Bag of Randomness for Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Saturday morning started off with the burial of BoyGeeding’s guinea pig, Lilly Noodle. DaughterGeeding first noticed the lifeless critter and placed a small American flag over his body. She then spoke to me and WifeGeeding, and then we broke the news to BoyGeeding who just broke down in tears. I have this sweet photo of BoyGeeding wrapped up in his mother’s arms with tears and snot dripping down, but posting it would just feel wrong, a violation of boundaries of some sort which I can’t adequately articulate.

I’m not even a hockey fan, and I found this insulting. Our local NHL club, the Dallas Stars, played and won a game-7 playoff game. I watched the NBC5 10PM sports segment and the game wasn’t even mentioned. There was a brief story on the Cowboys, who are doing nothing but practicing, and high school football highlights.

Truth.

This Eastern Kentucky football player is an interesting-looking specimen.

I’m surprised this was even a consideration. I always used to pick up a copy when visiting what was then Carswell AFB.

Trump Says He Will Reverse Pentagon Plan to Close Newspaper That Informs and Speaks for Troops – The reversal on Stars and Stripes came as President Trump was in full defensive mode over reports that he had disparaged military personnel.

In select locations, Arby’s is selling meat by the pound.

News from across the pond.

Queen Elizabeth’s Sandringham Estate Opens To Host Drive-In Movies

School that Boris Johnson visited to show was ‘safe’ closes due to coronavirus days after visit

Albany man rescued from Lake George by priests on a floating tiki bar

The video is available to watch in the article – President Trump Confronts Faux Barack Obama In Resurfaced ‘The Apprentice’-Style Video

President Donald Trump is shown firing an actor playing former President Barack Obama in a recently resurfaced video from 2012, when he was considering running for president.

The scene was reportedly made for the 2012 Republican National Convention, but was axed from the broadcast. There were reports that year that Trump would make some kind of surprise appearance on the first night of the convention. But those plans were scuttled because of the threat of a hurricane striking the Tampa region, where the convention was held.

Adapt and overcome.

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Bag of Randomness for Friday, September 4, 2020

My procedure went well, but recovery was tougher than I expected. I had a single steroid shot to my spin before, but not four in four different locations.

It’s hard for Texas to drop any traditions without a good fight, but I’m not spotting any cowbells.

A coworker and I were debating why a certain application time-stamped something in the Central time-zone. Normally, things are time-stamped in Eastern time. He reasoned it was because the server was in Tennessee and I said even if that was the case, Tennessee used Eastern time. Well, it turns out we were both right, Tennessee has two time-zones. The server was in Memphis, which is in the western part of the state, which is in the Central time-zone. #TIL

One of WifeGeeding’s friends is camping in Mineral Wells this weekend and asked me for suggestions on where to eat. I haven’t an idea. They asked about BBQ, and I know Shotguns has been around for about 50 years and currently owned by a someone who graduated a year ahead of me (he always sounded like he swallowed a jar full of rusted nails). I heard pleasant things about Coffee and Cocktails at 76067 which is owned by one of my first employers. I think Little China restaurant is still open, which was the first place I ever worked, it used to be located in a motel.

At least once a year, Blue Bell issues a press release about a new ice cream flavor. The local media like the light-hearted news about a regional staple and will do a minor story on it. At least once a year, LiberallyLean will claim it’s nothing more than a hidden paid advertisement. But then again, I’m the guy who claims the Texas Baptist Men always gets excessively covered on CBS11 whenever a national disaster happens while other similar local rescue organizes gets looks over probably because one Baptist is buddy-buddy with another who works at the station..

Sen. Mitt Romney Officially Ends 2012 Presidential Campaign Eight Years Later – Mitt Romney has officially ended his 2012 presidential campaign, eight years after losing to President Barack Obama.

On Tuesday, September 1, 2020, Romney’s presidential campaign committee filed termination papers with the Federal Election Commission, officially dissolving the organization.

Why a Civil Rights Veteran Thinks the Protests Are More Like 1963 Than 1968 – ‘We’re at an early stage of another era of grassroots activism to achieve political change,’ says historian Clayborne Carson in a POLITICO Q&A.

