The EU Trade Deal

- How Trump got the EU trade deal.

- Howard Lutnick on the trade deal.

- Chamath on the trade deal.

As George W. might say "This is a big f*cking deal."

VP JD Vance's Munich Speech

If you've been paying attention you have heard many of his points before but the fact the he said them to the very faces of the European leaders took courage and was historic. It was all common sense but many of these leaders have been sadly lacking it.

- Here is Vance's speech in full.

- VDH on the snarky Europeans reaction to Vance's speech. He's not wrong.

- Jonathan Turley: Vance delivers historic defense of free speech in Europe,

- Europe's response has become a joke.

Linky Links

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

- Heh Heh - Potential EU Leaving Names

- Sources: NBA players will not be required to get COVID-19 vaccinations. "NBA referees and most NBA staff are mandated to be vaccinated." Another example of one set of rules for the "elites" and a separate set of rules for the "servants."

- Modern Horror Story

- Cool - Winnie the Poo's house in now on Airbnb. What parent hasn't played Poosticks with their kids? (HT Daddypundit)

- Interesting article from a decade ago - Everything You Think You Know About the Collapse of the Soviet Union is Wrong. (HT Newmark's Door)

Linky Links

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

- A potential tunnel linking Northern Ireland and Scotland.

- The Daily Routines of Geniuses

- How I learned to stop worrying and love the debt.

- Still one of my favorite music mash-ups - Call Me A Hole

- The EU's petty isolationism is wrecking Europe

- The Germans Play Monopoly

More Linky Links

More stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Update on Britt Reid, whose contract with the Kansas City Chiefs was allowed to lapse, and on Ariel Young the 5-year old severely injured in the crash caused by Reid. 

- 10 short life lessons from Steven Pressfield. As an aside I would support legislation to rename "Social Media" as "Jerkoff Distractions."

- Arnold Schwartzenegger voices Darth Vader

- Evidence that not just free trade but also low regulation is the key to growth

Flotsam and Jetsam

 Miscellaneous thought and observations.

Just wondering but do you think the FBI has ever gotten a sample of Hillary Clinton's DNA to see if it matched any unsolved murders? Just saying might be worth it... WiFi connected coffee make hacked - demands ransom. I would never use an IoT enabled coffee maker or any kitchen appliance for that matter. Then again I'm not so lazy that I can't make my own coffee... Think most short term disability insurances won't cover you if you get hurt from active participation in a riot. Not sure if that's also true of Obamacare... Awesome in the literal sense... I think one of the keys to a healthy and happy life is to avoid both processed food and processed information (i.e. Social Media). Eat real food and read books... The European Union makes its choice - the US over China. This is important but I have to think if the EU chose otherwise a large number of nations would have lined up to leave the EU... 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

In August Ireland had 70 deaths related to alcohol, and 32 deaths from suicide with 0 deaths from COVID-19. I would argue that many of those suicides and alcohol related deaths probably while not officially COVID-19 related actually were exacerbated by the lockdown... Feel that this short essay "I Never Cared" will resonate with many people... Love the acronym WEIRD for countries like the US and Canada (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic). WEIRD nations (and people) should stick together... The headline reads "Europe Just Declared Independence from China." Not sure if I'd go that far but it is clear that China has badly over-played their hand... Excellent point - John Cleese: Can you tell me a woke joke? Guessing if such a joke exists the punchline would have to do with either Trump or older white men... 

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...

Linky Links

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

- Terminally-ill scientist turning himself into world's first cyborg

- China hit by EU tariffs as high as 66%. Tariffs seemed limited in scope but it could be the first step in a widening trade war. So are tariffs only wrong when Trump uses them?

- Heh Heh - laughed way too much at this.

- Kenyan becomes first person to break marathon's 2-hour barrier

- Rembrandt painted the best portrait of freedom ever. A little art lesson for a Saturday morning.

-  Interesting profile of Jeff Bezos. That it was written by a person who was not a fan makes it all the more interesting. (Long read)

Some Thoughts on China

Before Richard Nixon opened China to the West in 1972 the US's trade with China was less than the US's trade with Honduras. It wasn't just exposure to the West that helped start the economic revolution in China. It was practicality.

And when it comes to practicality it's tough to beat farmers who always seem to have both common sense and courage to do what's right (especially when it comes to their families). It doesn't matter if it's in China or in Plymouth Plantation.

