Stevie Ray Vaughan +29 years

Stevie Ray Vaughan died on this day 29 years ago.

Free-Speech Clichés Everyone Should Stop Using

Ken White, writing at the Atlantic:

If I ask 10 physics professors what will happen if I drop my pencil and why, they will all say: “It will fall, because of gravity.” There is very little risk that they will say “Well, maybe it will fall or maybe it won’t” because they think gravity is unfair. But if I put 10 law or political-science professors on TV and ask them whether particular speech is protected by the First Amendment, there is a substantial chance that some of them will give responses based on what they think the law ought to be, not based on what it is.

Thursday 22nd of August 2019

“A new iPhone accessory will help you take selfies with your cat—it’s called divorce and it retails for half your money.”
—David Spade, Lights Out S1E12, 8/15/2019. youtu.be/KQtWfWiy4…

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Thursday 22nd of August 2019

🎶Listening to “Miles Runs the Voodoo Down” by Miles Davis from the album Bitches Brew…

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Friday 16th of August 2019

R.I.P. Peter Fonda. Peter Fonda, ‘Easy Rider’ Actor and Screenwriter, Is Dead at 79

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Thursday 15th of August 2019

“The war in Afghanistan has become America’s longest war not because U.S. security interests necessitate it, nor because the battlefield realities are insurmountable, but because of inertia.“ Overcoming Inertia: Why It’s Time to End the War in Afghanistan

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Wednesday 7th of August 2019

“In any other business, hard work is something to behold. Why not in film performance?” Nicolas Cage on his legacy, his philosophy of acting and his metaphorical — and literal — search for the Holy Grail.

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Tuesday 6th of August 2019

“The data on bananas causing suicide is about as conclusive,” said Dr. Ferguson. “Literally. The numbers work out about the same.” Politicians Again Blame Video Games for Shootings, Despite Evidence

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Times: Shootings Spur Debate on Extremism and Guns, With Trump on Defense

Alexander Burns writing in the paper of record:

The politics of American gun violence follow a predictable pattern in most cases: outraged calls for action from the left, somber gestures of sympathy from the right, a subdued presidential statement delivered from a prepared text — and then, in a matter of days or even hours, a national turning of the page to other matters.

But after a white supremacist gunman massacred 22 people in El Paso, the political world hurtled on Monday toward a more expansive, and potentially more turbulent, confrontation over racist extremism.

What we need–at the very least–is a dialogue. Unfortunately, the NRA-types are unwilling to even discuss our nation’s massive problem of gun violence. Now, don’t get me wrong: I’m a libertarian for fuck’s sake, so I’m squarely in the ‘2nd Amendment Supporter’ corner. But, what I’m not is a fucking ostrich sticking my head in the sand*.

The writing’s on the wall, people: seventy percent (70%) of Americans do not own a single firearm of any kind — not even grandpa’s old hunting rifle kept in a rifle case in the attic. And when those 70% get good and fed up with the gun violence, and the NRA-types aren’t even willing to discuss the situation, those 70% will take unilateral action and none of us 2nd Amendment supporters are going to like it one little bit.

Here’s a radical idea: let’s talk this out like grown-ups, shall we? Who knows, maybe we can find some common ground, and make our nation safer for ourselves and our children.

yeah, in a minute…
* Yes, yes, I know that otriches don’t really stick their heads in the sand, but stick with me here, okay?

Holy Shit! Man Walks on Moon +50 Years

As you no doubt well know by now, today marks the 50th anniversary of man’s first steps on the Moon. Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Lightyear, er uh, that is to say, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin walked upon the surface of the Moon 50 years ago today, while astronaut Michael Collins orbitted the Moon in the CSM.

There’s no shortage of web coverage for this anniversary, so I’ll just link to NASA’s “Apollo 50th” site (above).