09:19 – It was 40.1F (4.5C) when I took Colin out around 0715 this morning, bright and sunny. When I checked just now, it was already up to 55.5F (13C).
Barbara has been pointing out for two or three weeks that I’m getting a bit shaggy, so with Bonnie’s funeral coming up I guess it’s finally time for a haircut.
I’ve been putting in bulk orders for science kit components: cases of 300 goggles, 300 thermometers, 864 plastic rulers, 288 glass beakers, 288 PTC test paper, 400 each of test tube racks, test tube clamps, 9V battery connectors, 100 mL and 10 mL graduated cylinders, 500 spatulas, 600 sets of pH test paper, etc. etc. All in preparation for the autumn rush. I’d order larger quantities, but there’s the matter of where to stack all this stuff. These quantities are at least enough to cover us partway into the autumn rush. I’ll need to place more orders in July/August to get the rest of what we need.
Right now, we’re into the slowest time of year for kit sales, so we’ll be spending a lot of time building subassemblies that’ll let us assemble kits on-the-fly during the rush period. We also need to spend some time during this slow period getting the prepping supplies room downstairs organized. Right now, there are cases and cases of canned goods and dry bulk staples piled all over the floor. Everything from six cases of Keystone canned meats to cases of LDS onions and dry milk to 3-gallon jugs of peanut oil to large jars of bulk spices to piles of Augason #10 cans to stacks of bagged egg noodles to pails of Augason brown rice. All of that needs to be organized and shelved, which means I’m going to need to install more shelves.
* * * * *
RBT, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in your daily morning temperature reports: they’re trending steadily upward. Not a monotonic increase, which would suggest fraud, but a steady increase.
If this temperature curve continues, in less than a year our civilization will be wrecked and within two years human life on Earth will be impossible.
We must act now to halt this before it’s too late!!!
Ha, I notice that they’re up and down like a yoyo. Clearly the earth’s completely unstable. One of these days, and probably soon, the seas will boil and the air will freeze, probably both at the same time. Then we’re done for….
Currently 68 with 84%RH. Partly cloudy skys. Oh boy I’ve got a ton of stuff on my to do list for today. I’ll be lucky to get a third of it done.
Better get started.
n
I think the fundamental problem is that the planet is steadily getting farther and farther from the sun. If this trend isn’t reversed in the next few months, things could get grim. We probably need a special UN Panel to evaluate the problem and suggest how the US should pay for it all.
A group of lovely Somali sailors arranged a friendly and cooperative collaboration of Indian and Chinese (and Pakistani, according to one report) military forces, who met on board a Tuvalu-flagged merchant ship, with a Filipino crew.
Those wonderful Somalis, always bringing peoples of all nations together!
It is pleasant in Milwaukee, waiting for the plane to Sin City.
We’ve been Ubering to our events and thats worked out great. Used the taxi app Curb once. I like it better since you can tip right in the app.
Anyone want a failed asylum seeker?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-10/stockholm-attack-suspect-an-asylum-seeker-facing-deportation/8429372
Nice obituary for Bonnie. She appears to have been a nice simple lady with a good spirit; reminds of a late Great Aunt of mine, even her picture is similar. Nice to see that the family recognized Barbara. I’ll say a prayer for Bonnie tomorrow at the time of the service.
Peace to all.
WRT weather:
The past couple of weeks the average wind speed has been trending up. At the current rate it will be supersonic by July 😉 Also, we have had way more rain than normal so it is good that we are currently almost 500-feet above the level of the Columbia River, but its average level has been rising since November and we will be underwater in 100-years. I’m not worried, the wind is going to get us first 😉
We are at 81 F today. By this rate from 21 F in January, we will be at 181 F by December. Oh the horror ! We will all burn alive here on the Gulf Coast.
Time to pump out The Great Lakes to save the FUSA!
Fine, but just leave Lake Champlain alone!
Let’s see, 60 here now and 72 tomorrow; at that rate this AO will be an underwater jungle turning swiftly to steam and then evaporating, after which the underlying rock layers will turn molten. The only beings alive here at that point will be Democrats, RINOSs, libturds, SJWs and progs, as their introduction to where they’re headed next.
