Around The Blogs 2014-04-20

Lots of good stuff in the blogosphere over the past week or so.

# # #

I linked to Captain Tightpants' essay 'I think I broke her' earlier today.  I repeat the recommendation here to go read it in full.  I think it's important.

# # #

I'm sure readers have seen the reports claims propaganda emanating from Chicago about how crime is decreasing there.  Don't you believe it!  If you want to know what's really going on there, one of the best resources is the blog 'Second City Cop'.  Half an hour spent reading its archives will give you a graphic picture of just how bad things are in the Windy City, and reasons enough to avoid going there unless you absolutely have to.  (For the truth behind the falsified statistics coming out of Chicago, read this exposé in Chicago Magazine.)

As a sample of the sort of posts you'll find there, here's their take on the 'Homicide Quilt', which is embroidered with the names of countless murder victims.  Seems the 'victims' weren't such innocent little baa lambs themselves, as SCC points out:

Is it wrong for us to hear tomorrows weather report of rain mixed with snow and a 40 degree temperature drop and think to ourselves, "Damn, that quilt looks warm - it'd be nice to sleep under that tonight." And the fact that most of the names on that quilt are currently enjoying the balmy confines of Hell just make it feel all the warmer.

Uh-huh . . .  Clearly, political correctness is not among Second City Cop's problems!

# # #

Some very interesting articles on the economy this week.

• Karl Denninger has a thought-provoking essay on 'Actually Fixing Our Economy'.  I endorse what he has to say, although I know his solution would cause immense short-term hardship to many.  Unfortunately, sometimes the medicine that you have to take if you want to be cured has some pretty nasty side effects.  With the shape our economy's in right now, this is one of those times . . .
• Zero Hedge presents a very worrying infographic titled 'What happened to the middle class?'  It's pretty sobering stuff.
• Charles Hugh Smith points out that there's little or no difference between fascism, communism and crony capitalism.
• Francis W. Porretto offers food for thought concerning Tax Day, which occurred last week.  He says, 'Today is an appropriate day for meditating on the asymmetry between the individual American citizen and the 88,000 governments that claim some jurisdiction over his actions and his property.'  It makes frightening reading.
• Captain Capitalism reminds us about 'The Importance of Controlling your Micro-Environment'.

All the above are highly recommended.

# # #

For those who dislike guns or regard them with fear and loathing, Blue's Blog offers some trenchant thoughts.

# # #

Lantry takes on the challenge of teaching a recalcitrant first-grader how to read, and does so by not merely ignoring, but working against all the politically correct claptrap that the school system was trying to shove down the kid's throat.  It made me smile.  That's one boy who's going to be raised the right way come hell or high water . . .

# # #

Rev. Donald Sensing sums up the philosophy of progressives in a short but trenchant article.  Money quote:

The progressive agenda fundamentally rests on the notion that ordinary men need brilliant people to tell them what to do.

Which, of course, explains why progressives regularly have their asses handed to them by those same ordinary men . . .

# # #

My accent is Colonial English, with basic British undertones topped off by a healthy helping of South Africa.  Britain itself has myriad accents, ranging from Irish, Scottish, Welsh and basic English to the distinctions between Midlands, Cornwall, the various Shires, Cockney and so on.  However, help is at hand.  Never Yet Melted takes us on 'A tour of the British Isles in accents'.  (Very useful, that, old chap - I'll have to have my American wife study it carefully.  Thanks awfully!)

# # #

Ace Of Spades has a long and damning article showing the myriad ways in which the Obama administration is 'cooking the books', statistically speaking, to present its policies in the best possible light and deny that they're actually failing.  After all, if you control how they're measured, you can fudge the numbers until the cows come home!

# # #

Two blogs offer interesting military food for thought.

• The War Council blog has an article titled 'What I Wish I Knew: From Cadet to Lieutenant in Afghanistan'.  It contains some very valuable 'lessons learned', which sound very similar to some of those I learned (the hard way) in the African bush some decades ago.
• Old AF Sarge brings us information I'd never heard before about the heads (toilets to civilians) aboard an aircraft carrier.  The odor of sanctity, it ain't!

# # #

The Minuteman describes problems experienced with a gun safe, in the process treating us to an interesting photo essay on what the innards of the door and lock look like.

# # #

There's a lot of fun and laughter too.  Here's a selection.

• The Lonely Libertarian gives us a graphic and definitely NSFW image of a T-shirt encountered at Goodwill.  Miss D. and I laughed aloud when we saw it.  She also offers this perspective on 'Extreme Home Makeover:  Man Edition'.
• The Feral Irishman (site frequently NSFW) offers interesting nutrition information for St. Patrick's Day.
• Bob S. talks about temperature swings, and how his allergies now make sense.
• Earthbound Misfit brings us the New Age Bull**** Generator.  Very funny!

# # #

I wasn't familiar with the term 'Water Blob'.  It's apparently a plastic container filled with water upon which kids bounce and play.  Be that as it may, Homemade Toast offers instructions on how to make your own, which I thought was pretty enterprising as a domestic project for those with young children who'd enjoy it - and a lot cheaper than buying one!

# # #

C. W. Swanson brings us a picture of ultimate relaxation.  Ours does that, too, although not in pots.

# # #

Matthew Allen, who blogs at 'Straight Forward In A Crooked World', has a very interesting article in Shooting Illustrated about the use of both hands on the gun, and why this can be counterproductive in certain circumstances.  He makes very useful points, and offers much food for thought.  Recommended.

# # #

And last but definitely not least, Karl Denninger offers some sobering thoughts for the Easter Vigil.  No matter whether you believe in anything or nothing, they're worth reading.

# # #

That's all for this week.

Peter