Top 5 - What's Next?

Let's assume for a minute that Joe Biden is the President-elect and will assume the office in January 2021. What's next for the country and Donald Trump? Here's my Top 5 predictions:

1. Donald Trump will announce he's running in 2024. There's certain protections and financial benefits to being a candidate for federal office and the Donald will avail himself of them. Trump will hold massive rallies around the country and build a massive campaign war-chest while doing so. Don't be surprised if most of these rallies are in places with weak Democratic Congressmen or States Trump carried with Democratic Senators up for re-election in 2022. This will greatly effect the balance of power in Congress as many vulnerable Democrats will tilt their votes center/right in order to get re-elected. This at the same time will stifle any Progressive Democratic agenda for at least the next two-years. 

2. Trump will not actually run in 2024. He will be up there in age and I'm not even sure if he likes the job. The Republican nominee will be Mike Pence.because that's who Trump will throw his weight behind. Nobody gets to be the Republican nominee in 2024 without Trump's endorsement. My guess is Mike Pence's running mate will be either Nikki Haley, Richard Grenell, or Ted Cruz. 

3. Trump will create a media empire. He will make Oprah look like a piker. A TV channel, perhaps exclusive streaming rights to his rallies, podcasts, radio, and other media. Trump may even put in a bid to buy CNN. And the anger about what has happened during this election will feed the interest. And Trump will be sure to keep that anger stoked (rightly so).

4. Trump in conjunction with Senator Lindsey Graham will not leave a single Federal judgeship unfilled prior to Inauguration Day. In fact you may actually see them convince some older judges to resign in order to install younger judges in their place. The Federal Judiciary will be Trump's biggest legacy.

5. Once Biden is in office you'll surely see a stream of commercials from different vendors on how gold is a great investment and hedge against a downturn in the economy. It will be a barrage of commercials and advertisements. 

Linky Links

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

- How to Win: 4 Steps to Achieve Greatness. (Though for my money the fifth step is the key.) 

- This is a real problem with our justice system.

- How to think for yourself. Well worth the read.

- What happened to "the Starship" - Led Zeppelin's Boeing 720 

- Reasons why the 2020 Presidential election is deeply puzzling. I can see why so many have linked to or re-Tweeted this article.

The Biological Chernobyl

In 1979 about two shot glasses worth of anthrax was released into the air around the Soviet military facility in Sverdlovsk. The deadly biological agent was released due to a filter not being replaced. Around 105 people died because of the anthrax leak. If the wind was right that day the agent could have killed more than 100,000.

Scary history that is not discussed much if at all. Even scarier is the fact that the facility at Sverdlovsk is still open and active. Tell me again how impossible it is for the Wuhan virus not to have been accidentally leaked.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

What came first - the Elf on a Shelf phenomenon or the NSA spying on all your data? The two seem to be related. Maybe the NSA invented Elf on a Shelf in order to get younger generations used to the idea of being spied on all the time... Still makes me chuckle... The phrase "get bent" is supposedly short for "you should get bent over so that someone can sodomize you on Christmas." Oh those wacky Brits and their holiday spirit!... File under "Fake but Accurate"... I seriously would like to see Disney do a re-make of Team America: World Police just to see what their version would look like... 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"If you know, you don't need to show. If you show, you don't know." - Shane Parrish

"The closer you are to the truth, the more silent you become inside." - Naval Ravikant

"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Teddy Roosevelt

"Convince yourself that everything is the gift from the gods, that things are good and always will be." - Marcus Aurelius

"The overreducated are worse off than the undereducated, having traded common sense for the illusion of knowledge." - Naval Ravikant

"Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it." - Teddy Roosevelt

"Are you moving with direction or jut moving?" - Shane Parrish

Wicked Cool

I'd be curious if these skiiers are still alive.

Linky Links

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

- PSA - Boobies

- Glad to see the lawsuit but some of these people should also see jail time.

- The "Not To-Do List": 9 habits to stop now  

- Steven Pressfield: How Alexander the Great led

- Nobody has been a biggest disappointment in 2020 than James Mattis. Get the feeling that his "Mad Dog" warrior-monk persona was a sham all along. 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Perhaps the phrase that best describes the 2020 Presidential election is, "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad." The reason I believe this is because one side from the ultra-fringe from either the Democrats or Republicans  is definitely going to go insane when the results are finalized and their actions will destroy themselves and their cause... Jesus on Black Friday (going to hell for this)... If you watch the movie To Kill a Mockingbird backwards it is the story of a black man brought back from the dead to break up some furniture... "Loki Never Forgets an Insult" would make a great Trump 2024 campaign slogan... Periodic reminder to Steelers fans - your team lost playoff games to both Blake Bortles and Tim Tebow.. Prior to the second day of the Battle of Stirling the Scots knelt and prayed. King Edward II saw this and assumed the Scots were praying for mercy from the English. The Scots were actually praying to beg forgiveness for what they were about to do to the English... 

It's True!

 

Linky Links

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

- How does your brain respond when you hold your breath?

