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BRITAIN IN THE BALANCE

For centuries, Britain — and England in particular — has represented a civilizational ideal for much of the modern world.

The birthplace of parliamentary democracy, the common law system, and global standards of governance, Britain has exported its political and cultural values far beyond its shores. At home, it once epitomized social cohesion, stability, and civic pride.

Yet, in the 21st century, many Britons — particularly in working-class communities — report a growing sense of cultural alienation. Towns like Bradford, Luton, and Rotherham now evoke, for some, a sense of displacement rather than belonging.

This perception of a “de-Anglification” of (more…)

LIVING WITH HEADHUNTERS

living-with-headhuntersYes, that’s me at 16 (in 1960!) with Tangamashi, a Shuar Jivaro chief who adopted me into his clan. The Jivaros are the only people on earth who make a shrunken head of their enemies killed in battle – called a “tsantsa.”

They inhabit the Amazon rain forests of the Ecuador-Peru border; living with them was the first adventure I had by myself alone. Tangamashi accepted me, taught me how he made a tsantsa from an enemy’s head skin, took me blowgunning monkeys with curare-tipped darts, and introduced me into the Jivaro spirit world with a tea they called “natema” (more…)

TEACHERS AND COACHES

[This Monday’s Archive was originally published on November 17, 2005. The best teachers forge character through discipline, competition, and the earned confidence that comes only from mastery.]

America needs fewer teachers and more coaches. After 23 years of schooling, I have seen my fair share of teachers and perhaps the best was my Ph. D. dissertation adviser, John R. Thelin.

As would be expected, Dr. Thelin brought to the table a host of degrees, honorifics, major publications and accolades. Still, the title he asked all his graduate students to use was “Coach.” This curious penchant at first took me off-guard, but I decided it must be a helpful way to prevent his students from being intimidated by his intellect and accomplishments.

I now understand that my wise (more…)

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: AMAZON INITIATION

amazon-initiationAugust, 2002. In the remotest Amazon jungle of Brazil, along a tributary of the Upper Xingu River, live the Xicrin-Kayapo people. They live traditionally as they have for centuries, isolated in their forests from the world. Here the young boys, painted and adorned, apprehensively await their initiation ceremonies into becoming young men. They are to be tested to show they have what it takes for the village to be proud of them.

In some of their eyes, there is confidence. In others less so. This is an ancient Rite of Passage, an enthralling experience to witness. (Glimpses of Our (more…)

DEMOCRATS VOW TO STARVE AS MANY FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS AS IT TAKES TO GET FREE HEALTHCARE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Cory “Let ‘Em Starve” Booker
Cory “Let ‘Em Starve” Booker

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrats have taken a bold stand by vowing to starve as many food stamp recipients as it takes to get free healthcare for illegal immigrants.

According to prominent Democrat leaders, starving a couple million kids is a small price to pay to ensure that blue states continue to provide free healthcare to illegal immigrants.

“If you’re going to make an omelet, you’ve got to crack a few eggs. And if you’re going to give free healthcare to illegal immigrants, you’ve got to let some children go hungry,” said Senator Cory Booker. “Honestly, (more…)

HALF-FULL REPORT 10/31/25

All Treats, No Tricks


Happy Halloween, trick or treat took place last night in my city as a workaround for Friday night high school football. There were plenty of well-behaved kids wearing mostly homemade costumes making then rounds. One notable change from previous years happened, in fact happened three times.

Three groups of friends, young ladies likely 10 to 12 year old, politely refused the brightly colored Skittles I was passing out in favor of bite-sized chocolate bars. “Synthetic dyes are not healthy,” they said, before explaining, “Mr. Kennedy says so.”

Generation Alpha and their moms are on Team RFK. (more…)

PUTIN’S ENERGY WEAPON HAS NOW COME BACK TO BITE HIM

[I have known Ambrose since the early i990s, when he was the London Telegraph’s US correspondent based in DC. Now he is the Telegraph’s World Economy Editor. Ambrose is at the top of his game in this analysis. –JW]

Vladimir Putin’s predicament is deteriorating fast across every front of the global energy war.  Western sanctions are at last going for the jugular, and Donald Trump has finally thrown American power behind the blockade.

The Saudis are flooding the world oil market in a ruthless drive to regain lost share. A glut of historic proportions is building and is likely to last deep into 2027. Goldman Sachs has told clients that Brent crude prices could drop to the low $40s.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has drastically revised its global supply and demand forecasts. China has filled its strategic petroleum (more…)

HAJJAR QIM

hajjar-qimThe megalithic temple of Hajjar Qim (hah-jar seem) on the island of Malta in the center of the Mediterranean, was built a thousand years before the pyramids in Egypt. The Stone Age people there made their temples of enormous stones weighing several tons cut from the limestone bedrock with tools of stone and antler horn for they had no metal, and moved them using small round-cut rocks as ball bearings for they had no wheels.

