The Bookworm Beat (9/19/14) — Illustrated edition, and Open Thread
One of my readers, who prefers anonymity, sent me a wonderful collection of posters. Naturally, I have to share them with you:
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The Bookworm Beat (9/18/14) — The Non-Islamic Edition (and Open Thread)
Yet another day where I start with an apology for not writing more or writing sooner. I had what I think is a fairly severe arthritis flair-up, loaded myself up with anti-inflammatory meds, and took a long nap. Thankfully, I’m feeling better and moving easier, so it’s time to write!
Continue readingThe Bookworm Beat (9/17/14) — The Science Edition and Open Thread
Earl Aagaard send me some cool science-related articles so, before I start writing up a post that came to me in a dream (and that’s always a bad sign), I wanted to head these items your way: Federal money drives bad science Dr. Patrick Michaels points out that part of
Continue readingThe Bookworm Beat (9/16/14) — Clearing The Spindle Part 2, and Open Thread
No time for throat clearing. I’m just going to throw myself into the final phase of spindle-clearing: Obama’s Alinsky Rules: “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Kevin D. Williamson uses the administration’s latest ad hominem attacks on Bill O’Reilly to remind us that Obama’s administration is
Continue readingThe Bookworm Beat (9/16/14) — The Illustrated Edition (and Open Thread)
I learned something today: our local indoor shooting range, Bullseye (a most delightful place), will not allow unaccompanied people to rent guns. When I first told I needed a companion to rent a gun, I thought it was because I had “amateur” written all over me. It turns out, though,
Continue readingThe Bookworm Beat (9/16/14) — Clearing the Spindle Part 1, and Open Thread
I’m working away at my inbox backlog, and have lined up the first batch of interesting things I’d love to share with you. ISIS’s dangerous appeal to disaffected Westerners, Muslim and non-Muslim alike Both Daniel Greenfield and Caroline Glick warn that there’s something very unusual and extremely dangerous about ISIS:
Continue readingJe suis ennui — but you get an Open Thread
According to Alexandre Dumas’s delightful and timeless The Three Musketeers, Louix XIII of France, burdened by the duties of kingship, would frequently draw aside favored courtiers and complain to them “Je suis ennui [I am bored].” I am almost never bored . . . unless I’m overwhelmed. In that case, my brain
Continue readingThe Bookworm Beat — 9/13/14 Illustrated Edition (and Open Thread)
Being a domestic goddess is exhausting. After a day spent shopping, cleaning, driving, folding, and cooking, I sat down to watch the surprisingly delightful On Approval. It’s a short movie (only 90 minutes), so I thought that, after it was done, I’d fold some laundry and write some blog posts.
Continue readingSaturday Open Thread
I’ve been a domestic goddess today, driving kids to sports activities, doing laundry, cleaning the house, washing the dog, etc. I’m pleased with my accomplishments, but I have to admit that I would rather have blogged. Blogging, however, will have to wait until this afternoon, when the soccer game is
Continue readingThe Bookworm Beat — 9/11/14’s “ISIS and other stuff” edition (and Open Thread)
Let the information download begin: Alleged New York Times Baghdad Bureau Chief lambastes Obama administration If a Reddit user really is Tim Arango, Baghdad Bureau Chief for The New York Times, it’s very impressive to read his scathing indictment of the administration’s Iraq policy and conduct: it’s not my job to
Continue readingThe Bookworm Beat — 9/10/14 Clearing The Spindle edition
I started a long post a few days ago, because I thought I saw a common thread linking Ray Rice, women in combat, the Rotherham sex scandal, etc., but I just couldn’t control all that material. The short version of my theory is that women in the West have never
Continue readingThe Bookworm Beat — 9/9/14 early edition, with illustrations (and a joke)
My calendar for Tuesday looks empty. I know that this is a snare and a delusion. I’ll get 8 million phone calls and as many demands on my time by 10 a.m. I thought, therefore, that I’d start the day with something simple: lots and lots of totally awesome political
Continue readingThe Bookworm Beat — 9/8/14 Optics edition (and Open Thread)
This week, when it comes to the top stories, all is not as it seems. What struck me as I read through report after report, and opinion piece after opinion piece, is that we’re surrounded by a swirl of optics that belie the truth. Evidence to support this statement follows:
Continue readingCall me Mrs. Pheromone (and Open Thread)
My sister called me yesterday, very excited about a purchase she and her husband made: a pheromone diffuser. The theory behind these things is that mother dogs emit calming pheromones. If a dog is stressed, you can help relax it by purchasing a device that emits the same chemical. My sister
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