Outstanding review by Bruce Bawer of a new biography of the poet. Read this. In the opening pages of Charles Molesworth’s 1990 biography of Marianne Moore, the reader encounters two exceedingly curious sentences. “I have chosen,” declares Molesworth in the … Continue reading →
Read the whole thing. Recognizing the valid concerns of your adversary in an effort to resolve disputes is, of course, a standard negotiating tactic, whether in marital counseling, business, or diplomacy. But recognizing invalid, made-up concerns is likely to be … Continue reading →
Contrary to what many in Washington are suggesting, understanding the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was never difficult. Three U.S. administrations failed to do it not because of a lack of evidence of his criminality but rather because facing that reality … 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
They offer you this… …and then you get this. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. www.gormogons.com
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 →
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 →
Retired Spook, our favoritest Master Sergeant, writes in on a couple of topics. First, he urges caution on the impending overturn of the Senate: Remember, this is the party that took the NYT-endorsed candidate into the 2008 election. They have … Continue reading →
Doc, Confucius* has it on good authority that Pope Francis is not and has never been an adherent of Liberation Theology, on which basis he was roundly detested by almost all of his fellow South American Jesuits. That said, Confucius … Continue reading →
The Czar asked Confucius’s* opinion on the oft-stated theory that President Kennedy, had he lived, would have withdrawn the U.S. from Vietnam. Confucius does not have a strong opinion one way or the other. Here’s why: Historical counterfactuals are awesome!Buy … Continue reading →
Thank you, “Ed Campion,” S.J. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. www.gormogons.com
Continue reading →Not our words…I’m actually sourcing a story in The Huffington Post: ABC News correspondent Ann Compton described Obama as the “least transparent of the seven presidents I’ve covered in terms of how he does his daily business.” Anyone see the … Continue reading →
Apropos Jonathan Last’s droll and true comparisons of the Redskins’ and Eagles’ respective fan bases, allow your Volgi to summarize. Confucius says:Redskins fans believe in Santa Claus; Eagles fans, seeing Santa in the flesh, throw batteries at him. Confucius, Œc. … Continue reading →
Recently over the transom came this minion memo to Confucius from Darod of Qo’noš, last seen on Twitter hobnobbing with Adam Baldwin. Here’s his missive, translated from the original Klingon. O Luminous One, Congratulations on five years of determined yet … Continue reading →
Arts & Letters Daily links to a Chronicle of Higher Education article called, “When Hollywood Held Hands With Hitler,” hyping a new book claiming Hollywood studios somehow “collaborated” with the Nazi régime in the 1930s to stay in the market. The … Continue reading →
GorT has been busy time-traveling and gathering information…well, ok, really, I’ve been swamped with work and family stuff. So, I thought I’d take a few minutes on a quiet, misty Sunday morning to reflect on the current issues facing the … Continue reading →
Let your Œc. Vol., offer another explanation. As good minions, you are aware of the Volgi’s Fallacy of Foreign-Policy Egocentrism, in which other countries’ actions are explained deterministically in terms of one’s own. The bottom line of the FFPE is: … Continue reading →
Yeah, yeah, Dr. J. is on vacation but there is a morning chill in the air, Mrs. Dr. J. is still snoozing and the Lil Resident and Medstudent are watching Wreck-it Ralph on an iPad, so Dr. J. decided to … Continue reading →
If you eat your tail, you only shrink. There’s a metaphor in here somewhere. Dr. J. is a big fan of Pete ‘Pencilneck‘ DuPont. Indeed when Dr. J. was a yout’ just shy of voting age, he and Papa J. … Continue reading →
Our intellectual betters at the New York Times thoughtfully advise us it is now inconceivable that any rational person could oppose President Obama’s brilliant “compromise” regarding religiously affiliated employers and government mandated birth control coverage. ‘Puter learned the following facts from … Continue reading →
Your Mandarin is a long-time student of psychology and has something like fifteen or sixteen degrees in it; it’s tough to remember exactly. One of the more weird things you’ll encounter is the McGurk Effect. Watch this video: That is … Continue reading →
