Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Arming bears?

A slight misprint in my research paper would yield "the right to keep and arm bears." That's a constitutional right, isn't it?

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Man Bites Dog

So... the question is how do you get reliable news?

My answer is "multiple sources".  Biblically, this would correspond to the principle of two or three witnesses.  Below is my usual scanlist with caveats.
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DrudgeReport  for the frothy edge of the news.  There tends to be a bit of dishonesty in the headlines posted.  There is a lot that is taken out of context for the apparent purpose of sensationalism.  Still Drudge does a good job at covering edge issues.

BBC world service for historically solid source.  They provide largely reliable reporting except they editorially push the climate change hysteria and homosexual politics.  CNN/NPR/CBC/Christian Science Monitor largely occupy the same center-left ideological space.  Deustche Welle was once useful for a eurocentric view, but they are now completely overcome with the progressive mind set.

Google News is another good aggregator, but with left of center blinders.

WorldMag is a very good news source from a reformed christian viewpoint.  Really these folks do very good reporting and often beat the mainstream at quality and depth of coverage.

Slashdot - news for nerds/stuff that matters.  The tagline says it all.

Al Jazeera English provides a "second world" viewpoint.  They cover events in countries that never make BBC/CNN/NPR.  At least they aren't poisoned with climate change nonsense and sexual politics.

First Things is a journal concerned with faith in the public square.  They are one of the few sources that actually has a diversity of viewpoints expressed on a focus issue.  The articles go deeper than the bumpersticker news cycle.

Volokh Conspiracy - a legal blog that has some of the most insightful commentary from a libertarian viewpoint.  
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In listing all of these news and analysis sources I have probably disclosed my prejudices and blindspots.

What are your sources of news and why?  Help fill in what is missing.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Approximate Chow-chow Recipe

This is the chow-chow recipe (or at least a close approximate) that we made a while back.

1 pint red bell peppers
1 pint green bell peppers
1 quart cabbage
1 pint white onions
4 cups sugar
1 quart white vinegar
1 hot pepper
5 tablespoons salt
2 teaspoons celery seed
5 teaspoons mustard seed
   (Those last two we did not have.)
Curry-ish seasonings (We added.)

Chop up all vegetables. Mix with all other ingredients. Let stand eight hours. Put in jars. Keep cool.

Note: Do not heat vinegar!

Friday, April 12, 2013

A Nation is Born :)

 

The People's Democratic Republic of Ursi

Motto: Quidam ursi sunt magis par quam alii

Anthem: Forward March  (Kindly ignore the video.  Maybe...)

Soliciting further ideas for consideration at the First National Sleuth

Monday, April 8, 2013

Fort Monroe

If you get a chance, visit Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia.  Truly an extraordinary historical site. 
The base closed down in 2011, so the dirt is open to the public.  There us a museum in the casemates, the fortified wall surrounding.