Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- The lonely man with a gun. Russ Roberts on the Tree of Life shootings.

- 99 life hacks from a couple of years ago that still work today

- And people wonder why nobody watches the news anymore

- The Surprising Power of the Long Game

- Heh heh - Bad Lip Reading Major League Baseball

- USA is now the world's #1 oil producer for the first time since 1973

- This is eye-opening

Ghosts

Well that explains why we dress up in sheets when we pretend we are ghosts. But why do ghosts say "Boo!"?

Every kid is taught that ghosts say "Boo!" Who decided this? According to our culture and accepted norms - ghosts say "Boo!"  But why would your spirit in death say something you never uttered in life? When's the last time you said "Booo!" when you weren't impersonating a ghosts?

Even though I still think it would be funny if someone replaced Patrick Swayze's dialog in the movie Ghost with him just repeatedly saying "Boo!" this is one reason why I've decided not to believe in ghosts.

Another reason I've decided not to believe in ghosts is because of the scientific method. If ghosts were proven to be real and that they could affect things in the real world then that would put the outcomes of any scientific experiment in question. A literal ghost in the laboratory could invalidate almost any experiment. That would spell the end of science and the scientific method.

Although ghosts could prove to be an interesting defense for anyone pulled over for drunk driving. "I'm not intoxicated officer - just haunted by ghosts who like to mess with breathalyzers."

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Pittsburgh Penguins Tribute


Nice job Penguins who also include a link to where to donate or help in any way.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Any time you see him on one of those Sunday talk shows remember that Joe Biden is an anagram for "I need job"... This is awesome! USA! USA! USA!... Block Me Amadeus would be a good name for a fantasy football team (or a Twitter handle)... Speaking of anagrams - remember that the word "listen" contains the same letters as the word "silent"... Car & Drivers review of the 2018 Tesla Model S (starting at $75,000 so a little out of my range)... Would "The Taint of History" be a good name for a band or fantasy team?...  I love the Red Sox trolling the Yankees after winning the World Series...

The Devil's Footprints

Since tomorrow is Halloween I thought I'd bring up the Devil's Footprints - one of the strangest phenomenons in history:
On the night of the 8th of February 1855, heavy snowfall blanketed the countryside and small villages of Southern Devon [England]. The last snow is thought to have fallen around midnight, and between this time and around 6.00 am the following morning, something (or some things) left a myriad of tracks in the snow, stretching for a hundred miles or more, from the River Exe, to Totnes on the river Dart.

The early risers were the first to find them, strange hoof-shaped prints in straight lines, passing over rooftops, through walls and covering huge areas of land. A set of the prints were even supposed to have bridged a two mile span of the river Exe, continuing on the other side as if the creature had walked over the water.
Freaky stuff with no rational explanation - I find that stuff fascinating.

Happy Halloween.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

One of Alex Cora's most underrated moves the last night was to have Chris Sale come in to close out a 5-1 game. Sale was supposed to have started that game but Cora made the right move to go with David Price. This had to have hurt the ace's ego but allowing Sale to be on the mound when the Series was clinched was a good way to make sure everyone was "good"... Heh Heh... Went to a They Might Be Giants show last night in Providence. Just guessing but I think the SAT scores of that crowd must have been off the charts... Might be a character defect on my part but I have a strong dislike of anyone who has thousands of songs available to choose from on a jukebox but still plays Hotel California... Speaking of overlooked World Series moments - I really hope the Sox can keep Nathan Eovaldi... Kite of Destruction would be a good name for a band (or a military drone)... "I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing." Stubb in Moby Dick...

Great Time To Be a Boston Sports Fan


Richard Nixon

Love this picture of Richard Nixon playing the piano (via Super 70's Sports).

It's right up there with the iconic picture of Nixon bowling.

Or even his Nixon meets Elvis.

