That’s Estonian for “BEAR!” Remember, way back, say, two weeks ago, when I said this? “Force people to think about what our options would be in case of a Russian ‘intervention’ in a NATO ally to ‘protect’ a Russian minority.” … Continue reading →
Retired Spook writes in: Your Czarishness; Apropos our previous discussion on the pending financial disaster coming from Beijing, a recent Telegraph article contains a number of amusing (for given values of “amusing”) observations. It appears that Professor Reynolds is correct, … Continue reading →
Russian forces storm Ukraine naval HQ in Crimea Russians taking down the Ukrainian flag SEVASTOPOL/SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) – Russian troops and unarmed men stormed Ukraine’s naval headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Wednesday and raised the Russian flag … Continue reading →
In Moscow and Beijing, they still believe foreign policy is about military and economic power, “spheres of influence,” formal alliances, and political control. In Western Europe (and much of this administration), it’s about moral authority, international norms, and other kinds … Continue reading →
From Kiev: Ukrainians, however, were convinced from Putin’s speech to the Russian Duma that the conflict could not remain cold. Many said they found some of Putin’s phrasing chilling, including his statement that “We’re one nation. Kiev is the mother … Continue reading →
Confucius* is a bit of a gun-history nut. Skip this post if you suspect it won’t interest you. Apparently Confucius is not a big enough nut, as a hugely significant bit of trivia has thus far eluded his gaze. For … Continue reading →
The Czar’s 14-year-old neighbor stopped over for a visit yesterday, bringing his dog over to spend some time with our little Sally, who are best canine pals. As his dog attempted to engage Sally in play (a futile effort as … Continue reading →
NRO’s Corner continues to have good stuff on the Crimean Crisis. Andrew Stuttaford: Putin’s Crimean Roar Putin’s big speech today was (very, very) light on honesty, and time is too short for now to list all the omissions and distortions, … Continue reading →
Today for many Americans is an election day, and here in Muscovy we are celebrating the rich plethora of candidates battling it out in primaries. They are called primary elections because they are primarily for our entertainment. The Czar is … Continue reading →
Or more broadly construed, oikophobia, the opposite of xenophobia, the distaste and hatred of the familiar, the home, the hearth, one’s own land. It’s a topic I’ve touched on before (here, for example; or dig around in this tag). But … Continue reading →
Two main themes pervade Zweig’s writings. The first is the part that passion plays in human life. If reason, as Hume says, is and should be the slave of the passions, how can we control and reconcile our passions so … Continue reading →
Telling someone why they’re wrongand must obey his whims. Really good review of a biography of Wilson in the CRB. Emphases Œc. Vol.’s. Woodrow Wilson was ahead of his time. Son of a Southern theologian and preacher, he was 13 … Continue reading →
Remember Leon Aron’s argument that Putin’s Crimea gambit* was for domestic popularity? If so, well-played, Bad Vlad! Germans cheer restoration of the lost dignity of the Reich! Last week, in the midst of the Crimean crisis and on the heels … Continue reading →
Excellent read by Stanley Kurtz: Campus egalitarians doth [sic —ŒV] protest too much. They seek not equality but the superiority conferred by victimhood. They yearn to be oppressed—or rather, to be perceived as sufferers—so as to take command of the … Continue reading →
One of the Czars favorite themes upon which he pounds his calloused fist is how the mass mediathere is no point calling it the liberal mass media anymore, is there? Really? Anyone with a three-digit IQ knows this by nowfails … Continue reading →
Operative SMC writes: Dr. J, The following comes from my favorite local bank. The CEO sends a weekly email to customers from the economist Robert Genetski. The following article by Genetski is illuminating on the 2008-present recession/depression. Here’s a link … Continue reading →
It’s true, but today the Czar will take a little help from our good friend and frequent Castle visitor (and more frequent plumbing jammer) Uncle Jay. The Big Guy sends the Czar a fun little story from UK.News.Yahoo, which you … Continue reading →
Motown Philly…back again! Gentle Readers, Dr. and Mrs. J. and the J.lings are leaving the confines of the #snowdome and are headed north to visit Mama J. and the J.-in-laws this week. He leaves the blog in The Czar’s more … Continue reading →
