Press "Enter" to skip to content

Month: February 2017

Sometimes you just have to leap into the abyss

That’s a leap I have not yet decided to risk. —– On Thursday I learned that Amazon is decimating the Associates program and therefore decimating the monthly income of this blog. It may have been inevitable, but nobody saw it coming right now. You guys jumped in to make sure that February, the last month of the old program, went out with a bang. A thousand thank yous for that. But that still left me with decisions to make. About this blog. About earning a living. About whether to go ahead with planned projects. —– It was easy to decide…

15 Comments

Monday links

  • Even in our age of omni-surveillance and omni-suspicion this is weird and creepy. (H/T CB)
  • Is there room at the inn (in law schools, that is) for conservative and libertarian academics?
  • In the Internet age, even in that part of the Internet age when “self-identification” is the new holy grail, representing yourself to be something you are not can not only bite you, but go on biting and biting and biting you. 14 Comments
  • Weekend links #1

  • A short-term “fasting diet” may regenerate a diabetic pancreas. Again, it’s mostly mice so far. But interesting.
  • “Drugs, disposal of.” Dealing with the recent untimely loss of his wife, Kim du Toit goes on a quest to discover how to rid himself of a pharmacopia of her prescription medicines.
  • Borepatch warns: Buyer beware! when it comes to “connected” cars. Like all other supposedly smart devices, they’re just bright enough to violate your privacy. 7 Comments
  • Guest post by Shel: War memoirs, dog books, and a couple of firearm-related items

    The following is a guest post written by Commentariat member Shel. Knowing Amazon commissions were soon to plummet, he offers these books and other items — including some cool firearm-related gadgets — that you might find of interest. And will find at Amazon. You may not be quite as interested in war memoirs as he is. But you can purchase practically anything in the world via my Amazon links. When you enter Amazon through any of the links in this post or anywhere on the blog, everything you purchase during that visit will be credited to me. All Amazon orders…

    5 Comments

    Sigh. It never rains but it pours.

    … and I’m not talking about the Northwet weather. I’m quoting granny’s old maxim up there in the headline meaning those little old troubles that have a habit of pouring down on our heads in storms instead of mild freshets. I’m talking about car transmissions going haywire followed by news that’s going to take a machete to my blog income. Oh, Amazon. How could you? Actually, I can’t complain about Amazon — though I’m going to, anyhow. In its early days the Associates program (those links to Amazon I’m always going on about, links that provide this blog’s only regular…

    17 Comments

    Idiot.

    I walked to town with Ava as usual this morning. We were crossing the street to the post office when out of the blue, another dog pelts straight at her and launches itself against her side, biting at her flank and legs. This monster-wannabe is only about 15 pounds of dirty gray fluff, so the biggest danger here, other than infected puncture wounds, is that Ava will turn and snap the rotten beast’s neck. To her credit, Ava — who has a history of reacting sharply to other dogs — keeps her cool. Me, not so much. I’m cussing and…

    14 Comments

    Thursday links

  • The FBI under Trump continues its proud history of fighting terrorism by busting hapless losers who couldn’t have done a thing without the encouragement, funds, and in this case bullying brutality by the fed agents themselves.
  • And let’s not forget our beloved ATF. Turns out it’s as corrupt on the “T” part of its name as is is on the “F”ing part.
  • “Live free or live in Massachusetts,” as some wag must have said. Boston considers banning glassware in bars because it can be used as a weapon. (Can we move Boston over to England? I think it would feel more at home there.) 8 Comments
  • Oooh. Oooh. Just for today on Amazon.

    Little late, but I just learned about this now (H/T JB): Today only, Amazon is giving an $8.63 coupon for most (not quite all) orders over $50. Check. It. Out! And of course you know which link to use when you enter Amazon to make that purchase. Seems Amazon is also about to start offering some better free-shipping options for non-Prime members. Good stuff.

    5 Comments

    Wednesday links

  • “It’s complicated.” HL Harris explains her love-hate relationship with firearms. Rape is a mind-changer.
  • Surprise, Surprise. Drugs are vanishing at V.A. hospitals. (And no doubt many other medical facilities, though you can bet fedgov hospitals will be the champs in this variety of corruption and sloppy record-keeping.)
  • How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helps the world’s worst spies keep tabs on us all. 12 Comments