that "Israel was ready to engage in peace talks" with Syria. What's more, she added, Mr. Assad was ready to "resume the peace process" as well. Having announced this seeming diplomatic breakthrough, Ms. Pelosi suggested that her Kissingerian shuttle diplomacy was just getting started. "We expressed our interest in using our good offices in promoting peace between Israel and Syria," she said.
Only one problem: The Israeli prime minister entrusted Ms. Pelosi with no such message.
Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered an excellent demonstration yesterday of why members of Congress should not attempt to supplant the secretary of state when traveling abroad. After a meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Ms. Pelosi announced that she had delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that "Israel was ready to engage in peace talks" with Syria. What's more, she added, Mr. Assad was ready to "resume the peace process" as well. Having announced this seeming diplomatic breakthrough, Ms. Pelosi suggested that her Kissingerian shuttle diplomacy was just getting started. "We expressed our interest in using our good offices in promoting peace between Israel and Syria," she said.
Only one problem: The Israeli prime minister entrusted Ms. Pelosi with no such message.
Cactus Records is gone.
Went to Bookstop today and noticed that Cactus was gone. Couldn't find a news story but a couple of blogs indicate it closed March 31, 2006.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Hanson and the English Speaking Peoples
As I mentioned yesterday, I have concerns about the future of the UK/US alliance, the most critical team among those in the English Speaking Peoples. Victor Davis Hanson reinforces today at the Corner:
Blair's stalwart role in Iraq has disguised that fact; but any who read the U.K papers, both right and left, look at the opinion polls, or consider the Islamic problems in London, can easily conclude that Anglo-American exceptionalism is coming to an end for existential reasons that transcend this administration.
Blair's stalwart role in Iraq has disguised that fact; but any who read the U.K papers, both right and left, look at the opinion polls, or consider the Islamic problems in London, can easily conclude that Anglo-American exceptionalism is coming to an end for existential reasons that transcend this administration.
Syria
This article was in the Sunday DMN. Not a large article. Buried in the middle of the front section. And honestly, I can’t say why I even read it. But, as usual when dealing with D.C. and politics, one side has to criticize the other, the other responds and it is all ado about nothing.
The Speaker of the House, while on a trip to the Middle East, is going to stop in Syria. According to the Speaker’s office:
“As recommended by the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan delegation led by Speaker Pelosi intends to discuss a wide range of security issues affecting the United States and the Middle East with representatives of governments in the region, including Syria”
The White House doesn’t like this idea. Per WH spokeswoman Dana Perino, speaking about the Speaker’s visit, called it “a really bad idea". She added:
“Someone should take a step back and think about the message that it sends and the message that it sends to our allies."
All fine and good, except (per the DMN article):
“Democrats were quick to point out that Ms. Perino did not speak out about a Syrian trip planned for next week by a Republican-led delegation.”
So…is the problem the trip itself, or that is being led, while bipartisan, by a Democrat? A Democrat that happens to be the Speaker of the House.
The Speaker of the House, while on a trip to the Middle East, is going to stop in Syria. According to the Speaker’s office:
“As recommended by the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan delegation led by Speaker Pelosi intends to discuss a wide range of security issues affecting the United States and the Middle East with representatives of governments in the region, including Syria”
The White House doesn’t like this idea. Per WH spokeswoman Dana Perino, speaking about the Speaker’s visit, called it “a really bad idea". She added:
“Someone should take a step back and think about the message that it sends and the message that it sends to our allies."
All fine and good, except (per the DMN article):
“Democrats were quick to point out that Ms. Perino did not speak out about a Syrian trip planned for next week by a Republican-led delegation.”
So…is the problem the trip itself, or that is being led, while bipartisan, by a Democrat? A Democrat that happens to be the Speaker of the House.
Let's go shopping - Iraq style
I had a serious debate with myself about whether or not to post on this subject. But what convinced me was my disdain with all things regarding politics. I understand "photo ops" (well, in the sense that I understand why politicans have them) and I understand "spin", but how stupid do politicians think we are. I think the answer is, and we prove it every election day, pretty dumb.
