Monday Flotsam and Jetsam

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

The Bruins played the Lightning at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa last night for a cool outdoor game. Boston raced to a 5-1 lead, there was a goalie fight, but then lost 6-5 in an OT shootout. The team arrived dressed as patriots and the initials of all six New England states were on their uniforms. Not sure if this was to support the Patriots in the Super Bowl or a reminder to sports fans that there's more than one team in Boston.

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.

Invert for Happiness

More Linky Links

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

- Learning from "Kill the Wabbit." Remember that when Curious George was learning the alphabet we saw "D" is for "dromedary" - wonder what today's generation would use for "D."

- Astronauts are going back to the moon for the first time in half a century. Interesting read on the Artemis II mission.

- Reid Hoffman, who bankrolled E. Jean Carroll lawsuit against Trump, is featured "player" in latest Jeffrey Epstein files release.

- All 10 NFL head coaching jobs are now filled - with grades for each!

Linky Links

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

- It's really cold. Here's how to stay happy (with science). (HT Jake)

- Peter Attia: Metformin misses the mark? Maybe when it comes to extending longevity that is.

- The chip rebellion is on. Interesting look at potentially the future(s) of computer chips.

- The qualities of decent, cultured people. (HT Cultural Offering)

Reminder

Sunday Flotsam and Jetsam

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

Each morning I wake and wonder if there'll be overnight news about the fall of the regime in Iran, the government in Cuba, or a clarification of the situation in China. And each morning I'm slightly discouraged there's not. Now I'm getting worried that all three situations will choose next Sunday when I'm preparing for the Super Bowl to all resolve at once.

As always - please Subscribe, hit the Like button, or share the Link. Go Pats!

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.

Top 5 Quotes from Groundhog Day

1. "Don't drive angry."

2. "Who wants some flapjacks?"

3. "I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster and drank pina coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otters. *That* was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over and over and over..."

4. It's the same things your whole life. "Clean up your room.", "Stand up straight.", "Pick up your feet.", "Take it like a man.", "Be nice to your sister.", "Don't mix beer and wine, ever.". Oh yeah, "Don't drive on the railroad tracks."

5. "This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather."

USS Indianapolis

Many only learned of the USS Indianapolis from Captain Quint's speech in the movie Jaws. Here's what really happened after the Indianapolis delivered the bomb at Tinian.

"...the Indianapolis, an older vessel, lacked sonar gear for submarine detection and was top heavy. Japanese submarine I-38 discovered the heavy cruiser in the Philippines Sea a little before Midnight on Sunday, July 29...

The torpedoes and following explosions of ammunition and aviation fuel ripped away the cruiser's bow and destroyed the power center. without power the radio officer was unable to send a distress signal - he went through the motions anyway - or the bridge to communicate with the engine room, The engines pushed the ship forward unchecked, scooping up water through the holes in the hull and leaving behind the sailors thrown overboard who had been sleeping on deck in the tropical heat. The order to abandon ship, when it came, had to be passed word of mouth."

About 850 sailors went into the sea facing 12 foot waves:

"Most had kapok lifejackets. Few could find their way to the life rafts. They floated instead in clusters, linked together, stronger men swimming the circumferences to catch sleepers before they drifted away, one group numbered between three and four hundred souls. They pushed the wounded to the center where the water was calmer and prayed the distress call had gone out.

The captain had found two empty life rafts and later that night encountered one more unoccupied. He ordered the rafts lashed together. They sheltered ten men and he thought them the only survivors. Through the night a current carried the swimmers southwest while winds blew the rafts northeast: by the light of morning rafts and swimmers had separated beyond discovery."

What happened next to those in the water was beyond terrorizing and I'll omit because words can't do it justice.

"Thursday morning, August 2, a Navy plane spotted the survivors. Because of negligence at Leyte the Indianapolis had not even been missed. A major rescue effort began, ships streaming to the area. PBY's and PBM's dropping food, water, and survival gear. The rescuers found 318 naked and emaciated men."

From The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes

Linky Links

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

- How to sleep well and wake up energized. I don't adopt all the methods but your mileage may vary, (HT Jake)

- Aren't they even aware of the two tiers of justice in this country?

- Where do we find such men?

- Tim Ferriss: How I beat Lyme disease with the Ketogenic diet.

Tips for Happiness

Saturday Flotsam and Jetsam

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

In what may be the mother of all Friday news dumps - 3 million more Jeffrey Epstein emails were released and some pretty big names like Bill Gates, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and Giants part owner Steve Tish were implicated. If Jack Smith was working the case he's give just till Monday for all the emails to be read.

As always - please Subscribe, hit the Like button, or share the Link. Thanks and oh - Jeffrey Epstein didn't kill himself.

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.

Paul Graham on How to Do Great Work

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- Genius!

- Heh Heh

- Lent explained.

- Evergreen

Robert Oppenheimer and the Bhagavad Gita

Many know that Robert Oppenheimer famously said. "Now I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds," after the first atomic bomb explosion. But his favorite passage from the Bhagavad Gita was reportedly:

In battle, in forest, at the precipice in the mountains

On the dark great sea, in the midst of javelins and arrows...