- Largest armies in the world 1816-2020

- China: Submit or suffer. China doesn't know how to be a "friend." Only a bully.

- Heh Heh

- Life Lessons

- Mexico's President still refuses to acknowledge Biden's "win"

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

After World War I - France banned the word "Verdun" from many new history textbooks. Today the MSM seem to be doing the same with the words "Hunter Biden's laptop"... Clark County takes $11.6 million from reserves to meet Raiders Stadium payments. You will see many more articles like this as municipalities and States need to deplete reserves, raise taxes or cancel projects because of the severe tax shortfalls related to Covid-19 lockdowns... In 1953 the US Army had just 20 divisions while the Soviet Union had more than 200. Because the US didn't have to match the manpower of the USSR those men were able to become the backbone of a boom economy for the US. One of the side benefits of our nuclear bomber program... Thinking of adding "Former International Male Model" to somewhere on my resume. If anyone asks about it I'll just shrug and say, "It was more of a paid gigolo job than anything," and then look off in wistful silence... OK I'll say it! This country has gone to hell since the passing of Adam West. We need you Batman!... 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception." - Aldous Huxley

"The problem is not you being uneducated. The problem is that you are educated just enough to believe what you have been taught, and not educated enough to question anything from what you have been taught." - Richard Feynman

"Today, we have the gift of life. No matter our longevity, life is finite. Never miss the opportunity to show those you love, admire, and appreciate that you care." - George Raveling

"I am among those who think that science has great beauty." - Marie Curie 

"A multitude of words is no proof of a prudent mind." - Thales of Miletus

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matter compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Linky Links

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

- Heh Heh

- Things you probably didn't know about the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack

- Ancient bust of Greek god Hermes found during work on Athens' sewer system

- One of the world's most beautiful libraries also lets you sleep over. Adding another place to my bucket list. (BTW - the last three links came via Daddypundit a worthy blog I just became aware of)

- Neil Gaiman's 8 rules for writing

- Not for nothing but India and Japan are really not on good terms with China. We need to support India, Taiwan and Japan.

- Hilarious!

Heh Heh

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Naked Rain by This Picture

 

 A mostly forgotten one-hit wonder.

Farnam Street Knowledge

 
- The Value of Probabilistic Thinking: Spies, Crime, and Lightning Strikes

- The Feynman Technique: The Best Way to Learn Anything

- Carol Dweck: A Summary of Growth and Fixed Mindsets

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Osmium is a member of the platinum family and the densest element. The second densest element is sports radio discussions in Boston regarding Gordon Haywood signing with the Charlotte Hornets. Jeez give it a rest... Dave Chappelle explains why he asked Netflix to stop streaming The Chappelle Show... I may print up business cards with the title "Director of Harlotry" - I just like the sound of that title... Maskachusetts - sadly this is true... Yes AC/DC has a formula and this is pretty much it. The funny thing is the band knows this and has been amazed it has worked for so many years. Still doesn't take anything away from their great music... Elon Musk passes Bill Gates to become the world's second richest person. Good for Elon Musk! Interesting that the three richest people in the world are all Americans (although Musk was born in South Africa) and that the two richest people now also own rocket companies with the goal of getting to Mars... 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"Social media is to socializing what masturbation is to sex." - Oliver Markus Malloy

"Creativity starts with an empty calendar and ends with a full one." - Naval Ravikant

"Be a good animal, true to your instincts." - D.H. Lawrence

"Imagine what you could accomplish if you weren't focused on being busy all the time." - Shane Parrish

"So let us not be petty when our cause is so great. Let us not quarrel amongst ourselves when our Nation's future is at stake." - John F. Kennedy

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

For all the angst about the Celtics losing Gordon Haywood - Las Vegas still has Boston tied for the third-best odds to win the NBA East (tied with Miami but behind Milwaukee and Brooklyn)... Velvet Yoda would be a good name for an Elvis cover band... Back when men were men... Yesterday was the anniversary of Edwin Hubble's discovery in 1924 that the Andromeda "nebula" was actually another galaxy outside of the Milky Way. The ramifications were as big as Galileo saying the Earth was not the center of our solar system... There was an old lady who swallowed a horse. - She's dead, of course... When's the last time you heard anyone bring up George W. Bush? You certainly don't see those "George W - miss me yet?" billboards. It's like his 8-years in office have been washed away with only John Roberts as the Chief Justice as his only "accomplishment"... Just when you thought 2020 couldn't get any stranger - Mysterious monolith found among Utah rocks. The first step to making "contact?" Or just perhaps a rogue art project?... 

Heh Heh

Linky Links

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

- Schrodinger's parking ticket

-  How Princeton's crusade against systemic racism has backfired. I'd also add the keywords "good and hard" to the search. (HT Execupundit)

- How to properly do a Turkish Get-up

- Secret Amazon reports expose the company's surveillance of labor and environmental groups. It's from Vice so take it all with a grain of salt but I kept wondering if the Washington Post would report on any of this. Labor and Environmental Groups are usually a hot topic there. 

