Happy Solstice to All

As we do most years, if it occurs to me, all of us here at the Secret Blog wish you and yours a happy day gathered around the ol'pagan symbol swapping the tokens of modern materialism.

Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century

I had no idea.

The constant obsession of our popular culture with Holmes is something of a mystery to me, although I watch both current attempts at updating Holmes (the first BBC series is good bordering on great, the second and third episodes of the second series are almost unwatchable). But why Holmes?

Also, the constant ferment of Holmesiana is a great argument against extending copyright. These are the sorts of derivative work that copyright (intended to promote the arts) shuts down entirely.

This, Too, Shall Pass

One of the many consolations of being conservative is that we can't be too depressed at people voting for the status quo.

A Good Start

In January 2008, 144,607,000 Americans 16 and over were employed. This month, 140,987,000 Americans 16 and over are employed. During the same period, the national debt has increased by approximately $5 trillion or one-third.

What Does A Grecian Earn?

Isn't the most likely result of the elections in Greece this weekend a stalemate? And isn't a stalemate a pretty good result for the Euro? It avoids withdrawal but also pushes back a Eurescue of Greece, which is increasingly unpopular in Germany, in the UK and probably even in France.

Nature Boy, covered by Pomplamoose

We've All Had This Fantasy

What Have I Been Doing?

Among other things, making pretty pictures.

The Question Is...

In 2008, did Barrack Obama cunningly design the perfect campaign for the times, or was it simply the perfect time for the vapid campaign he would have run no matter the circumstance?

The Prisoner's Dilemma, Illustrated.

Merry Christmas To All

As we do most years, if it occurs to me, all of us here at the Secret Blog wish all who stumble across us a merry day gathered around the ol'pagan symbol with family and friends.

The Second Funniest Thing I've Seen This Week

 

October 30, 2001. No Electricity

October 29, 2011

Wanted -- Barn Door Closer (Also, Horse Chaser)

Citibank would like to hire a risk analyst.

Dead Moammar

The death of Qaddafi is a good thing, and I'll even concede that publicizing pictures of his corpse is a good thing. But I am getting a little sick of seeing Dead Moammar popping up an on every link a I click.

You Gotta Love This

Amazon.com: America's Flag Company FF2X3NCAN1 2-Foot by 3-Foot Nylon Canada Flag: Home & Garden

That's Funny, She Doesn't Look Jewish

(c) 2011, Associated Press.

Are you saying incomes in the middle have not fallen?

Yes, that's what I'm saying. (I'm also saying that this understates the case because it ignores the value of noncash employment benefits (wich were 29% of total compensation in 2004 and 30.5% in 2011) and government transfers (which have increased by about 12% of personal income (from 6% of average income to 18%) from 1967 to 2011.)

O tempora o mores

I have no desire to pick on Bryan Appleyard, with whom I agree more than I disagree (particularly once he's translated from the orginal English), but this rare post on his blog deserves some comment.

I'm always amused by the cry of "O tempora o mores" immediately followed by blaming conservatives. The idea that 2011 is, historically, a particularly difficult time to be living in England, or anywhere in the West is obvious nonsense. It's particularly odd in the course of a touching story of nobility in true hardship; a father who, with his son's blood fresh upon him, quells a riot. It also strikes me as odd that, for Appleyard, original sin now seems to be bankers lending money with insufficient collateral.