A President as NWO Hulk Hogan

It's long been my opinion that President Trump learned his political rhetoric during his time with the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment. His social media posts in particular make more sense if you read them in the voice and with the beats of Macho Man Randy Savage or Hulk Hogan from the 80s. 

However, this morning he's decided to escalate into the scale of Hulk Hogan during his 'New World Order' phase, known in the art of professional wrestling -- i.e., a subset of the art of dramatic performance -- as a 'heel turn.' 

That's a ridiculous thing to say. For one thing it's obviously not a credible threat. Even if it were true that he was going to bomb every electrical plant in Iran, plus all the bridges, plus all the water treatment facilities, it wouldn't kill the civilization. It would create a lot of problems; it would probably kill a lot of people indirectly, especially the elderly and the very young (who are especially sensitive to waterborne diseases and/or require electrical power for life-sustaining equipment like oxygen concentrators). Empty threats lessen credibility, and credibility is the currency he is spending. 

Secondly, while this is the same nation that firebombed Dresden and Tokyo, carried out Linebacker II and secret wars in Laos etc., even those attacks didn't rise to the level of attempting to kill a civilization. The US military has trained for the mission of civilization-killing, of course, in the context of Mutually Assured Destruction. There's no similar threat that would justify such an action here. It would be genuinely immoral to attempt such an action. Destroying the regime is highly desirable and would be of benefit to the whole world; destroying the civilization is another question entirely. 

As I was telling Dad29 yesterday, I don't take President Trump very seriously; I don't expect his rhetoric to match reality. I doubt he thinks seriously about what he is saying himself. For the most part we just roll with it, because most of what he says isn't that important anyway. Probably this isn't either; just more hot air like the rest of it. 

All the same, we have a professional military that is excellently executing a complex mission in a highly praiseworthy manner. Trump and Hegseth deserve credit for eliminating the poisonous leadership of the Afghanistan Withdrawal era, which has allowed the healthy levels of the military to perform at their best again. Now it would be the path of wisdom to let them do their jobs without adding this kind of rhetorical nonsense. If the threat were to be carried out, it would be immoral; if it is not, as it is almost certain not to be, it degrades the very coin the President wants to spend to settle the matter.

UPDATE: It occurs to me that Trump's phrasing matches that of the Oracle of Delphi's to Croesus. Fortunately Trump is not a prophet. Still, one might wonder what would happen to our own civilization if it were to carry out such a threat. No foreign power nor collection of them could threaten us; as Abraham Lincoln said, "All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years." That remains so. 

What we might do to ourselves in the wake of such an action, however, is far less clear.

Some Different Sounds

Some rockabilly and blues as an alternative sound to start the week.

Sounds old, but they're an active band in LA right now.

This one is older: 1969. The Rolling Stones covered this one.

Thomas Tallis

I thought this had cleared, but I guess I still can't embed images or videos here. I was trying to post this tune.

Fidei Defensor

What authority remains to defend the faith?

Buckingham Palace confirmed this week that King Charles will 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 in 2026. He did issue one last year. But this year — the most important holiday on the Christian calendar — the head of the Church of England went silent. This from the same King who recorded a Ramadan greeting in February, acknowledged a Nigerian president’s “sacrifice” during Ramadan at a State Banquet, and has repeatedly elevated Islamic observances in public addresses... The British monarch’s role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England isn’t ceremonial decoration. It’s a 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 of the Crown, codified since Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy in 𝟏𝟓𝟑𝟒. A king who won’t perform it has abandoned the terms under which he holds the office.

The demand [by former European Parliament MP Godfrey Bloom] was unambiguous: “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦.” 

Everyone knows that the title Fidei Defensor was given to Henry VIII by the Pope for Henry's defense of Catholicism; ironically Henry decided to keep the title after leading the English Reformation so he could try for sons on a few more wives. However, the Pope of today isn't exactly batting a thousand either.

Pope Leo XIV used his first Easter speech Sunday to deliver a resounding call for peace in times of renewed war, declaring, “Let those who have weapons lay them down!”

No. We often mention Luke 22:36 in this space; the time for laying down arms might come as we look for the Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead. Until it does, we already have a charge on the subject of arms and from a better authority.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who heads the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services USA, told CBS News in an interview taped Thursday that the war in Iran would not be justified under the “just war” theory applied by the Catholic Church, arguing that while Iran may have posed a threat “with nuclear arms,” the U.S. is compensating “for a threat before the threat is actually realized.”

“The Lord Jesus certainly brought a message of peace and also, I think, war is always a last resort,” he said in the segment that aired Sunday.

If war wasn't your last resort, you didn't resort to enough of it.

Removing a Sheriff

For the first time in a generation, a North Carolina sheriff is facing a formal removal procedure. 