But it's still only second best in terms of photos of Presidents playing piano. That top spot belongs to Harry Truman with a young leggy Lauren Bacall (I don't care that Truman was only Vice President at the time of the photo).

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Halloween


The best Halloween costume.

Flotsam and Jetsam - World Series Edition

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations from last night's epic 18-inning World Series game.

I admit that I only watched last night's marathon World Series game up to the 14th inning. The reason I quit then is because I cut the cord with cable 6-years ago and the bar I was watching the game had to close at 2:00 am... If you want a reason to root against the Dodgers - here's how much they gouge you for beer... Random thought - neither Frank Sinatra nor Humphrey Bogart (both big baseball fans) would ever, ever wear a fucking rally cap... Random observation - there seemed to be a lot more hair product in the Dodgers dugout last night than in the Red Sox dugout (not that there's anything wrong with that)... If you want a reason to root for the Red Sox - here's the type of players they have on that team... If I were Governor Baker of Massachusetts I would have sent out an emergency alert last night about 1:00 am saying the law requiring bars close at 2:00 am in Mass has been lifted and that there is no last call as long as the game was still going. That would have guaranteed re-election (he's getting re-elected anyway).... I enjoy baseball but I still laughed at this...

Missouri Executive Order 44

Extermination Order Day:
"...the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description."
Missouri Executive Order 44 passed on this day in 1838. The law made it legal to kill Mormons in Missouri. The law was not repealed until 1976.

It blows my mind to think this law was on the books for 138 years!

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Run the Jewels: Oh Mama



Love Rick and Morty.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

With some many different players contributing to the Boston wins - if the World Series MVP had to be chosen today it would probably have to be Craig Kimbrel... This Boston sports fan speaks for all of us Boston sports fans... When I was a kid we used to call someone a "skid" when we needed a word for "loser". "Skid", of course, is short for skid mark.  We should bring back "skid' into the common vernacular... For Halloween I may dress as Hodor from Game of Thrones but instead of saying just "hodor" I will say "hey baby" and only "hey baby"... Not sure why I chuckle so much at this photo... Of all the Greek myths the story of Sisyphus might be the most entertaining. People remember the ending with the rock but the rest of the story would make a great HBO miniseries...  Copious Coitus would be a good name for a boy band... 

Red Sox

With last night's 4-2 victory the Sox are now up 2-0 in the Series and the potential exists that the last game of the season at Fenway Park has been played.

If that's so then this image might be the lasting impression of many of Fenway 2018.

For others it might be this image.

The Brady Bunch Conundrum

I blame the show The Brady Bunch for today's societal problems.

Why were Carol and Mike single in the first place? This is an unresolved problem

What happened to their original spouses? It's like the mother of the boys and the father of the girls never existed. Did they die and were so easily forgotten? Was there a divorce? If so - how come the kids never went to visit the other parent? Did the mother of the boys and the father of the girls just run away? Was there abuse? Was that why the other parents were never mentioned? The family's little secrets? 

Maybe Mike and Carol killed their original spouses so that they could be together. The Brady parents fit the bill for serial killers. Quiet - kept to themselves. Was Sam the butcher involved in the disposal of the bodies?

When you look back on it - the complete lack of other parents in the show is very creepy.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- The hero who helped foil Nazi nuclear plans passes at age 99. Where do we find such men?

- Cool - voyage of the moons

- Another example of how Alex Cora just gets "it".

- The TV, PC screen, or smartphone - they're all idiot boxes which will turn your mind to mush. NO matter what your age!

- Bill Belichick's World Series opening video for Fox

- This weirdly geometric iceberg is freaking us out

- Heh Heh

Brave New Foghat

I think I'm going to write a book. 

It will be a science fiction work based in the not-too-distant future. It will describe a carefree, healthy, and technologically advanced society based upon the songs of the 70's rock group Foghat.

