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Saturday, December 30, 2006
The Brayings Of Asses
Fran here. I expect this will be my last post of the year, though you know how spotty my record is on such "predictions." (Writers must write; this has been proved by Science.) I'm going to put it to what's probably an unexpected use: a bit of good fun at the expense of a vain and ignorant "colleague" -- hey, it's the most self-indulgent time of the year! -- and a round of thanks to all of the other writers in the Blogosphere who've entertained and edified me in this quickly disappearing year of Our Lord 2006.
First, the vain and ignorant "colleague." I shall not name him, nor link to him, nor describe him too exactly; it's more fun to be indirect. He writes from a position on the political and cultural compass I would call Ignorant Left-Wing Degenerate. Since he's entirely bereft of both knowledge and hard sense, his productions must rely for their impact on sheer venom, a commodity with which he is well supplied and which he stints not. However, this asset has proved sufficiently attractive to the like-minded to win him a perch at an upmarket gossip rag and shopping circular -- basically, a glossy-stock Yankee Trader or Pennysaver aimed at Manhattan liberals. He takes conspicuous note of, and shrill exception to, those of us on the Right arc of the political spectrum. In particular, he's done hatchet jobs on uber-pundit Mark Steyn and President George W. Bush that those worthies should regard as badges of honor. The stink of urine that emanates from his pieces is so pungent that some have speculated that his columns might actually be the "work" of his cats, the only form of life to which he appears to grant any respect. After investigation and long reflection, I must announce that this cannot be the case, for God has never made any creature but Man capable of being quite that poisonous.
In a recent screed, he belittled my essays seemingly because I don't write maliciously and slanderously -- that is, the way he does. Perhaps it's naughty of me to take that as a compliment, but I'm still rich in Christmas spirit and inclined to see all things at their best. At any rate, I will admit that I write first to edify, and second to energize. Entertainment comes well below those priorities, nor would I ever allow a cleverly honed insult to detract from either mission. Those who frequent Eternity Road are aware of this, of course, but my "colleague" appears to be baffled by the approach.
My deepest gratitude goes to the many of you who've noted my "colleague's" febrile ravings at me and have rushed to my defense. You are worthies indeed; my thanks to you all. It isn't really necessary; imbecilities such as his are blunted shafts, incapable of wounding. He'll never change anyone's mind. He can't even entertain except for those who already agree with him and are desperate for derision of those of other views. All he can do is vent his spleen, to be lapped up by persons even more intelligence- and taste-challenged than himself.
But thank you all. It's good to have friends. It's even better to have good friends. You have demonstrated time and again that I am well supplied.
UPDATE: And just like that, the hate mail has started to pour in. Most of it is some variation on "Gotcha, eh?" or "Think that's clever?" Ultimately, it's of no moment, though the misspellings, profanities, and overall repetitiveness are rather revealing. Mostly, what it says is that he who dishes it out doesn't always like it when it's served up to him in equal measure. That's no surprise either, I suppose.
Now, let's have a quick round of thanks to your Curmudgeon's [Hey! Who let you in here?] (Oh, hush. It's Saturday, isn't it? You only get this dump to yourself on Sundays.) major Blogosphere delights: those genuine colleagues whose efforts have raised so many smiles on this aging face. Gentle Reader, if you don't visit each of these sites at least once per day, you're missing out on a lot of very high-quality "free ice cream."
First and foremost, the great Gerard Van der Leun. Gerard doesn't post too often at his American Digest site these days; his duties as Editor-in-Chief at Pajamas Media keep him too fully occupied. Yet when he does, it's an event of importance. Unlike your Curmudgeon, Gerard has the poet's gift: he invariably chooses the best words and puts them in the right order. If your Curmudgeon could have one Blogospheric wish for 2007, it's that Gerard would find enough time and energy to return to posting something of his own every day.
Second, and so close to Gerard that you couldn't slip the blade of a K-Bar between them, comes fellow lover of liberty Mark Alger and his busty sidekick Gabrielle Francesca East (a.k.a. Miss Dolly). Mark has the gift, too: his op-eds are filled with more color and fire than your Curmudgeon could hope to stuff into a Bessemer furnace. 'Twould be a consummation devoutly to be wished that he might someday try his hand at fiction. (Tee hee.)
Right alongside Mark and Dolly marches Alexandra von Maltzan of All Things Beautiful. Alexandra's blog is unique: not for the viewpoints she expresses, but for the clarity she brings to them, and the beauty with which she invests their surroundings. One measure of her significance is how relentlessly certain of her habitues try to becloud her points and suppress discussion of them -- usually with massive irrelevancies cut-and-pasted from other Websites.
Fourth comes Robert Spencer's Jihad Watch. This site is beyond all comparison as a chronicle of Islamic savageries and lunacies worldwide. Spencer, who has gained both great prominence and much vilification with his books on Islam:
- Islam Unveiled
- Onward Muslim Soldiers
- Islam For Dummies
- The Truth About Mohammed
...displays great courage every day as he labors to educate Americans, a people largely ignorant about Islam and not all that disposed to rectify their lack, about Islam's preachments, both scriptural and interpretive, and the deeds of its adherents, both historical and contemporary. Jihad Watch is yet another of his tools in this effort.
Fifth -- and this is a choice at which many will frown -- is Pamela Geller Oshry's Atlas Shrugs. Pamela, a fiercely patriotic American Jew, has done yeoman's service at covering developments in the Middle East, particularly Israel, at the United Nations, and in the foreign-policy sphere in our electoral politics. She's been criticized for "titty blogging" -- that is, for using her (considerable) physical charms as an attention-getter -- but what of that? Americans like tits. (If you don't, what the hell is wrong with you?)
