Thursday, April 30, 2020

Linky Links

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

- India clashes with China. Part of me wonders if India may be making a play for China's pharmaceutical business.

- Kevin Kelly offers 68 pieces of advice on his 68th birthday. Good stuff.

- Not a fan of Aaron Rogers but this stat does make me feel bad for him.

- How to build a breakthrough - the secret of Backcasting. "The future doesn't happen to us; it happens because of us."

Ted Williams

68-years ago today, Ted Williams reported for duty in the Korean War as a Marine Corps fighter pilot.

It would be Williams second tour of military duty after serving his country in WWII as well.

Williams is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Marine Corps Hall of Fame and the Fishing Hall of Fame.

Where do we find such men?

Farnam Street Knowledge

- F. Scott Fitzgerald: A List of Things to Worry About and Things Not to Worry About

- Gresham's Law: Why Bad Drives Out Good as Time Passes. This seems especially true of politicians.

- Muscular Bonding: The Power of Dance and Drill

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Northrop says it is on schedule with next generation OmegaA rocket.

- The audio to this video was oddly satisfying

- The controversial experiments and Wuhan lab suspected of starting the coronavirus pandemic. From Newsweek - not Info Wars. No longer a conspiracy theory but a real possibility.

- Barack Obama reads Trump's Inaugural Address (Speech Synthesis).  Disconcerting how the same words can be approved or disapproved of based upon who says them.

- This was a beautiful photo of Scripps Pier in San Diego. The Moon, Venus and bio-luminescence from plankton. Via.

- Interesting - Will the Iranian regime survive the coronavirus Wuhan Virus outbreak?

- This video is funny, sad, and scary all rolled into one. (Could not find it on YouTube.) And as a reminder - "Joe Biden" is an anagram for "I need job"

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I find myself being profoundly grateful whenever I see one of those "Open" flags outside a business. Don't care what the business is - those flags just seem so important these days... Actual headline - Oyster flatulence worries climate scientists... A stranger asked me the other day, "Who did Nancy Pelosi have to sleep with to get into her position of power?" [He didn't say "sleep with."] Since I didn't respond the stranger continued, "I mean she's clearly not competent enough for the job." I simply responded, "I don't know"... Maybe the reason Michigan always seems to lose the "big games" is because they don't recruit or groom top QB's. There have only been 11 QB's from Michigan to play in the NFL - ever! And if you take away Tom Brady's 283 NFL starts (and counting) and 219 regular season wins (and counting) the other 10 Michigan NFL QB's started a total of 372 games and won just 183... "Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." - Voltaire...

Life Advice


Sunday, April 26, 2020

Truth


Jean-Paul Sartre wrote "Hell is other people" but after weeks of quarantine the truth has been revealed that actually "Heaven is other people."

Linky Links

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

- Cool - A Seaside Irish Village Adopts Matt Damon

- WTF? Ducks regrow their penis each mating season and the size is based upon the competition for the available females? WTF - at least now we understand why Donald Duck could be shown pants-less - it wasn't mating season and he had no penis!

- VDH on the current situation. Excellent point about the UN. They have been less than useless.

- A Third Solution. This is very encouraging. I had never heard of "surface plasmon resonance" before but those three words could save our society.

- Good for the Houston Police Officer's Union

- Vitamin D levels vs Coronaviris Wuhan Virus case severity. Get out into the fresh air and sunshine.

Farnam Street Knowledge

- Power Laws: How Nonlinear Relationships Amplify Results. Going to need to read this one a couple of times to fully grasp the "power" of power laws.

- Too Busy to Pay Attention

- Why We Focus on Trivial Things: The Bikeshed Effect

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Surprised more comparisons between former Patriots All-Pro tight ends Russ Francis and Rob Gronkowski haven't been made. Francis was deemed "All-World" by Howard Cosell and "retired" abruptly in 1981. He took a year off (just like Gronk) and then returned to the NFL with another team (just like Gronk). Francis played 7 more seasons after un-retiring but he came back in 1982 aged 29-years old. Gronk will be 31-years old this season... Have to wonder if Bill Belichick had dog friendly videos playing on that middle laptop to keep his dog Nike sitting there like that... Did not know this - Dr. Anthony Fauci received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 for his work in combating the AIDS epidemic... Bowling alleys reopen in Georgia... Remember back when "experts" were convinced that Segways were going to be the next big thing? When's the last time you saw anyone on a Segway?... On Thursday night as the Detroit Lions were about to make the 3rd pick of the draft I found myself wondering about how Matt Millen is doing. Millen had a rare disease that made a heart transplant necessary. He had the heart transplant surgery in 2018 but there's been little update on his health since...

