Linky Links

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

- If this scale is correct then I fully support Pluto no longer being  a planet

- How can you not root for Giannis?

- Hanlon's Razor - "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by neglect." 

- Interesting Neil Gaiman interview to revisit

- Rejected vanity plates

- Heh Heh

- Interesting Frank Thomas anecdote

Auguries of Innocence

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour

- William Blake

Beautiful poem but I think Blake should have added in something about puppies. 

No Good - Kaleo

Today feels like a day to rock out.

Large Numbers

Here's one way to think about large numbers:

One thousand seconds equals 16 minutes and 40 seconds

One million seconds equals 11 days, 13 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds

One billion seconds equals 11,574 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes and 40 second

One trillion seconds equals 31,709 YEARS, 9 months, two weeks, 1 day, 2 hours, 46 minutes and 39 seconds.

The US national debt is $22 trillion. In seconds that would equal almost 700,000 YEARS!

Cool

Despite what your brain is telling you - these are perfectly round circles that do not overlap. They do not overlap!

Linky Links

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

- Thank you Gronk! (video)

- 7 traits of super-productive people

- Speaking of super-productive people - David Goggins "the toughest man alive" shares how he pushed his mind and his body (video)

- Where do we find such men as Travis Atkins? This should be must reading for everyone.

- Heh Heh

- Should we become specialists or polymaths? "If we do not let the world teach us, it teaches us a lesson."

- Baseball season is here!

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

At this point the White House Correspondents Dinner should just cease to be out of pure shame over how Russiagate has been handled. This, of course, would assume these folks had any shame to begin with... Sometimes there's little or no difference between physics and magic... Why hasn't Taylor Swift commented on the Mueller Report yet? What is she hiding?... Deep thoughts from Chris - could Dark Matter simply be the leftover quantum entanglements from the matter and anti-matter that was annihilated just after the Big Band?... Cult of Inhibitions - band name or all-inclusive singles resort?... I tried watching the new Amy Schumer Netflix special. I lasted just 15 minutes. It was awful. AWFUL!... What is Dark Matter? Even the best theories are crumbling. (Maybe that's because my hypothesis hasn't been tested yet!)

Boston Red Sox 2019 Opening Day

Opening Day is finally here and only one team gets to say they are defending World Series Champions - let's go Red Sox!

Linky Links

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

- How an office job can effect your metabolism

- The weird world of vegan YouTube stars is imploding. Story is funny (to a meateater like me), sad and disturbing all at the same time.

- 5 lies you've been told about "following your passion"

- The NFL is looking to have a streaming version of DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket. My guess is Amazon Prime or ESPN+ would pay big money for the rights and people like me who've cut the cord would definitely make sure I get the service.

- A good night's sleep is one of the most important things for your body (and brain) at any age

- The successful man's path to Lasting Satisfaction

- Niccolo Machiavelli on reading

Happy 3-28

Let's Talk Some Politics

Let's get this out on the table first - I'm a registered Independent who last Presidential election voted for Gary Johnson. I'm a first generation Irish American in Massachusetts whose parents both had union jobs. I should be the poster boy for the target Democratic Party demographic (but instead they seemingly go after this guy's vote instead).

The Democratic Party has made a hard lurch leftward into a warm embrace of Socialism. This, in my opinion, is plain stupidity.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is becoming the face of the Democratic Party and she's fully supports Socialism. You mean like Venezuela?  Her supporters will say, "No like Sweden." But Sweden isn't a Socialist country - it is a capitalist county. Proposing Venezuelan solutions and expecting Swedish results is pure ignorance.

No we mean Socialism in terms of National Healthcare they stamp their feet. Kamala Harris is in favor of doing away with private health insurers. Wait didn't that experiment just fail miserably in Finland? Why yes - yes it did.

Vermont too tried single payer healthcare. They had to pull the plug because single payer was going to destroy the State's economy. Bernie Sanders - you're from Vermont right? And you want to do to the whole country what single payer almost did to Vermont? Are you stupid?

As an older white male the Democratic Party increasingly doesn't want my "kind". Which is fine by me because I actively try to avoid associating with stupid people.

Bob Hope was right.

Linky Links

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

- Heh Heh - Hitler finds out about the Mueller Report. (Via Borepatch)

- You are never too old to...

- A message from Art Alexakis from Everclear to his fans and friends. We can and will find a cure for MS.

