Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- Evergreen.

- Golfers

- Some Valentine's Day humor.

- Reminder.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Jonathan Turley on Jack Smith and Smith's disdain for the 1st amendment.

- Is the Iranian regime about to collapse?

- Some Americans say they will go without healthcare as Obamacare costs spike. First it was "If you like your doctor - you can keep your doctor" and now its "If you like your plan you can keep your plan." It was a lie all along.

- Burke's revolutionary reflection.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- We are risking a Brave New World. He's not wrong.

- From the archives: Peter Attia on using James Clear's Atomic Habits to reach your health goals.

- Japan unveils a space to earth wireless solar power link. The amount of power generated is potentially tremendous.

- Jonathan Turley: the UK's healthcare disaster is a cautionary tale for America. Obamacare is a disaster.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Why Congress should let the enhanced ACA subsidies expire. Agree 100%.

- From the archives: Do other countries do it? A simple litmus test for RFK Jr's ideas.

- Antisemitism and Anti-Americanism are Evil Twins. Agree 100%.

- Energy and the EU. "National security requires AI. AI requires energy." Not a fan of solar though.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Why did Democrats fight so long - before caving?

- How Obamacare works - or since it was enacted - doesn't work.

- LSU now saying it did not formally terminate Brian Kelly. That's a bold strategy there LSU - let's see if it works.

- VDH: The race for the Trump economy. Would be funny if the Trump Administration adopted the phrase "Build back better - this time for real!" as their motto.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- James Boasberg the Deep State's favorite judge. He deserves to be impeached. No one is above the law.

- Everything is TV. Social Media is not social.

- From the archives: The 3 characteristics of an educated man.

- See the False Framing in the Shutdown Fight

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- He's not wrong (and maybe why the DNC is giving free abortions and vasectomies at the Convention)

- Navy using Starlink to bring internet connectivity to ships at sea. Is it strange that the press release seems to avoid using the name Starlink even though physical pictures show its Starlink?

- 15 states sue Biden/Harris Administration for enrolling non-citizens in Obamacare. Illegal aliens should not be eligible for any federal benefits - or voting in elections. That used to be common sense.

- Tim Walz is a gaffe factory. Love that phrase - hope it sticks.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

We all know someone who was really sick back in February of 2020. Based on what we now know about the actual origins of the virus - what are the chances those folks really did have COVID back then? Starting to think the odds are pretty good... Harry Potter's resume... Remember when Obama said Obamacare would save the average family $2500 a year in health costs? That was a blatant lie. That was six years ago and I feel Obama and the Democrats owe my family $15,000 plus interest. Pay up - or at least admit you were blatantly lying and apologize to the American people... Very cool - the surface of Pluto... Who knew? The word "fad" is actually an acronym for "For a day"...  American households continue to have to spend less every year on food.  Good news although I think that trend may be reversed partially this year due to supply chain and inflation factors...

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

My big fear regarding the Reddit / GameStop situation is that it just could give China and Russia ideas on how to fuck with us...Just a reminder that the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) said up to 14 million Americans could go without heath insurance if the Individual Mandate was removed from Obamacare. It was removed and the actual number of uninsured Americans was closer to 2.5 million with the majority of that number young people who did not want to pay for health insurance... President Biden to sign Executive Order forcing professional sports leagues to cease using something called the "Disabled List" and instead change to something called the "Differently Abled List"... I have to wonder how many of those 2.5 million uninsured were young people who used the money they would have paid for health insurance plans and instead bought Bitcoin or GameStop stock?... Evidence of society getting lazier: in the 1950's it was called "pornographic movies," in the 70's it was shortened to "porno's" and today simply "porn." In 20 years it will just be "P".... Meaty Appendages would be a good name for fake meat chicken wings (or a gay gym)...   