ANZAC Day



Today is ANZAC Day, the national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, which to me always brings to mind The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (the best version is by The Clancy Brothers sung by Liam Clancy).

Happy April 25th


Friday, April 24, 2020

Linky Links

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

- How do you say "Redneck Wimbledon" in German?

- The Genie, the Bottle, and What's Next. Agree 100%. Ineffective middle management jobs may be hardest hit when this is all said and done.

- Why Two Decades of Pandemic Planning Failed. "The failure of the United States government to respond to the coronavirus was not a failure of foresight. It was a failure to create a coherent strategy and to provide clear lines of authority to implement it." Long read but worth it.

- This was elder abuse. Pure and simple - elder abuse!

- Scientists find a link between beef jerky and mania. So side effects of snapping into a Slim Jim could be mental illness? (Oh and the "link" is nitrates. Don't eat nitrates.)

- I think this is so cool. I could see myself living in a tiny home in the woods or on a lake.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Keep seeing the idea bounced around that Joe Biden should pick Michele Obama as his VP. Why in the world would Michele and Barack agree to that? They didn't want Joe to run in the first place... I laughed way too much at this... The Mike Pence v Michele Obama debates would be good fun though... "The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly." - Abraham Lincoln. Kept thinking about that quote when reading stories like the mother getting arrested for pushing her child on a swing... This is SPARTA!... Barack Obama has had to watch as Donald Trump dismantled his accomplishments. There's no way he'd allow his legacy to be further damaged by allowing Michele on Joe Biden' ticket. No way!... I'm the guy who every year posts the Bill Burr bit on the NFL Draft yet last night I watched the entire first round. Starving for sports and normalcy...

Fall Fashion Alert

It seems contact with copper kills the COVID-19 Wuhan virus.

This is why I think large copper belt buckles will be the big thing in fall fashion for men and women. That and tucked in shirts/blouses (to make touching your copper belt buckle easier).

Touch a public door handle to open a door - then immediately touch your copper belt buckle. Hit the touch screen on an ATM screen - touch your belt buckle.

Belt buckles and also those copper golf bracelets that were supposed to have magic healing powers. They'll be everywhere in the coming months.

Remember you heard it here first.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Interesting look at Netflix's Q1 2020 revenue.

- As bad as COVID-19 is it could be worse. You could have the Jumping Frenchman of Maine disorder.

- How to think like Shakespeare

- The great China-US divorce has arrived. Hallelujah!!

- Interesting quote from an ER doctor

In God We Trust

Yesterday was the anniversary of when in 1864 the U.S. Congress passed the Coinage Act which mandated that the inscription "In God We Trust" be placed on all coins minted as US currency. Part of the reasoning behind this was because the US Constitution does not talk about God while the Confederate constitution did. This was a measure in part to show that the Union wanted God on their side.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Love dogs but if any appear on a GM's video feed during tonight's NFL Draft that's a good signal to bet that team's season total under the number. The dog show's that GM isn't really serious... If life gives you melons - you may be dyslexic... Heh Heh... Back in 1978 future Hall of Famer Robin Yount held out from Spring  training because he needed to decide if he wanted to be a pro baseball player or a pro golfer... ABC/Disney should re-make the TV show Barney Miller with Dave Attell playing the lead role... So those folks who did the COVID-9 models that were so very wrong - what other models of theirs have we been using?... "You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire." - Seneca... The President Tweets for the US Navy to "shoot down and destroy" any harassing Iranian gun boats and the price of oil jumps (when it really needed a lift). That's how that works. But "shooting down?" Do the Iranians have flying boats?...

Shakespeare

Today is not just the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth (1564) but also his death (1616). On top of that - today is also Talk Like Shakespeare day. One of my favorite facts about Shakespeare was the fact that perhaps the greatest writer of all-time was married to a woman who could neither read nor write.

21 phrases people use without realizing they are quoting Shakespeare

11 strange Shakespeare adaptations. I'm actually interested in checking out The People vs Friar Laurence.

- 7 of Shakespeare's best dirty jokes

How Shakespeare changed everything

The Shakespeare insult generator

The Big Lebowski written as a work of Shakespeare's

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman died on this day in 2004 in Afghanistan from friendly fire.

The Ranger Creed

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of my Ranger Regiment.

Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move farther, faster and fight harder than any other soldier.

Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be. One-hundred-percent and then some.

Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well-trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.

Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word.

I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.

Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!

Me Too!


HT to Borepatch. This is the "new" "Me Too."

