Open thread 10/18/23
The Russian dancer Yuri Soloviev had an extraordinary quality of ballon, the ability to jump and hover in the air. This clip is probably from the 1960s:
Continue reading →neo
Voting for Speaker
Jordan has failed to get a majority in the first round of voting, although he reached 200. He needs 217. I assume there’s a lot negotiating going on. McCarthy was elected after 15 rounds of voting. I really really really … Continue reading →
Israel’s policy of prisoners for hostages
One of Israel’s great strengths is how much it values human life. But it leads to one of its great weaknesses, at least in the tactical sense: hostage/prisoner exchanges. It’s not the only method Israel has used to bring hostages … Continue reading →
The Hamas terrorist attack and gun control
Whenever there’s a mass shooting in the US, the gun control advocates spring into action and ask for more and stricter gun control. It’s never been clear to me why anyone would buy their arguments, because murderous psychopaths rarely – … Continue reading →
Open thread 10/17/23
Perhaps my favorite pieces of music of all time – certainly of piano music:
Continue reading →Middle Eastern Studies
I am calling for a complete and total shutdown of all Middle East studies departments in American universities until we can figure out what the hell is going on. — Steven F. Hayward (@stevenfhayward) October 16, 2023 Actually, we know … Continue reading →
Roundup
(1) Jim Jordan has made progress in his quest to secure the speakership, but it seems he’s still got a way to go. I hope he makes it soon. (2) The Hamas terrorists wore bodycams on October 7th. They are … Continue reading →
Beware of overdiagnosis of Munchausen by Proxy
This is chilling: Lehigh County, Pa., is on fire right now with the outrage of at least 70 families who are on a mission to have Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen, a “child abuse pediatrician,” fired from Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) … Continue reading →
On the alliance between the Left and the jihadi terrorists
Charles Lipson writes: The virulent anti-Israel protests across America and Europe throw a glaring light on the bizarre alliance between left-wing activists and militant Muslims. That odd combination has been the bedrock of political activism at universities and in the … Continue reading →
Open thread 10/16/23
She gives a lesson in holding a note:
Continue reading →Loverly Audrey Hepburn
For a change of pace, here’s Audrey Hepburn singing “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “Show Me” for the My Fair Lady film. I understand why she was dubbed instead; there’s a lot of strain in her voice. But I like … Continue reading →
The civilians: if Gaza is an “open-air prison” …
… (a popular descriptive phrase on the left, uttered without any indication of what it might mean or why Gazans might be blocked by other Muslim countries such as Egypt), Hamas members are presently the wardens and guards. And Egypt … Continue reading →