Interesting read, if contestable in many parts. There can be little doubt that Nietzsche is the most important figure in modern atheism, but you would never know it from reading the current crop of unbelievers, who rarely cite his arguments … Continue reading →
They say God takes care of fools and drunks. If so, he’s been working overtime the last few decades taking care of Shane MacGowan. As the frontman and principal songwriter of the Irish rock band the Pogues, MacGowan is as … Continue reading →
We don’t need no welfare state…everybody pulled their weight… Gentle Readers, If you pay attention to the debate on food stamps, earned income tax credits, section 8 housing, extending unemployment, etc…conservatives argue that it creates a disincentive to work and … Continue reading →
That line, more or less, is uttered of Gene Hackman’s character in David Mamet’s Heist. The line is truer, however, of the actor saying it, the magnificent sleight-of-hand artist, Ricky Jay, about whom a new documentary has been made. You should … Continue reading →
The Czar, like his dimensionally manipulative brethren GorT and Dr. J., has watched the first installment of Cosmos with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson as host. The Czar was not as enthusiastic as many reviewers. The effects are cooler, but like … Continue reading →
Via Jim Geraghty, the Daily Mail reports Ukraine remains under the sword of Damocles. Ukraine warned last night that 80,000 Russian troops were massing on its borders and could invade – as world leaders told Vladimir Putin to back off. … Continue reading →
Hong Kong is an island of some 30 square miles under British administration in the South China Sea facing Kowloon and the New Territories areas of continental China. Kowloon and the New Territories are also British administered, surrounded by the Communist … Continue reading →
Operative BJ writes in to remind the Czar of words he wrote only days ago: Your Gloriousness, I mostly agree with you re the effect a third political party has on elections in the US, e.g. taking votes away from … Continue reading →
Andy Ferguson: Pondering the images I thought again of my feminism teacher. I do think she’d be pleased with today’s state of affairs. The Lean In Collection makes our current condition plain. The collection isn’t about “empowering women”; it’s about … Continue reading →
The NYRB runs a great essay by Edward Mendelson on Auden, who seems to have been at pains to conceal that he was often a profoundly good man. Here’s the lead: W.H. Auden had a secret life that his closest … Continue reading →
For Christian minions out there looking for some Lenten reading, allow Confucius* to suggest Brant Pitre’s new book, Jesus the Bridegroom. Following of the method of his previous, excellent Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, he attempts to … Continue reading →
In George Weigel destroys Eugene Robinson. I doubt that Eugene Robinson has any patriotic feeling for Russia, but his evident vulnerability to Russian propaganda suggests that he, like other members of the left-leaning commentariat, continue to read the politics of … Continue reading →
The Czar is still surprised to see non-Democratic voters (not necessarily Republicans, per se) on social media calling for a third party. Many times has the Czar explained that third parties serve only one purpose: getting the other party elected … Continue reading →
Doc, Théorie des Gormogons: Pour cette société secrète britannique fondée en 1724, la vérité est aussi ailleurs: «Le Boeing 777 est tombé dans un trou noir ou dans une dimension parallèle. Il file actuellement vers l’époque préhistorique de Long Island», … Continue reading →
Our reach is vast. This morning, your Gormogon overlords had their 1.5 millionth hit. This translates to a hit about every thirty seconds since our inception. Over seven thousand and six hundred posts later and the hits keep coming. We … Continue reading →
Justice & Nemesis Pursuing Crimevia mythindex.com. So argues Alex Alexiev in National Review Online: With the incorporation of Crimea into Russia by force of arms about to become a fait accompli next week, speculation is increasingly turning to the longer-term … Continue reading →
Hypercubes are cool. Dr. J., like GorT, checked out Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Cosmos deux. He will re-watch the episode as he didn’t quite finish it out because he had a case of the sleepies. While he found the pacing a little … Continue reading →
