I’m writing to acknowledge the sorry state of this blog of late. I keep thinking I’m going to snap out of this slump and start writing regularly again, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening. It’s partly that I’m getting on a bit (though I’m only sixty-six, and can easily manage my daily mile in the still-chilly water of Long Pond, so I can’t lean too heavily on advancing years as an excuse). It’s partly that I feel as if I’m beginning to repeat myself (though of course there is enough that’s new in the world each day to make that lousy excuse as well.)
I think it’s mainly that I’m a little sad and weary just now; things are falling apart in just the way that I (and other Cassandras) have said they would all these years, and watching it all break down just makes me want, for the moment at least, to look away. I suppose I used to imagine, sometimes, that the things I would write might make a difference, if only a small one, but of course the tides of history, and the great arc of civilizations, are very big things, and humble bloggers are very small. There is an accelerating momentum to things now, and the affairs of the next few years are going to careen along on their steep, downhill course without what anyone has to say about any of it making much difference at all.
Mind you, I’m not closing down the blog; I’ve had these dry spells before, and I may very well get all fired-up, at any moment, with all sorts of things that need saying. But for now I’ve been busying myself with other things — musical things, and domestic things. And in July, our daughter, her husband, and our three young grandsons (the youngest of whom we’ve never even met, and who is only four months old) will finally, after two years, be getting out of Hong Kong for a vacation, and will be coming to stay with us here in Cape Cod.
I’ve also been reading and thinking a lot, just trying to make sure that I’ve been understanding things correctly. (As far as I can tell, I have.)
Back soon, I hope! Thanks as always for coming by.
19 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuC5UAWZLOk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYh9OdAAaCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsB6AYGOeeI
https://havechanged.blogspot.com/2021/08/end-of-line.html
Alls well that ends well
Thanks, Malcolm, for all your work over the years. Me, I’m happy to hear from you when the mood strikes you. Of course, all your many posts are still doing sleepless duty as a beacon on the web, there for Our Guys to discover and learn from. And since you’re as sick of politics as I am (and as I expect to continue to be, at least until Frisky Time finally starts), there’s always the world of professional recording. . . .
Malcolm, not to worry. The great decoupling is picking up speed as it must to survive the memory of Trump on one side and the long over due striking down of Roe. Your outlets of music and soon, family, are very healthy. Enjoy!
That’s remarkable Malcolm, that you’re able to swim a mile a day to keep in shape. I mentioned this to my mom, and we were wondering if you wear a wet suit in Long Pond to withstand the freezing water.
Forgive me for this directness, but if you want to take up your pen without endlessly delving into the pathologies of our post-modern age, perhaps you’re at the point chronologically where a memoir is in order. I’d imagine that you’d have much to contribute here to the sound engineer genre, your experiences of a Jersey boy who apprentices in New York and discovers his vocation. If nothing else, it would be a great heirloom for your grandchildren.
Keep taking notes. We need someone to answer history when it is asked why we erected statues to George Floyd; and why Congress devolved into a TV drama where Democrats punish Republicans for the crime of asking for honest elections.
bomag,
The Court this week just served up a big dose of Federalism this week. If this catches on, the coming fight may be one to the finish, but a needed fight at this point which will play out over years.
https://turcopolier.com/not-a-democracy-no-a-federal-republic/#comments
Thanks all!
Jason, in the early swimming season, from late May till July or so, the “kettle ponds” here are bracingly cold, so I wear a stretchy swim-shirt. By now, though, the water’s at the perfect temperature – and by August, almost too warm. (But by October the lengthening cool nights have made them cold again, and the latest I’ve ever had a swim here is about October 10th or so.)
While they’re warm enough, though, there’s no nicer place to swim! The clean fresh water is like liquid velvet. And as for swimming a daily mile, I’ve been doing that here since the mid-1980s, when I was much younger, so it hasn’t been hard to keep it going as the years rolled on.
A “long time friend” reminds me (I’ve known her since … Well our Moms grew up together in the 30s … it’s been awhile.
Two of her Uncles beginning back in the late 40s worked for what became the modern Halliburton and her Dad a geologist for Skelly (remember that company?!!!)
Anyway she’s a partner in an oilfields equipment servicing company – a worldwide clientele. (Not Halliburton; another “lesser known.”)
Nordstream has a (long-planned) ‘maintenance shut-down’ scheduled for the 11th of this month.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/09/25/trump-accused-germany-becoming-totally-dependent-russian-energy-un-germans-just-smirked/
Being as today’s our Fourth of July I just felt the urge to hope y’all enjoy fireworks.
All you need is a little ‘confidence building’!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g98hlyZbqlU
Given Sri Lanka and … heck … everyplace else. This seems appropriate:
http://www.danielgreenfield.org/2022/07/a-revolution-against-administrative.html
You are choosing to ride out the best debate of the argument. Not that you haven’t done your part. But what you’ve done to this point needs some follow up to what is coming and you’ve earned a ticket to the debate. Stay in the game.
Reckon I needn’t add any thing – self-explanatory I think:
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-deafening-media-silence-about.html
Push this up to around the ten minute mark and proceed to at least the one hour mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmAGcxx_Tjg
This actually dates from May but I only became aware of it today
https://ago.mo.gov/home/news/2022/05/05/missouri-louisiana-ags-file-suit-against-president-biden-top-admin-officials-for-allegedly-colluding-with-social-media-giants-to-censor-and-suppress-free-speech
Gee. I wonder why I haven’t seen anything about that case I list above. Especially as I find a Court has issued Orders for Fauci to submit to Discovery?
This is, potentially, very big news.
From Page 13:
(v) Discovery Process
…
Therefore, this Court believes that Missouri and Louisiana have shown good cause for
expedited preliminary injunction discovery.
C. Scope of Expedited Discovery
Although there is certainly a “need for speed” for discovery related to a preliminary
injunction, the Plaintiff States’ proposed schedule is too fast. Therefore, this Court adopts the following schedule for expedited preliminary injunction–related discovery and/or motion for preliminary injunction.
…
((2) Within thirty days of Plaintiff States’ discovery requests, responses and/or
objections shall be provided by Government Defendants and/or the major social-media
platforms.
“*Signed this 12th day of July 2022. (US Fifth Circuit – Judge is one Terry A. Doughty)
https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/08916881989.pdf
Change of pace
https://americandigest.org/something-wonderful-unchained-accordian/
Michael Anton
https://compactmag.com/article/they-can-t-let-him-back-in
Thanks, JK, for posting all these links. This one deserves promotion to the main page, I think!
Welcome.
I’d been in your archives sometime back (and more recently as ‘LB’ referenced Wiki making, uhm, “definitional changes” remembering you’d a post up with a link to changes-in-real-time – And I figured to look for that. Man oh man how time flies).
And while searching came across a time when Malcolm, things slowed down and you took a break, well there are posts titled Links.
Some of which are still good. In more than a single sense.