Tuesday

Summer Stuff

I like summer, except for the heat and the wind and the mosquitoes. The last ones kill me (figuratively-speaking, not malarialy-speaking). Whenever I hear about hiking or other outdoor activities, especially in northern Michigan where mosquitoes are thicker than the skulls of politicians, I fake a heart attack and stay indoors.

Quite frankly, I like it indoors, even (especially?) in the summer. You might say that I don't really like summer, as much as I like the "effects of summer": kids home from school, less structure, a slowed pace of life, pretty scenery, vacations. My only real outdoor activity during summer is gardening, and most of that is done by the time the real hot weather arrives.

Anyway, my apologies for the tangent. This post was supposed to be a short introduction to mosquitoes. My wife sent me this short article about ways to keep them away. I hate wearing Off and other sprays, so one of the main protections doesn't apply to me, but I like the suggestion to use a floor fan to create a breeze.

Random Nock Quote

Nock on Leo XIII (of Rerum Novarum): He "was a very great man; great as a saint, great as a scholar, theologian, philosopher, man of letters. In statesmanship, he was far and away the greatest of the century's four great creative minds."

Toketown

"A proposal to legalize marijuana in Detroit is heading for the November ballot. If voters say yes, people 21 and over would be able to possess up to an ounce of pot on private property." Link.

Readers know I have mixed feelings about legalizing marijuana, but in this case, my kneejerk reaction is strongly in favor.

Awhile ago, I speculated that Detroit ought to be turned into an experiment in anarchy. My thought was, heck, it couldn't get any worse there, and the ideas and theories of Rothbard and Co. might just do a lot of good.

But this is the next best thing: Legalize a popular activity that the city can't effectively stop anyway. Who knows, you might even attract some talented young people who like the recreational freedom.

And what are the downsides? People will be too stoned to work? Find them jobs first. People will be too stoned to drive? They already drive like they're stoned. People will lose the motivation to lead a beautiful life of virtue and moderation? Chuckle.

Legalize it, Detroit. You have nothing to lose.