All posts by bradbirzer

By day, I'm a father of seven and husband of one. By night, I'm an author, a biographer, and a prog rocker. Interests: Rush, progressive rock, cultural criticisms, the Rocky Mountains, individual liberty, history, hiking, and science fiction.
History, Philosophy, Politics

Propaganda as Mechanization

“What caused the disturbances in people’s minds [in the 1920s and 1930s] was that we were all subjected to propaganda of a kind the human race had never before experienced; we were subject to two deliberate scientifically-organised lie-machines, the Nazi one and the Soviet one, operated in the interests of two tyrants who were also demagogues. 

What made things unique is the they told opposite lies. 

It was like having two anti-Christs contradicting one another. 

The machines plunged on whatever anyone said, however young or unauthoratative that person might be.”

—Bernard Wall, Headlong into Change (London: Harvill Press, 1969), 79.

Faith

The Vatican obfuscates even while preparing for February meeting on abuse – Catholic World Report

1 Comment

As I read more and more about the abuse scandals of and within large segments of the Catholic Church, I am often struck (in a humbled way) by how little people understand about the nature of sexual abuse.

Abusers almost ALWAYS work in packs. They are predators, and they exchange information with one another. One of the main goals of their abuse is to bring new members into the pack. They are, essentially, grooming.

Please don’t forget this: all abusers are predators. Individuals in terms of lust, yet, part of a tine-mind when hunting.

Thus, it’s hyper critical that even the well-intentioned do NOT cover for these abusers, even out of a) ignorance and b) lack of diabolical imagination.

I believe the current pope is innocent of any direct wrong doing, but he is, nevertheless, encouraging abusers by his very ignorance and lack of diabolical imagination.

Thus, today’s news is even more shocking for those of us who want so desperately to love our Church.–Brad

The Vatican obfuscates even while preparing for February meeting on abuse – Catholic World Report
— Read on www.catholicworldreport.com/2018/11/23/the-vatican-obfuscates-even-while-preparing-for-february-meeting-on-abuse/

Politics

Four invincible libertarian geniuses — do you know them?

For questions pertaining to the U.S. Constitution, I ask Kevin Gutzman (author of James Madison and the Making of America and The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution) or Brion McClanahan (author of The Founding Fathers Guide to the Constitution).

On economics I ask Jeff Herbener (I’ve asked him probably hundreds of questions over the years) of Grove City College, and Bob Murphy, author of many books. On anarcho-capitalism, again I ask Bob. (He wrote a very creative book on the subject called Chaos Theory.)
— Read on mailchi.mp/tomwoods/two-sentences-318861

And, of course, add Tom Woods and Jason Jewell. Six amazing scholars.

Art, Philosophy, Poetry

Christopher Tolkien and the legacy of his father J.R.R. Tolkien: The Steward of Middle-earth

Now, after more than 40 years, at the age of 94, Christopher Tolkien has laid down his editor’s pen, having completed a great labor of quiet, scholastic commitment to his father’s vision. It is the concluding public act of a gentleman and scholar, the last member of a club that became a pivotal part of 20th-century literature: the Inklings. It is the end of an era.
— Read on www.weeklystandard.com/hannah-long/christopher-tolkien-and-the-legacy-of-his-father-j-r-r-tolkien-the-steward-of-middle-earth

An excellent review by Hannah Long. Enjoy. And, God bless, the Tolkiens!

Faith

The Catholic Worker on Leviathan

Dorothy Day (from CRISIS Magazine)

“People go to Washington asking the Federal Government to solve their economics problems.  But the Federal Government was never meant to solve men’s economic problems.  Thomas Jefferson says, ‘The less government there is the better it is.’  If the less government there is the better it is, the best kind of government is self-government.  If the best kind of government is self-government, then the best kind of organization is self-organization.  When the organizers try to organize the unorganized, they often do it for the benefit of the organizers.”

—The Catholic Worker (Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin)  Quoted in Maisie Ward, Unfinished Business (Sheed and Ward, 1964), 176,

Faith, History, Philosophy, Politics

Christopher Dawson, BEYOND POLITICS (1939)

Inspired by Gleaves Whitney and Winston Elliott, I first read Christopher Dawson seventeen years ago, this Thanksgiving break.  To celebrate that first reading–which changed my life–here is the full PDF of Dawson’s 1939 book, Beyond Politics.  Enjoy.

cd beyond politicsDownload
Music

Burning Shed News (November 23, 2018)

Burning Shed

The Winter Sale


Yes Sirree, Winter is surely here and in our annual bid to help those suffering from seasonally affected misery (and those canny customers with an eye for a bargain), the latest Burning Shed sale includes items from across labels and some massive savings. 

