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A View from the Basement of the Ivory Tower
2008-01-21 15:53:00
by Desperately Seeking Tenure Observations from the always humbling, often amusing, rather intriguing, slightly-depressing, rarely dull life of a suburban Academian. RAD: Living in a neighborhood that is friendly and cheerful. I wave at everyone I pass when I?m out walking my dog. SAD: Realizing that the strange looks I?m getting might possibly be stemming from the fact that I have been waving to them with my free hand not holding the leash?but clutching a clear baggie of fresh dog poo.RAD: Getting all of my syllabi photocopied just in time to hand out on the first day of class. SAD: Realizing that just after my schpiel on proofreading, every copy blares the line: ?Every assignment must be completed in order to earn a pissing grade for the course.? RAD: My favorite thrift shop in town where all of the rich girls go to dump their stuff that is too ?last month.? Favorite find there? The most comfortable pair of sunglasses I have e...
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Statement of Impenetrable Logic #24
2008-01-18 04:49:00
By Alan Gable?Minimum Wage Laws are evil, immoral, and unjust.?Liberals are masters of dooping angry people into voting for them. Promising poor folks riches, silenced people a voice, and marginalized people a shot at importance. They convince these people that whatever is wrong in their lives is someone else?s fault. A classic example is in the minimum wage debate. Liberals always spin these laws in terms of the benefits they supposedly rain down on the disenfranchised wage earner. The unfortunate and ironic truth of what happens when the government makes it illegal to pay less than a certain arbitrary wage is that the lower income, young and mainly unskilled laborers who voted these laws into existence are the ones hurt by them.Any novice student of economics can tell you that artificially raised prices always cause more to be supplied and less to be demanded than when the free market is allowed to determine price. The result is called a surplus. I can draw you a graph if you?d li...
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Quick Update:
2008-01-17 20:55:00
Just wanted to let y'all know I have been invited to be a contributor at www.Tennessee Free .com. Go drop by sometime. Good stuff.
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Pelosi's Baloney Now Organic
2008-01-17 15:52:00
by Nathan McIntyreIn a recent post I noted how my wife and I this year have decided to become more eco-conscious. We are overhauling diet, how we handle our energy usage, and recycling. We're doing the best we can with what we've got. As I mentioned before, I'm looking to reunite some activist passion with the philosophy of liberty.The greatest thing about all this is that we simply decided to do it. We don't subscribe to GoreNet, and Michael Moore's latest propaganda film isn't on our Netflix cue. We decided to do it because we could. We used our brains to take action on what we thought to be the best action for our family, and those around us. It's the logical course of action for those who believe in exercising liberty, right?They do things a little differently on "The Hill."Nancy Pelosi and her band of merry hens, not dissuaded by their inability to get anything of substance accomplished in congress is turning to what liberals do best. That's right folks, it's all about...
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My Hero-in-Law...
2008-01-16 15:25:00
by Nicole McIntyreTomorrow is going to be a hard day in the McIntyre family. My sister-in-law, Natalie, leaves for the Army.I first met Natalie when she was a 15 year old, deep in the throws of teenage angst. Over the years I've seen her grow up. I've seen her relationship with her brother deepen past punches and broken screen doors. I've seen how much she adores her nephew; and he his "Nat."She has become the closest thing to the little sister I always wanted. I love her for her wit and zest for life. I love the strong, talented woman that she has become. I admire her because she is leaving her husband and family to fulfill a calling inside her. I always admire those that have the courage to do so.May God protect her and keep her safe. May she always know that she has a family who loves her, especially on those cold nights on some lonely base in South Carolina as she learns to become a soldier. May she make her country as proud of her as we already are.*** I must note that her d...
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90 Good Minutes
2008-01-15 19:09:00
By Jared GableOther than certain obvious exceptions (walking upright, fire, electricity, the telephone, the internet, desalinization, germ theory, etc?) ESPN may be the most influential discovery/invention in the history of humankind. If you are a fan of the sports network of record, then you are probably familiar with a program entitled ?Pardon the Interruption.? I don?t particularly like Kornheiser or Wilbon, although they seem to be ok guys who spend a lot of time preparing for their thirty minute show. Personally, I think Wilbon is 50 times smarter than Kornheiser, but that is neither here not there. I recommend taking the time to watch PTI for one reason. There is a segment of the show (assuming there is time remaining) called Errors/Corrections in which a quasi-moderator called ?stat boy? announces any factual mistakes which were made in the heat of debate by either of the hosts of the program. This segment generally does not last for more than 10 or 15 seconds, but it remains...