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Marilyn Monroe once famously sang Happy Birthday to You (Mister President) to JFK. What's lesser known is that Kennedy never paid the licensing fee for the song. That was the real reason JFK was killed. The Happy Birthday to You rights holders don't friggin' mess around... FACT: Donald Trump has never been defeated in the Octogon by any other President living or dead. You can't argue with facts!... Excellent point... I'm going to have business cards printed up that say "Chris Lynch - Public Intellectual and Thought Leader" because why not?... Speaking of Trump "Loki Never Forgets an Insult" would make a great Trump 2020 campaign slogan... A reminder on the wisdom of the masses - a 1967 Gallup poll found almost twice as many Americans supported nuking North Vietnam as opposed to those who supported withdrawing from the war... It's possible that when parents started to tell children not to be "fresh" (i.e. talking back) is when America started having an obesity problem. "Do you want some fresh fruits or vegetables?" "No - my parents told me not to be fresh"... Remember until you pin me Festivus is not over!...

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Out of curiosity - will the Democrats be asking families to talk about healthcare at the Thanksgiving dinner table this year?... And speaking of Thanksgiving - an oral history of the infamous WKRP turkey drop episode... Even with all my success - I'm still just Chris from the Hood...  FootballReference.com has one of Tom Brady's nicknames as "The Pharaoh". Nobody calls him that. I think someone on the site's staff just randomly adds a ridiculous nickname to see if anyone notices... You have to think that the reason President Obama did not give Joe Biden his endorsement was because he knew his buddy Deval Patrick was going to run. Now it seems like Obama's endorsement will be going to waste... The Monarch butterfly egg more beautiful than a Faberge Egg...  Instead of saying "You're welcome" I'm going to try saying "Epstein didn't kill himself" instead. Will be interesting to see if I get any reactions...

Stop & Shop Strike

Workers at supermarket chain Stop & Shop are on strike in three New England states and are asking shoppers to go elsewhere for their grocery needs until the contract dispute is resolved.

I'm generally pro-union but I'm always pro common sense. And this makes no sense.

I normally don't shop at Stop & Shop because they are more expensive than other options for me that are also more convenient. Many of the people in New England who decline to cross the picket line will end up at Price Chopper which is non-union (with lower prices). How does that help the striking United Food and Commercial Workers? It doesn't.

Elizabeth Warren has come out in support of the striking Stop & Shop workers but how much do you want to bet that she normally shops at Whole Foods which is also non-union?

The workers are mainly striking to keep their healthcare at their current levels. This is the same union that supported Barack Obama in both elections but immediately sought a waiver to Obamacare once it was passed. Healthcare costs have risen greatly since Obamacare. My health insurance, for example, went up almost $300 per month but the company I work for, like most companies, was not granted a waiver. As Obama said, "Elections have consequences." And one of the consequences these workers are facing now is the fact that healthcare has been made more expensive due to things their union supported.

Something the rest of us have been dealing with for years.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Grand Canyon visitors may have been exposed to radioactive materials for more than two decades

- David McMillan of Joe Beef discusses how stopping drinking has changed and bettered his life and relationships. He also recently discussed this at length on a podcast with Joe Rogan.

- Heh Heh

- CBO estimates on Obamacare were way off. The CBO projected that 14 million would go without healthcare due to Republican changes but that number turns out to be just 2.5 million - who it should be noted voluntarily decided against making the purchase. Of all the topics the Democrat candidates have been pushing in order to get attention the individual mandate is no longer one of them. That in itself is very telling.

- Cool - the birth of a planetary system.

- Meanwhile in Canada a corruption scandal could cost Justin Trudeau his job. Polls show Liberal support dropping. Maybe Trudeau can get a job as a yoga instructor? Amusing to think Trump might outlast Trudeau when you look back on all the fawning that was done over the young Prime Minister.

- This is all you need to see to understand the Jussie Smollett hoax.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- US Military to send hospital ship to aid countries trying to deal with Venezuelans fleeing failed state. We should also send some food ships too. Good on General Mattis.

- Excellent point. 100% true when it comes to sports news.

- Media ignore record low Obamacare rate hikes. You know why.

- Dating in the 21st century. Read the thread!

- Exploding Sunroofs would also be a good name for a band.

- Ha ha - awesome!

- Honestly going to Mars in an "RV" holds no appeal to me. How long would that trip be? Maybe a week in an RV may be my max.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Socialism fights obesity! And true socialism has yet to be tried!

- The women who took on the mafia

- This was really cool

- The government really shouldn't be making dietary rules. Historically they are always wrong when they do.

- The Boston Bruins have quietly become one of the elite teams in the NHL. And coach Bruce Cassidy should be the leader for NHL Coach of the Year.

