January 20, 2019

Buzzfeed Double-Down!

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/20/media/buzzfeed-ben-smith-anthony-cormier/index.html


This is truly a double-down in the blackjack sense, when you double your bet in return for one hit, and that's something a knowledgeable player does when the play offers a greater average return than not doubling down. We don't know how this will turn out, but Buzzfeed is placing a huge bet on a very daring play and this is going to be a very exciting thing to watch.

January 20, 2019

President Trump accuses Speaker Nancy Pelosi of behaving 'irrationally' during shutdown

That's the funniest headline I've seen in ages! I laughed out loud.

And then this:

The difference between fact and fiction is that fiction has to make sense. - Tom Clancy

January 19, 2019

Specific statements are not specific statements if they're not specified.

I'm just sayin'.

January 13, 2019

Sen. Marco Rubio has a brilliant idea!

And the next Democratic president should immediately adopt his suggestion, giving credit where credit is due.

(Reminds me of this movie quote.)

January 13, 2019

When will the National Debt Clock hit $22 trillion?

It looks to me like this "Analysis by Z. Byron Wolf", published on Sunday, 1/13/2019, could have used a little more analysis:

I did a calculation based upon The National Debt Clock and found that it'll be a bit longer than "any day now." Anyone care to guess the date, or do your own calculation?

The article about the importance, or lack thereof, of the National Debt is interesting, but this post is motivated primarily by the mathematics.

December 31, 2018

"Can you prove God doesn't exist?" (an imaginary exchange)

"Can you prove God doesn't exist?"

"Maybe."

"What do you mean, 'maybe'? Either you can prove it or you can't!"

"Until I know what your standard of proof is I can't be sure I could prove to you that water is wet, so first I'll have to ask you some questions."

"Like what?"

"Do you believe Godzilla exists?"

"No, of course not!"

"Can you prove Godzilla doesn't exist?"

"Yes, of course I can. Everyone knows Godzilla is just something people made up."

"Okay, then yes, I can prove to you that God doesn't exist. All I need is to hear your proof that Godzilla doesn't exist and then repeat it back to you without the 'zilla'!"

December 31, 2018

Armed man arrested on way to Texas church to fulfill a 'prophecy'

He was carrying the [sic] loaded weapon, extra ammunition and a face shield, according to police.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/armed-man-arrested-way-texas-church-fulfill-prophecy-n953216

If it needs to be deliberately fulfilled then it's not a prophecy!

December 12, 2018

Wondermark features a rare excursion into politics.

Wondermark rarely features subject matter related in any way to politics, or to anything in the real world for that matter. It's usually just a delightfully nonsensical display of the cartoonist's brilliant imagination, and for that reason it's one of my favorite cartoon strips.

But today's is unusual and unique in that delves into politics:

http://wondermark.com/c1442/

November 27, 2018

Today's Brilliant Headlines from the Washington Examiner

Homeless people should leave their kids at home:

Don't want your kids to get tear-gassed? Leave them at home when you riot

Nuclear disarmament is dangerous:

Republicans must resist Democrats' dangerous nuclear disarmament plans

September 30, 2018

Why the Republicans won't give up on Kavanaugh: The Concorde Fallacy

The Concorde Fallacy is an aspect of human behavior (and apparently also observed in other animals), where an investment gradually turns bad, but instead of abandoning it the investors continue to invest more and more to avoid the alternative of accepting the loss. The general result is that what could have been a relatively small loss turns into a much larger loss, as in the case of the Concorde.

I think this phenomenon may be affecting the Republicans. Kavanaugh is looking worse and worse as time goes on, but Republicans are now behaving like Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Vacation, determined to get to the destination no matter what the consequences.

I certainly hope they pay the price for their irrationality.