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Romney and the Latter Day Aint's?
2008-01-14 15:26:00
by Nathan McIntyreWould whoever is advising Mitt Romney to blame the Iowa loss on evangelicals please keep up the good work?You're running Mitt's chances down down down, and I thank you.While the jury is still out on why Iowa fell the way it did, one thing is certain. To win as a Republican, siding against conservative Christians is not the way to do it. Iowa is not exactly a conservative state overall. It's no solid South. Rather, it has been hotly contested in the last several elections and there seems to be no change in that phenomenon.I believe Huckabee won because he's a populist conservative. He "brings it down home cuz," and most people can appreciate that even if they disagree with him. He's that everyman candidate that the Right has been disconnected from for so many years. That's why he won.Romney, a Mormon, is now through his speech and actions drawing a line between his faith and conservative Christianity and it's a recipe for failure. It's bad for him. Good for ...

When Did Fred Wake Up?
2008-01-12 16:00:00
VolunteerVoters posted this clip of ol' Fred from the recent South Carolina Fox debate. When did he decide we actually wanted to run for President?Interesting that he chooses now to seem engaged...somewhat.
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More Than Meets The Eye
2008-01-11 06:02:00
Over the Christmas holidays, my brothers asked me what my "Transformers" name would be. I'll admit that I have wondered the same thing about myself but have never really settled on anything. I've also struggled with the basic question of whether I would choose the Autobot side or follow Megatron as a Decepticon. My journey continues. On this Friday, I thought it would be fun to assign Transformer names to the major players on each side of the 08 Presidential campaigns. Here goes.Republicans:John McCain - "Pork Spendicon"Rudy Giuliani - "Rudicon Yankee"Mike Huckabee - "Evangelitron"Mitt Romney - "Polygamous Prime"Ron Paul - "Loud Mouthanator"Democrats:Barack Obama - "Experience Lackatron"Hillary Clinton - "Shrill Nagacon"John Edwards - "Hairspray"As for the American People....."We're All Screwedatrons"What would be your Transformer names for the candidates?

Practical Philosophy Born At Home
2008-01-10 15:02:00
--by Nathan McIntyre The internet is a nice safe place to be brave.It's true. You can be anyone. You can say anything. You can do, or not do, just about anything you desire. It's easy to sit everyday, find something absurd or upsetting and rant about it. It's not difficult to play "wouldacouldashoulda" and sit on your butt.That being said, I'm doing something.I wrote not long ago about the journey that Conservatism as a movement has taken over the last 200+ years here in America. It is my position that it lost its teeth when it lost its heart. Some postulated that I was trying to revive a dead horse, as opposed to looking to the future. While I disagree with that conclusion, and believe the only true balance to socialism in the world is philosophical conservatism, I understand why many readers feel the way they do. It is echoed across the nation in our election cycle.Have you noticed none of the candidates marketing themselves as "conservative?"I have, and I think I know why.It...
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A Calling?
2008-01-09 19:19:00
by Nicole McIntyre 17 months ago my son, Braedon Cameron Gresham McIntyre, was born. We had the picture perfect pregnancy. We were prepared to bring this new life home. All the booties and blankets were folded and put away; the bassinet and rocking chair ready for the late nights. What I wasn't prepared for were "complications." I wasn't prepared for five days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The hardest thing I have ever done was leave the hospital without my baby. But why was it so hard? By the time I was discharged, he was well on his road to recovery. We knew that everything was going to be okay. The hormonal new momma in me just wasn't prepared to leave her baby. I felt like my soul was being ripped into two. I got in the car and came just short of having a panic attack; sobbing all the way home. As I write this 17 months later, Braedon is eating his lunch with his chubby little fingers and trying to figure out a way not to eat his peaches. We're certainly no worse for ...
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Foreign Policy
2008-01-08 18:09:00
By Jared Gable The trial of Charles Taylor should present some very interesting things for Americans to think about regarding our Presidential candidates and the foreign policy each candidate would likely put into place if they were elected. The President?s impact on foreign policy cannot be overstated. He or she will be the chief diplomat and the public face and voice of one of the most influential countries in the history of humankind. Many of my fellow contributors and readers have expressed a certain fondness for Ron Paul and the policies he would implement. He appears to be a proponent of non-intervention and seems to believe this is what is best for the United States. It is my contention that the United States cannot afford such a foreign policy and that the implementation of non-intervention would be disastrous for ourselves and the world. Instead, I would propose the following principles by which to interact with other nations. We must be involved, but in a different way....
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The Feeling of Helplessness....
