Two emails in the delivery chute today: Mark Spahn took a break from emailing the Czar to step up his game and email yours truly, the shiny robot. (“Suck it, Czar” shouts ‘Puter from the Rumpus Room couch): Dear GorT, … Continue reading →
GorT received the following interoffice memo from Dr. J regarding the Science Fiction TV show countdown: GorT,I’ve enjoyed your commentary on the top 50 Sci-Fi shows as ranked by people other than us.I’d like to share a few of my … Continue reading →
The esteemed Borepatch writes in regarding Torchwood on the list: Two Borepatch household thumbs up on Torchwood. It’s interesting that this is a Dr. Who spin off with frequent gunfire, and also interesting that Captain Jack is American. Even in … Continue reading →
Greetings, oh shiny one. I am minion #462.5, and I normally report to the Czar (may his shoes remained tied, and verily, not unto each other). I have been perusing the list of sci-fi shows, and it saddened me that … Continue reading →
GorT got this delivered via the autonomous mail delivery system we have here at the Castle…mostly because the denizens of the moat don’t play nice with our regular postal carrier. We love our postal carriers, but it’s pretty hard to … Continue reading →
It’s been a while since GorT has done a mailbag dump (man, that sounds like something ‘Puter would say). Item 1 – maybe shockingly to the Czar, Borepatch writes into the silver robot with the followin: Great writeup. I completely … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, the Retired Spook writes: Dear Dr. J., Thought you might find this story interesting. Tuesday night, I got home from work to find that only one of the horses had showed up for feeding, so I grabbed a … Continue reading →
Operative RKB Writes regarding Dr. J’s recent post: Dear Dr. J.: False premise: substantial numbers of government documents are printed with inkjets False minor premise: Of those documents printed on inkjet printers, the text to graphic ratio amounts for a … 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Island Dweller has some thoughts on the Czar’s mercurial rant on Korea: Most esteemed Czar A close examination of the photo of that poor man on that lonely Korean hilltop will disclose some deep slash wounds on the palm of … Continue reading →
Operative SMC writes after a stint in deep cover: Dr. J, It’s been a couple of years since I last wrote: kids can have that effect as I’m sure you know. Bill Vallicella (maverick philosopher) linked to his friend. I’ve … Continue reading →
Island Dweller offers a closing argument for his position on national service: Most esteemed majesty – You are correct in your position what I am proposing re: Universal Military Service is an impossibility at this time. It is impossible because … Continue reading →
A side-note from another topic prompted the Retired Spook to write this on a cinder block that was chucked through the window and hit Sleestak square in the chest, as if it had been precisely timed and aimed. Retired Spook … Continue reading →
The Czar continues to hear back from Operative BJ, Retired Spook, and Island Dweller about national service. Come to think of it, the Czar seems to get a lot of letters from retired guys. The Czar is worried he’s going … Continue reading →
The ongoing debate about national service is hardly winding down; the Czar is not certain he has seen this much debate between our readers since a row between Operative Thump (deceased), Minion Hoogle (deceased), and Operative Cheever (deceased) in 1838 … Continue reading →
Czar takes a break from his taxing hike during the Plateau of Leng’s first and only Pride Parade. The parade was discontinued after a freak rainbow focused the light from our quasar sun, instantly vaporizing all organic material, leaving behind … Continue reading →
For those not keeping pace, we have been having a fun, informative, and delightfully expanding discussion going on here over the idea of mandatory national service. If you are just joining us, please start here and then read this followup. … Continue reading →
What’s awesome for all of us is when a good debate begins between two of our loyal readers. You will recall a letter from Island Dweller, in which he supported US Navy ADM Mike Mullen for suggesting a mandatory national … Continue reading →
Who knew Burkina Faso had a Pride Parade? Czar. that’s who. Operative SMR reports in from Upper Volta* where he’s on a super-secret mission for Czar and ‘Puter to discover a new fruit-based mixer to spice up our favorite drink, the … Continue reading →
