Monthly Archives: June 2016

A Commenter Responds to Obadiah

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Commenter Tom Trueman has responded to Obadiah Plainman’s recent guest appearance here. While you may view Mr. Trueman’s note in the comments section to Mr. Plainman’s post, it is worth a careful read and is therefore reprinted here … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics | Tagged Benjamin Franklin, Brexit, James Traub, Obadiah Plainman, Tom Trueman | Leave a comment

A Guest Blogger Writes on Brexit

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Fenster

Fenster writes: One Obadiah Plainman, who, being of the LOWER ORDERS, hath not access to a blogging platform, a most unenviable state in the current times. He is however a close acquaintance of MR. FENSTER, who as is well known … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics | Tagged Brexit, European Union, United Kingdom | 4 Comments

Juxtaposin’: Rock ‘n Roll

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes:

Posted in Music | Tagged Jesus & Mary Chain, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts | 1 Comment

Book Notes: “God Save the Mark” by Donald Westlake

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: I enjoyed this Westlake, winner of the Edgar Award for best novel in 1968. Fred Fitch, a gullible sad sack, inherits $300,000 from his con man uncle and soon discovers that someone is willing to kill him to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing | Tagged crime, donald westlake, mystery | 1 Comment

A Hypothetical Case Study

Posted on June 25, 2016 by Fenster

Fenster writes: An interesting hypothetical case study. Direct democracy does not scale up well and tyranny is unacceptable so country X has been established as a republic. As a republic, it relies on elites to run things, with the elites … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics | 5 Comments

The Album Covers of Les Baxter and Martin Denny

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Sophisticated women with primitive passions. Or primitive women with sophisticated passions. Either way, what more do you need?

Posted in Art, Music | Tagged album covers, exotica, Les Baxter, lounge, Martin Denny, midcentury bachelor pad | 9 Comments

The UR Syllabus of Shitlordery

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Browsing my Facebook feed the past few days, I’ve been astonished at the amount of hysterical, sloppy thinking I’ve seen from many of my otherwise smart friends. How you can see a (likely gay) Muslim man shoot up … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Education, Philosophy and Religion, Politics and Economics, Sex | Tagged Bukka White, Charles Bukowski, Charles Ferguson, Charles Portis, Charles Willeford, donald westlake, Edward Abbey, Elmore Leonard, Epictetus, Friedrich Nietzsche, Gary Taubes, George MacDonald Fraser, Gore Vidal, Gregory Cochran, Henry Harpending, Howlin' Wolf, John Colapinto, John Lee Hooker, John T. Flynn, Joseph McCarthy, Kevin MacDonald, Lead Belly, Lightnin' Hopkins, Lonnie Johnson, Mance Lipscomb, Marcus Aurelius, Mencius Moldbug, Michael Oakeshott, Mississippi John Hurt, Muddy Waters, Nassim Taleb, Nicholas Wade, Oswald Spengler, Otis Rush, Raymond Chandler, Red Pill, seneca, shitlordery, Skip James, Son House, Stanley Rothman, Steven Pinker, T-Bone Walker, Thomas Sowell | 7 Comments

Quote Du Jour: On the White Cultural Theft of “Bye, Felicia!”

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Carvell Wallace, commenting on white friend’s use of the phrase “Bye, Felicia!” in a text message, writes perhaps the stupidest thing I’ve read so far this year: Not knowing where something comes from is not a crime. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Music | Tagged Bye Felicia!, Chris Tucker, F. Gary Gray, Ice Cube, N.W.A. | 5 Comments

A Generation on a Ledge

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Fenster

Fenster writes: I wrote here about how the pro-faculty American Association of University Professors issued a report critical of the misuses of Title IX. And how Fester found that take to be refreshing and welcome. But also that it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics and Economics, Uncategorized | Tagged architecture, higher education, Jonathan R. Cole, microaggessions, NewBostonPost, safe spaces, The Atlantic | 3 Comments

Faces and Noses, con’t.

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Fenster

Fenster writes: I wrote here about Neil Postman’s influential early 90s view that broadcast news was morphing to entertainment. And how that argument–insightful as it was–missed the notion of actual media bias, replete with intention about actual content, that came down … Continue reading →