I'll Have to Think About That

I believe that this will be my final episode of this podcast, after a year of working on it and this, the 71st episode. It's been a great learning experience, at times stimulating, interesting, fun, and also at times tedious and frustrating. I'm glad I've done it, and while I think it makes sense to close it down, this won't be my last program...I've got other ideas. In the meantime, make sure to download any earlier episodes, since this will likely disappear at the end of June 2021.

Herein I discuss some ideas at the core of American political culture and traditions, and how they don't all square with one another.

How would proof of alien life impact the world's religions? I survey the possibilities, in light of the emergence of late in the mainstream media of serious stories about recent alien contact, or the chance of it. Suggested Readings: The Conventional Wisdom on UFOs is Shifting Would the discovery of alien life disprove the Bible? How Would Religions React? Aliens and Islam The Quran and ET Catholic News Agency - Do Aliens Exist? Belief in Alien Life Varies Widely By Religion The Flying Machines of Ancient India

I've heard a lot about CRT in the news lately and, like most things in our hyper-partisan times, it's become a political hot button that lots of people talk about, but it seems few know much about. I hope this episode will help to fill in some background and give you something to think about. Suggested Readings: Op-Ed on CRT The Marxist Roots of BLM's Founders and Founding Ideas (including CRT) Falsifiability in Research and Theory Analysis of CRT MLK's "I Have a Dream" Speech

Some thoughts on a few widely-used terms and grammatical mistakes that annoy me, and why they ought to annoy you, too.

Iron Maiden writes a lot of songs about history and war, and Aces High, about the Battle of Britain during WW2, is one of their classics. Aces High Lyrics Aces High Video "Spitfire" documentary on Amazon A Higher Call - great book about the air war from a German perspective "We Shall Fight on the Beaches," Winston Churchill, 4 June 1940 "The Few," Winston Churchill, 20 August 1940 The Battle of Britain: Five Months That Changed the World - another good book

Court packing's a thing again, is it? Listen as I discuss the Constitution, acts of Congress, and FDR's attempt to pack the court in 1937 provide a lens through which we can consider current Democrat efforts to expand the court (by four justices).

Covers are great...when they're good. In this episode I discuss a few of my favorites and compare them with the originals. I suggest listening to all of them, with a fresh ear. Gloria Jones - Tainted Love Soft Cell - Tainted Love The Commodores - Easy Faith No More - Easy Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire Social Distortion - Ring of Fire Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit Paul Anka - Smells Like Teen Spirit (link to the album on Amazon) The Kinks - You Really Got Me Van Halen - You Really Got Me Slade - Come on Feel the Noise Quiet Riot - Cum on Feel the Noize Beckett - A Rainbow's Gold Iron Maiden - A Rainbow's Gold The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) - Fleetwood Mac The Green Manalishi - Judas Priest Breadfan - Budgie Breadfan - Metallica Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft Summer Breeze - Type O Negative

In response to the controversy over Georgia's new voting law... Georgia Voter ID Card site New GA Voting Law, in full CO List of Acceptable Forms of ID for Voting DE Voter ID Requirements

Herein I provide a brief history of the Senate filibuster, its evolution and use over time, and commentary on the threat of majoritarianism. Is Aaron Burr Really the Father of the Filibuster? Politifact: Is the Filibuster a Relic of Jim Crow? The Dems Change the Filibuster

My thoughts on the state of our media today and the importance of a free and quality press for the functioning of our republic. Check out RealClearPolitics and its associated sites for the best, most balanced, selection of news articles, daily, on a variety of topics. I get no money from them; they don't know I exist.

In light of the last year of impeachment-palooza and the possibility of NY's governor facing it soon, too, I thought it would be helpful to discuss the origins of the mechanism at the federal level and how we understand it has, unfortunately, changed over time. Suggested readings: U.S. Constitution - look at Art. II, Sec. 4. NY State Constitution, Art. VI, the Judiciary

Here's a short follow-up to my full length takedown of GnR, in which I bring to bear hard evidence and adroit reasoning to put this issue to rest.  

I have evidence and reasoning to support this ridiculous point...bear with me.