Highlights include: 

Kscope label releases by Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, Mansun and many more
A third off King Crimson’s wonderful Thrak box
£10 off the Japanese edition of Bruford’s Seems Like A Lifetime Ago and BB’s Gonzo back catalogue reduced in price
Yes 50th Anniversary tour posters
50% off Peter Blegvad and Andy Partridge’s Gonwards box
Rick Wakeman cardboard replica edition CDs
The final copies of the No-Man ‘EMI pressing’ of Love And Endings
Shriekback catalogue gems
Rupert Hine’s Thinkman trilogy 

Ends Monday November 26th. 

Les Penning & Robert Reed

In Dulci Jubilo (cd/vinyl pre-order)


Les Penning and Robert Reed‘s enchanting version of Christmas classic In Dulci Jubilo (featuring Tom Newman). 

Available as a 5 track maxi-single CD and a 7″ vinyl edition featuring Tom Newman and RR mixes. 

All orders of the vinyl include a free Signed Christmas Card. 

Pre-order for December 14th release. 

Wishbone Ash

Live at Glasgow Apollo 77 (cd/vinyl pre-order)


A live performance from the Front Page News tour of 1977 released for the first time. 

Strictly limited to 1000 copies on vinyl and 3000 on CD, Live at Glasgow Apollo 77 follows the success of the 30 CD deluxe box set Wishbone Ash The Vintage Years 1970-1991. 

Pre-order for January 11th release. 

Big Big Train

Back Catalogue Repressings (cds)


2018 repressing of three early BBT releases: Goodbye To The Age Of Steam (1994), English Boy Wonders(1997) and Gathering Speed (2004). 

A fascinating glimpse into the beginnings of one of the UK’s finest contemporary Progressive bands. 

Shipping now. 

Opeth

Greetings Cards / Sorceress – 3D Lenticular Card (cards pre-order)


Pack of 6 blank greetings cards featuring classic Opeth album covers (dimensions: 16cm x 16cm) and a 3D lenticular card of the striking artwork for Sorceress (dimensions: 30cm x 30cm). 

Pre-order for December 7th shipping. 

Michael Clark

Something To Be Won EP (vinyl pre-order)


The debut EP from singer songwriter Michael Clark on 12″ Vinyl. 

Michael’s mesmerically haunting songs recall the simplicity of Elliot Smith, Pink Moon-era Nick Drake and elements of his father Gavin Clark’s (Clayhill, Uncle) work. 

Pre-order for January 25th release. 



Back in stockShipping now

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead -Tao of the Dead Part III (vinyl) 

David Byrne – True Stories, A Film By David Byrne: The Complete Soundtrack (cd) 

Cosmograf – When Age Has Done Its Duty (vinyl) 

Deep Purple – Fireball / In Rock (2018 remastered versions) (purple vinyl) 

Genesis – Classic Logo / Lamb Faces (t-shirts) 

Carl Glover – Ian Anderson (poster/print) 

Stephen Lambe – Carry On On Screen (book) 

John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest – The 50th Anniversary Concert (cd) 

Marillion – Clutching At Straws (boxsets) 

Rush – Hemispheres 40th Anniversary (Super Deluxe) 

Roine Stolt’s The Flower King Manifesto Of An Alchemist (signed) 

The Syn – Syndestructible (vinyl) 

Tiger Moth Tales – Story Tellers Parts One & Two (vinyl) 

Tom Sheehan – R.E.M: Athens GA – R.E.M In Photographs 1984-2005 (book) 

The Top Of The Poppers – Sing And Play The The Hits Of David Bowie (yellow vinyl) 

Andrew Wild – Queen On Track (book) 

Biography, History, Philosophy

MASSIVE Tom Woods’s LIBERTY CLASSROOM Sale

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http://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=8149

Yep, it’s Black Friday. And, for this deal, you not only DON’T have to leave your home, but you’ll ALSO get lots and lots of nutrition for the mind!  

Right now, Tom is offering a Master membership to Liberty Classroom for only $287.

If you use the link below and purchase a LC Master membership, I (Brad) will happily and eagerly and joyfully send you a signed copy of IN DEFENSE OF ANDREW JACKSON as well as RUSSELL KIRK: AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE as my gift.

http://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=8149

After you’ve purchased your membership with the link, let me know, and I’ll send the books to you.  Make sure to let me how you want them inscribed.  

To Tom! To Liberty! To Classrooms of the mind!

Faith, History, Politics

The Rise of Viktor Orbán, Right-Wing Populist ~ The Imaginative Conservative

To secular and leftist Europeans, Hungary’s Fundamental Law came as a shock. The preamble set the tone—it is the opening line of the Hungarian National Hymn (anthem): “God, bless the Hungarians.” That was already too much for The Guardian. A writer for that left-wing British newspaper noted that the new constitution’s “preamble is heavily influenced by the Christian faith and commits Hungary to a whole new set of values, such as family, nation, fidelity, faith, love and labour.” It was enough to point this out: further criticism would apparently have been superfluous.
— Read on theimaginativeconservative.org/2018/11/viktor-orban-hungarian-resistance-lee-congdon.html

I consider myself an anti nationalist, but I found this article absolutely fascinating–BB.