So McCain leads a delegation to Iraq and they decide to take a stroll around a market to "prove" how progress is being made. How much "safer" things are now.
Right.
Now, perhaps the definition of "safer" is this...before, you had to leave the green zone in a helicopter. Now, you can drive out in a humvee, walk around wearing a bullet-prove vest, have a company of soldiers sealing off the area, have snipers on roof-tops and have attack helicopters circling overhead.
And if that isn't enough to "prove" how much "safer" things have become, Rep. Mike Pence (Rep-Ind) comes up with this gem regarding his trip to the Shorja market:
"...like a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime.."
I've been to Indiana, but admittedly not in the summertime, nor to an outdoor market. Guess I couldn't find because I couldn't see any circling helicopters.
Here is a NY Times article about the stroll around the market and comments by Iraqis.
So McCain leads a delegation to Iraq and they decide to take a stroll around a market to "prove" how progress is being made. How much "safer" things are now.
Right.
Now, perhaps the definition of "safer" is this...before, you had to leave the green zone in a helicopter. Now, you can drive out in a humvee, walk around wearing a bullet-prove vest, have a company of soldiers sealing off the area, have snipers on roof-tops and have attack helicopters circling overhead.
And if that isn't enough to "prove" how much "safer" things have become, Rep. Mike Pence (Rep-Ind) comes up with this gem regarding his trip to the Shorja market:
"...like a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime.."
I've been to Indiana, but admittedly not in the summertime, nor to an outdoor market. Guess I couldn't find because I couldn't see any circling helicopters.
Here is a NY Times article about the stroll around the market and comments by Iraqis.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Happy Passover!
To all my Jewish friends (from first grade, my first encounter--Stephen, to college--Sam, from college, --Daniel and Fran, today) and to those Christians who celebrate the Exodus as part of our mutual heritage. I hope we will continue to enjoy, and learn from, your Seder.
Shooter
While the movie was not as bad as I feared, it was not Stephen Hunter's Point of Impact. Other than the initial plot points, a rigged (for want of a better term) assassination and a heroic (critics might rightly say superhuman) vet duped by the evil other, I found almost no similarities between the the movie and the novel.
Beyond the necessary contemporization (if that's a word) of the story and some of the action scenes, I never felt the disappointments or guilt of Bob Lee which made the novel so compelling. I hate to sound so touchy-feely, but it didn't resonate with me, unlike the way such a fan as this one found resonance in the movie series of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings .
Beyond the necessary contemporization (if that's a word) of the story and some of the action scenes, I never felt the disappointments or guilt of Bob Lee which made the novel so compelling. I hate to sound so touchy-feely, but it didn't resonate with me, unlike the way such a fan as this one found resonance in the movie series of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings .
English Speaking Peoples
Appalling stats from the Great War (WWI) per Andrew Roberts in his book:
62M soldiers mobilized (42.2M Allied; 22.8M Central)
8M soldiers killed (4.88M Allied; 3.13M Central)
6.6M civilians killed (3.15M Allied; 3.45M Central)
21.2M total wounded
The US, due primarily due to its late entry into the war, suffered 50K soldiers killed and 206K wounded.
When one considers the populations (relative to today) of these countries and alliances in the teens of the 20th Century, these numbers are astounding. Particularly amazing are the numbers (relative to their respective populations at the time) were the numbers contributed by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and even the British West Indies. (Interestingly, though one of the prime reasons for going to war was to protect France from the hegemony of the Central powers in Continental Europe, the Quebecois participated in substantially lower numbers, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of population, than the balance of Canada.)
The obvious comparison to the Middle East today makes me blush.
In the author's narrative leading up to the Great War, he really lionizes Teddy Roosevelt which I found a bit surprising even though I've been giving the ol' boy a bit more credit lately. He is credited with the foresight of the US needing a world-class navy to really put itself at its deserved place as the new world power.