Meet Jill Abramson, executive editor of the New York Times. Ms. Abramson’s editorial board thinks you’re too stupid to make up your minds on your own. If Pulitzer Prizes were awarded for outright, bald-faced lies, this New York Times editorial … Continue reading →
Just read the whole thing. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…the revolting, revolting masses. The Revolt Against the Masses is the latest book from Fred Siegel, former editor of City Journal and an estimable figure in contemporary conservative thought. It is a quick read (225 pages, Encounter Books), and well worth your … Continue reading →
So if you missed the relaunch of the Cosmos series last night with Neil deGrasse Tyson, I would recommend tuning in on Friday to watch. There is plenty to say about his personal views and maybe even some of the … Continue reading →
Yet you, Mr. President, have been both ruthless and prudent—just what I prescribed in “The Prince.” You Russians have distilled my wisdom into a pithy phrase: Kto kovo—who dominates whom? And you have beautifully executed my central idea. I never … Continue reading →
The Czar admits he is more than a bit puzzled about Flight MH370, the missing Malaysian Airlines 777 that vanished off radar over the weekend. Nothing makes sense in this story. The plane simply vanished off radar. That only happens … Continue reading →
Some stories on Russia worth your time: Leon Aron: The Front Lines on Russia’s Home Front Those who claim Putin commits acts like seizing Crimea simply because he can are wrong. He does these things because he must — because, … Continue reading →
Apparently the Russian Army is storming a Ukranian air force base in Crimea, despite calls for a diplomatic solution during their phone call yesterday. I will make it legal… Remember President Obama’s words to former President Medvedev? “After my election … Continue reading →
They offer you this… …and then you get this. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →The State Department gets a lot of flak, much deserved, but much undeserved, as its job is often to play the good cop or be the make-nice agency of the government. What it rarely does is load both rhetorical barrels … Continue reading →
Minion ‘Retired Spook’ is skeptical that Confucius’s plans for pushing back against Russian imperialism will gain any traction. He explains: At the risk of sounding disagreeable and cranky (which I am, but I hate to sound like it) please allow … Continue reading →
Sometimes seismic shifts are so subtle they cannot be felt, and those often presage major earthquakes. Don’t get too excited here—but something intensely interesting happened yesterday in the world of media bias, and the Czar hopes you did not miss … Continue reading →
Putin and others are hacking at the Pax Americana which sustains our historically peaceful, prosperous world. They need to be deterred, and we and our allies need to be serious about rebuilding the institutions, especially militaries, which have sustained it. As the Gormogons’ usual … Continue reading →
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent for Roman Catholics. Interestingly enough, it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. It turns out to be one of the most attended non-Sunday Masses for Catholics – just … Continue reading →
We have been quite busy, it seems, because so many of you are asking after our various secret projects. Island Dweller, who has yet to complete his many assignments (notably, switching the East and West Magnetic Poles), is suspicious about … Continue reading →
Dr. J. typically walks in lock step with GorT on most issues, especially the mocking of self-important left wing celebrities who support causes that either offend the sensibilities of (e.g. Planned Parenthood), or by effect keep the regular folk down … Continue reading →
Vladimir Putin was kind enough to pose shirtless, with a rifle for this installation of ‘Puter’s totally not homoerotic Male Bag. Note, all references to “heavily armed Russians” in Ukraine actually refer to shirtless Vladimir Putin taking Crimea with only … Continue reading →
GorT is generally not one for awards shows – I find them self-serving and awkward. Last night held true to form in both respects. Honestly I haven’t seen a number of the films in contention for the awards (save one, … Continue reading →
Nothing is random, you know. Not even randomness: computers are pretty good at generating random numbers, but in fact, the computer uses rules to generate random numbers. Once you understand how that works, you can get pretty good at detecting … Continue reading →
So far so good. Maybe we will have it available for deployment in your hometown next winter. Dr. J.
