The Simpsons used to be so damn funny

American academia has been captured & corrupted for propagandistic purposes for well over a century now: "In World War I American academic intellectuals committed themselves to serving the needs of the state. The role they played committed them to priorities that fettered their critical intelligence and warped their judgment; the work they produced in the service of the state seriously departed from responsible scholarship... "...[T]he state of academic freedom depends largely on the professoriate itself, for they reveal the extent to which professors themselves were involved in wartime violations of academic freedom. The crisis of war exposed the repressive underside of majority sentiment on the campus; it exposed a lack of commitment to academic freedom within the profession at large and a willingness even of its chief defenders to bend the principle to the pressures of the moment..." -Carol Gruber, Mars and Minerva: World War I and the Uses of Higher Learning in America Things haven't changed at all in the last century; if anything, they've only gotten worse. The biggest obstacle to intellectual freedom in academia comes via horizontal enforcement from the professors themselves.

If I cosplayed as Church Lady

Never forget that the president who put the US on the path of global domination, a path characterized by perpetual warfare for a perpetual peace that never actually materializes, is also the only president who had a Ph D & whose entire pre-political career was spent in academia.

Ever since we put up the tree, this has been his favorite place to flop when he’s out for playtime.

FYI - Currently hard at work on DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson. This will be lucky #13 in the series, in which he’ll get reelected on an anti-interventionist platform (“He kept us out of war!”) & then less than a month after starting his second term - he gets us into war. Hopefully I’ll get it done before our current rulers get us into the second sequel to Wilson’s folly. Like most sequels, it looks like it’ll be even bigger & dumber than its predecessors.

I already got what I want for Christmas- an excellent Puppybunny!

I had quite a surprise during my run when I bumped into Senator McConnell taking a stroll. I guess he’s on vacation here, taking a break from representing the interests of Ukrainian oligarchs & the American Merchants of Death.

Just finished running 6 miles nonstop, including going across a big tall bridge & back. I think I’m on a good trajectory (👊 on 🪵) to FINALLY do the 7 Mile Bridge Run in the FL Keys in just over 4 months. Twice in recent years I’ve bought a ticket for the race but wasn’t able to do it - in 2022 (bit by a dog while training & needed rabies shots) & 2023 (going through alcohol withdrawal that was worse & took longer than I expected.) This spring I didn’t even buy a spot because I knew I wouldn’t be able to because my wife was going through her last big spinal surgery. April ‘25 is gonna be the one. When you fall, get back up. 💪

Unwinding with my best buddy.

Just published a new episode of Archetopical, "The Hardest Part of the Hero's Journey," about why the 'death & rebirth' step is always the hardest & scariest, but also why, the more fear & difficulty you have to overcome, the greater will be the reward when you make it through.

Fountain: Podcasts & Music

Archetopical • Episode 2: The Hardest Part of the Hero's Journey • Listen on Fountain

In this episode of Archetopical, CJ discusses the hardest part of the hero's journey - death & rebirth - and explores why fear can make it so hard,...

I just published a new Dangerous History Podcast episode, “Election Reflections,” with some detailed analysis of the 2024 presidential election in a historical context.

Fountain: Podcasts & Music

The Dangerous History Podcast • Ep. 0274: Election Reflections • Listen on Fountain

Join CJ as he shares some thoughts & analysis about how the 2024 election played out, its significance in the context of American political history...

This happened to me over the course of last night.

I sit down on the living room floor & my puppybunny Errol comes sprinting toward me from the dining room, lop ears a-floppin, & plops down right up against me, bunny-purring & happy as can be just to be my pal.

Carl the carpet python enjoys basking on his fake bonsai tree

Today I: -Went on a hike with one of my kids -Worked on some upcoming DHP & Archetopical episodes -Paid some bills -Fed & cleaned the enclosures of some of my pythons -Worked on cleaning & organizing my home office/studio/Man Cave -Did some yoga -Meditated It was a productive Tuesday! 😃

I just put out a new Dangerous History Podcast episode looking at the state of American civil religions & the party system on the eve of the 2024 election:

Fountain: Podcasts & Music

The Dangerous History Podcast • Ep. 0273: Civil Religion, Party Systems, & the 2024 Election • Listen on Fountain

Unfortunately, CJ did not have time to do both an election episode & a Halloween episode this year, so he opted for the latter. (Next October, assu...

Take my course! Here’s a teaser vid for it: The Decline & Fall of the Soviet Empire Dangerous History Live-Ceum Cour...