tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post3765108043073211281..comments2023-06-15T09:13:45.467-04:00Comments on Liberty's Torch: MarginaliaFrancis W. Porrettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-4981030173881735962013-11-27T06:28:26.077-05:002013-11-27T06:28:26.077-05:00Like you, Sir, I'm an IT guy. Writing code is...Like you, Sir, I'm an IT guy. Writing code isn't my job, though I seem to do a lot of it, but big systems have been my buzz for years. Obviously the Obamacare system needs to be a monster and will have nightmarish integration requirements (insurance plans *by county*??? What idiot dreamed that up?), but three years and multiple hundreds of millions of dollars? There's got to be a snake-oil or used-car salesman in charge. Or maybe it's just another Obama ally.<br /><br />What's that, Officer? I never said anything about fraud and corruption! Not me...<br />Heisenbughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09853011593271456367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-77571822730409717742013-11-25T01:41:01.428-05:002013-11-25T01:41:01.428-05:00I shied away from King thinking he wrote trash. O...I shied away from King thinking he wrote trash. Once I read <i>The Stand</i>, however, I was hooked on him ever afterwards. He is occasionally scatological, which I find odd, but he's otherwise a remarkable writer. His <i>From a Buick 8</i> was an inspired take on the friendships in a Highway Patrol outpost in the context of a very entertaining SF yarn.Col. B. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590364016079745156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-36949383678161366162013-11-23T14:11:03.873-05:002013-11-23T14:11:03.873-05:00I've known about you for a long time now, Mark...I've known about <i>you</i> for a long time now, Mark. Perhaps you should make an appointment to see your brain-care specialist about it.Francis W. Porrettohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-55995095085424843972013-11-23T13:40:20.745-05:002013-11-23T13:40:20.745-05:00"...do other writers...?"
I see you hav..."...do other writers...?"<br /><br />I see you haven't read my current POS. (Piece on Sale.) (What?!) Bear in mind that the character NOW known as Mitchell Drummond started as an undisguised Marty Stu. Take a look at the "Look Inside" on Amazon. We report; you decide.<br /><br />MMark Algerhttp://www.babytrollblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-64854929291052761722013-11-23T10:28:30.866-05:002013-11-23T10:28:30.866-05:00Have to agree with A Reader on that one, large, sh...Have to agree with A Reader on that one, large, shaggy dogs (especially with black fur) are very unsuited to TX. I live in FL and I've seen what it does to that kind of dog - it's downright cruel. Except from Dec-Mar the dog would spend most of it's time indoors just to stay out of the heat (in August it would likely be reluctant to go out even to do it's business). You and your wife would adapt to the change in climate in two years, the dog, never.YIHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-19339150978312326352013-11-23T09:24:27.886-05:002013-11-23T09:24:27.886-05:00Ya know Fran, you might consider visiting the Amer...Ya know Fran, you might consider visiting the American Redoubt. Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington. <br /><br />There is a major movement of liberty minded folks moving here. You would be most welcome.<br /><br />Bob<br />IIIidahobobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12857771751176894988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-23183317952205935492013-11-22T18:45:27.141-05:002013-11-22T18:45:27.141-05:00H,
I see your point. I thought North Texas might ...H, <br />I see your point. I thought North Texas might work, but never having lived there, I couldn't be sure. Living in the Big Country really has skewed my view of things, including my definition of humid. <br /><br />I think if Fran were to move, the act alone would prove him not to be a Damn Yankee. Then again, Damn Yankee and carpetbagger are synonyms to me. A Yankee is someone who just happened to be born North of the Mason Dixon line. A Damn Yankee is someone who thinks the only right way is to do things is the way they're done up North. I've met some really fine Yankees in my time, and some Southerners I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire.<br /><br />We Texans should never forget that the company that fell at the Alamo came from all over these United States and that the army that whipped Santa Anna had folks in it from all over Europe. The long road west made them Texasn. We are a nation of immigrants inside a nation of immigrants. A Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288199981382663362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-50527503775959387232013-11-22T17:58:30.712-05:002013-11-22T17:58:30.712-05:00Data mining has become a magic wand to many of the...Data mining has become a magic wand to many of the C-level management and their flunkies.<br /><br />The results are only as good as the data and the models, points that fall on deaf ears, no matter how many times I repeat it.<br /><br />But now's the time to make a killing selling snake oil Big Data/Mining solutions to the gullible!Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06204019386677018162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-80121347680927748952013-11-22T17:27:16.037-05:002013-11-22T17:27:16.037-05:00Fran/A Reader,
