Did MSNBC Cost Hillary Clinton the Election?

A breaking conspiracy theory* now says that Rachel Maddow and MSNBC cost Hillary Clinton the election not Jill Stein who is being blamed by some for losing the Democrats states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida. 

What if viewers of MSNBC believed Rachel Maddow and either stayed home (like the cast of Hamilton) because their vote wasn't needed or cast their votes for Jill Stein or Gary Johnson as sort of a mini-protest? In the video above Maddow is so cocky who could blame Bernie Sanders supporters watching at home for making other plans on election day? What has Rachel Maddow done to this country!

* Yeah I just made up this breaking conspiracy theory. But it doesn't make the schadenfreude of the video any less amusing.

Linky Links

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

- Kiko Alonso is my new favorite (non-Patriot) NFL player

- Thanks to the "ferocity and swiftness" of "cowboy" George Bush there was no follow-up attack after 9/11. The source of this claim would be the one to know.

- The Eagles are an enigma to me. I don't like their songs but know all the lyrics. I don't like the musicians but can't get enough stories like this.

- Heh heh

- 10 Irish pub rules for proper drinking etiquette. I agree 100% with these rules.

- Why Titan might be the only habitable world in our solar system

The Wife of Pi

Heh heh.

Arctic and Antarctic Ice Sheets

So the Arctic ice sheets are melting. But the Antarctic ice sheets are growing.

The skeptic in me wonders why the loss of ice mass in the North Pole is attributed to Global Warming (the science is settled) but the explanation for the ice gains in at the South Pole has many theories. Doesn't quite seem like proper science to me.

The historian in me wonders - hasn't this happened before? Isn't the Arctic ice melting before where stories of a semi-mythical Northwest Passage came from? And didn't the opposite effect of the Arctic ice growing so much that the Bering Straits were frozen solid give rise to the theory of that's how the first people originally came to North America come from?

The scientist in me wonders if this might be caused in part by the Earth changing from a magnetic North Pole to a magnetic South Pole. What about the change in Earth's tilt being an explanation? Maybe a combination of both and possibly other factors? Truth is scientists just don't know. More research is needed. But true science is not served if every result needs to be pre-determined to point to a man-made global catastrophe.

The science is not settled. Mankind has just scratched the surface of the science of how our climate works and the history of past changes.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Why does a QB say "hike" in football? What is he "hiking"? Seriously this little language nugget bugs me... I'm depressed that Florence Henderson has taken the secret of where Mrs. Brady buried the body of her first husband to her grave... What kind of monster was Fidel Castro? One interested in starting a thermonuclear war...  In my opinion - if you can't name the last two people to hold a Cabinet position you really aren't in a great position to complain about Trump's choices... WTF?!? Seriously - WTF?!?... Another language question - why is it that we say "slept like a lamb"? Why a lamb? Why not a sloth or a welfare recipient?... I only know Ron Glass from his work as an actor but he seemed like the nicest and coolest guy around. RIP Ron Glass... Bill Cosby says he plans to go back on tour. Most likely to countries without extradition treaties with the US...

Tom Brady's 200th Win

Tom Brady goes for his 200th win today as a starting QB in the NFL. That would tie him with Peyton Manning for the most wins in NFL history. Brady could be reaching 200 wins in just 261 games. It took Manning 292 games.

Not only is this another data point in the argument that Brady is the greatest QB to ever walk the Earth - it also leads to some interesting drama. Will NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell be in attendance at the game against the Jets? Will there be a televised in-person congratulations from the commissioner if Brady wins the game? How cold will the reception be for Goodell in the Patriots locker room?

And even more interesting - would Roger Goodell dare to show up in Foxboro next week when Brady most surely will break the tie with Manning in the home game against the St. Louis LA Rams?

How History Could Have Been Different

Fidel Castro had a law degree and when he was young he joined the firm of Azpiazo, Castro and Resende. He didn't do very well in the practice. Castro was a young lawyer without any clients.

I can't help but wonder how history could have been different if only Castro had been a better lawyer. Or if he happened to get a big case or client. Would Fidel have been so hot for communism if he was sitting on a pile of money?

But no - Castro was a shit attorney and a horrible monster. And any person praising him upon his death is an idiot. 

Linky Links

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

- People whose feelings are so weak that they can be hurt by a Lynyrd Skynyrd song shouldn't be running anything - never mind the country.

- For Harry Potter fans

- The real war on science.

- Bob Newhart is the best

- Ethos, Logos and Pathos: the Structure of a Great Speech

- The Pope's 10 tips for living a happier life

- Two-years old but still makes me laugh every time

Top 5 - Christmas Songs by Rock Stars

Today is traditionally not just the first shopping day for Christmas but also the day when most radio stations start playing Christmas tunes (although there are some out there that started playing them on November 1st- which really bugs me). Anyway - here are the top 5 Christmas songs by rocks stars in my estimation.

1. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
3. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
4. Father Christmas - The Kinks
5.. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Bare Naked Ladies

Just missing the list - Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby and David Bowie.

The Sexy Pilgrim

Happy Thanksgiving! You're welcome!

Great Thanksgiving Story

My favorite Thanksgiving story comes from Gabe Kaplan (of Welcome Back Kotter fame). 

