Francis W. Porretto
Mount Sinai, NY USA
Author's posts
Dec 18 2023
A Nation Or An Idea?
I don’t always get to every article every Gentle Reader cites while it’s still fresh in people’s minds. Sometimes I must admit to being embarrassed at having missed something tremendously significant. That’s the case today. The impetus is this Dennis Prager article from a few weeks back. If you haven’t read it, I …
Dec 18 2023
Facepalm
Sometimes, the gags write themselves. You have to be fairly old to remember this incident. It occurred during the first period of Sandinsta political dominance in Nicaragua. One of the few newspapers remaining in operation tried to publish a piece detailing Sandinista censorship of the media — but the regime prevented them from …
Dec 17 2023
Victims Are Multiplying
WARNING: What follows contains explicit, vulgar language. I’ve decided that it’s time to “take the gloves off.” Good people being restrained and proper is part of why America has descended to its current state. Quite a few people need a very painful comeuppance. Until they get it, no improvement in our current degeneracy is …
Dec 15 2023
Christian Nationalism (UPDATED)
We’re being told that we should be afraid of this: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. …
Dec 14 2023
The Deception Campaign: Dispatches
Every now and then, a review of the most recent skirmishes in the struggle between the deceivers and censors and the rest of us is desirable. A week ago, Ace produced a good one. Here’s a jewel from that piece: The hot new concept in ” ” ” journalism ” ” ” is …
Dec 14 2023
Dead Or Just Resting?
(Yes, that’s a reference to Monty Python’s “Dead Parrot” sketch. For those unfamiliar with it, you can view it here, or read the script here.) Way back in my tenderer years, a few people were concerned about the direction in which I appeared to be headed. Sometimes I took them seriously…but as it …
Dec 13 2023
The Seinfeld Edition
First: To all of you who’ve written to inquire about the state of my health, thanks, most sincerely, for caring. (NB: Except for the two clowns who wrote to express their hope that I’m about to die. Really, gentlemen! Have you no patience?) I’m mostly better, though I still have a nagging cough that …
Dec 12 2023
On Repentance
Relax! This won’t be one of “Fran’s Catholic rants.” Not entirely, anyway. Before I plunge ahead, let me say this plainly: I make no claim to expertise or authority in psychology. I’m a retired engineer. My degrees are in mathematics and physics. My achievements are in real-time software and – your opinion may …
Dec 11 2023
Adverse Possession And Easements
This story out of England, which from the headline might appear an unconscionable travesty of justice, reveals facets that raise uncomfortable questions: The property originally belonged to Doris Curtis, who died in the 1980s and left her house to her son, Colin. Mr. Curtis moved out in 1996 to live in another inherited …
Dec 10 2023
What You Always Have With You
It feels a bit strange to be writing about this during Advent, but my wandering mind resists being told what to dwell on. The Gospel citation below is from John, chapter 12: Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised …
Dec 09 2023
Giveaways
When a man shows you who he is, believe him. – Maya Angelou Among the great weaknesses of the Right is our powerful desire to believe that our opponents are fundamentally just as decent as we are. There’s actually some rationality behind that assumption. If our opponents are not fundamentally decent – that …
Dec 09 2023
Dispatches From The War On Normality
The guiding principle is only this: If it’s normal and healthful, they hate it and want to destroy it: A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by one Denver Public Schools father alleging his two children have been denied their First Amendment rights to have a “straight pride” flag in school may stand …
Dec 08 2023
Delusions And Stability
Delusions are often functional. A mother’s opinions about her children’s beauty, intelligence, goodness, et cetera ad nauseam, keep her from drowning them at birth. — Robert A. Heinlein I’m still on the mend, but a little better, thanks for asking. Maybe I’ll be able to speak audibly by New Year’s Day. It’s ambitious, …
Dec 07 2023
The Unreasonable
Clever title, eh? Gets the brain churning, doesn’t it? “The unreasonable who?” “The unreasonable what?” “Porretto’s playing games again, isn’t he?” (“Again,” you say? When did I stop?) Well, it’s all in a day’s work here at the Fortress of Crankitude, Long Island’s premier shrine to self-indulgent snark over too many glasses …
Dec 07 2023
Must It Be Said Yet Again?
Get out of the cities! The Fish spot in Washington Hights NYC. The location was being robbed when the robber turned his on a customer and shot him. ( sent in by a source) #NYC #CRIME #Wednesday pic.twitter.com/2PqF22uvnJ — Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) December 6, 2023 Predators converge on concentrations of prey. …
Dec 07 2023
To Those Who Think The UN Is Worth Something
Ponder this: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres invoked Article 99 of the U.N. charter on Wednesday for the first time. He cited a “severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza” as the war rages on between Israel and the militant group Hamas…. Guterres has called for a ceasefire. …
Dec 07 2023
This Wins The Internet For Today
There are 13 minerals that are essential for human life, and all of them can be found in Wine. Coincidence? I Think Not! — Diogenes Sarcastica Applause, Diogenes, you tall, brilliant, fabulously talented and visually stunning placental mammal, you. But then, others have expressed that sentiment as well: “An ancient writer said …
Dec 06 2023
A Growing Hunger
“If the law is too mild, private vengeance comes in.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson No, I’m not entirely well, but a plaintive comment by a regular Gentle Reader that he was experiencing “Porretto withdrawal” has – temporarily, at least – restored enough of my energy and determination to write something substantial for him…and …
Dec 05 2023
Assorted
Yes, Gentle Reader, I’m still pretty sick. The energy isn’t there for more than a few casual shots out the passenger-side window as I drive past the passing scene. But I hate to leave you with nothing to read, and my Co-Conspirators, normally a worthy bunch, appear to have gone mute for the time …
Fran’s Recent Novels
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