The Paladin book is going into final edit before going off to the publisher and a S.W.A.T. magazine deadline looms this week. So the brain is a bit crowded right now (and that’s without … well, other stuff going on that involves three driven-to-distraction dogs and an overwhelmed but surprisingly calm guest kitty; more on that later). But, with a little help from my friends, here’s a bit of blogitude: Via Sam (thank you): What happens when an American traveler calmly refuses to answer questions upon his reentry into the “homeland.” Bold blogger, that guy. Larken Rose, who last time…
Category: Resistance
Sometimes you need to say “no” to Big Brother
Paul Bonneau tells philosophical libertarians they should “Become Dangerous.” Jim Bovard sez it’s time to get rid of the phony-baloney federal privacy board. I don’t have any advice for anybody, but I do have a question. I’ve found that, when it’s the right time for me to do something (make a decision, write an article, or whatever), suddenly that thing will come easy. In fact, a decision I’ve struggled with or an article I’ve been banging my head on or avoiding will abruptly just fling itself into my face, ready-made. But — even in small things — if the time…
Last week in the comments section, CS posted a good bit on community and the need for it in our uncertain future. He asked me for a response & I’ve been thinking on it. In fact, I think the subject is going to become the topic of a future article or articles. Meantime, I’ve touched on it in past blog posts and articles, including this one, which first appeared in the print edition of BHM. Just one additional observation at the moment. Obviously, community-building is hard for individualists (herding cats and all that). Well, really it’s hard for anybody. The…
According to a Rasmussen poll: “62% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that no matter how bad things are, Congress can always make them worse.” OMG, ain’t that the truth? And ain’t that an example of uncommon sense from the v*ters? And in the weird news of the day … faux “FBI agents” take the law into their own hands. And get arrested. Nice try, boys & girl. Nice try.
Long time back, I proposed that “creative disregard” was more important (and better for personal happiness) than “civil disobedience.” Civil disobedience can be a powerful political tool. But its inherent flaw is that it assumes that government is both necessary and potentially good. Civil disobedience merely aims to change certain actions or forms of government. Creative disregard, on the other hand, gives government a big “ho hum” (or in some cases, a big “eff off”). Creative disregard says, “I’m going to live as I please among fellow peaceable human beings.” It acknowledges government (if at all) as a potential nuisance…
You’ve probably heard of Dieter Dengler, the subject of two Werner Herzog films, the documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly and the Christian Bale-starring drama, Rescue Dawn. Investors Business Daily (of all places) has a brief bio that reveals how Dengler’s incredible feats (he escaped from a POW camp in Laos and survived 23 days in a hostile jungle while suffering a host of debilitating diseases) can be traced to skills and personality traits he developed early in childhood. Talk about the things you learn at your mother’s knee …
This is the 64th anniversary of the Battle of Athens, Tennessee — when a group of returned WWII servicemen took their county back from a corrupt government by means of force. Links: Battle of Athens at Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership At Constitution.org (almost identical to the above) On Wikipedia
Now, that’s some valedictorian. High school girl uses her moment at the podium to slam the philosophy and practice of government schooling — and even cites John Taylor Gatto. And Mencken. Maybe there’s hope yet.
Pat was the first commenter to notice: They caught Colton Harris-Moore yesterday. At least the Bahamian cops had the presence of mind and decency not to shoot him. (I expect most U.S. police would simply have blown him away, under the circumstances.) That boy. Neither monster nor hero. But oh, what a story! Might be silly, but I’m proud to have had a small connection to his adventures. (Yes, it’s a tenuous connection, I admit. But there’s a tad more to it than I’m at liberty to tell right now.) Interested in paleo/primal nutrition and exercise? Free the Animal may…
In the great movie The Shawshank Redemption, Brooks Hatlen, the prison librarian (James Whitmore), is the totally institutionalized man. He’s carved out his safe little niche. He no longer knows how to survive outside the walls — and he realizes he’s unfit for the real world. Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), on the other hand, is always and emphatically his own man. He is never owned by the prison, even as he’s subject to the prison system’s every whim. No matter what’s done to him, his inner strength holds him steady. “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman) stands between them. He’s the guy…