Tesla Gigafactory Texas’ Phase 1 area has taken shape with phenomenal speed

Updated footage of the Gigafactory Texas complex was recently shared by Tesla enthusiast and drone operator Jeff Roberts, who conducts daily flyovers of the site. Roberts’ videos provide a visual record of just how fast the work has been in the Giga Texas complex. The project is technically only on Day 42 as of September 2, 2020, after all, but the Phase 1 zone, potentially the site of the Tesla Cybertruck factory, is already coming together. Based on the pace of the site so far, it would not be surprising if the first pillars of the Phase 1 building are built sooner than expected.

Buzzfeed – TikTokers Have Been Shaving Their Teeth Down With Nail Files, So This Orthodontist Explained Why It’s A Bad Idea

The doctor is in Dallas, doesn’t look old enough to be a doctor, and considers himself to be an influencer.

Google Maps quietly rolled out one of its most-requested features

Google Maps has added a new feature to its app: traffic lights at intersections in a number of US cities.

The tech company made the change “to help people stay better informed on the road,” a Google spokesperson said. The new road icons are visible in the app at intersections throughout US cities on both Android and iOS.
Google’s latest redesign for its navigation app, was unveiled last month. The update includes a “color-mapping algorithmic technique” to help users more easily identify varying terrain types such as beaches and forests. The company said the Google Maps redesign also will include re-drawings of sidewalks and pedestrian islands for better navigation viewing.

Benjamin Harrison both succeeded and preceded Grover Cleveland as president.

Also, before signing North and South Dakota into statehood, he shuffled the papers around so no one would know which state entered the union first and proclaimed, “They were born together – they are one and I will make them twins.”

At 3:40 p.m. EST on Nov. 2, 1889, President Benjamin Harrison signed almost identical statehood proclamations that created North Dakota and South Dakota. No one will ever know which state was the 39th or the 40th to enter the Union because Harrison covered and shuffled the documents before and after signing them. He proudly declared, “They were born together – they are one and I will make them twins.”

It’s a good think King Solomon didn’t use the same approach with that baby. And that reminded me of a Facebook post that was shared with me.

Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’

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Bag of Randomness for Wednesday, September 2, 2020

I goofed on my Monday post. I should have stated I’m starting my 46th trip around the sun.

I’m having a small back procedure done today. I believe I’ll be getting four facet injections which will require me to go under. Because of COVID concerns, my Wife can’t stay at the hospital, so for two-and-a half hours she has to find something to do until they call her and say I’m in the “wake-up” room. This procedure is being performed by a pain-management doctor located in Addison. One of the principal reasons I chose him was that he was “in-network”. He works at several hospitals, but my employer changed providers, so the only hospital “in-network” is over an hour away in Rockwall. It’s a good thing Trump and Moscow Mitch have been working on a better healthcare plan, it’s not like they haven’t had time to work on it.

Welp, they won my business.

Old Navy Will Pay Employees To Work At The Polls, Joining Corporate America In Encouraging Workers to Vote

Old Navy announced on Tuesday, which is also National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, that it will pay its employees to work at polling stations come Election Day. The fashion retailer will compensate associates with a day of pay, regardless if they are scheduled to work on November 3.

“We learned that America is facing a record shortage of poll workers, estimated at 250,000. We saw a unique opportunity to tap into our community-minded workforce to serve this need and make a meaningful impact,” Nancy Green, Head of Old Navy, told Newsweek.

Store employees will also be offered up to three hours of paid time off on Election Day to vote, while headquarters will have a “no meetings day.”

My SAT score was abysmal, I couldn’t even get over 900. For the longest time, I let it define me

University of California System can’t use SAT and ACT tests for admissions, judge rules

The University of California system can no longer use ACT and SAT tests as a determinant for admissions, a superior court judge has ruled, handing a victory to students with disabilities.

The “test optional” policy at most UC campuses affords privileged, non-disabled students a “second look” in admissions, said Brad Seligman, the Alameda County Superior Court Judge who issued the preliminary injunction in the case of Kawika Smith v. Regents of the University of California on Tuesday.
At the same time, he said, a “second look” would be denied to less privileged students and students with disabilities who are unable to access the tests. Therefore, the conclusion is to do away with the tests all together.

Here’s an example of why I can’t stand being on the Nextdoor app, this message was sent the last week of August. How much trouble can buying a couple of bags of candy be, and why plan so far ahead?

A seal in Japan.

