On April 10, 2024 at 3:02 pm, Mark Shere wrote:
The full eclipse passing through my town made me think of you and your occasional quote of Bogart: "I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world." Does the vastness of the heavens perhaps bring you some comfort in these troubled times?
On April 10, 2024 at 3:05 pm, Hart wrote:
Mark...Welcome back. Considering the continual degradation of the U.S., I was wondering as to when we can expect your next book, titled "Autopsy of America".....likely the "last copier in the woods" samizdat version.....in Arabic?
In anticipation of the coming collapse of the dollar and of our insidious debt-based economy, how practical will gold be in such a dystopian society? Many conservative pundits and websites are strongly and repeatedly promoting the purchase of gold, but I remain confused as to the practicality of gold's worth in such an economy....especially where inflation will continue to grow. Yes, I have an ounce of gold, but if at some point, that ounce of gold will be required to buy a loaf of bread, how valuable will it be? It may remain valuable for some date in the future, but as a practical medium of exchange, I just don't see it. I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts.
On April 10, 2024 at 3:07 pm, Kelly Walter wrote:
Mark,
Continued prayers for your health and your ultimate victories in your court cases! I just renewed my club membership.
You often encourage us to take a stand for "First Principles." For those of us without the benefit of a serious education could you identify these "First Principles" for us. I would like to have a clear idea of what I am fighting for.
Also, I trust that in the midst your busy schedule you are carving out time for a first rate autobiography. The personal tidbits and encounters that you share from time to time are fascinating and would make a great read. What a treasure for your heirs and admirers!
On April 10, 2024 at 3:08 pm, Joe Cressotti wrote:
Dear Mark. I'm really enjoying your collection of essays in Mark Steyn From Head to Toe. The events described from only twenty or thirty years ago seem to come from an entirely different era.
One of the articles I most enjoyed was your piece on the writer Mordecai Richler, of whom I know next to nothing. In the midst of your essay you mention appearing on a radio show with him and Garrison Keillor. That really caught my attention. Could you expand upon it?
I hadn't thought about Keillor in a long while, but thinking about him now makes me sad (maybe nostalgic). While I was always turned off by his politics, I still enjoyed him as a talented radio personality. I don't know where he is today but feel his Me-too cancellation was a small cultural loss. Any thoughts?
On April 10, 2024 at 3:10 pm, David Kelley-Wood wrote:
Mark, straying dangerously from the light-hearted subject of the collapse of civilization to the far more meaningful one of your love of music, do you recall there ever being a light bulb moment, say maybe a particular song or circumstance, when you said to yourself "Hey, this music thing is going to be pretty special in my life?"
On April 10, 2024 at 3:13 pm, Frank Gallenstein wrote:
Hi Mark,
I enjoyed the Frank Haviland interview. Like me, I suspect club members enjoyed the audio more so than the transcripts. Your delivery makes it more enjoyable and entertaining.
Meanwhile, I just read where a judge decided on Tuesday to allow Special Prosecutor Jack Smith to shield the identity of witnesses against Trump in the so-called mishandling of documents case on the grounds that, " it would expose them to intimidation and harassment from Trump".
Whatever happened to being able to face your accusers? And harassment from Trump? Who is the harasser?
On April 10, 2024 at 3:14 pm, A Clockwork Cabbage wrote:
Again, best wishes for improving health.
What is your take on the possibility of looming elections bringing on the worst? In America and Great Britain there is a real chance of a Democratic Party and Labour Party victory respectively, which will likely mean an entrenchment and even enhancement of "woke progressive" politics. The electorates in said two nations may end up committing seppuku, with a rusty blade yet. Of course, if the cynical Uni-party hypothesis is correct, it will be disappointment and damnation on any turn.
Another point, do Americans appreciate the real possibility that when they vote in the Presidential election it is really the VP on the ticket who will be the real heir to the Oval Office? There is a good chance that, for various reasons, neither Biden nor Trump would finish a four- year term. So, what's it going to be, eh? The insubstantial Kamala of the Dems or the yet unnamed Mr. or Ms. X of the GOP? The Republican Convention better choose wisely.
On April 10, 2024 at 3:16 pm, Chris Davies wrote:
Mark,
I hope this finds you well.
Following the subjugation of the House of Commons to appease the Islamic mob a few weeks back by the Speaker at the request of the Leader of the Opposition, we now have the Deputy Leader of the Opposition aka The Ginger Growler caught with her pants down avoiding Capital Gains Tax but refusing to stand down.
Of course the so called Tories are no angels with the latest act of self harm being William Wragg being blackmailed on Grindr after showing his todger to the wrong recipient and releasing the phone numbers of a dozen of his colleagues. As you do.
When it comes to scandal, does it pay to sit on the left?
Keep well Mark.
On April 10, 2024 at 3:17 pm, Toby Pilling wrote:
How long do you think until your beloved red ensign is 'tweaked' into a more modern, rainbow design?