- Sex Pistols star Johnny Rotten bitten by fleas on his penis after rescuing squirrels. Perhaps the headline of the year which is saying something in 2020.

Politics

Credit 

State of the Celtics

 Free agent Gordon Haywood signed a 4-year $120 million dollar contract with the Charlotte Hornets and suddenly some people are calling for Celtics' President Danny Ainge to be fired. Of course if Danny Ainge had matched the offer to Haywood these same people would have been calling for Ainge's firing even louder. 

The Celtics should have done a sign and trade with Indiana they say. What part of the "sign" in sign and trade do these people not understand? Indiana probably rightly wasn't willing to go to a 4th year so Haywood went to the Hornets who put a huge offer on the table. 

And BTW - of all the people criticizing Ainge in the media or on Twitter - how many of them predicted Haywood would be going to Charlotte? I'd set the over/under at ZERO.

Looks like the Celtics had about $9 million to sign a player after losing Haywood. They used that money to sign free agent center Tristan Thompson (2-years $19 million) and back-up point guard Jeff Teague. This is a young team with lots of depth. I like this team.

The starting five of Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum and Daniel Theis can play with anyone. With Jayson Tatum signing a five-year $195 million extension it should also be remembered that three of the starting five are Danny Ainge draft picks. 

The bench is a good mix of young players and veterans. The key to success this season (besides actually having one and players staying healthy) would be for one of the three of Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith, and Grant Williams stepping up to be key contributors or valued sixth men.

I do admit that I was hoping to see Aaron Baynes coming back to Boston but in Danny I trust.

On This Day in 1963

 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Do you have any idea what the worldwide demand of a movie called The Muppets Do Dallas would be if they used the original script and plot? Bigger than Avatar... I wonder if the sales of chewing gum is up since the pandemic? My guess is that it is as people become more aware of the smell of their on breath wearing masks... Katy Perry has a cat named Kitty Purry. That's so cute... If 2005's Fantastic Four with the same cast was made by Marvel under Kevin Feige with a director like Joss Wheadon or Taika Waititi it would have been a smash hit. I'll die on this hill... Stouffer's (the people who make stuffing) have a merchandise store. Guessing the Venn diagram of people who buy Stouffer's merch and people who are clinically obese is an almost perfect circle... The anniversary of JFK's death reminds me that the day he was buried at Arlington National was also John F. Kennedy Jr's birthday. How would you like to have had that reminder every year on your birthday growing up?... 

Linky Links

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

- Interesting look at how the taxes on the Toronto Raptors temporary move to Tampa work out

- What self-awareness really is (and how to cultivate it). Asking "what?" instead of "why?" is a good tip.

- Heh Heh 

- Why 20 miles is the perfect length for a bike ride

- Red Hot Library Smut

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees." - Benjamin Franklin

"Give me chastity and self-restraint, but do not give it yet." - Saint Augustine

"What is a rebel? A man who says no." - Albert Camus

"The private sector fights to stay open. The public sector fights to stay closed." - John Arnold

"You could never convince a monkey to give you a banana by promising him limitless banana's after death in monkey heaven." - Yuval Noah Harari 

"Self-awareness is the most attractive trait." - Naval Ravikant

Heh Heh

 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

When it comes to politics I consider myself a true independent and centrist. I know many on the right are upset with Fox News but not me because I don't watch any cable news. I am, however, disappointed in the erosion of the quality of discussion from National Review. Outside of when Victor Davis Hanson posts something - all the articles there have been pretty shoddy because hatred of Donald Trump has twisted both their hearts and their brains and made their "arguments" those of mewling quims...Have you ever heard a bad thing about Alice Cooper? Seems like such a good guy... The Boston Celtics traded Enes Kantor (who also seems like a nice guy) to Portland. I hope this move was made to make room for the return of Aron Baynes who is a free agent... Given how well Paul Krugman's other predictions have worked out - the economy is DOOMED!... People really need to be reminded that the average age for death in the US is 78. The average age of death from Covid-19 is also 78. Memento mori - we are supposed to be adults with free will not cowering sheep... I really laughed at this... Little known fact but Steven Jobs dying wish was to live to see a second Trump Presidential term... 

Dirty Masks

 We all know at least one guy (or gal) at this point who has one "mask" that they wear all the time and never wash. They're not a fan of the lockdown and only wear the mask when they have to. When they enter a store, restaurant, or bar. Same dirty mask.

It's not so bad when what they use is a bandanna they wear around their neck when not in use or a gaiter which is also worn around the neck or perhaps pulled up onto the head as a do-rag. They're not so bad.

But the person who has been wearing the same mask for months now - that's pretty gross. You know the guy. They'll hang the mask on their rear view mirror. Keep it in their pocket when not in use. Or worst of all - put in on the table when they're seated at a restaurant or bar. The microbiological equivalent of putting a dirty diaper on the table. 

It's literally unhealthy for that person not to wear a clean mask. I'm not saying it has to be a clean mask all the time but the same mask for months is gross. Like how it's OK to wear the same jeans for a couple of days but the same jeans every day for months? That's behavior which is only acceptable if you're homeless.  

