Sunday Rant - 4618

PN:

Joe’s Comment – the best thing to put on every morning – a great attitude!

Stephan Pastis
Joe and I can’t get enough of this man’s humor.
Especially Larry (and friends), the slower-than-average crocs.
A couple of gems –

John Stossel
Another video from our favorite Libertarian.
The man always exposes the heart of the matter in a direct and easily understood manner. No sophistry here:

Chris Rock
The video below is an oldie but goodie.
It was featured in our Sunday Rant 5014.
Joe thought we’d best do an update viewing by checking to see if Mr. Rock was exaggerating his pronouncement in the video re: current statistics.
Sadly, if anything, he was understating the reality.
The latest available crime stats in the good ol’ U.S. of A. are consistently anomalous in one regard: the male black population is over represented percentage wise for the most aggressive and heinous offenses.
The FBI stats for 2016 are here.
The bottom line (if there is one)?
Watch the video to learn the secret:

Literally (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
Joe and I get nervous at this concept – that taking things literally might not be a correct or acceptable interpretation.
We question when is taking things literally acceptable?
Wait a minute.
That didn’t come out right.
We don’t want to take things.
What we mean is when is it acceptable to take things literally?
Nope.
Not quite right.
Never mind, we’ll go at this from another perspective.
Joe and I have reacted to a question, a look, a gesture, a situation in what we thought was perfectly logical manner….. only to find we were the only persons who reacted as we did. One time we were the only one in a crowd of 100+.
We weren’t embarrassed.
Until someone(s) explained how we had not quite understood.
Here are a couple of examples –
See what we mean?
Each of these answers are logical.
Many times in the education of us we responded in a like manner.
Now we find out it might be an autistic spectrum disorder marker!
Kind of late to find out, but we’re now on the alert.
Joe says we are clueless, then surprised, like this parrot –

Joe’s Garage

Al Hale
Joe and I met Al a few years ago.
He had a wiring issue with a Genie scissor lift and called to see if I’d take a look.
Al has a passion for vintage military equipment.
The moment we entered his shop Joe damn near had a heart attack.
I couldn’t stop grinning and talking a mile a minute.
Since our first visit, Al’s collection has increased in number, and in quality.
This short community interest video shows some of the hardware:

Chinesium
There is a Canadian blogger named AvE.
Joe and I don’t know from whence he hails, who he is, or how he got there.
His videos are a gear head comedy from start to finish.
In this video, AvE disassembles a “Chinesium” product designed to produce compressed air:

AvEwerkz sells unique tools. Here’s a short video on a “purpose built” ruler:

Joe thinks this bloke is from the Maritimes based on his accent and phrases.
Very entertaining and instructional.
As the man says, “keep yer dick in a vise”.

POLITICS, POLITICIANS, WACKJOBBERY, HUMOROUS, STUPID

SUNDAY SERMON

Joe and I have a continuing admiration of Jordan Peterson.
He is becoming so familiar a “thought cloud” that we feel he is an old friend.
His schedule is hectic.
He is booked until the end of 2019.
Here is the introduction to a November presentation in Norway that was streamed live via the Internet.
This discussion reveals more intimate detail of his life and work.
This is the preamble to his presentation and Q & A which hasn’t been published (as of Thursday)
In this video Dave Rubin kicks off the program:

WEATHER (OR NOT)

This week in Vernon BC is a continuum of the last three weeks.
More cloud.
More rain.
More cold, but not freezing.
Our yard is a clay mud bog.
4 wheel drive is MANDATORY!
Before Joe hibernates (or shorts and spazzes out), a few soothing words from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (The Rainy Day) –
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
Joe says fine.
But every single day?