Maintaining faith in the justice system and protecting law enforcement were the themes of the four-day hearing held last week in Robbinsville to determine whether Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit — now suspended amid allegations of misconduct tied to an investigation of the ex-husband of his current wife — would be officially barred from returning to office.

District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch sought to prevent Hoxit from regaining his badge, arguing that preserving the integrity of the critical institution meant keeping a corrupt sheriff out of power, while Hoxit’s defense team claimed that a message must be sent that a sheriff can execute his duties without fear of political retribution..... 

The sheriff is the most powerful person in any county, and Welch asserted that in smaller counties (Graham County has about 8,000 residents), that power is even more outsized. She said Hoxit felt he could use his power for personal ends, even at the expense of others in the community. In her final words to Stetzer, she drove home her thesis. By removing Hoxit, the judge would maintain the public faith in the justice system so crucial to its functionality. In a case this rare and this important, the precedent set will echo well into the future.

“It’s not for his punishment,” Welch said. “It’s for protection, because if we don’t set an example, and we don’t stand up and say, ‘You can’t do this; you are not allowed to get away with this,’ then what are we doing? Why do we have a constitution?”

A decision on the removal -- which is not a civil nor a criminal matter, but resembles a trial and is held in a court under the auspices of a judge -- will not come for weeks. 

Georgia had a vast problem with its sheriffs for a long time; when I was young, the various district attorneys referred to the sheriffs as 'the Dixie Mafia.' It used to be that law enforcement from outside the county couldn't enter without the sheriff's permission, which effectively allowed them to forestall any investigations of their bad behavior. Holding them to account was the work of generational reforms that brought them under the power of the state, but that is just another level of (often even more corrupt) government; at best you have the two powers working against each other, creating a tension in which at least sometimes a space is created for accountability. 

This mechanism is different: private complaints of corruption have created a legal action, rather than one level of government trying to control and dominate another one. There is an intention to preserve a sense of fairness and due process, though such processes are so vanishingly rare as to be almost ineffective. Graham County is tiny and rural, but capable of making the process work. There are far worse corruptions in the big cities, especially in Mecklenburg County where the mega-city of Charlotte lies. Holding those officers to account seems beyond what anyone can do. 

Still, even if justice is too much to hope for, an occasional lapse in injustice is still to be valued.

No One Gets Left Behind

The great American war ethic was reasserted over the last few days. It is a matter of honor. As we know from the long reading of the EN last summer, that which is most worthy of honor is the most reliable guide to that which is best in life. 

As we know from reading Xenophon last winter, this is also the reason the Persians couldn't overrun the Ten Thousand with their hundreds of thousands. The Ten Thousand stood together, ready to fight and die together; the Persian army was there to make a show to please their masters. The Ten Thousand still got themselves into a war that they had to fight their way out of, for a long time over a great distance. Indeed, much of the same territory involved today; and some of the same actors, although the Kurds are on our side this time.

The American war ethic is sometimes misunderstood as risk aversion, as if the Americans could not stand to lose a single life; but in fact the ethic embraces risk, and entails the will to risk hundreds of lives or to sacrifice planes and ships if need be to keep to the ethic. On the other hand it is sometimes portrayed as foolishness or an incapacity to judge the worth of expensive equipment against the cost of training a replacement. That is to put money ahead of honor, a decision that befits not warriors. 

UPDATE: From the Egyptian editor of a major paper:

Honor holds things together; shame, by contrast, tears things apart. The only thing keeping Iran's evil government intact is the fear of the people brought on by the ruthless slaughter and executions. As people begin not to fear them, their time is coming.

The Great Feast of Easter

Happy Easter to you all. 

Mostly the great feast part is spiritual, but some take a lot of pleasure in physical feasting as well. We will be having ham and homemade bread, as well as hard cheese and baked eggs. [UPDATE: I added those Oregon Trail beans, which are as advertised very good.] It's not in my house that much of a physical feast, not like Christmas (or even Thanksgiving, which is only a physical feast). It's relatively simple but traditional food. 

By the way, if any of you have heard of the alleged Anglo-Saxon traditions of Ostara, mentioned once by the Venerable Bede as an early pagan goddess, here is a young lady who wants to disabuse everyone of that story. If you like myth debunking -- which I don't, always -- that's really her thing and you might enjoy her other videos.

James meditates on Judas, the man who made the day possible. 

Saddle Tramp

We had a good ride this evening after work. It’s probably going to rain much of the weekend, but I’m grateful for the good moments we do get. 

Just in the little town of Webster, we came across a lady who was riding her horse in the road. Horses can get spooked by motorcycles, but fortunately she and we both knew what to do. We slowed way down, and she got the horse off the road and turned him to face us. That meant he could see us, but also — important piece of horse riding knowledge — that if he wanted to bolt he’d have to charge right at the thing scaring him. He danced and champed his bit, but he stayed put. The lady waved, appreciating our care for her situation. 