And I'm not some Felix Unger-type making a screed here. I'm just pointing out another way that this lockdown and the stupid "rules" are counter-productive. And if I just described you? For your own health - please wash you mask or get a new one.

Linky Links

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

- Matt Yglesias on what is wrong with the media. Interesting but disjointed take that kind of seems like a plea to be hired by the New York Times. 

-  The world-famous Arecibo Observatory's 1,000 foot telescope in Puerto Rico to be decommissioned. 

- Why SpaceX just truly launched a new space age

- VDH on Cornavirus Hypocricy

- The good news is the US House of Representatives is now about equal between Democrats and Republicans. And combined with the inter-party strife between the progressives and the moderate Democrats it will be difficult for Congress to drastically change anything the next two years.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Given the push by the NBA to "get out the vote" - it would be interesting to see how many eligible players actually did. My guess would be just under 50%... Very cool... Is it true that Eli Manning has been named celebrity spokesperson for Shake Weight? I understand he's been a longtime devotee... Nathan Fillion would be a good choice as a replacement for Alex Trebek on Jeopardy. Smart, humorous, self-effacing and Canadian - all the things Trebek brought to the show... On a related note Jesus Nut would also be a good name for a band... I have to wonder what percentage of "Flat Earthers" were public schooled? I imagine that percentage would be pretty high... I wonder if it bothers Tom Hanks or if he's secretly happy that Bosom Buddies was never widely shown in syndication... 

Farnam Street Knowledge

- How Julia Child Used First Principles Thinking

- Learning Through Play 

- Accelerated Learning: Learn Faster and Remember More

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

If he were still playing - would Tony Romo be one of the top 15 QB's in the NFL? Seeing some of the people starting these days - I'd have to say YES... I admit to being bothered by the election results in Vermont. Kanye West only got 1,269 votes (0.34% of the total) while white write ins received 1,942 votes (0.53% of the total). Clearly the only explanation is that Vermont is racist!... Who will be our Moses who stands up to the petty tyrants and says, "Let my people go (out to dinner and maybe see a movie)"... Have you seen that commercial about the couple chasing their runaway dog in the rain in their car? Yeah - those people shouldn't have a dog. They really shouldn't have a kid either... There's an outside chance that Tom Brady could lead the NFL in either passing yards or passing TD's - he's currently 4th in both categories. Equally intriguing is the chance that new Patriots QB Cam Newton could lead the NFL in rushing TD's (he's currently tied for 3rd) despite missing time this season due to a positive COVID-19 test... 

Linky Links

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

- The unknown knowns and the Next Big War

- Sadly true

- The Nutty Buddy - you'd think this was a comedy sketch but it's a real product

- Bill Belichick has always supported the Armenians (good for him!)

- No statistical significance between wearing and not wearing a mask.

The Gettysburg Address

157-years ago today.

My Hand is Raised High

 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

How can a winner of the Presidential Election be declared by anyone when just 8 states have certified their votes?  If this were an NFL game we'd be a little more than half way through the first quarter... Theo Epstein steps down as President of the Chicago Cubs. He spent 9-years on that job just like he spent 9-years in Boston... If James Harden is traded to Brooklyn then the Houston strip clubs will be hardest hit... Most States have until December 8th to certify their votes.You wonder if some of the delay is being caused because certain folks know they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar... Many people are wondering what Theo Epstein will do next with many speculating about taking over the Mets. Personally I wouldn't be surprised to see Theo take a different path. I could see him teaching classes at Stanford or Harvard while making millions from speaking fees and perhaps a book... 

Linky Links

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

- Cool - US Navy destroyer shoots down ICBM in milestone test

- Taxes and golf championships

- New Study: Lockdowns and masks are useless and may even increase spread of COVID-19

- Honesty, is such a lonely virtue. Agreed.

- Navy Seal Foundation helps fund study on if MDMA can help with PTSD

They Want to Steal Our Precious Chocolate Fluids

 

Conspiracy Theory: The Chinese released the Wuhan Virus because they hate the freedom and decadence the Golden Corral chocolate fountain represents. The Chinese Communist Party thought the only sure way to make sure that chocolate fountains don't spread to mainland China was to infect the world with a virus that would make sharing chocolate fountains impossible.

The Chinese know that once the people tasted the freedom of putting any item into the fountain for a delicious chocolate coating - the people would never accept the yoke of Communist rule again!

Resist! Free the Fountain!

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"If you aren't curious about it, you'll never be good at it." - Naval Ravikant

"A gentleman is never rude except on purpose." - Christopher Hitchens

"Perspective changes everything. Billions of people would instantly trade their problems for your problems." - Shane Parrish

"People who have time on their hands will inevitably waste the time of people who have work to do." - Thomas Sowell

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." - Judy Garland

Linky Links

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

- Stats show NYC is in trouble. Going to be a long time before NYC recovers (if ever) and that recovery will never begin as long as Bill DeBlasio is still mayor.

- The Name in the Stone. Moving writing like this is worth revisiting.

