Friday, July 31, 2020

Linky Links

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

- "Peaceful" Protests. Borepatch with a nice historical parallel to the world we're living in.

- Interesting bit of history. I had never heard of Varosha.

- The Chinese government is evil. Even The Atlantic has come around to that conclusion.




Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Growing up in the 1970's we believed many silly things like quicksand being a huge danger (and plot device for almost every TV show) and that evil geniuses would build their lairs under active volcanoes but probably the most insidious belief it turns out was that pubic hair was natural and acceptable... So HBO Max thinks an Amy Schumer docuseries is a reason to subscribe to the streaming service? Really? Good luck with that... "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." - George Bernard Shaw... Meat Whistle would be a great name for a band... The new season of Porlandia is going to be on FIRE!!!... 2020 has had so many twists, turns, deaths and unexpected outrageous situations that nobody will care about what George RR Martin's imagination can cook up for the next Game of Thrones book (as if the lousy final season of the HBO series didn't already kill any interest in the new book)... "As I know more about mankind, I expect less of them." - Samuel Johnson... 

Harry Potter


According to the books, Harry Potter would have turned 40 years old today. Happy birthday Harry!

Big day Harry Potter and the First Colon Exam could be his next big adventure.

Thursday, July 30, 2020

China and the NBA

ESPN reports on abuse at NBA Academies in China

I read this as ESPN in full CYA mode. They don't have billion dollar TV or shoe contracts with China to protect. They see which way the wind's blowing in the US regarding China. ESPN also understands that "we didn't know" won't be accepted as an excuse. They even went as far as a mention of "World War II [Nazi] Germany" in the article. They fully understand just how evil the Chinese Communist Government is.

The NBA knew and kept cashing the checks anyway. Remember that the next time any player or coach gets on their high horse about conditions in the US. They knew!

To quote ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski "Fuck You!"

Linky Links

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


- How to bring New York City's refugees back home. Good points but many will never return and the healing won't really begin until NYC has a Mayor who's not a complete doofus.

- Great conversation between Shane Parrish and Naval Ravikant. Well worth the two hours of your time if you've never heard it (or if you have - to bask in the wisdom a second, third, or more times).

- Speaking of Naval - his his list of recommended reading (some great books on this list)




Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Many people misunderstand the famous Harry Truman "Buck Stops Here" sign he used to keep on his Presidential desk. That was a poker term Truman liked. The "Buck" was the "puck" or disk or marker used to denote whose turn to deal it was. It was not slang for a dollar bill or anything else. The dealer had to decide what game he was about to deal. It was a metaphor for "decider" so he was the "Decider in Chief" as George W might have phrased it...  A little Lord of the Rings humor... It might be the hangover talking but I think the hardest thing to do in baseball is to bunt for the cycle... I wonder if in Adam Smith's wildest fever dreams he ever thought the "Invisible Hand" could be something as nefarious and pernicious as the Chinese Communist Party has been these past two decades... I think going forward it would be helpful that whenever you hear or read the word "expert" your mind adds the word "witness" to the sentence. It would be helpful because the phrase "expert witness" has become somewhat of a pejorative meaning the expert witness expounds whatever side or set of facts that suit the side that is paying them. It's no wonder that certain scientists and healthcare professionals can switch beliefs simply based upon what political party happens to occupy the White House... Not for nothing but nine days ago I wrote, "Wish I could get odds that Joe Biden's initial announced VP pick (whoever that ends up being) will have to be walked back and replaced (for whatever reason)." Now this happens and is immediately walked back. Let's see if a different person is later announced... 

Jimmy Hoffa

Jimmy Hoffa disappeared on this day 44-years ago.

I have a valid alibi for that entire day.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Patriots Opt-Outs

Six New England Patriots have opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. Those six are:
  • Patrick Chung
  • Dont'a Hightower
  • Marcus Cannon
  • Brandon Bolden
  • Danny Vitale
  • Najee Toran
I agree with Tom E. Curran that for some Patriots, opting out of the NFL season is the logical choice. I support these players 100%. The way I understand it the deadline for players to opt out of the 2020 season is August 3rd. So by the end of Monday we should know how widespread this is across the NFL. My guess is that teams who recently won Super Bowl rings will have the most players sitting out. 

The players opting out also mean the Patriots now have about $27 million in cap space for the upcoming season. I'm pretty optimistic on the team and their chances given that chaos all the NFL will be dealing with this season.

Farnam Street Knowledge


- Appearances vs. Experiences: What Really Makes Us Happy One lesson Scuba diving teaches is the importance of "fit and comfort" over how something looks.



Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts nd observations.

I wonder if the NBA will let you put "All Lives Matter" on the back of one of their official NBA jerseys?... "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." - Douglas Adams... Two movie soundtracks that I don't think get enough love are the soundtrack to The Last of the Mohicans and the soundtrack to Flash Gordon... "The person who says he knows what he thinks but cannot express it usually does not know what he thinks." - Mortimer Adler... People who are upset about who did and did not get an Emmy nominations should probably reflect on how they spend their free time... Really believe that NFL revenues will tank this year and not just from no fans being in the stands but also for the way Roger Goodell has handled the Black Lives Matter issues that has really alienated many, many fans from the game. My guess is by Super Bowl LVI the NFL will have a new Commissioner in place... "Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced." - Soren Kierkegaard. Wish I knew this quote when it was time to pick a high school yearbook quote... 

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Hong Kong in Ireland? That would be cool but you'd think Australia would be the natural landing spot given the proximity.


- 14 colleges in New York likely to "perish" in coronavirus pandemic. List includes names like Fordham and Hofstra and St John's. 



- Over 100 police agencies reportedly pull out of agreements to guard DNC Convention in Milwaukee. Why would any police officers want to be at a place where they are not wanted or valued?

Top 5 - Changes to Colleges and Universities

If I were put in charge - here's my Top 5 Changes I'd make to higher ed.

1. Get rid of any classes that need to have either "Science" or "Studies" added to the course title. It's not "Political Science" - it's "Politics." You don't say "History Science." And any course that adds "Studies" is not really giving you an education for the most part it's giving you an indoctrination instead.

2. If a person goes to a college or university for a minimum of three-years and four years after leaving college that person is not making at least triple the poverty line ($12,760 - so $38,280 total) then that person gets to declare Education Bankruptcy and wipe out any student debt. The college or university would have to then cover that debt out of their endowment fund. Only colleges or universities with a big enough endowment would be eligible for federal student aid. The goal is for the university to want to give the students something tangibly valuable for society not just a degree that's not worth the paper its printed on in the real world.

3. Any revenue associated with college sports would be taxable. No reason why those big TV contracts aren't taxable. If that opens up the athletes getting paid as employees - fantastic!

4. I would make four-years served in the US military with an honorable discharge equal to a liberal arts degree for all Federal employment opportunities with the edge given to those who served for any job where the candidates are otherwise equal. The person coming out of the military probably has more practical skills and a better ability to follow instruction - why not reward them?

5. With the idea of Education Bankruptcy from above in mind - there's a whole group of people where many if not most have at least triple the poverty level in guaranteed income. These are retirees. Why not craft programs for these folks. Many retirees have free time and interests they would have loved to pursue - perhaps archaeology, geology, history of the American Revolution, etc. Why not come up and market Associate Degrees that would be of interest to retirees?    

Caddyshack


Caddyshack turns 40-years old this week.




Classic - Don Knotts as Frank Sinatra



Monday, July 27, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I really hope that Matt Taibbi is working on a 2020 Presidential campaign book to rival Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing of the Campaign Trail 1972... In the Seven Years War, for every man who died in battle for England, an incredible 87 died of disease. If only General Fauci had ordered them to wear masks!... "Without the first amendment, there is no freedom. Without the second, there is no first." - Naval Ravikant... The way 2020 is tending I'm really afraid that contagious anal fissures will be a thing come September... Who knew? Adam Smith planned to have two follow-up books after The Wealth of Nations. The first was to be on literature and philosophy while the second was to be on law and government... Cam Newton as the Patriots starting QB is starting to grow on me (though I am concerned by him being a vegan)... 

Linky Links

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



- I'd agree that Dire Straits' Making Movies is a perfect album with a single weak song. I'd also add that Tunnel of Love is one of my go-to songs on a bar jukebox.




Truth

Via James Woods

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Top 5 - Stanley Kubrick Movies

Stanley Kubrick would have been 92-years old today. In his memory here are what I consider his five best movies.

1. Dr. Strangelove
2. Paths of Glory
3. A Clockwork Orange
4. Full Metal Jacket
5. The Shining

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Beer Street

Beer Street - population me! Beach, shooting pool and drinking beer are today's agenda!

