Sarah A. Hoyt's Blog, page 271

The Power Of The Wrong Stories

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*This MIGHT be a blast from the past.  It was in my draft folders from 2012, but I can’t find it published either here or at Mad Genius Club.  I suspect it might have been too hot to handle while still semi-in-the-political-closet.  It is weirdly relevant. (I have about twenty of these in the drafts folder, from before I dared speak frankly.  I see no reason you guys shouldn’t read them.)*

Gentlemen don’t hit those weaker than them.  Gentlemen don’t get in fights in public.  Gentlemen don’t...

Growing Up

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I remember, growing up, having the vague feeling that I wasn’t measuring up, that I should be doing more, achieving more.

Now part of this is the peculiar mind of set of “born owing money.”  You don’t think you are worth it just by existing, so you live trying to justify your existence.  I always thought this was the result of not being a wanted child, but I don’t think so.  My much-wanted and worked-for older son (both are wanted, but older took six years to get) has same issue.  He’s forev...

Come the Revolution

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I grew up in the shadow of the cold war.  “Waiting for the hammer to fall” and “come the revolution” and other such phrases told us that a) nuclear war would happen.  b) the future was communist.

For people like me, who had actually studied the history of the countries that went fully communist, and read accounts of what was going on behind the curtain, this was not happy-making and we denied it, even though at times we weren’t sure we believed our own denial.

Remember, for those of you who...

Happy Spring Vignettes by Luke, Mary Catelli and ‘Nother Mike

*All right, for whatever reason we didn’t get a single book to pimp.  Not a one.  Usually when this happens, something has gone wonky with the email, so I’m giving our boiler plate “how to promo with us” thing below.  Then Luke and Mary and ‘nother Mike have stuff having to do with, well, you’ll see.  I expect much in the way of untied garters and going a-Maying in the vignettes.

So, for book pimping: books are sent to us by readers/frequenters of this blog.  Our bringing them to your attenti...

Cheap Eats- by Foxfier

[image error] Cheap Eats- by Foxfier

Keep meaning to do this, so snagged quotes from the comments in one of the recent blogs to spin off of; they’re down at the bottom after my blather, and I’d appreciate if folks would share their own tips, tricks, must-haves or recipes.

This started with the “Challenge”: feeding four for less than twelve dollars.

I would, sadly, fail this challenge; I can’t cook for less than about 8…. although twelve dollars is rather extravagant for a normal meal. I am using Walmart a...

What Does Woman Want

I did not ask to be born a woman.  At least presumably I didn’t ask.  If we look too closely at this, we get into all sorts of things about pre-existing souls, reincarnation and what not.  Neither fit into my system of belief, but neither am I absolutely sure of what happens after you die, or before you’re born, because how can I be?  Eventually I’ll find the one out, the other also if my system is wrong.  And in either case it matters very little to here and now.

However, I do know being bor...

Black Rednecks and White Liberals, Part 2 by Amanda S. Green

[image error] Black Rednecks and White Liberals, Part 2  by Amanda S. Green

[Link to previous post here]

Thomas Sowell is one of those authors who manages to get us to think about a myriad of topics. I first began reading him because he is one of the few who can make economics not only understandable but almost enjoyable for me. When I started reading Black Rednecks and White Liberals, I discovered he continues that trend with social issues. Sowell isn’t afraid to look at the difficult issues facing our c...

We Build!

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Construction work is never glamorous work.  My mother, who grew up in a very poor area, and wanted to marry up, early on excised construction workers from her list of potentials, because they “get so dirty.”

I grew up in and around construction sites nonethless.  One of my grandfathers was a “historical restauration” carpenter.  It’s like this, the castles and monuments stay on, because they’re made of stone, but the bits made of wood rot away with time.  He was one of the few people who kne...

Being a Lady — by Dorothy Grant

[image error] Being a Lady — by Dorothy Grant

To be a gentleman, you first need to be a man. You need to have the power and ability, the knowledge of yourself, before it can be tempered by restraint and courtesy. Otherwise, the traits of a gentleman are ill-fitting, easily donned and just as easily forgotten on the hat rack.

For more thoughts on that, see this excellent article on The Art of Manliness: https://www.artofmanliness.com/2015/06/29/youve-got-to-be-a-man-before-you-can-be-a-gentleman/

And to be...

Buying a Sword

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I’ve often been accused of being incredibly optimistic.  And yes, it’s an accusation.  I find this very funny (in a dark way) since, as a chronic depressive I fight depression and despondence ALL the time.

But maybe it is because of that that I’ve grown used to giving myself reality checks.  If I trust my own internal clock, then I assume everything is going to rack and ruin and become too despondent to move or work, or really do anything.  Sometime in my mid-thirties, I learned to look at f...