- More info on SpaceX's Starlink offering

- Raging Fred

- Adam Thielen of the Vikings paid tribute to Alex Trebek has night.

Dirty Harry

The movie that made Clint Eastwood an icon was the 1971 classic Dirty Harry (I still can't believe that Frank Sinatra was the first choice for this role). In the movie, Eastwood plays Detective Harry Callahan - a cop with a black and white sense of right and wrong and a flare for bending or breaking the rules to bring justice to what George W. might call "evil-doers".

In the movie a psychopath (played by Andrew Robinson who immediately became typecast as "that guy who played the psycho in the first Dirty Harry") had kidnapped a young girl and had buried her alive with only so much time left before she runs out of air. Dirty Harry wounds the psycho in the leg and when he finally catches up with him he steps on the wound to torture the psycho into revealing where he buried the girl.

Unfortunately - the information comes too late and the girl is already dead.

I think it safe to say that most guys (and most girls for all I know) rooted for Dirty Harry as he tortured the information out of the psycho. We cheered and Dirty Harry became an icon because he acted how we wanted our cops to act when faced with those situations - torture and all. Some people today would seem more concerned with the civil rights of the psycho instead of the LIFE of the girl he kidnapped (in the movie the psycho actually cries out the he "has rights" just before Callahan makes him scream in pain).

If Dirty Harry was real life and I was on a jury reviewing Detective Callahan's actions - the only thing I would find him guilty of was having a bad 70's haircut. All the rest would be just fine with me. If that makes me a bad person - then so be it..

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art

 Recently finished James Nestor's Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art  and I recommend it highly. This book literally changed the way I live. Some of the changes include:

- I no longer breath through my mouth. One simple change that almost anyone can do. 

- Now during commercials while listening to podcasts or watching TV I do breath exercises. Either six count inhales and exhales or lengthened exhales. I also hope to start the practice of doing breath exercises every morning and night.

- Now I chew gum for a few hours a day. Read the book to find out why

Also sometime in the next twelve months I hope to do a class in the Wim Hoff Method. I may have said this before but writing it here publicly I may subconsciously work harder to make that happen.

The book also has an appendix of the different breath exercises discussed. I'll be sure to go back to re-read that section periodically.

And as if on que to demonstrate the power of the breath - an article on how breathing can get rid of hangovers.      

Linky Links

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

- Ann Althouse on the healing power of the Appalachian Trail. I've always wanted to do a through-hike. (HT Execupundit) 

- An oral history of WKRP's Turkey Drop episode

- To Do List

- Stop the Coup

- NIL could be the savior of college sports particularly basketball. Plan to post my thoughts on this at a later time. 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

If you combine the 1918 and 1919 seasons Walter Johnson pitched an amazing 616.1 innings with a 1.37 ERA, allowing just 2 home runs. Equally amazing - both those home runs were hit by Babe Ruth... Bob Dylan is an inspiration to artists for both his creativity and longevity but it should also be pointed out that his first album only sold 5,000 copies. So he's also an inspiration for struggling artists too... Tom Brady's high school went 5-5 his senior year even though they had him as their starting QB. Goes to show you can never tell... Masturbatory Rampage would be a good name for a band or fantasy football team name... Is there anything funnier than sending a friend into Dunkin Donuts for a large "Blumpkin Spice?" Sorry Mark (he thought it was half blueberry and half pumpkin)... 

Humility

 

The Man in the Red Bandanna

Today is the Red Bandanna game as Notre Dame visits Boston College. I've seen the above video a dozen times or more but I still tear up every time.

Traditionally this has been one of the most emotional games in any college season but with no fans in the stands it just won't be the same. Just one more tradition being sacrificed on the altar of the pandemic. Thanks China!  

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Jon Hamm is set to play Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher in Confess, Fletch. This could be a great role for Hamm as I can't think of anyone who better fits the Fletch from the books. And the good news is this movie seems based on Gregory McDonald's (from Shrewsbury Mass) book of the same name (unlike the pile of crap that was Fletch Lives)...  Gotta love Elon Musk... If Joe Biden does win the Presidency you'll see a lot more people open carrying sidearms. A lot more people. And if anyone tries to stop them you'll see a number of shootings and Second Amendment lawsuits too... I would really like this coffee mug... Just a reminder that if you say "my cocaine" you are also saying "Michael Caine" in his own accent. Also it is really difficult to read the preceding sentence without saying "my cocaine" out loud... Bill Clinton admires Tina Fey... The Growler would be a good name for a WWE wrestler. He could be an angry drunk guy. Look out it's the Growler!... 

17th Century Twitter

Tommy Heinsohn

Tommy Heinsohn passed away this week. I had meant to post something earlier but I was traveling and quite frankly I don't have the words.  

Tommy Heinsohn was a great big teddy bear of a man who was synonymous with the Boston Celtics as much or more so than anyone with the possible exception of Red Auerbach. If there was one word to summarize this great man I believe it would be authentic. There was only one Tommy Heinsohn. and Tommy Heinsohn was always true to himself.

