Well, here I am sitting in Israel on this a windy but glorious Shabbat. Christmas has passed us literally and figuratively. With a whimper; barely. The folks in Bethlehem had it even worse. No tourists, empty hotels and a lingering and dwindling population of Christians. I sell olive wood doo-dads on line and I have a supplier in Bethlehem. Known them for about 12 years but have never met them in person. Don't want to take my life in my hands; it really is off limits for Israelis to go to areas governed by the PA. Many Arab-Israelis venture forth and take advantage of the lower prices on just about everything. The Christian population in the Middle East is dropping rapidly - about 5% now down from 20% once upon a time. The Muslim population in the ME do not care for Christians [Jews, they can't get their hands on so easily]. Seems like the only country in which the Christian population continues to grow is in Israel. Imagine that folks. Little known secret: The level of Christian education is notable, with 64% of Christian high school students earning a high school diploma, compared to 59% for Jewish Israelis and 48% for Muslims. Oy. Here in Israel we will start another 'lockdown' (the 3rd) starting Sunday evening and lasting perhaps 3-4 weeks. Just finished a lox and bagel breakfast. The neighbor's kid made these bagels, even boiled them, but they were made so small it was heartbreaking. What can you do. You just have to get by. Well so long for now and have a better year next year. Prankman
Surfing Hawaii Kine Christmas Day. Been following for years. First read “There is No Alternative: Why Margaret Thatcher Matters”. Hooked me. I’m close to becoming a paying subscriber. Globalist approach so needed. Will this have legs?
Depends whether people like you become paying subscribers! What would it take to make you decide, "Yes, this is worth it?" Serious question; I'm hoping for a serious answer. What would make this newsletter worth more to you than all the other newsletters that show up every day in your In Box?
Alone, two days ago, I was standing on the ruins of a small Hawaiian settlement in the Honokane Nui Valley, silenced and obscured, reclaimed by the overgrowth of vines and jungle and time. Invasive bamboo blotted out sun and sound. Serious Answer: I guess we can never really know if something is worth it but I think the effort is. I will subscribe. Thank you.
I read it when its not full of shrill hysterics. Its one thing to say Trump is doing bad on say the Coronavirus file, but when he is doing the same thing as say Macron, Johnson and Trudeau I find it hypocritical and means I change the channel. I come here for insightful and useful information. Ranting and raving Orange Man Bad. I have a thousand places I can get that from.
Atheist, checking in from work. I have a job that's very flexible with swapping shifts, so I get to enjoy Christmas at "the office" every year, so the lads can enjoy a day off with their kids.
Since you're looking for comments, I'd like to ask your opinion of The Righteous Mind, by Haidt. Listening to the first podcast, I wanted to chime in and talk about my experiences with the ties between emotions and politics. I find confronting some one with facts almost always results in a failed conversation. I have more luck finding a common emotional ground before trying to address some one's position.
Regardless, thank you to my favorite cabal of globalists. Your voices are appreciated.
Merry Christmas! (One day late.) I haven't read Haidt, but I've heard a lot about the book and it sounds like a serious piece of scholarship. What did you make of it?
It is an honest attempt to explain how otherwise ethically minded people cannot bridge the gaps on moral and political questions. The premise is that most decisions are reached through emotion and impulse, then the rational mind creates and selects reasons that support the decision post hoc. The sections on "moral dumbfounding" are revealing and humorous, which helps keep knuckle draggers like myself engaged.
My one worry is that it comes off almost fatalistic. Perhaps he's simply reporting findings, but Haidt doesn't seem interested in training the brain to get beyond this pattern. The best he seems to suggest is that we should start acknowledging that our political rivals are motivated by certain moral instincts that we are simply less attuned to (narcissists excluded).
Nah. Honestly, everyone who celebrates it secretly dreads Christmas, I've noticed. They put *so much* pressure on themselves to have a good time. And as Dr. Johnson said, "Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment."