- I've become a fan of Senator Mike Lee

- Scientists discover signs of new neurons developing even in adult brains as old as 87

- Rob Gronkowski's ridiculous NFL records

- The way of the monastic warrior: Lessons from Major Dick Winters. This is one of those things you need to read periodically to remind yourself of what is important in life.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Much of the reporting on Russiagate was based on anonymous sources. If the media that printed those stories do not now publicly burn those sources then the only rational explanation is that the MSM was just making things up as they went along... The last catch of Rob Gronkowski's career basically won the Super Bowl for the Patriots... "Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." - Stephen Covey... So if there are separate trials could Mark Geragos represent Michael Avenatti and then Avenatti turn around and represent Geragos? That way neither could testify against the other due to attorney-client privilege... Some say hell is a man on an acoustic guitar playing Hotel California over and over. Extra crispy hell - that man is Chris Berman... Today we work less, have more leisure time and earn more. We live in an age of abundance... People who mention that Steve Jobs biological mother was an immigrant from a mostly Muslim country in order to support immigration never seem to mention that Apple would never have existed if she chose to have an abortion instead of opting for adoption. Funny how that works... 

Linky Links

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

- How did the President celebrate the release of the Mueller Report? Golf with Kid Rock of course

- Top 10 quotes from Bill Belichick on leadership. This was my favorite, "Talent sets the floor, character sets the ceiling."

- Heh Heh - this is true

- Rafi Eitan, 92, Israeli spymaster who caught Eichmann has passed. What a life.

- Normally not a fan of Matt Taibbi but this is damn fine reporting on the damage the media has done to itself over its Russiagate coverage. Long read but worth the time.

- The importance of persistence

- Astronomers have detected a star careening through the Milky Way at 2.5 million MPH

I Know Good Art When I See It

The Mueller Report

Anyone paying attention could have long concluded that the Mueller Report was going to be completely anti-climatic.

Last June Mueller had to back away from the only indictments aimed at actual Russians. And those indictments were rightly viewed as mainly either a PR move or a fishing expedition.

Just this January the the Office of Robert Mueller had to issue a statement refuting Buzzfeed's claim that Attorney Michael Cohen was instructed to lie to Congress by President Trump. That was an extraordinary move by Mueller and an indication that even he had to acknowledge that the moonbat speculation was growing out of control for a report he knew would be deflating to those on the Left.

I once again post that quote from CS Lewis for you to keep in mind when seeing the reactions to the final findings of the Mueller Report by some elected officials and members of the media.

Also as an aside it will be interesting to see if the Left now goes after Robert Mueller for his past deeds as payback for not providing the "frogmarching" the MSM seemingly endlessly promised was coming.

Rob Gronkowski - An Appreciation

Rob Gronkowski has decided to retire. He was the best tight end in NFL history and he will be greatly missed. Gronk's decision to retire was not unexpected by Pats fans - in fact an announcement that he was coming back for one more year would have actually been the bigger surprise.

Gronk's playoff stat line alone is insane! He played 16 total playoff games (the equivalent of a full NFL regular season) and he caught 81 passed for a total of 1,163 yards and 12 TD's. No TE is ever going to approach his numbers in the playoffs. Pats fans always knew that if the team went into a playoff game with a healthy Gronk then there was a very good chance of victory. And winning playoff games is what its all about in New England.

Pats fans know the abuse Gronk's body has absorbed over the years. Nobody took bigger shots or had his legs targeted like Gronk. Some have some faint hope that this isn't truly the end though. We remember All-World tight end Russ Francis "retiring" after the 1980 season only to come back to play several more seasons (but for another team). I don't think that's in store for Gronk though because he has two things Francis never had - championship rings and close to $60 million in career earnings. People with those things in hand don't need to return to prove anything.

Gronk will be remembered both as the greatest TE to ever play the game but also as a great person. The amount of charity work Gronk quietly did over the years (especially for children) would be almost impossible to properly document.

The playful teammate will also be greatly missed. My guess is you'll see many "Gronk spikes" after TD's next season in tribute. I for one can't wait to see what outfit he picks out for this year's Kentucky Derby. 

Robert Kraft's and Bill Belichick statements on Gronk's decision to retire

Tom E. Curran has a nice appreciation of Gronk's decision to retire.

The Boston Herald's Kevin Duffy has a nice appreciation of Gronk's decision to retire

God's Gonna Cut You Down - Johnny Cash

One of Johnny's more underappreciated gems.

Linky Links

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

- Interesting - 10 things I learned while teaching myself to code.

- Heh Heh

- The difference between behavior and intention

- Turns out that sound waves carry mass. "It is simply a fraction of the total mass of the system that travels with the wave, being displaced from one place to another." Sounds like Pilot Wave Theory on a Newtonian scale.