Wilson is suffering from good intentions with bad unexpected consequences but apparently FDR will really shine when I get that far.
So far The History of the English Speaking Peoples Since 1900 is much less a slog than I thought it would be. It is crisply written in spite of the abundance of numbers like those cited above. I'm obviously through the first 18 years or so. If I haven't mentioned it before, the central thought is one with which I'm not really sure I agree, namely, that 1000 years from now historians and history students will look back on the Brits, Aussies, Yanks, Canucks, Kiwis et al as one people, hence the name of the book. Much like we don't really distinguish between Republican and Imperial Rome, he contends we will be viewed as one entity. I might agree with the premise through 2006 or 7, but things may be changing especially if one agrees with the premise of Mark Steyn's America Alone. I hope not, but maybe.
Interesting discussion of the Boer War and lots of background from the British Empire of the 19th Century.
He's not afraid to address the warts but neither is he ashamed to draw the comparisons that need to be drawn about the virtues of the "empires" of the English speaking peoples. Washington's Farewell Address admonishing against foreign entanglements takes several beatings.
So far, so good. If this continues, I'll have to put this next to Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics as a must read in Scooter's Library.
62M soldiers mobilized (42.2M Allied; 22.8M Central)
8M soldiers killed (4.88M Allied; 3.13M Central)
6.6M civilians killed (3.15M Allied; 3.45M Central)
21.2M total wounded
The US, due primarily due to its late entry into the war, suffered 50K soldiers killed and 206K wounded.
When one considers the populations (relative to today) of these countries and alliances in the teens of the 20th Century, these numbers are astounding. Particularly amazing are the numbers (relative to their respective populations at the time) were the numbers contributed by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and even the British West Indies. (Interestingly, though one of the prime reasons for going to war was to protect France from the hegemony of the Central powers in Continental Europe, the Quebecois participated in substantially lower numbers, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of population, than the balance of Canada.)
The obvious comparison to the Middle East today makes me blush.
In the author's narrative leading up to the Great War, he really lionizes Teddy Roosevelt which I found a bit surprising even though I've been giving the ol' boy a bit more credit lately. He is credited with the foresight of the US needing a world-class navy to really put itself at its deserved place as the new world power.
Wilson is suffering from good intentions with bad unexpected consequences but apparently FDR will really shine when I get that far.
So far The History of the English Speaking Peoples Since 1900 is much less a slog than I thought it would be. It is crisply written in spite of the abundance of numbers like those cited above. I'm obviously through the first 18 years or so. If I haven't mentioned it before, the central thought is one with which I'm not really sure I agree, namely, that 1000 years from now historians and history students will look back on the Brits, Aussies, Yanks, Canucks, Kiwis et al as one people, hence the name of the book. Much like we don't really distinguish between Republican and Imperial Rome, he contends we will be viewed as one entity. I might agree with the premise through 2006 or 7, but things may be changing especially if one agrees with the premise of Mark Steyn's America Alone. I hope not, but maybe.
Interesting discussion of the Boer War and lots of background from the British Empire of the 19th Century.
He's not afraid to address the warts but neither is he ashamed to draw the comparisons that need to be drawn about the virtues of the "empires" of the English speaking peoples. Washington's Farewell Address admonishing against foreign entanglements takes several beatings.
So far, so good. If this continues, I'll have to put this next to Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics as a must read in Scooter's Library.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
Speaking of old 'hoods, today's (3-30-07) Vent
I don't know how to post the video, but Hot Air today reveals that Michelle Malkin has Scooter's old (Nina Lee) kitchen cabinets.
Not like the old days in the 'hood
"A gunman opened fire on a group of teens in southwest Houston, killing one of them.
Police say three teens were walking down Beechnut and Jorine last night when the gunman approached them and started shooting. All three were shot. One of them died at the hospital. The other two suffered minor gunshot wounds.
One of the victims' distraught mothers showed up at the scene wielding a gun herself. Police detained her. The gunman got away."