Friday, July 24, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Ted Cruz is advocating for a Bill that would hold elected officials liable for allowing rioters who destroy lives and businesses. I support this 100% and have long supported something similar for elected officials in "Sanctuary Cities" for any damage or crimes committed by illegal immigrants "caught and released" within their jurisdiction...  Heh Heh... Have a sneaking suspicion that the Red Sox plan to tank on purpose this season so that they can justify bringing back Alex Cora as manager next season... Do you really want to get your political views from heiress actor celebrities? On the other hand - The Mighty Tree Octopi would make a great band name... Wonder if one of the lasting unreported effects of all these protests and riots in big cities will be infestations of head lice? Not the most of hygienic folks... Mike Tyson is set to fight an exhibition on September 12th against Roy Jones Jr. As the article points out Tyson isn't fighting because he's broke (he's not). And as I'd like to point out here - I'm probably going to be watching this fight...
 

Linky Links

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







Edward Hopper 2020 Reimagined by Jacob Katzenstein


Thursday, July 23, 2020

Mookie Betts

So Mookie Betts is signing a 12-year $365 million extension with the Dodgers. How did I react to the news? By placing a large bet on the Red Sox to finish under the season predicted win total of 30.5 wins (out of 60 games). 

Good for Mookie he deserved to get paid. He's one athlete that has earned a BIG contract. Shame on the Red Sox for not getting a deal done with Betts and for trading a fan favorite. 

The Red Sox are going to suck this year. The Yankees are loaded and will run away with the AL East and the Red Sox just don't have the pitching to complete. With Chris Sale out for the year - Boston doesn't have the pitching even to fight for a Wildcard spot. Most fans can't name the starting rotation (or closer for that matter). I can name two current starters and then in my mind it's all TBD.

Also would not be surprised if Jackie Bradley Jr. is traded before the August 31st trade deadline. He's a free agent at the end of the season and Scott Boras is his agent. 

Very little interest in this team this year (outside of them not winning 31 games).

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Tesla selects Texas as home to the next Gigafactory. After the Supreme Court ruling regarding Oklahoma I think this was basically a done deal. Won't be surprised if some manufacturing capacity is moved from California to Texas as well... "Invest the best hours of your day on the biggest opportunity, not the biggest problem." - Shane Parrish. Such great advice but at the same time so hard to do... US banks can now hold crypto-currencies. Why do I have the sneaking suspicion this actually makes things like Bitcoin less secure?... On the plus side NFL coaches wearing masks on the sidelines won't have to bother to hold up a call sheet to hide their lips from any lip readers anymore... Andrew Cuomo: "We now have people coming to New York, fleeing other states because it's the 'safe' state." I must admit that having recently re-watched the HBO Watchmen series I can't help but think of the Looking Glass scene where he reviews a NYC tourist commercial. Yeah nobody wants to go there right now... "More the knowledge lesser the ego, lesser the knowledge more the ego." - Albert Einstein... 

Venus Flytrap from WKRP Explains the Atom



Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Linky Links

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

- It will be interesting to watch Jeremy Roenick's lawsuit against NBC

- 18 household tips that will help with your every day life

- Glad to see Wilford Brimley has a sense of humor. Good for him!

- Photographer updates postcards of 1960's resorts into their abandoned ruins. Memento mori.

- NBA responds to US Senator's letter about league's relationship with China. So if the NBA ended the relationship with the academy located in Xinjiang "one of the world's worst humanitarian zones" last year - that has to show that the NBA knew what China was doing in the area. They knew.

- The B-17 that landed without a tail. Great story - great plane.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

With the Olympics postponed until next year but with horse racing still going on I really think an "Olympic Derby" would be a great success. Each country sends their 2 best racehorses and a series of races are held over a couple weeks until the "Gold Medal" final race. It could be bigger than the Kentucky Derby and Preakness combined... "One of the mysteries of the ages is why the political left has, for centuries, lavished so much attention on the well-being of criminals and paid so little attention to their victims." - Thomas Sowell.. Heh Heh - Cultural Offering's plan to survive the Wuhan Virus... "Sir, your levelers wish to level down as far as themselves; but they cannot bear leveling up to themselves." - Samuel Johnson. The more things change - the more they stay the same...  If I were a baseball player this would be my walk-up music... Greatly amused by anyone worked up by former Republican Governor John Kasich agreeing to be a key speaker at the Democratic National Convention. Kasich is a man bereft of charisma who has a lower name recognition in America than the back-up third baseman for the Dodgers...

THE Olympics

Very interesting look at the original Olympics. Some great nuggets in there. Sophocles was a great handball fan. Plato was a great wrestling fan. The Olympics even spawned the first sports bars (though technically I guess they were wine bars).

