I’m about 2/3 of the way through a remarkable (and remarkably entertaining) novel, The Sentinels of Andersonville by Tracy Groot.
It focuses on a small group of Confederates determined to help the Yankee prisoners in the ghastly Andersonville stockade, though others around them view their mercy and humanitarianism as treason.
14 CommentsGood one from Sheila Stokes-Begley on “smart” autos and “smart” guns. I wouldn’t normally blog the death of a pro wrestler. But Rowdy Roddy Piper, who just died, age 61, also starred in John Carpenter’s terrific, underrated, and oh-so-apt freedomista social satire, They Live. Where all the presidential candidates stand on pot legalization. Speaking of which, even D.A.R.E. (that family-destroying, lying, totally ineffective-against-drug-abuse scourge of the 1980s) has now published an op-ed in favor of legal cannabis. That CEO who raised the minimum wage at his company to $70,000 per year had some of his experienced employees quit for reasons…
17 CommentsJust a little lite something this morning: A Hollywood animal trainer’s secrets for getting dogs to act on cue. (H/T PT) I’m definitely going to see that movie White God, though it sounds as if it’ll be painful to watch.* The latest place therapy dogs (or even just well-behaved family pets) are showing up: funeral homes. —– * It’s true and a relief what she says at the end about the differences in training movie animals today vs in the past. She uses horses as an example, how they’re now trained to fall in battle scenes rather than cruelly tripped.…
14 CommentsThis has been one of those weeks when craziness piled 20 tabs high in the browser. It’s one of those weeks it’s especially clear that the world out there is not only rapidly going nuts, but is fragmenting into specialized segments of insanity, all threatening war with each other.
17 CommentsNo surprise at all: economic freedom creates personal happiness. One documentarian’s fight against the absurd (and profitable) copyright on “Happy Birthday.” Looks as if she now has some powerful ammo. Love it. A rogue Dairy Queen has been going its own way since 1949 (though why it doesn’t just go independent and avoid the franchise fees is a question). (H/T Jim B. in comments) As jed noted when he sent this item: good news, but not fast enough. 🙂 Bovard on how disability law went nuts Lessons learned (although probably mostly not learned) from the stupid, lying, inept drug raid…
21 CommentsLenore Skenazy (once again) demands that kids — and their parents — be free to walk free. It’s fascinating just how many ways the $15/hour minimum wage is backfiring. J.D. Tuccille has yet another. (And it’s great to see his Disloyal Opposition blog back again!) Via Sipsey Street: It’s no surprise, but soooo gratifying that the number of guns being manufactured has doubled during the Obama regime. Yep, as I guessed yesterday, Chrysler is handling the hack-a-Jeep (or anything else we make) fix staggeringly poorly. Also yesterday I said that no writer had ever come up with a description of…
13 CommentsIntriguing DIY all-terrain cart/carrier. (H/T MJR) Drawing — by hand, even doodling — enhances memory and other cognitive functions. Remember last week’s remotely hacked Jeep? Chrysler has now recalled … well, basically every car it’s made lately. No need to take your auto to the shop, though: just wait for the USB stick or download the software. OTOH, given the company’s record of mishandling recalls, don’t be too optimistic. New micro device delivers drugs directly to the brain. Not my brain, buddy! “Don’t Blame Trump; Blame America.” Once you get past the offensive title there’s a lot to agree with.…
12 CommentsStates that have legalized cannabis show a remarkable decrease in deaths from opiod overdose. Much though I respect animals, I think this is a bad idea. (H/T PT) On the other hand, we could use some pretty basic changes of policy (and of heart) toward our beloved companions. This man lived on the streets for two years because no homeless shelter would accept him with the dog who’d devoted a life to him. (Fortunately, help eventually stepped in.) Ohhh, how the IRS loooooves Obamacare! Two on Sandra Bland (and on the expectation that serfs must obey any command of their…
17 CommentsSorry I don’t have much for you at the moment. Been a weird week. When not feeling inert (probably lack of sleep + gray weather) I’ve been busy beginning or resuming long-delayed spring projects. Picked up another 75 pounds or so of broken glass and rusted metal from the lot across the street. Scrubbed stale cigarette scuzz out of Old Blue. Am gradually de-nailing, cleaning, and sanding 150 pieces of beadboard for my ceiling project. It feels good coming to life again. If I do too much my ankle reminds me to slow back down. And unfortunately the ankle’s idea…
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