Continue reading →The American media is doing a really poor job of covering the Ukraine crisis, and this is largely because they ignored its importance for so long that they are scrambling to catch everyone up, what with gays not getting timely … Continue reading →
Mengli I Giray(r. 1466, 1469–1475, 1478–1515) Our position remains unchanged. We support the immediate and unconditional restoration of the Jochid Giray Khans. As ever, the world needs the Altan Uruk. Confucius, Œc. Vol., posting for Gormogon Prince Tochmas (Toqtamysh Khan). … Continue reading →
This is what many of you come across as on Twitter. Smart choice, because people are totally way more convinced at the merits of your argument when you’re yelling at and belittling them. ‘Puter got in a bit of a … Continue reading →
Long-time Operative erc comments: “Operative KH, who is in charge of our moon cratering project“….congratulations, Your Czarness. It’s working! / erc Is it ever! Check out some video: What’s great for the Czar, personally, is not so much the incredible … Continue reading →
Imagine a candidate named Fields. Fields can be a man or a woman, a president, representative or a senator, federal-level or state-level, a Democrat or Republican. If Fields were a major player, and the news stories were written a certain … Continue reading →
Yesterday you learned that in space, no one can hear you scream, unless you’re Hello Kitty. Today, or friends at NPR, YES OUR FRIENDS AT NPR posted this at their blog. Hermiting is really working out for the Hermit Kingdom … Continue reading →
I don’t know about our readers and the other castle inhabitants* but lately I’ve started noticing a trend with my “newsfeed” on Facebook. Basically, I can categorize my Facebook connections into one of a few buckets: 1. The Occasional Poster … Continue reading →
Operative JAB writes in from her secret overseas assignment. While in transit, posing as part of Dennis Rodman’s posse heading to Pyongyang for some quality time with the Little Dictator, Operative JAB managed to surreptitiously snap this picture: As JAB … Continue reading →
It’s always convenient to blame your personal failures on an omnipotent-yet-nebulous third party. As a representative of middle aged, taxpaying white guys with jobs, ‘Puter shares our happiness you have found a way to work us in to your pathological denial … Continue reading →
Mail for the Czar today. Operative KH, who is in charge of our moon cratering project, writes in to clarify: Dread Czar, I believe the one who was supposed to be in the truck the LAPD was looking for was … Continue reading →
The following essay is a guest post from JAB, at the Double-Wide. We remind our readers that you are welcome to submit your thoughts either as an email or as a complete essay. Dear Readers, Hope you’ll pardon an AWOL … Continue reading →
Let the kids play, and call the games straight Gentle Readers, Dr. J. always believed that referees are best not noticed. Invisibility correlates with quality officiating, especially in high stakes settings. There are two example that he would like to … Continue reading →
And now, our question of the day: Most dread, awful and snowbound Czar: I’m taking a rest from any strident advocacy of causes for a moment. I still intend to maintain my pastime of firing homing torpedoes of truth into … Continue reading →
A number of years ago, the DC Metro area began experiencing a rise in stinkbugs (brown marmorated stink bugs to be specific). It is native to China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Initially, there were no natural predators and any sort … Continue reading →
Several decades ago, the Czar was nice enough to explain the different types of light bulbs now that incandescents are no longer being manufactured. Since then, to his surprise, the sale of LED bulbs has really taken off to the … Continue reading →
A quick followup on a topic that got some serious reads—the anatomy of police shootouts. Your Immensity; I’m well aware of human stress reactions (trying being 17, scared of heights, and being one of two Air Force pukes in Army … Continue reading →
The Retired Spook writes: Dear Dr. J; I don’t suppose I could prevail upon your inherent good nature to have Mandy target the Anti-Snow Ray about 100 miles further south, could I? It’s nothing personal, but growing up in Alabama, … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, Dr. J. saw this article in the Washington Times, in which a movement is described proposing to have upstate New York* secede from greater NYC. This would be a partial secession as partitioned upstate and NYC would be … Continue reading →
Except for the Black kid, every one of the people in this picture is to blame for Obamacare’s abject failure to deliver anything it promised. Actually, being liberal means never having to acknowledge your policies have tradeoffs. At least until … Continue reading →
This little note from the Retired Spook has much to unpack: Your Immensity: A recent news article seems to indicate that 103 rounds were fired by eight officers into a newspaper delivery truck. If memory serves, the range-to-contact was less … Continue reading →
Operative BJ writes in with alarming news: Hey, you in the chair! Operative BJ is happy to have you and you and you pay for him to enjoy his 8-week tanning treatment through your tax dollars. And no, Operative BJ … Continue reading →
Nothing like a little armored hellfire to spice up the games… Dr. J.
Continue reading →A falcon left a dead mouse on our windowsill yesterday. As the Czar went to flick it off the sill down into the guest parking lot, the Czar noticed a small note tied to its leg. Indeed, the note read … Continue reading →
To: The Inscrutible Mandarin From: Dr. J. Re: Operation Snowdome Dear Mandy: The Orbiting Anti-Snow Ray works! New Atlantis remains snow-free! Suck it Atlanta! Best, Dr. J. Dr. J.