- Long article but worth it to get to suggestions on how Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein can fix the mess the FBI is in with the Mueller investigation.

- "The coolest photo I have ever seen"

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Alex Trebek recovering from blood clots on the brain. Prognosis looks good. Alex is the man!

- Holy crap! Only people over 35 probably get the joke.

- Interesting - Obamacare to die in a whimper. If insurance companies could offer a plan with full Obamacare coverage but also other lower cost plans more customized to individual needs - how many people would buy the Obamacare coverage? Almost nobody?

- Heh heh

- Interesting new potential solar cell window technology

- If you really wanted to ban slaughterbots - you never should have given them such a very cool name. Slaughterbots! I don't think they understand how most people will think this is cool technology.

- Chelsea Clinton denies being a Satanist. Maybe it was just a phase?

Easter Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations on this Easter Sunday.

Happy Easter to you and yours!... Between the NeverTrump crowd and the BernieOrBust die hards - I really think there's an opening for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson this November... Grizzly Slippers would be a good name for a band... Everything that's coming and going from Netflix in April... Sad state of social media reality - if Gary Johnson wants to be taken seriously he really needs to have much more than 137,000 Twitter followers... The Passive Aggression of the Christ (I'm going to hell)... Funny how some people who argue that it is wrong to lie to kids about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny still hold fast to the delusion that Obamacare is a workable solution... Not sure what bothered me more as a kid - learning there was no Easter Bunny or learning that Eric Estrada's first name is actually Henry... Yep - I'm going to hell...

Proposed Healthcare Changes

I used to think that Donald Trump's suggestion regarding removing the "lines between the states" regarding buying healthcare was a good idea. After reading this Weekly Standard piece - not so much anymore.

Having said the above - here are three changes I would make to the healthcare system in the US:

1. Make dropping a subscriber due to a pre-existing condition illegal. I know that this is part of Obamacare but since I want to scrap Obamacare - this is one part I'd like to salvage.

2. Increase the maximum contribution to FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts) from $2500 to $5000. Also change the "use it or lose it" aspect of FSA's so that any unused monies can be deposited into either a 401K or IRA account prior to April 15th the following year. With more pre-tax money at stake and money that doesn't have to be used by December 31st - people would become more circumspect on how their healthcare money is spent. That should help make the healthcare system more cost effective. And the money not spent being, in effect, pumped back into the stock market would be good overall for the US economy.

3. Change the healthcare plan being "owned" by the employer to being "owned" by the employee. The employer would offer a healthcare plan but also offer the cash equivalent of that plan to the employee in case the employee had a plan from a previous job or just a plan they wanted to be part of (maybe via a fraternal organization or the like). A Catholic hospital could offer a plan that did not include coverage of birth control or abortions but non-Catholic employees would be free to use the cash equivalent to purchase plans that do. Problem solved by a common sense approach.

EDIT: I was a dope and confusing HSA's with FSA's. Fixed.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Can anyone recall the last time Bill Belichick mismanaged the game clock? How come almost every NFL coach seems to have problems with this?... This is pretty amazing... I think the word "orgasm" should be replaced by the word "culminate"... Some historians suggest that the new invention of chlorinated water may have saved more lives of soldiers at the front in World War I than were lost by deaths from chlorine gas in that same war... Obamacare is a dumpster fire... Hey look at me! Just an observation but guys with tattoos on their calves are more likely to wear shorts in the winter... The Jets are saddled with a 5-year $71 million contract to Darrelle Revis. Just saying but you don't see the Patriots getting stuck with deals like that... Excellent point... A "monger" of fish and a "monger" of whores engage in two very different activities... Dear Santa - all I want for Christmas is for you to bring back Orange Zima... The work of art Dogs Playing Poker sells for over $650,000...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Nation's largest insurer may exit Obamacare exchanges because of losses

- My take is Belichick knows real support for the military and the fake stuff probably gets under his skin.

- Am I a bad person for laughing at this?

- My heart goes out to Doug Flutie and his family

- John Bolton makes an excellent point regarding refugees

- Heh heh

- The Jets aren't getting their money's worth out of their secondary. I've said all along that the reason the Patriots did not exercise their option on Revis was because he was no longer worth that sort of money.

- Cool - the billionaire bench player