Sixth is Sondra K's Knowledge is Power. This group blog is a never-ending, wide-ranging source of delightful pro-American, pro-freedom snarkery. Especially don't miss Sondra's frequent "bowling ball to the head" awards, whose honorees would never fail to be improved by the award's prompt and efficient, uh, administration.
Seventh is your Curmudgeon's Long Island colleague The Anchoress. This anonymous scribe writes with a pervasive gentleness and wisdom that fully justifies her choice of cognomen. Among Catholic blogs, this is the pinnacle.
Eighth are Travis Corcoran's Dispatches from TJICistan. Travis's quick, sharp posts on innumerable things are always good for a laugh, or a scowl, and sometimes for both. His angle of attack on the things that interest and / or concern him is that of an intelligent technologist who expects people to make sense and demands explanations when they don't. He seldom gets them, but then, neither does your Curmudgeon.
Ninth is Fausta Wertz: the Pride of New Jersey, the Bad Hair State. Fausta has distinguished herself mightily this past year with her coverage of events affecting Latin America, particularly Venezuela where things have become so dark. Without her, your Curmudgeon would grope for any sort of purchase on the events and politics of that place.
Tenth, but by no means the last and a perennial Curmudgeonly favorite, is Charles Hill of Dustbury. Charles is that rare thing, an entirely sensible man. He writes of many things -- his posts on music and musical notables are particularly fine -- but always with knowledge, insight, and an understated charm. Few broad-spectrum Web writers can come near to his grace.
Happy New Year to you all, friends and colleagues of the Blogosphere. Yours are not "the brayings of asses." May your prodigies continue through 2007 and thence infinitely beyond.
Comments
I am indeed honored to be mentioned alongside folks as worthy as these, be it in 10th position or 1,010th.
Posted by CGHill on 12/30/2006 at 12:28 PMTalking about ‘Braying of Asses’, there was one quote that I thought was outright hilarious - which I hope your Moonbat colleague will take notice of.
The target of such venom thought it was _so_ funny that he posted it with pride:
“For readers willing to don miner’s [sic] helmets to explore a smoke-filled ass just off the main highway, behold the cavern of Baron Bodissey.”
If the Dingbat is funny enough, he can get our attention -even get it posted! Of course, by being that funny, it’ll defeat the intent of the barb. But dang! I hadn’t laughed that hard in a while…
Obviously, who ever it was, was not funny enough to get it posted on your blog, Mr. Curmudgeon. Maybe you should tell ‘em to try harder next time…
Oh… and the link…
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2006/06/slumming-around-gates-again.html
Posted by on 12/30/2006 at 12:43 PMAw, Franny! I just love it when you gush about moi. Big smoochies on that sexy pate of yours!
::dimple::
GFD
Posted by Gabrielle Dolly on 12/30/2006 at 01:58 PMI adore you...and am honored....
Thank you.
Posted by SondraK on 12/30/2006 at 05:00 PMGreat choices! But allow me, as a mere reader, to nominate Eternity Road. Right up there with the best of them.
Posted by Keith on 12/30/2006 at 05:03 PMI still bray like an ass. Wanna hear?
I also hit like a freight train.People should learn to stay out of my way.
Posted by og on 12/31/2006 at 11:42 AMFrancis.......... and with that comes my ginormous trolls!
Enjoy the perverse adulation.
Happy New Year, PamelaPosted by Pamela on 12/31/2006 at 12:18 PMYou are always too kind to me, Fran. I’m honored. I hope your New Year is full of good things.
Posted by on 12/31/2006 at 03:33 PMAnd a very Happy New Year, Fran.
Posted by Akaky on 12/31/2006 at 04:13 PMPamela is pretty.
Posted by on 12/31/2006 at 10:59 PMsir:
no doubt pamela geller is easy on the eyes.
that hardly diminishes a very well run blog, and does not prevent her from advocating conservative thought in a most entertaining and provocative way.
her on the scene reporting, both in new york and in israel during the war, has been top notch. she covered the war from the field, not a hotel, and her pieces with israeli citizens, soldier, clerics and civic leaders were about the best i saw anywhere. and, she is a very talented interviewer, indeed, her extended conversations with people in the public view demonstrating that time and again. her interviews are topical, interesting, and just very well done: she is most skillful at eliciting the interviewees positions on complex subjects, and that is what it is all about, is it not. she is a charming conversationalist, who brings out the best in her guests. what is not to like?
finally, her blog is a fun place to visit. the graphics are top notch, and no other blog with which i am familiar has such a keen appreciation of the arts, nor covers the arts as well and routinely as does pamela.
lots of pretty faces abound.
very few pretty faces, however, are so smart, and feature such a fierce articulation and defense of conservative views, and in such a charming and efficacious manner.
she is, in my view, top notch.
and very, very proud of her association with our troops in the field, and so respectful of the way they articulate their views about what they are accomplishing, for our country and the citizens of other countries, and about what their service means to them. she has proven this time and again by publishing their letters on the main pages of her blog, demonstrating her pride and admiration for their service, and for the substance of their thoughts.
she is a large personality, and serves all of us unstintingly. again, what is not to like.
john jay
yakima, wa.Posted by on 01/01/2007 at 12:28 AMsir:
and, lest we not forget, as pamela reminds us, it is the jihad, stupid!!
john jay
Posted by on 01/01/2007 at 01:35 AMThank you Francis. To be in your honor roll is an honor I’ll continue to strive to live up to.
Posted by Fausta on 01/01/2007 at 08:20 AMAs of this evening (due to NZ’s time lag in averaging traffic) you are one cunning former (at least for the momemt) adorable rodent.
Seems you whipped one jackass into hauling you back up into marauding marsupial territory.
Posted by Pascal on 01/05/2007 at 02:32 AM
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