Continue reading →Gentle Readers, We have a winner in the Westminster Dog Show, and the Best in Show was a Fox Terrier named Sky. The Terrier mafia strike again. Her time down the hill wasn’t the best, but her reverse triple copter … Continue reading →
Did you hear that the Left has totally lost the gun control argument? No? Let us catch up. For years, in nearly every location, if you wanted to carry a firearm on you, you had to have a license or … Continue reading →
Island Dweller rests his case on national service by linking up Operative BJ’s observations. Most August Majesty: I thought the topic had been laid to rest, however, Operative BJ’s comments are too good to pass up. I couldn’t have expressed … Continue reading →
Hey, in case you missed it because the media cannot comprehend the impact of it, Obamacare died Monday afternoon. Basically, this is true. Before you get overwhelmed with optimism and put on your Ronald Reagan straw hats and fire up … Continue reading →
Dr. J is not the only Olympics aficionado in the Castle. GorT loves him some Olympics…especially the Winter Olympics. The Summer is cool – you get some of GorT’s favorites like soccer, archery, shooting (the last two getting hardly any … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, In addition to the Olympics, the Westminster Dog Show is taking place! That’s an event that will never be hosted in Sochi, for very obvious reasons, including the fact that the Venn diagram of dog show people and … Continue reading →
Island Dweller presents with an exchange between him and his Esteemed Associate: Your esteemed majesty: Your minion here on the Island express-shipped Lobot-Ami back to EA in a heated crate to avoid our feathered friend becoming frostbitten, or hitching a … Continue reading →
‘Puter’s favorite day of the year is rapidly approaching.* Valentine’s Day! ‘Puter’s already picked out cards for the special people in his life, as have the rest of your Gormogons. ‘Puter’s glad to share our selections with you, provided you … Continue reading →
Before we get too far away from the original debate, Operative BJ sent us his closing thoughts about six days ago. But the Czar was busy, you know, what with trying on hats and getting the Castle dormitory television to … Continue reading →
Flame on! Gentle Readers, As you know, Dr. J. is the Olympics aficionado of the group. He would have posted this sooner, but he watched the Opening Ceremonies DVR’d as it was Senior Night for the Bene Gesserit Witches basketball … Continue reading →
Created by Chris Kolmar and our new friends at Movoto and also featured at Geeks are Sexy: The nice thing about pocket dimensions is that they’re bigger on the inside… h/t Movoto.com Dr. J.
Continue reading →See what happens when a USA bobsledder gets mad: Well, actually, it’s what happens when they get locked/stuck in the shower without their phone. ‘Puter does this all the time. We’re considering making his bathroom door a screendoor. GorTGorT is … Continue reading →
Dr. J., as you know, is not a fan of the Obama administration, but in addition to good willed disagreements with the President on policy, his perception of the President and the First Lady, is that they do not strike … Continue reading →
Lest you doubt our power, understand that the reach of the Gormogons extends everywhere. Yes, even Aisle 17 of Wal-Mart, where they sell those tiki torches. But you might ask whether our reach includes some of the more remote parts, … Continue reading →
Is there anything liberals care about more than “women’s health,” meaning “not having babies, by any means necessary?” If there is, ‘Puter hasn’t found it yet. This singular focus on abortion and birth control can be seen in this nonsensical … Continue reading →
A cor-worker of GorT sent this link along. Pretty darn funny. Click the image to continue… GorTGorT is an eight-foot-tall robot from the 51ˢᵗ Century who routinely time-travels to steal expensive technology from the future and return it to the … Continue reading →
“The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.” … Continue reading →
The Castle IT Department received this odd nutter last night: Your Imperial Majesty, Prince of DuPage, Emir of Eau Claire, Czar of Muscovy, Begging Your Cruelty’s pardon, but I’ve only recently noticed that Firefox displays the site’s contributor list as … Continue reading →
The campaign of Wendy Davis has gone beyond the comical to the outright horrific. Political science students really ought to study it, from its initial sensationalism of vagina costumes and tampon throwers and chants of “Hail Satan,” all the way … Continue reading →