2008-01-05 14:51:00
by Nicole McIntyreI couldn't imagine what it would be like if Braedon had a life threatening illness. I'm not sure how I would handle it, but I know that it would probably be the hardest fight of my life.For the past 7 months, I've been following the treatment process of Ethan Powell, a 13 month old fighting leukemia. For the past 11 months, the doctors at St. Jude's Research Hospital in Memphis have done experimental treatment after experimental treatment trying to save this child's life. His parent's have done one of their own: prayer. There are over 3 1/2 million "prayer warriors" praying fervently for this child. I know his parents only by sight, they were at Harding with me but I didn't know them personally. I pray for this child not because I share an alma mater with his parents, but because if he were mine I would want the same.Things don't look very good for Ethan right now. A few of his doctors have even said that his parents should take him home so he could die. A ...
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Political Puzzle Pieces
2008-01-04 15:14:00
--Nathan McIntyre"The fiery libertarian and obstetrician known as "Dr. No" has a volatile, on-again, off-again relationship with the Republican Party. But, fueled by a small but devoted following, Rep. Ron Paul is running for president as a Republican in 2008. Unflappable and uncompromising, the Texas physician is anti-tax, anti-big government, and a staunch defender of personal liberties. Paul would do away with the income tax and IRS, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security."We all have different parts to play.I've been a fan of Ron Paul's message of liberty and responsibility since I first heard it. Granted, his candidacy was (and still is, thanks in a large part to the media) a longshot. That being said, I'm a fan. His "reading list" to then front-runner Giuliani was brilliant, and made ole' Rudy look like the quasi-statist that he is. It was the beginning of the end for Rudy--being nipped at the heels.Death by 1,000 cuts from...
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Kneel, er, Vote at the Cross?
2008-01-04 15:06:00
By Nathan McIntyreThe year was 1990. A certain young lad was running for the coveted position of class president, opposed only by a smart young girl named Mandy. The young man was poised, and as far as fourth graders are concerned delivered grand speeches laden with promises of ice cream in every cafeteria line and longer recesses for all. It was a grand world, this fourth grade of the future. One we could all look forward to.Mandy was nice enough, but simply not cool enough to lead the masses into the early nineties with any confidence. The young man was sure this would be a landslide. That was, until the mud flew.As any good ten year old boy at the time he professed his love of all things Nintendo. He pounced mushroom men, fought Shredder with Donatello (the best ninja turtle by far), and shot the heck out of ducks with that crazy orange gun with the best of them. The young lad was well on his way, bantering back and forth about this glorious gaming system until one fatal slip did...
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Toys "R" Me?
2007-12-29 14:30:00
by Nicole McIntyreWe all know the song: "I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys "R" Us kid..." I remember as a kid that I loved to go to Toys R Us due to their large, pink section that is home to Barbie. As an adult, I still love going. There are some really cool toys out there now and I love looking at them. I'm not ashamed to admit that I can't wait for Braedon to be old enough for a train set so I can play with it.The day after Christmas, Braedon and I trekked to this haven of toy delight. Braedon had been given some money for Christmas from the grandparent population with strict instructions to buy him a toy that he would like. Since my kid is only 16 months old, I still have quite a bit of say in what he might like. His current fave are the Little People sets. I love them because I see a future of several years of play out of them as his imagination and legs grow. He loves them because the people fly through the air really well.This is were I ran into a problem. I intended to bu...

My end of the year spending report--
2007-12-28 15:52:00
--Nathan McIntyreThis just in:I paid the Government over $12,000 this year, just because they said they deserve it.Not seeing much return on investment.Good thing we have the Government, and it's pet IRS to watch out for the good of all of us.
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Holiday Wishes From The Candidates
2007-12-27 13:47:00
A few days late, but here's the good word from the candidates...First, from our friend Frayud Thawmpsun. We vote for him because that's what God'ud do. Ooo-rah!Joe Biden-- because we had it in the budget to do a Christmas YouTubeDa Rudy G show loves his Hoe Hoe HoesJohn Edwards-- "Because I love the poor so much, I let them make this suit"Hillary Clinton-- this ad makes socialism more appealing?Ron Paul knows babies. And raking in more military donations than anyone else. Just a thought.The Obama mama and the rest of 'em....and finally Mike "everytime you say 'Happy Holiday s' God kills a peg-leg" Huckabee.Enjoy the season! Which just makes you wanna run out and get your vote on?
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What is Law?