I have been reading you from Seattle ever since your Istanbul days. Your mother introduced us years ago -- you probably don't remember -- and my interest in things Turk, Kurd and Alawites brought us together again. My next sculpture project will be a challenge, a bas relief of Toby playing cello. I will keep you appraised as I begin, but much will depend on getting back into the stone yard at Pratt next spring -- I hopa-hopa-hope. You sound more at peace with yourself if not the world and your followers are pleased; at least this one old fart is.
I would have sworn I replied to this comment. I don't know what happened: I don't see the reply. I *know* I wrote, but perhaps failed to hit "post," that of course. remember you and how touched I am that you're working on a sculpture of my mom, and how much I'd like to know more about the project. Maybe I sent that to you by email? (I just checked: Nope, not in my out box, either.) I'm going to hit "post" on this now to be sure it doesn't disappear, hold on ...
Okay, yesterday I did something wrong and managed to lose several comments (of mine, not anyone else's). Probably for the best on this one, though. I miss you guys on Ricochet, too. But I cannot--just cannot--immerse myself in US domestic politics or debates about Trump anymore. For the sake not only of my mental health, but my intellectual health: I just can't. I no longer consider myself part of the American conservative movement, because I no longer recognize it. I haven't changed--but the GOP sure has. I now regard Ricochet as a mistake.
By "a mistake," I mean that at the outset, I lobbied for us to have contributors from across the left-right spectrum, so that people could argue against the best version of the opposite side's opinion, not straw men. I was shot down: People told me they wanted a place where they didn't have to deal with the left. Fair enough, I thought at the time. But I should have quit then. In retrospect. Because in retrospect, I believe I participated--unwittingly, totally unintentionally--in creating the Great Partisan Divide, and the siloed media, that I now believe poses a far greater threat to the United States--and the larger cause of human freedom--than I could possibly have imagined. I don't think "right wing" and "left wing" media sites are healthy. I think creating one, however cordial and well-intentioned it was, and is, was a mistake. So that's why I'm not there. I want no part of the partisanship. Also, my views on Trump are no secret, and I don't want to argue about them all the time. If at this point there are people left who don't believe me when I say, "He's a dangerous menace," I can't persuade them.
I get all that, but really the siloed media that you speak of, is actually how the media works in every other country including France.
During the Cold War this partisan divide was suppressed beca...use the needs of fighting the Soviets didng allow it to happen. With the loss of Soviet pressure. That is no longer true, and a normal level of partisanship will return after the rancor of years.
Yes Minister summed it up properly. The USA is merely catching up with the rest of the world.
<i>have yourself a nice, relaxed, Jewish Christmas this year, instead? Order General Tso’s chicken and some fried rice....</i>
The problem with that is that an hour later, I'm hungry again...for more Christmas.
This Christian from northern Texas, too, is unimpressed with the political panic-mongers and tin-pot tyrant wannabes and their lockdowns. We had a very enjoyable Christmas Eve with our daughter, SIL, and grandkids. They're now having a very enjoyable Christmas Day with SIL's parents, the grandkids' other grandparents (because that grandfather is just out of the hospital a few months and SIL is a worry wort (or is that wart?), else the whole gang of us would have gathered at Other Grandparents' house (she likes to set up parties; I like to enjoy her setups)). After all, with the mortality rate given a Wuhan Virus infection so far under 1% for the large majority of us, there's little risk and the vast pleasures and other advantages of family and friends swamp the risk.
Beyond that, General Tso's is too sweet. Hunan beef.
