Sime Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- The art of the deal.

- Brought to you by Doctor Satan's Murder Ride

- Shut up and take my money

- The more you know.

Linky Links

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

- The EPA may be about to re-examine the Endangerment Finding and re-do climate change policies in the process.

- How to file your own FOIA request.

- Makes me wonder if David Goggins has one of the biggest sections of the brain ever.

- Don't care your political affiliation - this was well played.

Linky Links

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

- The end is nigh for Ukraine. Well put.

- Lessons on Populism from France. Good primer on modern French politics. French politics have pretty much been a mess since before the Revolution.

- VDH: Is the jig up for elite higher education.

- Chuck Schumer caves on Continuing Resolution. His bluster was all a bluff. Someone must have gotten to him and said a government shutdown would be election suicide.

To Give France Credit Where Credit is Due

Via

France Has it Right on Nuclear Power

Via

Energy Madness

EDF rules out keeping nuclear plant open despite energy crisis.  

Can't help but wonder if this is somehow a Brexit related payback.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations. 

The French recall their Ambassador to the US. Had to be over mean Tweets right? Those pesky mean Tweets. Thank God the adults are back in charge... Still get nostalgic and sad when I see the current Patriots weekly injury report and it doesn't list Tom Brady - which used to be one of the longest running traditions in Boston sports... Things I miss from my childhood - my mom made the world's best peanut butter Rice Krispies squares. I've never found their equal... Wonder if a single person has ever been convinced to sign up for YouTube TV so that they too could watch NBA games whenever they like same as the old Asian woman in the commercial. I chuckle every time I see that spot - one of the least effective commercials ever... I've decided that my new hobby is going to local music open mic nights and singing O Canada acapella. No real reason for this. Just my own private amusement watching the quizzical looks from the audience... Have to wonder how practical it would be to implement Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI - aka Star Wars) today? Back when Reagan proposed it critics scoffed that the technology was decades away. Well it's been decades... Speaking of technology decades away - The Jetsons was based in 2060 which is now just 40-years away. How close are we to flying cars, robot maids, and floating apartment buildings? All but the anti-gravity real estate seem within our grasp (though I don't see a full size vehicle collapsing into a brief case any time soon)... 

More Linky Links

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

- Jeff Bezos - Create more than you consume. Simple but profound life advice.

- VDH - How to start a war. Weakness does invite conflict.

- Bari Weiss - Why France refuses to prosecute an anti-Semitic murdered. Shame on France. 

- As an aside - Chaotic and Reckless would be a good name for a blog. 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Decades ago I recall someone asking Kirk Douglas how he remained in such healthy condition. Douglas said one of his secrets was to never use the elevator but always take the stairs instead. Such simple and profound advice that I've tried to follow ever since...  Kirk Douglas' service during World War II should also be noted... Today is an important day in US history - in 1778 France officially recognized the independence of the 13 colonies. Britain immediately responded by declaring war on France... Did you know Orson Welles did not win Best Actor for Citizen Kane and neither did Humphrey Bogart for Casablanca?... "I have as much authority as the Pope. I just don't have as many people who believe it." - George Carlin... China to cut tariffs on $75 billion of US goods. Medical supplies are among the items with new reduced tariffs. I'd also look for China to announce huge purchases of US food stuffs shortly. The Chinese leadership are struggling to deal with the coronavirus and the food stuffs are necessary because they can't afford for their people to be dying in the street from sickness and starving at the same time...  Congrats to Brigadier General Charles McGee...

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Wonder if protesters once they finish with Civil War generals then turn their attention to any statues featuring horses with the thought that they represent forced servitude and animal cruelty. Don't laugh this could easily happen... France has turned into one of the worldwide threats to free speech... "When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love." - Marcus Aurelius... Such a cool graphic - gives you a perspective on just how short human history actually is... I freely admit I have no idea what's happening with Brexit... 100% true!... Congrats to Holy Cross and Celtics legend Bob Cousy on being presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom...

Bill Gates and Nuclear Power

"Nuclear energy is one of these critical technologies. It is ideal for dealing with climate change, because it is the only carbon-free, scalable energy source that's available 24 hours a day." - Bill Gates

Nuclear has worked in France where nuclear now supplies more of the nation's energy requirements than oil.

It would be nice if Bill Gates put his foot down when it came to nuclear power and said that any organization that does not support nuclear power is no longer eligible for any grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

What's Going on in Syria?

President Trump announced that he plans to pull US military forces out of Syria. The critics immediately speculated that this will create a power vacuum that will be filled by Russia, Iran or Turkey - all outcomes with negative connotations for US interests. The withdrawal from Syria also seemed to be the final straw for General Mattis who announced his resignation.

But into the vacuum caused by the US's impending withdrawal is stepping Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. France is also vowing to send troops to protect the Kurds in Syria.

To my untrained eye this seems to be good developments. The US troops are taken out of harms way in a country where the US doesn't seem to have any national interests at stake.

Saudi Arabian and UAE troops counterbalance Russia in that the Russian economy is based on petrodollars and creating wider issues with two of the largest oil producing nations is in no way in Russian national interest, especially over Syria. Meanwhile French troop counterbalance Turkey because both are NATO members and if Turkish and French troops engage each other it in no ways obligates the US into action.

That's the way my untrained eye sees it.

Some pundits seem to see it similarly. 

Others argue that the wider struggle is against Iran and pulling out of Syria is harmful to our success in that struggle. I cannot say that this is incorrect. Iran is our enemy.

A complicated situation to say the least.

The Armada by Garrett Mattingly

I think most people who are familiar with the story of the Spanish Armada have the impression that the story went something like this;

In 1588 the Catholic Spanish King sent a fleet of ships bigger than anything ever previously assembled to Protestant England in order to crush the English military and remove Queen Elizabeth from the throne. However, the smaller, faster English fleet coupled with a major storm combined to defeat the Armada and usher in a new era of Rule Britannia.

The true story is much different. The two fleets were actually pretty fairly matched and in the end it was a lack of provisions (especially gun powder and cannon balls) that caused the Spanish defeat. The Spanish ran out of ammunition and the English at the end were able to hammer away at the Armada from close range with devastating effects.

The battle and the results didn't much change the balance of power between England and Spain but surprisingly it had great political ramifications in France.

Garrett Mattingly tells this true story in his fascinating 1959 book The Armada. I highly recommend this book to fans of military or world history. Thank you to whoever first recommended this book to me.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I missed South Park last night but I understand they were brutal to Tom Brady. I'll have to watch it!... One of my favorite quotes is Ronald Reagan asking, "How do you insult a pig by calling it a pig?" It is so straightforward but at the same time can be used in so many situations... What an awesome correction... Good advice - never turn your back on a unicorn. Those bastards will stab you in the back as soon as they see you aren't looking... Every time I see a sign for the new JK Rowling book the Casual Vacancy - I think the sign says Carnal Vacancy. I'm guessing that porn version of the book has already been written by some fan fiction writer... The best praying mantis photo you may ever see... Supposedly France will be banning the words "mother" and "father" from all official documents. Remember the Coneheads were from France and they only used the term "parental units". I think France should go with that term...