Playing Chicken With the Planet

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This is where your chicken salad comes from. If you ever visit, you probably won’t ever eat chicken again.

Of all the ills that industrial agriculture has visited upon this suffering planet, none is worse than chicken factories. If you ever get the chance to see up close and personal any aspect of the chicken industry, do not take it; it will sicken your soul and you will probably never eat chicken again. I wish I could scrub from my mind the memory of seeing the killing line at a poultry plant (the severed heads going plop-plop-plop, endlessly, into a tank below) or simply entering a populated house to be assaulted by the stunning noise, smell, heat, unbelievable crowding and abject misery.

Let me make it clear that this is not being written by some city-dwelling, sushi-dipping vegan. As a kid one of my frequent Saturday duties was to chop the head off of Sunday’s chicken dinner. I accepted early on — because I lived on a farm and had no choice — that one can love an animal, care for it, enjoy its company and then eat it. I have done so, over and over again. I do not base my revulsion for the chicken industry on its mistreatment of chickens alone, but on what they are doing to destroy civilization. Continue reading →

Facing Facebook, Two

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Call me obtuse (or something worse), if you wish, but I simply do not get the mantra about Facebook wielding immense power — a mantra being parroted by every talking head and stenographer-journalist in the universe right now: that millions are getting their information from Facebook, and Facebook is spreading disinformation, duping those millions into trashing their country. 

I find it telling that those who make this argument as a way of calling for Facebook to be regulated or broken up or taken out and shot, often find a way to let us know that the people being duped are us, not them. They don’t use Facebook, we do. Their minds aren’t crippled by reading a false news item, ours are. They don’t get all their information from Facebook, but the little people do. Continue reading →

Facing Facebook

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I am not a lawyer, I don’t even play one on TV. But I am a long time student of the written word, and have read a lot of lawyers’ writings, and here is what I think they have taught me. 

The Constitution of the United States does not convey rights, let alone absolute ones; what it does is forbid the Congress from passing laws to interfere with certain rights. It says:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

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The Great American Poll Fault

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A dismaying proportion of the news coming at us from the mainstream media firehose is based on polls. It’s dismaying to me because in my past lives in business and politics, I have been a consumer of the polls themselves, not just the news based on them, and thus have first hand knowledge of how good they are. Which is not very. And they are getting worse fast.

Some days it seems as if every other story is about a poll: what politician is ahead, and who is behind; what foreign or fiscal or immigration or trade policy does the public like, or not; who supports a cause, or opposes it. And it’s usually presented as just a poll, as in “A new poll out today says that fewer than half of West Virginians believe the 2020 presidential election was legitimate.” Few broadcast stories and not all printed stories tell us anything about how the poll was conducted or by whom. Continue reading →

Medicare Reform or Drug Company Profits? It’s No Contest.

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In all the babble over the “reforms” to Medicare now being debated in Congress, I have heard not one talking head refer to the reason the reforms are necessary: perhaps the single most contemptible piece of legislation ever disgorged by the Congress. It was part of the 2003 law establishing Medicare Part D, which for the first time would pay for medications. It was called the “noninterference provision,” and it prohibited any effort by Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Medicare, with its enormous buying power, was and is required by law to pay whatever the pharmaceutical companies ask for their compounds, period.

One cannot imagine a piece of legislation  more harmful to more people, or more nakedly designed to ease the lives and fatten the purses of Big Pharma and its executives. Continue reading →

Kamikaze Politics

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Kamikaze tactics, it turns out, are just as unproductive in politics as they were in WWII.

In the late stages of World War II, the Japanese military adopted a new tactic for use against Allied warships — the kamikaze attack. Instead of trying to shoot at or bomb enemy ships, the kamikaze pilots conducted suicide attacks, flyng their bomb-laden planes directly into the ships. The idea was to achieve greater accuracy and efficiency in destroying enemy vessels. 

This began in October of 1944. By the end of the war 11 months later 3,800 kamikaze pilots had died. There were a few spectacular successes, but on average, each suicide attack killed two enemy sailors. It was a terrible tactic, not only because it didn’t work, but because each attack reduced the number of aircraft and pilots remaining to conduct the war. It was, in fact, a tactic that could have been embraced only by a country that knew it was losing the war, and had decided to fight to the death while doing so. Continue reading →

Talking Heads Have a “Holy Sh:t” Moment

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Hurricane Ida slams into New Orleans on its way to New York City.