The ancient games did not run a marathon - that was Victorian addition. And the Olympic torch? That was something Hitler thought would be cool.

We should have been gearing up for the Summer Olympics right about now but I guess this will have to do instead,

Banned From Facebook (NSFW but Funny)



Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Lost a lot of respect for Mark Cuban. Can he even say that the country's current crisis originated in Wuhan China? Seriously Mark could  you even bring yourself to admit that much?

Commerce Department adds eleven Chinese entities implicated in human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Maybe Mark Cuban will offer these companies slots on Shark Tank to prove how much he tows the company NBA line?

- This is SO wrong (but it made me laugh)

- The family that owns the New York Times were slaveholders. That's it then - if you read the New York Times that means you're a racist (as I understand the new rules of the game).

- German leaders appeal to Congress to prevent US troop cuts in Germany. Cry me a river.

- Interesting look at how politics could be the Chinese Navy's Achilles heel.

- President Xi claims Uighurs were being loaded onto trains for a "Surprise trip to Disneyland". Or maybe an NBA game.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

If there's one thing Black Lives matter has taught us is that the political correctness police these past few decades have been pulling our legs in trying to force people to say "African-American" instead of "Black"... The next time a Canadian politician or even the Prime Minister criticizes the US some Senator should introduce a bill offering the Western Canadian Provinces a path to Statehood to see how that goes over in Canada... Who knew? In the mid 18th century London versions of the play King Lear had a happy ending where Cordelia doesn't die but instead falls in love with and marries Edgar and lives happily ever after. Not until 1838 was the tragic ending restored... Would love to see Hugh Jackman star in a live action Samurai Jack movie... Wish I could get odds that Joe Biden's initial announced VP pick (whoever that ends up being) will have to be walked back and replaced (for whatever reason). That would be peak 2020. I'd need at least 100-1 odds to put real money on the proposition... NJ Governor Murphy announces no fans at Giants or Jets games this season. And the NYC economy takes another big hit (fans going to those games weren't staying in NJ)... "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself." - Rumi...

Books Make Me Horny


Saturday, July 18, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I would love to get on a Presidential ballot in some State as "Mr. Biggles" just to see how many votes I'd get. Who wouldn't want to vote for Mr. Biggles?... Heh Heh... "You have to lower your ideals of freedom if you want to suck on the warm teat of China." - South Park... When it comes to alcohol my biggest sin is that although I'm often capable of abstaining - I'm rarely capable of moderation... It's worthwhile to revisit E.B. White's short "The Meaning of Democracy."  You can't help but wonder if The New Yorker or The New York Times would print such sentiments these days... "Those who don't fight real evil fight statues." - Dennis Prager...

Boycott China

You'll be doing yourself a favor by not buying shit products from an asshole government.

And the way the game is played these days people should also be asking the question, "Why are you buying a product marked Made in China - do you want grandma to die?"

Americans are already boycotting China over the coronavirus Wuhan Virus. Keep it up!

Friday, July 17, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Not one to advocate for breaking the law but in this case I have to applaud the initiative.

- You have to admit this is a good point

- Interesting - Hey Cancel Culture: What About Buffalo Soldiers?

- Heineken reports 52.5% decrease in half-year earnings. Because people stuck at home for months picked beer they actually liked?

- And Joe Biden's message is?

- This is absolutely true!

Naval Knowledge

This podcast of Naval Ravikant speaking with Matt Ridley is highly recommended.

Just under a half-hour in length and well worth your time.

I also placed an order for Matt Ridley's new book How Innovation Works: And Why It Flourishes in Freedom after listening to it.

Looking forward to Part II.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The more I think about it the more I think the NFL will put a Saturday night schedule of games out to bid make up the revenue shortfall from a lack of in-person ticket sales this season. There will be many bidders... "Civil rights used to be about treating everyone the same. But today some people are so used to special treatment that equal treatment is considered to be discrimination." - Thomas Sowell... Just asking but when's the last time you heard Bernie Bros or any Democrats for that matter arguing we should be more like Sweden... It is so wrong that I laughed at this... Many scientists are going to look silly when it is discovered that the only natural cure for COVID-19 are the sweat and tears of Tim Tebow (blessed be his name)... Speaking of scientists who look silly - if people knew back in March that most models from "experts" would be off by a factor of 20 then all nations would have followed the Swedish model. Is anyone who has stats to back themselves up arguing otherwise?... Just saying but a while back the New York Times printed a story alleging Russian bounties on US soldiers but the NYT has yet to offer a shred of actual evidence backing their claim. The New York Times simply has no shame...