The Retired Spook writes in to follow up on some recent items: Please convey my thanks to Operative BJ for his insightful analysis of the Gates memoir. Although we disagree on a few particulars, he covers the same ground that … Continue reading →
The media is starting to realize that former Defense Secretary Robert Gates did not do the Democrats any favors with his memoir. Operative BJ wants us to know that Gates, frankly, did no one any favors with his memoir: O … Continue reading →
So this is where Czar goes on vacation! ‘Puter’s had a heckuva start to the New Year, what with picking up pieces of year-end 2013 closings at the office, and dealing with back-to-school craziness at home. In the rush, ‘Puter … Continue reading →
Operative BJ would like to reply to Operative SMR, which the Czar—because he is a benevolent homicidal maniac Czar—encourages. Getting email from any one of you is rewarding enough, but when the readership starts exchanging ideas, well, then this site … Continue reading →
Operative BJ brings the heat, taking the Czar’s late-night rant on Rights versus Privileges to an even simpler level of clarity: Great and glorious Czar, I plead forgiveness before asking: Does not the Constitution define the powers of the Federal … Continue reading →
Feels like 8º F outside – did you check your pipes? GorT settled down enough after his post yesterday morning enough to read his email and found this one from Ghost: Shiny Robot Lord I am sick to death of … Continue reading →
More mail from the masses. Your Majesty, I’m certain you recall my story of the pair of CFL bulbs, where one died after a few weeks and the other was still good? Tonight, the other one died. I found that … Continue reading →
GorT sometimes attends protests Maybe liberals and democrats are focusing on “living wage” arguments so the following doesn’t get much press: A recent CNN poll shows almost 70% of the country believes the economy is generally in poor shape and … Continue reading →
Christmas stockings were filled with mail here, and the Czar put his unstockinged feet up on the Ottoman to relax rather than respond. Before Mark Spahn, of West Seneca, New York, writes to disabuse the Czar on his capitalization of … Continue reading →
Quit doodling in the margins and get the translation right! Gentle Readers, Dr. J. got a bunch of mail in the last couple of days. The first was from our friend Mark Spahn. It wasn’t directly to Dr. J. but … Continue reading →
What fun! Let’s open up the Czar’s mailbox to see what you all have to say. First up, we have Mark Spahn, of West Seneca, New York, with some questions on our lightbulb guide. Thank you, your Czarosity, for [your … Continue reading →
A certain retired Master Sergeant wants us to consider how bad things might be. Your Immenseness; At the risk of wearing out my welcome here, I’d like to point out something that my grandfather frequently reminded me to consider; A. … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, The Holy Father, Pope Francis continues to make headlines, what with the Time Man of the Year award and all. LTC Dan (@LTCDanR) writes: Dear Dr. J., Thoughts? Comments?, LTC Dan Dear LTC Dan, Thank you for writing … Continue reading →
The Czar, as usual, picked up a lot of interesting mail over the weekend. Mark Spahn, he of West Seneca, New York, submitted a clever idea about using text-to-speech applications as an inexpensive and highly effective way to proofread materials … Continue reading →
The snow is finally falling here in Muscovy, and the holidays must be fast approaching because all the car commericals on television are written by and for 5-year-olds. Seriously: whoever it was at Honda who greenlit the use of Michael … Continue reading →
Operative MR has been working on a secret project for us, the nature of which shall not be revealed, named Project Shoot Down ISON. She takes time out from her busy schedule to write in. Please note especially her first … Continue reading →
GorT’s recent post elicited some interesting responses. First BG writes in regarding flopping and various sports: So basketball and football are better than soccer because the NBA and the NFL are taking steps to deal with the curse of “flopping,” … Continue reading →
Look, everybody knows the Mandarin is the most popular writer here because he can distill total rage in about three short paragraphs, accompanied by either a funny graphic or some utterly bizarre YouTube video never more than a couple minutes … Continue reading →