Police say three teens were walking down Beechnut and Jorine last night when the gunman approached them and started shooting. All three were shot. One of them died at the hospital. The other two suffered minor gunshot wounds.
One of the victims' distraught mothers showed up at the scene wielding a gun herself. Police detained her. The gunman got away."
Tito's Update
I haven't been able to confirm the rumor that Tito has sold his company, but I'm on it.
'Shooter' Hits Its Mark With an Old-Fashioned Hero
or so reads the Washington Post headline (registration required). This is the only positive review I've seen for the movie version of one of my favorite pieces of Airport Fiction. Point of Impact is the first in a series of action novels by Stephen Hunter (Pulitzer winner for movie critics at WaPo) set around Bob Lee Swagger in the present and his father Earl Swagger in the past.
I know, I know, "Swagger? You've got to be kidding." I can't help it. I love these books. Can't put them down and have read most of them twice. I've heard Hunter described as the Tom Clancy of the rifle and I think it a fair moniker, though I generally find Clancy a little ponderous.
At least Hunter didn't review himself. I'll see for myself this weekend.
I know, I know, "Swagger? You've got to be kidding." I can't help it. I love these books. Can't put them down and have read most of them twice. I've heard Hunter described as the Tom Clancy of the rifle and I think it a fair moniker, though I generally find Clancy a little ponderous.
At least Hunter didn't review himself. I'll see for myself this weekend.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Distressing News about Tito's Vodka
Heard today that Tito sold out. I'm dumbstruck. If true, I'd never begrudge him capitalizing on his success and making what I am sure is a gazillion dollars.
Having said that, it rivals the sale of Shiner to Miller (I think) as a Texas tragedy.
And having said that, always use your leverage when you have it.
Having said that, it rivals the sale of Shiner to Miller (I think) as a Texas tragedy.
And having said that, always use your leverage when you have it.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Mark Cuban: Wacko or Visionary?
Like I could pass THIS up! I heard Mike Gallagher talking about it during my drive to work this a.m.
"The New York Post broke a story that Mark Cuban was planning to distribute the controversial film "Loose Change Final Cut" which will be narrated by Charlie Sheen. Mark defended his decision to Bill O'Reilly on the "The Radio Factor" saying its better to have the film out in the open than lurk in the shadows. The film has become one of the most popular 9/11 conspiracy films with tens of millions of views on Google Video."
Audio here
"The New York Post broke a story that Mark Cuban was planning to distribute the controversial film "Loose Change Final Cut" which will be narrated by Charlie Sheen. Mark defended his decision to Bill O'Reilly on the "The Radio Factor" saying its better to have the film out in the open than lurk in the shadows. The film has become one of the most popular 9/11 conspiracy films with tens of millions of views on Google Video."
Audio here
Re: Hoops Confession
I thought the mark of a "good" attorney is the ability to bluff? Certainly is a trait of a "good" poker player. Since I've never seen you in action in attorney mode, I guess this little story answers that question. As for poker, I've seen that first hand.
p.s. - georgetown
p.s. - georgetown
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Mark Steyn on Dennis Miller tonight
This Hour (8:00 PM CT) on KRLA.
Update: His phone no. is 866-509-rant.
Update: Sheesh, he's already got the gold, insurance and mortgage ads down.
Update: Steyn late in calling in...a no show?
Update: This is a little Franken like, but anyone who swipes at Byrd is ok, but, yes, I know he's easy.
Update: Still sucking up to Steyn, maybe he'll show.
Update: Nice tie in between America Alone and Londonistan.
Update: Decent bumper music, U2 at the break...but I'm prejudiced, he used Tears for Fears on the HBO show.
Update: Bottom of the hour and no Steyn...could be a big diss.
Update: Miller ratifies my earlier comment saying his turn occurred on 9/11 and then says he’s ok with 50% taxes between state and fed, after that, “it’s creeping socialism.” Sheesh.
Update: Endorsing Sleep Number Beds. How do I get that gig?
Update: Steyn shows, lamely blaming the Central Time Zone for his tardiness.
Update: Glad Steyn made it...instant cred.
