Francis W. Porretto
Mount Sinai, NY USA
Author's posts
Feb 27 2023
Censorshop
I’ve ranted more than once about the usefulness of a steadily centralizing economy to those who desire total power over us. I trust the point was not lost on my Gentle Readers. However, it remains easy to miss the indications of political control over one’s workplace, so here’s a nice fresh one: A …
Feb 26 2023
The Longest Long Con
I ran across this graphic only a few minutes ago: It’s at the center of my thoughts for a reason upon which I’ll rant a bit later in this piece. For now, I’d like to remind you about an old song, and an old practice far too many of us followed in our …
Feb 25 2023
Music For A Snowy Saturday Afternoon
If you’re around my age, you might remember the original version of this: I’ve heard a lot of denigrations of The Association. They may have been “pop for the masses,” but their songwriters were among the best of the AM-Radio era…and Pat Metheny has taken their classic tune and done it full justice. …
Feb 25 2023
An Unsurprising Reaction
The old fable about the emperor’s new wardrobe, which only the honest and competent could see, ends with a small boy shattering the delusion, simply by speaking the truth. What Hans Christian Andersen had in mind in his fable is disputed today. Partly that’s because Andersen’s original ending for the tale was somewhat different. …
Feb 24 2023
And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor
“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many …
Feb 24 2023
Now They’ve Gone Too Far
Maybe we’ve stood still and silent while they ruined the economy, destroyed the nation’s energy supplies, choked the ports, fed our Strategic Petroleum reserve to China, and led us to the brink of nuclear Armageddon, but we can’t let them get away with this! Now Unilever, the far-Left corporate giant that brings us …
Feb 24 2023
As Long As We’re Talking About Hate Groups
…some even have their own TV shows: Joy Behar says the residents of East Palestine got what they deserved because they voted for Trump. “That’s who you voted for!” she shouted at the camera. “In that district. Donald Trump, who reduces all safety. He did in those days.” pic.twitter.com/brMUQfthQj — Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) February …
Feb 23 2023
Good Sense Dept.
Good sense often seems to have been anathematized, if not outlawed. It’s still possible to have good sense, but to speak good sense where others can hear is becoming increasingly dangerous. It can cost you everything: Your family, your friends, the good will of your neighbors, your occupation, your business associations. Now and then …
Feb 23 2023
Presidents And Pretenders
Yesterday, Donald Trump did something that neither Joe Biden nor any member of his Cabinet has yet done: He went to East Palestine, Ohio. Moreover, he went with a large quantity of food and potable water. The residents of that badly beset district were overjoyed by his visit. Yes, they appreciated the aid he …
Feb 22 2023
Freedom Of What?
I have a great admiration for the Founders of this nation. Many of them thought more deeply about political processes, especially the innate dynamic of governments to grow over time, than anyone who’s come since them. This morning I find myself reflecting on the wisdom of one in particular: the celebrated yet underappreciated Alexander …
Feb 21 2023
Apologies For Being Repetitive…
…but I feel obligated to aggregate the data: Loud neighbors and threats at an apartment complex in Houston led to the arrest of two sisters. The sisters are accused of grabbing their guns earlier this week to confront their noisy neighbors. The sisters claim the confrontation took place because their neighbors were …
Feb 21 2023
That Look Of Indifference
You’ll find it on many a face in our political Establishment. To what are they indifferent? Why, to you, of course: How many Americans support this war for democracy? This war for democracy that Americans for some reason can’t vote on? Why don’t we have a national referendum on all this as long …
Feb 21 2023
There’s Stupid…
…and then there’s certifiably brain-dead: A Chicago man is facing a bucket of felony charges after allegedly robbing a man at gunpoint and then staying at the scene to eat the victim’s takeout fried chicken. Chicago police arrived at the robbery scene within minutes and allegedly found James Taylor, 20, still there, …
Feb 21 2023
South Park Scores!
In one minute and 25 seconds, @SouthPark said all the things we aren’t allowed to say about trans “women” and abortions.#trans #abortion #women #biologicalwomen #SouthPark pic.twitter.com/qArc0zjZqL — Natalie Argyle (@NatalieArgyle) February 2, 2023 And it’s from 2005! ‘Nuff said.
Feb 21 2023
When Your Lie Is Found Out…
…shout it even more loudly: FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf has spent the last year warning that growing “distortions and half-truths” surrounding vaccines and other medical products are now “a leading cause of death in America.” “Almost no one should be dying of COVID in the U.S. today,” Califf told The Associated …
Feb 20 2023
Ugly Portents
I’ve recently encountered a few harbingers of unpleasantness that have reminded me of one of life’s less pleasant rules: Preferences Cannot Be Absolutes What do I mean by that? Only this: if you’d prefer some condition of existence, and circumstances change to render that condition unavailable, you have no alternative: you must cope. …
Feb 19 2023
Anyone Who’s Surprised By This…
…has not been paying attention: It was in the Kroger parking lot off of Saint Andrews Road in Irmo where 26-year-old Alexandria Cress Borys took her last breath. She was shot and killed on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, approximately six days after her brother died from a gunshot wound. WIS spoke …
Feb 18 2023
A Safe Place?
One of the reasons the C.S.O. wants us to stay on Eastern Long Island is that it’s relatively safe. That is: the crime rate here is fairly low, the public services are no worse than average, the above-average affluence means that we’ll be more reliably supplied with the necessities of life than a less …
Feb 18 2023
New Fiction!
This is a day of rejoicing: Liberty’s Torch Co-Conspirator Margaret Ball has released a novel that truly has it all: magic, history, intrigue, action, and a delicately paced romance. I was privileged to be her proofreader, and I tell you, quite sincerely, that I have never read anything like it. It is simply …
Fran’s Recent Novels
Margaret’s Recent Novels