- How not to be stupid. It is helpful to constantly remind yourself that stupidity is "overlooking or dismissing conspicuously crucial information." Put another way - if you are not consciously present in the moment you are greatly increasing your chances of being stupid. (I know I've posted this article before but this is one of those pieces of advice that should be revisited from time to time)

- And speaking of stupidity

- Bruins Noel Acciari delivered a pummeling last night

This Week (and a Half) in Musk World

The big news from Tesla, of course, was the unveiling of the Model Y crossover SUV which Fortune Magazine suggests may be a "game -changer".  The Model Y compares very favorable to even the top crossover SUV's like the Porche Maycan.

That was hardly the only news as Tesla announced a new customer referral program which they rolled out this week. It also looks like there might be a tow package in store for future Model 3's and Y's. Meanwhile in the shorter term the new firmware update announced two weeks ago which will increase Model 3 power by about 5% (increasing top speed by 7 mph) is now available. Cool.

Lots of cool positive things going on at Tesla but if you read this review from Consumer Reports you would think things are doom and gloom. I know I'm an Elon Musk fanboy but this sort of biased reporting bugs me. How can I trust Consumer Reports on a laptop recommendation when I see obvious bias on something I pay close attention to? Clearly a case of Gell-Mann Amnesia.

As Consumer Reports points out  maintenance and repair of EV's in general are an issue but to help address this Tesla has announced a new college course which it will be utilizing at six North American colleges to train EV technicians.  Tesla may want to partner with some European colleges as well as the Model 3 has quickly become the top selling EV in Western Europe.

Over at SpaceX - American rockets launching from American soil. Elon Musk confirms that SpaceX rockets will be built in Texas and Florida.

SpaceX's Starship undergoing some serious tests this week. Remember that the goal of SpaceX is to get to Mars but landing heavy payloads on Mars will not be easy. Successfully getting the SpaceX Starship to Mars may be the easy part when compared to landing on Mars.

In other news - a very valid question - what exactly is Tesla's strategy with solar? Elon Musk said at the Model Y unveiling that "this is definitely going to be the year of the Solar Roof and Powerwall."  Since many of the Solar Roof customers seem to also be Tesla car customers - maybe they should institute a new customer referral program that packages both car and solar products? Maybe that's in the works and why Tesla reversed course in closing their product showrooms?

One last thing - this is pretty mind-blowing especially when you remember that Elon Musk is only 47-years old and far from finished.

Deadwood

In anticipation for the new Deadwood movie - I've started re-watching the series (again).

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Something fishy seems to be going on in the case against Robert Kraft. From the outside it seems prosecutors are really pushing for him to take a plea deal and publicly threatening to release video of him of he does not. You have to wonder if the prosecutors are trying to force a plea deal because they know their "evidence" may not be admissible. Supposedly the video in question has not been shared with Kraft's attorneys. Seems fishy to me... Yesterday was the anniversary of the scariest thing I've ever seen in sports... I double dog dare any reporter to ask Bill Belichick at his next press conference if he's ever been to an Asian spa... Very cool... Does Florida have a "revenge porn" law? If the video of Kraft is released and Kraft is not found guilty of any charges I really hope his legal team goes after the Sheriff under that law (and any other way they can)... So Bloomberg is going to be banned from Twitter for this Tweet - right? Or are there two sets of rules?... Mr. Clean and the Ammonia Mafia would be a good name for a band...

2020 Democrats as Michael Scott Quotes

Genius!

Linky Links

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

- Heh Heh - the Aristocrats Democrats

- How to find the cheapest flight possible, every time

- Can people sense Earth's magnetic field? I kept waiting for two words in the article "Quantum Biology" but they never came

- If you follow the Boston Bruins this is pretty funny.

- Good for him! Still waiting for my first hole in one.

- I would so watch this sporting event. Come on ESPN - give the people what they want.

Wisdom

Sam Harris on wisdom from Tin Ferris great book Tools of Titans.

Let's Talk Some Politics

Interesting article/rebuttal about Why Upstate New York Feels Unwelcome in Its Own State.

New York City has the wealth and provides the entertainment not just for the rest of the State but for much of the country. What does "Upstate" New York offer? Well how about the food, the electric power and the natural beauty/resources just to start. The whole things gives off a Hunger Games feel. 

In Panem - Capital City also had the wealth and the entertainment (in the form of the Hunger Games) while the Districts each provided their own distinct contributions.Fish, electricity, coal, food, etc.

The big difference is in the fictional world Capital City had the military power while in real life - it is the residents of Upstate NY that are armed. Makes you wonder if that's a psychological underpinning of residents of Capital New York City being such ardent advocates of gun control while the Upstate residents are such "bitter clingers."

It's true in New York State and it's true in much of the rest of the country. Who knew that Suzanne Collins was such a big MAGA supporter?