2007-12-24 14:44:00
By Jeff Proctor"The law perverted! And the police powers of the state perverted along with it! The law, I say, not only turned from its proper purpose but made to follow an entirely contrary purpose! The law become the weapon of every kind of greed! Instead of checking crime, the law itself guilty of the evils it is supposed to punish! If this is true, it is a serious fact, and moral duty requires me to call the attention of my fellow-citizens to it." If you haven't read The Law by Frederic Bastiat, stop reading this, read that, and come back. It is available for free (legally) here: http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html I think these are some of the truest words ever written. I've realized that my strength may be more in asking questions than in giving answers, so I want to pose a question, one posed by Bastiat long ago: What is Law? More importantly, what is law today? Is it a check on crime, or is it something else? I argue, of course, that it has become something disgusti...

Harrison Daily Times
2007-12-22 17:13:00
by Nicole McIntyreI love my hometown. The charm and warmth of the people. The simplicity and beauty of the Ozark Mountains. My family is an example of the American dream: we rose from a very simple, hillbilly heritage to college educations and big city livin'. I enjoy perusing the online edition of the local paper to see what's going on in "them thar hills."The past few weeks there has been much debate over the sale of novelty lighters. Apparently there is a sudden fear that children will think they are toys and set themselves on fire. On Monday night the city council met to discuss the issue. Upon reading Tuesday's press coverage of it, I realized that the opposition seems to have the same views as most of us here at the Porch.Check the article out and let the debate begin!
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The Journey of Conservatism
2007-12-21 12:33:00
by Nathan McIntyre"Con·serv·a·tive" /k?n?s?rv?t?v/?adjective1. disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.2. cautiously moderate or purposefully low: a conservative estimate.There was a time, not too long ago, that I would have considered myself a Conservative. My family, while certainly not Republicans all the way back did always seem to tout conservatism, and practical conservative ideals in their everyday lives. It was simple. Spend less than you make. Be careful with your actions. Have a healthy dose of skepticism everyday.I was reminded of this as I changed at my gym yesterday. Two gentlemen, both obviously in a bit of a hurry bantered back and forth about the state of American politics over the mindless droning of Fox News on the wall-mounted television. An interview with Hillary had come and gone, and both fellows lamented the fact that while she, in their opinions, is certainly a Socialist there is no rea...
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Short Story Thursday
2007-12-20 16:00:00
By Alan GableThe best song ever, "The Godfather" theme, was playing over the slightly muted intercom. I was suspended by the velvet rope and pleasant sign that politely requested for me to stay put until the next cashier became available. My hand was sweating, but only my left hand which held a paperback penguin classic copy of Jack Kerouac's On The Road. The cover was made of some type of shiny insulated plastic, undoubtedly a NASA spin off and it was making just the one hand clammy.Both cashiers were occupied. The one to the right was busy explaining the "Member's Club" card application to an apparent octogenarian. The other cashier was a thin silver-haired woman. Her spaghetti lumbar-length hair was a structural microcosm of her linear figure. She felt compelled by her jovial nature, and her employer's commitment to customer service, to make awkward smalltalk with each customer. Her current target seemed to be receiving an earful of biographical info about some obscure...
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A Campaign of Blunders
2007-12-19 17:54:00
By Cameron ClarkNation-wide political campaigns are almost entirely about manufacturing public perception, especially in the primaries. Two candidates, one Republican and one Democrat, have been making a host of monstrous blunders as to let their leads slip or evaporate completely in the early primaries.The Republican Transgressor: Gov. Mitt RomneyMr. Slick has been fighting that very image (too tan, too smooth, too well-groomed) along with his vague answers in debates that led to a slippery and "typical politician" perception. That dangerous compound mixed with his flip-flopping record on abortion, taxes, and health care, it's a powder-keg ready to implode the candidate's Presidential bid in the blink of an eye. As if those weren't enough to kill a candidate, his Mormonism may be the dagger to the heart.Romney, who was getting hammered on his faith by bloggers and political pundits, decided to address the issue in a press conference almost two weeks ago in College Station, Texas...
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The Institution of Vengeance
2007-12-18 17:06:00
By Jared GableNew Jersey up and abolished the death penalty in that state yesterday. Some other states, Tennessee included, have established the same type of Legislative Committee used in New Jersey to study certain aspects of capital punishment within each state. Tennesseans should be interested in seeing what this committee has to say about the implementation of capital punishment in this state.It has always been interesting to me the way many Christians defend the use of the death penalty. I understand that many people think this country was founded on some kind of Judeo-Christian morality, whatever that means. If that is true, then I am compelled to ask the question, "Where in the teachings of Jesus is there any support for institutionalized vengeance?"