Interesting stats (if correct) - "Top 100 companies by market cap in 2007: Europe 40, US 35 and China 10. Today: US 55, Europe 20, China 10." Seems to be an indictment of the European Union. But if China doesn't have a big percentage of the top market cap companies - how has their growth been accomplished? From small and mid cap companies of course - just like the backbone of the US economy. And speaking of...

The US economy grew a "surprising" 3.2% in Q1. I like to think the growth is due in part to the Trump Administration actively getting rid of unneeded regulations that hamper small and mid-size business.

Now just think on how the US economy will do when the China trade tariff disputes finally get settled.

Linky Links

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

- Has the Euro been harmful to European economies?

- Interesting - the 50 best podcast episodes of 2018. Looks like I have a lot of listening in front of me.

- Heh Heh

- 20 tips for a positive New Year (this is a list I'll plan to revisit from time to time during the year)

- American Jews and Israeli Jews are headed for a messy breakup

- Good advice

- More good advice.

Linky Links

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

- Detailed look at all of Danny Ainge's NBA Draft picks

- Sad but this pretty much sums up the immigration debate

- Interesting - Stonehenge builders may have used Pythagoras' theorem 2,000 years before the Greek philosopher was even born. Bonus in the article the possible origin of the phrase "length of time."

- WTF? Seriously WTF?

- Germany's largest auto makers back abolition of EU-US car import tariffs. Interesting to see if this is a wedge issue dividing Germany and France in the EU.

- I've said it before but how ironic is it that Hillary Clinton's Presidential hopes may have been dashed by a sexual predator who was not her husband.

- I laughed too hard at this (hat tip Borepatch)

Linky Links

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

- Good recap of the defensive scheme the Celtics used to dismantle the Cavs yesterday.  Look for Cleveland to try to make adjustments to their offense to counter. Also look for Brad Stevens to be ready for it.

- Frank Sinatra died 20-years ago today. That's meaningful for some but many don't even know who Sinatra was at this point. In 20 more years he'll be all but forgotten. 100-years ago Al Jolson was the most famous person in America and called "the world's greatest entertainer". How many people do you think remember Jolson today? Carpe diem!

- Got to admit Trump is winning me over.

- EU statement opposing US Embassy move to Jerusalem blocked by "New Europe" coalition. The US Embassy is opening today.

- 10 US commercial drone services given green light

- RIP coach Chuck Knox

- Heh Heh

Linky Links

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

- Greeks apologize with huge horse.

- Jerry Weintraub was one of a kind. If you haven't seen the HBO documentary on his life - His Way - give it a watch.

- The town in Brazil that embraces the Confederate flag

- 15 things you might not know about Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle.

- A Revolutionary War hero you've probably never heard of.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The Red Sox to retire Pedro Martinez' number 45 on July 28th at Fenway Park... Cool - every American bar Anthony Bourdain has visited on TV... The Gnomon (One Who Knows or Examines) would be a good name for a blog... Heh heh... Who knew? Combined the 27 countries that make up the European Union would only cover half of the the area of the United States... In Search of the One Last Original Joke in the Universe would be a good name for a blog on stand-up comedy... Devo's cover of Satisfaction is one of the best cover songs in rock history...  Glove box? Glove compartment? Why? Do you know anyone who actually keeps gloves in there?...

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I normally like crunchy food but not when that food is Sausage Egg McMuffins... Another reason to like Kevin Durant - him playfully swatting the ball out of Kate Upton's hands... Combined the total area of the 27 countries that make up the European Union would still only cover half of the USA.... Cool - Pop Icons in a Different Light... With summer upon us here's a handy tip. In the wilderness dusk with crickets chirping in harmony - if you count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and then add 40 you'll get the air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit... Heh heh - its funny because it is soooo true...  One of my favorite little factoids - "Britney Spears" is an anagram for "Presbyterians"... Classic - Toy Story meets The Wire... Acifex is a product pronounced "ass-effects" whose possible side-effects could include gas, infection and constipation. That always cracks me up... This is also funny (to guys at least) because its true... I'm not really upset that HBO and Game of Thrones had a bust of President George Bush on a spike. I am upset that they switched actors playing Mountain Clegane between seasons 1 and 2... Interesting - How do they decaffeinate coffee?