Mon. Oct. 1, 2018 – September is finally over

By on October 1st, 2018 in Random Stuff

73F and saturated, again.

Rain chased me away from my chores yesterday, and I expect the same today. At least there were a couple of breaks when I could get stuff done outside.

Indonesia will fall out of the news pretty quickly, and there isn’t even ANY coverage of the ongoing disaster in NC and SC. The world’s attention has moved on. Or at least the established media’s attention.

If your disaster plan counts on people outside your area caring about you, and helping you out, I’d suggest rethinking that. Not only are you on your own during the initial aftermath, NOBODY will be there for the long haul of your recovery either. OR your aid shipments will rot on the dock because your local politicians would prefer to have desperate victims as leverage. Or your local trucking union might decide that this is the best time to extort a new contract out of TPTB.

You are on your own, except for whatever ‘tribe’ you’ve managed to build, or can attach yourself to.

n

42 Comments and discussion on "Mon. Oct. 1, 2018 – September is finally over"

  1. Harold Combs says:

    We visited a Civil War battle reenactment this weekend.
    Like spectators in the 1860s, we brought a blanket to sit on and a picnic basket and watched the fight in the valley below. One thing that stood out was how slow everything was. First an artillery barrage, then a sally forth only to be repulsed by the opponents artillery and musket fire. Then regroup, and the other side has a go. Of course, they only had a hundred or so reenactors so no Pickets Charge and no cavalry.
    One thing that struck me was that the Confederate troops had one black soldier and a couple of older women in uniform. The Union side had a Chinese and a Japanese. Times are changing.

  2. nick flandrey says:

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6226733/McDonalds-worker-poured-peroxide-based-cleaner-cops-drink.html

    What?? There are white people working at McD?

    “‘This kind of behavior goes against our food safety standards and is not tolerated.’

    Not a word about going against basic human decency or how simply WRONG it is to poison someone, just “food safety standards.”

    n

  3. nick flandrey says:

    Looks like someone organized is killing women in Iraq

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6226933/Deaths-four-successful-Iraqi-women-spark-fear-hardline-Muslim-men-targeting-progressive-girls.html

    So glad we spent our lives and money to make that possible.

    Of course, closer to home the diversity is killing people too–

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6227423/Two-men-16-year-old-girl-charged-murdering-former-Pinnacle-Airlines-CEO.html

    More Memphis news–

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Memphis Police Department are investigating after hundreds of guns were stolen over the weekend.

    According to the agencies, two men driving a U-Haul vehicle pulled up to the UPS facility at 1803 Brooks Road in Memphis and took off with 400 guns.

    Anyone want to bet against it being an inside job?

    In Philly, we have a car bomb—

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6224979/Car-explosion-Pennsylvania-leaves-one-dead-two-injured-prompting-FBI-investigation.html

    Assassination attempt? Sudden jihadi syndrome? Mobile meth lab? Intentional explosion points to assassination, but the bomber getting killed??

    Crazy times.

    n

    Oh, if wal*mart wasn’t already on your “just don’t be there” list, maybe you should rethink that…

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6225785/Police-investigating-reports-shooting-Indiana-Walmart.html

  4. mediumwave says:

    Nick Scipio continues his losing battle with TDS.

    Egregiously offensive pic at his site today, so no link.

    Comments are once again closed. My guess is that ol’ Nick is getting a LOT of pushback.

    Unless and until Nick is cured of his TDS, this will be my last comment on his site. Whatever pleasure he once provided by displaying pix of healthy young women is totally obliterated by an overwhelming dose of political bile. 🙁

  5. nick flandrey says:

    As a diet aid, I sometimes read my wife’s facebook while I eat my lunch.

    You want self hating crazy?? This was linked and quoted by someone on her wall–

    https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2018/09/30/brett-kavanaugh-is-the-link-between-rape-and-abortion/

    “I think I will always associate Brett Kavanaugh with the taste of vomit in the back of my throat.

    I couldn’t watch his sham of a confirmation hearing without my gag reflex going into overdrive.”

    While I’d like to fisk this, I do have work to do. Funny that I thought this piece was written by a female person. I guess the opening image of oral sodomy is what got me going. Way to set the tone Steve…. and yet how blind to reality when he says “[rape is] a crime invariably perpetrated by men on women.” I guess he’s never been in a Turkish prison… or looked at the female teachers making news lately. Or maybe that’s not rape, rape.

    See if you can count the traditional oratory techniques, does he miss any?

    n

    speaking of the list, anyone got a link? I keep trying to find a list and failing.

    Reductio absurdum
    Straw man
    red herring
    Ad hominem
    Cherry picking

    etc

    ADDED– ok this one looks pretty good

    http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/

  6. mediumwave says:

    @SteveF/@Nick: It’s been a month since we heard from Liz Reardon.

    Considering her description of OFD’s condition back then, any news is unlikely to be good news, but some news is better than no news.

    Could one or the other of you contact her for an update?

  7. nick flandrey says:

    Ahh, progressive lefties, so patient, understanding, kind, accepting of those who are different from them….

