A Will Rogers weekly article usually appeared in print within a month after it was written. Thus, the articles from 18 August through 15 September, 1935 were published after Rogers’ death on 15 August 1935. This final weekly article was found in the wrecked aircraft and was in progress at the time of the accident, it was not released until several years after it was written. Read the rest
Will Rogers
Missive #125 Published 15 September 2023
Ten years ago, the twentieth century and the Bronze Age were tossed together by a mysterious Event. In the decade since, the Republic of Nantucket has worked hard to create a new future for itself, using the technological know-how retained from modern times to explore and improve conditions for the inhabitants of the past. Some of these peoples have become allies. Some have turned instead to the renegade Coast Guard officer William Walker. And for ten years, the two sides have tested each other, feinting and parrying, to decide who will be the ones to lead this brave new world into the future. The final battle lines have now been drawn. And only one side can emerge the victor." Read the rest
Missive #122 Published 8 September 2023
Kelly Turnbull, the hero of People’s Republic, Indian Country, Wildfire, and Collapse, is back this fifth novel that tells the story of how America split apart into red and blue. Brought back to the United States to work with an elite group of operators who are seeking to stop the slide to open civil war, Turnbull pursues a leftist terrorist mastermind who will stop at nothing to burn down the country. Read the rest
Missive #118 Published 1 September 2023
I did not like this book although there were some reviewers that thought it was great. There were two reviews that I have quoted that express what I did not like. First, was the non-linear narrative1 and second was too much philosophy2. Huxley once stated that his aim in his fictional works was to “arrive, technically, at a perfect fusion of the novel and the essay.” Perhaps he thought that he did that with this book. I think he made a hash of it and would have been better to publish the 'story' as a novel and the rest as a collection of essays. Read the rest
Missive #114 Published 25 August 2023
I liked the subject matter of this book but did not like the style. To use 'an oral history form' for a speculative alternative history just didn't work for me. the author has written a series of novels that I'm going to give a try and hope he uses a more conventional style. Read the rest
Missive #112 Published 20 August 2023
Although the anti-Federalists lost the struggle over ratification, their defense of individual rights and suspicion of power remain core American political values, and the bill of rights is a lasting monument to their importance.
I am posting the writings that were opposed to the Constitution which I suggest be read to give a balanced view if there is a Second Constitutional Convention. Read the rest
Missive #111 Published 18 August 2023
Another trip into Reserve for breakfast and pick up a few things at Jake’s. Also another stop at Catron Garage. This time I need to have a circuit breaker in my electrical converter fixed. When we had the storm with a lot of hail the circuit breaker for the line to to the refrigerator and one wall plug tripped off. Read the rest
Missive #108 Published 11 August 2023
We had a violent thunderstorm Wednesday that started a little after noon. There was hail again but this time mixed with rain. Both the rain and hail coming at Desperado vertically rather that horizontally. I'm guessing that the wind was a steady 20 mph with guest approaching 30 from the way Desperado was rocking. A lot of close lightning and loud thunder that had Erik trembling once more. Read the rest
Missive #104 Published 4 August 2023
I never watched Tucker on TV because I don't do TV. However, I have read enough about him that what he says in this book came as no surprise and certainly explains why he is no longer at Fox. he attacks the 'elites' in this country and TV provided him with far too much exposure to the 'deplorables'; he had to go. Read the rest
Missive #101 Published 28 July 2023
This is an interesting book if for no other reason it introduced me to the new word — precariat. I thought what I did back in 1990 when I quit working for a bank was "Going Galt" but now see that I was joining the precariat class. There are many subdivisions within that class however so it is not as uniform as the working class, the working poor or the unemployed. I think the author is right that it is a dangerous class IF it becomes unified with a leader. Read the rest