Update: I can hear him smirk through the radio.
Update: Apologies to Dave Barry and James Lileks.
Update: "Listen to the [Pink] Floyd [bumper music at end of first hour], were they 30 years ahead of their time, or what?"
Update: Falling back on SNL allies, Martin Short leads off second hour.
Update: Short was in Godspell???
Update: If he has to rely on SNL alums in California, I don't know how many can get up at 4:00 AM or that we'd want to hear.
Update: Bottom line: work to do but I wish him success. Miller can make inroads where others cannot.
Update: His phone no. is 866-509-rant.
Update: Sheesh, he's already got the gold, insurance and mortgage ads down.
Update: Steyn late in calling in...a no show?
Update: This is a little Franken like, but anyone who swipes at Byrd is ok, but, yes, I know he's easy.
Update: Still sucking up to Steyn, maybe he'll show.
Update: Nice tie in between America Alone and Londonistan.
Update: Decent bumper music, U2 at the break...but I'm prejudiced, he used Tears for Fears on the HBO show.
Update: Bottom of the hour and no Steyn...could be a big diss.
Update: Miller ratifies my earlier comment saying his turn occurred on 9/11 and then says he’s ok with 50% taxes between state and fed, after that, “it’s creeping socialism.” Sheesh.
Update: Endorsing Sleep Number Beds. How do I get that gig?
Update: Steyn shows, lamely blaming the Central Time Zone for his tardiness.
Update: Glad Steyn made it...instant cred.
Update: I can hear him smirk through the radio.
Update: Apologies to Dave Barry and James Lileks.
Update: "Listen to the [Pink] Floyd [bumper music at end of first hour], were they 30 years ahead of their time, or what?"
Update: Falling back on SNL allies, Martin Short leads off second hour.
Update: Short was in Godspell???
Update: If he has to rely on SNL alums in California, I don't know how many can get up at 4:00 AM or that we'd want to hear.
Update: Bottom line: work to do but I wish him success. Miller can make inroads where others cannot.
Chris Wallace lays into Olbermann
I never listen to Mike Gallagher so hat tip to Hot Air. Audio of Chris Wallace ripping Keith Olbermann.
“He couldn’t cover a two alarm fire.”
IMHO, rip O'Reilly, Hannity and the others in Central Time prime time all you want, but Hume and Wallace are pros.
“He couldn’t cover a two alarm fire.”
IMHO, rip O'Reilly, Hannity and the others in Central Time prime time all you want, but Hume and Wallace are pros.
Hoops confession -- LJ is The Man
I didn't make bracket picks and pass them on the LJ as earlier described. Love "Nostradamus" Johnson made the picks and graciously provided them to me. Guys in my office thought I was a hoops genius. They got suspicious though when, during the inevitable coffee break post-mortem, I was reluctant to share my analysis of the Final Four. My fate as a fraud was sealed when my secretary (enjoying the reflected moment in the sun as much as I was and thinking she was doing me a favor) asked whom I had picked to win.
I couldn't remember whom Love Johnson had picked.
I might have bluffed, but was feeling so awful and guilty at this point that I was ready to give up the game. I pulled back the curtain and revealed LJ as THE MAN.
I couldn't remember whom Love Johnson had picked.
I might have bluffed, but was feeling so awful and guilty at this point that I was ready to give up the game. I pulled back the curtain and revealed LJ as THE MAN.
History International Channel
Was watching History International’s (link might work) The Conquerors last night and the subject was Napoleon’s Greatest Victory at Austerlitz in 1805 (or thereabouts) with roughly 150,000 total combatants. While Messr. Napoleon certainly kicked some Russo-Austrian butt, that is not the point of this post.
Periodically with some of the programming on Discovery or History or History International or …, I occasionally find myself sitting with mouth agape at some of the things an expert might say, wondering from where in h--l this PC c--p comes. Last night, however, just as I was about to click to another channel, Victor Davis Hanson gave some commentary. Some confidence restored.