On April 10, 2024 at 3:19 pm, eaglepatriotminuteman1776 wrote:
Dear Mr. Steyn,
My wife and I were on an apocalypse film binge, and we finished it off with On the Beach (1959). We would like to know what you think of this spectacular film.
Critics praised the film's anti-war message, but what I found most touching was how the characters were devoted to duty and died with dignity. One might mistake the orderliness of the end as parody, but I think the director and writers had too much respect for the characters to mock them.
I could not help but shed tears at the end as the USS Sawfish headed out on her final patrol to the melancholic notes of Waltzing Matilda. It wil never be a gay melody to me again.
It sounds strange to say this of fictional characters, but their bravery was keeping with the highest traditions of the British Empire, the Royal Australian Navy, and the United States Navy, and through their courage in the face of oblivion, each character and extra made himself as real to me as flesh and blood. It is a damned good director and writer who can make a viewer mourn the deaths of the characters as well as the extras.
God be with you this Orthodox Easter. Christ is Risen!
Yours Faithfully,
William Fleishman
On April 10, 2024 at 3:20 pm, Bill Dekker wrote:
Dear Mark,
Your song of the week special about ABBA winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo made me think about another story you related about the gentlemen who said, "I'm humming the music, not the lyrics". Do lyrics really matter anymore unless they can be used as a club for an approved group to wield against the artist?
Waterloo compares a love affair to Napoleon's defeat. Would ABBA have been as successful if they picked another more objectionable megalomaniac dictator?
"Stalingrad, at first it was nice then it ended bad,
Stalingrad, besieged me until I went barking mad."
Perhaps songs are another item like sausages and the law in that their making and content to not hold up well to close scrutiny. Waterloo, Every Breath You Take, Sweet Little Sixteen, and I Saw Her Standing There all have catchy music, but the lyrics seem much less benign.
All the best to you in your battles with America, Great Britain, and any other foolish country that tries to obstruct you.
Regards,
Bill
On April 10, 2024 at 3:23 pm, Scott Schertzer wrote:
Dear Mark:
Do you think that the potential for a second holocaust (this one occurring worldwide) is completely out of the question? Not only has Europe turned its back on Israel, but now even the United States is ready to abandon its longtime ally. Protests that have been taking place in the west since Israel went into Gaza make no pretense that their problem isn't with Israel alone, but with all Jews.
The civilized world has shown that they only have an affinity for the Jewish people when they are being slaughtered. When Jews decide to fight back then all of the ancient hatreds spring back to life. I don't think it to be much of an exaggeration to say that the world would be all too happy to be rid of the Jews for one reason or another. How do you view the current situation?
Take good care.
Sincerely,
Scott Schertzer
Miami Beach
On April 10, 2024 at 3:24 pm, Fran Lavery wrote:
I thought I understood what was going on in both the Israel vs Hamas conflict: Israel is at war for its very existence is threatened and must destroy every last Hamas terrorist group or they will reconstitute with Tehran's and our own administration's help, and the Ukraine vs Russia conflict: Ukraine with Z has laundered billions of unaccounted for US aid just to lose to Russia and turn its own country to ruination. Now there's a Russian orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, Metropolitan Krill of Smolensk claiming Russia's priorities should be to gather back the Russian speaking regions to the motherland and act as a "Holder" and "protect the world from evil."
There is a post today at the site, First Things, in which the writer George Weigel compares his words to Mein Kampf and wonders why Tucker Carlson and JD Vance don't get what's going on. He writes that Russia is kidnapping Ukrainian children. It is my understanding that our own Congress has or is about to confiscate the funds of the Russian people and give it to the corrupt Ukrainians. What the heck is going on?
Tucker also appears with a Palestinian clergyman who lives in Israel who says the money coming from Christian churches in the US to support Israel is killing Christians. He says the Christians are under attack and being threatened to go home and he added that it's a crime to evangelize Christianity in Israel. Again what the heck is going on?
On April 10, 2024 at 3:26 pm, William Kelly wrote:
I'd love to hear if you had any thoughts on Stan Kenton's big bands. I love a number of his songs. Graettinger's arrangement of You Go To My Head is wonderful. He does it sans vocals, and sort of takes it from the beginning as a dissonant, stressed horn lines, eventually coming into an almost resolved state in the middle, only to fall back into almost cacophony where he descends back into madness. It is far more expressive in chords than the vocal arrangements. I played in jazz bands in high school and am partial to the instrumental older jazz (very little after the early 60s), so I tend towards those.
-William from The Lone Star State
On April 10, 2024 at 3:27 pm, Nicola Timmerman wrote:
Quebec Premier Legault is now talking about having a referendum on immigration (to soften us up to a future one on separation again). Thanks Trudeau for the ridiculous numbers of migrants and temporary migrants and his plans for the future ridiculous increased numbers which is dividing our country besides hurting Canadian citizens who want to rent an apartment, buy a house. Would you rather live in a Quebec with fewer immigrants (especially Muslim ones) or in a swamped other province?
