No matter what you think of the PGA/LIV merger…
If you like golf, the following might amuse or edify you. PW, a Myrtle Beach friend, sent it. (I think he did the research himself.) Other than seeing my high school buddies once a year in Myrtle Beach, my interest in golf is about the same as my interest in pickleball. Thus, I read this with the expectation of being bored silly. But I found some of the facts quite interesting. So, if you like golf, you may find it fascinating!
Click here.
500 Years of Female Hair Styles
I fell into another YouTube rabbit hole last week. This time, I probably saw two dozen video clips of women doing amazing things with their hair. My favorite was this one, a fast-motion history of women’s hairstyles from the 1500s till today. Click here.
Please tell me if you find this as fascinating as I do… or if you think I should mention it to my therapist.
I gave you a link to three life hacks in the May 2 issue. Click here for three more.
(I knew the second one, but neither of the others.)
Remember the Salvador Dalí forgeries that I wrote about on May 23.
Click here to watch a good little video about them.
Look Who’s Competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
When Rorion Gracie brought his family’s style of Jiu Jitsu to America in 1978, no one had ever heard of it. But when Rorion’s younger brother Royce entered the Ultimate Fighting Contest in 1993, the first televised Mixed Martial Arts competition, and dominated all the other contestants – professional boxers, wrestlers, Karate and Kung Fu masters – the popularity of the sport exploded.
Today, BJJ is taught in every country in the world. And Mixed Martial Arts (its offspring) is a billion-dollar business.
BJJ attracts all sorts of students – from moms and daughters (see “Readers Write” in Tuesday’s issue) to dads and sons, to competitive athletes, to law enforcement officers, to doctors and lawyers and other professionals. It has also attracted a good number of celebrities, such as…
* Nicolas Cage
* Russell Brand
* Vin Diesel
* Jonah Hill
* Joe Rogan
* Vince Vaughn
* Shaquille O’Neal
* Guy Ritchie
* Jason Statham
* Usher
I haven’t been surprised to see folks like that take part. But when Mark Zuckerberg announced on social media that he was not only taking lessons, but competing… I was shocked. If you check out the commentary about it, you’ll find a good deal of skepticism, and even suggestions that he paid for his two victories. But I give the guy credit. It takes a lot of willpower to keep at BJJ as an adult (especially if you are a high-level executive). But to actually compete – even at a local tournament – that takes guts!
Here’s a clip of a tournament he was in recently.
Here’s something fun: Shaquille O’Neal in an exhibition match with UFC champion and BJJ black belt Forrest Griffin.
And here’s some info on the history of BJJ.
Ten Phrases from the Middle Ages
We were talking about the origins of odd and interesting English language maxims and phrases at the cigar club a year ago. Today, I received this from BW.
Speaking of Films… a Moment in Time
Twenty years ago, this was how movie makers filled the cinematic holes. Today, with digital technology, the work can be done at a fraction of the cost by a college intern.
Click here.
Test Yourself: How Much Money Does the Federal Government Waste Each Year?
I’m talking about overspending, duplicate spending, and improper spending. So, what do you think? A hundred million? Five hundred million? A billion?
Here’s a partial answer straight from the Government Accountability Office.
Ten Useful Learning Strategies with ChatGPT
Recently, Scott H Young asked his readers to write to him and explain how they’re using large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. He then reported on their responses. I was impressed by what people are already doing. And, once again, in awe of what they will probably be able to do five or ten years from now.
Click here.
Cinco de What? Mayonnaise?
Living in South Florida, I’ve had ample chances to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, which I assumed was a Mexican holiday of some historical event, presumably the day it won its independence from Spain.
Yes and no.
Cinco de Mayo does celebrate a military victory, but not against the Spanish. It was a victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. In fact, Mexico had achieved independence from Spain fifty years earlier.
Click here for more things you may not know about Cinco de Mayo.