#197 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Tuesday November 16)
Good morning,
FOR LONG SUFFERING FANS
When watching the Boston Red Sox blowing out the Houston Astros a couple of weeks ago, the announcer commented on how the Astros’ job really became simply playing out the hand and preparing for the next day. When noting the hopeless score of 9-0, he recalled the words of Jim Fregosi, the first Angels star and long-time manager. Jim famously said, “sometimes you have to know how to lose well.” While one might say that it was a commentary on a game out of reach, I think it also speaks to the Angels franchise over the years… They’ve been losing well for a long time!
DATES THAT STAND OUT
From Mark DiMaria, “Thank you for tying the empty feeling in the pits of our stomachs of November 22, 1963, to that of election night, 2016. I had never thought about it, but it is true. The Challenger disaster and even 9/11, not so much, because they did not invoke such a raw, visceral fear for what was to become of my family and me.”
From Alan Rosenbach: “Vin Scully. Announced for 67 years. Which means he started in the mid 50s. Which means that if you go back another 67 years-- the identical amount of time before Vin--you are placed in the 1880s. Which means you are pre-radio waves.”
CAPITALISM, ACCORDING TO ADAM SMITH
From Jeffrey Palmer: “The Adam Smith invisible hand theory was that people would do good by pursuing their own economic interests but would also maximize societal interests at the same time.”
Of course, Jeff is right! As is his friend, Adam Smith.
WHY DOES “MEAN” TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER CIVILITY AND IDEAS?
Ben Van de Bunt notes that there is a parallel between how people vote for candidates and how they choose their counsel:
“I am always fascinated by how people hire their lawyers. So often, nice people hire really aggressive people. My view is the same regarding politics. People will almost always forgive the politician that “fights hard” for them. ‘Make America Great’ excesses play better than lengthy unemployment benefits.”
I think this is right. Angry and aggressive (on the right or the left) seems to have greater appeal than reasonable and thoughtful.
CLASSIC MOVIE LINES
We all have our favorite movie lines. Some are iconic, like “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn” or “I’ll be back” or “Leave the gun; take the cannoli” or “It’s alive! It’s alive” or “I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers” or “Go ahead, make my day” or “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” Or “I’m serious, don’t call me Shirley” or “There’s no crying in baseball” or “Say hello to my little friend” or “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya; you killed my father; prepare to die…” or “You can’t handle the truth!”
An oddball favorite of mine is: “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here—this is the war room.” (from Dr. Strangelove).
And then there is among the most quotable of movies, Casablanca: “I’m shocked—shocked—that there is gambling in this establishment” and “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the world, she walks into mine” and “We’ll always have Paris” and “Here’s looking at you, kid” and “Round up the usual suspects” and “Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”. Here are the final minutes of this near-perfect movie:
But the absolute best comes from Mark Greenfield, a cornucopia of all-time greatest movie quotes, set out in a great video of clips:
And, as we all know, Rick never said “play it again, Sam.”
Have a great day,
Glenn
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