Where I've Been

I am acutely aware of my recent blogging drought. It isn't for lack of desire or material, believe me. Rather, I have been making a concerted effort to focus my research and, consequently, my writing on a narrower range of topics. (I was also on vacation.) This will never be a simple, one or two topic blog, but my writing has been inconsistent and, at times, too reactionary. The insta-comment is inherent to the nature of blogging, but I've noticed that my reaction and desire to get a comment out right away has compromised my analysis, even in the short term. Part of this process of focus has also forced me to reevaluate my writing style and the aims of this blog.

As far as I know, I have two primary audiences that read this blog with any regularity. The first was my primary intended audience when I started this blog back in 2007: the everyday "real" American that is too busy being a productive member of society to pay attention to much of what goes on in Washington and, probably, someone who doesn't have a sophisticated or fully flushed-out political ideology. (Perhaps a preconceived and probably right-leaning political allegiance, but without the ability to distinguish Burke from Rousseau.)

The second audience is a small number of colleagues and counterparts in the DC area: wonks, for lack of a better term.

Most of what I have written on this blog is of little interest to wonks: they know it already. My analysis, whether one agrees with it or not, tends to be simple-to-digest and more concerned with principle than  nuanced policy argument. As I try to make my transition into the established DC wonkatariat, I need to address issues that make them think, instead of making them simply nod or roll their eyes.

Thus, going forward, the intent of this blog is to integrate more nuanced policy arguments into my writing without getting too far into wonkspeak and talking beyond the people from whom this blog--and my original column at the IDS that shared its name--was originally intended. I know that, at times, I will fail one audience in favor of the other, but I hope to minimize those failures and develop my own voice that bridges the large divide between the place I come from and the place I am today.

Comments always welcome.

JPB

NB: I don't necessarily at all stand behind some of what I wrote when I was at the IDS. The transition from life-long Republican to small "L" libertarian was a process that was in its infant stages the year I was at the paper.

Mood Music Monday

I admit, I am known among my friends for a certain predisposition for humbuggery--especially as it applies to Christmas music. I worked in retail for years, hearing the same Muzak Christmas songs on loop for days on end while repeatedly folding clothes and cleaning bins as frenzied rude consumers tore through the department as if the end of days was coming and their last mission in life was to find the ugliest 2XL sweater ever conceived by man. You'd sooner get me to a John Michael Montgomery concert than to get me near a mall between Thanksgiving and February 1. THAT is how much I hate this time of year and the music that accompanies it.

That said--and probably because this song wasn't among those torturing tunes when I worked in retail--I heard this on the way in to work this morning and even my cold, Grinch-like heart enjoys it:




I'm going on vacation after today so posting will be sparse, if at all existent. Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, etc.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hey, just wanted to wish all my readers a safe and happy Thanksgiving (and for you damned fer'ners living elsewhere, you have a good Thursday. Sorry you don't get the next two days off!).

I'm not going to write some long-winded post about what I'm grateful for, not because I'm not thankful, but rather because I don't want to bore you with the details. Just a word of advice: thank someone who means something to you over the holiday.

Be safe. Have fun. See you next week.

-JPB

Happy Fourth of July!

I wanted to post a song for Independence Day--this is my favorite version of my favorite patriotic song. The video I can take or leave, but it is done well enough and has nothing I find objectionable.



For all my bitching about what is wrong with it, I truly love my country. Some may consider that "statist" or overly nationalistic--in a non-European (i.e., non-racist) sense--and to them I say, so be it. The United States of America was founded in the principle of liberty and the application of that liberty--however cruelly imperfect throughout most of our history--has made us the freest, richest and most fortunate nation the world has ever seen.

Have a safe and happy 4th.

Irreverant Holiday Edition

Barring anything patently ridiculous in the news today, I won't be posting again until next week. So, I leave you with these thoughts for your Thanksgiving pleasure:

-For all the late 20-somethings and early 30-somethings, a more professional breakdown of your favorite Hip-Hop songs here.

-Tragi-comedy achieves new depths here. (Warning: This is the whitest thing I have ever seen and thus may irreparably damage your Soul)

And given that its NCAA time again, a special dedication from my favorite General that pertains to recent events in my life (Money quote @ 2:58 (-:22) mark):