Elites are Using "Climate Change" To Punish the Poor

Joel Klotkin with a good look at how the poor will be hurt most by the plans of  the climate zealots. People have become numb to these predictions and how they always prove incorrect. People are also sick of the hypocrisy of bigshots telling folks they need to put their wash on clotheslines, pay higher prices at the gas pump and bike to work - meanwhile they jet around the world. 

These same climate hypocrites also consistently fail to call out China on their rampant pollution. Which compounds the distrust of these bozos.

One thing that always bothers me is the doomsayers prediction that climate change will lead to mass starvation. We've learned the hard way that its things like lockdowns that cause supply chain disruptions - that leads to food shortages and starvation. Climate change could actually open up the great plains of Canada and Siberia for longer growing seasons - and MORE food. 

We need an equivalent to the "Let's Go Brandon" chant for these climate change jackasses.

Heh Heh

The Future of Business Air Travel?

The Celera 500L just may revolutionize business aviation. Fascinating plane, fascinating shape, and a fascinating story behind it. If the article is correct and the 500L could offer private flights at "prices that are competitive with commercial airfare" this could be a huge success. Unfortunately not until probably 2025.

One of the more fascinating aspects to the origin story was the importance of a "clean-slate thought process." The kind of thought process Elon Musk brought to both electric cars and rockets. We'll hopefully see much more of this kind of thinking adopted.

The Mediocre Brains of AT&T

AT&T reportedly has a corporate program that "teaches" their employees that "racism is a uniquely white trait" and that "White people, you are the problem." Really AT&T?

The story reminded me of a quote from Alan Turing on developing Artificial Intelligence: "No, I'm not interested in developing a powerful brain. All I'm after is just a mediocre brain, something like the President of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company." Turing would probably have to lower the bar on his definition of "mediocre" after this latest move by AT&T. 

Go woke - go broke!

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"If you're losing your soul and you know it, then you've still got a soul left to lose." - Charles Bukowski

"Two people know the future - God and a fool." - Proverb

"If you can speed read it, it isn't worth reading." - Naval Ravikant

"The past was once as real as the present and as uncertain as the future." - G.M. Trevelyan 

Hard to Argue This Isn't True

 

Probably should add in Big Pharma at this point though.

Destino

 

A collaboration between Salvador Dali and Walt Disney? Yes please! Just as trippy as you'd expect. Enjoy!

(HT Tim Ferriss)

Dr Seuss?

It's Much More Than a Supply Chain Issue

They say the first step is to admit you have a problem. America has a problem. Actually several - but they are all inter-related. Joel Klotkin does a good job of laying out some of the issues in this Slow Boat from China article.

Yes there is a supply chain issue. But having to wait on key components because the pandemic has upset the global shipping is just part of the problem. First companies adopted JIT (Just in Time) production policies to keep inventories low and boost the bottom line. Then companies moved production abroad because costs were lower and the "elites" of the coasts were preaching "globalization."  All three of these issues are inter-related but are all solvable.

The first step is self-sufficiency. We were energy independent until the Biden Administration made some stupid decisions because of "optics." The increase in gas prices ($1-2 per gallon increases pretty much in every state) coupled with the worst inflation since Jimmy Carter has wiped out any wage gains made by the lower and middle classes in this country. Going back to the policies that made us energy independent in the first place is the first step. 

Companies now realize that supply chain vulnerabilities are not worth the shrinking costs savings JIT and off-shoring provided. Moving production back home (or closer to home) is good business and good for the US economy as a whole.

"My name is America and I have an economics problem." "Hi America!" Now let's get onto the other steps toward economic recovery.

Merrick Garland is not a Good or Competent Person

Glenn Reynolds on how Merrick Garland has proved himself unfit for the Supreme Court - but he shouldn't be AG either. 

Agree 100%.

Farnam Street Knowledge

 The Feynman Technique: The Best Way to Learn Anything

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life, now that I am old I know that it is." - Oscar Wilde

"Try to learn something about everything and everything about something." - Thomas Huxley

"Be like family to your friends, a friend to strangers, and a stranger to your enemies." - Naval Ravikant

"Life is like an Ayn Rand novel, except better written, less predictable, more burlesque, with more complex characters, more developed plots, more entertaining situations... and vastly more altruism, magnanimity, and benevolence." - Nasim Nicholas Taleb

Great Life Advice

An NFL Lawsuit That's Not Going Away

I don't often root for St. Louis but in this case I really am. NFL braces for billion-dollar exposure in St. Louis litigation.

Couple this with the increasing outrage over the NFL's handling of the WFT investigation (and ahem "cover-up") and the question has to be asked, "Has Roger Goodell handled anything correctly during his tenure?"

The Awesome Hypocrisy of the "Facebook Papers" Moral Panic

Matt Taibbi with a look at the blatant hypocrisy of certain media outlets in regards to the "Facebook Papers" campaign.

I may have become numb to the hypocrisy of the media in our society (at this point when you mention media - isn't hypocrisy automatically assumed?) but I hope I never become numb to Taibbi's ability to colorfully turn a phrase like; "Buzzfeed in particular represented the media equivalent of blowing strangers in Grand Central for crack money." Keep up the good work Mr. Taibbi!