The book will be a social satire whose main storyline will center around a self-help book similar to Who Moved My Cheese except unlike being a passing fad like WMMC this self-help book - which advocates taking the lyrics of Foghat to heart - literally transforms society. Special attention is paid to people becoming Fools for the City and to the emotions (or lack thereof) to I Just Want to Make Love to You.

People will all live in cities and constantly be engaged in coitus. Oh - and they will also take copious amounts of soma. The book won't be fast paced. It will be more of a Slow Ride of a read.

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Go Red Sox!


Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

It is sad to think that there are some children in New England, some almost 5-years old, who have never known the joy of a Red Sox World Series Championship. Won't someone please think of the children!... Great time to be a Boston sports fan... A Sequester in ancient Rome was a man who held a bribe for a client until a politician delivered on his promise. The more things change the more they stay the same... Who knew? In the ancient Middle East the phrase "let it be so" was "Amen." The Red Sox will win the World Series Amen,.. This move by President Trump doesn't seem to be getting much press but it's the right thing to do... "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending" - CS Lewis...  Heh Heh...

Two Years Ago Today


Two years ago this was the prediction made by The New York Times. Just a reminder not to believe what you read in the New York Times.

Monday, October 22, 2018

The New National Anthem - Free Bird

If I were in Congress every April 1st I would propose a law changing the National Anthem to Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird. I think that would be great. I bet you would get a lot of Congressional support for the law from the South too.

How great would it be if the law went into effect prior to the next Olympic Games? Imagine other countries having to sit through 9 minutes of Southern Rock each time a US Olympian medaled - or would that be metaled? Imagine proud US citizens playing air guitar while the world watched - each citizen putting their own stamp on the guitar anthem. It would be awesome.

Already the words "Free Bird" are a joke/insult to most musicians or bands - how ironic would it be if they all had to actually learn to play the song? Play Free Bird would take on a whole new meaning and level of hostility from bands who would never know if you were messing with them or being patriotic.

Too bad I'm not in Congress.

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- This is disturbing - America's ghost legions of idle men

- This woman kicks ass (literally)

- Good question

- X-37B Military Space Plane wings past 400 days on latest mystery mission. I'm fascinated by this stuff. Am I too old to sign up for the Space Force?

- Interesting - treating peanut allergies with peanuts

- In other space news - the BepiColumbo mission to Mercury blasted off this week

- Just want Yankees fans to know that the feeling is mutual

This Week in Musk World

Popular Mechanics came out with a feature In Defense of Elon Musk. The "arguments" basically come down to Musk is a genius who does things that benefit society. Not everyone was happy with the Popular Mechanics "love letter" though. I think I fall in the Popular Mechanics camp. I'm happy I live in the same country as Elon Musk.

Tesla's revenue is even ore impressive when you consider there are as many as 16 states where you can't buy a Tesla. Some even have laws making Tesla dealerships illegal. The good news is Tesla now has a mid-range lower price Model 3 available online for about $35,000. That price is after tax incentive savings. Seems really easy to order too.

Once you have a Tesla getting it fixed seems to be a problem though. Musk admits that official Tesla service coverage is an issue. Maybe if those 16 states allowed Tesla dealerships this would be less of an issue. And since most of the problems seem to be cosmetic or accident related why not focus on auto body repair shops?

In other Musk World news - Elon Musk actually doesn't deny this transaction is happening. Is he actually buying Fortnite? Turn into the next episode of Musk World to find out!

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Celtics Overreactions

Last night the Boston Celtics lost to the Toronto Raptors 113-101 leaving Boston with a record of 1-1 and a pace to win just 41 games this season. That's a far cry from the 58 Vegas pegged as their over/under (I took the over).

Kawhi Leonard was a beast last night especially in the second half finishing with 31 points and the Toronto crowd chanting MVP! MVP! I know it's just the second game of the season but I think it's clear that it's a coin flip right now between Boston and Toronto as far as which team will be coming out of the East. And that's good news.