On April 10, 2024 at 3:29 pm, Heather wrote:
Hi Mark. In your column "Simple Arithmetic," you note, "The entire 'war on terror' was a complete waste of time, unless you're an American defense contractor." A hard truth for those of us who served in the military over the last two decades. Did I miss your comments on thoroughly-modern Milley's testimony to Congress about the "departure" from Afghanistan? Can't these people just go off to make millions sitting on their defense contractor boards and stop reminding us of how we wasted our younger years?
My favorite part of the "departure" is how the military brags that we "saved" 130,000 people (from the photos, mostly men.. how progressive) from Kabul. Perhaps we should have just brought over hundreds of thousands from that backward culture twenty years ago and saved ourselves the dead and wounded of our own.
On April 10, 2024 at 3:37 pm, JC of Weston-super-Mare wrote:
Hi Mark,
Messaging you from a cold, wet & miserable UK. The clocks might have gone forward but Spring is being very coy this year, perhaps it too is wary of our impending civilisational collapse.
With regards to said collapse, two weeks ago Scott from Miami asked you about the motivations of our self-appointed elites in preparing the ground to bring it about. My question is what, if anything, we mere mortals can do about it?
Listening to you & other MS Clubbers is reassuring in that at least we know we are not alone in our concerns, but in this post factual & post democratic world I feel so helpless. With the future of a four-year-old granddaughter to worry about, helplessness is not a good feeling to have.
(Her name is Millie is you'll indulge a name check).
All the best
John Creasey
On April 10, 2024 at 3:39 pm, Suzanne Reny wrote:
Hope you and other club members enjoyed Monday's solar eclipse. It was a blessed relief to spend a few hours ignoring the alarming and depressing news out there. Hopefully it was a temporary relief for you and yours as well.
On April 10, 2024 at 3:42 pm, Dan wrote:
Kippers at breakfast are still a ' thing ' in Commonwealth Navies. It is especially popular among the old salts when the weather is rough and the tadpoles might be set over the edge by the smell
On April 10, 2024 at 3:42 pm, Tammie C in Idaho wrote:
Mark --
I've participated in three Steyn at Sea cruises now and have an undeniable earworm of your wonderful theme song in my head. I believe the title is "Nine Lives". Is there any sheet music or score that is available for sale of your theme song? I would love to learn it and play it.
On April 10, 2024 at 3:43 pm, Barbara Yunker wrote:
Hi Mark, this question is non-erudite. Really more of a suggestion. In addition to the ways to provide concrete support, what do you think about a raffle? The prize would be to sail on the next Steyn cruise! Inside berth acceptable. Also, the winner has to get to the boat, if "They" are still allowing us to fly on airplanes. The cost of a raffle ticket could be a hundred or two hundred fifty, for example. Please consider. Please?!?
On April 10, 2024 at 3:45 pm, Bideford Jake wrote:
Dear Mark,
I find five words keep coming to mind as I look out upon the psychiatric ward that my country has so quickly become: "...just like Mark Steyn said."
Mass immigration means the changes in England have been constant but often unnoticed, inch by inch, day by day, like a creeping glacier crushing our culture and freedoms beneath it. Yet so few of us seem to care how our society is changing. I often hear that Andy Partridge line in my head: 'Books are burning/in the main square/Watch us turn 'round/and cast our glances elsewhere.' My unaffected middle-class friends will only realise something is awry when they wake up one morning to hear a call to prayer on the village green. I can see the appeal of fundamentalism and fanaticism; everything is black and white, good or bad, right or wrong with no pesky grey areas to deal with.
Which is why I'd like to stick up for GB News. I discovered you and your astonishing body of work precisely because of the channel. It's not the force it was and nothing has matched the gasp-aloud thrill of your shows. Excess deaths and rape gangs are rarely covered now but dismissing its content as 'pap' is unfair. Surely it's important to survive the Ofcom onslaught and advertising boycott in the hope that it can grow and get louder in the future. There are excellent broadcasters working there - Andrew Doyle, Neil Oliver, Simon Evans, Patrick Christys, Emma Webb, for example. I thought Rees-Mogg's take down last night of the ECHR decision on climate change was excellent.
What is the best way is to change the world? - Andrew Doyle's calm, reasoned, logical and persuasive approach or Mark Steyn's 'take no prisoners', bull-at-a-gate, no compromise, naked, unvarnished truth and win at all costs?
Thank you for standing up for us and taking the hits. What that despicable opposing lawyer said to you during your trial about it not being over even if you leave this vale of tears made me so angry I suspect even the neighbours heard me shouting.
When I need a good cheery-up I play that clip of you slaughtering the odiously smug Simon Schama during the refugee crisis debate. A brilliant example of how to think and react on your feet.
Thank you for all you do,
Good health and best wishes,
Bideford Jake
On April 10, 2024 at 3:45 pm, rm wrote:
Mark, same question but replace gold with bitcoin or even better, a cryptocurrency that allows private transactions, such as litecoin.
On April 10, 2024 at 4:21 pm, abc123 wrote:
Spite music! Wowzers!