IBM’s Watson, as the rendered by an artist based on the limited reseach done by the Czar. Remember Watson, the IBM computer that proved Alex Trebek really is an inch-deep pseudo-intellectual? Well, he wound up in trouble with the law. … Continue reading →
Over at Weird Universe, Alex there has a compilation of predictions for the year 2013 made in 1913 by Londons then-new Lord Mayor. This got the Czar to thinking: how were some of his predictions for 2013 made back in … Continue reading →
For most of the Americans that re-elected Barack Obama, social media is revealing that somehow they aren’t getting the guy they thought he would be. This seems incredible to those of us who have long-since recognized him as an incompetent … Continue reading →
GorT received some email traffic from some relatives asking about the origin of the Taxpayer Relief Act (the bill saving us, insert laughing here, from the “fiscal cliff”) and referenced the same section of the Constitution that the Burgher of … Continue reading →
So it breaks down like this: The Liberal: Oh no! This is terrible. The government should be involved! We’re not careful. The Conservative: Oh no! This is terrible; the government could be involved if we’re not careful. The Libertarian: Oh … Continue reading →
Growing up, Dr. J. would watch the conventions, debates and advertisements, and while he was raised a conservative, he was taught to learn about the issues, where the parties stand, and who the candidates are before pulling a lever. Papa … Continue reading →
What the hell happened in Benghazi? Even the omniscient* Gormogons are baffled. However, unlike the media, which has looked at the attack and its aftermath largely through the prism of the Obama administration’s cover-up, the Gormogons look to the past. (Or … Continue reading →
[Byang-chub rgyal-mtshan] did everything in his power to improve the military strength and administration of his myriarchy, but lived in constant discord with the neighboring myriarchs of gYa-bzang and Tshal-pa. His enemy, the dPonchen of Sa-skya, took advantage of the … Continue reading →
Congressmen ply their trade,sizing up available johns campaign contributors. Democrats consider themselves and Big and Little party. That is, Democrats are a “Big Tent” party, taking any and all comers, no matter how wacky their views. Simultaneously, Democrats claim to be the … Continue reading →
BG writes in. I’m sure I’m not the only one who noticed this. Tuesday night: Ohio Governor Kasich: We balanced our budget and we cut taxes. Wisconsin Governor Walker: We balanced our budget and we cut taxes. Virginia Governor McDonnell: … Continue reading →
Republicans use their mastery of weather (along with space and time) to direct a stormas big as Texas to destroy their dark-skinnedenemies in the Chocolate City. Or so theNew York Times believes. If one’s reading list were limited to the New … Continue reading →
So, Obamalatry now has, one guesses, its own equivalent of the Black Stone of Mecca. Next step, a Kaaba? So, eventually he did rock her world. Two things: Confucius clicked on this video, and it led with a Mitt Romney … Continue reading →
..is all we are saying. The Czar of MuscovyБожію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all … Continue reading →
Rolfe is a good example of howgovernment workers easily morphfrom well-intentioned public servantsinto fascists who want to control everyportion of your life. Each and every time ‘Puter hears the words “alcohol, tobacco and firearms” strung together he thinks not of … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, our first missive comes from PC who writes: Dear Dr. J., The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the sacraments as “efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is … Continue reading →
Thank goodness for Mrs. ‘Puter’sgenes. Otherwise, Spawn wouldbe slow and unattractive like‘Puter. Though if there’s justice,Spawn inherited ‘Puter’s balding gene. Eleven years ago, around three a.m., ‘Puter’s youngest son Spawn burst forth from his shell entered the world. He was … Continue reading →
Ms. Brown is a sharp reporter and a beautiful bride. Please ignore Dan Senor (right), the lucky bastard. ‘Puter’s happy to see Campbell Brown’s piece in this morning’s Wall Street Journal. Well, ‘Puter wasn’t happy about the piece’s content, but … Continue reading →
Paul Krugman uses his Op-Ed column in today’s New York Times to try to deflect the cause of the slow recovery from the Obama Administration. He writes: New GDP report out today; slightly stronger than expected, but still very weak. … Continue reading →
Batman’s pales in comparison, as Volgi and the Czar made some smart investments per GorT’s foresight. That being said, Dr. J. saw this infographic and found it fun: Dr. J.