The massive stone I’m in front of weighs over 20 tons. These folks figured out all by themselves how to build these extraordinary (more…)

ARCTIC FROST: “100 TIMES WORSE THAN WATERGATE”

sleazebag-caughtSenate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley revealed Wednesday (10/29) that former President Joe Biden’s corrupt Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) compiled what’s being described as an “enemies list” of Republicans to target, including through wiretapping the phones of several high-ranking Republicans as part of their “get-Trump” lawfare.

Grassley revealed more than 1,700 pages of documents provided by whistleblowers, shining further light on the “Arctic-Frost” inquiry. Arctic Frost was an investigation led by the Biden administration to, as The Federalist’s Margot Cleveland explained, “target Republicans in key battleground states.”

Then FBI Director Christopher Wray sent (more…)

WHAT LYING DOES TO US

Lying takes a huge toll on our relationships, our physical health, and our mental health. But sometimes we’re not so clear about what it means to be honest. Does it mean we say everything that we think or feel?

There are very strong benefits to honesty; and also some common sense guidelines as to what’s appropriate to express.

 

Let’s start with outright lying. Americans lie an average of 11 times per week.

In one study, two groups were asked each week over a ten-week period how many lies they told while they were given a lie detector (more…)

A LOO WITH A VIEW

sabratha-bathroomWhile exploring the Roman ruins of Sabratha on the Mediterranean coast of Libya in 2014, I came upon the men’s bathroom in the Gymnasium. “Now here’s a loo with a view!” I exclaimed, and noticed it was designed to have water flowing through the trough below the series of toilets.

Founded as a trading post by the Phoenicians in the 6th century BC, it was settled and rebuilt by the Romans some 500 years later, flourishing for centuries as a main supplier of olive oil for the Empire. Monumental temples and theatres were constructed, along with sumptuous villas adorned (more…)

THE WORLD SHOULD CHEER IF TRUMP RIDS IT OF VENEZUELA’S MADURO

USS Gerald R Ford on its way to Venezuela
USS Gerald R Ford on its way to Venezuela

Donald Trump is preparing for a military intervention in Venezuela. You don’t send a dozen warships, including a nuclear submarine and an aircraft carrier, to interdict a few drug traffickers. You don’t deploy 10,000 troops to deter smugglers.

Many, especially in the Global South, will fall hungrily on the parallel with Russia. So much, they will say, for the pretense that Western countries uphold the international order. The US, they will aver, is no different from Russia, acting from self-interest, and then coating its Machtpolitik in cant about freedom and democracy. (more…)

SCANDERBEG

scanderbegIn the city of Lezhë overlooking the Adriatic Sea, there is a memorial to Albania’s national hero, Scanderbeg (1405-1468). Born Giorgi Kastrioti in this city of northern Albania, he earned the title of “Lord Alexander” – Scanderbeg in Albanian – for his military genius in leading his Christian army against the Moslem armies of the Ottoman Empire.

For 25 years (1443-1468), his 10,000 Christian Knights consistently inflicted defeat after defeat upon always much larger Moslem forces. His victory in the Battle of Albulena in 1457, where he destroyed an Ottoman army of 70,000, killing 15,000 and taking 15,000 prisoners, so (more…)

WHY THE DEMS ARE IN MELTDOWN OVER TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM

The new White House Ballroom with new First Lady’s East Wing in foreground
The new White House Ballroom with new First Lady’s East Wing in foreground

Donald Trump has demolished an old office wing attached to the White House and begun building a large new ballroom, big enough to accommodate state dinners and other major events. Currently, those have to be held outdoors, under a temporary tent, because the White House lacks a large, permanent space.

Democrats are outraged by Trump’s move. They have filled social media with pictures of the demolition. Oh, the humanity. Tearing down any part of the White House is a travesty, they say, and an assault on one (more…)

WHERE IS TRUMP’S DOJ ON DENATURALIZING ZOHRAN MAMDANI?

When a man seeks to lead the largest city in America, his citizenship should be beyond question. Yet the candidacy of Zohran Mamdani, an avowed Radical Muslim Communist Democrat and recently naturalized U.S. citizen, has raised a troubling question: Did he obtain his citizenship under false pretenses?

That question became official on June 26, when Congressman Andy Ogles, Republican of Tennessee, formally asked the Department of Justice to investigate whether Mamdani’s 2018 naturalization should be revoked under 8 U.S.C. §1451(a) for “willful misrepresentation or concealment of material support for terrorism.”

The request, addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, was not (more…)