Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Making Crime Pay

Trump pardoned the J6 rioters. Now he’s open to paying them too.

That's right - reparations for rioters.

Sam Stein and Will Sommer talk about Trump's appearance on Newsmax. Trump floats compensation for January 6 rioters, plus new fallout from the leaked Signal group chat with national security officials—and how Jeffrey Goldberg ended up in it.

Put Moral Formation At The Centre Of Your Society

Put Moral Formation At The Centre Of Your Society

David Brooks' speech was challenging and thought provoking, calling for us to reassess what we think cultural renewal looks like and to reconnect to our spiritual roots.

David Brooks is a bestselling author, columnist for The New York Times, and a contributor to The Atlantic. He is also a commentator on The PBS Newshour. His latest book is How To Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen.

Go deeper with ARC Research. Read reports, articles, and academic papers underneath our talks - all pointed towards advancing education, promoting research, and developing ideas about the keys to human flourishing and prosperity.  You can learn more here.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Hanlon's Razor

Photo - CNN

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Vice President JD Vance were caught discussing American Plans to attack the Houthis in Yemen when a senior editor for the The Atlantic was accidentally - and apparently without anyone noticing - added to a text conversation thru the messaging app, Signal.

If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they engaged in this sort of behavior they would be fired. 

This is not a one-off or first-time error.  Sensitive information should never, ever, be discussed over an unclassified system.  This is another example of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information.

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. 

Highway Patrol


The 1972 Mercury Monterey Police Interceptor was equipped with a 429 V8 producing about 209hp, with a four-barrel carburetor designed to run on regular, low lead or unleaded gasoline and a heavy duty automatic transmission - the only choice for the law enforcement model.

For 1972 there was a shift to lower horsepower as a consequence of new emission standards.  After 1974 the 429 engine was discontinued with later models equipped with Lincoln's 460 V8 as the top option.

Fun video....

Monday, March 24, 2025

The King's Speech

On Tuesday, March 4th President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress.  I do not begrudge our President the opportunity to take a victory lap; particularly on the heels of six busy weeks of cabinet hearings, executive orders, reductions in force, court hearings, spending freezes, tariffs followed by pauses, starts and follow-up pauses of the the latter.

The speech was exceedingly long however; meaning the volume of dubious claims or lies was target-rich.  Nothing new under the sun; nevertheless, worthy of truthful daylight.  Consequently, from time to time one of more of the King's gems will be featured here.

Enjoy. 

“But it was built at tremendous cost of American blood and treasure. Thirty-eight thousand workers died building the Panama Canal. They died of malaria. They died of snakebites and mosquitoes.”

The President is ignorant of history.  An earlier failed attempt by France to construct a canal resulted in 22,000 deaths, mainly a consequence of yellow fever and malaria.  The American engineering enterprise resulted in 5,609 deaths (out of 56,000 workers); mainly a consequence of injury and disease.  Most were Black workers from the Caribbean; only 31 Americans perished.

The Taco Revolution

If you like history and food - especially tacos - you' find spending seventeen and a half minutes watching this worth your time.

Tacos mean any number of things to many different people as this hand-held wonder of crunchiness or softness can be filled and topped with just about anything edible.  So whether you're having a taco or two for breakfast, after bar time or anywhere in between; the taco gets it done. 

Max Miller's Tasting History is one of my favorite YouTube channels.  He does a terrific job explaining the origins and history of various foods both ancient and recent.  This, on the origins of the taco, is an absolute delight.  It includes a recipe for all of us to try and Glen Bell - founder of Taco Bell is featured too.

Enjoy.....

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Pooped

If you are a sporting breed  and have been running around, burying the needle, at full tilt then eventually the Off Switch gets flipped.

And because you are still a puppy there is one of your favorite plush toys - Mr. Fennec Fox....