1. First let's talk coffee You may notice the new tip-jar in the right-hand menu or the footer. If you've been making the rounds of our little corner of the internet, you've probably heard of Ko-fi by now. Simply put, it's a service where if you like what you see here and want to show … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: The Possibility of a New Constantine and the Chance to Buy Me a Drink
‘Make Mine Freedom’
Allow me to present a startlingly accurate warning from 1948, back in the days when the American system actually tried to defend itself. https://videopress.com/v/GdRUxlfG?preloadContent=metadata You know, I have my own criticisms of the position taken by this short, but my goodness, it's refreshing to see it actually articulated, and pretty well too. Also, note the … Continue reading ‘Make Mine Freedom’
Thought of the Day: Corporations
Possibly the greatest single political trick in all of history comes in convincing people that the corporate entity called 'the State' is somehow different from any other corporate entity. Socialism essentially amounts to saying "Corporations have too much power, so we should give as much power as possible to a single corporation. Only this one … Continue reading Thought of the Day: Corporations
The Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect Summarized
“Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well. In Murray's case, physics. In mine, show business. You read the article and see the journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the issues. Often, the article is so wrong … Continue reading The Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect Summarized
The Key Question: A Malachi Burke Mystery
“Most crimes, Alfred lad,” said my friend and mentor Malachi Burke one evening after supper, “are absurdly obvious once ye take the time to think them through. The trouble is that most folk don’t bother.” He reclined in his great wingback chair, pulling on his pipe. I sat opposite him, enjoying one of his excellent … Continue reading The Key Question: A Malachi Burke Mystery
Friday Flotsam: Sensing Desperation in the News, then onto Godzilla and Dickens
1. I mostly ignore the news these days, except a few sources. News takes up too much 'headspace' without there being anything I can do about it, which is a very bad combination. My headspace is frankly too busy as it is between creative projects, looking for work, and depression, so I try to keep … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Sensing Desperation in the News, then onto Godzilla and Dickens
“Dream Land”
By a route obscure and lonely,Haunted by ill angels only,Where an Eidolon, named Night,On a black throne reigns upright,I have reached these lands but newlyFrom an ultimate dim Thule—From a wild weird clime that lieth, sublime,Out of Space—out of Time. Bottomless vales and boundless floods,And chasms, and caves, and Titan woods,With forms that no man … Continue reading “Dream Land”
Some Bouguereau Art
One of my Christmas gifts this year was a book of Monsieur William A. Bouguereau's paintings: William Bouguereau: The Essential Works (note: this is an affiliate link to Bookshops.org, supporting local bookshops). It's especially interesting since it also contains a brief biography and some background information on the various categories of paintings that M. Bouguereau … Continue reading Some Bouguereau Art
Friday Flotsam: Pro-Life and Depression
1. Discovered that the March for Life is today. All things considered, I'm rather surprised they're actually having it. You know, I'm thoroughly against abortion (whatever arguments can be brought in its favor, the answer is always "would that logic still apply if the child were born and we were talking about smothering it with … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Pro-Life and Depression
Embarrassing
A pretty common experience for Romans these days
Serpent's Den 