Two Big Lies

Michael Barone with an article on the NIH lying about funding "gain of function" and the National School Board Association lying about parents being "terrorists" (and about the rape of a child in the Loudon School District). 

Both lies should make your blood boil. But there's been so many things written on both - why did I single this one out?

Because Barone took the extra step of including Loudon School Superintendent Scott Ziegler's salary ($295,000). I like that and think all articles should include the salaries of the people caught lying and also who is funding that salary. In Ziegler's case, for the most part, his salary was paid by the taxes of the very people he was looking down upon and lying to. Tar and feathers.

Medical Journals and "Fashionable Nonsense"

"The credibility problem facing the biomedical and public health establishment is, at least in part, a product of its own making." Sacrificing science and medicine in the pursuit of funding and political correctness has created a real erosion of trust. A real erosion of trust.

At this point would you be surprised to see an article on "How COVID-19 is Effecting Climate Change" or "How Anthony Fauci can Restore the Polar Ice Caps" and not give it a second thought because of how detached from reality many of the most trusted journals have become?

Friday Flotsam and Jetsam

Have a new Friday Flotsam and Jetsam post up at Substack.

As always if what I wrote made you smile or think - please hit the Like button, subscribe or share with your friends. Thanks in advance. 

China is Using the Climate as a Bargaining Chip

Matt Ridley laying out some truths. These conferences like the COP26 accomplish very little or nothing. There is no sense pretending otherwise - especially if it means providing concessions to the Chinese over things like an investigation into the origins of the pandemic, the genocide of Muslims and the suppression of freedom in Hong Kong. 

China is the biggest polluter in the world and remains so even though they are constantly attending these conferences and giving vague assurances. They burn half the world's coal and are tripling their capacity to make fuel out of coal. 

Appeasement never works. China only recognizes enemies and vassals - we are neither. It's time we stop pretending otherwise.

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"The strongest intellectual foundation is built upon science, math, and philosophy, as they are the search for universal truths." - Naval Ravikant

"It's a rare person who wants to hear what he doesn't want to hear." - Dick Cavett

"I write for the same reason a beaver eats wood, if I don't my teeth will go long and poke through my brain." - David Mamet

"We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything." - Thomas Edison

Goodnight Keith Moon

Heh Heh

The three two stooges and a moving van.

Watch the whole video. Kept waiting for the Benny Hill theme music to come on. Not much of a TV fan but I'd watch a reality show of these jokers as they try to navigate everyday life. 

The NFL Scandal That's Not Going Away

Ex-Washington Football Team employees' letter hand delivered at owners meeting, urging the NFL to release their investigation report. "The NFL should not be allowed to encourage employees to come forward at great personal risk to speak to investigators, only to sweep the results of that investigation under the rug." So very true. Why would anyone associated with the NFL trust Roger Goodell at this point?

The NFL offices released reports in the Bountygate and Deflategate investigations. No matter how flawed those reports were - they were released. Why no release of the report in this situation? It stinks of a cover-up. How can Jon Gruden be the only person to lose their job here?

And speaking of Gruden - his potential legal action against the league keeps looking better and better by the day.  

The Mouth of Pharma

"To learn who rules over you simply look to those who you cannot criticize." - Voltaire

Anthony Fauci authorized unspeakable tortures on beagle puppies and that normally would have had an immediate and very vocal reaction from PETA and would have led to a flood of denouncements and fund-raising emails. But somehow - nothing. The silence is deafening.

The headline is a Lord of the Rings reference and I think very appropriate. 

Red Auerbach - An Appreciation

It's been 15-years since the passing of Arnold "Red" Auerbach and I have a new post up on Substack in appreciation of the man.

As always - please Like, subscribe and share. Thanks.

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"The visions we offer our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. Often they become self-fulfilling prophesies. Dreams are maps." - Carl Sagan

"Labor disgraces no man, unfortunately, you can occasionally find men who disgrace labor." - Ulysses S. Grant

"Being right is the enemy of staying right because it leads you to forget the way the world works." - Jason Zweig

"Writing is 50% thinking, 5% typing, [and] 45% deleting the bad parts." - Morgan Housel

Heh Heh

Heh Heh

Pretty sure he was referring to the State of Washington.

Seriously. 

The Real Dangers of Being James Bond

A comprehensive review of James Bond's exposure to infectious diseases. A review of all Bond's travels in 25 films and how they would expose him to real-world dangers is examined with the exception of "a single journey to outer space which was excluded from the analysis because travel advice for this region is currently unavailable."

The authors agree that one of the main dangers to Bond is his "above-average sexual activity, often without sufficient time for an exchange of sexual history." The researchers found evidence for 59 "liaisons" (an average of 2.4 per film). They do not indicate if this also included his trip to space. Shamefully there was no evidence of condom use in any of the 25 films.