Well, I rode horses before I ever rode motorcycles. 

Free-ish State

The FPC has put out a new scorecard for the various states on firearm rights. New Hampshire friends, congratulations on your top score! You beat North Carolina and Texas both, each of which only qualify as "free-ish state"s. 

In spite of my continued irritation with the various governments involved, we have seen a lot of progress on 2nd Amendment rights over the last decades. Partly this is due to the two big SCOTUS decisions, but also it is due to the hard work of state-level groups to press their individual governments in the right direction. It is exactly that work that is now under attack in places like Virginia (currently rated as a "state of confusion").

I remember when the only Constitutional Carry states were Alaska and Vermont; now there are 29 of them. The conversation has moved from seeking "shall-issue" versus "may-issue" permits to the press to disregard permits entirely for the practice of at least some versions of the Constitutional right. That is now the law in the majority of states, and the vast majority of the land area of the United States; and it has generally accompanied a downward trend in violent crime, although there was a spike around the COVID era. 

There remains more to do, but all is not dark. 

Moon labe

"You should be glad we let you look at it."

About time, part deux

Colorado court rules Tina Peters's 9-year sentence was excessive because it was enhanced as a penalty for free speech abhored by the trial court.

About time

Military bases are no longer gun-free zones.

Wanted Posters

In keeping with the Old West theme, the local university had a whole series of these. They were posted alongside Woody Guthrie posters and similar socialist propaganda, so I imagine it's the local student socialist union or whatever. I captured three of them, but there were several more for various Trump administration officials.

I guess they've collected on a couple of these lately. Not sure who gets the meat. At least it's real meat, or at least real pretend meat, and not Impossible Burgers.

Poker Card Shootout III

It’s coming back with a little practice. 

Mystery unveiled

Sewing machines have always baffled and repelled me; I never could get the hang of threading them. I like to crochet, however, and also have wondered how the two interlocking stitching methods compared, which led me to this instructional video.



Lots of people developed and perfected the machines, but it was Singer who figured out how to produce them at a price that ordinary homeowners might afford.

I note that tailors rioted and destroyed some of the first machines.

The Troubador Dale Watson

Dale Watson's got new music.

He's one of those who's holding the line.

Supper on the Oregon Trail

A fascinating article, with recipes. 

The journey was brutal in ways that the romanticized version of westward expansion tends to skip over. Illness and accidents were more serious threats than any attack, about 20,000 people died on the California Trail alone between 1841 and 1859, an average of ten graves for every mile....

For each grown person to make the journey from the Missouri River to California or Oregon (provisioned for 110 days) the following was deemed requisite: 150 lbs of flour or its equivalent in hard bread, 25 lbs of bacon or pork plus enough fresh beef driven on the hoof, 15 lbs of coffee, and 25 lbs of sugar, along with saleratus or yeast powders for making bread, salt and pepper. That is the entire daily provision list for a working adult walking fifteen miles a day in all weather for nearly four months....

The coffee, made by roasting green beans in the dry skillet, grinding them, and boiling them directly in water, was excellent. The coffee was always the highlight....

This is where the day completely turned around. The beans had been soaking overnight and simmering all day in their pot, and by evening they were soft, creamy, and had absorbed everything the salt pork had to give over eight hours of low cooking. Then the cast iron skillet came back out: more bacon, fried until the fat had rendered and the edges were starting to crisp, and then the beans went in with a generous splash of molasses and a hit of salt. The molasses caramelizes slightly against the hot metal and coats the beans in something that is sweet and smoky and deeply savoury all at the same time. Biscuits baked alongside in the same pan, golden on the bottom from the bacon fat still in the skillet, used to scoop and soak up the bean broth.

Palm Sunday

I always think of this Bible story on Palm Sunday. 

This reminds me of a story I can't remember if I related before. I was talking to a Jewish friend who lives in Texas. He was telling me about a stockman he knows whose business is buying large lots of cattle and selling them once they're 'finished.' 

My friend relayed the surprising claim, from this Texas stockman, that in his opinion the best cowboys in history were the Jews. This was as surprising to my friend as it might be to you. 

It turns out that during his short period of ownership the stockman has people pick out the ones who are fit for the kosher factory. This is because kosher beef fetches much better prices, partly because the process is so selective: all kosher beef has to come from cattle that are unblemished outside and, after slaughter and examination, found also to be unblemished inside. 

The stockman, who is a Bible-reading Christian, took note of the fantastic numbers of animals that are supposed to have been sacrificed during the Temple of Solomon era. Each of the cattle sacrificed in this way had to be unblemished, inside and out. To make that happen on that scale would have required marvelous cowboys. 

So too sitting a colt for his first ride, now that I think about it. Of course that was long after the era of sacrificing from the great herds.

Taxation is Theft

A punk cover of a Steven Foster song.