Thursday, March 28, 2024

Words to Live By

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.

RIP Daniel Kahneman (1923-2024)

Via

Thursday Flotsam and Jetsam

Have a new miscellaneous thoughts and observations post up on Substack.

Amusing that if Joe Biden loses re-election many will blame Donald Trump while a good number of others will blame RFK Jr. for "stealing" votes from him. Very few will blame Joe Biden which is a sign of how some people never take responsibility for their own actions. Ever. Also find it funny that all the Democratic Party's problems could be solved by replacing the Biden/Harris ticket with the RFK/Shanahan one. RFK Jr. did initially run as a Democrat until Biden blocked him. As always - please Subscribe, hit the Like button, or share the Link. Thanks!

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

Have a new Quotes for Today up on my Substack. As I've mentioned doing this as a way to thank those who have Subscribed. If you are a Subscriber - you should have received an email. Thanks!

Word of the Day


Via

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- Heh Heh

- Shut up and take my money

- Jiujitsu (noun)

- Good advice

Good Advice

Chicago Trib vs NYT

Interesting comparison between the Chicago Tribune (Trib) and the New York Times (NYT). The Trib used to be wholly isolationist in the FDR and the post WW II era plus Republican while the NYT seems completely pro globalist, WEF and open borders while being a Democratic Party organ. Seeming diametrically opposites.

Additionally Colonel Robert McCormick completely viscerally hated FDR and the New Deal. Meanwhile the NYT seemingly hates Donald Trump and MAGA. Ask Senator Tom Cotton how the NYT feels about conservatives. They both filtered the news to meet their preconceived viewpoints and omitted those that did not to make sure they keep their subscribers' echo chamber alive - just 70-years apart.

The Trib called itself The World's Greatest Newspaper while the NYT's slogan is All the News Fit to Print. Arguably neither was ever true. The more things change - the more they stay the same.

Wednesday Flotsam and Jetsam

Have a new miscellaneous thoughts and observations post up on Substack.

When I heard the news about RFK Jr. nominating Nicole Shanahan as his choice as VP my first thought was of George W. Bush selecting friend Harriet Miers as his choice for Supreme Court nominee. In that case it was Miers who became the lost footnote to history. In this case I think it's probably RFK Jr. Make a better choice than RFK Jr. and Subscribe, hit the Like button, or share the Link. Thanks!

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

Have a new Quotes for Today up on my Substack. As I've mentioned doing this as a way to thank those who have Subscribed. If you are a Subscriber - you should have received an email. Thanks!

Be Like the Wise Old Owl

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Happiness

How to be happy is one of the most asked questions in life.

Have a new post on Substack addressing this question using some of the quotes I've gathered on the subject.

Feel free to share the post. Everyone should try to be happy!

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and wanted to share.

- Damien Harris announced his retirement from the NFL. May the road rise to meet you.

- Jonathan Haidt on banning smartphones for kids. Reminder his new book is coming out. It's on my list.

- Air warfare has changed.

- The biggest purveyor of misinformation has proven time and time again to be the government.

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- Heh Heh

- At a bar recently when the bartender said this trying to sell shots. So I went home.

- Speaking of Shohei Ohtani

- Analysis true!

Truth

Tuesday Flotsam and Jetsam

Have a new miscellaneous thoughts and observations post up on Substack.

So I turned off the Celtics-Atlanta game when Boston was up by 30 points. The C's won - right? As always - please Subscribe, hit the Like button, or share the Link. Thanks in advance!

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

Have a new Quotes for Today up on my Substack. As I've mentioned doing this as a way to thank those who have Subscribed. If you are a Subscriber - you should have received an email. Thanks!

Reminder

Monday, March 25, 2024

Education of a Wandering Man

"That much maligned man General George Armstrong Custer - about whom more nonsense has been written by people who know nothing about him than has been written about any man in history - was another. Secretary of War William Belknap (later dismissed from office) had been appointing political friends of his as Indian agents, and they were robbing the Indians, starving them, and taking every advantage. Custer objected, but a lowly Lieutenant Colonel (Custer's actual rank) got nowhere by complaining to the Secretary of War, and later they contrived an excuse for a court martial.

Custer saw the Indians being mistreated and in his book, My Life on the Plains, said that if he were an Indian he would be fighting.

How many Indians were present at the Little Big Horn we will never know. Their number has been estimated at between two thousand to nine thousand. Logic was completely on Custer's side. The Indians had never been able to field a large force because of the supply problem. When so many Indians came into an area, the game fled the country, so whatever food the Indian had he had to bring with him. For the same reason he could not stay long in the field.

A fact often missed is that just a few miles south and a few days earlier, General George Crook, another of our most successful Indian fighters, had made the same mistake.

In the bitter Battle of the Rosebud, often overlooked because of the drama of the Custer massacre, Crook was fought to a standstill by many of the same Indians. Had it not been for the protests of Frank Grouard, Crook's chief of scouts, and the fact he was down to eight rounds of ammunition per man, Crook may have pursued the Sioux down the canyon of the Rosebud into an even worse trap than Custer's, where he would have lost three times the men.

Knowing the Indian problems with supply, neither Crook on June 17 or Custer on June 25 was willing to believe that such a large force was in the field." - Louis L' Amour

That's a perspective I had not seen before. I bring it up now both because I'm currently reading the book but also because today is Medal of Honor Day and one of the few people who actually won two Medals of Honor was Custer's brother Thomas Custer who also killed at the Little Big Horn. Sadly, like many. my perception of George Armstrong Custer is largely colored by his portrayal in Dustin Hoffman's Little Big Man. 

