We have been quite busy, it seems, because so many of you are asking after our various secret projects. Island Dweller, who has yet to complete his many assignments (notably, switching the East and West Magnetic Poles), is suspicious about … Continue reading →
And now, our question of the day: Most dread, awful and snowbound Czar: I’m taking a rest from any strident advocacy of causes for a moment. I still intend to maintain my pastime of firing homing torpedoes of truth into … Continue reading →
Island Dweller rests his case on national service by linking up Operative BJ’s observations. Most August Majesty: I thought the topic had been laid to rest, however, Operative BJ’s comments are too good to pass up. I couldn’t have expressed … Continue reading →
Island Dweller presents with an exchange between him and his Esteemed Associate: Your esteemed majesty: Your minion here on the Island express-shipped Lobot-Ami back to EA in a heated crate to avoid our feathered friend becoming frostbitten, or hitching a … Continue reading →
Island Dweller has some thoughts on the Czar’s mercurial rant on Korea: Most esteemed Czar A close examination of the photo of that poor man on that lonely Korean hilltop will disclose some deep slash wounds on the palm of … Continue reading →
Island Dweller offers a closing argument for his position on national service: Most esteemed majesty – You are correct in your position what I am proposing re: Universal Military Service is an impossibility at this time. It is impossible because … Continue reading →
The ongoing debate about national service is hardly winding down; the Czar is not certain he has seen this much debate between our readers since a row between Operative Thump (deceased), Minion Hoogle (deceased), and Operative Cheever (deceased) in 1838 … Continue reading →
For those not keeping pace, we have been having a fun, informative, and delightfully expanding discussion going on here over the idea of mandatory national service. If you are just joining us, please start here and then read this followup. … Continue reading →
What’s awesome for all of us is when a good debate begins between two of our loyal readers. You will recall a letter from Island Dweller, in which he supported US Navy ADM Mike Mullen for suggesting a mandatory national … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes in with a thought or two: Most esteemed ruler of the Midwestern Icebox: You know who else had a program of mandatory national service? No? This one sort of got away on us. When something like this … Continue reading →
So writes in Island Dweller: Your august majesty It’s still very early in the game for detailed analysis of the House Armed Services Committee information released yesterday, and I have not read the entire 450-page screed, rather only a synopsis … Continue reading →
And it wouldn’t be Thursday without Island Dweller spotting something to tick us off. He brings up the subject of former Defense Secretary Gates: Most illustrious, dread, awful, and so on – Your slightly chilled minion here in the hinterlands … Continue reading →
More mail from the masses. Your Majesty, I’m certain you recall my story of the pair of CFL bulbs, where one died after a few weeks and the other was still good? Tonight, the other one died. I found that … Continue reading →
Awesome question from Island Dweller, and one the Czar expects will generate a little bit of mail and, better still, commentary from other brooders within the Castle: Most illustrious majesty, Thanks to the Democrats, the yuan has gone up in … Continue reading →
Christmas stockings were filled with mail here, and the Czar put his unstockinged feet up on the Ottoman to relax rather than respond. Before Mark Spahn, of West Seneca, New York, writes to disabuse the Czar on his capitalization of … Continue reading →
The snow is finally falling here in Muscovy, and the holidays must be fast approaching because all the car commericals on television are written by and for 5-year-olds. Seriously: whoever it was at Honda who greenlit the use of Michael … Continue reading →
Island Dweller says a bunch of things here, but seems to touch on the need for term limits: Most dread and awful majesty – Last night, while giving Lobot Ami a rubdown to prepare him for his next flight back … Continue reading →
Look, everybody knows the Mandarin is the most popular writer here because he can distill total rage in about three short paragraphs, accompanied by either a funny graphic or some utterly bizarre YouTube video never more than a couple minutes … Continue reading →
The following essay is a guest post from Island Dweller because it seems the Czar doesn’t post anything of his own lately. But this great news, because we remind our readers that you are welcome to submit your thoughts either … Continue reading →
