Author: fish1964

  • Michael Moore Called it in July

    Written in July, Michael Moore wrote why he thought Trump would win. He said Trump would win Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. And he focused on the enthusiasm gap:

    And there is no doubt in my mind that if people could vote from their couch at home on their X-box or PlayStation, Hillary would win in a landslide.

    But that is not how it works in America. People have to leave the house and get in line to vote. And if they live in poor, Black or Hispanic neighborhoods, they not only have a longer line to wait in, everything is being done to literally stop them from casting a ballot. So in most elections it’s hard to get even 50% to turn out to vote. And therein lies the problem for November – who is going to have the most motivated, most inspired voters show up to vote? You know the answer to this question. Who’s the candidate with the most rabid supporters? Whose crazed fans are going to be up at 5 AM on Election Day, kicking ass all day long, all the way until the last polling place has closed, making sure every Tom, Dick and Harry (and Bob and Joe and Billy Bob and Billy Joe and Billy Bob Joe) has cast his ballot?  That’s right. That’s the high level of danger we’re in. And don’t fool yourself — no amount of compelling Hillary TV ads, or outfacting him in the debates or Libertarians siphoning votes away from Trump is going to stop his mojo.

  • If Not Now, When?

    An uplifting message from Seth Godin on Election Day:

    Care a little more.

    Show up.

    Embrace possibility.

    Tell the truth.

    Dive deeper.

    Seek the truth behind the story.

    Ask the difficult question.

    Lend a hand.

    Dance with fear.

    Play the long game.

    Say ‘no’ to hate.

    Look for opportunities, especially when it seems like there aren’t any left.

    Risk a bigger dream.

    Take care of the little guy.

    Offer a personal insight.

    Build something magical.

    Keep your promises.

    Do work that matters.

    Expect more.

    Sign your work.

    Be generous for no reason.

    Give the benefit of the doubt.

    Develop empathy.

    Make your mom proud.

    Take responsibility.

    Give credit.

    Play by a better set of rules.

    Choose your customers.

    Choose your reputation.

    Choose your future.

    Thank the ref.

    Reward patience.

    Leap.

    Breathe.

    Because we can.

    It really is up to us. Which is great, because we’re capable of changing everything if we choose.

    All we can do is all we can do, but maybe, all we can do is enough.

  • Won’t Blow Up Planet

    From Andy Borowitz at The New Yorker:

    Delivering her closing argument of the 2016 campaign, Hillary Clinton has replaced her campaign slogan, “Stronger Together,” with a new one, “Won’t Blow Up Planet.”

    According to Clinton-campaign sources, the new slogan is designed to appeal to suburban women, a group of voters that has historically opposed blowing up the planet.

    But, even as Clinton spoke, the slogan came under fire from Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, who said that it reflected “the failed policies of the past.”

    “The American people have just had eight years of a President who didn’t blow up the planet,” Conway said. “Donald Trump is offering something different.”

  • Vote

  • Um, Ball?

    As a Yankee fan, I really don’t care who wins the World Series, but it’s been a fun one to watch. While paying attention online I saw this:

    image

    I realize the ESPN web page isn’t authoritative for pitch location, but seriously?

  • Happy Halloween from NASA

    Via the Verge, what happens when NASA engineers carve pumpkins

  • Undefeated!

    My daughter’s middle school volleyball team just finished an undefeated season.

    To top off going undefeated in their league, they also beat their hated Brooklyn rival, a larger school in a different league (with generally good teams).

     

    Undefeated
    Danielle is left of the really tall girl…

     

    Go Brooklyn Friends. Apparently Quakers can kick butt…

  • Chick Corea Turns 75

    I guess he turned 75 this summer, but he’s celebrating by doing 8 weeks at the Blue Note in NYC with more than a dozen different bands. Last night we saw one of them.

    It was the classic “man we need to do this more often” night. My wife got tickets to the Miles Davis tribute band, knowing that I’m a Miles fan.

    The Blue Note is small and they basically pack in as many people as the fire marshal allows. It’s not particularly comfortable, but you are 10 feet away from jazz legends.

    BlueNote

    Chick is in the background, Kenny Garrett is playing soprano sax, Mike Stern on guitar and Marcus Miller is playing base. All played with Miles in the 80s. Wallace Roney (not pictured) played trumpet. He studied with Miles and plays just like him. And on drums was Brian Blade. He didn’t play with Miles, but he plays with Wayne Shorter who played with Miles.

    It was a simply incredible band.

  • GWAAAAAAARRRRRRGBLEWAAARGBLE

    NY Times best selling author, winner of various awards, presuably articulate guy John Slalzi:

    https://twitter.com/scalzi/status/784754007076143104