My wife and I live North of DFW on ...Fran/A Reader,<br />My wife and I live North of DFW on a few acres of land. We have several critters, one of which is a Great Pyrenees. He doesn't much like summer but he is good for about 9 months of the year. The Pyrenees is a common breed around here for stock protection against coyotes. We have seen a few Newfies too. <br /><br />Fran you would have to endure a few Yankee jokes too. Such as what is the difference between a Yankee and a Damn Yankee? The Yankee comes to Texas for a visit, the Damn Yankee moves to Texas to live. But of course many of the founding fathers of Texas could be considered Damn Yankees. <br />Cheers<br />H Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-86817859496482391312013-11-22T16:35:59.010-05:002013-11-22T16:35:59.010-05:00I see I am not the only Texan who's been think...I see I am not the only Texan who's been thinking you should immigrate. As much as it would please me to know you're living someplace not run by nanny-statist progressives (Is Long Island's flirtation with statehood likely to be consummated any time soon, or would you just get a different set of moral-crusade fascists?), I am not sure I can recommend Texas, mostly because of the dog. My judgement may be slanted by ten years in a semiarid part of the state with occasional jaunts to hot, humid parts of the state, but I would think long and hard about owning a cold weather dog here. Somewhere along the Okie border might work, particularly in the Panhandle. They get blizzards there. The weather in Amarillo and points north is imported from Canada. The downside is that there are very few trees. Having lived in the Hudson Valley as a child, I imagine a New Yorker would get nostalgic for trees.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing Rufus the Newfus with us. He's beautifulA Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288199981382663362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-9296653309671724272013-11-22T15:50:32.808-05:002013-11-22T15:50:32.808-05:00Of course they're not, Adrienne. they're s...Of course they're not, Adrienne. they're strip-mined out of several large deposits in Idaho.Francis W. Porrettohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-77332367060629423172013-11-22T14:50:51.902-05:002013-11-22T14:50:51.902-05:00Most people think potatoes are dug out of large pa...<i>Most people think potatoes are dug out of large paddies flooded with gravy.</i><br /><br />Wait - you mean they don't? Be still my beating heart.<br /><br />I agree with you about Stephen King. Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01562944653624224107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-13566291861081282013-11-22T09:54:28.033-05:002013-11-22T09:54:28.033-05:00Fran,
Hiring the book packing would be the easy pa...Fran,<br />Hiring the book packing would be the easy part. <br /><br />Convincing "She who must be obeyed"? Not so easy. Maybe if you found the appropriate set of closets? Or is she one of those who believes NYC IS the universe?<br /><br />One of my favorite talk show hosts (Andrew Wilkow) has finally convinced his "attachment" to leave NJ for Texas. <br /><br />H<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-57062328227569693262013-11-22T09:16:32.086-05:002013-11-22T09:16:32.086-05:00I'd love to, Anon, but I have this attachment ...I'd love to, Anon, but I have this attachment that keeps threatening to leave me if I should sell the house we currently live in. (She married me for the house, it seems. Or at any rate, for the closets.)<br /><br />Texas looks to me like Paradise on Earth, but Beth refuses to consider it. And I must admit, packing up all the books would be a daunting chore. I wonder if that's the sort of thing you can hire someone to do?Francis W. Porrettohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-23766783079606656662013-11-22T09:07:02.245-05:002013-11-22T09:07:02.245-05:00Fran,
Just a few words. "Go west young (tong...Fran,<br />Just a few words. "Go west young (tongue in cheek) man"<br /><br />There is room here in Texas for you. <br /><br />With a few acres here your Newf could run free. You could own any number of things New York finds offensive (personal protective devices, 32-44oz sodas, salt etc.)<br /><br />The weather is better, the air is better. Cost of living is better. <br /><br />And above all it isn't New York City or New York state.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-15978507439464762792013-11-22T09:06:01.295-05:002013-11-22T09:06:01.295-05:00I'm prepared to commit the vilest heresy, and ...I'm prepared to commit the vilest heresy, and declare in public that I think Spencer's work is even superior to Hayek's, in that regard.<br /><br />Had we the spare cash lying around, we'd buy a whole-house generator tomorrow. But then, around here, a house without a gas line running to it would probably not be considered legally fit for habitation, so fuel supply is less of a problem.<br /><br />I'm firmly of the opinion that to be a nominal adult with no enemies in the modern world should be considered a mark of deep shame, and indeed should disqualify one from consideration as an adult in anything but the purely nominal sense. So I suspect that your wish is as ungrantable as a gallon of dry water in a quart container shaped like a circular square.<br /><br />And as my wife has been having dream-affairs with _her_ protagonists since she was in high school, I feel no guilt admitting to the occasional fantasy about one of mine. :) (I get to be married to _her_, after all, which is the finest prize a man could want. They, on the other hand, get to live "interesting" (yes, in the ancient Chinese curse sense, of course) lives.)lelnethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08600824544185328505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-35223893923209449532013-11-22T07:25:06.016-05:002013-11-22T07:25:06.016-05:00I've already rotted mentally, Paul, so that pa...I've already rotted mentally, Paul, so that part is "taken care of." But in truth, my great fear is that when I retire I'll have too much to do. I get away with quite a lot of procrastination today because of my day job. (I make a point of looking exhausted when I come home at the end of a day.) Once that excuse is gone, I might actually be forced to get a few things done!Francis W. Porrettohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-78544602261826123422013-11-22T07:08:47.985-05:002013-11-22T07:08:47.985-05:00Or might we be able to get you back as a consultan...<i>Or might we be able to get you back as a consultant?"</i><br /><br />Consider it. The last thing you want to do in your retirement is rot mentally by doing nothing.pdwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05943525787137905313noreply@blogger.com