    Oh who am I kidding, they’re apparently all authoritarian violent hate filled bigots who want everyone who is not them dead.

    n

    It’s way way funnier when Calvin and Hobbes do it….

    https://www.reddit.com/r/calvinandhobbes/comments/5ojt8p/i_wish_everyone_else_was_dead/

  8. Greg Norton says:

    If your disaster plan counts on people outside your area caring about you, and helping you out, I’d suggest rethinking that.

    Doubly true if your state has the asinine “anti gouging” laws which were all the rage to enact about a decade ago in response to Katrina and the hurricanes hitting Florida in the mid-00s.

  9. SteveF says:

    Nick: See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacies

    mediumwave: I’ve thought about emailing Mrs OFD a couple times, including just yesterday, but I hesitate. Asking for news, when the only expected news is bad, rubs salt in the wound. If someone with a more finely-tuned level of sensitivity to human emotions (which is, to a first approximation, every living human) thinks otherwise, let me know and I’ll email her.

  10. mediumwave says:

    mediumwave: I’ve thought about emailing Mrs OFD a couple times, including just yesterday, but I hesitate. Asking for news, when the only expected news is bad, rubs salt in the wound. If someone with a more finely-tuned level of sensitivity to human emotions (which is, to a first approximation, every living human) thinks otherwise, let me know and I’ll email her.

    As someone who scores at the low end of the emotional intelligence scale, I know exactly where you’re coming from. Nevertheless, merely asking if OFD’s condition has changed while letting her know that the group here is thinking of both her and OFD shouldn’t be too intrusive.

    What say the rest of you?

  11. DadCooks says:

    Be at peace Dave, you will be missed, no, you are missed. Now you can look forward to no more pain, no more grief, and some lively discussions with St. Peter.

    Fair winds and following seas, brother.

  12. mediumwave says:

    http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/telegram/obituary.aspx?n=david-hardy&pid=190361455

    This appears to be OFD.

    Sad indeed, but at least he’s no longer suffering.

    Perhaps a phone call or email expressing our condolences?

  13. Ray Thompson says:

    Now you can look forward to no more pain, no more grief

    The IRS is probably still not done with him.

  14. nick flandrey says:

    Oh shit.

    Godspeed Dave….

    n

  15. lynn says:

    “NOAA updates Texas rainfall frequency values”
    https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-updates-texas-rainfall-frequency-values

    The picture at the front of the report alone is heart stopping. If that picture is where I think it is, that is within 10 miles of @nick’s house.

    Hat tip to:
    https://spacecityweather.com/092818-regularly-scheduled-gross-late-summer-weather/

    “NOAA has completed their analysis of rainfall return period in Texas. Those maps we’ve utilized for 100 and 500 year floods are now officially obsolete. In the Houston area, a 24 hour rainfall of around 13″ used to be required to classify a rainfall event as a “100-year flood.” Remember a “100-year flood” is a flood that has a one-percent chance of occurring in any given year. That 13″ rainfall has been revised up to 18″ of rain in 24 hours to qualify as a 100-year flood. Basically, what we used to define as a 100-year flood is now a 25-year flood. I think most of us knew this already; it had been telegraphed last year, but we can now make it official.”

  16. CowboySlim says:

    WRT OFD, I agree with all the above.

  17. lynn says:

    “Now near 100 million bpd, when will oil demand peak?”
    https://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2018/09/now-near-100-million-bpd-when-will-oil-demand-peak

    Oil is heading to $100 per barrel again. Not sure when, possibly 2019. Natural gas is going to stay at $3/mmbtu here in the good old USA for the next century or so.

  18. brad says:

    OFD: Damn… Not unexpected, but…damn.

  19. MrAtoz says:

    Ah bless Mr. OFD. Finally at rest. I hope Liz is OK. I will miss him.

  20. Nick Flandrey says:

    “The picture at the front of the report alone is heart stopping. If that picture is where I think it is, that is within 10 miles of @nick’s house. ”

    9.5 miles according to the google. That is John Eagle Honda’s collision center, and that is Barker Reservoir in the background. The dike runs North/South at that point. Addicks and Barker are both dry recreation areas most of the time. They were designed to hold and slow water, so it didn’t flood downtown Houston. Over time, what was once out in the sticks is now the geographic center of Houston and has been seriously encroached on.

    n

  21. JimL says:

    Old Farmer Dave – Requiescat in pace.

    May Liz and Princess know peace as well. His suffering is over.

  22. Nick Flandrey says:

    Perhaps a phone call or email expressing our condolences?”

    I sent an email, and encourage everyone to use the condolence form on the obit site.

    n

  23. lynn says:

    _The Final Day: A John Matherson Novel_ by William R. Forstchen
    https://www.amazon.com/Final-Day-John-Matherson-Novel/dp/076537675X/?tag=ttgnet-20

    Book number three of a three book apocalyptic series. I read the well printed and bound large format MMPB. I suspect that this will be the last book in the series.

