Uncategorized 1482
Localist Roundup: Smorgasbord
Recently, the USDA announced a new federal initiative encouraging local food. This article takes a somewhat critical view of New Urbanism based on the recent Congress in Buffalo. Meanwhile, this…
Your Computer (and everything connected to it) is Broken
Read this just before your shut your computer down for good. Here's a taste: Once upon a time, a friend of mine accidentally took over thousands of computers. He had…
FPR Conference: Get Your Ticket Now
The fourth annual Front Porch Republic conference will examine ways to promote a more comprehensive localist vision that both learns from and goes beyond the increasingly successful local-food movement. It…
A Happy Thought
The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings. Robert Louis Stevenson, A Child’s Garden of Verses In my…
Getting Detroit’s Goat
When a city's situation is as dire as Detroit's a certain amount of creativity is required. Enter the goat. And then enter Detroit's bungling mismanagers. Read the article, but don't…
On the Nightstand
Two books right now, one fiction and one non-fiction. First, the fiction: Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I re-read this one (revisit it?) every few years. Brideshead is quite different…
Localist Roundup: Pernicious Parking Lots
This article examines how local farms are expanding their business to serve local institutions, mainly schools. Meanwhile, this piece describes obstacles to implementing the USDA standards that encourage local sourcing…
Thoroughly Anti-Modern Milius
On John Milius, writer-director-surfer-anarchist, from The American Conservative.
Localist Roundup: Internet of Things
This article outlines some efforts in Britain to involve local communities in the upkeep of unused land. Meanwhile, this article warms that attempts to digitize interaction with physical objects may…
The Violent and the Fallen On the Airwaves
Holy Family Radio in Grand Rapids, Michigan, recently aired John Pinheiro's interview with me on his weekly program, Faith and Reason. Pinheiro asked me to discuss my new book, The…
Localist Roundup: Politically Expedient Localism?
This article on the Amazon-Hachette contract dispute illustrates some problems with having nearly all book sales in the hands of one major corporation. Meanwhile, this piece reflects on social media's tendency…
Trying to Be Like Them
“It is for you to try to be like them.” Pericles’ Funeral Oration I have to admit a problem that I’ve had with Memorial Day. I’ve often let my thoughts…
Localist Roundup: The Week’s Weakness
This piece describes the alienating aspects of technology. Meanwhile, the author of this ambitious article would have the seven-day week abolished. This article speculates as to the impact of food…
Academy of Philosophy and Letters
The Academy of Philosophy and Letters will be holding its annual conference on the topic "Civil Religion and American Self-Understanding" next weekend at the BWI Doubletree in Baltimore. There are…
Philanthrolocalism vs. Effective Altruism
William Schambra has a piece at Philanthropy Daily that describes the coming showdown between two competing conceptions of philanthropic giving. Here's a taste: Community-embeddedness versus detached godliness: not a bad…
Localist Roundup: Localism vs. Climate Change
In political news, Congress continues its attempt to restrict NSA bulk data collection. At the same time, this article describes Facebook's hopes to use phone microphones for data collection of…
Wholistic Chef
A most interesting piece over at The Atlantic wherein a world-class chef discusses his epiphany concerning the interrelatedness of flavor, sustainable farming practices, local cuisines, and supporting farms financially. Well worth…
Who Owns America?
In The American Conservative, Ralph Nader, paladin of the American anti-monopolist tradition, revives the great distributist-agrarian project of the 1930s.
When Your Way of Life is Out of Date
“…your whole way of life is out of date when compared with theirs. And it is just as true in politics as it is in any art or craft: new…
Localist Roundup: Thomas Piketty
In recent news, an E. coil scare has caused a massive beef recall in New England. Also, this story reports on Wal-Mart's recent successes in online retail. This piece offers…
Localist Roundup: Pubs and Honeybees
This article reports on the efforts of one English group to prevent a local pub from becoming a supermarket. Meanwhile, The Atlantic offers a lengthy perspective on the GMO labeling…
Good-byes are Just That
They’re good. At least when we make an effort to do them right. I’m convinced after years of saying goodbye to my students—and others—that proper goodbyes are not only good,…
Localist Roundup: Trust in State Government
A change in livestock rules in the State of Michigan could cause trouble for some small farmers. At the same time, this piece reports on how small farmers have capitalized…