Place. Limits. Liberty.
Join us for FPR’s 2026 Conference on “Neighborly Arts”

Uncategorized 1512

Brave New Techno Ignorance

I just deleted the following spam from our comment cache.  "We have just added your latest post 'Teenagers, Gratitude, and a Culture of Affluence' to our Directory of Car Insurance.  [blah…
June 21, 2009

An Actually Interesting Debate

Most of the debates within the "conservative" wing today are yawners.  They pit one brand of worn-out "conservatism" against another (often with the assistance of screeds on talk radio), with…
Patrick Deneen
June 21, 2009

Front Porch Politics and Putting a Voice with the Black Hat

An interesting case of local activism. And bonus, hear me discuss the issue on the local KC talk show.
June 17, 2009

Speaking of Illich

I neglected to comment on the Illich post when it was timely (funny how the internet compresses time and reduces us all to servants of what Berry called the "absolute…
June 13, 2009

Necessity and Virtue

A fascinating article in today's Washington Post confirms the old adage that there's always a bull market somewhere: right now, namely, in the seed selling business. The article notes that…
Patrick Deneen
June 10, 2009

Front Porch Friendship in the journal of Back Room Business

My (real) friend and sometimes co-conspirator Tony Woodlief of Wichita has penetrated Wall Street with some front porch wisdom this morning: "My 298 Facebook friends aren't the ones who remember…
June 8, 2009

The Front Porch Cyclist talks Autarchy

I have been remiss in following up on some superb thinking that has been going on, partly prompted by my earlier link to his blog, but mostly prompted by the…
June 5, 2009

“A nation is an extended family.”

Quick quiz ... who said/wrote the above quote this week?  No Googling!
June 3, 2009

The Gain is Gloss: Thanks to FPR and Its Readers

Devon, PA.  Much like Jeremy Beer, I have found that FPR has led me to look at 'Blogs almost for the first time in my life.  I have run across much…

The Blessings of Pesticides

I learned tonight, courtesy of American Media's Marketplace, that there is a letter-writing campaign currently afoot protesting the organic garden that was planted and is tended by Mrs. Obama.  The…
Patrick Deneen
June 2, 2009

I. are. S.tealing from You

IRS says they want power to decide who prepares your tax returns. H$R Block cheers.
June 2, 2009

David Byrne tells us to Ride our Bikes

When hipsters like the former lead singer of the band Talking Heads are coming out in favor of the "pedaling revolution", can the masses be far behind? It's a sign…
May 29, 2009

Shop Class as Radio Show

Matthew Crawford - political philosopher and motorcycle repairman - has published an important new book entitled Shop Class as Soul Craft.  The book has already been exerpted in the New…
Patrick Deneen
May 29, 2009

The Emperor’s Old Clothes

I wonder whether anyone else finds it, if not quite ominous, at least suggestive, that the National Constitution Center is now hosting a traveling show on the Emperor Napoleon. The…
May 28, 2009

Sing that Dead Man’s Songs: The Music of Chris Gaffney

Thanks to Brian Frizzell, Brooklyn patriot and Americana music maven, this link  http://www.reverbnation.com/manofsomebodysdreamsatributetochrisgaffney to a new album paying tribute to the late Chris Gaffney, a dolefully beautiful voice of the American…
May 28, 2009

Scruton’s Challenge

Authors and readers of FPR should spend some time reading this extraordinary essay by Roger Scruton, from the most recent issue of Intercollegiate Review.  Scruton is that rarest of academic…
Patrick Deneen
May 28, 2009

Whaddya Know, the Hicks Can Spell

Allow me a moment to bask in some regional pride. Kavya is from just down the road, and I love her Kansan's dialect, flat midwestern accent, and plain manner of…
May 27, 2009

We Will Detect All of Your Non-Neutral Expressions!

Someone send Sly to the VA DMV!  
May 27, 2009

Hope we can Believe in?

If you aren't already a fan of Rémi Brague, the most learned man alive, you will be after you read this interview with him about his new book of essays…
May 23, 2009

James Kalb for Mayor

Devon, PA.  When given the opportunity, I have made no secret of my great admiration for James Kalb's The Tyranny of Liberalism.  Readers of FPR may, from time to time,…

Go Home, Young Person

Jeremy Beer has masterfully articulated the ideology of meritocracy and the destruction it wreaks upon the small towns and non-major cities of the nation.  Still, a number of sympathetic readers…
Patrick Deneen
May 12, 2009

The Sacrament of Death

James has penned an eloquent essay on his son this morning.  I am moved again to remind us all of a central truth.  And that truth is that abortion remains…
May 12, 2009

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…
Patrick Deneen
May 11, 2009

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…
May 8, 2009