CPAC - the annual Conservative Political Action Convention - took place in Florida over the last weekend of February and, among other luminaries from the Right, featured Donald Trump as a speaker - his first public appearance since leaving the White House. I read his speech, and speeches from some others, in search of some kind of unifying theme, direction, or identity for the conservative movement - or this part of it - in America post-Trump.

If you want to understand the politics, processes, and outcomes of Biden's cabinet and other agency and ambassadorial nominations, pay attention to moderate Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia. I introduce and give some background on him and his out-sized power in the Senate in this episode.

After a lot of years in education and working with a great many student teachers, I have come to the realization that it seems that structure and supposed quality of a teacher preparation program has virtually no bearing on whether a person ends up a good teacher or not. Hear some of my thoughts on this in this episode.

This relatively short episode includes some comments from me about podcasting and this show in general, followed by an explanation of why monopolies - especially government monopolies - are generally bad, and it's not for the reason that I often hear from people.

Viewing the Declaration of Independence as associated with the Constitution is essential understanding the latter. In this short episode I discuss a brief, but essential Lincoln document wherein he made the clear connection between those two documents. I have my wife, Krista, and childhood friend, Jeff, to thank for the inspiration that led to this episode. Suggested Readings: Declaration of Independence Constitution of the United States Fragment on the Constitution and Union

This episode is in response to the social media crackdown on Donald Trump and others, and how we as individuals ought to consider this as something a lot bigger than one loudmouth with bad hair. Suggested readings: Speech on the Amendments to the Constitution, 8 June 1789, James Madison Bill of Rights, 15 December 1791 The Origins of the Bill of Rights by Amendment

In this episode, in part to prove that I am not dead or missing, I discuss the state of Impeachment 2.0, and talk about the silliness of the artificial standard of a president's first 100 days in office, with some historical explanation and some consideration of incoming president #46, Joe Biden.

I'll put it in simple language: Biden won; Trump lost. The Electoral College works, and state-level elections systems can be trusted. The evidence for all those is overwhelming. Work with me here... Suggested Readings: The Infamous Butterfly Ballots and the Hanging Chad Arizona's Elections Certified While Giuliani Makes More Accusations - National Review article DOJ Report on Elections

Stop pretending that you don't like Star Trek, or that dressing up like a Jedi is somehow cool but liking Spock isn't. Join me in this episode in which I sketch out the origins and development of this singular cultural phemonenon.  

There's something going on right now that I don't think many people are thinking about at all, and recognizing and understanding it will help you work through what's going on right now with the race for the White House, and understand upcoming events that will almost certainly make the news, wherever you live. Suggested Readings: U.S. Constitution, Art I, Sec. 2 Arizona Congressional Map 2002 Arizona Congressional Map 2012 U.S. Census Bureau at a Glance - from Census.gov 2020 United States Redistricting Cycle - Wikipedia article

In this episode I gather together some information about election turnout over the years and how this one compares, as well as updates on the vote counting and legal challenges in several key states...along with some commentary, as always.

It's Friday, 6 NOV 2020 and the presidential election is still undecided, and so I've got some thoughts I'd like to share about it, mostly focused on the importance of the rule of law and the need for evidence when making claims.

It's 4 NOV 2020, the morning after the presidential election we all knew would not be decided on election night. I've got some commentary on the state of the elections (yes, that's plural) as of right now, and some thoughts on how things might shake out.

Some thoughts on the clever mechanism to elect a president if neither candidate wins a majority of electoral votes, plus some thoughts and a forecast...let's see how well those age! Suggested Readings: Constitution of the United State - pay attention to Art.II 12th Amendment 20th Amendment Faithless Electors First Inaugural Address - Abraham Lincoln, 1861

Now that we again have nine Supreme Court justices (one chief and eight associate), I think it's worth the time to dispel some misunderstandings of how the USSC works, what it can do, and what it - and one justice - can and can't do. Suggested Readings: The U.S. Constitution (read Article III) The Rule of Four - wiki article Introduction to the Federal Court System - from the U.S. Justice Department The Supreme Court at Work - from the USSC website

