The Fleming Foundation Cultural Commentary

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Fleming / Uncategorized

21 May, 2018

“Which Clash, What Civilization?” Conclusion

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This is the meaning behind Herodotus’ still famous tale of Solon and Croesus.  The Greek philosopher was visiting the fabulously wealthy Lydian king, who asked him to name the happiest man on earth.  Solon tells him of an Athenian who lived well, produced a good family, and died fighting for his people.  When Croesus, a little crest-fallen, asks him if there is a close second, Solon tells him the true story of Cleobis and Biton, who, when they could not find the oxen to yoke to the cart, died after pulling their mother to a festival of Argive Hera.  “Well,...

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Free Content

21 May, 2018

Ransom Notes May 21: The Pope’s Theology of Evil

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Pope Francis has once again managed to use a private conversation as an opportunity to make a heretical statement, reserving the right to take it back or fall back on issue clarification, should the storm of outrage prove to be too furious.  According to Juan Carlos Cruz, an alleged victim of clerical sexual abuse, the Pope told him : “Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter.“God made you like this and loves you like this and I don’t care.“The pope loves you like this. You have to be happy with who you are.” As a matter of course...

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Free Content / Poetry

21 May, 2018

Poems of the Week, May 20: Omar Khayam

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This is a brief section of Edward Fitzgerald’s famous rendering of the Rubaiyat by the Persian mathematician Omar Khayam   VII Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling: The Bird of Time has but a little way To flutter–and the Bird is on the Wing. VIII Whether at Naishapur or Babylon, Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run, The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one. IX Each Morn a thousand Roses brings, you say; Yes, but where leaves the Rose...

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FF / FUTR / Podcasts / Season 2

17 May, 2018

The Leaders We Deserve, Part II: From Under the Rubble, Episode 24

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From Under the Rubble with Dr. Fleming and Rex Scott: “The Leaders We Deserve, Part II.” Original Air Date: May 17, 2018 Show Run Time: 24 minutes Show Guest(s): Dr. Thomas Fleming Show Host(s): Rex Scott The Fleming Foundation · From Under the Rubble, Episode 24: The Leaders We Deserve, Part II   From Under the Rubble℗ is a Production of the Fleming Foundation. Copyright 2018. All Rights are Reserved.

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Feature / Peters

17 May, 2018

Encountering the Klan

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This was first posted as a comment, but it is definitely worth reading as a brief essay. In the sixties, in my neck of the woods, most Klansmen were bored men, ranging from about seventeen to seventy. One night they would build a bonfire on a ridge and fox hunt. Another night they would built a bonfire in a “holler” and possum hunt. On yet another night they would build a cross, burn it and drink whisky and hot chocolate. They also drank whisky and hot chocolate when they fox hunted and possum hunted! I had a few encounters with...

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Free Content

16 May, 2018

Wednesday’s Child: This Portside of Paradise

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When a Negroni cocktail is properly made, it is just the thing to drink sitting in the shade on a sunny day.  But when the humble Negroni is made with Punt e Mes instead of ordinary red vermouth, it is more than the cocktail you drink in the shade on a sunny day, it is how you set sail for paradise.

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Fleming

15 May, 2018

Ransom Notes, May 15 2008

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Hollywood and Congress are free to make up any reality they like, but anyone who has lived on the ground in the real American knows perfectly well that the welfare-consuming classes are living off the sweat of American workers, whose only reward is to be insulted and attacked. 

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Brownlow

14 May, 2018

Inventing Value

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Another coincidental event accompanying the invention of Kraft Cheese and the Hollywood film industry was Woodrow Wilson’s signing of the Federal Reserve act, which inaugurated the evacuation of value from the dollar.  Compared to the gold-backed, pre-Federal Reserve dollar, today’s dollar is worth about 3 cents, another example of capitalism’s mass-production of imitation goods.