Though the article deals mostly with infectious diseases the authors also delve into some practical advice for frequent world travelers like James Bond. They observe that "an often-overlooked health concern for Bond is his level of hydration. Alcoholic beverages, shaken or stirred, do not prevent dehydration." I can attest to that. On only 3 occasions in the 25 films is Bond observed drinking non-alcoholic beverages.

It is also observed that Bond is never observed applying sunscreen (though he frequently wears sun glasses). What kind of role model for the children is James Bond trying to be?

Internal vs External Benchmarks

Morgan Housel on the two ways to measure how you're doing: against yourself and against others.

I try to live my life based upon an internal benchmark suggested by Charlie Munger - trying to go to bed each night a little smarter than when I woke up. The compound interest on that helps work out most everything else in life.

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!

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"I think Hell's something you carry around with you. Not somewhere you go." - Neil Gaiman

"Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it." - Epictetus

"Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods." - Socrates

"Quiet people have the loudest minds." - Stephen Hawking

Find Something Beautiful Today

Starbase under construction. (Headline shamelessly stolen from Execupundit.) 

The Devil's Wheel

 

Strangely mesmerizing.

Is the Australian Open in Question?

Leaked emails reveal twists in the Australian Open vaccine drama. Supposedly nobody who wasn't "double vaxxed" would be allowed into the country but now it looks like some exceptions may be made. 

World Number One Novak Djokovic has not revealed his vaccine status (good for him) and his participation may be in question. And why would a person of Djokovic's stature and accomplishment want to quarantine himself for 14-days in a hotel as the exceptions require? If Djokovic and others decline to participate or are not allowed to participate - the winners of the Australian Open should have a huge asterixis next to their names in the record books.

If I were in Djokovic's shoes - I'd hold a competing tournament at the same time as the Australian Open and hold it in one of the Nordic countries that has completely removed all COVID restrictions. I'd sell the TV rights to this competing tourney and use those funds to pay the participants.  The IFT (International Tennis Federation) should question why Australia has one of the four tennis major tourney's in the first place. Open up a competition to replace Australia and generate so much more exposure and interest for the sport. Australia has no one to blame but themselves. Going forward the Australian Open should be relegated to the status of a local tourney and nothing more.

Cancel Culture Takes a Big "L"

Matt Taibbi on how the press tried and failed to hype a crisis into existence over Dave Chappelle's new Netflix special.

Agree with Taibbi that the "coverage across the board was ridiculously one-sided" and the press basically once again revealed themselves as being not only completely biased but also bereft of any sense of humor. Those in the media who argued that Chappelle "defended" the rapper DaBaby also probably thought he was defending Jussie Smollett in an earlier special.  

Dave Chappelle, himself, speaks out about the "controversy." And for the record - Hannah Gadsby is completely unfunny. 

Peter Thiel Thinks People Should Be Concerned About Surveillance AI

I think Peter Thiel is 100% right.

"If we say crypto is libertarian and that it is fundamentally a force for decentralization, then I think we should also be willing to say that AI, especially the low-tech surveillance form, is essentially communist."

"If you want to frame it as a technological race... I want the crypto decentralized world to work," he said.  

(HT Meanderthal)

Quotes for Today

 Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"It is amazing how much panic one honest an can spread among a multitude of hypocrites." - Thomas Sowell

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." - Epictetus

"That which we need the most will be found where we least want to look." - Carl Jung

"I'm only responsible for what I say, not for what you understand." - John Wayne

Heh Heh

 Via

Bob Neumeier RIP

 

Not an exaggeration to say that Bob Neumeier may have been my favorite sports broadcaster from my youth. It would also not be an exaggeration to say that Neumy, along with Mike Lynch and Dan Roche were and are among the nicest people in Boston sports. He was one of a kind.

I Think It's a Great Idea

Governor Ron DeSantis wants to offer "anti-vax" police offers bonuses to come to work in Florida.

Was talking about this very thing this weekend with some friends. Florida and Texas are the perfect landing spots for these cops. Two things to add:

1. Many of these cops would be taking retirement and then moving to Florida. They would thus be both experienced but also fairly flush with cash which would also help the State's economy.

2. The article originally appeared on the Huffington Post and you can see the clear lefty bias in the article.

What We Lose When We Lose Thomas Jefferson

New York City takes down statue of the author of the Declaration of Independence.

Even though I have conflicted feelings about Jefferson - the author of the piece provides a compelling argument and some interesting history. One thing I'd point out is that removing Jefferson is not about slavery - it's about removing traces of our history and what this country was built upon. The statue of Teddy Roosevelt was removed from outside the Museum of Natural History in NYC and he never owned slaves.

Monday Flotsam and Jetsam

Have a new Flotsam and Jetsam column up at Substack.

As always if anything in the column made you smile or think please hit the Like button and share with your friends. Also please subscribe. Thanks in advance.

Cortes and Mexico

On the 500th anniversary of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, people from Mexico's smallest state Tlaxcala say their ancestors were liberators.