Hurricane Ida, it seems, may have accomplished what a half-century of accumulated scientific knowledge and pleading failed to do: crack the indifference toward climate change of the opinion leaders of this bloated, self-indulgent, low-information, self-congratulatory culture of ours. The spectacle of a vicious Category Four hurricane unleashing 170-mile-per hour wind gusts on New Orleans, southern Louisiana and Mississippi, then churning across the continent, dumping torrential rains and spinning off tornadoes to inflict similar damage and even worse mortality on New York City, New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania — well it got through to some of our talking heads. 

As I watched the television coverage I saw blood drain from the faces, and heard tremors in the voices of people who were awakening to the sheer magnitude of this unprecedented event, and its dreadful significance — that this which has never happened before is going to happen again. Frequently. The veneer slipped off more than a few news anchors’ beautiful faces, who virtually barked at their interviewees, “What are we going to do about this?!” Continue reading →

Ignorance is a Bitch

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Try to imagine the reverse: armed and decked out Taliban fighters patrolling your street, talking to your family. What would your reaction be?

I spent many years poring over the history of the British colonies in America, trying to understand the experience of the young George Washington, which I wrote about in For King and Country, and of the Scotch-Irish, which I chronicled in West From Shenandoah. Over and over again I was appalled by the stunning ignorance of British military and political leaders about the native peoples from whom they were trying to wrest control of a continent. I was even more appalled to discover that the ignorance — compounded by a total lack of curiosity — continues among most Americans today.

When the British negotiated land sales and treaties with a people who had no regard for the written word but revered, remembered and honored the spoken word (their entire history was an oral history), and when the British altered in their favor the written summary of a council decision and congratulated themselves when the principals “signed” it (an act with no significance for the tribes whatsoever), the stage was set for future carnage. The principals walked away from the deal believing in radically different outcomes.  Continue reading →

Here’s Our Sign

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US Marines guarding the airport in Kabul. Don’t you love it when a good plan comes together?

We seem to be suffering in this country from a massive pandemic of infectious institutional stupidity. Our institutions — corporations, governments, universities, etc. — are run by people who are usually smart, sometimes brilliant, but whose collaborative output is often just plain dumb.

One recent example: the Capitol Police. I mean no criticism whatsoever of the heroes who fought the mob at the US Capitol on January 6 when I say that institutionally, the Capitol Police handling of that incident was brain dead. They have the size and resources of a mid-sized city police department, and only one job, to protect one building, the Capitol, and they were caught flat-footed. I can never forget the radio call from a police lieutenant, midway through the rioting, saying plaintively, “Does anybody have a plan?” Continue reading →

Home Decor

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Our homes are more than mere shelters; they are reflections of our personalities, sanctuaries of comfort, and canvases for self-expression. Embarking on the journey of interior design transforms a house into a home, infusing spaces with warmth, style, and functionality. Let’s explore the art of interior design and how it can elevate the ambiance of your living spaces.

The first step in interior design is embracing your unique style. Whether it’s contemporary, minimalist, eclectic, or traditional, your home should be a reflection of your tastes and preferences. Consider colors, patterns, and themes that resonate with you and create a cohesive design language throughout your space.

While aesthetics are essential, a well-designed interior also prioritizes functionality. Consider the purpose of each room and arrange furniture to facilitate ease of movement. Choose multi-functional furniture pieces that maximize space utilization, especially in smaller living areas.

Colors also have the power to influence mood and atmosphere. Choose a color palette that aligns with the vibe you want for each room. Soft, neutral tones can create a calming effect, while bold and vibrant colors can add energy and personality. Experiment with accent walls, rugs, and decor to infuse pops of color.

Natural light not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of a space but also contributes to a positive living experience. Optimize natural light by choosing window treatments that allow sunlight to filter through. Strategically placing mirrors can also amplify the effect of natural light, making rooms feel brighter and more spacious.

Decor elements add the finishing touch to your interior design. Personalize your space with artwork, photographs, and decor items that hold sentimental value. Plants, cushions, and throws can introduce texture and warmth. These personal touches make a house feel like a home. Every room benefits from a focal point that draws the eye and anchors the design. It could be a statement piece of furniture, a fireplace, or even a feature wall. Focal points add visual interest and create a sense of balance within the space. You can hire interior design services to assist you in finding the focal points of your home.

Introduce variety through patterns and textures to avoid a monotonous look. Mix and match textures in furniture, fabrics, and decor to create depth. Harmonize patterns by incorporating a balance of bold and subtle prints. In addition, ensure that the scale and proportion of furniture and decor elements align with the size of the room. Overcrowded spaces can feel cramped, while too much open space may lack coziness. Finding the right balance contributes to a harmonious design.

While trends come and go, timeless elements in design endure. Invest in quality furniture and classic pieces that can stand the test of time. You can always refresh the look with trendy accessories without a complete overhaul.