I am trying to avoid editorializing in this show, and I think I behaved myself here in talking about the ever-present "get out and vote!" campaigns alongside the rarely-mentioned issue of voter education. Suggested Readings: Cliff's AP US Govt Study Guide - buy a used copy and read the content summary! This is a great way to get up to speed on things you either never learned in the first place or have forgotten The Constitution of the United States - c'mon people, it's important to know the original plan Federalist 1 - short, concise, and clear on the core challenge of our system of government. And, I think this is something we do at every election. Consider that. 2017 Tax Data - in support of my example Demographic information - also in support of my example

My thoughts on vinyl records versus various forms of digital music, considering both sound quality and overall listening and ownership experience. Suggested Readings, if you want to get deep in the weeds: Is Vinyl Better Than Streaming? - simplest answer: yes 5 Reasons Why Vinyl is Better Than Digital For Music Lovers - decent article with some concise points Does Vinyl Really Sound Better? An Engineer Explains - interesting article Audio-Technica LP60X - my current turntable, and a great entry point Audio-Technica LP120 - the upgrade I am considering Edifier R1280T Bookshelf Speakers - my current speakers, providing clear sound at all volume levels

In this episode, Lee and I talk about the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683, and the battle that decided the question in September of that year. I was led to this event by the Sabaton song, "Winged Hussars," about the Polish heavy cavalry, led by King John Sobieski of Poland, credited with being the essential element for European victory in the last great invasion of Europe by the Ottoman Turks. Suggested Readings: Turning the Ottoman Tide, John III Sobieski at Vienna 1683 - HistoryNet article Sabaton, Winged Hussars - lyric video (with a strange hodge-podge of imagery...no idea why there's a samurai and a guy with an American WW2 helmet) Sabaton, Winged Hussars - song put to video clips from the 2012 movie The Siege of Vienna - John Stoye's history of the siege and battle Vienna 1683: Christian Europe Repels the Ottomans - Osprey Publishing's short, map-laden account of the battle Polish Winged Hussars - Wikipedia article Winged Hussar image - re-enactor The Janissaries - European Christian children taken to serve as elite soldiers and administrators for their government; Wikipedia article Possibly Apocryphal Story of Viennese Bakers During the Battle - website Day of the Siege - the (reportedly awful) movie mentioned, available on Amazon Prime

Ed and I talk about a great sub-genre of 80s Metal, defined by outstanding technical guitar-playing and swaggering guitarists. Take a nostalgic walk back to the 80s, or learn what you've missed over the last few decades of underwhelming music. And to clarify, the Chuck Mangione song we referred to is called "Feels So Good," so we were both incorrect. Highly Recommended Listening: Ratt, Lay It Down - a ridiculous video for a great example of the genre, with the excellent Warren DeMartini on lead guitar Dokken, In My Dreams - A signature George Lynch tune Vinnie Vincent Invasion, Boyz Gonna Rock - Perhaps better described as "Wanking Metal," this over-the-top example of unnecessary guitar technical work is still worth listening to, much like justifying another handful of Cheetos Extreme, Get the Funk Out - Nuno Bettencourt threatens to tear your face off Tesla, Modern Day Cowboy - An great song off their debut album, which has no bad songs on it David Lee Roth, Tobacco Road - Steve Vai throws the glove down on every song on Eat 'Em And Smile, Roth's full-length solo debut Ozzy, Lightning Strikes - Jake E. Lee is underrated and under-appreciated Van Halen, Mean Street - No comment needed Paul Gilbert, Scarified - This guy's a little fast...a little. White Lion, Tell Me - Wow. Ed was right about this being cheese, but with great guitar Night Ranger, You Can Still Rock in America - I think we're still allowed to, at least. Metal: A Headbanger's Journey - A fascinating and well-made documentary about the world of Metal