The old "#MeToo" died from the flood of hypocrisy surrounding Harvey Weinstein and Joe Biden.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Was surprised by Rob Gronkowski deciding to come back to play football. Thought he was enjoying retirement. Was not surprised that he'd only come back to play with Tom Brady. The TV ratings for Tampa Bay games in New England this season will be phenomenal... Why Oil Prices Went Negative - a good explainer article on why and how oil prices went negative. Something I was very nervous about.. Are we all in agreement that NYC has the worst mayor in the country and Michigan has the worst governor?... I was not aware that Al Bumbry served 11 months in Vietnam before becoming a star for the Baltimore Orioles. He even earned a Bronze Star for bravery...  "The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge."- Daniel Boorstin... Missouri files suit against China over damages from Wuhan Virus. I expect many other States to follow suit [pun intended]. It will also be interesting to see which major law firms sign on to defend the Chinese government... 

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Army Ranger School is a laboratory of human endurance. Long read but well worth it. This aside jumped out at me, "'That's why I carry a gun. The average human is only three missed meals away from becoming a savage.'"

- Apple likely planning 2020 iPhone SE assembly in Brazil. But if it is still being assembled by Foxconn it is really decoupling?

- The Short, Violent Oil War of 2020.  Article is just a week old and may already be in need of an update. Just as an aside I think the US, Mexico and Canada should ban any imports of oil or natural gas as a way to insulate our economies from such future gamesmanship.

- Nixon Opened China. It's Time to Close It. Won't quibble over the historical reasons Nixon opened China but I do agree with this statement 100%, "It took decades to truly open China and it will take years to close them back off. But we should start now."

- Richard Branson's heart seems to be in the right place. (And the cynic in me acknowledges that Branson's PR instincts have always been strong.)

- "Cartels are scrambling:" Virus snarls global drug trade. Even the drug kingpins are looking to decouple from China.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Hard not to think that this current crisis and the world's coming decoupling from China actually all started with a single Tweet from Houston Rocket's GM Daryl Morey in support of Hong Kong... "Watch establishment opinion on reopening change in a hurry once journalists and government workers are losing their jobs." - Glenn Reynolds... Counter-intuitive thought but now may be the perfect time to open up ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) to oil drilling. Hear me out - can we all agree that energy independence is vital for the US economy? Bill Clinton said he wouldn't do it because it would take five years for those fields to be productive. Well in five years Donald Trump will be leaving office and there's no guarantee that the next occupant of the White House won't give away the store. So drill baby drill now... "Everyone keeps quoting 'experts.' George Washington relied on expert medical advice also and they bled him to death." - Jame Altucher... A reminder but 10-years ago at the NFL Draft the crowd chanted "She said NO. She said NO" every time the Pittsburgh Steelers went to make a draft pick in response to Ben Roethlisberger's off-field allegations... I'm all for opening parks, beaches, golf courses, beer gardens, and outdoor Tiki bars. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Let's get people outside in the fresh air and sunlight...

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

From Nicole Saphier MD, "As unemployment approaches 20%, each 1% rise can result in 3.3% spike in drug OD/ 1% increase in suicides (National Bureau of Economic Research). If unemployment hits 32%, ~77,000 Americans may die as a result [emphasis added]. Will economic fallout mortality be greater than the virus itself?"...  In the post COVID-19 world handshakes and high-fives will be discontinued in sports but slaps on the butt will still be OK (not that there's anything wrong with that)... CNN's Brian Stelter Tweeted, ""I crawled in bed and cried for our pre-pandemic lives. Tears that had been waiting a month to escape" and all I could picture was this guy. CNN's motto really should be "News for airports and pajama boys"... Hindsight is only 20/20 if you take time to look back and understand what happened in the first place... Good advice... Recently read an excellent thought experiment - anytime you read anything about COVID-19 (or anything for that matter) mentally replace the words "assessment," "analysis," "projection," "prediction," and "forecast" with the word "guess." It helps change how you feel about the author's conclusions and allows you to think more clearly...

Linky Links

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

- It's Time to Build - by Marc Andreessen. 100% endorse.

- The busier you are, the more you need quiet time.

- Today's word for the day We've all had that hungry mouth feeling.

- 7 reasons Bill Belichick is so successful

- Bursting the bubble: why sports aren't coming back soon. Of course all models are guesses and this article is geared toward team sports. Things like golf, boxing, MMA and tennis could much easier make a comeback and perhaps a resurgence in popularity for some of those sports.

