Holidays
December 18, 2018 — Steven Hayward
Bear with me for a brief preface for the video below. Years ago—like almost 50 years ago—there was a thriving annual “UFO-Flying Saucer” convention out in the California desert that drew thousands of UFO believers from all over the country. (You can read about it here or here.) It was full of full-scale nutters. I know because I went several times as a little kid. Not to participate in UFO
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December 17, 2018 — Steven Hayward
Looking for the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop for person? Well, this may not be the perfect gift, but tomorrow Encounter Books will release—just in time for Christmas stockings!—the paperback edition of Patriotism Is Not Enough, available on Amazon at the bargain price of just $11.59 ($5.50 off the cover price). The paperback edition features an all new preface. Because I finished writing the book before Trump was even nominated, let
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December 13, 2018 — Steven Hayward
For some reason, the debate rages on about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Of course it is! And this video—really an exercise in Straussian esoteric interpretation—proves it once and for all—just look at all the clear Christmas call-outs embedded in the movie: And a reminder:
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December 10, 2018 — Steven Hayward
The silly season has returned, with radio stations (do they still exist?) declining to play “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” because #MeToo or something. The best takedown of this silliness remains Michele Bregande’s great article about it a year ago over at American Greatness. But a couple of merry pranksters have given it the old YouTube try: And from the great J.P. Sears: Of course, maybe the left has a point,
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April 1, 2018 — John Hinderaker
…to our Christian friends and readers. I have been in Texas for the last few days, mostly for an aunt’s 100th birthday party. This morning, as our group was eating breakfast at the hotel where we are staying, a waitress invited everyone to a church service at the hotel that was to begin in 20 minutes or so. After the announcement, she and another member of the staff burst into
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January 1, 2018 — Steven Hayward
I hear it is cold where most of our readers live. At least that’s what John says. Well out here at Power Line’s Western Command, it’s another ludicrously sunny and clement New Year’s Day. Which could only mean one thing. Polar bear swim at noon, followed by an afternoon of grilling and football in the sun.
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December 25, 2017 — Steven Hayward
For those of you who are simply addicted to the Internet, rather than taking the day off as you should, a few seasonal thoughts and observations. First, as the pic nearby attests, I was on Santa’s Not-Naughty List this year. Obviously. And isn’t “Dividing Opinions Since 1815” the perfect motto for the perfect whiskey for a polemicist? Next, it has been some time since I last dipped into my usual
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December 25, 2017 — John Hinderaker
Here in Minnesota, Christmas morning dawned clear and cold–in fact, where I live, the temperature isn’t expected to rise above zero today. So we are battening down and enjoying our Christmas presents. Through the miracle of Google, over the last 48 hours more than 11,000 people have made their way to this “Merry Christmas” post from 2015, presumably because they Googled “Merry Christmas.” Not sure why anyone would do that,
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November 23, 2017 — Steven Hayward
It was a balmy 72 degrees out here on the left coast today, so that meant I had to grill a turkey, and wash down the whole thing with a first course of McPrice-Myers 2014 Viognier, followed by a Sea Smoke 2013 Pinot Noir “TEN.” (And the “TEN” is not the bottle price. Believe me, as Trump might say.) People have been saying I should do more cooking/grilling/wine videos, so here’s
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October 31, 2017 — Steven Hayward
Trying to decide what is the more frightening costume to wear tonight: a conservative white male, or a Hollywood producer? In any case, just in time for Halloween, Remy comes along with “Trigger,” reminding us that one of the ratchets in college craziness came out of Yale a couple years back when someone suggested that maybe, possibly, people might just chill a bit about potentially “offensive” Halloween costumes. There’s some
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July 4, 2017 — John Hinderaker
I started to write an essay on the philosophical significance of fireworks as a form of resistance to the nanny state, but it was lousy so I trashed it. Instead, this is a straightforward account of an Independence Day spent in the land of the free–by which I mean my native state of South Dakota. Visiting family here over the Fourth of July is a longstanding tradition. Any visit at
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July 4, 2017 — Steven Hayward
My favorite indictment against King George III in the Declaration of Independence is this short passage that applies more fully today than in 1776: He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance. Yep. That’s why this is the feel good story of the day, even though CBS surely doesn’t think so: Meanwhile, the next time
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April 16, 2017 — John Hinderaker
…to all of our Christian readers and friends! Easter’s eternal message of hope and renewal seems more desperately needed than ever this year. But, then, it seems that way every year. We hope you enjoy the day!
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February 14, 2017 — John Hinderaker
We had a fun Valentine’s Day. I pored over a flower display before selecting–as I always do–a dozen yellow roses, my favorites. And my wife made a lovely dinner. St. Valentine goes back a long way, to the 3rd century, and Valentine’s Day has been around for quite a while, too. Today the British Museum did an Instagram post that reminds us that love has been making the world go
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December 25, 2016 — John Hinderaker
Merry Christmas to our Christian readers, or rather, to all who celebrate either the religious or the secular version of the holiday. Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, which is great because it means we can go to church at 9:30 this morning instead of trying to stay up long enough for a 10 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. I hope Santa was good to all of you this
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November 25, 2016 — John Hinderaker
Before the holiday completely passes by, here is one more Thanksgiving-themed cartoon by Michael Ramirez. I think it’s pretty funny, but seriously, I suspect this might actually work for the turkey, what with its being an oppressed species and all. Click to enlarge:
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November 24, 2016 — Steven Hayward
Because by Saturday all the good Thanksgiving Day memes will be as cold and stale as today’s leftovers. So to start with, here’s how my crystal clear day on the Left Coast began–with a short palate-cleansing run, and popovers (I’ll append updates as I get the rotisserie going for the bird later on): And finally. . .
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