I spoke with my good friend Matt, who spends his days managing the technology for a medium-sized school district. In addition to maintaining and improving connectivity for its schools also does a lot of outreach to parents to help them make smart decisions for home connections. We talked about how to be a smart shopper for home Internet, starting with what you actually need, and moving to what's available in your area. I learned a lot and am going to reconsider my options based on what I learned. Useful Links: Internet Connection Speed Test - a site where you can test your up and downstream speeds, latency, and jitter. Just hit "Start Test" and the site will do the rest. Netflix's Download Speed Test - good to know where you stand to help you know if you have enough download bandwidth for streaming to your home The Smart Shopper's Guide to Home Internet - a two-page PDF distributed to families by Matt's district

In this episode I explain the constitutional issues related to Supreme Court nominations and confirmations, the rules created within that, and the traditions around the same. I describe and explain, then interpret and analyze, and even offer some commentary, staying neutral as much as possible. Suggested Readings: The U.S. Constitution - Article II, Section 2 McConnell Blocks Obama Nominee - CBS news article with quotes from 2016 and now Context Article on Democrats Reducing the Threshold for Presidential Nominees to a Simple Majority - this is when they "ended the filibuster" for these votes

A short discussion of the contents and historical context around the U.S. Constitution, the oldest and longest-existing constitution in the world. Highly Suggested Reading: The Constitution of the United States

Over 80,000 Americans are still listed as missing in action from WW2 through Operation Iraqi Freedom. The third Friday in September is set aside as POW/MIA Recognition Day, and this year I am taking some time to share my thoughts on some of the great organizations that are out there working to find and bring home the remains of these men, and even some women. Suggested Readings: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency - homepage History Flight, Inc. - non-profit organization that works to recover American remains from overseas Project Recover - The organization deeply involved in recovery research and work in Palau, pioneered by Dr. Pat Scannon Last Flight Home - BentProp's outstanding documentary about their work to find our servicemen, and closure, in Palau; viewable on YouTube...watch it! NY Times article about Scott Speicher

Read this great, relatively short book about a secret WW2 mission put on by a team of....middle aged businessmen and former soldiers promised neither money, nor fame, nor even help if things went sideways. Boarding Party, by James Leasor The Sea Wolves - the 1981 movie, starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, and David Niven, depicting the story told in the book

The Federalists and Antifederalists were both concerned about power for government: how much? What should it do, and how far should it be able to go? How could and should it be restrained? The first and second essays by Brutus. who wrote in New York, and Federalist 51, all address these issues directly and indirectly, albeit from different angles. Suggested Readings: Brutus I Brutus II Federalist 51 The Constitution of the United States

In recognition of the 81st anniversary of the outbreak of World War 2 in Europe just a few days ago, I discussed the fall of Poland and U.S. attempts to stay neutral, at least initially.

This is my first solo podcast, and in it I gave a big-picture summary of the context around the battle, which began in September 1944, and talked some about the battle itself and why it does not deserve its status as one of the forgotten battles of World War 2. I recommend the following readings and resources if you're interested in learning more: Books: Last Man Standing: The 1st Marine Regiment on Peleliu, September 15-21, 1944, Dick Camp - written by a Marine turned author based on interviews and research Cowboy Down: A WWII Marine Fighter Pilot's Story, Glenn "Bud" Daniel - a firsthand account of the battle With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, E.B. Sledge, a firsthand account by a Marine who later went on to become a college professor Brotherhood of Heroes: The Marines at Peleliu 1944 - The Bloodiest Battle of the Pacific War, Bill Sloan - a comprehensive, well-written secondary history and analysis Websites: Storming the Point at Peleliu, Dick Camp Images from the Battle Current Tourism Site for Peleliu, emphasizing the battle

James Madison, and many of the Founders, were deeply concerned about factions - groups of people who would use the power of government in ways that would trample on the rights of others - and sought to explain how the proposed Constitution would address this problem. He also addressed concerns over the potential size of America, and how such a huge country could be governed along republican principles. There's a lot to this one that's relevant to our view of competing political groups and our fellow citizens. Suggested Reading: Federalist 10 - James Madison, 22 NOV 1787

The Antifederalists, often written off as the losers of the debate over ratifying the Constitution, were a part of the political culture of the times, and offered claims and arguments that shaped what went into the Constitution, how it was eventually ratified, and some of the first steps taken by the new government. Thus, understanding their concerns and arguments is no only essential to understanding the Constitution and early republic, but also to many political and constitutional debates (and fights) since. Suggested Readings: Cato I Federal Farmer I Brutus I