Jolene - Bardcore Medieval Style

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Democratic National Convention

The 2020 Democratic National Convention is supposed to start on Monday August 17th and end on Thursday August 20th in Milwaukee. How long before it is announced that the convention will be "cancelled"?

COVID-19 will surely be blamed and the DNC will try to turn this into a virtual event but how many people will want to tune in to watch that?

The DNC probably wants to avoid having Joe Biden speak for any length of time at all costs but at the same time they need a national stage and a big audience to launch the Party's VP pick. That VP pick may be the DNC's only hope at avoiding a down-ticket bloodbath in November.

At the same time cancelling the event makes sense in that the DNC also knows an in-person event will devolve quickly into a BLM, Defund the Police, Green New Deal orgy broadcast on national TV with most likely a sideshow of protests and violence. Chicago 1968 anyone?

Get the popcorn out. This will be interesting to watch.

Linky Links

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

- VDH on Peak Jacobinism. I think the peak has yet to hit - the real peak will come in August at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.

- Heh Heh - Kanye West drops out of race after Elon Musk offers him position of President of Mars

- Mount Bromo really looks like a gateway to hell

- Interesting look at The Ballad of the Green Berets. Sgt Barry Sadler lived a very interesting life and as an aside The Ballad of the Green Berets would be one of the worst lap dance songs ever.

- Comparing the epidemic curve in Sweden and New York State

- Heh Heh

- FCC approves operation of "Starlink Router" for SpaceX. Interesting to note that the device is apparently "Made in Taiwan" which must make the Chinese really happy.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

What fresh hell is this? Stayed at a big brand name hotel in Vermont the other night and was told there was no morning coffee. Was told the communal coffee stations would not be reopened until October. Bed and breakfasts from now on it is... Mike Rowe is the best... "If you must study for an exam, you will never really know the subject matter." - Nicholas Nassim Taleb... I too would like to publicly announce that I am launching a bid to buy the New York Mets. All the cool kids seem to be doing this so I thought I'd jump in too (with probably an equal chance at success)... Providence RI Mayor launches reparations process. "How much, what form, how long are all legitimate questions, but questions for another day. It's important to go step-by-step through this," said virtue signalling Mayor Elorza who just guaranteed Worcester remains the second largest city in New England by launching massive white flight from his city... In a surprise move Sesame Street announces a new progressive Muppet named Senor Gonorrhea to be introduced to warn children about the dangers of venereal disease... "The conscience is that part of the psyche which is soluble in alcohol." - William Ober... 

The New York Times Has Never Been Trustworthy


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

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Real Estate

The real estate market in the US is going to topsy-turvy for the next couple of years. And there's a number of factors at play.

Yes - many people will be moving out of cities. Because of the Wuhan Virus many companies have adopted a work from home (which during the pandemic has been shortened to WFH because I guess "telecommutng" was too passe) policy. No longer do most people need to live near the city where they work. Shorter commutes will be replaced with "no commutes."

Living in cities during times of pandemic has also now been associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. Close quarters, elevators and subways have been identified as petri dishes of virus spreading. Those things don't exist for the most part in the suburbs or rural areas.

But strangely cities in Blue states will be harmed much more than cities in Red states. Riots and ridiculous pushes to "defund the police" will lead so many to flee their current city. How would you like to be trying to sell your home in Minneapolis, New York City, or Seattle right about now? Also the yo-yo of open/shutdown in Los Angeles and San Fran have people screaming "Enough!" and packing a U-Haul for freedom out of California.

Many fleeing their Red-state cities will be moving to Blue states. So there may actually be a bit of a balance in pricing overall in the US (prices go down in Blue states as there is a glut and nobody wanting to move there and prices going up Red states with people flooding in).

Also there will be a apartment rental glut in not just those Blue cities but also in college towns across the country. With many colleges and universities going to virtual classrooms in the fall there are many apartments near campus that will remain empty as students either stay at home or take a gap year. Many of these apartments were bought as investment properties and the lack of renters may cause these investments to go belly-up.

Then we have the election in November. That has the potential to not just wreck the stock market but also the housing market too.

It looks like it will be a topsy-turvy world in real estate for probably at least two years.

Naval Knowledge


Can't Argue with This


Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Linky Links

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

- All US companies should make this a strict policy. Wells Fargo orders employees to remove TikTok from work phones.

- This seems hypocritical from Coke and Nike

- A Special Forces soldier's case for leaving Afghanistan. I honestly don't know what we should do in Afghanistan.

