Linky Links

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

- A look back at Dr. Pauly and the poker boom.

- The real victims of the Long March.

- From the archives: 50 ways to unplug and feel human again.

- Groomers lose in Florida court.

Linky Links

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

- Glenn Reynolds on the successful launch of Starship V.3. From his lips to God's ears.

- Florida signs the Teddy Bridgewater Act. It's sad though that common sense has to be legislated.

- Iran demands tech companies pay fees for undersea internet cables in Strait of Hormuz.

- Jonathan Turley: House Democrats unanimously vote down women's history museum over liit to biological women. File under some people never learn.

Linky Links

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

- The Age of the Amplifier. Long but interesting read.

- Jonathan Turley: International Olympic Committee imposes biological test on athletes. Common sense prevails.

- The energy situation explained for tech people. This is why those involved in AI or datacenters are some of the most pro nuclear power folks in the world.

- Florida AG challenges NFL's Rooney Rule.

College Coaching Carousel II

With the firing of Billy Napier at Florida the carousel not only kept going it spun faster.

The University of Florida fired head football coach Billy Napier despite owing a $21 million buyout. Reportedly half of that money is due within 30 days and there's no off-set provision to claw back any of the buyout if he takes another coaching job. Napier went 22-23 in his time as coach. This was not an unexpected move and ends on the longest running "will they or won't they" situations in college football.

The firing also reminded people it's that time of year again and there's other coaches on the hot seat and still others who will get paid so they don't get wandering eyes.

Linky Links

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

- All 50 states ranked from best to worst. Florida gets top makes in both the economy and education. Someone should do a ranking that includes Greenland and Alberta, Canada. 

- From the archives: The case for reading fiction. Agree but it's even more important to read for pleasure.

- Excess savings and putting away what you don't spend. I was not a fan of the book Die with Zero and seems those recommending the book are all super wealthy. For myself I prefer the Edward Gibbon's quote, "I am indeed rich, since my income is superior to my expenses, and my expense is equal to my wishes." (HT Steve Layman)

- Why Democrats are trying to force a government shutdown.

Linky Links

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

- I'd support moving NASA HQ to Florida instead of DC. 100%! Also move the FBI HQ, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Energy too,

- LA Mayor Karen Bass cut firefighting by $17.6 million just months before the wildfires.

- Even LA's DEI hire Fire Chief knew budget cuts to the fire department could lead to catastrophe and tried to warn the mayor.

- Hard to argue that Adam Carolla is wrong here. The fire is bad but what comes next may be payback.

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- An accurate look at Florida

- Some leftover OJ humor

- I feel seen

- I like subtle

Linky Links

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

- Jonathan Turley on Disney vs Florida. He neglects to mention that Disney also has the power to bribe pay these cheerleaders "development deals."

- Tim Ferriss with 9 work related mistakes to avoid.

- Is it funny because it could be true?

- Tucker Carlson Episode 88 - is Mike Johnson being controlled by the Left?

Linky Links

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

- Disney drops lawsuit against State of Florida.

- VDH on the truth about MSNBC. Why anyone still watched them is beyond me.

- Catherine Herridge said to be in talks to join X. This always seemed like the logical next move for her.

- Joe Lieberman aged 82 has passed away. RIP.

Funny Because Its True

Fauci Can Pound Sand

I Think It's a Great Idea

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

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

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

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

Linky Links

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

- Interesting ruling in Florida - a golf cart is not an auto. GEICO doesn't come off as heroic here though.

- Why those who preach renewable energy are unrealistic. We need to invest in more safe, renewable nuclear power.

- Every upcoming Marvel movie release date in 2021 and beyond. I'm a Marvel movie junkie.

- Israel: The world's most moral army

Sadness and Anger

Returned Monday after spending a long weekend in Florida as part of my now annual tradition of attending the Patriots game in Miami with my girlfriend (who happens to be a Dolphins fan). This year was much different than the others. There was an undercurrent of sadness and anger pervading the entire trip. 

I get it we are in a pandemic. But the feelings of sadness and anger were palpable. 

My girlfriend and I also took a trip to Florida in June and it was much different. Everyone getting off an inbound flight was wearing a mask then but nobody else in the airport was. This time around everyone was wearing a mask. To not have a mask on in the airport was verboten. Outside the airport it was a little better.

Our first night there we actually saw a live band for the first time in months. It was a Motown review at the Tin Roof in Del Ray and we were allowed to actually dance to the music! It was glorious. Little did we know that would be the only band we'd see the entire trip. Other places would have a single guy on guitar but no bands (the Elbow Room in Fort Lauderdale had two guys on guitars). There was something seriously off.