Well, here I am sitting in Israel on this a windy but glorious Shabbat. Christmas has passed us literally and figuratively. With a whimper; barely. The folks in Bethlehem had it even worse. No tourists, empty hotels and a lingering and dwindling population of Christians. I sell olive wood doo-dads on line and I have a supplier in Bethlehem. Known them for about 12 years but have never met them in person. Don't want to take my life in my hands; it really is off limits for Israelis to go to areas governed by the PA. Many Arab-Israelis venture forth and take advantage of the lower prices on just about everything. The Christian population in the Middle East is dropping rapidly - about 5% now down from 20% once upon a time. The Muslim population in the ME do not care for Christians [Jews, they can't get their hands on so easily]. Seems like the only country in which the Christian population continues to grow is in Israel. Imagine that folks. Little known secret: The level of Christian education is notable, with 64% of Christian high school students earning a high school diploma, compared to 59% for Jewish Israelis and 48% for Muslims. Oy. Here in Israel we will start another 'lockdown' (the 3rd) starting Sunday evening and lasting perhaps 3-4 weeks. Just finished a lox and bagel breakfast. The neighbor's kid made these bagels, even boiled them, but they were made so small it was heartbreaking. What can you do. You just have to get by. Well so long for now and have a better year next year. Prankman
Surfing Hawaii Kine Christmas Day. Been following for years. First read “There is No Alternative: Why Margaret Thatcher Matters”. Hooked me. I’m close to becoming a paying subscriber. Globalist approach so needed. Will this have legs?
Depends whether people like you become paying subscribers! What would it take to make you decide, "Yes, this is worth it?" Serious question; I'm hoping for a serious answer. What would make this newsletter worth more to you than all the other newsletters that show up every day in your In Box?
Alone, two days ago, I was standing on the ruins of a small Hawaiian settlement in the Honokane Nui Valley, silenced and obscured, reclaimed by the overgrowth of vines and jungle and time. Invasive bamboo blotted out sun and sound. Serious Answer: I guess we can never really know if something is worth it but I think the effort is. I will subscribe. Thank you.
Honestly?
I read it when its not full of shrill hysterics. Its one thing to say Trump is doing bad on say the Coronavirus file, but when he is doing the same thing as say Macron, Johnson and Trudeau I find it hypocritical and means I change the channel. I come here for insightful and useful information. Ranting and raving Orange Man Bad. I have a thousand places I can get that from.
Understood. If I have my way, we'll never mention him again.
For some of us, that's a low bar. I have no other newsletters in my Inbox, subscribed or not. This is the only one. It's subscribed to.
And it sets a standard--a high bar--that makes it difficult for any other newsletters to enter.
Eric Hines
Atheist, checking in from work. I have a job that's very flexible with swapping shifts, so I get to enjoy Christmas at "the office" every year, so the lads can enjoy a day off with their kids.
Since you're looking for comments, I'd like to ask your opinion of The Righteous Mind, by Haidt. Listening to the first podcast, I wanted to chime in and talk about my experiences with the ties between emotions and politics. I find confronting some one with facts almost always results in a failed conversation. I have more luck finding a common emotional ground before trying to address some one's position.
Regardless, thank you to my favorite cabal of globalists. Your voices are appreciated.
Merry Christmas! (One day late.) I haven't read Haidt, but I've heard a lot about the book and it sounds like a serious piece of scholarship. What did you make of it?
It is an honest attempt to explain how otherwise ethically minded people cannot bridge the gaps on moral and political questions. The premise is that most decisions are reached through emotion and impulse, then the rational mind creates and selects reasons that support the decision post hoc. The sections on "moral dumbfounding" are revealing and humorous, which helps keep knuckle draggers like myself engaged.
My one worry is that it comes off almost fatalistic. Perhaps he's simply reporting findings, but Haidt doesn't seem interested in training the brain to get beyond this pattern. The best he seems to suggest is that we should start acknowledging that our political rivals are motivated by certain moral instincts that we are simply less attuned to (narcissists excluded).
Thanks for your attention.
I'll put him on my reading list. So many people have suggested the book worth reading--now including you--that it warrants it.
I thought it was just me with the sneaky relief about not having to do Christmas...I’m reassured.
Nah. Honestly, everyone who celebrates it secretly dreads Christmas, I've noticed. They put *so much* pressure on themselves to have a good time. And as Dr. Johnson said, "Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment."
I've been ducking the holiday for decades, now. You're not alone.