Some historians are revisiting "the accusation of treachery, arguing that Tlaxcalans and other city states were in fact fighting a war of liberation against the oppressive Mexica (as the Aztecs were known)." Interesting history. 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"Obscurity is the refuge of the incompetent." - Robert Heinlein

"Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent." - Adam Smith

"Poems are always better than a bloody turkey foot in the mailbox,. Few would disagree." - Jim Harrison

"It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - JRR Tolkien The Hobbit

Truth

If You Were Wondering What to Get Me for Christmas

 

The Jetson One only $92,000! Too bad there's only 20 minutes of flight time and that they're not in production until 2022. Next Christmas then!

More Good News

This was a long time overdue. Now make Congress obey the same set of rules!

Good!

Beyond Meat implodes after reporting catastrophic Q3 sales. 

You couldn't pay me to eat fake meat. Who the hell is buying $106 million's worth of this crap?

Our Purgatory is Their Nirvana

VDH catalogs the disasters of the first nine months of the Biden Administration and how the Administration is playing them off as no big deal.

VDH's columns can seem repetitive at times but that may be because he seems to be among the few in the media who recognizes that these things are BIG deals. And people need to pay attention to them. For instance we still have many Americans stuck and seemingly forgotten in Afghanistan since their plight is almost universally ignored by the corporate media who seem to prefer to cover what Netflix will do about Dave Chappelle instead. 

Indexing the Creator Economy

Interesting look at how the "creator economy" has not only become a real thing but big business. Next year expected to pass $10 billion.

Stripe is an interesting business.  

Quotes for Today

Here are some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know." - Ernest Hemingway

"You will not be punished for your anger. You will be punished by your anger." - the Buddha

"The most contrarian thing of all is not to oppose the crowd but to think for yourself." - Peter Thiel

"The secret to being likable is to not care if people like you." - Ed Latimore

Many a Truth is Said in Jest

 Via

Heh Heh

 

First they ignore you

Then they laugh at you

Then they fight you

- Jägermeister

Via

The Gentleman Thief of Venice

A fantastic long read from the archives. 

Would make a great movie.

I Stand with Enes Kanter

More info on why the Celtics' Enes Kanter spoke out against China.

Kanter is a brave man living in exile from his own country. He knew he'd get death threats but spoke out anyway. 

Dem's Vaccine Mandates for Police are Bound to Backfire

Agree 100% with Glenn Reynolds on this.

I would also add that most of those who get the shots to save their jobs - there is bound to be a lot of resentment. That resentment will manifest itself in many ways - not least in who they vote for in upcoming elections.  

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"You have to be odd to be number one." - Dr. Seuss

"If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind." - the Buddha

"Depend on nobody. Take pride in yourself. And fight for everything. That's the way it has to be." - Bob Gibson

"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self." - Ernest Hemingway

Five Years Ago Today

Five 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.

KGB Defector Yuri Bezmenov's Warning to America

 

Must watch video. The video has been posted at many places the last couple of years but it is one of those things that NEEDS to be watched periodically to remind us of what this country is really dealing with.

A Sad Story

A movie's cinematographer has died after being shot by a prop gun on a movie set. The gun was fired by Alec Baldwin but until proven otherwise I'd hold him completely innocent. In fact - I'd say he's also one of the victims. Can't imagine how awful he must feel.

On the other hand - Hollywood has had so many cop show plot twists where someone switches blank prop gun bullets with real ones that I'll be following this story to see what the investigation finds. If only Columbo or Castle were on the case. 

EDIT: Seems like it was a real gun loaded with one real live round - not a "prop gun." Still giving Baldwin the benefit of the doubt - for now.

Can Elon Musk Become the First Trillionaire?

Some financial experts say that Musk could become the world's first trillionaire and it would because of SpaceX and not Tesla. 

Musk is currently the world's richest person with a net worth of $241 billion. Or as Morgan Housel puts it, "Elon Musk's net worth is now higher than the market cap of all but 25 public companies."

The US Navy is in the Best of Hands

NCIS wished the Navy a happy birthday with a picture of a Russian ship. 

Good enough for government work I guess. 

Web3 - the Future of the Internet

Have a new post up on Substack on Web3 - where I see the future of the Internet going in the very near future.

As always if you could share my post and perhaps let some of your audience try my writing and viewpoints - it would be greatly appreciated!

Is China a Paper Tiger?

China's economy slows amid power cuts and real estate crisis. "The world's second largest economy could contract even further as the year draws to a close."

Increasing energy costs and food shortages will further hurt the Chinese economy and trust/obedience to the CCP. Also do not trust China's self-reported growth numbers. The CCP is not to be trusted.

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"All cruelty springs from weakness." - Seneca

"Professionals are people who can do their best work when they don't feel like it." - Alistair Cooke

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan

"If you take care of the minutes, the years take care of themselves." - Tibetan Proverb 

Especially True When It Comes to Sports Betting

 Via Shane Parrish's great Knowledge Project podcast.

Good on Enes Kanter

"The NBA's Chinese broadcast partner abruptly erased Boston Celtics highlights and live streams from its website and app on Thursday, not long after Celtics center Enes Kanter called China's leader, Xi Jinping, a 'brutal dictator.'"

How do you insult a pig by calling it a pig? Don't trust China - China is asshole! Free Tibet! Free Hong Kong!

