Spelunking for fun and profit
by liberal japonicus Well, folks might want to talk about this cave in. Have at it.
When virtues become vices
by liberal japonicus I earlier noted Vance’s defenestration of his wife re: her religion, so when this article about how MAGA is none too pleased about Vivek Ramaswamy running for Ohio governor came up, it prompted a few thoughts. From the article: Ramaswamy posted a message on X soon after Trump’s endorsement, writing: Thank you, … Read more
Weekend music thread #05 Tuvan throat singing
by liberal japonicus If you couldn’t guess from the title of this week’s edition, these music threads are not always going to be music that is on my playlist, and I would be surprised if this week’s is on anyone else’s. After Russell’s fascinating dive into the clave, I thought that connections between music and … Read more
Still I Rise
by liberal japonicus via Maya Angelou re: this You may write me down in historyWith your bitter, twisted lies,You may trod me in the very dirtBut still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sassiness upset you?Why are you beset with gloom?’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wellsPumping in my living room. Just like moons … Read more
People and poliltics
My mother had three brothers. They came up in the Richmond Hill area of Queens, near the Jamaica rail yard. The brothers all married women from the neighborhood, and they were a very lively crew. Here they are in my grandparent’s living room, probably late 1940’s. They could make a game out of anything, and … Read more
Another variety in the diversity of greasy
by liberal japonicus The last post was about Vance’s response about his wife’s faith, which has gotten various takes, the most interesting of which for me are with Indian press (such as these from the Times of India here, here, here or the Hindustan Times here, here and here) and everyone is welcome to talk … Read more
Horrifying stuff
by liberal japonicus I can’t imagine the bravery required for this student to stand up in the middle of a Turning Point agit-prop rally. Also take note of Vance’s oleaginous reply. The fact that it is at Ole Miss, while unsurprising, is the bit that makes me truely ill.
Weekend Music Thread #04 John Mackey
by liberal japonicus The word ‘band’, for many people, brings to mind school buses and high school students. This image has groups that are bands call themselves ‘wind orchestras’ or ‘wind ensembles’ in order plug into the prestige of high culture. This first recording here by the North Texas Wind Symphony, which is the ‘band’ … Read more
Ramsayer, Korea and me
by liberal japonicus This paper dropped, which has a lot of interesting stuff for me, but I might have to put it in context for people not marinating themselves in these topics. J. Mark Ramsayer is an American legal scholar who is the Mitsubishi Professor of Japanese Legal Studies at Harvard. He first broke thru … Read more
I got depressed so I bought hydrangeas
by wonkie In these times that try our souls, how are you all holding up? What are your coping methods? Ifyou are coping—and I hope you are. I’m probably less stressed by the apocalyptic circumstances of the present than many peoplebecause I have no children and I’ve been a doom freak all of my life. … Read more