Nightmares

Nightmares come in many shapes and forms.

Some people's nightmares are made of creatures like this.

Other's dreams are haunted by monsters like this.

At my age - most of my nightmares involve me needing to go to the bathroom.

Linky Links

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

- New evidence for the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis. Not exactly news for anyone who's listened to Randall Carlson and Graham Hancock on Joe Rogan's podcast.

- Seeking the Productive Life by Stephen Wolfram. Long read but interesting look at the life and technology hacks of one of technology's best known names.

- David Simon with a little inside baseball on how things work in Hollywood

- Interesting look at how Montana tamed the beast of high medical insurance costs.

- A conservative's wet dream

- Can Alzheimer's be detected decades before onset?

Happy Birthday to Bobby Orr

Happy 71st birthday to #4 Bobby Orr. Not only one of the 3 greatest hockey players in history but arguable the greatest MAN to play hockey.

Here's a reminder of the type of person Robert Gordon Orr is.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I'm tired of people calling the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament "the Big Dance". Let's call it what it really is - the NBA pre-draft combine... This is fascinating to watch... Also that time of year again to once again remind people that "physicality" according the the American Heritage dictionary is not a freaking word! I wish sports announcers would stop using that non-word... Dean Martin was the epitome of cool... Is Villanova the only team that is abbreviated by using the end of the name instead of the beginning? Nova. Which in Spanish means "no go". Do you really want to bet on a team that's a no go?... Heh Heh... I haven't filled out a bracket in over a decade. Biggest waste of time of the sports year. You always regret doing it... 

Linky Links

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

- Q: How come mankind was never able to leave the bonds of Earth? A: Space Herpes

- The NBA was tougher back in the day

- This article does a good job explaining the popularity of Trump among the Republican base.

- Are we still doing phrasing?

- This doctor should go to prison for life. But first all his assets should be sold and split among the kids he created.

- Roger Daltrey is the man

- Wait - Charlie Hunnam is the man

The Return of the Husband

From the archives of American Digest.

George Roy Hill

George Roy Hill is remembered most for being one of the great directors of the past 60-years but what sparked interest in me was a little known fact about the man. Hill flew planes for the US Marines in both World War II and in Korea - just like the great Ted Williams.

Unlike Williams who flew fighter planes in both conflicts - Hill first flew transport planes in WWII and then fighters in Korea. Still that's an accomplishment that's worthy of a little bragging. However, self promotion was never something George Roy Hill was interested in which in itself is another reason to admire the man.

And I still say that Slap Shot is the best sports movie ever made. Here's what I consider the Top 5 Movies by George Roy Hill.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

John Wayne once said that every young man needs to let the badger loose every once in a while. On Saturday I let the badger loose in a big way. And I'm not a young man... Conor McGregor had a blast Saturday at the Bruins game... I know that stereotyping is bad but if I see the back of your car has 10 or more bumper stickers and two of them are for Coexist and Bernie Sanders - I'm going to go ahead and assume your home smells like cat piss... Heh Heh... According to Snapple Facts #117 - "The starfish is the only animal that can turn its stomach inside out." Obviously Snapple has never been out drinking on St. Patrick's Day weekend with some of my Irish friends... People don't seem to use the word "famished" anymore. Is that because people's vocabularies are getting smaller or because it's not OK to use a word that comes from "famine"? And speaking of famine - when's the last time you've heard about a famine in the news? Was Sally Strothers that successful at ending hunger or have things been improving in the world to the point where famines are so rare?... When Isaiah Thomas returns to the TD Garden tonight I expect him to get one of the biggest ovations from Boston fans that I've seen in my lifetime... 

Teddy Roosevelt and the Man in the Arena

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." - Teddy Roosevelt (Paris Sorbonne,1910)

Saint Patrick

With today being St. Patrick's Day -  here's just a couple of things about Saint Patrick.

...was not Irish. He was a British Celt, first enslaved in Ireland as a teen, later a missionary to Ireland. 

...was not necessarily the first missionary to Ireland. 

No one knows his birth or death date. 17 March is traditionally considered to be one of the two, but there is no documentation for this. 

The only documents about Patrick are his Confession and a letter he wrote to Coroticus. 

There were never snakes---or other reptiles---in Ireland for Patrick to chase out. 

Patrick predates the Roman Catholic Church, and was considered a ``saint'' before the Roman church created its canon (list) of saints (and added him to it).

John Stuart Mill

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling, which thinks that nothing is worth war, is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill

Linky Links

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

- Heh Heh (am I showing my age laughing at that?)

- A suspense novelist's trail of deception. A fascinating long-read about a pathological liar turned bestselling author.