- Well JK Rowling did say the Harry Potter series would get more adult as it went along

- If you are looking for something to do perhaps consider watching a series of physics lessons from Professor Richard Feynman.

1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre


According to the Chinese Communist government there were no fatalities from this event (which is probably why the above photo is banned in China).

China is asshole!

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Linky Links

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

- SpaceX's Crew Dragon gets May 27th launch date. Finally US based rockets sending US astronauts back to space. First time in almost a decade.

- Condoleezza Rice on China's culpability

- Medal of Honor recipient Bennie Adkins has died of cornavirus. He was 86.

- The 8 most impactful strategies for success

- I'm a bad person for laughing at this

- 8 reasons to end the lockdowns as soon as possible

Farnam Street Knowledge

- Understanding Your Circle of Competence: How Warren Buffett Avoids Problems

- How Darwin Thought: The Golden Rule of Thinking

- Pain Plus Reflection Equals Progress. "When we confront something painful, we are left with a choice between an ugly and painful truth or a beautiful delusion. Many of us opt for the latter and it slows our progress."

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Personally I have no issue with calling it the Wuhan Virus or the Chinese Virus but I think calling it the Kung Flu is a little bit hackey. Moo Goo Gui Panic while witty may be taking it a step too far (or perhaps not far enough)... A look at the COVID-19 statistics. The US is currently at a 20% positive test rate but only because mostly only people who've shown symptoms are tested. In South Korea it's only a 2% positive rate but that's because they have much more universal testing. Guessing in reality we are much closer to that 2% number than the 20% number... My personal favorite was the Xi Disease but neither that nor Winnie the Flu caught on... Nine Inch Nail's Terrible Lie is a song that seems to fit the times pretty good... "Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward." - Vernon Law... Tricks for the Neurotic would be a good name for a band... Wonder if the women in Iran would have a lower positive test rate because the forced wearing of burkas gives them added protection. The elderly regime leadership seems to be particularly vulnerable to the disease. This could be one of the positives that come from the crisis...

Friday, April 17, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Heh Heh

- Interesting - the G League signs a top player right out of high school. Jalen Green was Rival's number 2 ranked prospect but instead of playing college ball he's getting paid $500,000. This could be a trend and another blow to NCAA men's basketball.

-  Tim Ferriss - "Productivity" tricks for the neurotic, manic-depressive, and crazy (like me)

- Neuroscientists uncover  how magic mushrooms "rebalance" the brain.

- Heh Heh

- Wuhan Lab changes sign to "0 Days Since Accidentally Releasing a Virus"

Top 5 - Brian Dennehy Roles

Actor Brian Dennehy has passed aged 81. Dennehy was a favorite of mine who just exuded the type of charm that gave you the impression he'd be great to know in real life. From all the testaments coming from actors he worked with - that impression was correct. Here are my five favorite roles Dennehy's played.

1. F/X - co-starred with Bryan Brown
2. Tommy Boy - everyone likes Tommy Boy
3. First Blood
4. Presumed Innocent - as DA Raymond Horgan
5. Foul Play - as Chevy Chase's partner Fergie

Probably going to re-watch F/X tonight in his honor. I hope the movie holds up - I haven't seen it in a while. Tried to watch Gorky Park last night but was disappointed that it wasn't as good a movie as remembered to be.

What Did They Ignore and When Did They Ignore It?

Guessing that most working journalists today, if you asked them, would say that the movie All the President's Men is in their all-time Top 10's. Many would also probably credit that movie for why they got into journalism in the first place. Yet somehow the key journalistic lessons from the movie of "what did they know and when did they know it" and especially "follow the money" suddenly disappear when it comes to stories about Democrat politicians or China.

These "journalists" who grew up with visions of being the next Woodward or Bernstein suddenly become Helen Keller when those two subjects are broached. And then they wonder why most Americans view them with such distrust. And for many - disgust.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Kings and Queens are royals - but what's a Jack?

- Steven Pressfield - One word and done

- Yup

- Lockdown learning or lifelong learning? Excellent advice

- Happy Birthday coach Belichick

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Just a reminder that CNN was kowtowing to Saddam Hussein and curbing any critical reporting in exchange for "access" prior to Operation Desert Storm. That's why I'm not surprised by CNN's complete ass-kissing of the Chinese Communists... Interesting historical comparison. Don't recall the US shutting down the economy for the Korean War (only being slightly sarcastic). HT Bryan Alexander... Yesterday was Tax Day and I didn't realize it till late afternoon. That's messed up... Heh Heh... If a college athletics director really wanted to cut costs (which will be a necessity after the Wuhan virus runs its course) the simple way would be to convince the administration to make all the bathrooms on campus unisex. The AD could then cut all women's sports and announce that the school would also only have "unisex" sports teams. All teams would be open to males, females, trans, whoever. That would be the "woke" power move (please note I'm not advocating this but I would love to see how certain people would react)... I'd give $100 to any reporter who asks California Governor Gavin Newsom when he thinks the porn industry can open back up. An extra $100 if the reporter casually mentions that people are getting sick of watching repeats...