The man was in the NBA Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. His number was also retired from his alma mater Holy Cross. He loved his family, the Celtics, a cold adult beverage - in general the man loved life. He was part of the very fabric of Boston sports for the past 50-years.

There was only one Tommy Heinsohn. There will never be another. He will be missed.  

Linky Links

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

- Alex Trebek's Powerful Reminder to Us All

-  Heh Heh

- Pentagon: 7 in 10 youths would fail to qualify for US military. I could see revisiting the restrictions on ADHD and other medications because they are so over-prescribed in the US. I would not lower physical capability requirements.

- Girlfriend keeps referring to herself as "Wife-Elect" despite no official word from boyfriend

- 6 time-traps that many people fall into

- Fox News (and no I don't watch Fox News)

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"The welfare of the people has always been the alibi of tyrants." - Albert Camus

"If you see fraud and don't say fraud, you are a fraud." - Nassim Taleb

"Collecting airline miles is coupon-clipping for the middle class." - Naval Ravikant

"Those that say that individuals are not capable of changing anything are only looking for excuses." - Vaclav Havel

"Quality is not an act, it is a habit." - Aristotle

"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." - Thomas Jefferson

"Our span of life is brief, but is long enough for us to live well and honestly." - Cicero

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.  

If a book is ever written about the fuckery involved in the 2020 Presidential Election vote counting - a perfect title for the book would be Turds for Sale... Heh Heh - After wiping out half of the universe Thanos calls for "unity"... "Party Discipline" may be the two worst and most destructive words in American politics. Elected officials should vote on what's best for the people they represent - not what's best for their Party... In my opinion - Walter in The Big Lebowski is the most unlikable character in any Coen Brothers movie. Period... True - you can't unsee this... 

Front Lines of the Civil War (in 5 Minutes)

Presented without mentioning any potential parallels to electoral college maps. 

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Ted Talk

The 11th Hour, of the 11th Day, of the 11th Month

 

Linky Links

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

- Life expectancy according to the CDC. I see that graph and all I can think is that Social Security in its current form is doomed. 

- Michael McCann on the US v Google case and why Google did not do a "motion to dismiss."

- Leadership Lessons from The Godfather

- American Thinker on why the numbers actually look good for President Trump

- The Silicon Graybeard on the Michigan "Computer Glitch" (HT Borepatch)

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is in a death spiral in local bars. None of the ones I know who have it will be re-upping next season. That will leave just the big chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and Hooters. Will that be enough for that product to survive? Fewer and fewer are getting it at home too it seems... Got a little dusty watching this... "Trust but verify." - Ronald Reagan... I'll never not read the word "caucus" as "cactus." Think my brain is convinced that the Iowa Cactus just sounds like a much better thing... "No, No - just trust us." - Democratic Party poll workers...  Still perhaps my favorite political Tweet... If Budweiser is the King of Beers then Michelob Ultra is the Tofu of Beers... The Latin phrase Gradatim Ferociter (Step by Step Ferociously) would have made a great yearbook quote...

Happy 245th Birthday US Marines

 
Today is the 245th birthday for the United States Marine Corps.  In honor of the Marines - here's my favorite Ronald Reagan quote:

"Some people live their entire lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference to the world. Marines don't have that problem." -- January 1995

Top 5 - My Favorite Canadians

1. Alex Trebek

2. Cam Neely

3. Ray Bourque

4. Phil Hartman

5. William Shatner

Missing the list the band Rush. Great guys - as a group they're on the list but as individuals they don't make the cut.

EDIT: How could I forget Bobby Orr? In my defense Orr is in a class by himself. Easily would be number one on this list but also Top 5 in almost any list of best humans anywhere.

Linky Links

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

- RIP Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

- Heh Heh

-  RIP Alex Trebek

- 125 essential movies according to Martin Scorcese

- This is true

Stephen Hawking

"For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something happened which unleashed the power of the imagination. We learned to talk and we learned to listen. Speech has allowed the communication of ideas, enabling human beings to work together to build the impossible. Mankind's greatest achievements have come about by talking, and its greatest failures by not talking. It doesn't have to be like this. Our greatest hopes could become reality in the future.With the technology at our disposal, the possibilities are unbounded. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking." - Stephen Hawking

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you. 

"Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - Lord Acton

"Do not take life too seriously - you will never get out of it alive." - Elbert Hubbard

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys." - P.J. O'Rourke 

"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know; it's what we know for sure that just ain't so." - Mark Twain

"There can be no such thing, in law or in morality, as actions forbidden to an individual, but permitted to a mob." - Ayn Rand

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it." - Henry Ford

"God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it." - Daniel Webster

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

This article on what benefits Presidents get after they leave office reminded me that a significant political rift has existed in this country for a long time. President Eisenhower signed the Former Presidents Act mainly to help out Harry Truman who was financially struggling because he refused to cash in for simply being President. This dynamic is interesting because Eisenhower famously refused to enter the White House on Inauguration Day until Harry and Bess Truman had left. No handshake - no nothing.. Interesting bit of history of why there's 60 seconds in a minute and 360 degrees in a circle...  Another example of the political rift was when Chuck Yeager visited the White House after breaking the sound barrier - Yeager's father refused to shake Truman's hand because Truman was a Democrat and Yeager's dad was a staunch Republican... Wish I had bet on Alex Cora being named the new Red Sox manager after his one-year suspension. It was the easiest prediction I've made in quite some time... Civil Wart would be a good name for a band... George Washington wasn't perfect. He didn't like whiskey... 

