Today is the 51st anniversary of when the third greatest American tried to jump over the Snake River Canyon, near Twin Falls, Idaho, in a steam-powered motorcycle. I was there back in June.
From the downtown Perrine Bridge, a mound of dirt remains visible:
There is a monument to the third greatest American right at the bridge/visitor center:
A short drive to the east, the mound itself may be examined and there is additional signage:
Evel Knievel’s particular jump was already replicated in 2016 by Eddie Braun:
If Eddie Braun hadn’t recreated this jump, wouldn’t it be awesome to see Tesla’s Optimus, or a similar humanoid robot, piloting a replica Skycycle X-2?
I’m wondering what other stunts could be pulled by humanoid robots. Motorcycle jumps, obviously, but what else would be fun to watch? Maybe after a humanoid robot proves that something can be done a human can follow in his/her/zir/their tracks (don’t want to assume a gender ID for a robot that thinks fast enough to change gender multiple times per second).
(Readers might be wondering who the first and second greatest Americans are. Elvis Presley, of course, is in the #2 slot. Due to Democrats being in majority in the U.S., we must recognize George Floyd as the #1 greatest American ever to have lived. Educate yourself by reading Floyd’s biography, recommended by state-sponsored NPR, if you aren’t familiar with all of George Floyd’s achievements.)
> Send humanoid robots to do crazy stunts?
Yes, do send in Musk, also I heard Greta T. was into crazy stunts.
Easter egg in the state-sponsored NPR HTML source:
> NPR BANNER
> We are hiring!
> https://boards.greenhouse.io/nationalpublicradioinc
If your recent graduates still need jobs, there are a few left: senior Whitehouse editor, audio editor.
So many good quotes…
> Q: But I also sort of found myself wondering, was he unique or could you have written this kind of book about many other Black men?
> A: [yes, but no.]
Huh?
I do like some of the NPR Tiny Desk concerts:
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/02/g-s1-71793/gillian-welch-david-rawlings-tiny-desk-concert
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/25/g-s1-70062/living-colour-tiny-desk-concert
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/23/819094653/the-black-crowes-tiny-desk-concert
https://www.npr.org/2019/12/03/784151410/sheryl-crow-tiny-desk-concert
https://www.npr.org/2016/03/24/471725403/tedeschi-trucks-band-tiny-desk-concert
Sheryl Crow just keeps getting more beautiful (and is a huge fan of NPR). Susan Tedeschi has an amazing voice. We should try to find the good in everything, Phil. A think a change would do us all some good:
He’s a platinum canary, drinkin’ Falstaff beer
Mercedes’ rule, and a rented Lear
Sell the house and go to school
Pretty young girlfriend, daddy’s jewel
A change (a change would do you good)
Would do you good (a change would do you good)
— A Change Would Do You Good, Sheryl Crow
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/31/1151314381/hermanos-gutierrez-tiny-desk-concert
@CCReed
Thanks, I hadn’t heard this one, cool. We lost Flaco (nacio en San Antonio, TX) this year, he played accordion with everyone:
https://www.npr.org/2012/11/12/164958884/flaco-jimenez-tiny-desk-concert
I guess polka nortena is an acquired taste, but I love it–I hope ICE doesn’t break in if they hear it. Susan Tedeschi still lives in Jacksonville I think, and Crow at least used to have a house in Florida too. I heard a fairly balanced story on NPR tonight in the garage, while I was torquing my car’s lug nuts to 85 ft lbs, about the changes in Florida’s vaccine policies. NPR really wasn’t too bad as a news source, until about 10 or 15 years ago, even the NYT back in the day.