JAB, who deep fries even the turkey stuffing, writes in on Thanksgiving: Your Czarness: With Organizing for America sending out talking points for how to promote Obamacare at the family Thanksgiving table, I propose a competition: For every OFA point-spouting … Continue reading →
The following essay is a guest post from Island Dweller because it seems the Czar doesn’t post anything of his own lately. But this great news, because we remind our readers that you are welcome to submit your thoughts either … Continue reading →
Nothing says “treat us with dignity and respect we deserve” more than dressing up and behaving in accordance with the worst stereotypes about us. Also, these two are playing a game of “hide the sugar beet.” Can you find it? ‘Puter’s … Continue reading →
Island Dweller copies the Czar on some of his mail, which we in turn by our massive grace extend unto thee, dear reader: Your majesty: Esteemed Associate, still firmly ensconced like a tenacious polyp in the bowels of the government … Continue reading →
Island Dweller has some observations: Losing Our Cool, are we? Your immenseness: I had cause to laugh yesterday while watching an out-take from Megan Kelly’s show on FoxNews that featured an interview she attempted with Ezekiel Emanuel, brother of Rahm … Continue reading →
The operative known as Ghost writes to Dr. J., rather than The Czar: O Wielder of the Scalpel Most Fine, I normally write to my overlord who shall not be named, but this…was so…you, that it could not be helped. … Continue reading →
The Czar loves getting mail. But the truth is this: the worse things get out there, the more mail he receives. And we are sad to confess, as you have noticed, the Czar has been getting a lot of mail … Continue reading →
Island Dweller brings the 411: Esteemed, great and awful majesty: I recall a recent post by you relating to American voters and how they suck (by and large). Here is a story that’s a perfect example of how voters take … Continue reading →
The Ghost—perhaps our most mysterious operative, although today he was down in the Castle Cafetorium because on Mondays we usually feature that awesome French toast special, where you get two decent scrambled eggs on a separate plate so the syrup … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes (and so should you!): O most dread, awful, omnipotent, omniscent, etc etc . . . Mother Jones magazine recently published the results of a public opinion poll conducted in part by James Carville. The results of the … Continue reading →
Sundays are great when other people do our writing for us. Keep the letters inbound, folks! The Czar might have this up even sooner, but he prefers a Windows operating system and lately it takes forever for this thing to … Continue reading →
Operative BG writes in with the following: Never mind the insurmountable ten dollar cost of getting a ride to the library to apply for Obamacare; we’re going to have tons of fun when people try to actually apply. I worked … Continue reading →
Operative BG, our copy editor strikes: Just pointing out a peeve of mine. I have many. Dr. J. loves the digital red pen, btw… Also, Spanish emersion? Otherwise, good post. I’m sharing the graph on my Facebook page. Operative BG Essential … Continue reading →
The other day, we all received one of the best question we have ever received. The Czar makes this claim because all six of us were quite excited by the nature of the question: To the Gracious, Learned, Infallible, and … Continue reading →
Mark Spahn of West Seneca, NY, is one of our favorite correspondents. It is important to know that this is a cover, because he is technically closer to Lackawanna than he is to the geospatial center of West Seneca. Just … Continue reading →
‘Puter’s not certain if this is a PrideParade or the Gayest Mardi Gras EverTM, but he likes the color scheme and the horns. Mostly the horns. Operative BG writes in apropos ‘Puter’s piquant five-part series on the nation’s debt limit … Continue reading →
Paul Krugman (L) and E.J. Dionne pose fora photo as they take in the sights at ClimaxSprings, Missouri during Spring Break atLake of the Ozarks. Show me state, indeed. It’s been quite some time since Operative JAB wrote in from … Continue reading →