- Sadly it does sound familiar

- Wow -Pluto like you've never seen it before

- First Netflix came for Blockbuster. Now it's coming for the cable companies.

- Phil Michelson misses cut at Players Championship and denies he was distracted by off the course issues. I would so love to read a tell-all biography of Michelson. The golf, the gambling and the other rumors.

Top 5 - Saint Patrick's Day Irish Music

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Here are my Top 5 Songs for celebrating Saint Patrick's Day (because Oh Danny Boy is shite).

1. Rocky Road to Dublin

2. If I Should Fall From Grace with God - The Pogues

3. Four Green Fields - Makem & Clancy

4. The Foggy Dew - Sinead O'Connor and the Chieftains

5. I'm Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphy's

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda doesn't make the list because I consider that an Australian anthem.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Somebody pretty please ask Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez if she'd eat the moon if it were made of ribs. Or better yet ask her if the Sun is her favorite planet. Please, please, please... My current life goal is to live longer than Charles Bukowski did. That means if I make it to 75 I win!... Alex Trebek is the best!... Now that Beto is in the race - when does the Rent if Too Damn High guy announce he's running for President too?... "The tools for learning are abundant. It's the desire to learn that's scarce." - Naval Ravikant... "Stinktum" should be a word. It's so much nicer sounding than either "anus" or "sphincter"... How funny would it be if Odell Beckham Jr. didn't pass the Browns physical and had to return to the Giants? I have my fingers crossed because I enjoy a certain amount of chaos...

The Ides of March

Today is the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less historically well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him.

Rome was a very underrated series.

Linky Links

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

- Where do we find such men!

- Interesting interview with Gad Saad - the Gadfather.

- The person behind Titania McGrath. I always think of her as "Tits" McGrath

- Rope lighters - wicked cool. (Hat tip Execupundit.)

- Interesting take on the situation with North Korea

- Long read on how business is the key to healthcare in the US. Employer spending on healthcare in the US is now roughly equivalent to the yearly costs to run the military.

- And just like that he goes from being Beto O'Rourke to "Jazz Hands" O'Rourke

Let's Talk Some Politics

Today's political post is brought to you by the words "Long Memory" and "Values".

1. When it comes to "Long Memory" the Media may have covered for Democrats in both the past and present but other Democrats have a long memory. Bill Clinton is basically radioactive at this point because of his philandering (#MeToo).

Even Barack Obama is not safe with Rep Ilhan Omar going after the 44th President saying he was responsible for the "caging of kids" at the border and who was guilty of drone murder but who got away with it because he was more "polished" than Trump. How long before Obama is heckled on the campaign trail by this new Left? My guess is just once will be enough for him to withdraw into his own world. His supporters will be offended by the way he will be treated and many probably will stay at home on election day 2020.

There's going to be a lot of digging through people's past words and actions. And the "guilty" will be held accountable - because the other candidates (and Russian bots) are going to make sure of that! Elizabeth Warren is toast because this. She just hasn't realized it. When Joe Biden announces look for a long trip down memory lane for Creepy Uncle Joe sponsored by Democrats who remember. This will serve to both tatter the reputations of the current candidates but also the MSM. "Wait that allegation is true - how come this was never reported?"

2. The Democrats don't know what they stand for anymore and some are now going after what used to be core constituents of the Democratic Party. Namely the Jewish and Catholic vote.

The Democrats have had an ant-Israel and anti-Jewish bias for a while but now it's official. President Obama was the most anti-Israel President of my lifetime (even worse than Jimmy Carter). Rep Omar openly makes vile anti-Semetic and anti-Israel comments and the Democratic leaders are powerless to do anything. Their response was literally a joke. And more fodder for President Trump.

The Democrats also showed their true colors towards Catholics during the Kavanaugh conformation hearings. The Knights of Columbus are already under attack. There are 1.7 million Catholics in Wisconsin - almost one-third the total population of the State. Wisconsin was a key to Trump winning the 2016 election. And the Democrats have recognized the importance of the State by announcing it will the the site of their convention. But how will that go over when most of the candidates go on record as both anti-Jew and anti-Catholic? Doesn't sound like a winning strategy to me.

I just can't wait to see what happens when people like Rep Omar go after late-term abortion because the Koran is against it.

Happy Pi Day

Happy Pi Day!