Of the people on the street - 80-90% weren't wearing a mask but everyone had one for when they entered an establishment. Even with the cops it was 50/50 whether they'd be wearing masks. But the choices of what places to go to was lessened because many places were closed (many I fear for good). And the crowds that would make this trip so festive just weren't there. Seating for the Patriots game was limited to 20% capacity and with no tickets to be had thousands just stayed home. And with no crowds there's no tourist cash and the cycle turns vicious. 

Normally the bars in Fort Lauderdale by the Sea have the air of a Patriots rally for this game with the street outside the Village Grill / Pump House bar shut down to make room for one live band after another. This year nothing. It was dead. Same was true in Fort Lauderdale and in Hollywood Beach. 

At the game there was no tailgating and you had to wear your mask at all times. It was worse than the airport. There was an assigned usher whose sole job was to be the mask police. I spent most of the game on the lookout for the guy just so I could enjoy an occasional airgasm. I'll never attend another game where mask wearing is mandatory. It's just not worth it.

The airline attendant on the Delta flight home was even worse than the usher at Hard Rock Stadium. She seemed actually looking for a confrontation with anyone who would not meekly comply with mask conformity. But you had to grit your teeth (under your mask) and quietly seethe.

Which brings me back to sadness and anger. There's only so much we can collectively take. I fear we are quickly reaching the point of many becoming the Michael Douglas character in the movie Falling Down. There's a reckoning coming fueled by a river of underlying sadness and anger in this country. You can feel it coming.

I fear we have made the cure far worse than the disease.

Linky Links

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

- Alarmed by spiking coronavirus Wuhan virus numbers? Here's why officials insist they aren't worried. "'The most important data continues to be looking at our death data and our hospitaliztion data and our rate of positivity, and... all of the indicators really point to the fact that we are fairly stable and that we continue to slow the spread of COVID-19'"

- Florida suspends drinking in bars. Open up the bars, close the bars, Jesus stop jerking people around!

- Hemingway's advice to aspiring writers

- Democrats really cannot let this man debate President Trump

- The Bar Fight Molecule is my spirit animal.

- Scott Adams on becoming a better writer

- I really want this painting

Linky Links

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

- Heh Heh

- Tom Brady is a really good guy.

- Florida PSA's seem different than most States.

- Fires globally have decreased 25% since 2003 thanks mostly to economic development.

- Great Niels Bohr story.

- Think people are finally recognizing just how important Dante Scarnecchia is to the Patriots sustained success over the years.

- Heh Heh

John D. MacDonald

Been meaning to comment about this for a while but a month ago now The Trap of Pure Gold had a post / interview regarding writer John D. MacDonald (found via The Happy Curmudgeon). Like so many others I'm a fan of MacDonald's novels and wanted to be Travis McGee when I grew up.

I chuckled at a few places in the interview. The mention of 5 1/4 computer disks really dates the interview. Also the question "Is McGee's lifestyle attainable?" immediately made me think of Mr. Money Mustache (if Travis McGee was more of a pacifist and traveled by bicycle instead of boat).

MacDonald's response to where the US was heading culturally was pretty prescient. It also reminded me how author Carl Hiaasen credited MacDonald as being among the first to publicly lament the ecological damage being done to Florida's coastline and wetlands. In the interview MacDonald foresaw Florida becoming, "An uncontrolled influx of residents who will use up the air, the water and the earth itself, turning the state into condominiums, asphalt, shopping malls and rubbish." Pretty spot on really.

John D. MacDonald was an American treasure. And if truth be told - I still want to be Travis McGee.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

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

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

When did playoff beards go out of fashion in the NHL? How is the average fan to tell which team wants it more now?... Advice on how to get the best Rx prices... Prediction sometime in the near future the punchline from that famous joke is going to be changed from  "the Aristocrats!" to "Florida!"...  Why hasn't Taylor Swift commented yet on the James Comey book? What is she hiding?... 12 bad decisions you make every day without realizing... "Beware the IoT (Internet of Things)" is bound to become the modern equivalent to the ancient saying "Beware Greeks bearing gifts"... Starting to get the feeling that if Hillary Clinton was a Game of Thrones character she'd be Littlefinger who was eventually undone by just too much scheming and formerly naive characters finally waking up to his true character...

Linky Links

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

- Florida just keeps getting weirder and weirder

- Got to give Mitt Romney credit - he's in great shape for an older guy.

- I love this story about the Twins gift of peanut butter to David Ortiz.

- Another reason to be a coffee drinker

- Oh snap!

- It really is the NFL against the Patriots