- 25-years after returning to Yellowstone, wolves have helped stabilize the ecosystem

- The modern "No Shirt - No Service" sign

- This is real. Productive meeting are tough enough. Now imagine if you require they start on time and stick to an agenda that you could be reported as a racist. Source

Truth

Via

Monday, July 13, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Am I wrong in saying that the folks who are now predicting a big second wave are the same who were so wrong about massive deaths in the first wave models?... "Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted." - Ralph Waldo Emerson... Interesting fact from the World of Engineering: "If the sun was scaled down to the size of a white blood cell, the Milky Way would be the size of the continental United States"... Good for this Member of Parliament... In a surprise move Joe Biden announces Grima Wormtongue as his VP choice over the weekend...  "The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life, or better to endure it." - Samuel Johnson, Keep this in mind when reading authors. If they don't satisfy either one of these two ends - find a different book... Succulent Terrarium would be a good name for a band. Armed Propaganda would also be a good name for a band (or a new political party)...

Linky Links

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

- Feds deny Minnesota aid request. If you take a crap in your own bed you shouldn't expect someone else to have to buy you a new mattress.

- Coronavirus: Why everyone was wrong. Very interesting points.

- Heh Heh

- Another example of why the Patriots are the Patriots.

- Nice appreciation of Marvin Hagler who I agree is the best middleweight of all-time.

- Under the radar but Iran seems to be suffering from an "epidemic of accidents" but strangely all the accidents seem to be place the Mossad would mark as targets.

Muhammad Ali


Sunday, July 12, 2020

Rolling in the Black



Adele and AC/DC mashup. Very cool!

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Then: "Only Nixon could go to China." Now: "Only Trump could decouple from China." Internally Communist Chinese leaders know what time it is. The decoupling will happen and is happening. Western businesses have learned not to trust China - "China is asshole". Leaders in China are probably worried about feeding their nation and also that the middle class there will be looking for someone to blame once the shit really hits the fan... Questions arise over sports draining public resources. I'm OK with this because the resources aren't "public" in the sense that they are owned and paid for by the government. Quest Diagnostics and BioReference are private companies that charge fees for services. If BioReference wants to expedite NBA tests you can be sure that the NBA is paying a premium for it..With the demand this high would it shock anyone to see other labs step up to take some of the testing market share?.. Heh Heh... "No great thing is created suddenly." - Epictetus... Heh Heh... I've read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged a couple of times but have never picked up Return of the Primitive. I honestly don't consider Rand a very good writer but after reading this post I added Return of the Primitive to my book wish list...

Truth

Via

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Love is the Fart



Love is the fart
Of every heart;
It pains a man when 'tis kept close,
And others doth offend when 'tis let loose

- Sir John Suckling

Linky Links

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

- Fascinating thread about the possible inspiration for Lord of the Rings

- Matt Taibbi - If it's not "Cancel Culture," what kind of culture is it?

- Interesting data. My take-away is that overall deaths are back to where they were pre-Wuhan Virus,

- Nassim Nicholas Taleb - Lebanon: from Ponzi to Antifragility

- Robert DeNiro says the coronavirus decimated his finances. And just like that Rocky and Bullwinkle II and a Bad Grandpa sequel are green-lit.

- On this day in history

- Lying liars who lie.

E.B. White


Today would have been E.B. White's 121st birthday.

Friday, July 10, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

After DeSean Jackson's anti-Semitic tweets what's the odds that Roger Goodell caves and requests all NFL teams play the Israeli national anthem prior to week one games too? Hell why not also add Rule Britannia to pander to the London crowd while we're at it?... "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." - Albert Einstein. This quote is why my favorite gift to new parents is always The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. Reading to your child from the very start is so very important... I wonder how many people who were on the fence about playing fantasy football this year were pushed over the edge to "never again" by DeSean Jackson's Hitler comments... Wonder if the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will sue the leadership of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) to prevent them from using or trademarking the acronym. Just like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) did to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) back in the day. The wrestlers were forced to go with WWE instead...  Oh this is so great in a "its funny because its true!" sort of way. They should have added what the costs are for The Great Courses Plus or Master Class just for added emphasis...

Farnam Street Knowledge

- Eight Ways to Say NO with Grace and Style

- Neil Gaiman on the Importance of Reading, Libraries, and Imagination

- Elon Musk Recommends 12 Books That Changed His Life

The Bubbler

Do you know what a bubbler is? If you do - there's a good chance you're from New England. And over a certain age because bubblers are going the way of floppy disks (especially in our post Wuhan virus world).