Back from our jaunt to Alburgh Dunes State Park; no one there at first; the lake water has waves rolling in like the ocean there, onto what are genuine sand dunes. The beach was reduced to about a yard, though; it’s high wotta everywhere around this AO now. We threw the tennis ball out for the nitwit mutt a hundred or so times and now he’s exhausted and wet and cold. As I would be at the same activity. As usual, we had our mutt on a leash but the other cretins there who showed up with mutts did not, so one of them charged us but nothing came of it. There would have been a nasty dog fight and I would have had to shoot both dogs and the other owner/s. We could possibly have gotten away with that, too, as no one else was around.
A youngster with a heavy UK accent speaks the truth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=191&v=EXuV64hp4dk
I guess we wait and see over the next few days; if this stuff ramps up hot and heavy we’ll know we’ve been had again, and more war is in the offing. He’s gotta shut down and shut off those fucking neocon scum ASAP.
And the insanity continues in FUSA:
http://takimag.com/article/the_week_that_perished_april_9_2017_takimag/print#axzz4dmz3a0lA
Can it possibly get any wackier???
Hi,
Just a post to say I’m fine, I’m ok; so are my folks. Thanks for concerns. I have stopped following this journal during the protests here. Those were quite time and energy consuming. I’ve participated at 18 of them. Sorry for not let you know before about my situation.
Here in Romania, things are quite calm now. Short version is: we won very little and they, the crooks lost very little. But I think we scared them enough to not try something similar in a while..
I hope you are ok too.
Good to hear from you Eugen.
Compared to what you and your country are going through everything here is just peachy.
Reference for Eugen and all others who may not full understand why this is my favorite response: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Peachy
His Truth about Popular Culture video is great too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyLUIXWnrC0
n
His Truth about Popular Culture video is great too.
I was watching Pat Condell’s latest and caught this one. Spot on.
Oh yeah, ever-ting be just peachy-keen here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bWyhj7siEY
Yup. And good to hear from ya, Mr. Eugen, likewise! Glad you are OK.
Stay well and pop in whenever you can; I believe we all appreciate a correspondent from that part of the world; everyone else here, so far as I know and IIRC, is from the Anglo-Murkan Sphere, either presently or recent past.
“I was watching Pat Condell’s latest and caught this one. Spot on.”
Indeed. As I’ve been saying ad tedium, ad nausem, all our Western institutions have been under continuous and relentless assault for the past eighty years.
WRT pop culture, it’s taken the most sybaritic characteristics of imperial Rome and Byzantium, and kicked it up a few thousand notches, thanks to pixels readily to hand for almost every human bean’s sweaty paws.
Question for the freshman term paper: What happened to imperial Rome and Byzantium?
Extra credit: Describe differences, if any, between then and now.
And remember to show your work.
Well, at least I got the new washer and dryer installed. Finally. With 3 separate trips to the (3) big box stores. WTF can’t SOMEONE in the whole store know what they stock and where it is? The most knowledgeable person of all was a 60+ y.o. female in the appliance sales area. Talk about bustin’ stereotypes.
Didn’t get much else done, although I did grab some parts for other projects.
WRT sales this weekend, I finally got out to a couple. LAME. Prices were high. Some sales they want to get rid of the stuff, some they don’t. Most were in the ‘don’t’ category. I did pick up another propane tank for $5, and some pots to transplant some of my trees into. Got some old LS Starrett measuring tools, and a nice dial indicator.
Meh.
Better water the garden….
n
Rick’s Law of Home Repair and Improvement: Every project requires at least three trips to the hardware store.
Tool box corollary: No matter how much you prepare, the tool you need will not be one that you included in your tool box.
“… Got some old LS Starrett measuring tools…”
Outstanding. Starrett used to publish a machinist/tool handbook years ago, not sure if they still do. My dad had a copy back in ancient times.
“…I got the new washer and dryer installed.”
When we get ours in the next month or so, they’ll take our old stuff out first and then haul the new stuff up the stairs and install it and make decent and reliable connections. And now I’m remembering the time I helped a fellow LEO (female) move into an apartment down in Woostah, MA, on the third floor, with narrow stairs. I carried her washing machine by myself up those three flights; no room for a second or third person to help. I shudder when I think of that now; gee, maybe that was when I first injured my back….