I think Boston needs this early season wake-up call. They were the equal or better than the Raptors for three quarters last night but just like game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last year their ability to hit a shot in the final minutes disappeared.  Knowing that Toronto lurks should motivate the Celtics into not taking any nights off and the team's depth should allow for many contributors in many different scenarios.

Gordon Hayward looked much better and more comfortable last night than he did in his first game back. That's a really encouraging sign. He ended up with 14 points in just 24 minutes which is bad news for people who bet the under on 18.5 points per game projected for him in Vegas (hello Bill Simmons). When Hayward gets his minutes up over 30 or so a game it's easy to picture him scoring in the low 20's for the season. Which is also good news for another reason.

People keep suggesting that Kevin Durant may opt out of his contract with the Warriors at the end of the season. Many of those same people point to the New York Knicks as his new destination but why not the Celtics? When leaving OKC Durant narrowed his choices down to Golden State and Boston. What if the question of the road not taken has taken root in his mind? Also coming to Boston now almost guarantees Durant the ability to chase more rings something that would be very doubtful with the Knicks.

If Kevin Durant did want to come to Boston all it would take is trading Gordon Hayward (who should be in demand) to free up both the minutes and salary cap needed to allow that to happen. Danny Ainge could sign Durant for nothing and gain a few more draft picks and other assets with a Hayward trade.  As much as I love Gordon Hayward it would be tough for Danny Ainge not to pick Durant in that scenario.

Just wanted to get that thought on the record.

Sir Richard Burton

On this day (October 20th) in 1890, Sir Richard Francis Burton died. Most of you pobably never heard of Burton and some of a certain age may mistake this Richard Burton for the Richard Burton the actor who today is best remembered for tagging Elizabeth Taylor. The Richard Burton I'm talking about was an extraordinary person who truly lived a life of adventure. I would highly recommend reading the entry on Burton in Wikipedia.

If that peaks your interest than I would also highly recommend the book Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton: The Secret Agent Who Made the Pilgrimage to Mecca, Discovered the Kama Sutra, and Brought the Arabian Nights to the West by Edward Rice

Tom Petty - Don't Do Me Like That



This song was written by Tom Petty back in 1973 back when he was still in Mudcrutch. It was offered by his record label to the J. Geils Band who turned it down. The song ended up being Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers first Top 10 single in 1979 on the Damn the Torpedoes album. 

Today would have been Tom Petty's 68th birthday. Gone way too soon.

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- US economy is the world's most competitive for first time in a decade.

- I have to think the advertising agency for the Mass Treasury was having a joke with this hashtag

- Goodnight Keith Moon

- Buster Keaton was the man!

- Canelo Alvarez just signed the largest contract in sports history - 5-years, 11 fights, and a minimum of $365 million. That's insane!

- Funny you don't seem to be hearing much about this in the news.

- Bill Gates plan for fighting climate change. Two words for you Bill - NUCLEAR POWER!

The Importance of a Single Vote

On this date in 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for the price of $7 million which worked out to about $.02 per acre. This purchase was known at the time as Seward's Folly after Secretary of State William Seward who arranged the purchase. Seward was also in charge of trying to get the Senate to ratify the treaty authorizing the purchase. The treaty was ratified on April 9th but it passed by a single vote. 

Think of that. If one person changed their vote from yes to no - Alaska might not be part of the US today.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

Many people look at the firing upon Fort Sumpter as the spark that lit the Civil War but I think the real spark came on this day 159 years ago when John Brown and his "army" of 21 attacked and occupied the armory at Harpers Ferry, VA.

The next day, US Marines under the command of US Army Colonel Robert E. Lee attacked Brown and his men. When the gun smoke cleared, 10 of Brown's men were dead (including 2 of his sons) and Brown was taken prisoner and shortly thereafter he was hanged.

I find it slightly amusing that most history books and mentions of Brown on the web either gloss over or omit completely the fact that Brown was almost certainly insane.