Periodically with some of the programming on Discovery or History or History International or …, I occasionally find myself sitting with mouth agape at some of the things an expert might say, wondering from where in h--l this PC c--p comes. Last night, however, just as I was about to click to another channel, Victor Davis Hanson gave some commentary. Some confidence restored.
Boomsday
Tom Wolfe calls Christopher Buckley one of the funniest writers in the English language. At least that's what the back cover of Boomsday says. I'm a big fan and have read most of Buckley's novels. This one is among the best -- wild plot turns, diabolically cynical characters, dazzling dialogue. Boomsday is even more cinematic than Thank You For Smoking and I'm sure will be filmed soon. (If you didn't like TYFS on the screen, don't let that dissuade you from reading the book.) In addition to TYFS, I can also heartily recommend Little Green Men and God Is My Broker.
The Last Mimzy
Ugh. Odd and disagreeable mishmash of sci-fi, New Age, and eco-nonsense, with a helping of Incompetent Homeland Security thrown in for no apparent reason/good measure. Mom and Dad are painful to watch; this guy is brutally miscast. There is a lot of choppiness -- jumping from unconnected episode to unconnected episode -- indicating I'm guessing a longer movie that was edited pretty severely.
Son thought it was OK. And he doesn't like everything he sees. He really disliked Flushed Away.
Mixed reviews here.
Son thought it was OK. And he doesn't like everything he sees. He really disliked Flushed Away.
Mixed reviews here.
Final Four
Had all of the Elite 8, have the Final 4, and lead in my pool. Shared my picks with LJ so I assume he's doing well also.
UPDATE: Confession here.
UPDATE: Confession here.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Good heavens…
My copy of the History of the English Speaking Peoples Since 1900 (buy there, sales help JWR) was next on my list, however, at 752 pages, I might have to rest a while before tackling.
If Bushitler was really able to tackle it, my hat’s off to him. Since he read the English publication, maybe it came with lots of pictures.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Re: Savage
Can't listen for even a minute. There are many who allege that he's really a lib and that his is all shtick.
Re: Dennis Miller
In my mind he was at his best on SNL. On HBO he had his moments but he got lazy, relying far too heavily on f-bombs and the like for laughs rather than working hard for the really good joke, but one did get to see a few of his conservative leanings.
At one point, I think it was on his HBO show (didn't he have a network talk show for a while, a la Aresenio Hall?) he said, "The difference between an environmentalist and a developer is that a developer wants to build a house in the woods and an environmentalist already has one."
He is still anti-gun, pro-choice and thinks very little of the religious right.
Then, after 9/11, he really seemed to make the hard turn sincerely.
Having said that, like her whose name we dare not speak, much of what he does now is pure marketing. Still, I appreciate him when he's on and will take a 9/11 ally wherever I can find him.
At one point, I think it was on his HBO show (didn't he have a network talk show for a while, a la Aresenio Hall?) he said, "The difference between an environmentalist and a developer is that a developer wants to build a house in the woods and an environmentalist already has one."
He is still anti-gun, pro-choice and thinks very little of the religious right.
Then, after 9/11, he really seemed to make the hard turn sincerely.
Having said that, like her whose name we dare not speak, much of what he does now is pure marketing. Still, I appreciate him when he's on and will take a 9/11 ally wherever I can find him.
1776
Of course one doesn't get it in Elementary or Jr. High history classes, but I would have expected better from my high school AP history teacher... 1776 was a very dire year for the young nation. His Excellency got very lucky on a number of occasions that year both in victory and defeat. Providence, perseverance and character seemingly seems to have prevailed over experience, cowardice and resources, but only by a thread.
The war would continue for another six years and take a toll of a full one percent of the male population, second only to the Late Unpleasantness in the latter regard.
What an amazing time. Thanks to David McCullough.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Argentina - el regreso
Las noticias emocionantes como C y yo vuelven a visitar Argentina en Mayo. Seremos idos 9 días y a menos que un viaje del fin de semana a Rosario sea planeado para nosotros por nuestros amigos Argentinos, nosotros estaremos en Buenos Aires el tiempo entero.