Neil Gaiman - Make Good Art

Never hurts to listen to this speech every once and a while for inspiration.

Some Political Humor

Felt like we could use this today. Bob Newhart is a genius.

Flotsam and Jetsam

 Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Remember how many adults felt that police officers wearing body cameras to insure that civil rights weren't being violated was a good idea? All election officials having to wear body cameras for the next Presidential election is an even better idea... Too soon?... "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." - Plato... There's going to be a number of NFL head coaching jobs open after the season; Houston, Jets, Chargers, Atlanta and maybe one or two more. Don't be surprised to see Patriots' Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels as a top choice for those jobs.With Tom Brady no longer around there's little incentive for McDaniels to stick in New England...  Excellent advice from Sir Anthony Hopkins... 

Jethro Tull in Space

A few years old but it was new to me.

Farnam Street Knowledge

 

- There's Seldom Any Traffic on the High Road

- Common Probability Errors to Avoid

- Ben Franklin: The Thirteen Necessary Virtues

How to Use Pre-suasive Tactics on Others – and Yourself

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"What happens after you die? Lots of things happen after you die - they just don't involve you." - Louis C.K. 

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." - Flannery O'Connor 

"Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life." - Jerzy Gregorek

"I know of only two very real evils in life: remorse and illness." - Leo Tolstory

"The wide world is all about you, you can fence yourself in, but you cannot forever fence it out." - JRR Tolkien

"If the able and good withdraw themselves from Society [Government], the venal and ignorant will succeed." - John Tyler 1783 

Linky Links

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

- Jim Al-Khalili - 5 Physics Books that inspired me.

- Moon patrols could be a future reality for Space Force. Sounds cool but one quibble - really not a fan of the term "cislunar."

- Time to treat Broadband like the essential service it is. Totally agree.

- Things I've Learned or Relearned (on the 5-year anniversary of the loss of a son to suicide). Please read this and please note that the number for the Suicide Prevention is 800-273-8255.Help is available.

- ESPN to eliminate 10% of their jobs. The cuts come amid "tremendous disruption in how fans consume sports." Is that another way of saying "Go Woke- Go Broke"? 

Ed Witten

 So I made a note to myself six months ago that simply said, "Ed Witten." I had no recall whatsoever why I made this notation to myself so I went down a Ed Witten rabbit hole. 

Turns out Ed Witten is a "genius's genius." The guy is the only physicist to ever win the Fields Medal which is the equivalent of the Nobel Prize but for math. He's also the creator of M-Theory which is the hot "new" thing in the world of String Theory (it unifies the five different versions of String Theory).

Then it hit me that I must of heard of Witten on some podcast and bingo. It was a podcast between Lex Fridman and Eric Weinstein. And then I recalled that they were derisive of both Witten and String Theory. Given how I feel about String Theory - I probably agreed with them.  

If you've gotten this far you're probably wondering why I bothered writing this post. Simple - in case I ever find another note to myself that says,"Ed Witten."

How Innovation Works

Recently finished Matt Ridley's How Innovation Works: And Why It Flourishes In Freedom and I enjoyed it very much. So much so that I'm adding all of Ridley's other books to my Wish List.

I bought the book after hearing Ridley interviewed on a couple of podcasts (which I also highly recommend):

Matt Ridley on Russ Roberts EconTalk podcast

He also had a two part interview with Naval Ravikant that was excellent.

Part I here

Part II here 

Probably reading The Rational Optimist next.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The number of Americans working from home are now up to 44% up from just 17% before COVID-19 hit. Those numbers aren't going to go back to the high teens probably ever... Never knew this movie existed. When Sean Connery's brother played James Bond's "brother"... Tom Brady is 4th in the NFL in passing yards and 3rd in TD's. His turning Tampa into a Super Bowl contender at age 43 is a great story-line which may be translated into a lot of support for him potentially being the league MVP... If "gormless" is a word - shouldn't "gormfull" also be a word?... I'd be OK with this...  Did you know Honeymoon Rhinitis is an actual medical condition? It would also be a good name for a band...

Watching Election Coverage Be Like...

 

Sean Connery Discusses Slapping Women

I'm an awful person for laughing at that (though today does seem like the right time for some dark humor). 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"You don't have eight creative, problem solving hours in the day - you have two. Spend your time wisely." - Naval Ravikant

"I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them,and I know how bad I am." - Dr. Samuel Johnson

"The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it." - George Orwell

"That which can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."- Christopher Hitchens 

"Do away with all fancies. Cease to be passions puppet. Limit time to the present. Learn to recognize every experience for what it is, whether it be your own or another's." - Marcus Aurelius

"Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony.In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."- Albert Einstein

The Queen

 

Amazing Grace

From Ireland (on the chello). 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate it with you.

