A brief assortment today, as I have a lot of chores to address and must head out to them pretty much at once. Be comforted; at least I’m not regaling you with all the details. *** 1. Uvalde, Texas. The atrocity of May 24, which resulted in so many dead children, has resonated …
Category: assorted
May 21 2022
Saturday Smorgasbord
I feel like the Flying Dutchman: if I stop blogging, either I’ll die or the world will end, whichever would be worse. So here we go again. *** According to Jazz Shaw at Hot Air, the smash-and-grab robberies in California are not ending. I hadn’t imagined otherwise. Indeed, my response upon reading the …
Apr 29 2022
The “I Can’t Even” Edition
Do you have “I can’t even” days? Given my commitment to staying in touch with developments so I can blather about them here, I have a lot of them. Usually I keep them to myself, but today I…can’t even. To the strong of stomach: Feel free to read on. To others: Perhaps it’s …
Apr 12 2022
Holy Week Starts With A Bang!
Yes, it’s another of those dreaded “Assorted” columns. Keep the groaning down. *** I found this at Ace’s place: Plastic Martyr @plasticmartyr I wonder how these conservatives would feel if we passed a law making it illegal to teach your kids about religion until they were adults. The “Don’t Say …
Mar 29 2022
Ramblin’
It’s the 29th of March, I’ve just bought a tankful of oil to stave off indoor frostbite, and I’m feeling…scattered. (Yes, a little broke, too.) So this will be a scattered piece. Tuesdays are to your Curmudgeon as Thursdays are to Arthur Dent. *** First, have a passel of links: Vote Fraud: …
Feb 21 2022
The Grab-Bag
Hey, it’s Monday. Never imagine that that doesn’t distress a “retired” guy quite as much as a still-working stiff. Actually, I had more free time when I was working for someone else…and I’m not the only retired engineer who would say so. *** 1. What’s so important about this “freedom” crap? If you’re …
Feb 14 2022
Empty Calories
That’s what yesterday meant to most people. Not football. A social gathering with plenty of nosherai. Here at the Fortress, yesterday had another, far more significant meaning, which I shall refrain from disclosing, out of regard for the feelings of my Significant Other. Yes, this is the introduction to yet another “assorted” column. …
Jan 08 2022
Miscellany
You Have To Wonder Dept. Just how blatantly can a Democrat lie and still get away with it? From the Supreme Court oral arguments over federal vaccine mandates: Ohio Solicitor General Benjamin Flowers, representing the coalition of GOP-led states opposing the OSHA rules, was quizzed by Justice Sotomayor on the mandates — which …
Dec 30 2021
Make Up Your Own Clever Title
Sorry, Gentle Readers. The “Future Columns” folder is about to explode, and as the UXB squad has professed a complete lack of interest in my peril, I’m just going to slather it all over you. (Don’t you feel special?) *** 1. Alternative explanations dept. These days, it’s unwise to settle for the …
Dec 18 2021
Bits Of Fun
Christmas is a week away. What point is there in writing about politics and current events at a time this joyous? Shut ‘em out with me, at least for today, and see if we can amuse one another. (Amuse, not abuse! Get your mind out of the gutter.) *** I saw this …
Dec 15 2021
Assorted
These grab-bag pieces have always helped me to de-escalate in the past. Let’s see whether this one follows the pattern. *** A few days ago, the New York Times published a piece about rising French politician Eric Zemmour that was hysterical even by that paper’s standards. John Hinderaker at Power Line provides a …
Nov 26 2021
Doing The Old Thing
Caught you scratching your head over the title, did I? No doubt you’re wondering what the “old thing” is. Well, skipping all the subtleties to jump right to the entirely justified conclusion, it is I. Your humble commentator. As I am feeling benevolent (which is seldom the case in these latter days) and pleasantly …
Oct 19 2021
Three For Tuesday
Good Morning, Gentle Reader. As the Usurper Administration, figureheaded by Joe “Gee your heir smells terrific” Biden, proceeds with its campaign to reduce the U.S. to a Third World banana republic, albeit without the bananas, we have some interesting developments for your perusal. One is massively ironic, a second illustrates the extent to which …
Oct 05 2021
All COVID All The Time
That’s the news for you. At least, it can seem that way. COVID, the “vaccines,” various companies’ mandates, other companies’ refusals, health-care workers being fired, Florida’s policies, Ivermectin…it’s a long list. I’d have thought people would be sick of it by now. I certainly am. But that’s the news. *** First up, …
Sep 25 2021
Assorted
Yes, yes, I took yesterday off from this dive. I’d been posting too much anyway, and I wanted some time to play with my dogs and cats, among other things. Speaking of dogs and cats and other things, let today be a break from news of the world and its many ills. First up, …
Aug 10 2021
Assorted
Forgive me, Gentle Reader; I haven’t the strength to think up a cleverer title today. Just read on. *** 1. Ownership of books is under threat. People were concerned about major software vendors (especially Microsoft) going to a “rent” rather than “buy” model for important applications. But what about the next most important …
Jul 23 2021
Squibs
I’m hurting somewhat – yesterday was a day of much exertion – so have a few brief comments on assorted matters, that I might leave my computer and assume a more comfortable position. Assuming I can find one, that is. *** The Dynamic of Power Strikes Again. Don’t take that “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity” …
Jul 13 2021
Turbid Thoughts For A Torpid Tuesday
Yes, your Curmudgeon is in one of those moods again. *** There are days when I strain to produce a Grand Unified Theory of Irritations. It’s among my fondest desires to pull together all the seemingly disconnected threads of bother and nuisance, weave them into a coherent tapestry, then set it alight and …
Jun 24 2021
Tendentious Tarantella Or Revolutionary Rodomontade?
Your Curmudgeon reports; you decide. *** 1. McAfee’s “Suicide.” You’re probably already familiar with this story. John McAfee famously said that he would not kill himself – that if he were to die in custody, it would not be by his own hand. And now we have the report of his “apparent suicide.” …
Apr 10 2021
Asymmetries
Some things, it seems, must be said so bluntly that no one can mistake or “reinterpret” them. However, when the subjects fall within a certain realm, most persons, including many who are outspoken on other matters will dance around the subject hoping to avert a tide of defamation. The deficit of courage this suggests …
Fran’s Recent Novels
Margaret’s Recent Novels