Charlie Munger's Top 10 Rules for Success



Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Top 5 - Rumors About Wuhan Virus that May Have Truth to Them


1. The virus originated in the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The circumstantial evidence for this is really starting to mount up.

2. The use of public transportation greatly increased the spread of the virus. Especially subways and buses.

3. The use of elevators helped spread the virus

4. Diabetics are more prone to getting sick because the pin-pricks done on finger tips for blood-sugar test strips provide easy entry to the body by the touching of contaminated surfaces (I may have just made that one up)

5. CNN is a jointly owned venture between the Communist Chinese and the DNC. I think this is no longer a rumor.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Think we're going to see a resurgence of the 60's mantra "Question Authority" but not from young hippies this time but instead from the working men and women of America... Can you imagine how big the pay-per-view would be for a Jay Glazer vs Joe Rogan cage match would be? Think of the money they could raise for charity if they both would just risk brain injury for a couple of rounds. Dana White make it happen!...  It's funny because it's true!... The Towel of Babel would be a good name for a day spa... How John Prine once brought Bill Murray out of a depression... Americans should replace handshakes with finger guns. A way to both social distance but also piss off social justice warriors. PEW PEW PEW... I'm a bad person for laughing at this...

Faith Over Fear

Via

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Linky Links

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

- The US is dependent on China for 95% of ibuprofen, 70% of acetaminophen, and more than 40% of penicillin and Senator Marco Rubio wants that to change. I agree.

- John Prine: The last days and beautiful life of an American original. Nice appreciation of a great artist and even better person.

- Heh Heh

- Re-open the economy with COVID-19

- Victor Davis Hanson on the thin facade of authority. "So far in this crisis, our elite have let us down in a manner the muscularly wise have never done." I agree.

- The roughnecks of Sherwood Forest

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I 100% believe that if the Federal Government requires the economy to be shut down that the people responsible for making that decision should NOT be receiving a paycheck during the duration of that shutdown. I know most of the people in Congress are now millionaires but it bugs me to no end that these folks who are supposed to be representing us are still getting paid while 16 million Americans (and counting) have lost their jobs... Brit Hume's full name is Alexander Britton Hume. How come he just doesn't go by Al Hume?... The Hogwarts motto is Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus - "never tickle a sleeping dragon"... "Facing the press is more difficult than bathing a leper." - Mother Teresa. I'm sure President Trump could relate to that quote... I'm a glutton for punishment but I would love to watch a Jeopardy! showdown between CNN's Jim Acosta and Wolf Blitzer. I'd put the combined over/under for correct answers for the entire show at 5. I'd also bet that neither would qualify for Final Jeopardy because they would both be well into negative numbers...

The Purpose of Life

Via

Monday, April 13, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Pat Summerall and John Madden do play by play on Easter Bunny fight.

- From the book Live From New York an "interesting" Milton Berle story

- Interesting interview of physicist Brian Greene. Touches on belief in God, Greene being an elitist, and if free will is real.

- The trail leading back to the Wuhan Labs. Lots of circumstantial evidence - too much to ignore.

- Tesla robotaxi's in 2020? Tesla robotaxi's would crush Uber and Lyft right now because there would be minimal chance of virus spread from driver to passenger.

- Smithfield shutting US pork plant indefinitely, warns of meat shortages during pandemic. If closing the economy means no bacon - there will be riots!

Truth


Saturday, April 11, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Have to give Dana White credit for trying so hard to stage UFC 249. Long live Fight Island!

- LA without cars or pollution

- The cornavirus Wuhan virus crisis is turning Americans of both parties against China. As well it should!

- The Risk of Discovery. (Via Tim Ferriss' Five Bullet Friday)

- How's your tsundoku? Mine keeps growing no matter how I try to put a dent in it.