What if the Universe Had No Beginning?

Interesting look at casual set theory and how it fits into quantum physics. 

This theory competes against string theory and loop quantum gravity. In my opinion string theory is a waste of time. It should be noted that it's not just casual set theory which imagines a universe without a beginning - loop quantum gravity does the same. In fact even Georges Lemaitre, who came up with the concept of the Big Bang, thought the Big Bang may not have been the beginning. Lemaitre, who was a Catholic priest, even persuaded the Pope not to say that the Big Bang was confirmation of the Biblical creation story because there was a chance it may not have been the beginning of things.

"A huge part of the casual set philosophy is that the passage of time is something physical." This - right there is why I lean towards casual set theory as being correct according to my intuition.  

(HT Newmark's Door)

Thursday Flotsam and Jetsam

Have a new Flotsam and Jetsam column up on Substack.

As always if it makes you smile or think - please hit the like button and share with people. 

Operational

Steven Pressfield on the military term "operational" and how it applies to writing.

If you have been thinking about a project - declare yourself "operational" and get to work.

As always the comments on these posts are also well worth your time.

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"If you're trying to fit in, you'll never reach your potential." - Shane Parrish

"Socialism is astrology for beta males." - Jack Posobiec

"Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic." - Frank Hebert Dune

"Practiced execution become game results." - Mike Lombardi

Agree 100%

Via

Keith Olbermann has Been a National Joke for a Long Time

The moment Keith Olbermann became a national joke.

And it should be noted that the take-down came from the left - SNL and Ben Affleck.

How to Rev Up Innovation

Matt Ridley's article is geared towards the UK but the principal it true for all free counties.

As Lord Ridley states, "Innovation is the source of all prosperity." And as he emphasizes, "One of the key elements that is required for innovation to flourish is freedom." That underscores how voluntarily giving up your freedoms through censorship, vaccine mandates and other way is not just morally wrong but in the end also economically damaging. 

Big Media Brought to You By Pfizer

If you were wondering if "Big media" and "Big Pharma" were working together.

You could probably do a "Congress brought to you by Pfizer" as well seeing how much of Congress is making money off their sudden investments in the company. In journalism and politics "follow the money" used to mean something completely different than how the media and Congress are profiting today.

Lectures from Limousine Liberals

Bridget Phetasy with a tremendous look at the narcissism and hypocrisy of elitist liberals and how it was laid bare by their actions during the pandemic. Bravo! Make sure to read the whole thing.

Think it was Naval Ravikant who observed that if politicians and journalists stopped getting paychecks - the lockdowns would end tomorrow. How true!

Southwest Airlines Backs Down

Southwest Airlines scraps plan to put unvaccinated workers on unpaid leave.  

Chalk this up as a win for the pilots union. Common sense seems to have prevailed.

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." - C.S. Lewis

"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."- Stephen Hawking

"Don't eat a scorned woman's spaghetti." - Chris Lynch

"Eternity is a mere moment, just long enough for a joke." - Hermann Hesse

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 71st birthday. Gone way too soon.

Heh Heh

 Via

The Cutter - Echo and the Bunnymen

 

Another mostly forgotten classic.

China as Military Threat to US

 

Some people still don't think China is a military threat to the United States. The above video is of China's Unitree company which seems to have blatantly stolen Boston Dynamics robot technology. Imagine all those robots equipped with weapons.

In even bigger news, China recently surprised the US with a hypersonic missile test. This is eye-opening for many reasons. First, our intelligence agencies and our military seemed to have been caught flat footed - not even aware China was close to this capability. Guess they were too busy spying on us and working on their wokeness. Secondly, it shows the awareness of President Trump in forming the Space Force. If the Chinese are weaponizing space we need to be ready. Finally, it really helps emphasize that we need to get our military house in order.  

And we haven't even mentioned China's biological weapons.

More on Nick Rolovich

Dan Wetzel with, I believe, a pretty fair look at Rolovich being fired as head coach at Washington State. The fact that four assistants also had to be fired shows Rolovich wasn't alone in his beliefs in that locker room. 

It should be noted that Rolovich was paid $3 million last year and was set to make that much this year as well. No information on what he receives as termination pay but I'm sure it will be a hefty amount. Rolovich probably made at least $1 million a year previously as head coach at Hawaii. Suffice it to say he can probably comfortable retire at this point. Others aren't as well financially situated and are being forced to either compromise their beliefs or lose their jobs. That's not right.

I'm surprised that unions are not being more vocal about this. Or perhaps they are but it is just not being widely reported? 

What Happened to Our Beloved Military?

VDH details on how the highest echelon of the U.S. military is becoming dysfunctional. And bloated (in more ways than one.)

I have to admit that I have a hard time reading about General Milley because his very existence makes me angry. 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes." - Thomas Aquinas

"Fanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim." - George Santayana

"If you want to perform when the world is watching, you have to do the work when no one is watching." - Shane Parrish

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of." - Benjamin Franklin

Analysis - True!