Yup, multiple trips to the hw store; and a corollary to the corollary; with each new project will come a new tool. (and you will likely never use that particular tool again)
Well, close enuff:
https://smile.amazon.com/Starrett-Machinists-Apprentices-Classic-Reprint/dp/1440067465/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491779341&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=starrett+machinist+handbook
And they have it in a Kindle edition, too for 99 cents.
The best way to move heavy stuff:
https://www.amazon.com/Forearm-Forklift-appliances-mattresses-encourages/dp/B008ASBLJI/ref=sr_1_2
The folks that have delivered all of our appliances in the last 15 years (stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer) have used these. No damage from a hand truck and easy to maneuver the item being moved. Even a fairly small person can lift a lot with these. I have a set and my son and I have used them to move mattresses, large bookcases, and other large furniture.
Thanks, Mr. DadCooks; I just added them to my checkout cart. There is always gonna be something heavy around here that needs to git moved, so we are both all too cognizant of back issues of late and will use any and all means to do that sorta thing, including slave labor and robots. But this is a good start.
Yup, multiple trips to the hw store; and a corollary to the corollary; with each new project will come a new tool. (and you will likely never use that particular tool again)
The folks that have delivered all of our appliances in the last 15 years (stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer) have used these.
You can never have enough tools! I’ve used the forearm lifts to move appliances and furniture several times. They work well. Lift with your legs, my friends, and stay thirsty.
Every project requires at least three trips to the hardware store.
Indeed. Started Saturday morning to replace the door from the garage into the basement. Started out just buying a hollow core door. Nope, not going to work. Next trip got a solid core door, nope, not going to work. Got a pre-hung solid core door on the next trip, this time in a larger size as more work was going to be needed. Also has three hinges and six panels thus not as heavy as a solid core flat door.
Had to completely strip out the old door frame and mounting (cinder block wall). Installed new mounting and hung the door. Problem is the door is for a 2×4 wall and not a much thicker cinder block wall. Got that resolved by partially disassembling the frame. Had to make some adjustments in the brick, as in with a chisel to get it to fit.
Next had to trim out the area the width of the brick that the door frame did not cover. Used the other side of the door frame after the trim was in place. Foam tape installed around the edge of the door jam to fully seal the door.
Next trip is to get a threshold as the one I bought is too tall. Need a shorter threshold and a wiping strip to totally seal the bottom.
with each new project will come a new tool. (and you will likely never use that particular tool again)
Not really a problem as the projects we have done over the years we have acquired multiple tools, many we have used more than once. Have an air compressor and multiple nail guns and air tools such as impact and ratchet drives, an air powered drill and air powered grinder.
You can never have enough tools!
Except when you die and your heirs have to dump all the tools for pennies on the dollar. Have had to do this twice. I would have kept some but I was flying home and could not get them in the luggage. I have enough screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets, etc. and did not need any more.
Next project is to replace the covering on the pool shed. Got the mower shed repaired with concrete reinforcing mesh. Pool shed is not really a security issue as it is on the back patio. More yelling back and forth with the spousal unit who is actually quite good with such projects. We just disagree on the approach and has she has to question some things that I have said.
I have enough tools that it is a rare and esoteric thing that requires me to buy a special tool. I’ve got LOTS of special tools that I bought for pennies at sales over the years. Except for working on cars, I’ve got almost everything I can imagine. But when I see something new, I grab it. Got a pliers for cutting glass mosaic tile at the TSA surplus store. Gonna eventually finish our master bath, and I might need to cut some tiles….
I’ve got enough materials for most ordinary repairs of the ordinary parts of the house too. Never did any gas work in TX so I never picked up the bits and pieces. Turns out the part I needed was just called something else. NPT has apparently been replaced with FIP and MIP. Parts are the same, name changed. Or maybe it’s different by region or supplier. Searched everywhere for NPT on the package. Finally figured I’d just give it a try and it worked. Googled it and they are in fact the same thing.
Part of preparedness is being ready to make the small ordinary repairs of homeownership. In this case, I could have done one trip (for the flex hose) if I knew they were equivalent threads… and then I’d have gotten something else on my list done.
n
“Have an air compressor and multiple nail guns and air tools such as impact and ratchet drives, an air powered drill and air powered grinder.”