Continue reading →Post Subtitle: (Until Liberals Know Of What They Speak) ‘Puter’s been watching Morning Joe again, so you don’t have to do so. Like all good mainstream media, the gang at Morning Joe paid lip service to not utilizing the Aurora … Continue reading →
Christiano Ronaldo and David Beckhamhave absolutely nothing to do with finance.‘Puter just figured he could drive blog trafficby giving the ladies something nice to look at. ‘Puter’s in process of refinancing his mortgage. He is paying off an outstanding balance … Continue reading →
Hey Czar, remember when Confucius* used to put up all these bizarre YouTube videos that were weird and quirky but somehow totally watchable? Indeed we do. And while we are not a terribly Œcumenical kind of Czar, we can try. … Continue reading →
Hello, children. Well, you probably wonder what your Mandarin has been up to in the lab lately. So here are some videos documenting what goes on in the Castle basement: What happens to marshmallows when subjected to a vacuum? Let‘s … Continue reading →
The Europeans are Hell-bent on makinga Dresden out of their economies. ‘Puter’s concerned that most Americans do not fully comprehend the slow motion disaster unfolding before their eyes. The European Union and the Euro itself are close to collapse, which … Continue reading →
Hat tip to someone. Who the hell knows. Google grabbed it off Tumblr, and…frankly, who even knows what that means. Nobody on the damned internet speaks English anymore. The Czar of MuscovyБожію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ … Continue reading →
‘Puter’s amid three of the biggest deals of his professional career at the moment. So, naturally, Mrs. ‘Puter informs ‘Puter he’s got to leave work at 2:15 to pick up ‘Puter, Jr. at Jesuit Institution of Lower Learning (“JILL,” for … Continue reading →
Hey, E.J! You dropped your thirtypieces of silver! Don’t worry. MoDowill get them for you. ‘Puter guesses portraying Mr. Dionne and Ms. Dowd as Roman Catholicism’s fifth column is a bit inflammatory, and perhaps a tad inaccurate. Mr. Dionne and … Continue reading →
The last few days have seen a rash of rationalizing columns from the liberal nominally Catholic nomenklatura. And yes, ‘Puter means to use “rash” in its most nasty, suppurating, syphilitic form to describe the detached ramblings of Maureen Dowd (here, in Sunday’s … Continue reading →
Operative FJR writes in: I loved the way Lil Resident and Lady Jaye worked out their differences and there wasn’t any major adult intervention. The adults served as reinforcement to appropriate behavior. It is nice to know that there are … Continue reading →
Long-term Operative SC sends in a video to the Czar, with a request to share it with you all. You probably have already seen it, and for the most part, you made up your mind on this issue long before … Continue reading →
Although Oceania has always been at war with East Asia, it is interesting how little we understand each other. The Czar would prefer not to describe the generally petty differences between liberals and conservatives, for example, as war. But no … Continue reading →
Good mothers love their children, much as theBlessed Virgin Mary loved Jesus “‘Puter’s got a face only a mother could love.” How many times have we heard this around the Castle? The Gormogons can be, much like any family, a … Continue reading →
Where the Hard Left seesa looming apocalypse, ‘Puter sees jobs Dr. James Hansen vomited a histrionic, hyperbolic and hysterical (in all senses) op-ed piece onto ‘Puter’s breakfast table this morning, via the self-anointed arbiter of all that is true (i.e., … Continue reading →
Your Mandarin received this communiqué from Operative JS: Dear Mandy Mandarin, I really liked your post on the Avengers, even if it did ruin the movie for me with no warning from you. I think the positive qualities you mentioned … Continue reading →
Operative DT writes regarding the Jedi Academy’s May Day charity event: Doctor Jota, Why not unleash the massive army of Gormogon followers to help May? If we each donated a penny it’d still add up to Obama’s deficit! Best, … Continue reading →
Operative MS writes: Dear Dr. J., regarding the video you posted last week that can be found here. It is a not very good 5-minute propaganda video. It makes not the message but the narrator the center of attention, … Continue reading →
