In all the various and sundry talking points that touch upon Africa to a greater or lesser degree, it often seems to me that the place itself tends to be neglected. Africa is just 'the poor place', or the place where atrocities are happening, or the place where slaves came from. The victim continent, if … Continue reading Low-Effort Blogging: Thomas Sowell on African Geography
History
Low Effort Blogging: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
I’m hopped up on cold medicine right now and trying to conserve what energy I do have into not falling completely behind in current projects, so here’s a saint of the day copied directly from Catholic Encyclopedia: Born in the castle of Castiglione, 9 March, 1568; died 21 June, 1591. At eight he was placed … Continue reading Low Effort Blogging: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
Low-Effort Blogging: More ‘Real Crusades History’
Because I'm very tired and this has been a large part of my YouTube diet recently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfMXxYO89-M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOjTpGmOyfw&t=641s (Makes the excellent point: Medieval society does not fit onto the pattern of the modern state) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnnHXtbct1E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXqjR-YK9LA
A Quick Primer on the British Aristocracy
So, you're reading a classic regency novel and wondering why the slimy cousin is due to inherit the estate. Or you're writing an imitation regency-romance and are wondering how the plucky, impoverished heroine ought to address the darkly handsome, yet trouble count (hint: if he's a an English peer, he isn't a count). Or you're … Continue reading A Quick Primer on the British Aristocracy
Standard of Living
"The standard of living has never been higher." You hear this a lot, especially from conservatives. The average person has never been wealthier, never has lived longer, never has had so many conveniences and so few dangers. His jobs and homes are more comfortable. He has access to high-quality medical care. The poorest of the … Continue reading Standard of Living
Friday Flotsam: Psych Days, Recreation, ‘The Living Shadow’, and an Interesting Fact
1. One thing I would recommend to any fellow sufferers from depression or related problems is not to be ashamed to occasionally take off ‘psych days’ to try to recoup yourself, especially if your job is a source of strain and unhappiness (which, I may be cynical, but I think most jobs these days are). … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Psych Days, Recreation, ‘The Living Shadow’, and an Interesting Fact
Some Key Points of Our Country
Reading and thinking about history lately, it seems to me that a lot of Americans seem to gloss over certain key points about our country. We have a tendency either to forget the very peculiar circumstances of our own history and the consequent effects it must have had on our national development and mindset, or … Continue reading Some Key Points of Our Country
Friday Flotsam: Political Mobs and Some Other Stuff
1. Is it just me, or do most motivational speeches sound exactly the same? “I had something I wanted to do, and I worked hard every single day, and I’m committed, and I have my teammates' backs,” etc. It is as if they are all made to pattern, formed by the same teacher or following … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Political Mobs and Some Other Stuff
Viva el Imperio!
Cinco de Mayo from the Monarchical POV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrOiKn13r2g&ab_channel=TumblarHouse Apparently, Karl Marx called the effort to restore the Mexican Empire "One of the most monstrous enterprises in the annals of international history", so you know it had to have something going for it. In any case, it's one of the great 'might have beens' which, given … Continue reading Viva el Imperio!
Book Recommendation: Robert E. Lee on Leadership
Most recently I read through Robert E. Lee on Leadership, by H.W. Crocker III. Overall, I found it to be quite excellent: a fascinating and very useful insight into one of the preeminent figures of American history. Mr. Crocker’s focus is less to tell a complete biography of Lee (though we get a decent overview … Continue reading Book Recommendation: Robert E. Lee on Leadership
Serpent's Den 