In sleep, in confusion, in the depths of shame,

The good deeds a man has done before defends him

Linky Links

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

- Protest culture is annoying and un-American.

- From the archives: On the Shortness of Time. A lesson that has to be drilled into oneself - over and over.

- President Trump nominates Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve Chairman to replace Jerome Powell.

-  The 35 countries with the highest household debt. The US not as bad as I'd have guessed.

11 Golden Nuggets from Steve Jobs

Friday Flotsam and Jetsam

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

President Trump is said to be naming a new Fed Chairman today to replace the soon to be leaving Jerome Powell who for some reason still has not lowered interest rates. Many mortgage holder have been paying inflated rates for a long time and there's no justification for this. Where's Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders when you need them?

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.

Happy 81st Birthday to Tom Selleck

 

He'll always be Thomas Magnum to me.

More Linky Links

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

- "The Laffer Curves are flat." Taxing the rich schemes are fantasies.

- On Technologies vs Commodities. Long but interesting read.

- DataReplican and the proof of fraud in Minnesota.

- Behavioral change weight loss vs weight loss drugs.

Linky Links

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

- The purge of Zhang Youxia. Interesting they call what happened in China a purge instead of a coup.

- Tesla shareholder updates. No mention of the Model S or Model X being discontinued in Q2 2026.

- Dan Wetzel: If Bill Belichick isn't first ballot, just shut the Hall of Fame down.

- Southwest Airlines ends open seating after 54 years. The end of an era.

Truth

Thursday Flotsam and Jetsam

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

Most every football fan knows the name Bill Belichick but if the names of the voters who snubbed his election to the Hall of Fame are ever revealed - how many of those names will you recognize? I'm guessing very few if any. They were trying to make a name for themselves by voting "No" but now as the pettiness of their actions are made plain to the world they hide behind anonymity. I agree with Jimmy Johnson - that's the act of cowardly assholes.

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.

The HOF Knows Voters Screwed Up Not Selecting Belichick

We'll know who voted "No" by anyone who is kicked out.

Greenland and the US

Wrote an article last year on Donald Trump's interest in "acquiring" Greenland and this thought jumped back out at me:

Also keep in mind that the country is rich in natural resources including many rare earth metals. The big drawback is said to be the cost to mine these resources. Would that still be true of a person like Elon Musk who owns the Boring Company and manufacturers robots? As an aside - what better way to stress test robots for the harsh environments of Mars than testing them in the harsh environments of Greenland?

This is true - isn't it? Do you think this possibility has been discussed?

College Football Thoughts

Some offseason thoughts and observations as the transfer portal continues to spin.

Was having these thoughts anyway and figured I'd jot them down and post on Substack.

Linky Links

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

- The Van Natta and Wickersham article on Bill Belichick not being voted into the HOF.

- Interesting look at the CIA under John Radcliffe.

- John Stossel on unions. He's not wrong and the story is particularly relevant given UPS is set for another round of layoffs..

- Analysis of the National Defense Strategy.

Jocko Willink - Good

Wednesday Flotsam and Jetsam

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

Bill Belichick not getting into the HOF on the first vote is a travesty. At least 11 of the 50 voters denied him entry in what had always been an anonymous vote. Why they voted "No" is speculation but it could have been jealousy, Belichick beat their favorite team, punishment for Spygate, or they just plain didn't like him. I have particular hate for anyone who voted against him because they planned to write a "why I voted against Belichick" column. Whatever the reason, these voters made a mockery of the process and don't be surprised if there's no more anonymous voting because of this. And don't be surprised if sports writers are taken out of the process completely and voting handed over to HOF members only.

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.

Challenger Disaster

 

On this day in 1986 the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch. One of the very few times in my life where I could tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing.

Some Memes You May Enjoy

 Some memes I hope may resonate with you.

- True

- Also true!

- Remember

- Funny because it's true!

Coup in China

Hardly an expert in China or Chinese politics but I did want to put down what I've seen about the reported coup attempt in China in a single place to see if the information somehow makes more sense. How does what happened in China effect the rest of the world?

Was it a coup or a purge? What information to trust? You decide,

Linky Links

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

- Andy Ngo inside Minnesota's protest Signal chats. Does Signal really warn people "Never put anything in Signal that you would not want read back in court?" Because - guess what...

- Naval Ravikant on Scott Adams, Well put!

- An AI skeptic consults AI. Will AI usher in Idiocracy? 

- The Leftist Playbook. He's not wrong.

Surfer's Mentality

 

Tuesday Flotsam and Jetsam

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

Sunday we shoveled three times and yesterday three more times and today I plan on shoveling a couple more times (to clear the way of any drifts overnight and the back deck to give the dog some variety). We have lots of stairs on our property so a snowblower wouldn't work. I would trade this for raking leaves instead any day.

As always - please Subscribe, hit the Like button, or share the Link. Thanks and BTW the car started fine. Thanks again!

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.

The 50-30-20 Rule