Your Bag of Nothing for Thursday, July 31, 2024

  • That is the claw of a harpy eagle. The harpy eagle reaches a maximum length of 40 inches and typically weighs anywhere from 11 to 20 lb. depending on its gender and habitat. A bald eagle, on the other hand, often varies in size. Some bald eagles may range anywhere from 28 to 38 inches in length. How does the harpy eagle’s talon compare to a grizzled bear’s claw? Well, since you asked.
  • The Personal Check Is Disappearing. Here’s What Comes Next
    • The average American writes just one check a year, down from 3 in 2016, according to a Federal Reserve survey.

  • A nice moment that can only happen at the Olympics. But I’ll be honest, I didn’t think North Korea was capable of winning any medal at any event –South Korea’s Lim Jonghoon takes a selfie with his teammate Shin Yubin and Chinese and North Korean mixed table tennis team medallists at Paris 2024. China took gold, North Korea Silver, and South Korea Bronze. Given that the selfie was apparently taken on a Samsung folding phone, which is a South Korean company.
  • Maya Rudolph To Play Kamala Harris On ‘Saturday Night Live’ Through 2024 Presidential Election

  • Being a ‘Childless’ President Was Once Seen as a Virtue –  Ask George Washington
  • New Oklahoma Bible directive faces pushback from several schools
    • Several Oklahoma schools are speaking out against State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ directive to teach the Bible in public school grades 5 through 12. Walters recently released guidelines on his controversial Bible mandate in public schools after ordering educators to incorporate the religious text into their lessons, arguing that the Bible is necessary to ensure “students grasp the core values and historical context of our country.”
    • When I was a freshman in college, I had to give a five-minute persuasive speech in a communications class. I chose to argue that the Bible should be taught in public schools. Or, maybe it was prayer? I can’t remember. I’m sure for some of you, that comes as a big surprise. This is something I think about when I hear someone will never change their opinion on something.
    • Curious, I looked up the guidelines. They are as follows:

      • Upper Elementary (5)

        • Narrative Elements: Discuss the elements of a story, such as plot, characters and setting, using biblical stories as examples.
        • Historical Context: Begin introducing the historical context in which these stories were written and their impact on Western culture.
        • Literary Devices: Identify and discuss simple literary devices such as similes, metaphors and personification within biblical texts.
        • Music Appreciation: Introduce students to classical music pieces inspired by biblical themes, discussing the historical context and significance without focusing on religious content.

      • Middle School (6-8)

        • Textual Analysis: Engage students in more detailed analysis of biblical texts, focusing on language, structure and themes.
        • Comparative Literature: Compare biblical stories with myths and legends from other cultures, examining similarities and differences.
        • Historical Impact: Discuss the influence of the Bible and historical events and figures.
        • Art and Music Exploration: Study famous artworks and musical compositions inspired by biblical themes, discussing their impact on culture and society while remaining mindful of all rules for grade-level and age-level appropriate material.

      • High School (9-12)

        • Advances Literary Analysis: Conduct in-depth analysis of complex biblical texts, examining themes, motifs and literary techniques.
        • Historical Documents: Study primary historical documents and speeches that reference the Bible, exploring their significance and context.
        • Ethical and Philosophical Discussions: Facilitate discussions on the ethical and philosophical ideas presented in the Bible and their influence on Western thought.
        • Critical Essays: Assign essays that require critical thinking and analysis of the Bible’s role in literature, history and culture.
        • Art and Music Appreciation: Analyze and interpret significant artworks and musical pieces inspired by the Bible, understanding their historical and cultural relevance while remaining mindful of all rules for grade-level and age-level appropriate material.
  • China is using lasers to stop drivers from falling asleep on roads
    @dailymail Authorities in China have installed lasers on highways to stop drivers from falling asleep at the wheel #fyp #china #laser #rainbowroad #rave #mariokart #antisleep ♬ original sound – Daily Mail

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Your Bag of Nothing for Thursday, July 31, 2024

