Dueling Dotards

Throughout the history of civilization, great nations have risen and fallen, most often, according to the commonly accepted wisdom, by rotting from the inside out; usually, it seems, because of some virtue that proves, in the manner of Greek tragedy, to be a fatal flaw. While that may not be true in every case (the… Continue reading Dueling Dotards

Supreme Irony

As the New Year dawns, America girds its loins for its most crucial national election since 1864, when Abraham “Rail Splitter” Lincoln ran against his former Commanding General of the Army, George B. “Fuss and Feathers” McClellan. The major issue then was, of course, America’s Original Sin, racism, embodied at the time in a fratricidal… Continue reading Supreme Irony

Inflation’s Hot, So Bitcoin’s Not

Speaking of Hell, as I was at the end of the previous post, the difference between Hell and Washington DC in the summer has always been that Hell has dry heat. So, I would point out that all those folks elsewhere in the United States who think the people in Washington should go to Hell… Continue reading Inflation’s Hot, So Bitcoin’s Not

Verrrrry Interesting…. But Not Legal!

In Anglophone countries it is said that there is an ancient Chinese curse, customarily related as “May you live in interesting times.” Like many things commonly believed in many societies, and like many aphorisms believed to be of a reputed origin in many languages, there is no actual evidence to support such an assertion. No… Continue reading Verrrrry Interesting…. But Not Legal!

Captain Snerd and the Mystery of the Brethren’s Temple

Yesterday was Friday the 13th, or perhaps I should say, another occurrence of Friday the 13th, since they inevitably happen once or twice every year. The most common explanation for the day’s reputation as unlucky involves Philip IV of France and the Order of the Knights Templar. King Philip was an egotistical, bumbling incompetent ignoramus… Continue reading Captain Snerd and the Mystery of the Brethren’s Temple