The following essay is a guest post from Island Dweller. We remind our readers that you are welcome to submit your thoughts either as an email or as a complete essay. Your majesty: The more you study his diagram, the … Continue reading →
Island Dweller copies the Czar on some of his mail, which we in turn by our massive grace extend unto thee, dear reader: Your majesty: Esteemed Associate, still firmly ensconced like a tenacious polyp in the bowels of the government … Continue reading →
Island Dweller brings charm, not just wit: Y’Maj, Thinks have been rather grey and wet here on Shangri-La of late. After placing some rocks beneath an A/C drain outside the house yesterday and performing some forestry functions with the Czarina, … Continue reading →
Island Dweller has some observations: Losing Our Cool, are we? Your immenseness: I had cause to laugh yesterday while watching an out-take from Megan Kelly’s show on FoxNews that featured an interview she attempted with Ezekiel Emanuel, brother of Rahm … Continue reading →
Island Dweller has our guest post of the day. Enjoy! You know, you can write guest posts here, too. Just send ‘em in to any one of us and let us know you want it as a standalone piece or … Continue reading →
The Czar loves getting mail. But the truth is this: the worse things get out there, the more mail he receives. And we are sad to confess, as you have noticed, the Czar has been getting a lot of mail … Continue reading →
Island Dweller brings the 411: Esteemed, great and awful majesty: I recall a recent post by you relating to American voters and how they suck (by and large). Here is a story that’s a perfect example of how voters take … Continue reading →
Island Dweller checks in on employment. Data posted today on the web indicates at least one sector of the economy is experiencing an employment boom, with numbers of these employees increasing 18 percent since 2009. The employees I mention contribute … Continue reading →
Island Dweller starts our work week off with thoughts on the Obama administration. Yesterday the tin can and string telephone down here at Shangri-La connecting me to Esteemed Associate began tapping. After picking up that soup can and pulling the … Continue reading →
Island Dweller has our guest post of the day. Enjoy! You know, you can write guest posts here, too. Just send ‘em in to any one of us and let us know you want it as a standalone piece or … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes (and so should you!): O most dread, awful, omnipotent, omniscent, etc etc . . . Mother Jones magazine recently published the results of a public opinion poll conducted in part by James Carville. The results of the … Continue reading →
Island Dweller—he of the block quote—swung by the Castle lobby bar last night with a piece of paper in his hand. The paper was a printout from a website. Most magnificent Czar, etc & etc . . . A forum … Continue reading →
Island Dweller has our guest post of the day. Enjoy! You know, you can write guest posts here, too. Just send ‘em in to any one of us and let us know you want it as a standalone piece or … Continue reading →
A guest post today from Island Dweller, who does indeed dwell on an island. In perusing the news screeds this morning I came across the following. It is a rather lengthy article re: the poor educational showing, not of American … Continue reading →
About websites being shutdown for theatrical reasons: Your Czarness: Also shut down are the SEC webpage that allows one to file and to track corporate filings and the USGS webpage that allow one to look up seismic data for a … Continue reading →
From the Doublewide, JAB writes in after too long an absence (but do we not always say that about her?): Dear Your Czarness: Yes, indeedy, some jack-wagon “supervisor” in some office in DC decided the putting up barricades and tape … Continue reading →
Island Dweller plops down next to the Czar at the Castle Lobby Bar and lets the Czar have it about the unfair treatment government employees are getting from the private public. The good news is that the Czar remembered it … Continue reading →
Some snippets from the Daily Mail obtained just this morning discuss the changed psychiatric guidelines regarding the chronological age of adolescence. It would seem our British cousins believe the timeframe for this period should be extended beyond the age of … Continue reading →
Many minions write to the Czar in an overtly supplicating tone, apparently terrified that the Czar will unleash some horrific punishment onto them. Ridiculous! The Czar encourages and welcomes all manners of correspondence with his minions, for he truly respects … Continue reading →