Washington State Coach Nick Rolovich in Vaccine Mandate Limbo

Washington State head football coach Nick Rolovich in vaccine mandate limbo as he waits to hear if his religious exception is granted. Or if he may be out of a job.

Rolovich has about $9 million left on his contract and if he is fired - I say he has a good case to be paid the whole amount. He is not breaking any rules of the university and not all PAC 12 coaches have to obey any sort of mandate. Sure all Washington state employees have to comply (see the stories about all the State troopers "retiring" because of it) but I'm guessing there wasn't any such language in his contract.

EDIT: Nick Rolovich reportedly out as coach of Washington State. This story is far from over though.

How Daniel Craig Got His James Bond Bod

Interesting look at how Daniel Craig made a commitment to have the best "James Bond" body of all-time (sorry Sean Connery). 

It came down to commitment, a good trainer and proper diet. Those are three things everyone could access - maybe not to the same degree but then again most people are just trying to live a healthier life not look spectacular on film.

Still haven't seen the latest Bond movie (and not sure if I'll end up seeing it in the theaters). 

Monday Flotsam and Jetsam

A new Monday Flotsam and Jetsam column is up at Substack.

As always please subscriber and share with others. Thanks in advance! 

Top 5 - Michael Caine Roles

Michael Caine has announced he's retiring from acting and at age 88 who can blame him? Here's my favorite Michael Caine roles. (And a reminder - if you say say the words "my cocaine" you are also saying "Michael Caine" in his own accent.)

1. The Fourth Protocol as John Preston an English spy trying to outwit Pierce Brosnan's Russian agent. 

2. The Man Who Would be King as Peachy Carnehan opposite Sean Connery.

3. Secondhand Lions as Garth in this very underrated movie for which I have a soft spot.

4. As Alfred in the Chris Nolan Batman Trilogy

5. Harry Brown - Caine doing a Death Wish style action movie at age 77? Yes - very underrated.

Please note I'm too young to have seen Alfie and have never seen The Cider House Rules, and don't think Get Carter has aged well (even though it was later remade by Sylvester Stallone). Remember these are my favorite roles - your preferences are bound to be different. Would have liked to put his role as Laurence Jamieson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on the list but honestly never felt a desire to re-watch that flick.

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"Action may not always bring happiness but there is no happiness without action." - Benjamin Disraeli

"What you learn from a life in science is the vastness of our ignorance." - David Eagleman

"You always have the option of having no opinion." - Marcus Aurelius

"Si, yo soy fiesta." - Rob Gronkowski

My Idea of Great Art

Interesting Thread

Interesting thread on how JIT (Just In Time) manufacturing is counter productive.

Especially in these days of supply chain disruptions. 

The Deep State is Real

Matt Taibbi: Yes Virginia, there is a Deep State.

Amused that "deep state" started off as a leftist belief and is now a tenet belief of the right. Yet nobody seems prepared to do anything about it. 

American History Tidbit

Quotes for Today

Here are some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde

"The best way, perhaps the only way, to change others is to become an example." - Naval Ravikant

"If it's not right, don't do it. If it's not true, don't say it." - Marcus Aurelius

"Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers." - Voltaire

Them!

 A common ant as seen via an electron microscope. 

Why You Should Stop Reading the News

I Stand with the Southwest Pilots

More background on the Southwest pilots "sick out" that is causing hundreds of flight cancellations every day. 

Keep in mind this mandate is not a duly passed LAW - it is a royal Presidential DECREE.  

(HT American Digest)

Three Videos

Three short videos to make you think.

First a very well credentialed doctor is angry (you should be too).

Second Joe Rogan and Sanjay Gupta. The question of if CNN is lying about a comedian taking horse dewormers what else are they consciously lying about remains unanswered (but I think we know).

Finally - the word "just" and the moving of goalposts. 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way." - Christopher Morley

"A stupid decision that works out well becomes a brilliant decision in hindsight." - Daniel Kahneman

"Free education is abundant, all over the Internet. It's the desire to learn that's scarce." - Naval Ravikant

"Being nice counts the most when you are nice to people ignored by others." - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Heh Heh

It Sounds Crazy

Some very interesting observations here.

"Opinions crawl while events leap. It's a tricky little thing." The article reminded me of the Frank Zappa quote on how minds are like parachutes - they only work when they're open.

Climate and Energy Silliness

Matt Ridley reminds us how those Climate Conferences are always all hat and no cattle.

Too bad he didn't use that metaphor in the English House of Lords.

On a related note - when world leaders like Joe Biden and Boris Johnson do act it normally is a huge mistake.

Friday Flotsam and Jetsam

I have a new Friday Flotsam and Jetsam column up on Substack.

As always if the column made you smile or think - don't be afraid to hit the like button. Also please subscribe and share with your friends. Thanks in advance.

Cool History

European civilization is built on ham and cheese? Fascinating hypothesis. Read it twice and still unclear where the ham comes in. Was vellum made out of pig skin too?

Wonder what this means for the hypothesis that it was the Irish who saved civilization. I'm guessing they both can be true.

(HT Stephen Landry) 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes that I hope resonate with you.