It’s a baby Godzilla.

https://twitter.com/mental_floss/status/1300889876464893952?s=09

I never knew Larry Flint and the elder Falwell became friends.

Larry Flynt: My Final Farewell to the Falwell

The legal battle lasted five years, from 1983 to 1988, including three decisions against me in federal courts. There was an important principle at stake: the right of artists, writers, and publishers to satirize public figures. Finally, I was vindicated by the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision written by conservative Chief Justice William Rehnquist. This case is often cited as a landmark ruling for the preservation of our First Amendment rights to free speech.

Ironically, Falwell Sr. and I actually became friends later. We enjoyed many cordial visits, participated in debates across the country, and even exchanged Christmas cards. I have to concede that his friendship with me proves that, for the most part, he was practicing an essential tenet of his faith, forgiveness, and was a sincere Christian.

Dutch photographer uses AI to create a photo of what Jesus may have looked like

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Bag of Randomness for Monday, August 31, 2020

Yesterday, I started my 45th trip around the sun. DaughterGeeding gifted me this  handiwork.

https://twitter.com/edrinwilliams/status/1299685154739363840?s=09

A Christian fund raising site has earned more than $240,000 for alleged Kenosha shooter, Kyle Rittenhouse.

The NBA isn’t perfect, but I love how they are leading the other leagues in terms of social justice and engaging in the community. It’s outstanding that all their home arenas will become voting centers.

2020 has been rough on us all, but I’m thinking how tough it has been on the black community losing some significant figures such as John Lewis, Kobe Bryant, and now Chadwick Boseman. Those are big losses in civil rights/politics, sports, and entertainment. I suppose Boseman is the modern-day and black version of James Dean.

Still looking for that blue jean, baby queen. Prettiest girl I ever seen. See her shake on the movie screen, Jimmy Dean (James Dean) Rock on. Rock on. Rock on …

Double rainbows are cool, not only because of their rarity and beauty, but the order of the colors are inverted on the opposing rainbow.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – University of Alabama orders faculty to keep quiet about outbreak

Administration officials at the University of Alabama reportedly have ordered the school’s professors to keep quiet about the coronavirus amid an outbreak that infected more than 500 students during the first week of classes.

Faculty in multiple departments said they received emails this week telling them not to discuss the situation in classrooms and to keep students in the dark if they became aware of anyone contracting the virus, according to an exclusive report by The Daily Beast.

“Do not tell the rest of the class,” the email reads, with the word “not” underlined, the Beast reported.

The FBI warned for years that police are cozy with the far right. Is no one listening? – I was an FBI agent who infiltrated white supremacists. Too many local police don’t take the far right seriously – or actively sympathize

This three-year-old girl held on for dear life at this kite festival in Taiwan. I cued this video to the part where she takes off.

Groom jokes that 2020 ‘has not been the best year’ – and then lightning strikes at his wedding

A Tesla Employee Thwarted an Alleged Ransomware Plot – Elon Musk confirmed Thursday night that a ransomware gang had approached a Gigafactory employee with alleged promises of a big payout.

Earlier this month, according to a recently unsealed criminal complaint, a 27-year-old Russian man named Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov met an old associate who now worked at Tesla at a bar in Reno. They drank till last call. At some point in the evening, the FBI says, Kriuchkov took the person’s phone, put it on top of his own, and placed both devices at arm’s length—the universal sign that he was about to say something for their ears only. He then invited the Tesla employee to collaborate with a “group” that carries out “special projects.” More specifically, he offered the staffer $500,000 to install malware on his employer’s network that would be used to ransom its data for millions of dollars.

But I liked the robot, it totally fit Paulie’s personality.

Sylvester Stallone’s ‘Rocky IV’ Director’s Cut Will Eliminate Paulie’s Robot

In real life, the robot, named Sico, was built to work with autistic children. One of Stallone’s children is autistic, and he reached out to the robot’s creator Robert Doornick about seeing if his son could meet Sico. He liked the robot enough to put him in Rocky IV. Later, Paulie’s Robot even got an action figure.

Not anymore. If you look at the comments on the Instagram post above, you’ll see several fans asking about Paulie’s robot. When one asks Stallone not to cut the robot, Sly responds “I don’t like the robot anymore,” then tells another “The robot is going to the junkyard forever.”

Blinded by the light.

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