The semper paratus Island Dweller puts charcoal to the cave wall to write in: Most August Majesty: There is a phrase being bandied about by both sides on the Syria issue, to wit: “Boots on the ground.” Everyone using this … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes in, and the Czar will comment along. Dread and Awful Majesty: Your humble subject has mentioned in the past the possible consequences of incompetence in foreign policy. He has also mentioned how the US government at the … Continue reading →
The Czar steps aside to let Island Dweller have a post today. Enjoy! Surfing the web a day or so ago (no pun intended, in light of the story that follows), I came across a story that appeared on the … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes in to reference our exploration of FDR’s military aims. As usual, ID has some very interesting information: Most dread and awful majesty: I have read with great interest of your find of the newspaper you uncovered during … Continue reading →
Island Dweller carefully wrote this onto a stick of gum, chewed it to get it past security, and placed this on a Castle window for us to find and reconstruct. Unless we are wrong in how we deciphered the squiggles … Continue reading →
Urgent communique flashed in using Morse code from a weather balloon results in this followup. However, because Island Dweller flashed the Morse code in equally-timed one-second pulses to rub our face in it, the message took a while to decode. … Continue reading →
Okay, see, this should have been posted yesterday, but the Czar only got around to it today. Sorry, ID. Most illustrious majesty: “An iconic photograph of ‘The Sandman’ taken during the height of the attack that illustrates the conditions under … Continue reading →
Island Dweller revisits us but brings a new topic, a well-groomed cocker spaniel, and a rare eight-pack of Zima. Does he know how to visit the Castle, or what? O Most Supreme Ruler: I have received a missive from Esteemed … Continue reading →
Island Dweller with a retrospective on the Death of Detroit; well worth your time and attention so heed: Most illustrious sultan of the steppes: This post is just a couple of observations about Detroit’s demise. I am a native of … Continue reading →
Interesting polls lately; apparently both Democrats and Republicans alike want to replace every member of Congress. By overwhelming responses. Of course, none of that matters. Most Congressional approval ratings are pure fantasy because you only vote for your Senators and … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes in: Your most noble immenseness: For some strange reason, given all the really important news that’s breaking lately (TMv.Z, IRS excesses, etc) at least one network has run a story on the “hookup” culture prevalent mostly among … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes a nice letter about the Zimmerman trial on the back of a prescription for Clomipramine. Your omniscience: Esteemed Associate and I were discussing the Martin case last evening. I encapsulate our conversation for you. One has to … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes in to clarify an earlier point he made: I was referring to the great Detroit riot of 1967, in which 43 people were shot dead, a few by the DPD; the rest of the shooters were fellow … Continue reading →
Think you have a bad day from time to time? Imagine the morons at KTVU Channel 2 in San Francisco/Oakland, who read on the air the names of the Asiana airline pilots: allow the Czar to quote, “Sum Ting Wong,” … Continue reading →
Island Dweller has his usual pair of related observations: Your majesty, Only a “consummate politician” could do this, after all those quaint little strolls on the beach…ID FoxNews home page6-29-13Associated Press Republicans accused New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie of getting … Continue reading →
These are either the ugliest lesbians ‘Puter’sever seen or Czar and Dat Ho are trollingfor sailors during Fleet Week again. Bettermake sure Czar hasn’t drunk his bail fund. ‘Puter received this missive from Island Dweller (by way of Czar who … Continue reading →
Could the Czar be any happier than to have not one but two highly respected epistolarians offer sweet prose on different topics, each of which deserves a response. First, in order of arrival, is Borepatch, who delights us with a … Continue reading →
A trio from Island Dweller, who now posts here more frequently than our own Confucius,* now concludes: Your immenseness: It would seem we have our lower-level supervisor who, according to the media, was directly responsible for providing guidance to anti-tea … Continue reading →
And another from Island Dweller worth your time: Your most imperial highness, “Politico,” June 13 2013, reports members of both houses of Congress and their staffers are beginning to leave Capitol Hill en masse as their govt-subsidized health plans will … Continue reading →