Your Bag of Randomness for Monday, July 1, 2024

  • Here’s the best comment I’ve read about last week’s debate, “The only winners were the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space probes, which are hurtling away from Earth at 0ver 35,000 mph.”
  • A former Texas middle-school teacher who was impregnated by a 13-year-old student has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
    • The boy’s family was ok with it.
    • She told neighbors the boy was her brother.
    • She moved the boy and his father into her home and told others she was dating the father.
    • She bought groceries and paid phone bills for the boy’s family.
    • Her 6-year-old daughter called the boy “Dad.”
  • I’ve been devouring WWII documentaries as of late. There are so many things I wish I could ask my dad, who served in the war. And I’m not even talking about significant events; I want to know the mundane things that aren’t recorded in the history books. But the thing is, a lot of times, he was reluctant to talk about his experiences. I remember asking him where he was when JFK was assassinated, and he gave me a detailed answer about how things immediately changed at Fort Wolters and all the responsibilities suddenly thrust upon him. He would openly talk about his time at boot camp when he enlisted in the Navy. But if I asked him anything about the time his plane got shot down in the Pacific and was lost at sea with his crew, I couldn’t get anything out of him. That came about going through his mother’s things and finding paperwork from the government informing his parents that he was MIA.
    • Hmm. It just occurred to me that he’s the first thing I think about when I hear anything related to WWII. And at this stage in life and everything I’ve gone through, I’ve really missed hin and wish I could have his counsel. Maybe I’m devouring all this WWII stuff because I’m trying to connect with my father.
  • Netflix has a documentary about the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party that I have found fascinating. But what’s eerie is that I see a lot, and I mean a lot, of similarities between Trump and MAGA. I’m doing my best to be objective because I know I’m biased. We all are. That’s when I wish there were another adult in the house so I could talk through things like this.
    • Here’s something I didn’t know. President Truman appointed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson to serve as United States Chief of Counsel to prosecute Nazi war criminals, and he delivered the trial’s opening statement to the four-nation International Military Tribunal (IMT) at Nuremberg in November 1945. One person in the documentary referred to it as a masterpiece. I like how the justice realized it was an honor. It also made me think and ponder if Jackson ever considered the possibility he would serve as an attorney again after joining the Supreme Court. Life is crazy, and what history will call a person to do is unpredictable and incredible. FWIW, his seat is currently occupied by Chief Justice John Roberts.
    • Here are some notes he wrote about the experience:
      • The speech also seemed to have important public consequences because it would be the first full disclosure of the materials that we had captured and had at hand, and of the use we attempted to make of them. I had a rather strong sense of responsibility about the speech and recognized that it was probably the most important task of my life.
  • The first stop on my road trip with BoyGeeding was the Clinton Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Y’all know how much I love presidential history, so it was a great experience for me, and I could have stayed there all day.
    • When we entered, we were told a free tour would start in 15 minutes. In the meantime, BoyGeeding just wanted to roam around. As soon as you get upstairs, you see a replica of the Cabinet Room. It was beautiful, and all bits of presidential trivia ran through my head like knowing the table was a gift donated by Richard Nixon. The title of each cabinet role (i.e., Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury) is on the back of each chair. What’s neat is that when one of the cabinet secretaries leaves, they have the option of purchasing their chair and take it with them. Several have done so, and when hired for another cabinet role with another administration, they brought it back.
      • No one was around; it was quiet. A security guard appeared—an older black gentleman. He pointed to the center chair and said, “You see that chair there? It’s two inches taller than all the others. That’s the president’s chair.” I smiled, nodded, and resisted the urge to add anything else. That’s a bad habit I’m working on. And I’m glad I did. He then pointed at BoyGeeding and said, “Young man, come here,” and pulled out the chair for Walter. My son sat in the chair and politely thanked the man after he pushed him in. As I stepped back to take a picture, he put his hand up and told me to hold up. “Let me straighten out these flags for ya.” I can’t express how much his act of kindness and grace touched me. When I prayed at the end of the day, I made sure to let God know how grateful I was for that man and experience. Heck, he made me want to be a better man. So, all that to say, that’s how I got these pictures.
Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Your Bag of Randomness for Monday, July 1, 2024

Your Bag of Randomness for Friday, June 28, 2024

  • So, this is what it feels like to be in a late-stage empire.
  • That was tough to watch last night, especially if you lean left. Like I said yesterday, the incumbent president always performs poorly in the first debate. I think that will always hold true.
  • I like to pretend I’m a campaign advisor. I guess you can say I’m an armchair political consultant. But I’m not sure what I’d say to the Biden campaign. I don’t question his mental acuity, but I do have some concerns. Performance-wise, his speech impediment makes things look much worse than they really are. If there’s one thing I’d advise, I would encourage him not to repeat his answers. He likes to do that for emphasis, and it’s a crutch for his speech impediment, but it doesn’t make that elderly man appear sharp-minded. There’s also no hiding his voice, which doesn’t have the vigor it once had and sounds soft. I bet he’s advised to save his voice and not speak much before the debate. That should be changed; it takes his voice a little bit to warm up. In a nationally televised debate, you must come out full throttle and with your vocals thoroughly warmed up. Heck, I learned that in my high school drama class. His words no longer come out sharp and crisp, and he has to clear his throat a lot. I don’t know how to compensate for that. As for Trump, you got everything you expected. It doesn’t matter what he says or how wrong or right he is; he believes what he says and does it confidently. It was his debate to lose, and he even kept his temperament.
  • If the Democrats want to keep Biden at the top of the ticket, I’d put a whole, a whole lot more of attention on the VP.
  • And here’s a macabre hypothetical: what would things look like if both candidates died of natural causes next week?
  • So, this is Biden after the debate. Why didn’t this version show up for the debate? Is this an AI trick?

