Thursday, February 28, 2019
TT Update
My table tennis form has been absolutely abysmal recently – having previously been unofficially seeded #2 in the office, I fear I have currently slipped to #3. And although the guy who has started beating me is Chinese – so table tennis is in his blood – he is not even playing with his dominant hand due to a shoulder injury. That makes it even more embarrassing that I am losing to him – I can only imagine how bad I would be playing left-handed. I think all the days I’ve been snowed in and not getting out have really affected my endurance, I need to start hiking again – and that starts this weekend when it looks like it’s going to be sunny, albeit still cold.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Pizza Toppings
A big yes to pineapple, a big no to olives, and a big "I can't believe it works but it really does" to .... marmalade.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
The Circus
Some political thoughts:
- The second summit between the US and North Korea seems like another blatant public relations stunt that won’t change a thing in the region and certainly won’t change North Korea’s path (which is most definitely not one of denuclearization). It’s just a meaningless and pointless exercise that Trump will falsely use to advertise his great diplomatic skills and try to get a Nobel Peace Prize (because Obama has one).
- The news that Trump is putting together a national security advisory panel aimed at COUNTERING the science behind climate change and global warming is utterly abhorrent. It beggars belief, and climate change is a hell of a lot more of a national emergency than building this stupid wall.
- Talking about the wall, it’s going to be interesting to see exactly how many Senate Republicans actually vote down Trump’s declaration of a national emergency. It’s a fascinating litmus test for the level of executive power that the President should be allowed. And in some ways, I hope that is does get through the government and the many, many challenges it faces in court. Because then a more rational president in the future can declare things like climate change, gun control, universal healthcare, etc. as national emergencies. And whoever is the next president after Trump, can you imagine how cathartic and how symbolic it would be to knock down Trump’s wall. Note also that there is absolutely no military need to send troops to the southern border of America.
- There seem to an awful lot of celebrities and business people with an awful lot of money who rigorously speak up for and support the Democratic party and its causes. I have an idea then. Why don’t you use all this money to buyout Fox News and shut it down, or buyout Twitter and block Trump’s increasingly deranged twitter account? But no, you’d rather sit on your golden thrones in your golden palaces, and talk the talk without walking the walk. Hypocrites.
- I don’t have a problem with giving Robert Mueller however long he needs to complete his special investigation, but my god when it has finished it had better be released to the public. There is so much about the people at the highest echelons of American government that is intentionally kept from the general public which shouldn’t be – I want to see Trump’s tax returns, I want to see a full FBI investigation on Brett Kavanaugh, I want to know exactly what Trump talked about privately with Putin.
- By the way, I am not in the least bit surprised that most of Trump’s day is spent as “Executive Time” – his euphemism for watching Fox News, tweeting and speaking to his sycophants. This is without a doubt the least hard-working president America has ever had – just look at the amount of golf he has played. That on top of his general ignorance and his total disregard and disrespect for everything his position entails confirms to me that he is one of the worst presidents ever. The Fact Checker’s ongoing database has Trump having made nearly 9,000 false or misleading claims since assuming office. The people who voted for him should be ashamed.
- My current political hate list (US only): Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Saunders, Brett Kavanaugh, Mike Pence, Kellyanne Conway, Jared Kushner, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, John R Bolton, Rudy Giuliani, Greg Abbott, Kirstjen Nielsen. And that doesn’t even include the many incompetent and/or reprehensible characters who have already quit, or been forced to quit, Trump’s government – the likes of Scott Pruitt and Steve Bannon.
- The second summit between the US and North Korea seems like another blatant public relations stunt that won’t change a thing in the region and certainly won’t change North Korea’s path (which is most definitely not one of denuclearization). It’s just a meaningless and pointless exercise that Trump will falsely use to advertise his great diplomatic skills and try to get a Nobel Peace Prize (because Obama has one).
- The news that Trump is putting together a national security advisory panel aimed at COUNTERING the science behind climate change and global warming is utterly abhorrent. It beggars belief, and climate change is a hell of a lot more of a national emergency than building this stupid wall.