For those not in the know - a bubbler (pronounced "bub-lah") is what you'd probably call a drinking fountain. 

Bubbler is one of those words or phrases that are particularly New England. Others include "packie" (short for package store - what you would call a liquor store), "basement" (growing up - kids in school all asked if they could go to the "basement" instead of asking if they could go to the bathroom or restroom) and of course "a large regular" (which is a large coffee with cream and sugar).

Thursday, July 09, 2020

Linky Links

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

- Amazon US sellers will have to display their name and business address starting September 1st. Good!

- Lessons from history

- Did not see this twist coming - is Ghislaine Maxwell secretly one of the most powerful Redditors of all-time?

- Normally I don't link to stories on pay sites but the story of Terry Pluto's book Loose Balls really brought a smile to my face. Loose Balls is one of my all-time favorite sports books.

- Stanford is cutting 11 of its 36 varsity sports. This is a school with a $27 BILLION endowment fund.

- Covid-19 deaths in Sweden have dropped to nearly ZERO. As a reminder - Sweden never went into lockdown.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Out of curiosity when will the American Psychological Association recognize chronic virtue signalling as a mental health disorder?... Interesting - without fanfare Trump cuts Chinese nationals from US colleges... Summertime drinking tip - hard apple cider (any brand) with a shot of cranberry vodka over ice makes a delicious hot summer day treat... And when those students return home to China they may find the Chinese economy a "shaky situation." Been saying this for a while now but US firms would be smart to decouple now before it's too late... With the Ivy Leagues announcing no fall sports this year - is it too late for Ivy League football players to enter the transfer portal? Betting college football over/unders this year is going to be tough or impossible because of all the cancelled games... Florida prisoner ripped off Lowe's to build a house while still incarcerated. Kind of an impressive caper given the circumstances...

Public Service Announcement


I read a study once where the experts explained that putting ice cubes up the rectums of unconscious people has no physiological benefit and can even lead to seizures and stroke. Of course I laughed at such a silly study. And the more I thought about it – the funnier I thought it was.

After thinking about it for a while I came to the unmistakable conclusion that men were completely responsible for such a thing. In order for the study to be done in the first place people must have been putting ice cube up the butts of unconscious people. Who would do such a thing? Men!  A woman would never see an unconscious person and think – “Instead of calling an ambulance for help I think I will jam a large ice cube up the ass to see if that wakes the person up.” Say that to a guy and the chances are his response would be, “What the heck – give it a shot.”

And who would design and OK the spending for such a dumb study? Men! Do you think they told the test subjects what the study was all about? “OK we are going to knock you unconscious and then place ice cubes of different sizes up your rectum.” How would you like to be the test subject that ended up having a stroke because you needed the $50 the experiment paid? 

Wednesday, July 08, 2020

Joe Jackson - Right and Wrong



Such a great song and still so politically relevant in today's environment.

Linky Links

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

- US tech giants halt Hong Kong police help. The first step is acknowledging there's a problem. I'd prefer if there was a stronger word than "halt" though because that could mean the "help" could resume.

- Earth's magnetic field can shift 10 times faster than scientists previously believed. No mention in the article of why this could be so significant. Maybe UPI doesn't want to be cancelled by the "science is settled" zealots?

- Signaling vs certification at Harvard. Some interesting points in the comments. Makes me think of the Naval quote, "The best peers are on the Internet. The tools for learning are abundant. It's the desire to learn that's scarce."

- Dear Israel - keep up the good work!

- Tom Curran makes some good points about Pat Mahomes new contract with the Chiefs

- Heh Heh. A joke you either get or don't. If you don't get it be careful Googling the explanation.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

What are the chances that Tesla introduces an e-bike to their product line? It would instantly become the best selling e-bike on the planet... "We suffer more in imagination than in reality." - Seneca... Why is it that when things like Occupy Wall Street or the "Autonomous Zone" in Seattle happen the first victim is always personal hygiene?... "If you want to get better at this thing called life, you have to pay attention. When you pay attention, you can remember what really matters." - Russ Roberts...Given all the fireworks (legal and otherwise) that have been set off over the last week I have to wonder how much of those were actually paid for with COVID-19 stimulus money?... "We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?" - Jean Cocteau...

Mark Twain


"Anger is an acid that does more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured." - Mark Twain

So true!

Tuesday, July 07, 2020

The Woke Explosion


Liny Links

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

- Good news - US manufacturing activity hits 14-month high. Let the recovery roar!

- Yikes!