  • Newsome/Whitmer 2028. But keep a close eye on Maryland’s Wes Moore.
  • It’s one of those things you’ve thought about but never really thought about – The difference between potting soil and garden soil
    • Potting soil, also called potting mix, is a blend of materials like sphagnum moss, bark, perlite, vermiculite, compost or coir that’s intended for growing plants in containers. Guess what it doesn’t have? Soil. That’s because soil can carry fungus and other plant pathogens that can infect your plants. Potting mix is sterile, so it’s fungus-free and safer for potted plants.
  • “Don’t ask how people are doing; ask how they are sleeping. You’ll learn a lot more.”
  • Oklahoma state superintendent announces all schools must incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments in curriculums
  • Some bars and eateries are banning 20-somethings. Can it become a widespread practice?
  • This is a great way to honor Alex Trebek.
  • All of these transfer portal memes cracked me up.

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Your Bag of Randomness for Friday, June 28, 2024

Your Bag of Randomness for Thursday, June 27, 2024

  • Today is the big day for our two presidential candidates. I read one book on presidential history that mentioned that historically, the sitting president usually performs very poorly in the first debate and then listed a sleuth of examples. So, historically speaking, Biden should do poorly tonight. Part of the reason is the “protected bubble” they live in and having experienced deference in the Oval Office; It’s also because, after four years in office, they are playing defense and don’t focus on comparing and contrasting themself with their opponent. Because of a sitting record, it becomes a disadvantage. The trick is to make the viewer see it as a choice instead of a referendum. Maybe it’s because of his age, but Biden’s team appears overly prepared. Trump is not your typical opponent. It shall be interesting, especially with the cut-off mics. For the first time since 1976, the presidential debate was not organized by and conducted pursuant to the Commission on Presidential Debates’ rules which means the debate will not occur in front of a live audience.
  • This isn’t a prediction, but one if I was managing Trump’s campaign and he had a poor debate performance, I’d immediately release the name of the VP to draw away attention.
  • Today is the 26th anniversary of my father’s death. It happened at just about 8:00 PM. I remember telling God that the last thing I want to happen is to be alone with him when he passes, and that’s precisely what happened.
  • It’s funny how the Aggies had nothing but praise for their head baseball coach, Jim Schlossnagle, last week and boasted about the man of integrity and character he is, especially after that incident in which two adult fans got kicked out. Don’t get me wrong; the coach is garbage for going off on a reporter asking him about his job status and leaving to go to their arch-rival less than 24 hours later. But this is college sports today; it’s all about business. Student-athletes are now literally being paid to play, and college coaches (especially football, see Tommy Tuberville and Lincoln Riley) have been shafting their players for years. But this is just further evidence that College Station isn’t home to the top Texas university and Aggies are insecure about it. Heck, they have a fight song about desecrating the other school’s mascot and can only refer to the school in lowercase letters and out of order.
  • I’d like to know what Scholssnagle would have done if his Aggies had won the baseball national championship. Also, I’ve always been confused as to who the University of Texas’s arch-rival is. Is it Oklahoma, or is it that school in College Station? It’s never been clear to me, and you can only have one arch-rival.
  • Something I felt under-reported was Northwestern University performing a kidney transplant with the patient awake, and because the recovery time is quicker, this looks like the future of medicine.
  • I was watching a WWII special last night on the Battle of Berlin. It stated the Soviets lost 81,000 soldiers and the Germans lost around 92,000. That’s a lot of people who die at the end of a war. That made me think about the possibility of invading Japan if they didn’t surrender and the number of deaths that would bring.
  • The German army used around three million horses throughout WWII.
  • I learned the Yemen Houthi rebels have tried to spread a rumor that they have heavily damaged and even sunk the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, an aircraft carrier. One way the captain raises morale is to call random sailors to sit in the captain’s chair and have a cookie and post it to Twitter/X.
  • I was surprised to learn that most self-checkout registers allow you to flip the coin slot up so you can pour in handfuls of coins. The registers will determine if you put in too much and give you change back in dollar bills. Here’s a TikTok of what I’m talking about.
    @joshawarrior

    #lpt #lifeprotip #target #coinstar #sparechange #lifehack #moneysavingtip

    ♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) – 山口夕依

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Your Bag of Randomness for Thursday, June 27, 2024