Your Gormogons attempting to smuggle ‘Puter back into the U.S. Dana Milbank of the ever-entertaining Washington Post provides evidence of what ‘Puter has long suspected: WaPo opinionators exist in an alternate reality, akin to Bizarro World. Mr. Milbank, … Continue reading →
And when today is dubbed by Mayor RahmA Day to Speak Like William Shakespeare thus,So all Chicago musters its aplombTo group its iambs into fives or plus. Perhaps a cabbie growls about the Bears,Or wonders if the Cubs will ever … Continue reading →
In, not surprisingly, The Huffington Post, Richard (RJ) Eskow writes that the Left should brace itself for another round of hysteria from the right. Because here come those nutty conservatives, all crying about Medicare and Social Security running out of … Continue reading →
Your news media is at it again. Despite evidence showing the economy is in really bad shape, and possibly getting worse, they are reporting that things have never been hap-hap-happier. Recent stories make it very clear that Obama is polling … Continue reading →
One of the truly awesome things about being in the Gormogons is the expansive sweep of centuries from which we draw our collections. Take the Dixieland Jug Blowers, who will entertain you with “Banjoreno.” Curtis knew some of the dirtiest … Continue reading →
As many of you know, most of the Gormogons got together this past Wednesday to catch up, speak off the record, and basically plot your total destruction. And what fun we had! Hundreds of famous celebrities, some living, some dead, … Continue reading →
Nightfly writes: Dear Darth Doctor: Yamato is a worthy vessel indeed. We modeled the Supersonic Rocket Ship on her basic design, after an early prototype based on G-Force’s Phoenix ran into operation problems. (Far too much Fiery, not quite enough … Continue reading →
JAB writes in from the Doublewide: Dear Mr. Dr. J.: Sorry for my cranky rant about your erstwhile buddy Mittens. It wasn’t that I drank too much weird tea, I was just temporarily put into a fit of peek by … Continue reading →
Dr. J. voted on Super Tuesday, last week. He regaled you with his parking experience, this week he is going to regale you with his voting experience. You see, in Tennessee, you have to present your photo ID to voting … Continue reading →
Dr. J. received this missive from his friend Scott O. at @gscottoliver on twitter and http://thoughtsfromthecorneroffice.blogspot.com/. We highly recommend that you read him everyday.He writes: Your Medicusship, Regarding The Pancetta Menace: How logical of you to assert that something that is … Continue reading →
1. Right, cue up option 2 and maybe option 3 from here 2. It’s not about contraception. It’s not about how many Catholics use it or not. If you haven’t read the various posts here and understood this point, you … Continue reading →
It should be noted that it’s believed our cetacean friends have a collateral relation that still walks on land: the hippo. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. www.gormogons.com
Continue reading →Dr. J.’s posts regarding games captured the imaginations of some of our readers (and writers). Our first letter comes from the ever so kind Operative JS: Dear doctor doctor I’ve got a bad case of hemorrhaging you, I, too, enjoy … Continue reading →
Victor David Hanson is one of Dr. J.’s favorite conservative columnists, primarily because of his ability present his arguments clearly, succinctly, but with a touch of verbal flair not seen in many columnists. He is like a conservative George Will … Continue reading →
The first letter in today’s mailbag comes from Operative ME somewhere vaguely near the Four Corners: Dr. J., As someone who grew up in New Jersey before escaping to Arizona, I found your description of the cultural landscape of New … Continue reading →
The mailbag is gets pretty full this time of year. Part of leading a worldwide conspiracy is that operatives, minions, lackeys, cronies and flunkies send us Christmas Cards, tribute and coordinates for Mandy to target with various and sundry orbiting … Continue reading →
