Resolved. Not.

The Tomahawk Kid (with whom I very much enjoyed catching up recently) has posted as his New Year's Resolutions the late Harry Browne's list of resolutions, made I think when he was running as Libertarian Party candidate for US president.

I don't think they're resolutions I'll be able to follow myself...

2. I resolve to keep from being drawn into arguments or debates. My purpose is
to inspire people to want liberty -- not to prove that they're wrong.

4. I resolve to identify myself, when appropriate, with the social goals
someone may seek -- a cleaner environment, more help for the poor, a less
divisive society -- and try to show him that those goals can never be achieved
by government, but will be well served in a free society.

See what I mean? It's fair to say that Harry, good man that he was -- and laudable though his goals might seem -- definitely comes from the softcock end of intellectual activism. Not every adversary is as genuine and honest as Harry, and others, might like to think they are. Think John Key. Or David Benson-Pope. Or that warmist you were arguing with over New Year.

And knowing the Tomahawk Kid, I'd give him until the end of January until he's broken at least half-a-dozen of Harry's resolutions. In fact, I'm sure he broke most of them the other night when we emptied a bottle of Tullamore Dew together...

LINKS: A libertarian's New Year's resloutions - Tomahawk Kid

RELATED: Libertarianism, Blog

Don't play it again, Sam.

Q: Can Sam Neill act?

Answers on a postcard, please. With evidence. Highlights from appearances at previous Labour Party conferences will not be accepted. [Hat tip G-Man Inc.]

Questions for the modern world

Shawn Klein has a coterie of questions that desperately need answers. Or not. Sample:

10. Is there another word for synonym?

11. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

12. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

And my favourite:

6. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

[Hat tip Stephen Hicks]

Happy Birthday, Montessori!

In this, the centenary year of Dr Maria Montessori setting up her first school in the slums of Rome on January 6, 1907, the influential Washington Post has a piece celebrating 'Montessori going mainstream.' [Hat tip Stephen Hicks]

A healthy sign -- that even the Washington Post finds themselves able to praise Dr Montessori -- but try not to trip over all the political correctness in their article.

Keep an eye out for lots of Montessori centenary activity this year -- more details about the centenary here, and if you're in NZ, more details of local activities here.

LINKS: Montessori, now 100, goes mainstream - Washington Post
Centenary of the Montessori movement - MontessoriCentenary.Org
100 years of Montessori - Montessori Association of New Zealand

RELATED: Education, Politics-US

Back.

I'm just back from a very happy and relaxing holiday. Normal transmission will resume around here very shortly -- right after I download and address my inbox!

Did you miss me? And each other? ;^)