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If You're Interested...
2007-12-17 18:08:00
There are discussions that are still on-going from last Tuesday & Wednesday's posts. If you wish to participate in those click the link or scroll on down.Thanks for stopping by!
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Monday Morning Music Choices
2007-12-17 15:46:00
By Cameron ClarkI like to venture onto itunes on Monday mornings and find several pieces of music I would like to own. Sometimes I stick with a theme, a genre, a season, or an artist.This particular Monday, it's as eclectic as it gets. See if some of these nostalgia invoking tunes don't make you dig them up out of your collection, or cause you to visit itunes as well.(For those that don't know, I used to own many of these CDs and songs, but I had them stolen while I was in college, so I've been trying to rebuild)1. Last Dance With Mary Jane- Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers- Such a big ruckus when I was in high school. Everything from the lyrics to the video were controversial, banned, and demonized. Even this Nashville boy still loves himself some Tom Petty and Bonnaroo (another Tennessee tradition).2. Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer- Sammy Kershaw- with the polyester curtains and the redwood deck. It's a dumb song, but one that I remember so well from the summer of 8th grade.3...
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It's a Tacky Christmas....
2007-12-15 17:07:00
by Nicole McIntyreLast night the Boy and I went on our annual trek through the surrounding neighborhoods to admire Christmas light handiwork. I was really excited to go since he loves looking at our Christmas lights through the living room window. Once we started driving around, we were both pretty disappointed. Apparently there is a theme this year: tacky. You know some are really bad when the toddler in the backseat is speechless. To avoid the catastrophes we saw, here are a few helpful hints for decorating your home this holiday season.1. Stay away from inflatables. There is no need for anything that requires a blower to be in your yard. And more is definitely not merrier.2. Christmas lights should not have a soundtrack that they blink to. Most people don't drive with their windows down in December. Not only does it look like you are having electrical problems, you can also expect a lawsuit from your neighbors.3. There should never be 58 styles and colors to choose from. Buying ...
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Business Model
2007-12-14 06:40:00
By Alan Gable?Victoria?s Secret. Their stuff?s real nice. But I can buy the same (unnecessary expletive) thing on a Wal-Mart shelf (at) half price and still look as sexy as those models on TV??-Gretchen WilsonThe global underwear market is driven by one major player followed by a bunch of sleaze. The industry itself is focused around a series of products that draws the lion?s share of its innovation from adult films. Perhaps only the sharpest advertising minds could position a company?s image in a place that would declare it immune to boycott from the Christian right. In fact, Victoria?s Secret remains the only unmentionables retailer having mastered this image of being not floozy. At the secondary options of underwear sales like Frederick?s, a young lady (or a cross-dressing dude if that is your bag) is more likely to find some sort of sorority girl Halloween costume than something she would ever consider wearing to bed. The industry leader, on the other hand has maintained...
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A Cure For The Disease
2007-12-13 15:50:00
--by Nathan McIntyreAnother year and another football season in the South draws near its close. Soon the waft of bourbon in the breeze will be gone, and in its place will be the cold, frosted bite of winter. Football season in the South is a holy time, when petite belles slug booze and preachers excuse any multitude of sins, as long as they were committed in the right color, perhaps on the right day. I love it and I hate it. Such is the nature of the beast.Cameron writes much on the Porch about his love for college football, and I share the disease. It's intoxicating, and at least here in the South try as much as you like to quit cold turkey--you'll always come back for one more hit. I've tried. Trust me. Being an Alabama fan is a most futile of pursuits. It is indeed the Lost Cause. I long for the day when Alabama only plays 11 people on a football Saturday in the fall. So far we have a serious "o-fer" streak to a revered, damnable ghost.It's no secret this season. After much t...
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Weekly Wednesday Top 10
2007-12-12 18:08:00
By Cameron ClarkThe national media is abuzz this morning with the outrage of Bobby Petrino's departure from Atlanta in favor of Fayetteville. It would be difficult for me to care less about who captains the Razorback football program, as long as it is not someone who is currently employed by Auburn University.With these coaching changes happening so often, it is probably a good task to identify the worst coaching situations that exist in the upper levels of American football (college & pro) that make these transitions so prevalent, especially between college and pro teams.Now that the very worst job in all of the NFL (Falcons) is open and the most high pressure college coaching vacancy now filled (Arkansas) let's run down the list of the remaining worst coaching jobs.10. UCLA Bruins- They have no commitment to the football program, they are in the PAC-10, and they have absurd expectations considering their lack of history and devotion to football. Because of how they have acte...
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