Island Dweller could pretty well give the Czar a week off with his submissions! Here is one of three: Your illustrious majesty: A recent string-telephone conversation with Esteemed Associate, still in the bowels of the Federal beast, prompted me to … Continue reading →
Two missives from Island Dweller worth sharing: Most exalted one,It seems the IRS agents who sang so freely about methods employed to harass and stymie conservative tax-exempt organizations in their application or renewal process have declined to identify those high-ranking … Continue reading →
Still not looking good for our president’s second term. Ah yes, the IRS has finally agreed to eye contact with the typical American voter. Polls are showing a steady erosion of support for him—actually, the good tidings are over—and a … Continue reading →
Island Dweller puts this on the table for us to consider: Not far in the recent past some members of our illustrious Senate/HOR (which we shouldn’t knock, since we’ve got the finest Senate/HOR money can buy) seriously defended efforts they … Continue reading →
Island Dweller condemns us all to a fiery future with today’s letter, which arrived yesterday but we were too busy being busy: Your majesty: Today is (legally) Memorial Day. I have not as yet seen any postings on your site … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes: Your majestyI have read with interest your latest screed on the intricacies of dyslexia. Your humble subject has had a brush or two with this slight disorder. One of your subject’s genuine pleasures during his past employment … Continue reading →
It’s action-packed half-a-load of kung fu adventure today as we dig down deep in the mailbag, brush aside the shrunken heads that teenager in Olympia keeps sending us (people curry favor in different ways, one presumes) and respond to a … Continue reading →
Dread and Awful Czar, It would seem the illustrious sheriff of Palm Beach (FL) County, one Ric Bradshaw, has stolen a page from the playbook of the Okhrana and seems to want to institute what at first blush (and many … Continue reading →
And lo, verily does Island Dweller throw down a little jotting: Most illustrious Sultan of the Steppes: Your faithful minion, though he be surrounded by water on all sides, still manages to maintain periodic contact with a former co-laborer for … Continue reading →
These came up while the Czar was washing blood off his hands in the men’s room. First up is JAB, who pops up from the Doublewide to tell an awesome story: Dear Mr. Mandarin and Your Czarness: Reading your “Literal … Continue reading →
On EMU (not the animal): World News Daily has reported a story out of East Lansing, Michigan, home of Eastern Michigan University, involving a court settlement between that institution and a university counselor. Seems the counselor, who was a student … Continue reading →
Ah, the glorious arrival of Winter is imminent, when we have had so many days of below-freezing weather that the weeds and dandelions on the dacha lawn have all died leaving a glorious expanse of green grass that looks like … Continue reading →
The Czar is running behind here. First, thanks to EC who spotted a typo (but missed several others) in an essay that was subsequently corrected. Second, RA writes in: Excellent analysis on the GOP master tactitians. Might I add that … Continue reading →
Island Dweller sent a private note that he probably would not want shared with anyone, but he brought up a subtopic within it that the Czar wanted to comment on. So naturally, we are printing the entire humiliating note. Try … Continue reading →
Island Dweller writes in: Your immenseness: A carrier piegon from my esteemed associate currently in the Belly of the Beast has just landed bearing a message expressing wonderment at COMCENTCOM Allen’s prowess with a keyboard (and possibly another instrument). My … Continue reading →
Island Dweller at the Castle bar last night: Your magnificence: I am wondering if the title of Gen. Petraeus’s book has anything to do with the situation vis-a-vis his mistress. It is a most unfortunate choice of title given what … Continue reading →
The Czar is still so irate and humorless with the electorate that he is still willing to yield the floor. Today’s essay has once again been contributed by long-time minion Island Dweller. Dread and awful Czar:Being a life member of … Continue reading →
The Czar is still so irate and humorless with the electorate that he is perfectly willing to yield the floor. Todays essay has been contributed by long-time minion Island Dweller. The Czar always expected Japan would need to expand beyond … Continue reading →
Our newest minister of fanmail, the one and only Island Dweller carved the following missive on the Spice-stuffed carcass of a Harkonnen: Sir: I wish I could share your opinions about what happened last night, but I can’t get the … Continue reading →