I have been reading you from Seattle ever since your Istanbul days. Your mother introduced us years ago -- you probably don't remember -- and my interest in things Turk, Kurd and Alawites brought us together again. My next sculpture project will be a challenge, a bas relief of Toby playing cello. I will keep you appraised as I begin, but much will depend on getting back into the stone yard at Pratt next spring -- I hopa-hopa-hope. You sound more at peace with yourself if not the world and your followers are pleased; at least this one old fart is.
I would have sworn I replied to this comment. I don't know what happened: I don't see the reply. I *know* I wrote, but perhaps failed to hit "post," that of course. remember you and how touched I am that you're working on a sculpture of my mom, and how much I'd like to know more about the project. Maybe I sent that to you by email? (I just checked: Nope, not in my out box, either.) I'm going to hit "post" on this now to be sure it doesn't disappear, hold on ...
This seems to have posted. So ... I don't know what happened. Anyway, please do tell me more about the sculpture ...
I just emailed you directly that we are missing you on Ricochet where this was a long tradition.
I second this.
Eric Hines
I just wrote a lot response to this which disappeared, and I'm too demoralized by that to reconstruct it right now. I will tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Okay, yesterday I did something wrong and managed to lose several comments (of mine, not anyone else's). Probably for the best on this one, though. I miss you guys on Ricochet, too. But I cannot--just cannot--immerse myself in US domestic politics or debates about Trump anymore. For the sake not only of my mental health, but my intellectual health: I just can't. I no longer consider myself part of the American conservative movement, because I no longer recognize it. I haven't changed--but the GOP sure has. I now regard Ricochet as a mistake.
By "a mistake," I mean that at the outset, I lobbied for us to have contributors from across the left-right spectrum, so that people could argue against the best version of the opposite side's opinion, not straw men. I was shot down: People told me they wanted a place where they didn't have to deal with the left. Fair enough, I thought at the time. But I should have quit then. In retrospect. Because in retrospect, I believe I participated--unwittingly, totally unintentionally--in creating the Great Partisan Divide, and the siloed media, that I now believe poses a far greater threat to the United States--and the larger cause of human freedom--than I could possibly have imagined. I don't think "right wing" and "left wing" media sites are healthy. I think creating one, however cordial and well-intentioned it was, and is, was a mistake. So that's why I'm not there. I want no part of the partisanship. Also, my views on Trump are no secret, and I don't want to argue about them all the time. If at this point there are people left who don't believe me when I say, "He's a dangerous menace," I can't persuade them.
I get all that, but really the siloed media that you speak of, is actually how the media works in every other country including France.
During the Cold War this partisan divide was suppressed beca...use the needs of fighting the Soviets didng allow it to happen. With the loss of Soviet pressure. That is no longer true, and a normal level of partisanship will return after the rancor of years.
Yes Minister summed it up properly. The USA is merely catching up with the rest of the world.
https://youtu.be/DGscoaUWW2M
<i>have yourself a nice, relaxed, Jewish Christmas this year, instead? Order General Tso’s chicken and some fried rice....</i>
The problem with that is that an hour later, I'm hungry again...for more Christmas.
This Christian from northern Texas, too, is unimpressed with the political panic-mongers and tin-pot tyrant wannabes and their lockdowns. We had a very enjoyable Christmas Eve with our daughter, SIL, and grandkids. They're now having a very enjoyable Christmas Day with SIL's parents, the grandkids' other grandparents (because that grandfather is just out of the hospital a few months and SIL is a worry wort (or is that wart?), else the whole gang of us would have gathered at Other Grandparents' house (she likes to set up parties; I like to enjoy her setups)). After all, with the mortality rate given a Wuhan Virus infection so far under 1% for the large majority of us, there's little risk and the vast pleasures and other advantages of family and friends swamp the risk.
Beyond that, General Tso's is too sweet. Hunan beef.
Eric Hines
Oy vey.
Well, I started to suggest pizza as another alternative, but that potentially would have locked out some others.
Eric Hines