Iran deal is reached
We knew it was coming. We’ve known it for a long, long time. So here it is (lots of articles and reactions at the link). These are my initial thoughts (I plan to write more a bit later in the … Continue reading →
neo
Meanwhile…
…Scott Walker declares himself a candidate: Now the criticism will resume at a new pace—including from the right. I like Walker. He’s one of my favored candidates, and has been for a long time. He combines conservatism with the ability … Continue reading →
We do have a deal—about Greece
It’s a proposal for a deal, anyway. The Greek Parliament has to approve. Here’s what it looks like so far: Monday’s deal requires Greece to give access to bailout monitors on the ground in Athens — including officials from the … Continue reading →
An Iran deal edges closer
There have been no special announcements today regarding the Iran talks, at least as I type these words. But there are such deeply ominous rumblings that I feel I must start a new thread, because reports since yesterday are that … Continue reading →
Marriage Newspeak
Aleister at Legal Insurrection reports on a campaign to eliminate the words “husband” and “wife” from federal statutes: More than two dozen Democrats have proposed legislation that would eliminate the words “husband” and “wife” from federal law. Those “gendered terms” … Continue reading →
“Etudes”: dueling mazurkas
I’ve written about the ballet “Etudes” before, but now I want to hone in on one of my very favorite parts of it, the mazurka, in particular one of the male solos. “Etudes” is a ballet choreographed in 1948 by … Continue reading →
Illegal immigration, crime, and statistics
Last night I was thinking once again about Donald Trump’s statement that rapists are coming into this country—not about the political ramifications, or about Trump’s candidacy (I’m not a Trump fan), but about the question of whether it’s true, and … Continue reading →
Another psychopath: James Hammes
Here’s a truly fascinating article (link found at American Digest), which describes an embezzler who went on the lam and was finally caught after six years of running. Did I write “running”? I actually meant “hiking”—because what Jim Hammes was … Continue reading →
Obama in a nutshell
In short: he’s a community organizer. Please read the whole thing. And in 2008 when Americans heard Obama describe himself that way, the vast majority didn’t understand that it meant the opposite of what it appears to mean. [ADDENDUM: Plus, … Continue reading →
Ringo at 75
This guy has found the fountain of youth: It’s certainly not from a lifetime of clean living, although he went on the wagon in 1988: Starr was the only Beatle who accepted the presence of Yoko Ono and when the … Continue reading →
Dylann Roof and the gun purchase
In this post I asked the following question about the Charleston shooter: “how did Roof evade the background check if in fact he purchased the gun himself?” Now comes an answer—except it’s not much of an answer at all: The … Continue reading →
Trial by agency
The case of the Sweet Cakes bakers in Oregon who were ordered to pay $135,000 damages for not baking a cake for a gay wedding, and to also submit to a gag order, seemed unusually Draconian to me. I hadn’t … Continue reading →