The Universe, apparently, jumps tracks now and then.
We’ve chronicled a lot of it around here: Keys set down upstairs just fall through the floor when no one is looking. A red vintage Cadillac you’ve been following (and admiring) turns into a Toyota Corolla when you glance away for a fraction of a second.
And one of our favorites around here, things that simply “disappear” and then “pop” back into existence a few minutes, hours, or even months later. All without explanation.
Taken as a whole, it suggests that the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics is not only real, but that the film The Adjustment Bureau may be another subtle example of what ThePowersThat be have discovered (and might be using for personal gain): That there’s a ‘force’ out and about that sets things right.
This morning, we have the odd case of radio superstar Casey Kasem wandering off into the World of Woo-Woo.
To set the scene for this: You may remember that Kasem – the long-time voice of cartoon character Scooby-Doo – was reported to have Parkinson’s. Then some kind of family beef popped up and there were allegations that Kasem has been spirited out of the country.
One thing led to another, but the latest in the story is that he’s fine and that he and his wife had been visiting long-time friends up west of Seattle in Kitsap County.
Sorry to hear about the uproar; glad things can now settle down again.
Except for one small thing.
At least one of our readers was shocked at the report that Kasem was still alive. One of our readers sent this…
Okay, I read his obit to Kim several months ago. We all commented on who is now doing the voice. Then today he’s alive.
WTF
All of which gets us to that odd borderland of human recall (or is it serious Woo-woo?) of people who are alive, yet folks remember them as being dead, or, in the reverse case, people who are dead yet are remembered as still being alive.
I’m not sure exactly how the phenomena works, but another case that comes to mind was that of Sid Caesar.
Now he actually is dead (says Wikipedia, passing February 12th of this year) but a lot of people thought he died years and years ago. But just to make the point, you can find discussion groups posts on the web (like this one circa 2013) where people thought he was already dead, and wasn’t.
How we recall “fringe famous” people is apparently different than the “normal” kind of recall. The people who slide into this gray area of memory aren’t usually the Super Stars (like an Elvis or a Kennedy). Instead, they seem to occupy a kind of second or third tier of fame. Household names, perhaps, and maybe even good trivia questions.
A number of radio stations (mostly adult-contemporary) have run features over the years with names like “Dead or Alive?”
In the schtick, listeners call it and are offered a prize is they can correctly guess 10-in a row of semi-famous people who are either dead or alive. Damn few winners.
Is the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics the only possibility? Why, no!
If you look around, you’ll find videos like this one (with just 12 views on YouTube when I found it) that goes off on an interesting mass deception track which (hate to admit it) would fit with some other conspiracies floating around the web.
All of which might be readily dismissed except for a couple of things. And one of these is Project Blue Beam.
Back to point: If you’re going to play the game of “dead or alive” might I recommend this site?
Hell, I would have sworn Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. was dead years ago. But he just died two weeks ago.
Dead ort Alive? Eventually, we all get to be contestants.
Thank You!
To all the people who sent in their comments on the FCC net-jack for corporations which are trying to slice up the internet and make it two different animals. FCC Chairman Wheeler oughta resign. His insincere insistence that “there’s only one Internet” smacks of the same dishonesty we’ve seen from politicians who support toll roads.
This slime will look you in the eye and say “Oh, toll roads [paid for with taxpayer money] are all part of the national highway system. Which is a pantload: It’s only part if you have money for the tolls.
Wheeler is a corporate apologist of the worst stripe. It’s another example of how a “high bar” will be set (at first) and then lowered on the public when the corporate con artists finally leave office after doing irreparable damage.
If you like Toll Roads, you’ll love where the FCC is going with the Internet. Beyond malfeasance, it’s corporate theft. Which is why I won’t pay the king of Spain’s minions, or whoever else in the way of foreign beneficiaries operates toll roads, either. I’ll take the FREEway that is really free.
Oh, wait….can speeding tickets be issued on a toll road? I mean if the state isn’t the financial beneficiary….hmmm.
The real agenda: Can’t have the Internet being too free, or too self-organizing. Otherwise, what would the point of ‘government’ be if people could really govern themselves?
Why Does the USDA Need Machine Guns?
Another WTF moment here as we read through the US Department of Agriculture’s supplier query for 40-caliber submachine guns.
From the solicitation docs:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, located in Washington, DC, pursuant to the authority of FAR Part 13, has a requirement for the commerical acquisition of submachine guns, .40 Cal. S&W, ambidextrous safety, semi-automatic or 2 shot burts trigger group, Tritium night sights for front and rear, rails for attachment of flashlight (front under fore grip) and scope (top rear), stock-collapsilbe or folding, magazine – 30 rd. capacity, sling, light weight, and oversized trigger guard for gloved operation. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT EXISTS. All responsible and/or interested sources may submit their company name, point of contact, and telephone. If received timely, shall be considered by the agency for contact to determine weapon suitability
(They obviously don’t spell check their work…maybe we don’t pay enough taxes for that.)
For a political organization that is ostensibly anti-gun, what the Obama administration is doing (arming the weather service, for example, or the State Department liquid explosives and C4 bid) we would have to wonder what is really going on that such “shock troop” munitions seem in order.
If there is massive sociopolitical change, are they planning a “scorched earth” exit? Or maybe this will all be shipped to the next Ukraine that comes along….
Around the Ranch: Sheetrock Jack
This being Friday (and me being bone tired) we need to have us a discussion about sheetrock.
The two biggest clues I have to offer (half way through putting up the ceiling sheetrock are:
1. Rent a sheetrock jack. I’m renting one that is similar to one shown in the video here.
There are other ways to do it (another video of a different approach) but renting a sheetrock jack is definitely worth the money.
2. The second suggestion: Use “rework” boxes after you get the ceiling in. In other words, put in holes for wiring, but it’s way faster to put in holes and run wires through (gives you all kinds of slop) rather than nail up “new work” boxes. They turn out to be a real pain.
And I’m not too much of a man to admit getting the hole for a ceiling fixture in the wrong spot which ruined one sheet of rock which will be used for smaller pieces elsewhere.
And with that note, off to finish the last three sheets that have to go up. Then I’m off to get the machine back before close of business today.
Hven’t run into any problems yet that 12” spackle won’t fix…
More Monday and write when you break even…
George george@ure.net