Linky Links

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

- Excellent point about the Ohtani gambling case.

- From the archives: Paul Graham essay on writing.

- Morgan Housel with Smart Things from Smart People

- Boeing CEO to resign. People started actively avoiding Dave Calhoun's planes or buying them under his reign. Another example of go woke - go broke.

Pondering the Future of Commissioned Real Estate Agents

This is an issue and story I've been following and wondering about the fallout.

Steve makes some excellent points and I thought I'd share my anecdotal information. Recently I both sold my place and bought a home with my girlfriend so I have some first hand knowledge. We used the same real estate agent for both transactions and I was pleased with both.

As far as selling my place: my agent, who is also a friend, had me ask for $30,000 more than I planned on but he knows the market. He had to do all the advertising and was there the day of the Open House to answer questions from all comers. I was on vacation and it sold for the asking price the same day! As far as I'm concerned the extra money more then paid for his services. Sure it was a good payday for him but remember all those people who went to the open house all also had agents. Also remember my agent was chosen after years of being an honest, good guy to his friends who weren't in the market.

Buying a place we had three basic requirements: it had to greatly reduce my girlfriend's commute, a fenced in yard for our dog, and a smaller home (just me and her) - no need for more than 2-3 bedrooms or 1-2 bathrooms. We saw multiple houses and made multiple offers and was outbid on each by someone offering well over the asking price each time. We didn't pay a dime for those unsuccessful bids. The home we bought we offered the asking price and made the offer right away. We had everything lined up thanks to our friend.

We would hire him again in a heartbeat  and heartily recommend him. When the verdict was announced I never checked if this may have meant money coming back to me. We signed paperwork and went into this with our eyes open and would do it again.

My question is does that signed paperwork that specifies the commission rate supersede anything else? What to keep the better agents to ask for more then the industry standard 5-6%?

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- Can't be unseen

- Real man of genius!

- I approve this message

- I have the sense of humor of a 12-year old

Monday Flotsam and Jetsam

Have a new miscellaneous thoughts and observations post up on Substack,

Thought to keep you up at night: if time travelers do exist wouldn't it make more sense for them to go back in time to get copies of "lost" works of art like the books from the Library in Alexandria instead of visiting modern people? As always please Subscribe, hit the Like button, or share the Link while you think about that. Thanks!

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

Have a new Quotes for Today up on my Substack. As I've mentioned doing this as a way to thank those who have Subscribed. If you are a Subscriber - you should have received an email. Thanks!

Remember

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Linky Links

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

- VDH on Biden's Border Blowup.

- RIP Vernon Vinge. Adding Rainbow's End to my reading list.

- Analysis true!

- Leo Varadkar vs the People. The Irish Justin Trudeau.

Truth

Sunday Flotsam and Jetsam

Have a new miscellaneous thoughts and observations post up on Substack.

Kind of a lazy, cold Sunday here in New England. Only 25 degrees with an expected high of 40. Already have a fire going. Take it easy and relax. I know I am. As always - please Subscribe, hit the Like button, or share the Link. Thanks!

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you. is at least 80

Have a new Quotes for Today up on my Substack. As I've mentioned doing this as a way to thank those who have Subscribed. If you are a Subscriber - you should have received an email. Thanks!

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest. 

- Reminder that the CDC always has your health as its top priority.

- Remains funny

- My favorite JFK quote

- Simpsons did it!

Steve Jobs

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- Lego tells California PD to stop using Lego heads to disguise identify of suspected criminals.

- Tucker Carlson Episode 83

- Tim Ferriss' recipe for success

- Will Joe Biden cause the death of the Democratic Party?

The Best Way to Remember Things - Take Notes!

The value of reading, and of writing things down that we read, or hear, cannot be overstated. Two expert guests (who specialize in speech and memory) on the Huberman Lab podcast explained that when we read text or listen to something and then write key aspects/takeaways down by hand- not typing, it engages our motor control centers in ways that deeply embed that information to our memory. Taking notes, however cursory, turns out to be the best way to remember and implement information later. - Andrew Huberman Ph. D

I have always found this to be true - and why I highlight the books I read. Huberman's podcast is well worth you time as well.

The TikTok Ban

Congress is looking to ban TikTok but is that the right course of action?

Have a new post up on Substack on a question I've been wrestling with for some time, Would be curious of your thoughts on the matter.

Thanks!

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- And all the married guys nod their heads.

- Analysis true!

- Real man of genius!

- This is believable

Saturday Flotsam and Jetsam

Have a new miscellaneous thoughts and observations post up on Substack.

As you may be aware I have an X (formerly Twitter) account and follow less than 300 others because that's all my little mind can handle (my Dunbar number). I have even more followers than that but some are clearly scams. Accounts with pictures of a hot girl following many but with few followers. Clearly a money grab. I don't have any control over who follows me but I am amused by these. Please Subscribe (to either my X account or Substack - you don't have to be a bot), hit the Like button, or share the Link. Thanks!

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

Have a new Quotes for Today up on my Substack. As I've mentioned doing this as a way to thank those who have Subscribed. If you are a Subscriber - you should have received an email. Thanks!

Naval Knowledge