- One month later, sports remain shut down. An inventory of where the different pro leagues (and I include college football as a pro league) stand. I think both college and NFL schedules should be published and if the home team cannot host an event because of lockdowns then that team simply takes an "L" and forfeits. 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I think the NFL should go ahead and publish next season's schedule. Any team that cannot host a game because its State or City is still under lockdown would simply forfeit that game... I haven't watched Tiger King (and have no plans to) but my mind made a connection of that show to the awful 1982 movie Cat People. So now every time I read something or hear someone talking about Tiger King the David Bowie song Cat People (Putting Out the Fire) starts playing in my head (not a bad song)... "Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you." - Nathaniel Hawthorne... Thursday April 16th is National High Five Day in the US. Pretty sure that this won't be celebrated too much this year... Never really been a wine drinker but I think I might start some in-house wine testing starting next week... Joe Biden's campaign slogan should be, "Joe Biden: Don't Worry He's Only a Little Bit Off"... 

Friday, April 10, 2020

China

There's going to be a reckoning with China when this is all over. I'm not a big fan of boycotts but I would be in favor of requiring any goods where 50% of the item is manufactured in China having to be labeled as Made in China. Let the people decide.

Even if the item is much cheaper than a comparable item - I think many would opt for the item that wasn't Made in China.

And some name brand company's who have opted for having their goods manufactured in China may face a backlash. And I'm pretty sure their marketing people know this. That's why I'd give US based manufacturers a 1-year window to move their manufacturing (back to the USA would be optimal) or perhaps a 2-year window for electronics as long as a credible plan is in place.

Wuhan is in Hubei Province and it has been reported that when this virus was first detected in Wuhan the Chinese government banned travel from Hubei Province to the rest of China. But they did not ban travel from Hubei Province to the rest of the world! That's pretty damning proof of how the Communist Chinese government gave two shits about the health and welfare of the other nations of the world.

I think one of the first steps once we are out of quarantine would be a Free Trade Agreement with Taiwan. That would be a shot across China's bow.



Farnam Street Knowledge

Simple but great life advice:

Stick to the basics.

Do your job.
Avoid stupidity.
Speak for yourself.
Be attentive to details.
Put results ahead of being right.
Go to bed smarter than when you woke up.

Shane Parrish.

Thursday, April 09, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Tim Ferriss - A dialogue with yourself: Past, present and future.

- Analysis true!

- A couple of weeks old but probably even more realistic today - is Elon Musk's SpaceX on the verge of bankruptcy?

- Heh Heh - True!

- The three equations for a happy life. Excellent life advice in this article.

- Worst acid trip ever!

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The idea that anyone who dies in a hospital who tested positive for COVID-19 has that listed as the cause of death no matter the actual cause made me think of the Aids song from Team America. Now we just have to get someone to sing a Wuhan Flu song... "If you don't know what your top three priorities are, you don't have priorities." - Donald Rumsfeld... It does seem fair... It will be interesting to watch Italy in the months to come. Not just to see how they cope with getting their economy back up and running but also how the people of Italy react internationally. China gave them the Wuhan Virus and the European Union basically gave them no help. Will politicians in Italy start arguing for a decoupling of their own both in trade with China and from continuing to be a member of the European Union which did nothing for them in their hour of need?... Interesting story of how Roger Ebert "discovered" John Prine...

Zinc and Chloroquine



Interesting look at how Zinc and chloroquine help fight the Wuhan Virus.

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

Linky Links

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

- When Feynman met Dirac. Interesting look at the interactions between two of the greatest minds of the 20th century.

- The truth about Isaac Newton's productive plague.

- People in Maine start a petition to open golf courses. I agree with the petition 100% and hope other States in New England also open the courses. One quibble - I think the new rule should be to leave the flags in at all times (so nobody has to touch them). If you take out the flags as proposed it would make it tough to gauge the distance to the green and pin.

- Steven Pressfield - The Goddess Visits at Night

- Someone may have some explaining to do

John Prine



John Prine has passed away. Way too young. The Other Side of Town is one of my favorite's of his.

Heh Heh


Tuesday, April 07, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Is it too far fetched to think that additional credible "me too" allegations will surface about Joe Biden? Would it be even more far fetched to believe those allegations will be spurred on by folks inside the DNC from either Hillary supporters or folks who would like Governor Cuomo to replace Joe Biden at the top of the ticket?... Just saying but Immortan Joe was way ahead of the curve on wearing a mask in public... A little religious humor, "And the Lord said to John, 'Come forth and you shall receive an eternal reward.' But John came fifth, so all he got was a toaster" (Via)...  A "Smart Toilet" that identifies "users" by their butthole? Maybe the "Internet of Things" has gotten just a little out of hand... Has the term "moonbat" fallen out of favor or has the Twitter mute function greatly reduced the need for the label? You just don't seem to hear anyone called a "moonbat" anymore... Heaven help me but I really miss going out to bars to drink...