Back in the 17th century the value of Pi was known to 35 decimals. Today it is known to more than 1.2411 trillion except in Alabama where the value of Pi has been set at 3.14.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Since the indictments were out of Boston part of me wondered if the college admissions scandal was part of either a long-game revenge on the part of Harvard University or a master prank pulled off by MIT. Both are certainly possibilities... "We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Castaneda... Socialism in a nutshell... How funny would it be if it turns out William H. Macy dimed out his wife, Felicity Huffman, in the college admissions scandal because he thought it would be cheaper than a divorce and he thought this way he could get custody of the kids. That would be just the thing one of the characters he's played would do... Heh heh - awesome!... Wish there was a place that I could bet that the combined win totals of the Giants and Jets will not equal the Patriots wins next season. That would be almost guaranteed money... And speaking of the Patriots, an under appreciated aspect of them extending a contract offer to Josh Gordon is that it allows the team to continue to financially support his treatment costs. Getting Gordon's life back in order is the priority and the Patriots stepped up to help make that happen...

Linky Links

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

- Big Julie: The life and legacy of Julius Caesar. Long read but worth it. (Via Execupundit)

- Going to have to add this word to my vocabulary.

- RIP Hal Blaine. You may not recognize the name but I guaranty you recognize his music. (The documentary The Wrecking Crew is worth your time if you haven't watched it already)

- Heh Heh - awesome!

- Dan Jenkins rules for writing

- Supreme Court unanimously strikes a blow against excessive police forfeitures. And also forces Indiana to finally recognize the Bill of Rights.

This Week in Musk World

Perhaps the most historic event in Musk World this week was the successful splashdown of the Crew dragon capsule. American astronauts launching on American rockets from American soil once again just became one step closer.

Tesla Model 3 quickly becomes #1 in the Netherlands. The Model 3 is also a hit in France. And "crushing it" in Norway. And in the US the Model S has been proclaimed "America's greatest muscle car" by no less an authority than Top Gear's James May.

What I've long said was the unappreciated "muscle" behind Tesla's long-term are the network of charging stations which this week got a big boost as Supercharger V3 was unleashed. Short-term the financial "muscle" of Tesla coming out with a $35,000 Model 3 has caused competitors to react with price drops of their own.

Meanwhile the Model Y is teased on Tesla's website. The question is how the Model Y will stack up against the announced Audi e-tron Q4. The Model Y is scheduled to be unveiled on Thursday. With the Model Y - Tesla's product line will officially be S3XY (pun obviously intended) And speaking of sexy teases - what the heck is this bad boy?

Let's not forget The Boring Company - Las Vegas might be the site of the next tunnel for the company.Makes sense. You don't want conventioneers too tired from walking all day to gamble at night.

The Elements Song by Tom Lehrer

A blast from the past in honor of the Periodic Table's 150th anniversary.

Hat tip to Tom for the suggestion.

Linky Links

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

- Japan's moon rover will be built by Toyota. And it looks pretty damn cool!

- Not news to me that a man would choose to have nothing but beer during Lent. News to me that Lent is now 46 days long?

- Massive Sun storm hit Earth in ancient times and it could happen again.

- Interesting - you can now use your FSA or HSA cards to purchase eligible items on Amazon

- How to stop being miserable

- The impending cellular data crisis

Captain Marvel

Went to see Captain Marvel last night and it was a fun flick. It was what I was hoping for - a brain candy superhero movie that had a couple laughs and didn't suck.

Check, check and check.

I'd definitely watch this flick again once it gets to streaming.

As far as the "controversy" about the film being a feminist vehicle or something - it's way overblown. It was a fun movie that happens to have a female lead. How is that controversial?

If you did want to go down that rabbit hole - the question I'd ask is where was Carol Danvers' mom? You had some flashback shots of her dad but where was the mom? That's nitpicking however. As I said it was just a fun movie and any controversy is purely manufactured.

Dan Jenkins

Sports writer and novelist Dan Jenkins has passed away at age 90. How much is was revered in the sports writing community can be viewed with just a small sample of the many who have paid their respects.

SI pays their respects

ESPN pays their respects.

The Ringer pays their respects.

And of course his daughter, columnist Sally has the best of all.

Time to buy another copy of Semi-Tough or maybe Dead Solid Perfect. RIP Mr. Jenkins.

Linky Links

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

- This blows my mind. I think most people who watch this will then want to buy a pineapple to try it out.

- So this is funny but it also makes me think of the great recent podcast series by Dan Carlin on the build-up to the War in the Pacific

- The Atherstone Ball Game. WTF?

- A visit to Charles Bukowski's grave on the 25th anniversary of his death.

- They drew first blood, not me!

- Cool

- The girl who executed Nazi after seducing them in bars

- Nuclear fusion getting some love from investors.

Daylight Savings

If I were elected President, one of the first things I'd do is put a bill in front of Congress to repeal Daylight Savings. It is a stupid idea and nobody likes it. My approval rating would go through the roof on both sides of the aisle.