I'm not making any moral judgments on Brown's actions. I'm just saying that he was crazy. Seriously. When I first saw a picture of John Brown - I thought I was looking at Charlie Manson circa 1850.

The John Brown / Charles Manson analogy isn't that bad. Brown raided the armory because he wanted to arm slaves to start a full-fledged slave revolt. Charles Manson has said that he killed those folks in the Hollywood Hills because he hoped that blacks would be blamed and that would spark a race war in the US. This may be one of those things that I only find interesting.

Monday, October 15, 2018

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

My name is Chris and I drink way too much during football season. Hi Chris!... Senator Elizabeth Warren not a member of the Cherokee Nation - according to officials from the Cherokee Nation... My opinion on Donald Trump has changed 180 degrees - I now believe his hair is actually real... Is Acura trying to tell us their new car models were designed by Satan with these new commercials?... A bunch of times where Elizabeth Warren claimed to be Native American... "Trump's secret plan - get Latinos voting GOP, then Dems will DEMAND that he build that wall" Glenn Reynolds... Heh heh - Elizabeth Warren disappointed after DNA tests shows zero trace of presidential material...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Awwwwww

- The WWE in Saudi Arabia. What profits a man if he wins the world but loses his own soul.

- Good Advice

- I laughed way too hard at this (something about it just tickled my funny bone)

- Cool - the world's fastest camera can "freeze time", show beams of light in slow motion.

- This is very touching

- Dream Job Alert

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Errol Flynn

I'm an Errol Flynn fan. On this day (October 14th) in 1959 - Flynn died of a heart attack at age 50. Two tidbits made me chuckle from his Wikipedia entry.
He was interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, in Glendale, California. He shares coffin space with six bottles of whiskey, a parting gift from his drinking buddies
Although I respect the gesture - I hope my drinking buddies have better sense than to waste good whiskey. Besides - I plan to be cremated.
In his 1980 short-story collection Music for Chameleons, author Truman Capote recounts a conversation he had with Marilyn Monroe in which Monroe refers to once attending a Hollywood party where Errol Flynn entertained guests by playing "You Are My Sunshine" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" on a piano using only his penis.
While an amusing anecdote - I'm skeptical about this one. Not that I don't think he could do it. I just don't see him taking the time to rehearse the songs.

After reading the entry in Wikipedia - I was left wanting to re-read Michael Herr's classic Vietnam book Dispatches because Errol Flynn's son Sean "co-stars" so to speak as another war correspondent in the book. I also added the movie My Favorite Year to my movie queue because the Alan Swann character (played by Peter O'Toole) was based on Errol Flynn.

Heh Heh


How I'd Save Sears

Sears is in trouble. They are about to file for bankruptcy. Here's what I'd propose as a course of action to save the once iconic brand.

First I'd close all the K-Mart locations. That was a marriage that never should have happened. Then I'd sell off the Kenmore brand which would generate a guaranteed $400 million.

Then I'd come out with an all new catalog and website specializing in goods that are MADE IN THE USA. That would be the new hook. Selling only products made in America. I would keep many of the existing Sears locations as showrooms and distribution hubs.

I'd also play up Sears history in helping to sell products. People would eat that stuff up. Show pictures of products from the 1800's next to today's offerings.

Prices may be higher but people would feel good that they are buying goods made in this country. WalMart for good or bad has become identified with selling products made in China. Play up the American angle.

It's probably the only way to save Sears.

My Idea of Great Art


Saturday, October 13, 2018

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Peyton Manning should have insured his passing record with State Farm before it was broken... Heh heh... William Shakespeare, perhaps the greatest writer of all-time, was married to a woman who could neither read nor write... Maybe Boston fans were right - the Yankees do suck... For those following at home - Nike stock is now at $75.91. It was at $82 when they announced their Colin Kaepernick ad campaign... I'll say it again - if Donald Trump makes Nikki Haley his VP he'd be unbeatable in the 2020 election and potentially set Haley up for 8 more years of a Republican in the White House... What the world needs now is a Prog Rock Kazoo channel...