Mitch used to write in from time to time, and thank goodness he’s still out there. Yesterday, the Czar had to sum up the evolution from the Whigs to the 1860 Republican Party in a half-sentence. Not surprisingly, Mitch thought … Continue reading →
We have ourselves a ghost-like minion, who treads invisibly amidst popular culture. Indeed, his very code name is Ghost, although it turns out that’s a ridiculous coincidence. Dread Lord, I humbly present this to your glorious radiance. As requested, I … Continue reading →
Borepatch—yes him—sent us a motorcycle with a letter rolled into a tube and hidden inside the tail pipe: I’d add in the collapse of the public education establishment to your excellent list. At the local level you see push back … Continue reading →
About websites being shutdown for theatrical reasons: Your Czarness: Also shut down are the SEC webpage that allows one to file and to track corporate filings and the USGS webpage that allow one to look up seismic data for a … Continue reading →
JAB write to the shiny metallic one regarding this post: Dear Mr. GorT: Your advice to the GOP strikes me as spot-on, but I fear they are too stupid to follow it. Had they any gumption, they would long … Continue reading →
From the Doublewide, JAB writes in after too long an absence (but do we not always say that about her?): Dear Your Czarness: Yes, indeedy, some jack-wagon “supervisor” in some office in DC decided the putting up barricades and tape … Continue reading →
The Czar found a mysterious photograph slipped under his door; the picture was simply of white clouds against a blue sky. Assuming the worst, we ran the picture through GorT and Mandarin’s stegiographic decompiler, and sure enough—a message was encoded … Continue reading →
Many minions write to the Czar in an overtly supplicating tone, apparently terrified that the Czar will unleash some horrific punishment onto them. Ridiculous! The Czar encourages and welcomes all manners of correspondence with his minions, for he truly respects … Continue reading →
From the mailbag: First up, NSW writes: There’s another unintended consequence to raising the minimum wage in California. Minimum wage employees are not those paying to keep California running. Their small business employers probably pay a not insignificant portion of … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, Dr. J. has woefully neglected his inbox in which a couple of missives have been collecting dust. The first comes as a follow up to a recent letter from newly minted Operative DC. Operative DC, who also likes … Continue reading →
Mailbag, when the Czar can take it a smidge easier and see what others have to say. First up, we have The Big Guy himself, Uncle Jay, who has an interesting observation about why alpacas spit when threatened: O most … Continue reading →
Operative Javahead writes: Some supporting evidence for your position – My older daughter is in her final year of pharmacy school (going for her Pharm. D. at Loma Linda). As an undergrad she’d originally planned to apply for medical school, … Continue reading →
Yeah, We can’t go with anything naughty associated with our Archivist… The lovely, and off the market, Marie Bernadette (@MariebernadetteE), the Castle Archivist writes: Dear Dr. J.: Good insight into the TN school system way of things in today’s post. … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, Dr. J.’s recent post in which he took the ‘Which D&D Character Are You’ was quite popular with the readers. Indeed, two of our operatives and two of Dr. J.’s old gaming mates took the quiz. As a … Continue reading →
It wasn’t long before Dr. J. received a missive from none other than Operative RBK who returned from the other side of the mirror where he was on R&R from all things operative. He writes in regarding Dr. J.’s recent anti-Krugman … Continue reading →
College football players are checking out the talent helping a freshman co-ed move in on move-in day. Gormogon longtime fan, reader and sometime writer, JAB writes from the doublewide: Dear Mr. Dr. J.: I read your “Big Skool” post with … Continue reading →
We received an interesting appendix on World War II by SW, who writes in with some historical sobriety—just how much we fought prior to Pearl Harbor: The US suffered combat casualties long before Pearl Harbor. The earliest was the USS … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes in to reference our exploration of FDR’s military aims. As usual, ID has some very interesting information: Most dread and awful majesty: I have read with great interest of your find of the newspaper you uncovered during … Continue reading →