There is just a ton of mail that comes in at Christmas Time. While many of it is checks for our Feed the TchoTcho Fund™, some of it is fan mail for your Gormogons, including for yours truly. Our first … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, Today’s song selection, You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch, caused a bit of a dust up with some of our fans. Dr. J. didn’t post the original because it’s mashed together with narration in between. He went with the … Continue reading →
Seeing as how it is the Christmas season, your Mandarin is in the giving mood, and based on the actions of the Boston Public Schools, he would like to send them a special Yuletide themed Boot in the Gut. It … Continue reading →
The Czar: What advice would you give the Obama adminstration on stimulating job growth and, assuming there is a relation, bringing down the unemployment rate in an election year? Jeffords: You know what? You think that Kwiatkowski, or Dennis Whash-his-name … Continue reading →
Dr. J. is finally getting around to answering his mail.The first one is from Operative SM, who sends this missive in to us: Dear Dr. J,Good God; inevitable and awful. US man sues over girlfriend’s theft of spermSincerely, SMP.S. – [per a … Continue reading →
Dr. J. would like to start off thanking The Czar for watering the plants and letting the fell beasts out for their daily constitutionals at the Castle over the 5 day weekend so that Dr. J. and the other Gormogons … Continue reading →
GorT got the following piece of mail and I’ve been too busy to post on it until now. Unfortunately, GorT misread some units on information about the LFTR technology and DJ MC Nuke caught it: RE: https://www.gormogons.com/2011/11/road-not-taken.htmla thorium fueled liquid … Continue reading →
The Czar is loathe to cast judgment without more facts, but come on. Really? At least she admits it’s all about “adequate [financial] support.” The Czar of MuscovyБожію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The … Continue reading →
The Royal Mathematician writes in: Baklava is a tasty honey-based pastry, Balaklava is the location of the battle of “Light Brigade” fame… –Dr. (KN)J, Royal Mathematician to the Gormogons, Afficionado of both Baklava and Balaklava One is a Greek PastryThe … Continue reading →
From George Takei’s Facebook page 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 past for retroinvention. The profits from this pay all the Gormogons’ … Continue reading →
From the Apple website: Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend … Continue reading →
Mail mail mail mail. First, we understand that some Firefox users are seeing white patches on the sides of the site. Guess what? It is your fault, Firefox users. We recommend you upgrade to Thrace 13.2, which not only fixes … Continue reading →
Your Mandarin would like to announce the latest recipient of the coveted “Bootie” award. And the winner is New York Times columnist Paul Krugman for his latest opinionpiece regarding 9/11: Is it just me, or are the 9/11 commemorations oddly … Continue reading →
Gentle Readers, Dr. J. was packing the lunches for the lil med student and lil resident this morning when on Fox and Friends, it was announced that rocket scientist, neurosurgeon and DNC Chairwoman(womyn?, person?, persyn?) Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was … Continue reading →
Yes, the Gormogons felt the 5.9 Earthquake that was centered outside Richmond, VA. No, it’s not distracting us from our regular Gormogon business. GorTGorT is an eight-foot-tall robot from the 51ˢᵗ Century who routinely time-travels to steal expensive technology from … Continue reading →
The Czar, Mandarin, ‘Puter and GorT and huddled around the 43.2’ dual-fusion plasma screen to watch Phineas & Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension. Hopefully, the Volgi will get back from the Hinterlands in time to join in. If we’re not … Continue reading →
Your Mandarin received this message from operative HRE who is currently stationed in the hinterlands… Dear Mr. Mandyrin, I read your post on the mission at your parish, and I have to agree with your analysis 100%. Unfortunately for the … Continue reading →
The answer is, probably in a strategically placed nap. Dr. J. hasn’t been terribly prolific since being inducted into the Gormogons. This is because he has been on assignment in the New Atlantis Ivory Tower Hospital (NAITH) for the last … Continue reading →