Drew Brees

Drew Brees is the all-time NFL leader in passing yards and yet he never seems to come up in discussion of the greatest NFL QB's (which by now everyone agrees is Tom Brady).

Yes Brees is vastly underrated. I agree with that. But what's been circling in my head is the similarity to another great in another sport.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA's all-time leading scorer but you never hear his name come up when discussing the greatest of all-time. Heck some people don't even list Jabbar as the best center in NBA history (that would be Bill Russell).

Kareem, like Brees, probably doesn't get the historical credit he's due.

Back to Brees for a moment - my favorite stat of Brees is the fact that he's had five 5,000 yard passing seasons. All of the other QB's in NFL history have combined for just four.

Chuck Yeager



71-years ago today American icon Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier (clip from the movie The Right Stuff). As impressive as that feat was the day before, October 12th, was also the anniversary of another jaw-dropping feat in American history.

On October 12, 1944, Chuck Yeager shot down 5 German planes becoming an "Ace in a Day". 

Incredible feats by an incredible American hero.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Heh Heh

- Interesting look at Ford's declining year-over-year auto sales and the company's overall health.

- It's like rain on your wedding day, a free ride when you've already paid.

- Climate change's ever shifting goalposts

- Google has no problem helping China suppress freedom but Boston Dynamics robots were too evil. Think about that. Scary.

- Jim Brown is the man!

- If you're thinking of buying an invisible yacht - you have too much money

A Democrat Takes a Step Back to Take an Honest Look at Trump

A very well written honest look at President Trump's foreign policy by a Democrat.

I agree that the smugness of the media is a problem which helps neither the Democrats or the media. They look like are clueless narcissists.

Not sure if I'd call President Trump a 21st Century Bismark but the author does pinpoint the most salient point. Trump gets results because that's what he cares about. Results. He'll take a hard line with the Canadians if it means getting results just as he'll coddle dictators like North Korea's Kim Jong-un for the same reason.

Interesting article that's worth your time.

Boston as Mount Whoredom

Prostitution was so rampant in Boston in the 1770's that a British military cartographer marked the red light district in Boston as Mount Whoredom. The American troops surrounding Boston back then may have been short of military dress and ammunition but they were drinking about a bottle of rum a day - apiece.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Mike Lombardi's Ted Talk on Leadership



Well worth 15 minutes of your time.

Also I can recommend his book Gridiron Genius. Read it recently and really enjoyed it.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- The history of philosophy (interactive graph)

- Literally "No Fat Chicks" to become law in Greece

- Heh Heh

- Who knew? Moons can also have moons and they are called moonmoons.

- Heh Heh

- Has the standard and cost of living really been stagnant for the past 40-years?

- Congress passes bipartisan Opioids Bill

If I Were Rich and Famous

If I were rich and famous I would buy tickets to all the top sporting events and sit in very TV friendly locations. But I wouldn't go as myself - I would go dressed as a Scary Clown and I would sit emotionless for the entire game. You know the TV crews and announcers would have to put you on screen because it would be creeping them out.

Basically the creepy version of Rainbow Head Guy.

Then after a season of people wondering - who is Scary Clown Guy? You sell the rights to unveil who is under the mask during half-time of the Super Bowl for an unreal amount of money. I don't care who the half-time act is - people would be tuning in for the unveiling of Scary Clown Guy.

Then the mask is removed and it's - GASP! - Will Ferrell!

And people would ask him to put the mask back on.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Forty ways the world is getting better (to be honest I have mixed feeling about a couple of these like the number of cell phones out numbering the number of people)

- Now for your cheery thought for the day - Mount Vesuvius may have killed people by vaporizing their blood and exploding heads from the inside. "Tragically, those poor people in the waterfront chambers would have died instantly." Tragically? Would it have been less tragic if they weren't killed instantly but had their agony prolonged? Sadist scientists are the worst.