Here's five reasons to go on Daylight Savings and then never go back. Never change the clocks again!

Daylight Savings delenda est.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

OK I'll say it! I don't think that is is a coincidence that International Women's Day fell on a day where there was no football. That's proper scheduling... This is awesome!... Is goalie Roberto Luongo a Hall of Famer? Sure he's 2nd in all time in games played and 3rd all-time in wins (485) but he's never won the Vezina Trophy as the top goalie in the NHL. Maybe he is a Hall of Famer - I just never looked at him that way... Adult Swim should have a show called Rick Santorum: Vatican Spy. It would be a cross between The West Wing and Archer. Tell me you wouldn't watch that show!... Would you eat the Moon if it was made of ribs? Harry Caray would... Maybe the worst part of St. Patrick's Day is the fat guy in a kilt. You know that guy - you run into one every year. The fat guy in the kilt who is always joking about "the breeze" or "dangling shillelaghs" trying to get you to ask if he's wearing underwear. You know the guy... Now this is a diet I could get behind...

Historical Footnote

General Douglas MacAuthur’s first marriage had a big wedding. Over two hundred guests were invited but because of political and family considerations – MacAuthur was only able to invite one close friend. The friend’s name? Buck Wheat (seriously).



No word on how the rest of Our Gang took the snub.

Linky Links

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

- Report says US users are leaving Facebook by the millions. Yeah but if they are just porting over to Instagram then Facebook is still reaping that revenue.

- I miss Christopher Hitchens

- Heh heh - Hipster whines to tech magazine that they used his picture without permission in an article saying all hipsters look alike. Complaining hipster learns the picture was of a completely different hipster! Couldn't even recognize himself!

- Interesting - the Dutch are firing up a Thorium-Salt nuclear reactor. This is a technology the US should be utilizing on a wide scale.

- In 1944 this was a busy week for Chuck Yeager. He got his first air victory then he got shot down. Once he got to the ground and the woods he knew he was safe, "Ain't a German in the world that can catch a West Virginian in the woods." Where do we find such men?

- Simon Sinek on Millennials in the workplace. Excellent insight!

- 14 types of push-ups and how they help you. Some of these will definitely get added to my routine but some look really tough.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Was saddened by the sudden passing of Luke Perry. While many of his fans primarily think of him in roles on Beverley Hills 90210 or Riverdale - I may be alone in thinking of him as Linc Stark from John from Cincinnati (I never watched those other two shows)... Does Florida have an extradition treaty with any of the New England states? Asking for a friend... Actually like this idea a lot! Assuming the players have no eligibility left what's to stop the SEC Network from paying the players to participate? They aren't getting paid to attend the NFL combine... So President Trump accidentally called Tim Cook of Apple "Tim Apple" and Tim Cook reacts by changing his Twitter profile to this. Genius!... I was disappointed that the Patriots did not place the franchise tag on Trey Flowers but then I was reminded that Flowers and Bill Belichick have the same agent. So hope remains that some type of deal can be reached (though I'm not optimistic)... Technically this is true. Also technically true that combined the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics each have a first round draft pick in this year's NBA Draft (oh wait a minute)... "Knowledge if not digested does not give nutrition, only adds weight." - Osho... 

I've Got No More F***s to Give!

Awesome! Written and performed by Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq. Obviously NSFW!

Perhaps my new theme song.

Linky Links

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

- 20 notoriously underrated writers you should be reading. I admit that the majority of the writers on this list were unknown to me. Have to widen my reading circle. (Via Execupundit)

- Agree 100%! Never understood why people voluntarily bought this gum

- Octopus and squid evolution is officially weirder than previously thought

- Heh Heh - Darth Vader on DMT

- Interesting long read profile of John Bolton in of all places The Atlantic. Filled with backhanded compliments the article will result in the "two screen effect" Scott Adams speaks about so often. The Left will read it and see Bolton as a monster while the Right will read it and say "Hey this guy Bolton is just what the US needs."

- 3 simple exercises Men's Health says you should do every day.

- The Stray Cats announce their first album in 25-years and first US tour in 10-years. These guy are from Long Island? Who knew?

Currently Reading

Here's what I'm currently reading:

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. (Just started)

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein. (About half way through)

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss (About half way through)

Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman (Almost done)

The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding by Robert Hughes (Just started)

Linky Links

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

- I love Alex Trebek. I'm praying for him to beat the long odds. He's the best!

- In other medical news - Billionaire diamond trader dies during penis enlargement surgery.

