Our polite recognition of another’s resemblance to ourselves-Ambrose Bierce

Years ago, when China was beginning to come out of its Maoist straight jacket, and inviting in foreign capital and expertise, I was discussing the process with some Japanese engineers who had been to China as part of the investments by Japan.  I asked them how it was to deal with the Chinese, and they said with a very straight face, “they are very difficult to understand”.  I thought that if the Japanese could not understand the Chinese, woe to our business and government leaders who were making the pilgrimage to China. 

A minute segment of males are putting larger numbers of girls and women in harms way. Gone are the days of men protecting and defending women as a special interest group demands that men who “identify” as women be allowed to participate in women’s events. As a result, girls and women will suffer injuries, be denied honors and have scholarships denied them as bigger, stronger, more aggressive males push them off the playing field. To allow this is so absurd and yet we see this happening everyday. Leave aside the question of what type of male feels a sense of achievement by beating a weaker opponent (politely they were called bullies, but there were other names not mentioned in polite society), think of the time, effort and dedication wasted by females when they find their opponent out weighs them, has more muscle mass, is faster, etc.. Sorry, you may identify as a female, a gazelle or whatever you want, I really don’t care; you are not a female so get off the sport field and let the girls and women complete against their own real gender. https://quillette.com/2020/09/27/keeping-male-bodies-out-of-womens-rugby/

Politicians and special interest groups have an amazing ability to find new ways to get money from taxpayers. Instead of looking at their own poor record of land and utility management, they might do well to look at the history of what is the norm. Putting the fires in proper perspective of the natural climate would help everyone better manage and successfully mitigate future fires. This excellent article by Bjorn Lomborg points out some facts which are not politically correct, but which should be taken into account in any reasonable program to address a problem that all of the solar panels and all of the wind turbines in the world cannot change. But then, facts are not always in the best interest of vested interests are they? https://nypost.com/2020/09/14/sorry-solar-panels-wont-stop-californias-fires/

There is much to be said in favor of modern journalism. By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community-Oscar Wilde

This interesting article gives us a bit of history about the leaders of the past. They were not always captains of industry, but they were the moral leaders of their societies; they received much but they also gave much. One could look to them and know that they had a strong moral code by which to live and what they stood for in their society. Who are our leaders today? What do they stand for and what would they sacrifice if confronted with a moral challenge? Too often, they co-operate with authoritarian states in an effort to gain market share; they ignore slave labor so that they can squeeze out a bit more profit. And, can we view them as having a true vested interest in our nation, or are they the proud proclaimers of being internationalists? If the latter, what do they really stand for and how can they be trusted in protecting what is important in your life? Food for thought. https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-old-establishment-can-teach-the-new-tech-elite-11600440864?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=1

A good looking dark cigar (but not a Maduro), dry to the touch, not oily that is full-bodied without being bitter. It burns smoothly and stays cool to the end (I smoked a 6×54 model), stays lit and has a nice smoke trail. Not a cigar you have to fight or think about, if you want to try something a bit stronger, this is a good option. Runs about $12 through the mail.

The 2005 biography of Mao by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday opened many Westerns eyes to the real Mao; the Mandarin who was carried on a litter during the Long March, the debauched lecher who surrounded himself with young girls and the man who drew inspiration from the worse Emperors who wasted the lives of millions. This book by the personal physician of Mao, adds more information to the man behind the posters; the master politician who could wait years for his revenge, the man who believed his own propaganda.

Is a University degree with a mountain of debt that will stifle not only the individual, but society for decades the future we want for our children? Is it attractive to send your child into an environment which could be openly hostile to your values and the values you try to teach your children? What alternative is there which can create a job with a future?

A treasure of a book!  If you are interested in interesting behind the scenes stories about Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V, this gem will make your day.  Sir Ponsonby’s family had served in the inner Court for generations and had provided the Empire with diplomats and successful generals.  This Ponsonby served behind the scenes ending up as not only the private secretary to King George V, but also in charge of his personal finances.