- Big League Chew will have their first package featuring a girl player for sale soon. Heh heh - all I can think is now people who support girls' sports will have to battle those who think pretend chewing tobacco leads to real-life use and cheek and gum cancer. Well played Big League Chew!

-  Well this isn't good - new Pentagon weapons systems easily hacked

- And this is scary as fuck! Driverless cars could become WMD's

- Interesting - independent analyst pegs Tesla stock value at $430 per share

- History will not be kind to the FBI and DOJ on the "Russian Collusion" BS

Red Sox Take Care of Business

The Red Sox beat the Yankees last night to move on to the ALCS which starts Saturday night in Boston.

I truly believe the winner of this series - either Boston or Houston - will win the World Series. The Astros have a hell of a starting rotation and will be tough to defeat but there just seems to be something special about this Boston team.

Go Red Sox!

I Believe

I believe that men and women are equal except maybe physiologically. Men are on the whole stronger but women can create new life (which is awesome). The idea of a woman not being able to drive or vote or even pick out her own clothes is inherently ridiculous to me.

I believe that homosexuality is genetic and that homo and heterosexuals should have the same rights including the right to marry the one you love. I believe the idea that homosexuals should be stoned to death is barbaric and that the idea that there are no homosexuals in a country of 77 million (Iran) is farcical.

I believe that slavery is not just wrong but an inherent evil that should be stamped out.

I believe bacon is delicious.

To some my beliefs make me an Islamophobe. To those people I say "Screw you!"

Consider that the Westboro Baptist Church wouldn't even go so far as to disagree with some of the above sentiments yet they are rightly scorned and ridiculed in the US. How come that ridicule and scorn is never extended to Muslims who believe "Allah hates fags"?

I stand behind my beliefs. Do you stand behind yours?

Tuesday, October 09, 2018

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Rules for sons - agree with the list 100% but had to Google what a "Braai" is (its basically barbecue grill - learn something new every day!) Via Cultural Offering

- Heh Heh

- Uh Oh - 28-year Hubble Telescope temporarily out of service. Sounds like a job for Space Force!

- Nuclear Power is to the IPCC what Israel is to the UN

- I'm fascinated by Giant Squid

- Unbelievable progress - more than half the world's population is now middle class. "For the first time since agriculture based civilization began 10,000 years ago, the majority of humankind is no longer poor or vulnerable to falling into poverty."

- Mental Floss' 10 best Sci-Fi movies on Netflix right now. I've only seen 4 (Ex-Machina, Jurassic Park, Rogue One, and Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2) and have no desire to see the other 6. Am I wrong - am I missing out on a gem of a flick?

This Week in Musk World

Interesting look at why there seems to be so much negative news about Tesla and Elon Musk. I would agree that Tesla is doing much better than the headlines suggest but I was surprised by the connection of some of the negativity to groups connected to the Koch brothers.

Meanwhile the news about the recent Falcon 9 SpaceX launch and landing in California was all good. (You can see a condensed video of the launch and landing here.)

On a lighter note - Joe Rogan and Elon Musk discuss primates (before they smoked pot if I recall correctly):



Monday, October 08, 2018

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I really don't care about Taylor Swift's politics or who she's voting for but if I ever met her I would tell her how much I loved her in Friends just to maybe confuse and upset her (I have a different sense of humor)... The 100 best leadership quotes of all time (according to Inc. Magazine)... Two things Americans really don't like thinking about - our history and how our food gets made... Oral Sex in the Bible... Kevin Youkilis, the Greek God of Walks, saw 292 3-0 counts in his career and never swung at the next pitch... Buck O'Neil's life lessons... What a crazy NFL season its been so far and I think the lesson we can all learn is to not bet on NFL games. Hopefully that lesson hasn't been too expensive for you...