- Report says Moon's metal-rich craters challenge popular theories about its origin. Don't really agree with this. If alien scientists had tested parts of Butte, Montana back in the day they might theorize the Earth's crust was largely made of copper.

- Today's history lesson comes from Borepatch. It makes sense especially when you realize no major Democrats have decried the destruction of statues of Lincoln, Grant, or Fredrick Douglas. The opposite would actually be a more accurate statement.

- Why anyone watches CNN is beyond me.

- Interesting look at the potential of nuclear "super balls." Love the phrase "micro uranium gobstoppers."

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Much of Scandinavia's original wealth came from Viking raids where the capture and selling of slaves was the big money maker. So according to the rules as I now understand them that means that only racists drive Volvos - right?... Yikes - before Henry VII broke with the Vatican in the 16th century the penalty for eating meat on Friday during Lent in England was hanging... I wonder how many Red Sox fans can trace the signing of Pablo Sandoval as the point their interest in the team and trust in ownership started to dissolve. Maybe it was just coincidental?... They all knew... "Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him." - Aldous Huxley... A decade ago a study from the University of Queensland found that of 187 mammals that had been listed as extinct - 67 were later rediscovered (36% of the whole). Turns out the science was not settled... When did the Democrats change their slogan to "My Party Right or Wrong?"...

I'm Not Afraid of Death - Naval Ravikant

Monday, July 06, 2020

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I do a lot of hiking and for the past few months the most common piece of trash I've seen in the woods are discarded disposable face masks. No way I, or anyone else it seems, will pick those things up and throw out on my way out... "It is by logic that we prove, but by intuition that we discover." - Henri Poincare... You learn something new every day - Vegan Oreo Ice Cream is actually a thing... "Side note: Chomsky sucks." - Elon Musk as an additional comment after posting this list on Twitter. Elon Musk has definitely taken the red pill... The Cleveland Indians should change their team name to the Cleveland River Fire. How awesome would that logo be?... "Teach thy tongue to say I do not know, and thou shalt progress." - Mainonides... Reminder that Tom Brady's high school went 5-5 his senior year even though they had him at QB. You can never tell... If Disney had just waited 8 more days they could have debuted Hamilton on the anniversary of him being fatally shot by Aaron Burr...

Linky Links

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

- American business has to step up to challenge China's behavior. Good for Patrick Collison, the CEO of Stripe, "As a US business (and tech) community I think we should be significantly clearer about our horror at, and opposition to, the atrocities being committed by the Chinese government against its own people."

- I'm a bad person for laughing at this.

- John Boorman's awesome Lee Marvin story.

- How the magnetosphere shields Earth. Now picture that the axis (wobble) is changing or picture that the Earth's magnetic north pole is changing. Do you think those things could possibly effect the Earth's weather? Now consider both of those things are actually currently happening.

- According to science, if you are middle-aged or older, you should have a few drinks a week to keep your brain sharp. 

- Interesting - has Atlantis been found off the coast of Cuba?

Nassim Nicholas Taleb

"In your prayers substitute 'protect us from evil' with 'protect us from those who improve things for a salary.'" - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

So true.

It also reminds one of Ronald Reagan's famous quote, "The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Sunday, July 05, 2020

Farnam Street Knowledge

- Why You Feel at Home in a Crisis

- The Work Required to Have an Opinion

- Strategy vs. Tactics: Why the Difference Matters. "In order to do anything meaningful, you have to know where you are going."

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Looking back at JAWS perhaps the most unbelievable thing in the movie today would be the opening - people drinking and having a good time at the beach while having a bonfire. I mean that clearly requires an immediate suspension of disbelief in today's America... Cool "Impostor Syndrome" anecdote from Neil Gaiman... Prediction - would not be surprised if Mitt Romney is asked to host SNL prior to the November elections just to take some gratuitous shots at President Trump... "Eloquence is logic on fire." - Lyman Beecher... Heh Heh - a little mask humor... "We've noticed you're using an ad blocker" - translation: the script we run in the background has been identified and foiled. Can you please turn your ad blocker off because we promise we are up to mostly good. Trust us!... The FCC formally names Huawei as a national security risk yet Twitter allows them to promote themselves as someone "You might like" - WTF Twitter? What happened did the Taliban's check not clear?... "I, and I alone, am responsible for everything I think and feel." - Naval Ravikant. A very powerful quote to ponder. Literally could be life-changing...

Peter Thiel


"Even a Marxist thinks that you have to first get the capitalists to do things before you can redistribute stuff." 

- Peter Thiel