- The physics still hiding in the Higgs Boson. Going to have to read this a second time (for comprehension reasons)

- Clint Eastwood's Code (Via Execupundit)

- Cool - the moment of impact for a bullet

- Well that's one way to look at Brexit I guess

- Israeli company can produce 5,000 liters of clean drinking water from just the air and a good electrical supply. The cost per liter is estimated at just $.02-04 per liter!

I'm Amazed - My Morning Jacket

Just felt like hearing this today.

Coexist

Yesterday I saw a pickup truck with Mass plates with a Trump/Pence bumper sticker AND a Coexist bumper sticker. This is the first time I can recall ever seeing that combination. It got my mind engaged on the long ride.

"Maybe the Trump/Pence bumper sticker was put there by the husband and the Coexist by the wife?" I reasoned. Then I thought "Maybe the guy put on the Trump/Pence bumper sticker then put the Coexist one next to it as a middle finger to anyone judging him for supporting Trump."

I like the latter idea so much more. I can picture the guy smiling thinking, "Why are you mad? Can't we all just Coexist?" Genius.

Happy 150th Birthday to the Periodic Table

Today marks the 150th "birthday" of Dmitri Mendeleev's periodic table. I would put this "discovery" on par with Newton's "discovery" of gravity or Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

Let's Talk Some Politics

"North Korea will freeze and dismantle its nuclear program." - Bill Clinton 1994

"I won't rule out direct talks with Kim Jung Un. I just won't. As far as the risk of dealing with a madman is concerned, that's his problem, not mine." - Donald Trump 2018

ABC News has a brief on the US-North Korean summit in Vietnam. Michael Cohen is mentioned five times in an article about potential historic denuclearization talks. But there was one word glaringly missing in the article - the word China.

The editors at National Review are glad President Trump walked away from what would have been yet another bad deal for the US. But again there was one word glaringly missing in their article - the word China.

To Trump the North Korean Agreement is just part of a larger trade Agreement with China. It is no coincidence that the summit in Vietnam came at the same time the US and China were holding trade negotiations.

I have to hand it to Niall Ferguson - he called it last March. He pointed out China tariffs are directly linked to the negotiations with North Korea. And why not? North Korea to the US is a problem. To China it's a market potentially as large as South Korea. President Trump is directly pressuring China to help "solve" the North Korean problem as part of the larger US-China trade deal. Smart.

Oh and speaking of trade - Boeing secured $15.7 billion in Vietnam orders during Trump's visit to Hanoi. Did you happen to catch mention of that in the MSM?

Let me finish with one last quote. A quote that you should remind yourself of when talking politics these days: "All empty souls tend toward extreme opinions." - William Butler Yeats

Life advice

From the desk of George Raveling 

Linky Links

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

- Wait - what? World's Number 1 Bridge Player suspended for PED's

- Hockey players are the best (even if they play for the Canadiens)

- Hmmmm

- Looking back at the AIG bailout 10-years later. I wish we learned from this disaster but my guts says just same ole shit just different decade.

- Heard the Mueller report was going to be disappointing but this is ridiculous.

- Heh Heh

- HIV is reportedly cured in second patient.

This Week in Musk World

Very busy week in Musk World as lots of things were happening in both the Tesla and Space X operating spaces. Let's start with Space X.

The big news was the successful launch of the Crew Dragon mission early morning March 2nd. The unmanned Crew Dragon then successfully docked with the International Space Station. All of this, of course, brings Space X one step closer to manned space flight. This article expounds on the historic nature of this mission. Meanwhile, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine also put the his stamp on the historic mission. The return of the US having the capability to launch astronauts into space from American soil cannot be overstated.

In Tesla World it was announced that the long-promised $35,000 Tesla is finally here. This standard Model 3 will have a range of 220-miles. The drop to $35,000 has been compared to Henry Ford making the Model-T more affordable to the masses. That might be putting the cart before the horse here though.

To help accommodate all these cars - Tesla will be greatly expanding their Supercharging and Destination locations - including doubling the charging stations in California.  Almost buried in the news of the $35,000 Tesla is the fact that Tesla is now "shifting sales worldwide to online only."  Tesla certainly isn't afraid of being on the cutting edge.

Coming up on March 14th is the unveiling of the Model Y. Always something going on in Musk World.

In Hell I'll Be in Good Company - The Dead South

You don't hear this song enough.

Linky Links

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

- Why were scientists silent over gene-edited babies? And a related question - why are medical doctors silent over infanticide posing as late term abortion?

- Water on Mars. Much less scary than Water of Mars.

- F. Scott Firzgerald: A list of things to worry about and things not to worry about

- Gotta love Bill Walton

- 12 facts about Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels on its 20th anniversary

- Very cool!