Saturday, February 07, 2004

A Few Words on W. Somerset Maugham

I just, well actually thirty or so minutes ago, completed reading Maugham’s The Razor’s Edge. I enjoyed it.  I had never read anything by Maugham until this volume, and the main reason I read this particular tome was because I was aware of his name and happened to come across this book while at the Salvation Army store.  I bought it for a dollar.  Good investment I’d say.  It still had its dust jacket, albeit being ragged, and carried Maugham’s copyright, 1944, along with a disclaimer which stated "This book has not been condensed.  Its bulk is less because government regulations prohibit use of heavier paper." The war you know.

I’ll spare you a full review, except to note that this work examines the mystical, which I acknowledge I have a streak of, but do not allow to give way to reason, which, as Maugham has a character state in this book ”...for its instrument (knowledge’s) is the most precious faculty of man, his reason." And to that statement I say Amen.

I now must choose my next read and will post it in the sidebar left tomorrow.  Tonight I dine with a small group whom I shall attempt to stir up by advocating remaining away from all polling places.  I’m certain it will be entertaining.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/07 at 02:32 PM
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A Saturday Afternoon Read

Theodore Dalrymple writing on Stefan Zwieg for the City Journal.

Via Arts & Letters Daily.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/07 at 11:57 AM
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Big Assed Boondoggle

I really shouldn’t be surprised when I read things such as this. What this is is acronymed “BIG,” and stands for “Basic Income Guarantee.” Sounds all soft and fuzzy doesn’t it?  Indeed it does.  And why does it sound soft and fuzzy?  It sounds all soft and fuzzy because BIG is being sold as a this is a oh so good for everyone and equitable idea when it is actually nothing more than a call for forced redistribution of income, or, in straightforward terms, socialism, or, in American parlance, theft.  The fuzziness is attributable to the minds which posit such altruistic evils with the same earnestness of priests and pastors misleading the faithful in the mistaken belief that God wants you to roll over for any two-bit thug who wants your jacket, and your shirt too.  There are even people who discuss implementing this legalized theft, and how it would function.

I’ve got news for you.  Living wasn’t meant to be equal folks and anyone who tells you different is trying to slip a greased finger up your keister while saying you’re going to feel a little pressure, now.

Via Billy Beck.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/07 at 11:10 AM
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Sittin on That There Sack of Seeds

I like this headline.  “Federal Court Rejects DEA Ban on Hemp Food - Court Tells DEA it Cannot Regulate Naturally-Occurring THC in Hemp Food - Landmark Decision Opens Way for Expansion of Hemp Food Industry."

The DEA seems to always be in need of a good rebuke.

Via Jacob Sullum at Reason’s Hit & Run.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/07 at 06:30 AM
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Stop Making Sense

No, no, no.  I’m not thinking about the Talking Heads video, I’m, as Kim du Toit states, “Gobsmacked.” Why?  Because, as Kim points out, Cook Country Illinois is not going to prosecute a homeowner who "whacked a goblin" who thought he could invade a home that was not his and help himself to various and sundry items the homeowner was the rightful owner of.  Unfortunately, for the goblin, the homeowner was home and owned a pistola.  Why, you may ask, would Cook County even consider prosecuting the homeowner?  Because the homeowner’s pistola FOI card was not current.  But, in a fit of common sense, Cook County officials had this to say.

"He purchased a gun legally. It was registered. What he failed to do was keep current (his FOI card), and we chose not to prosecute this memory lapse,” Goebel said.

Prosecution, Goebel said, “would violate the spirit of the law and be a narrow-minded approach.” He said his office decided not to pursue the case after conferring with Wilmette police, who brought the charge."

Hear, hear.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/07 at 06:14 AM
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"Kludge: a dirty, inelegant solution"

I had never read, or heard, the term which is the title to this post, which, is not necessarily surprising, since I am not a computer programmer and willingly profess my ignorance of technical jargon and computer programming.  Still, I like the term.  I happened across the term in an article titled “Things fall apart." Published in The Economist, the article takes a look at an emerging theory that asks the question "What if the dark energy and dark matter essential to modern explanations of the universe don’t really exist?"

An interesting cosmological question.

Via J. Orliln Grabbe.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/07 at 06:04 AM
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