"In individuals,insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it it the rule." - Friedrich Nietzche 

"Free people make free choices. Free choices mean you get unequal outcomes. You can have freedom, or you can have equal outcomes.You can't have both." - Naval Ravikant  

"Laziness is a kind of sadness." - Thomas Aquinas

"Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it." - Publilius Syrus

"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible." - Voltaire

"The price of trying to make everyone else happy is making yourself miserable." - Naval Ravikant

Perils of Professors

The above clip is from the 1930 movie All Quiet on the Western Front. Professors and teachers molding young minds open to suggestion to accept the teachers opinions and ideology as fact have long been a danger. In early 20th century Germany it was appeals to the "Fatherland" and honor. The results were disastrous for Germany.

Likewise, in Imperial Japan professors and teachers exhorted students to give their all to defending the honor of their family, Japan and the Emperor. To do anything less would bring shame - something so horrible to their culture that many Japanese soldiers refused to believe the war was over and continued to fight in solitary on remote Pacific islands until the early 1970's. They couldn't believe Japan wouldn't fight to the last person because of the way they were brainwashed.

Today we are seeing similar perils of professors in our own culture. Critical Race Theory means the US is by nature racist. Never mind the strides we have made in the past fifty years. Never mind the fact that women have more rights today than ever before. Never mind that the US is one of the leaders in gay rights in the entire world. In the minds of many "educated" youths all old white men are tainted no matter even if their names happen to be George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. 

When you look at who is participating in the rioting and looting in the liberal cities in flames these past few months - it is not the poor and downtrodden. It is mostly white children of privilege. Victims of brainwashing from their teachers just as the youth in Germany prior to World War I or the youth of Japan prior to World War II. 

In many ways today's election is a referendum on these beliefs that have been systematically embedded in the minds of youths while at the same time saddling them with mountains of student debt. It is a system of beliefs founded on a bedrock of sand. And the foundations of those teachings are hopefully crumbling.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Business idea - there's millions to be made for the person who comes out with edible pot panties in time for Christmas and Valentines Day... VDH on Trump the Counterrevolutionary.Trump is a more successful populist than William Jennings Bryan but instead of Bryan's "cross of gold" Trump has MAGA hats... Passions Puppets would be a good name for a band (or a sex robot brothel)... Groupthink, social science, and trolls are ruining science. Agree 100%. Also if you have time the Naval Ravikant interview on the Tim Ferriss podcast is well worth your time... Still say that one of the great put-downs of all-time was by Ernest Hemingway in A Moveable Feast where he described writer Wyndham Lewis as having "the eyes of an unsuccessful rapist" - brutal... Muscular Church would be a good name for a Christian rock band... 

Linky Links

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

- Cool Vincent Price story. Always a fan of the man.

-  Possibly the plot to Spinal Tap II

- Scientists find detailed record of Earth's last magnetic switcharoo. 

- In case you're wondering what I'd like for Christmas.

- Heh Heh

- Vitamin D and Covid-19 - get your ass outside in the sun for a couple of hours a day.

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"When I get a little money, I buy books. And if there is any left over, I buy food." - Erasmus

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude." - William James

"You accomplish more when you try to do something rather than try to be someone." - Shane Parrish

"A man is what he wills himself to be." - Jean Paul Sartre

"Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison

"We wanted flying cars; instead we got 140 characters." - Peter Thiel 

 "Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself,in your way of thinking." - Marcus Aurelius

Mike Myers AFI Tribute to Sean Connery

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The discussion in Boston is whether the Patriots should trade reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. I think they should. Gilmore is not playing today's must win game in Buffalo. If they win without him then that's a signal that they don't necessarily need him in a year when they are just trying to make the playoffs. If they lose then they probably won't be making the playoffs so why not trade him...The NBA is in trouble.I predict the greed on both sides will prevent a deal being in place in time to save the upcoming season or save the USA Olympic team if schedule conflicts prevent NBA players from participating...When underrated Sean Connery movies are mentioned - don't sleep on Finding Forrester... Seal Team 6 rescued American hostage Philip Walton from terrorists in Nigeria.We suffered no casualties but as a sports fan I want to know the score. How many terrorists did we kill?... I beginning to fear that my bet for the Patriots to win the Super Bowl won't be cashed this year...

Linky Links

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

- Earth's magnetic north pole has been racing towards Siberia. I've been talking about this for years.Some scientists also believe the magnetic north pole may switch to a magnetic south pole something that happens every 200,000 years or so.

- This is Sparta!

- Matt Taibbi: Glenn Greewald on his resignation from The Intercept. Long read but well worth your time.When the liberal Taibbi and Greenwald say the press has gone too far - it's a huge red flag that there's a significant problem.

- Sad but true joke

- The best pumpkins for 2020

Let's Dance

 

Very cool. (HT Execupundit)