A Request from a Grocery Store Manager


This is a must read post for everyone. Do not go to the grocery store again till after you've read this!

And for the love of God - before you step foot into a store please remember to practice common sense and common courtesy. In fact - make that a practice before you step inside any building and you'll be a better person for it!

The Great Outdoors

When I did my list the other day of changes we'll see after the Wuhan virus there was one more thing I was going to add - people discovering and enjoying the great outdoors.

Yesterday I went for a hike at Gate 40 on the Quabbin Reservoir in Petersham Mass. I've hiked this set of tails many times and normally there may be a couple of cars in the parking area. In the past the most I had seen at one time was three. Yesterday there was 20 cars. And earlier in the day I spoke to the Police Chief and he said over the weekend there were sixty!

I hike a lot. During the spring, summer and fall I probably average about 1 hour of hiking a day. What's happening at Gate 40 is not an isolated event. People are flocking to the trails. Sure part of it is because they are among the only things still "open." But I think there's also something else at work.

Most people have heard the story of a kid who gets caught smoking a cigarette so the dad (it's always the dad) makes the kid smoke a whole pack to make the kid sick of and from smoking. I think we're seeing that a little with e-media. Just a month and a half ago kids would have loved it if they basically could stay inside scroll Facebook, play video games, binge Netflix and watch YouTube videos till their heart's content. But after a couple of weeks of as much screen time as they want it's become like having to smoke that whole pack of cigarettes.

Everywhere I've hiked these past couple of weeks the crowds have been 5 to 10 times the normal. Much of the crowd being families and the kids seem genuinely happy to be out there. I haven't witnessed any crying or pouting. The kids seem happy to be out in the fresh air getting some exercise.

Will this last? Not sure. I think most people during this time of self-quarantine have taken stock in what is really important and health and family have rightly risen to the top of the list. But will it last? Again - not sure. But maybe buying stock in Merrell shoes ( a division of Wolverine World Wide) or LL Bean is worth a look-see. These new hikers are going to need good boots.

Monday, April 06, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

New York City schools ban Zoom. Interesting is right. And I don't think the security concerns and the fact that most of Zoom's engineering is out of China is any coincidence... Genetic Vandalism would be a good name for a band... The other day I saw Sour Cream and Onion Smartfood in the grocery store. Is it just me or does that sound not right. Not an offense against God bad but not a smart food choice either... Consider yourself cultured if you get this joke... "A permanent solution to a temporary problem becomes a permanent problem." - Naval Ravikant... Fan of science videos (especially physics) and recently have become of the Arvin Ash science videos on YouTube...

Linky Links

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

- This is a visualization of why I worry about "space junk"

- The logistics of college football having a normal season may be too daunting. I'm hoping the NFL can start on time.

- Probably going to hell for laughing at this

- 12 world class museums you can visit online

- Heh Heh (make sure you have the sound on)

Wisdom

Via

Sunday, April 05, 2020

Top 5 - Last Five Movies I've watched

Here's an odd Top 5 list - the last 5 movies I've watched (because with self-quarantining I'm watching more TV). Please note - these are in order of latest watched not a ranking.

1. Thor: Ragnarok - what a fun movie. I've re-watched most of the Marvel movies since this started and Ragnarok remains one of my favorites.

2. Molly's Game - watched this two nights ago. Thoroughly enjoyed it so much that I'm adding the book it's based off onto my book Wish List. Was surprised that the movie was directed by and the screenplay was written by Aaron Sorkin but I shouldn't have been surprised because the dialog was that good (going to have to re-watch to see if there's a walk and talk scene). BTW pretty sure that the douchebag actor Play X was Tobey Maguire in real life.

3. Magic & Bird - an HBO documentary that I've sen before but not for a couple of years. Big Larry Bird fan and watching this brings back so many great memories of those Celtics and Lakers teams of the 1980's. Really enjoyable documentary.

4. Team America: World Police - this sadly does not hold up for me. Maybe the third or fourth time seeing this and the jokes have lost their shock or maybe I've matured? 

5. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum - had seen the first two movies in the theater but as big a fan I am of the franchise  the more it becomes a cartoon the less interest the franchise holds for me. Still was an enjoyable movie.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I have to wonder how many people receiving that $1,200 from the Government will use some or all of that money to buy a gun? And how many of those people will be first time gun owners?... Had never heard of Bookshop before. Going to try and shift my book-buying over there. Independent bookstores are some of my favorite places... Are we still replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 with Harriet Tubman? What's taking so long?... Interesting picture and message. Are you carrying a jackass in your life?... Opening Day in baseball used to be a really big thing for me. Pretty much a holiday that I'd take off (whether my bosses knew or not) to watch the game. This year Opening Day was cancelled and it passed pretty much without much notice. Going forward I don't think I'll ever feel the same towards Opening Day. Not quite just another day - but not too far off... From the Daily Stoic - Things Seneca tried to do daily...