Mrs. Volgi modeling the Volgimobile Dr. J. was delinquent with regard to this missive from the great ScottO, who you better be following on twitter @gscottoliver. He writes regarding Dr. J.’s recent rant on Obamacare: Most Excellent Doctor, At the … Continue reading →
Well, thanks, Puter, for what the heck that was. Turns out this smoking conversation has inspired a lot of conversation, both in the Castle and even down at the Doublewide. JAB, after a too-long absence writes in: Your Czarness: As … Continue reading →
Island Dweller carefully wrote this onto a stick of gum, chewed it to get it past security, and placed this on a Castle window for us to find and reconstruct. Unless we are wrong in how we deciphered the squiggles … Continue reading →
Lots of email has arrived. Better start getting through it. First up today, Mark Spahn, Lord Ruler of West Seneca, New York, has been discussing our site with others—as you are surely doing, if you know what is good for … Continue reading →
Mark Spahn, ersatz ruler of West Seneca, poses some questions to test the Czar’s acuity this early Saturday morning. The video is introduced by the irritating voice and now-jowly visage of sometime U.S. presidential candidate Pat Robertson, but stick with … Continue reading →
‘Puter’s super! Thanks forasking! ‘Puter’s fond of this post’s title. It reminds him of an Aesop’s fable, like Androcles and the Lion, but more fabulous and with better clothes. More to the point, ‘Puter found this missive from Operative SMR … Continue reading →
Island Dweller with a retrospective on the Death of Detroit; well worth your time and attention so heed: Most illustrious sultan of the steppes: This post is just a couple of observations about Detroit’s demise. I am a native of … Continue reading →
The 2013 All-Castle Pride Parade Male Chorus prepares to sing its a cappella version of U2’s Pride: In the Name of Man on Man Love ‘Puter’s gotten more mail this week than he has in some time, so he’s trying … Continue reading →
This is weird. The Czar received not one but two emails within minutes of each other regarding a claim on the Internet that Sleestak may have shot Trayvon Martin. First, Borepatch wrote in followed a few moments later by Chiefjaybob, … Continue reading →
The Czar isn’t sure what Island Dweller was ranting about the other day, but obviously Glinda the Good was following it pretty carefully, as she provides her thoughts in response. My Gracious Leader; In reading the contribution of Island Dweller … Continue reading →
That’s not the diplomatic pouch to which ‘Puter referred, Operative ML. Now putit down! Actually, this mailbag’s about the Zimmerman verdict and self-defense law. ‘Puter just enjoys revving up the humorless shrew wing of the gay lobby by linking ‘Puter’s … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes a nice letter about the Zimmerman trial on the back of a prescription for Clomipramine. Your omniscience: Esteemed Associate and I were discussing the Martin case last evening. I encapsulate our conversation for you. One has to … Continue reading →
The Huckleberry’s Huckleberry LTC Dan writes: Dear Dr. J., I don’t remember this from the movie TOMBSTONE… Love ya, mean it! LTC Dan We love you too man! Thank you, again, for your service to our country. We thought about … Continue reading →
The great ScottO writes: O Most Powerful and Wise Dr. J., I read your review of the Yelp Dr. J.
Continue reading →All this and more can be yours for only $19.95! Your imperial majesty: My own царица has fled the aquatic hinterlands and is currently esconsced with the girls in the Big Easy. This leave me with more time on my … Continue reading →
These are either the ugliest lesbians ‘Puter’sever seen or Czar and Dat Ho are trollingfor sailors during Fleet Week again. Bettermake sure Czar hasn’t drunk his bail fund. ‘Puter received this missive from Island Dweller (by way of Czar who … Continue reading →
Could the Czar be any happier than to have not one but two highly respected epistolarians offer sweet prose on different topics, each of which deserves a response. First, in order of arrival, is Borepatch, who delights us with a … Continue reading →
Yeah, pretty much everything stops when LTC(R) Dan writes in. The Gormogons, as you well know, enjoy considerable military acquaintanceship, but we probably all give pause when LTC Dan writes in because, as you know, he is as smart as … Continue reading →
