patd – Page 214 – Trail Mix

His Last HaHa

By PatD, a Trail Mix Contributor

Thank you, PBS Newshour, for your segment last night on one of the Trail’s favorite people.

Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain: "Cats" — Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain: “Cats” “Congress” “Lawyers” “Exercise” “Old Age”

PBS: Mark Twain once said that “hunger is the handmaid of genius,” and he was speaking from personal experience. By 1894, Twain was an esteemed writer, an international celebrity — and dead broke thanks to a few bad investments. To stave off debt, he embarked on the world’s first stand-up comedy tour, chronicled in Richard Zacks’ new book, “Chasing the Last Laugh.” Zacks joins Jeffrey Brown for more.

If it’s Tuesday, someone somewhere is voting.

voting booth

UPDATE (11:44pm ET): Bernie and Hillary swap states, split delegates. Kentucky for Clinton, Oregon for Sanders. No change in overall delegate math favoring Hillary.

Renfro Valley Days

Hubble Bubble

By PatD, a Trail Mix Contributor

Space.com reminds us that the Hubble Space Telescope may be turning 26 years old this weekend, but its vision is still out of this world. Case in point: this jaw-dropping view of the Bubble Nebula to celebrate the iconic space observatory’s birthday.

bubble-nebula-hubble-26th-anniversary This spectacular view of the Bubble Nebula was created from four separate images from the Hubble Space Telescope to mark the observatory’s 26th birthday in April 2016. The Bubble Nebula is 10 light-years wide and sculpted by the bright star seen to the left of center.

The Midgely deMerit Medal

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By PatD, a Trail Mix Contributor

Trail Mixers, it is time to mint a new mixer award: the “worst whatever of the week” award. Let it be known far and wide as the Midgely deMerit Medal. I hereby propose the first recipient rightfully should be the man for whom this medal is named:

Thomas Midgely was a renowned chemist and inventor who held over 100 patents in his lifetime, but he’s most notorious for two chemicals which wreaked untold havoc on the environment: leaded gasoline and Freon, the first CFC. During his lifetime, Midgley was met with great praise, but his legacy has become tarnished since the full effects of his inventions are now understood. Millions have been affected by him, to the point of death, and many more are still suffering to this day. Even planet earth itself.

Once a week, hopefully, a suitable submission will find its way to our fearless leader for posting forthwith.