Around The Blogs: 2013-03-24

Lots of good material this week.

A Father Of Four brings us a different St. Patricks Day recipe.  Sounds delicious!  I’m going to have to try that.

Larry tells us of the ‘Tough Love‘ his eldest son is now going to encounter.  It’s a difficult tale to read, but I have to agree with Larry – his son appears to have wasted every other opportunity offered to him.  This is his last chance.  I’m sure other parents with ‘problem children’ will be able to identify with him.

Greylocke reminds us (with tongue firmly in cheek) ‘Why we shoot deer in the wild‘.

Borepatch has two interesting posts on education.  First, he illustrates why ‘schools can’t teach the very smart, the autistic, and boys in general‘.  Next, he reminds us that ‘A University is a setting, we’re told, where ideas can flow freely.  But only some ideas.‘  Both articles are depressing . . . but both are pretty accurate, IMHO.  Worthwhile reading for all who have children going through the education system, or who have an interest in that field.

I’m going to have to pay MSgt. B.’s muse to shank him again, after my brain spazzed out while watching the music (?) video he provided this morning.  Ye Gods and little fishes . . . !

Earthbound Misfit asks, ‘What would happen if the Bill of Rights were being debated today?‘  Her conclusions are depressing . . . and depressingly accurate, IMHO.

(This is an outstanding example of why those who love liberty, whether they’re left-wing, centrist or right-wing in their politics, should be talking together.  Earthbound Misfit is solidly liberal and progressive in her politics, as far as I can see, whereas I’m very often the opposite of those positions;  yet, based on what I know of her love of liberty and personal responsibility, I reckon she and I could get along just fine as members of the same government or ruling establishment, because we’d start from a position of solid mutual understanding.  Our proposed solutions to a given problem might differ widely, but with mutual goodwill and the acceptance that each of us is a fundamentally good, decent person, I reckon we could overcome our differences and do some pretty good work together.  That’s the only way this country’s going to get out of the mess we’re currently in – if all of us with common sense and rational understanding agree to work together, putting aside our differences in the face of the greater need to co-operate for our, and our country’s, survival.)

Ace Of Spades links to author Michael Crichton‘s essay on ‘Environmentalism As Religion‘.  It’s an outstanding piece, one that deserves far wider circulation.  Ace’s article also includes a video by Mr. Crichton where he discusses the issue.  Worthwhile viewing.

Warren Meyer has two interesting blog posts.  In the first, he proposes a (tongue-in-cheek) solution to the same-sex marriage dilemma.  In the second, he describes attempts by a bureaucrat to limit his (and his company’s) freedom of speech, and the reactions produced by the attempt.  Both are amusing reading, as well as thought-provoking.

Mike Vanderboegh points out how a guerrilla weapon developed during World War II illustrates the folly of firearm confiscation – because those who need them will always be able to produce them, one way or another.  He includes an interesting video demonstration of the weapon.  Living history indeed!

Walter Russell Mead says that a simple invention illustrates a profound upheaval in innovation.

Watanabe’s story is the perfect example of how technology can radically democratize economic power. Just by posting a video of his product on the Internet, an average Japanese citizen was able to instantly find backers and get the pot to market. This is the kind of thing that could not have happened so easily even ten years ago, and it shows how much technology can empower entrepreneurism.

Rev. Donald Sensing says that ‘The Federal Reserve is the Sheriff of Nottingham‘ in that it robs from the poor to give to the rich.  I have to ask – if that’s so, would that make Elizabeth Warren a left-wing version of Maid Marian?

Some of you may be familiar with the ACLU‘s so-called ‘Blog Of Rights‘.  A recent series of articles there is titled ‘Radically Wrong: A Counterproductive Approach to Counterterrorism‘.  I find it interesting that it dovetails in several respects with what security experts like Bruce Schneier have been saying for years – that many of the counterterrorism policies and practices espoused by the US government are both wrongly directed and poorly implemented.  Of particular interest is the article titled ‘The Right to Think Dangerous Thoughts‘.  It examines efforts to criminalize (or at least render suspicious) the freedom of thought and expression that we take for granted.

I think this article – indeed, the whole series – makes very important reading as Big Brother attempts to become even bigger and more intrusive in our lives.  Kudos to the ACLU for a very informative and useful effort.

Le Cygne Gris (‘The Gray Swan’) examines current government policies, and concludes that ‘The middle class is dead‘.  Depressing, but probably accurate in the light of current economic conditions, which we’ve discussed here on numerous occasions in the past.

The Retired Mustang examines control freaks and why they behave as they do.

The control advocate who fears freedom doesn’t simply fear what will happen if you or I exercise our freedom. He fears what he might do if allowed to exercise his freedom. He fears his own issues, his own anger, his own rage and his own urges. And so, he denies his fear, he projects his issues onto others and he endorses something that opposes in some way the things he fears in himself.

Not a bad way of putting it.  I suppose it’s a bit like Puritanism, which H. L. Mencken famously defined as ‘The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy’.

Finally, but by no means lest, the Raconteur Report has some sobering and very useful thoughts on preparedness and ‘traveling light’.  Worthwhile reading.

That’s all for this week.  More soon!

Peter