100 Years Ago Today

On this day in 1918 - Sergeant Alvin York became a household name when he (along with others) killed 32 Germans and captured 132 others in the Argonne Forest in France. York was awarded the Medal of Honor for his deeds. 

Sergeant York's fame was spread by the 1941 movie Sergeant York, with Gary Cooper starring in the title role.

Some people may ask why we don't have heroes like this in today's military. The answer is that we do still have such men but the media today just doesn't celebrate them like they used to.

Public Service Announcement

Experts say putting ice cubes up the rectums of unconscious people has no physiological benefit and can even lead to seizures and stroke.

Sunday, October 07, 2018

UFC 229 and What Should Be Done

UFC 229 was one of the most entertaining fight cards the UFC has ever produced but the quality of the matches will forever be marred by the violence and near riot that broke out at the end of the McGregor-Khabib bout. The responsibility for these action lie completely with the Khabib camp and according to reports from Dana White the only reason there hasn't been arrests yet is because Conor McGregor declined to press charges.

Here's what I think should happen.

Dana White and the UFC should strip Khabib of his title and give him a 2-year ban from the UFC. The members of the Khabib camp that assaulted McGregor after the fight should be given lifetime bans from any future UFC event.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission should give Khabib a lifetime ban from ever fighting in Nevada again. And any other State commission should look critically at ever sanctioning any of his fights in the future. Buyer beware.

The Las Vegas police, despite Conor McGregor declining to press charges, should arrest Khabib and any of his camp involved for inciting to riot and any other charges they can come up with. They should also ask the UFC to hold Khabib's purse to pay for any damages that might have been incurred because of his camp's actions.

The State Department should consider revoking Khabib's passport. Permanently!

Khabib's acts should have repercussions and consequences.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Just saying but Saddam Hussein, Billy Crystal and Fidel Castro were all Yankees fans. You are known by the company you keep. Friends don't let friends be Yankees fans... Seems to me that the Democrats came just one step short of screaming "Give us Barabbus instead!"... Reminder that it is flu season... "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge." Stephen Hawking... I wish I could go back in time to change my senior year's yearbook quote to "Don't eat a scorned woman's spaghetti."... Sandy Koufax's career record in 1-0 games was an astonishing 11-3... If I were the Democrats I'd try to blame all the Kavanaugh allegations on a Dukes $1 bet... 

Thursday, October 04, 2018

Grievance Studies



These scholars deserve a Nobel Prize for this work. Or a Pulitzer.

Bravo!

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

If President Trump really wanted to prank Dr. Ford and make the Left go crazy - he should put her on the Federal "No-Fly" list and say it was for her own good (because of supposed fear of flying)... One of my deepest fears is of fire-breathing koalas. Wheh! Feels great to get that off my chest. Now let the healing begin... Interesting opinion that Jeff Bezos' decision to raise the minimum wage at Amazon to $15 per hour is basically a Machiavellian maneuver. Got to say that I agree...   "Eternity is a mere moment, just long enough for a joke." Hermann Hesse... Gratitude is a superpower. From Tim Ferris' Tribe of Mentors... When you think about it it's pretty amazing that a full-blown cult of George Washington never really came to be in the early US. I wonder what the country would look like today if one did develop... Interesting look back on the top 11 free-agent signings (by contract dollar amount) of last offseason. JD Martinez was by far the best signing but I have to wonder if the Cubs would still be playing if Yu Darvish remained healthy this season...

King of Spades

Did you know that the King of Spades on a playing card was originally supposedly designed to represent King David from the Bible? The sword he holds was supposed to be the sword used to cut off Goliath's head after young David killed him with a rock from his his sling.

During the early parts of the Civil War - Robert E Lee was given the nickname "King of Spades" because of his propensity to dig trenches as part of his strategy. At first the nickname was derisive because soldiers hate to dig. Later when the effectiveness of his tactics saved the lives of many of these same soldiers - the nickname became affectionate. Reportedly Lee always loathed the nickname.

And he didn't play cards.