Today is the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, and I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t say something about it.

Lincoln was always an important figure to me, even as a kid. All the books about young Lincoln told how he was forever getting in trouble with his father for reading instead of working. I could always identify with that.

Still can.

There’s a strong revisionist movement today, especially among conservatives, to re-define Lincoln as a tyrant, the arch-conspirator who laid the foundations of the imperial federal government, a godless, syphilitic bigot who tromped on civil rights and wasted 600,000 lives in an unconstitutional war.

I understand it, but I don’t buy it. Continue reading Thinkin’ of Lincoln →

As all my vast literary following is aware, I have a special interest in what Sociologists call (I think) the Honor-Based Culture. I’m not a sociologist of any kind, but I’ve had to try to work out how the mindset works in order to write authentic characters in my Viking novels. It’s a subject of special interest these days, because pretty much all Islamic cultures are honor-based.

I get the impression that when Honor-Based Cultures are discussed, they’re generally treated as if they’re anomalies. Strange plants that grow only under controlled conditions.

I’m coming to believe otherwise. I think the Honor-Based Culture is the default human organizational system. It springs from fallen human nature. It’s what all cultures will be unless they’ve been a) suppressed by a more powerful force, like the Helots under Sparta, or b) transformed through belief, as with Christianity (and Christian culture long retained many elements of the Honor Code nevertheless).

I’m writing all this in order to set up a kind of shocking idea that occurred to me today. I think we’re developing a new Honor Culture.

“How can this be?” you may ask. “Aren’t we trying to suppress violence in every way? Aren’t our Western governments generally doing their best to suppress the carrying of arms, which is central to Honor Cultures?

Well, it’s a new kind of Honor Culture. Follow me closely, and I shall explain all: Continue reading Honor-Based Liberals →

As regular readers are aware by now, I am always correct when I predict the future.** This is not because I possess a spiritual gift or great wisdom, but because I’m the only person alive whose insanity perfectly matches reality.

Conservatives are all wondering about the same thing these days. “What will the Democrats do when their Stimulus Program crashes and burns? Will they admit defeat and try something sensible?”

No, of course not. This is what the Democrats will do, when unemployment is above 10% and large populations are living in tents and standing in food lines:

They will arrest former Pres. Bush and former VP Cheney, accuse them of high crimes and misdemeanors, and convene highly publicized show trials. The proceedings will be broadcast on large outdoor screens, for the benefit of those who no longer own TVs. A huge public relations campaign will be launched, for the purpose of amplifying public hatred toward Bush and Cheney.

This will be the circus which (along with government bread) will, they will hope, divert people from the failure of the Stimulus.

Once that’s over, they’ll take a page from FDR’s book and find a war to fight.

*If you’re too young to remember Li’l Abner, this reference will mean nothing to you. You should be ashamed of yourself.

**Except when predicting presidential elections.

Today was pretty busy too, but not as busy as yesterday. I managed to find time to have a couple Thoughts.

Thought One: I don’t understand why so many conservatives are upset about the government’s TV converter coupon program. Honestly. Continue reading Two thoughts →

Though essentially a lazy guy, I kind of like busy days. They go by fast, bringing me that much closer to the lonely, sordid death that awaits me, and the sweet rest that will surely follow (unless the Catholics are right).

One drawback of busy days is that I generally come out of them without anything to blog about. Unless the busy day was interesting in itself. Which this one wasn’t.

So I shall link to things.

First, the nasty one. How can anyone read this story and not believe in the existence of evil?

Of course, Christians used to have witch trials five centuries ago, and that proves that this woman and Sarah Palin are indistinguishable.

In cheerier news, the Swedes are contemplating building new nuclear reactors, after years of mandatory The China Syndrome revivals. This has got to be big news, because (as everybody knows) Swedes are remarkably slow-witted. If they’re getting the message, everybody else must be pretty well won over.

Finally, courtesy of this list at SEO By the Sea (courtesy, in turn, of Conservative Grapevine), I learned that people in Guangzhou, China can read this blog. I’m rather surprised. Disappointed, in a way. What do we have to do to be considered running dogs of imperialism?

Good thing I went to the movies Sunday. Not only did I see a movie I liked, but I also saw an announcement that I considered worth dissection.

You’ve noticed, if you go to movies at all, the overkill theaters are marshalling to get people to TURN YOUR CELL PHONES OFF! There used to be announcements like that about not smoking in the theater, but smoking’s not even on the radar anymore. Today the scourge is cell phones, and I see the point. There are some who just don’t get the message; and they disturb everybody. However, I think the people who miss four announcements are probably unlikely to respond to a fifth.

But one of the announcements was pretty clever. You may have seen it. Continue reading Wake-up call on mute →