An Opaque Shade of Green

PBS Newshour didn’t shy away from highlighting Alan Greenspan’s devotion to Ayn Rand, whose ultra-Libertarian effect on Capitalism ultimately required a hefty dose of John Maynard Keynes to save the economy.

The NYTimes has, as expected, a comprehensive Greenspan obituary.

But the ideological stamp he put on policymaking came to be associated as well with the destructive consequences of forces that emerged on his watch, including deregulation of banking and Wall Street, the loss of American jobs to free trade and persistent concerns about bubbles in stock and housing prices.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/22/us/alan-greenspan-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sVA.-jQs.XaKX6L7930Re&smid=url-share

Also from last night’s PBS Newshour, is this reminder of Al Gore’s inconvenient truth.

Colbert & Peanuts & Ben & Jerry

Last week the upshot of Stephen Colbert’s parting shot at CBS, involving Peanuts, was revealed.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/06/16/cbs-licenses-peanuts-song-stephen-colbert-late-show-finale/90577044007/

I’m glad that’s settled, but what about my very favorite ice cream, Americone Dream, which contains no peanuts?

Oooooo … new patriotic packaging!

Sony Does it Again

Sony IER-EX15C USB-C IEM

Sony’s latest wired USB-C DAC/amp IEM, with mic, only $17 $16 on Prime Day. Ignore the negative reviews. These are super duper.* I didn’t even need to dig through my collection of silicone tips. The largest of the three pairs that came with the set fits perfectly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMLMMZQT

* Note: I don’t make money from promoting products. As stated on my Contact page, “This is a self-hosted, ad-free hobby blog. It isn’t a source of income in any way.”

Ayn’s Acolyte

The Today Show remembers longtime Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, dead at 100. No mention is made of Greenspan’s misguided devotion to the tortured obsessions of Ayn Rand, the Anti-Communist author of romantic fantasy novels. It can be inferred from his admission that he was wrong about financial markets being self-regulating.

Princess Leia, Protocol Droid

Somehow, I’d never seen this interview video before now, despite it being posted almost ten years ago. From 1977, in France, it’s a surprise in several ways.

First, they’re so young! Which shouldn’t be a surprise, but it is nonetheless. Second, Harrison was a smoker. I didn’t know that. Third, the way Carrie answers questions is something I didn’t know about her.

Producer Gary Kurtz can be seen briefly to the left. The music gets to be too much in spots.