Homegrown terrorism was a big problem in Europe in the 1970s and 80s, and yet it's an era of terrorism about which Americans typically know little, if anything at all. Lee and I discuss the origins of these groups and individuals, and their early connections, at least ideologically and sometimes directly, with Middle East terror groups at the same time. Suggested Readings: Who were the Baader-Meinhof Gang? - BBC article Red Army Faction - Wikipedia article Japanese Red Army - article Red Brigades (Italy) - article Carlos the Jackal Fast Facts - CNN Profile of Carlos the Jackal - article The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon - article...really relevant to current issues

This is the first in a series I am going to do on Federalist and Antifederalist documents, arguments, and ideas, and what we can learn from them to help navigate our current political climate. Suggested reading: Federalist 1, Alexander Hamilton, 27 OCT 1787

The first in a multi-part series on terrorism, in this episode Dr. Lee Eysturlid and I focused on the roots of terrorism in the Middle East after WW2, up to the end of the "Golden Age of Terrorism," which ended around the time of the fall of the Soviet Union. Suggested Readings: Jewish Insurgency in Mandatory Palestine - Wikipedia article The Algerian War - Wikipedia article Six-Day War - Britannica article Palestine Liberation Organization - Wikipedia The Evolution of Islamic Terrorism, an Overview - Frontline/PBS article

I have a firm belief, based on experience, that most Americans don't fully understand how the Electoral College works, and why it's supposed to work that way. At the request of some family members, I offer this episode as a way to dispel some of this misunderstanding. I might do another, focused on the politics of the EC and proposals for its replacement. Suggested Readings: Constitution of the United States, Article II (go find a copy!) Address to the Electoral College of Ohio, Peter Schramm, 2000 1984 Electoral Map 1992 Electoral Map 2008 Electoral Map 2016 Electoral Map

The age of the airship, with dreams of worldwide routes, trade and transport, and designs of using them in war to bomb opponents into submission, was short, really comprising only about two decades. Take a short walk through this era, with a few stories about the most prominent vessels (and their tragic endings), and some talk about why this seemingly promising technology didn't stick. Suggested readings: Airships.net - website with great historical information and pictures Airshipsonline.com - their page about the R101, with links to other airship stories and pictures Aircraft/ship Size Comparison Chart Hindenburg Disaster Audio and Video Empire of the Clouds - lyrics only  Empire of the Clouds - lyric video - listen and read! The lyrics and music together tell a story...and whoever made this video did a nice job of including a detailed account of the crash during the guitar solos. Hybrid Air Vehicle - current design and work for

The second part of our discussion, about North Korean attacks on South Korea over the years, and the troubling continuity between the three leaders of North Korea over the years: Kim il Sing, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un.   Suggested Readings: The Blue House Raid: North Korea's Failed 1968 Commando Assault on Seoul, Militaryhistoryonline.com article September 1996 Midget Submarine Attack on South Korea, Wikipedia article - we got the year wrong in the podcast, stating it incorrectly as 1997. A Short History of North Korea's Long Midget Submarine Spy Campaign, Sebastien Roblin Kim Jong Un Just Had His Uncle Killed. Why?, Max Fisher, Washington Post article

The episode in which we discuss the evolution of NK's capacity to intimidate and control its people.   Suggested Additional Readings: VICE Article about North Korea, with video links - website Living with the Enemy: Inside North Korea, Richard Saccone - book about the author's experience living in NK and studying its people YouTube News Story about North Korean Defectors

We've all heard of them - fad diets - and some of us have turned to them, and maybe even gotten some positive results, too. But what's worth considering from a scientific perspective when it comes to your diet, and if following such a diet? Registered Dietician Alexandra Fowler, president of Atomic Nutrition, sat down to talk with me about some well-known fad diets and surprising commonality they all share. Allie, in addition to counseling caution before adopting any drastic dietary changes, also recommended Eatingwell.com as a great resource for information related to this subject, and she can be contacted directly through the links above.