Ed Begley Jr. Joins The War on Cars
139. CHANGING HOLLYWOOD’S CAR CULTURE WITH ED BEGLEY JR. — The War on Cars
Ed has been been committed to environmental conservation since at least the 1970s, and he’s designed his life so that it’s as free of fossil fuels as possible, with solar panels on the roof, an e-bike in the garage, and a house chosen for its proximity to transit. Notably, he’s taken the LA Metro to the Academy Awards, making a statement in an industry and a city where fancy cars and conspicuous consumption are signs of success. In this fun conversation, Ed Begley Jr. invites us into his home to talk about his work, his activism, and his life philosophy.
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This was a great episode of a great podcast. Ed is truly amazing. Also doesn’t hurt he is in some of favorite Christopher Guest movies!
Pull the Plug, Leave X
On Nov. 22,1938 Park Commissioner Robert Moses attempted to use WNYC in an effort to grab power in the public housing arena, where he previously had no jurisdiction. But Mayor F. H. La Guardia stopped the move.
Moses biographer Robert Caro described the moment when La Guardia literally pulled the plug on Moses’ effort to promote his own proposals over the mayor’s renewal plans:
“As he spoke, there right in front of him, attached to the lectern, was a WNYC microphone and, looking down below the stage, Moses could see two WNYC technicians sitting at a table full of broadcasting paraphernalia busily twiddling the dials and going through all the motions of technicians make a broadcast. When they saw him glancing down at them, they made him a thumbs-up signal to indicate that all was going well…
“… just as he was coming to the end of his speech. The Park Commissioner, who had believed that he had been speaking for the past forty-five minutes to tens of thousands of New Yorkers, learned that he had been speaking to only two hundred –the two hundred right in front of him. The WNYC microphone in front of him was dead. Someone ordered WNYC to cut his program off the air–and must have ordered the technicians to go through all the motions necessary to conceal this fact from him. And glaring down at them as they made still another thumbs-up gesture, he realized that only one man would have thought of that touch.”
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It’s great that Caro’s “The Power Broker” is having another moment to celebrate 50 years. I read it two decades ago, and now watching, listening, and reading all the coverage about it over the last few months has made me want to do another read. This time I may go the audio route! I also recommend the podcast 99% Invisible which has been doing a monthly read along with great guests.
This anecdote also had me thinking about today’s incoming Trump administration and how to deal with it. So much about Trump and the new right can be described as trying to “own the libs”. What happens if we just pull the plug on him? Obviously we fight like hell when it comes to things the administration is actually doing, but if the people he hates just ignore the “tweets” (Truths) I do wonder how much better it would be for all of us? Look at the people on X freaking out about users going to Bluesky. They are angry because they spend their life attacking people they don’t like, so if those people leave they have no purpose. So while it’s hard to ignore the actual President, we can pull the plug on the online right by just leaving X.
Chuck Scarborough Signs Off
WNBC’s Chuck Scarborough announces ‘semi-retirement’ after 50 years — NBC New York
After more than 50 years, legendary broadcast journalist Chuck Scarborough has announced his plans to step down from his daily duties anchoring the news at NBC 4 New York.
His last day anchoring at WNBC will be Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.
He was the anchor of my childhood, a staple of our household’s news viewing on Channel 4. As the narrator of the 1986 Mets and my trusted local news source for sports updates, he was an integral part of our family. I vividly remember his coverage of the first World Trade Center bombing, and of course during snowstorms, we always turned to Chuck, Sue, and Al!
Own Your Online Identity
I’ve long advocated for owning a personal domain, using it for everything from email to online identity. While this approach isn’t for everyone, the current social media landscape makes it an attractive option.
Both Bluesky and Mastodon offer domain-based verification features:
- On Bluesky, you can use your own domain as your handle, which could be strategically important given the platform’s architecture.
- Mastodon allows domain verification to demonstrate site ownership.
Getting Started:
- Purchase a domain for under $20 per year. I recommend Hover.
- For Bluesky: Simply change your handle in settings to your domain.
- For Mastodon: Set up a basic website and add verification code (slightly more complex).
The benefits include greater control over your online identity and increased credibility across platforms. With minimal effort and cost, you can establish a more permanent digital presence that isn’t dependent on individual social media platforms.
The Jets are an Embarrassment
Why Joe Douglas never stood a chance as Jets GM - The Athletic
Douglas had already lost some power midway through last season when Johnson took a more active role. Example: Douglas had a contract extension offer he was getting ready to propose to defensive end Bryce Huff’s agent, but Johnson vetoed that — and any other moves involving paying new money to players on the roster. By January, Douglas seemed to have even less control.
Being a Jets fan has always been about accepting losing and hoping one year magic will strike the franchise. However there has been a new low over and over again since Woody Johnson took over ownership of the franchise. As time has gone on football in general has moved down the list of sports I care about, but it would be nice to see a competent organization for once. I am not talking about just winning, just lose quietly.