Spiritus Domini - Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos



Saturday, April 04, 2020

Top 5 - Changes We'll See After the Wuhan Virus

Here are the Top 5 things I think will change as a result of the Wuhan Virus.

1. There will be a new Cold War but this time with China as the enemy. The trade war with China will force both a decoupling between the two nations but also a choosing of sides with other nations.

2. Social distancing and wearing masks (especially during flu season) will become the norm. No more handshakes or hi-fives. They will be replaced with the "nod of acknowledgement."

3. Globalism and any cause that relies on political correctness shaming will lose vast support. People have had a glimpse of what's behind the curtain and they didn't like what they saw. Little to no patience going forward for people who believe they have their own "truths" that need to be listened to. People who think they can "shame" others because their beliefs differ are going to become the new pariahs as it is made clear that these folks really have nothing positive to add to society.

4. The role of sports in society will be greatly lessened. We've learned that no March Madness, no Opening Day, or NBA, or NHL isn't the end of the world. Interest in watching games will be less and interest in attending games will nosedive as people begin to avoid crowds. Same will be true of anything that relies on crowds like concerts, movies, festivals, etc.

5. People will start moving out of the cities in droves. Part of the new "avoiding crowds" for health purposes. Subways, buses and other forms of public transportation will be viewed as breeding grounds for the plague. Life is short and not worth spending in crowded environments will be the siren song of people who refuse to be "fools for the city" as Foghat once put it.

Farnam Street Knowledge

- What You Truly Value

- E.B. White's Beautiful Letter to Someone Who Lost Faith in Humanity

- Active Listening: The Master Key to Effective Communication

Life Advice


"A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the true value of life." - Charles Darwin

So very true!

Friday, April 03, 2020

Bill Withers - Use Me



Just heard that the great Bill Withers has passed aged 81. Many people will hear his name and think Ain't No Sunshine or Lean on Me but the funk of Use Me is my Bill Withers' go to song.

He will be missed.

Linky Links

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

- Steven Pressfield - Churchill's K.B.O. (or something like that).

- Life tips from happiness expert Dan Buettner. "In a nutshell, the world's longest-living people move naturally, eat wisely, connect with community, and have a positive outlook." Easier said than done.

- You learn something new every day

- The woman who lives 200,000 years in the past.

- This letter from President Trump to Senator Chuck Schumer is savage. Second page here.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

One hopes that Trey Parker and Matt Stone are working on Team America II - Coronavirus the Revenge... A little COVID-29 and college football humor from "The Ole Ball Coach." Some of the barbs were pretty good, "Notre Dame's not on Zoom because it would mean joining a conference"... Some good advice "When I go out now, I imagine that everyone is smoking, and I pick my path to get the least exposure to that smoke"... I follow a lot of sportswriters on Twitter and I have to admit at first I found that many of them deciding to do play-by-play tweets of games from years ago being rebroadcast was annoying as hell and clogging up my Twitter feed. Then I realized these tweets were really a call for help because they are so alone - more pathos than nostalgia... Heh Heh...

Lose Yourself - Jordan Peterson Version



Thursday, April 02, 2020

Seagulls! (Stop It Now)



Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I have a solar reflex which means sometimes when I go outside just seeing the sun makes me sneeze. Used to be I'd sneeze (into my handkerchief or arm) and people would say "Gesundheit" or "God bless you" but now they look at me like I'm wearing a Hitler mustache instead... The George Carlin Germ Theory: Because now more than ever... Sometime the cliche "It's not the size of the dog in the fight that matters it's the size of the fight in the dog" does not apply. This would be one of those times... Remember those Chatty Cathy dolls that had a string you'd pull and they would speak. Or Woody from Toy Story? For a long time I've thought it would be cool to have a Rodney Dangerfield or Mitch Hedberg doll where you'd pull the string and get a one-liner joke from the doll. Would make a great gift or party conversations starter... When the worst is behind us I would fully support President Trump signing a free trade agreement with Taiwan. It would be mostly symbolic as there are very few trade barriers between our two countries but the message would be loud and clear. National Review recently had an article about this but as strong as the column started off it eventually veered off to complaints of Trump pulling out of the TPP and other Never Trump nitpicking...

Heh Heh