"Get better daily. Don't try to get it all done in a day." - Shane Parrish

"We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything." - Thomas Edison

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

Teddy Roosevelt

 On this day in history Teddy Roosevelt is shot in the chest by would-be assassin. He continues his speech and when asked about his health he responds that he's as healthy as a "Bull Moose" and thus the Bull Moose Party is born. In his honor - here's one of my favorite quotes from Teddy:

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. 

Who Said It Better Part Deux?

Waiting on the memes of Snoop Dogg and Eminem lyrics next to a photo of Roger Goodell.

 (Image Via)

A Crisis in the Military

A 46% increase in suicides year over year. Wonder how many of those deaths can be attributed to our disasterous withdrawal from Afghanistan or to other preventable factors? 

(HT for the story)

How Animals Discover and Use Medicines

Fascinating look by Dr. Mark Plotkin on how animals discover and use medicines.

Listened to the podcast yesterday but the transcript is also above. I've added two of Dr. Plotkin's books to my ever-growing wish list.

The Great Barrington Declaration One Year On

The scientists and medical professionals who crafted and signed the Great Barrington Declaration were right a year ago and they are still right today.

I supported the Great Barrington Declaration then and I support it today. Lockdowns were a mistake then and they are an even bigger mistake today. Any physician who supports lockdowns is violating their Hippocratic Oath. 

It has always seemed to me that those who supported lockdowns fell into three basic categories; opinion makers who are older or in the most vulnerable categories when it came to the virus (they were acting out of fear), those who have autocratic tendencies (people must listen to me!), and sheep (because they're sheep).

(HT Newmark's Door)

The Skeleton Key to The Simpsons

This one obituary explains so much about The Simpsons.

Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie, even the Wiggums - all right there in the obituary of Matt Groening's mom. Groening was, of course, the creator of the show The Simpsons.

Quotes for Today

 Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"Don't expect to help the weak by pulling down the strong." - Calvin Coolidge

"Science can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world." - Isaac Asimov

"People do not decide their future, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures." - F. Matthias Alexander

"He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight." - Sun Tzu

Truth

Who Said It Best?

Yeah those are Joe Biden's words not Jon Gruden's. Difference is Joe Biden gets to keep his job. If I used some of Hunter Biden's racial quotes with Jon Gruden's likeness I'd probably be banned from social media.

Who is going to play the role of Charlton Heston reading out the lyrics of the rappers the NFL has hired to play the Super Bowl halftime show?  Again not defending Gruden or his private views but the hypocrisy of the NFL is stunning.

(Image Via)

I Stand with the Pilots

The Jon Gruden Email Saga

Have a new article up at Substack where  I try to explain why this is happening now.

And where I may have completely buried the lead on what will happen next. This has the feel of Roger Goodell's NFL Offices wanting their own HBO drama.

This was the sort of longer pieces I've stopped writing here over the years but also the type of writing that I think stretches and strengthens the writing muscles.

As always if you enjoy the piece please hit the like button and subscribe. Most importantly if you enjoyed the writing or the argument made - please share it with others.

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"Standards become habits. Habits become outcomes." - Shane Parrish

"Political correctness is tyranny with manners." - Charlton Heston

"The happy man is one who is  freed from both fear and desire because of the gift of reason." - Seneca

"What goes in your mind today is what you think tomorrow." - Shane Parrish

Happy 246th Birthday!

Analysis - True!

 Via

Parents Are Not Domestic Terrorists

"Showing up to dress down school boards over their dereliction of duty isn't a crime. It's good parenting and good citizenship."

First off - shame on the FBI; shame on Merrick Garland; and shame on the Biden Administration.

Second off - kudos off to the author who actually was a person in this arena serving "two consecutive terms on Manhattan's largest school board."  I admit that I have neither the time nor the inclination to run for public office such as a school board but I also see the need for concerned parents to get involved by running for these posts. Many parents will also take a more active stance in their child's education by pulling them from public schools. Home schools, charter schools, and private school enrollment will boom in the next couple of years. 

Educational funding going to parents and not school districts is bound to become one of the more important issues in upcoming elections. Candidates will have to support educational funding going directly to parents to earn my vote. The more people who feel that way and the more vocal they make their feelings known - the more likely real change to how our kids are being educated can be effected.

Tuesday Flotsam and Jetsam

I have a new post up at Substack.

If you like what you read - please subscribe. Also if you could spread the word about my efforts it would be greatly appreciated.

Speaking of being grateful - thanks!

Does the Federal Vaccine Mandate Actually Exist?

Interesting argument that it's not legally binding and certainly not a law.

I noted a few days ago that the federal guidelines for implementing the vaccine mandate included a large number of loopholes. Maybe that's because the lawyers behind this know the emperor has no clothes and the loopholes are in place because a hard and fast mandate isn't legal? 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"A world is supported by four things; the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the righteous and the valor of the brave." - Frank Hebert Dune

"Aw, come on guys, it's so simple. Maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings nowadays." - Irwin Fletcher

"It's mystifying to see so little skepticism of oft-vilified big pharma re Covid vaccines on the left. Can someone explain this?" - Jordan Peterson

"The mind commands the body and it obeys. The mind orders itself and meets resistance." - Saint Augustine

Peace, Love and Obey the Establishment!

