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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
“A nation is an extended family.”
Quick quiz ... who said/wrote the above quote this week? No Googling!
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…
I. are. S.tealing from You
IRS says they want power to decide who prepares your tax returns. H$R Block cheers.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
We Will Detect All of Your Non-Neutral Expressions!
Someone send Sly to the VA DMV!
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…
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…
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…
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…







