🛫 First work trip of the year.
A beautiful few short days in California over new year. Complete with a Rose Bowl win.
And of course the beach.
And of course, Gram and the kiddos.
Happy New Year
Magnus Carlsen knows the rules regarding dress code. To pout over a longstanding rule shows how classless he really is. He had a bad game and responded by doing something that made him look like the victim. What a baby. (At least he didn’t falsely accuse another player of cheating again.)
🎵 Her first time with Ella… ★★★★★
This is how you round out Christmas Day.
Two Christmas miracles, and one dose of coal.
Christmas Eve is usually either very quiet or super busy. For us, it was the latter.
- We were out of eggs, and because of the bird flu prices for a dozen at our local store are are triple. My wife checked at Costco yesterday only to see a sign that said “because of the bird flu, we are out. Sorry.” But she forgot some things, so I had to go today. I checked on a whim, and they had some, maybe a dozen cartons left. Amen.
- We were way behind on Christmas cards and barely finished them today. But with all the other last minute errands, missed dropping them off at the Post Office before they closed at noon. On the way to Mass, we passed a mail man still out delivering. I asked and he gladly took our cards so they’ll at least be post marked before Christmas. Amen.
- After Mass we planned on swinging by our local burger joint for dinner. Something fun for the kids, but easy clean up (no cooking) for mom and dad. Turns out they closed at 5pm today (we got there at 5:10). Sigh. No problem, we went to Wendy’s and my wife used a coupon she had. She ordered online so we didn’t flustered speaking to the squawk box while the kids were rioting about dinner. All good. Except, when we got to the drive through for pickup, “we just ran out of fries right now,” was the reply. “What, you’re out of fries?!” My wife replied, half in disbelief. “Yes, ma’am. Just now.” So we canceled our order and scramled for Plan B.
So now I’m letting the kids watch Home Alone (a classic, that holds up so well) while the wife runs to find Plan B.
Merry Christmas to all, and too all a good night!
🎥 Can you take a photo of us?, YouTube skit.
I laughed hard when I saw just after it released, harder when playing it for my wife just now.
Last exam grades, and all grades posted to Canvas. Christmas break begins now.
Finished reading: The Odyssey of Homer by Richmond Lattimore 📚
I needed to re-read it before watching The Return last week. Homer never dissapoints.
A single data point, but irrefutable evidence of how little music I’ve listened to this year: The number of Pitchfork’s 50 best albums of 2024 of which I am familiar is in the single digits. Usually I’m familiar with at least half, and listened to a good third start to finish. 🎵
Yesterady was The Game. And while the Buckeyes didn’t win, we had a good time out with the kids
We had a mini emergency when the oven (purchased earlier this year) cooked the turkey in half the time we planned for, before we started the sides. But we rallied, and a feast was had.
📰 Mathematical Thinking Isn’t What You Think It is, Quanta Magazine
Whenever you spot a disconnect between what your gut is telling you and what is supposed to be rational, it’s an important opportunity to understand something new. And then you can start this game of back-and-forth. Can you articulate your gut instinct and place it within a rational discussion?
FYI you don’t need a separate cross-posting service. Instead, cross-post to Bluesky, Mastodon, etc., using MicroBlog.
📰 Brian Potter, The Influence of Bell Labs, Substack
Someone bought the GoPros and mobile phones to broadcast the program. Things like this don’t just happen spontaneously.
Susie Wiles will be the first woman Chief of Staff, NYT
Honestly, this is a fine choice. She’ll run a tight ship, and that’s good for everyone—by which I mean all Americans.
You can’t love your country only when you win, you can’t love your neighbor only when you win.
— Joe Biden, November 7, 2024
🐦 Via Twitter, Nate Cohn estimates 157 million voters, matching 2020 in raw votes, but lower % of eligible voters when accounting for population growth.
I’ve seen enough—baring a deep surprise, Trump will win re-election. Not nearly enough blame will land on the Biden team for not stepping down a year ago, or even sooner rather than later after that disaster of debate. If if you’re angry in the morning, look at Jill, Jeff Zients (chief of staff).