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An Unholy Alliance
At "Minding the Campus," there's an essay by ME that touches on the implicit similarities between our technocratic administrative class and our post-modern radical professoriate. For all their differences they…
Practicing the Discipline of Place
My "Place" (Photo by AMS) JEFFERSON COUNTY, KANSAS. If you think I'm reprinting yet another old essay because I'm too lazy or beset to keep up with my bettors on…
Pope John Paul II Defines Capitalism
This is from Centesimus Annus. Here John Paul II reflects on two meanings of the word "capitalism." "Returning now to the initial question: can it perhaps be said that, after…
Larison on Decentralism
A thoughtful examination of the future of conservative decentralism from Dan Larison (and his commentors) which relates pretty closely to several of the discussion threads from today and deserves some response from…
Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste
I've been reviewing a number of the online offerings of Chris Martenson, whose "crash course" on contemporary economics was made known to me on a recent "Kunstlercast." I was particularly…
Souter and His Front Porch
I'm willing to bet that in all likelihood, a large majority of those reading this site do not have kind feelings for retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter, assuming they…
On Passing Water and other Spiritual Considerations
The Bar Jester is nearly as funny as Jeremy's limp cigar and Carrie Nation look of shocked indignation at the beverage he has just been served. And this bit By my…
Why Conservatives Should Care About Transit
Via a friendly reader, comes a link to this fine and wise comment about the important role which public transportation ought to play in the minds of anyone who is…
The Crappiest Generation
I've been recommending this clip from the Conan O'Brien show to anyone willing to listen (many simply back away, slowly...). It's side-splittingly funny, and about as true as anything I've…
Peggy Noonan on the End of Affluence
Peggy Noonan has a piece in the WSJ titled "Goodby Bland Affluence." Seems even NYC is slowing down and, for the first time in its long history, being forced to…
Homesteading with Mother Earth
USAToday has a piece on folks who are simplifying their lives as a response to the economic troubles here. For those interested in some concrete advice, see this piece on…
The Real History of Carter’s “Malaise” Speech
A couple of young, progressive liberals (Kevin Mattson and Ezra Klein) note what too many mainstream American politicians and pundits have conveniently forgotten: that President Jimmy Carter's "malaise" speech--his thoughtful,…
Local Currencies Strengthen Local Communities
USA Today has a piece on local currencies here. Excerpt: "A small but growing number of cash-strapped communities are printing their own money. "Borrowing from a Depression-era idea, they are…
Entropy Made Visible
Since Stewart posted a terrific video about the death of bee colonies from "TED," I thought I'd post my own favorite from that site - a devastating and hilarious jeremiad…
The Right to Bear an Extraordinary Knowledge Base
Now that I am a tiny cog in the great machinary of state, I get all kinds of insider mailings. This in today, from the American Board for Certification in…
Responding to RAF
Russell wrote: This is, perhaps, why Caleb Stegall and those like him are, to me anyway, the most important-if not necessarily the most persuasive-of all the localists and agrarians out…
Interview with Me
Thanks to Mr. BC, of Burke's Corner, for his recent visit to Georgetown and for the conversation we enjoyed. He's recorded some of his impressions here. All that was missing…
Farming: Practical Advice
For anyone interested in practical advice about farming, check out the small farmer's journal The journal comes highly recommended by two of our own: Allan Carlson and Katherine Dalton. Below…
The Internet Won’t Feed You, and Neither Will We
Rod Dreher posts a letter from a young 'un asking about law school and farming. Similarly, a commenter here last week asked: I have only ever been acquainted, through my extended…
White House Garden
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090319/ap_on_go_pr_wh/white_house_garden The White House is getting a garden. Will this inspire millions to do the same? Will Obama pull his own weeds? Can a First Chicken Coop be far behind?
Unreal Estate
Two news items of note that have recently caught my attention. The first, that China has been taking advantage of the global firesale of stuff, along with its massive cash…
Politics in Kansas hasn’t changed much. Still a wild and wooly blood sport.
http://www.amconmag.com/article/2009/mar/23/00014/
Bernard Madoff, the Novel
Those of you who didn't lose your life savings with Mr. Madoff, and who can think about him with equanimity, may be interested in a very fine novel about his…
It’s the Economy, Stupid
Los Angeles, CA At the risk of copyright infringement, I want to recommend a song of this title by John McCutcheon which appears on his album Hail to the Chief. …