Eric Scheske

All the talk about California secession [https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-campaign-secede-gains-momentum-030236966.html] prompted me to pick up Bill Kauffman's Bye, Bye Miss American Empire, a (probably?) quixotic look at how the U.S. could break into a group of smaller countries. He dedicates most of a chapter

Miscellaneous Rambling We made it! The worst month of the year is over. It's too bad the forecast is worse than anything we experienced in January. Not a bad set of feast days this week: The Eastern Orthodox recognized the Cappadocians [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocian_Fathers]

Miscellaneous Rambling I grealty enjoyed James Martin's My Life with the Saints, so for years I've always kept my eyes out for things he writes. At this point, however, I'm writing him off as an unhinged leftist. I remember being disturbed by his "

I don't ask TDE readers for many favors. Over the course of fifteen years, I think I've asked you to help me on two occasions (excepting, of course, my continuous Amazon kickback campaign). But I'm asking for your help now: Please email the White

Okay, let me explain my term "law-abiding, illegal" immigrants. It wasn't a typo or poorly thought out. Premise: A law that isn't enforced isn't a law. Illustration: If a town outlaws gardens but then allows its citizens to have gardens, punishing only

"I have known no man of genius who had not to pay, in some affliction or defect either physical or spiritual, for what the gods had given him." Max Beerbohm. True? I don't know, but fascinating: Does God only afflict his own? He sends troubles commensurate

A friend sent me one of those "old picture" emails. I really enjoy those emails, but I never know if the pictures (much less the descriptions) are real/accurate. The one above is supposedly the London Underground in 1890. I think it's real, primarily because it

BYCU I had a BYCU ready for today, but then I saw this article at Modern Farmer: " Modern Farmer's Best of 2016: All About Alcohol [http://modernfarmer.com/2016/12/modern-farmers-best-2016-alcohol/?utm_source=Modern+Farmer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ab62688523-Thursday_January_26_201726_01_2017&utm_

Miscellaneous Rambling Speaking of ESPN, I'm officially boycotting their sponsors. I figure, what the heck. Unfortunately, I don't think they'll much feel the sting, since I don't buy many of their sponsors' products, but Captain Morgan [https://www.captainmorgan.com/] will!

Finally! Other people, even those who identify themselves as "mainstream," are beginning to excoriate ESPN for its relentless and radical leftwing politics [http://www.outkickthecoverage.com/msespn-endorses-women-s-march-012317]: > It's like ESPN has a death wish. At some point in the past two years, commencing with the