Oooooo….me likee very much! Me gonna buy soon. Getting too effin old to monkey around with brute muscle strength for all this chit. My next-door neighbor said the same thing; why wreck ourselves, let the machines do the work. So now they’re doing it, worldwide: robots!
“More yelling back and forth with the spousal unit who is actually quite good with such projects.”
Disagreements here on priorities; she’s way more tuned in to what’s gonna look bad or good, whereas I’m for functionality and security. Now at least coming around to a tool shed, but I actually think the generator is more important.
” In this case, I could have done one trip (for the flex hose) if I knew they were equivalent threads… and then I’d have gotten something else on my list done.”
Thus fulfilling the Never Just One Trip Corollary mentioned above somewhere.
Another dump run tomorrow, and probably a couple more during the week. Yard cleanup stuff mainly. And tomorrow night is the first of the three-part PBS series on the “Great War,” which I am eagerly awaiting so that I might learn more about the vast and amazing contributions of Afrikan-Murkans, womyn and gay people to the fight against the evil Huns. (I somehow forgot to ask my paternal grandpa if he was a homo.)
Me gonna buy soon. Getting too effin old to monkey around with brute muscle strength for all this chit
An air compressor is one of those things you did not think you needed until you get one and a couple of tools. My recommendation for the first couple of tools is a finishing nailer and a ratchet wrench.
First use was for basically inflating stuff (boat toys). Then got an air ratchet and impact wrench. Made a big difference in working on things with bolts. Stuck bolts are not generally an issue as the impact really does help with tight bolts. The ratchet helps in those tight places where movement is severely restricted. You just need enough space to fit the wrench without needing any turning room. A side benefit is that you no longer suffer banged knuckles.
Next purchase were a couple of nail guns, small finishing nailer and a larger finishing nailer. That opened up an entire different world. Then got a framing nailer when I built the mower shed. It is hard to describe the ease with which you can now fasten two boards. No more pounding with a hammer, hoping the nail does not bend, the impact of the hammer moving the boards. One pull of a trigger and, BAM, the nail is driven. It is entirely possible to hand hold two pieces of wood and nail them with the other hand. Installing trim is much easier as you can hold the trim with one hand, nail with the other. Before you needed a third hand to hold the nail. You also do not suffer smashed fingers from when you miss the nail.
The air drill is not really very useful. Hand held rechargeable drills are better. The air grinder is OK, easier than using a drill, but does not get used often.
Make certain to put a drop or two of oil in the air inlet for each tool before putting them up. They do need lubrication. Also install a filter on the output of the compressor to keep the water out of the tool such filter generally not supplied with the compressor.
The compressor was well worth the investment.
You’re welcome @OFD, it’s good that us ol’ farts have this mutual aid forum.
Now back to tools. You can never have enough SCREWDRIVERS. The ol’ standard flat blade and phillips are passé, even Torx and square head are no longer unique. I have several sets of handles with 50+ specialty tips. It seems that these days every technology manufacture has to have the own proprietary screws.
Work safe and work smart.
Speaking of which, I recently had to raise some cabinets. I built a 2×4 frame to fit under the cabinets so that I could unscrew them from the wall and not have to hold them at the same time. Then I changed the vertical supports to the new height, set the cabinets on top and fastened them to the walls. No strain no pain.
An important part of preps and being prepared is having to 2x4s, and plywood on hand.
” being prepared is having to 2x4s, and plywood on hand.”
If I had my druthers, and a pole barn at my retreat location, I’d have a unit of ply and a unit of 2×4 up in the loft.
n
OFD, did you get your addressing issues with Amazon sorted?
Thanks to Mssrs. Ray and DadCooks for the tool intel; very much appreciated. I’m a virtual noob at a lot of this stuff and now having to learn in my “declining” years.
“OFD, did you get your addressing issues with Amazon sorted?”
Sort of. They finally accepted one of the dozen or so combinations I kept trying on their site for some stuff, but not other stuff. I got frustrated to the point that I simply put down the address of our little local post office around the corner and BINGO. The postmistress was a little puzzled when the stuff arrived (for the new bike) but that was all.
It’s apparently way beyond the comprehension of some people that we live in a village that does not deliver mail to the residents so they have P.O. boxes instead. And bigger packages get delivered by one or the other outfit right to the houses. Where that line is drawn is a mystery.