- Talking about the wall, it’s going to be interesting to see exactly how many Senate Republicans actually vote down Trump’s declaration of a national emergency. It’s a fascinating litmus test for the level of executive power that the President should be allowed. And in some ways, I hope that is does get through the government and the many, many challenges it faces in court. Because then a more rational president in the future can declare things like climate change, gun control, universal healthcare, etc. as national emergencies. And whoever is the next president after Trump, can you imagine how cathartic and how symbolic it would be to knock down Trump’s wall. Note also that there is absolutely no military need to send troops to the southern border of America.
- There seem to an awful lot of celebrities and business people with an awful lot of money who rigorously speak up for and support the Democratic party and its causes. I have an idea then. Why don’t you use all this money to buyout Fox News and shut it down, or buyout Twitter and block Trump’s increasingly deranged twitter account? But no, you’d rather sit on your golden thrones in your golden palaces, and talk the talk without walking the walk. Hypocrites.
- I don’t have a problem with giving Robert Mueller however long he needs to complete his special investigation, but my god when it has finished it had better be released to the public. There is so much about the people at the highest echelons of American government that is intentionally kept from the general public which shouldn’t be – I want to see Trump’s tax returns, I want to see a full FBI investigation on Brett Kavanaugh, I want to know exactly what Trump talked about privately with Putin.
- By the way, I am not in the least bit surprised that most of Trump’s day is spent as “Executive Time” – his euphemism for watching Fox News, tweeting and speaking to his sycophants. This is without a doubt the least hard-working president America has ever had – just look at the amount of golf he has played. That on top of his general ignorance and his total disregard and disrespect for everything his position entails confirms to me that he is one of the worst presidents ever. The Fact Checker’s ongoing database has Trump having made nearly 9,000 false or misleading claims since assuming office. The people who voted for him should be ashamed.
- My current political hate list (US only): Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Saunders, Brett Kavanaugh, Mike Pence, Kellyanne Conway, Jared Kushner, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, John R Bolton, Rudy Giuliani, Greg Abbott, Kirstjen Nielsen. And that doesn’t even include the many incompetent and/or reprehensible characters who have already quit, or been forced to quit, Trump’s government – the likes of Scott Pruitt and Steve Bannon.
Monday, February 25, 2019
James Bond Non-Collectibles
I like a James Bond collectible as much as the next person, but the one thing I refuse to get are those ugly-ass “Funko Pop” figurines. There are lots of them around, including a James Bond line, but I will not sully my collection with these monstrosities.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Dynasties
I've been watching Planet Earth: Dynasties, including some of the making-of coverage. And I was shocked to see the documentary crew interfere to rescue some penguins. That is like breaking the Prime Directive in Star Trek - an absolute no-no. If some penguins fell down a chasm and were destined to die there because they couldn't get out and return to their colony, then so be it - it is undoubtedly sad, but doesn't justify any attempts to rescue them. Evolution is not just survival of the fittest, but also survival of the luckiest. I think it was the wrong decision to interfere, and I lost a lot of respect for the crew for that - despite the amazing shots they've come up with over the years. And I emphasize the word "shots", because although the cinematography of these nature series can be amazing, the sound effects sometimes leave a lot to be desired. I also agree with those that say these shows don't do enough to highlight environmental issues and create a very false impression of the scale of the beauty of our planet - and it's rapidly decreasing amount of wilderness and amount of wildlife, including most of the species featured in these shows. However having said that, if I was to get a 4K TV - something I have been considering recently - Planet Earth II would probably be one of the first 4K discs I buy.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Favorites
After considerable consternation and deliberation, I have decided this is my favorite Bond theme song:
Ironically, from one of the worst Bond films.
Ironically, from one of the worst Bond films.
Friday, February 22, 2019
2019 T-Shirt
My new t-shirt got delivered today – just in time for some more snow forecast over the weekend/early next week, though hopefully nothing as bad as it has been.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)