Desde que nosotros acerca de 90% de las cosas "de tipo" turista en nuestro primer viaje, nuestros planes son de ir a los barrios, o a los vecindarios, que nosotros no llegamos a. Quisimos agarrar un desempeño en el Teatro Colon, pero es cerrado para renovaciones.
Por supuesto, tendré los retratos que anunciaré sobre nuestro regreso, así como lo que estoy seguro será muchas historias humorísticas e interesantes
Desde que nosotros acerca de 90% de las cosas "de tipo" turista en nuestro primer viaje, nuestros planes son de ir a los barrios, o a los vecindarios, que nosotros no llegamos a. Quisimos agarrar un desempeño en el Teatro Colon, pero es cerrado para renovaciones.
Por supuesto, tendré los retratos que anunciaré sobre nuestro regreso, así como lo que estoy seguro será muchas historias humorísticas e interesantes
Re: Dennis Miller
Like Mike, or you Scooter, will set your alarm for 3am to catch Dennis' show. Nice time-slot, very Art Bell-ish.
It's interesting that you brought up the subject of Dennis Miller. I of course know him from SNL and from his "Rant" series, but since I'm probably the only person who doesn't have (nor ever has had) HBO, I lost touch with him. If you would have asked me where he leaned politically, I would have said somewhere more towards the left. But just a couple of days ago, Mike Gallagher was talking about comments Dennis made on "The View" or some other morning show and was agreeing with him, talking about how much he admired him, etc. That planted the seed in my mind that perhaps Dennis was more conservative than I thought. So when I clicked on the link you had to KRLA and saw the head-shots of the other talk show hosts on the station, I was a bit surprised. Dennis..on the same station as Michael Savage? Laura Ingram?
So I went to wikipedia (probably my favorite of all internet sites) and here is a snippet of what it says about Mr. Miller:
"...He has more recently become known for his conservative opinions, from an
aggressive stance on U.S. military action to a disdain for the Democratic
Party. He now appears regularly on Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor and Hannity and Colmes."
Once I read that he is a regular on H&C, then I knew he was lost to the dark side.
It's interesting that you brought up the subject of Dennis Miller. I of course know him from SNL and from his "Rant" series, but since I'm probably the only person who doesn't have (nor ever has had) HBO, I lost touch with him. If you would have asked me where he leaned politically, I would have said somewhere more towards the left. But just a couple of days ago, Mike Gallagher was talking about comments Dennis made on "The View" or some other morning show and was agreeing with him, talking about how much he admired him, etc. That planted the seed in my mind that perhaps Dennis was more conservative than I thought. So when I clicked on the link you had to KRLA and saw the head-shots of the other talk show hosts on the station, I was a bit surprised. Dennis..on the same station as Michael Savage? Laura Ingram?
So I went to wikipedia (probably my favorite of all internet sites) and here is a snippet of what it says about Mr. Miller:
"...He has more recently become known for his conservative opinions, from an
aggressive stance on U.S. military action to a disdain for the Democratic
Party. He now appears regularly on Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor and Hannity and Colmes."
Once I read that he is a regular on H&C, then I knew he was lost to the dark side.
Dennis Miller's New Radio Show
I've loved him ever since he projected Nancy Reagan as the Riddler on SNL. He starts a new radio show on Monday. He starts at 6:00 PM Pacific Time or 8:00 Central.
If you don't get him in your local area he can be accessed at the KRLA website.
Michael: 3 am on KPRC, 950 on your AM dial, in Houston.
CORRECTION: 8pm on KTRH, AM790.
If you don't get him in your local area he can be accessed at the KRLA website.
Michael: 3 am on KPRC, 950 on your AM dial, in Houston.
CORRECTION: 8pm on KTRH, AM790.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
My niece...
I was carrying my four year old niece to my parents' house from a nearby park this weekend when she started playing with my beard and said, "You know what, Uncle Scott, you look just like Moses."
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