 Via

On This Day in 732

On this day in 732 Charles "the Hammer" Martel defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours. Many credit Martel's victory with saving Western Civilization.

Heh Heh

Southwest Airlines offering free flights to passengers who are vaccinated and can fly a plane.

The Babylon Bee strikes again.

James Bond Theory

The Daniel Craig James Bond movies were always about Vesper Lynd. I would agree with this theory. 

It needs to be remembered that Ian Fleming's "cold hearted bastard" Bond only truly emerged after the death of his wife in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Was going to see the new Bond film this weekend but we opted for dinner and shooting pool with another couple instead. 

Pfizer's Vaccine Immunity Wears Off After Two Months

Two recent studies demonstrate that the immunological protection provided by two doses of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine wears off after about two months.

The initial headlines from the Israeli study were about how they found that previously infected patients had superior immunity than two-dose vaccine recipients but this aspect seems more important to me.. 

Wasn't there also a recent study showing the Pfizer vaccine was only 42% effective against the Delta Variant? 

Sports Betting is a Disaster Waiting to Happen

Wil Leitch  on new technology and the old specter of the Black Sox.

There's another related danger to sports. When I was in high school I once drank a pint of blackberry brandy in one gulp. Of course I got violently sick. Haven't been able to drink blackberry brandy since. Even the smell makes me nauseous. There's many, many people in danger off making the easily available and highly addictive sports betting their equivalent to blackberry brandy.

These people may abandon sports in disgust the way I've avoided blackberry brandy for decades.

(HT Newmark's Door)

Heh Heh

The Babylon Bee is the best! 

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide that your problems are your own." - Albert Ellis

"If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello." - Paulo Coelho

"Every time you have to speak, you are auditioning for leadership." - James Humes

"He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks does not know." - Lao Tzu

I'm an Awful Person for Re-posting This

The Revolt Begins - At Southwest Airlines

Pilots at Southwest appear to be sicking out in a rebellion against vaccine mandates that has crippled the airline since Friday.

Don't see much reporting of this story in the media.

A Little Physics Humor

VDH On Why He Left National Review

In his own words VDH explains why he left National Review.

National Review is a desiccated husk of a magazine. Can't recall the last time I went there on purpose.  

How to Read Hard Books

5-tips on how to read "difficult" books.

Glad the author included that it is OK to give up on a book in her last tip. Took me decades to learn that (I used to stubbornly refuse not to finish most books no matter how bad I thought they were). Today if a book isn't grabbing me by about page 50 - I'll put it down and pick up something else. Maybe some other day I'll be in the mood to pick that book back up.

Life's too short to read bad books.

(HT Daddypundit)

A Trust Urban Myer Can't Earn Back

Michael Lombardi on Urban Myer's breach of trust and failure in leadership.

"The players don't trust the coach, the coach don't trust the players," - Urban Myer last year in words which could equally describe his current situation.

Quotes for Today

 Some quotes that I hope may resonate with you.

"I became a journalist because I did not want to rely on newspapers for information." - Christopher Hitchens

"Listening to books instead of reading them is like drinking your vegetables instead of eating them." - Naval Ravikant

"There is no such thing as public money; there is only taxpayers' money." - Margaret Thatcher

"Opulence - I has it." - Hunter Biden 

Two Rules in Life

The Rooftop Rule

Great business (and life) advice from Execupundit:

"If you can't shout a policy or practice from the rooftops, you shouldn't be doing it. Don't have wink-wink, nudge-nudge, policies or practices that cloak the truth."

Had not heard of the Rooftop Rule before. Now, hopefully, I'll never forget it.

Interesting Legal Battle in California

UC has put me on leave for challenging their vaccine mandate.

Seems to me if a doctor has a real case that they may be being forced to violate their Hippocratic oath to "first do no harm" that they should at least be heard out. Not forced to comply or else. Can see both sides here but generally the side that takes the heavy-handed approach is normally in the wrong.

Interesting History

The history of the  Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses.

Love reading interesting origin stories like this. A good, quick read on one of America's most iconic products.

(HT Daddypundit)

I'm an Awful Person for Laughing at This

Via 

What Happened to the 12-Team College Playoff?

Pete Thamel looks into what is delaying the adoption of a 12-team college football playoff (instead of today's 4-team playoff).

I think nothing would get a 12-team playoff adopted faster than an undefeated BYU and Cincinnati making the playoff this year. Can you imagine how upset the Big Ten, Pac 12, and ACC will be if all three are shut out from the playoffs (and playoff dollars)? This is also a reasonable outcome. Clemson will probable win the ACC and they have 2 losses. Ohio State will probably win the  Big Ten and they have a loss to Oregon. Nobody in the Pac 12 is undefeated and none more worthy than any of the teams mentioned above.

If a one-loss team does make the playoff it will probably be the loser of the eventual Alabama-Georgia SEC Championship game. The loser of that game would still be the second best team in the country.