When Gabe was a kid – his older sister was embarrassed about becoming a young woman. She used to have the young Kaplan go into the drug store to buy her Sanitary Napkins. Gabe was curious and asked his sister just what these things were. 

“Oh, they’re special occasion napkins,” she would reply. 

This explanation was enough for Kaplan and he didn’t give it another thought. 

Then one Thanksgiving morning – young Gabe was left alone at home while his parents and older sister drove to the airport to pick up his uncle. Gabe was left with the job of setting the table for Thanksgiving. Then it occurred to him, “what could be more of a special occasion than Thanksgiving?” 

Needless to say – his parents were confused, his sister was very embarrassed but his uncle couldn’t stop laughing when they came home and saw the creative way young Gabe had set the table for Thanksgiving. 

Political Corruption

**WARNING - HERE BE TALK OF POLITICS**

As I've gotten older I've become less and less political. I think that's because I've come to believe that both parties are equally rotten to the core. The current kerfuffle over Donald Trump's "conflict of interests" regarding his businesses and his duties as President is a perfect example of this.

Will foreign nations try to curry favor by staying at Trump hotels and playing golf at Trump resorts? Absolutely! Will they also try to curry favor by trying to do other business deals with him? Again - absolutely! I don't mind this so much because it is more out in the open and transparent then say a gift to the Clinton Foundation for example. Recently it was revealed that Norway has cut their donations to the Clinton Foundation by 90%. Is this because the Clinton Foundation has stopped doing worthwhile charitable things or because the power and influence of the Clinton's were crippled when Hillary lost the election?

The Trump University settlement? During the campaign it was made clear by the media that Trump University was a scam from top to bottom. But maybe if that same media hadn't tried to portray Mitt Romney as a bigoted, misogynist, shady business man the public might have believed them when a real bigoted, misogynist, shady business man actually appeared. Besides - I'm glad Trump did the right thing and settled the case so it wouldn't be hanging over his Presidency.

Going back to Trump's hotel business - am I the only one who remembers the stories written with glee about how Trump's campaign was hurting his business? Who is really surprised the opposite is happening now that he won? Besides for every foreign delegation - there's an NBA team or Hollywood star boycotting Trump properties.

It's the nature of the beast. Get over it!
  

The Butt Fumble

Four-years ago today.

Rodney Dangerfield

Today would have been Rodney Dangerfield's 95th birthday. Some of my favorite Dangerfield one-liners.

My wife was afraid of the dark... then she saw me naked and now she's afraid of the light.

Yeah, I know I'm ugly... I said to a bartender, 'Make me a zombie.' He said 'God beat me to it.'

I come from a stupid family. During the Civil War my great uncle fought for the west

I worked in a pet store and people would ask how big I would get.

I remember the time I was kidnapped and they sent back a piece of my finger to my father. He said he wanted more proof.

I was so depressed that I decided to jump from the tenth floor. They sent up a priest. He said " on your mark ......"

Just Saying

I'm just saying but if you Google "Jeffrey Dahmer cannibal" you get about 128,000 hits.

If you Google "Harry Reid pedophile" you get about the same number of hits (if you include "Harry Reid pederast" it's over 141,500 hits).

With Your Left Hand Free - alt-J

Just a catchy tune for a blah Monday.

Linky Links

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

- CERN physicist Brian Cox's talk on why we need science

- This is true (especially on days there is football on TV)

- Jaromir Jagr is amazing. I really wish the Bruins kept him.

- Given the success of the movie Doctor Strange - you would think there would be a resurgence in the Three Dog Night song Shambala.

- The (Russian) spy who added me on LinkedIn

- Why Arizona Ice Tea is cheaper than water

The Gettysburg Addess

153-years ago yesterday.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Trump should collectively nominate the cast of Hamilton to be Secretary of Education just to see leftists heads explode. "But they are not qualified" the media will point out. Then why are you listening to them Trump could ask... I love Mitt Romney. People who see cheap in that picture and not humble just don't get it... Quote of the day: "I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened."- Mark Twain...  A day late but still worth remembering... I don't want a drone. I want the mechanical owl from the first Clash of the Titans movie... This is true (and sad)... Reading Charlie Pierce's post election Tweets - I can't help but picture him going naked Howard Hughes peeing into glass jars insane because the election didn't go his way... Am I the only one who reads this report and immediately thinks of Breaking Bad?... I would love to hear Adele cover Ted Nugent's Stranglehold... I'm still disappointed that Conor McGregor wasn't signed to play Mad Sweeney in American Gods... This is also true (and sad)...

Heh Heh

A nice young woman on a flight from Switzerland said to the priest beside her, "Father, may I ask a favor?"

"Of course. What may I do for you?"

"Well, I bought an expensive electronic hair remover that is well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it. Is there anyway you could carry it through Customs for me? ..Under your robes perhaps?"

"I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you: I will not lie."

"With your honest face, Father, no one will question you."

When they got to Customs, she let the priest go ahead of her. The official asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?"

"From the top of my head down to my waist, I have nothing to declare."

The official thought this answer strange, so asked, "And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?"

"I have a marvellous little instrument designed to be used on a woman, which is, to date, unused."

Roaring with laughter, the official said, "Go ahead, Father." "Next!"