    It has been two years since the three nuclear weapons were launched from the ships off the coasts of the USA that EMP’d the USA. The USA military nuked Iran and North Korea in retribution. Israel then nuked her neighbors in an abundance of caution. India and Pakistan joined the fray and nuked each other repeatedly. China, Europe, and the UK are still hoping that nothing comes their way.

    But in North Carolina, it has been a very hard two years. 80% of the inhabitants have died from famine, wars, and bandits. Not to mention the cannibals. And now a group calling itself Bluemont, the USA federal government in exile, is trying to exert dominance over the rest of the eastern seaboard. At any cost.

    My rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
    Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (957 reviews)

  24. mediumwave says:

    As OFD would remind us if he were here:

    Tempus fugit

    Carpe diem

  25. paul says:

    Bummer…. pax vobiscum friend.

  26. Nick Flandrey says:

    Hey guys, just got this from Liz,

    Hey- was just looking to find your email- thanks for the connection. He was (is) the embodiment of redemptive suffering- I have had so many people who were involved in his care say how he changed their lives for the better. His passing was beautiful- won’t go into details, but his body was worn out , and the Palliative Care team and our RC Chaplains supported him with his decision to stop all nutrition and fluids. I was there with him at the end , and despite the heavy sedation , he knew me and we loved each other when they discontinued the vent and I saw his Spirit go home . Your cards and messages were displayed right by his bed and I an so grateful for your love and support. One blessing I want to share- After Dave’s passing , death has no fear- God takes care of us. Love to you all.

    n

  27. DadCooks says:

    That news from Liz was the best, absolutely the best.

    All are at Peace now.

  28. MrAtoz says:

    Many thanks to Liz for letting us know. The virtual world is weird. I only knew OFD from posting here and cared for him.

  29. ITguy1998 says:

    So sad to hear about Mr. OFD. Godspeed indeed.

  30. Greg Norton says:

    After all the “may Xenu be merciful” softball posts deliberatly intended to incite a response, I always hoped I would one day see a post from OFD telling me where to stick my e-meter. RIP

  31. mediumwave says:

    Oh who am I kidding, they’re apparently all authoritarian violent hate filled bigots who want everyone who is not them dead.

    It’s way way funnier when Calvin and Hobbes do it….

    … Life imitates art:

    GEORGETOWN PROFESSOR SAYS WHITE MEN SHOULD DIE MISERABLE DEATHS, BE CASTRATED AND FED TO SWINE

    Quelle charmant!

  32. SteveF says:

    re OFD: Bad news but alas expected news.

    re Nick Scipio: Who knows what his problem is, but I’ll bet it has a polysyllabic Latin-derived term and boils down to “he’s lashing out because he knows he’s a loser”.

  33. Greg Norton says:

    @Lynn — The watch transition to 64 bits is the dress rehearsal for Apple switching their laptops to ARM and sharing a single application code base. Given the general un-optimized state of LLVM bytecode, I figured it was a few years away.

    Of course, the concern is reverse compilation.

    https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/01/apple-watch-apps-instantly-went-64-bit-thanks-to-obscure-bitcode-option/

  34. Vince says:

    Damn. RIP Mr. OFD. You will be missed.

  35. lynn says:

    If your disaster plan counts on people outside your area caring about you, and helping you out, I’d suggest rethinking that. Not only are you on your own during the initial aftermath, NOBODY will be there for the long haul of your recovery either. OR your aid shipments will rot on the dock because your local politicians would prefer to have desperate victims as leverage. Or your local trucking union might decide that this is the best time to extort a new contract out of TPTB.

    You are on your own, except for whatever ‘tribe’ you’ve managed to build, or can attach yourself to.

    I would suggest reading the John Matherson EMP books (I reviewed the final one above) for a good presentation on just how bad things could be after a national apocalyptic event. Some people prepped, most had nothing stashed away to even get through the next snowstorm in North Carolina. And a community, a tribe, is needed for self defense. When a large horde came up the interstate from Atlanta, the 3,000 people in the town were barely enough to fight them off. Plus being weak from starvation.
    https://www.amazon.com/Second-After-John-Matherson-Novel/dp/0765356864/?tag=ttgnet-20

  36. Nick Flandrey says:

    yep, church got a bunch of people thru Harvey… so did work associations, and civic groups. We’ll all need something, even if it’s just “the people on my street.”

    n

  37. lynn says:

    @Lynn — The watch transition to 64 bits is the dress rehearsal for Apple switching their laptops to ARM and sharing a single application code base. Given the general un-optimized state of LLVM bytecode, I figured it was a few years away.

    Of course, the concern is reverse compilation.

    https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/01/apple-watch-apps-instantly-went-64-bit-thanks-to-obscure-bitcode-option/

    I have to admit, that is cool. The old old old p-code compilers from Microsoft had that goal in mind but they were so slow that MS abandoned them. There was basic, fortran, C, and pascal compilers to p-code if I remember correctly. Then Borland brought out Turbo Pascal and Microsoft had to respond to it’s speedy code. This wikipedia entry is not very correct about those MS compilers in the 1980s.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_P-Code

  38. Greg Norton says:

    I have to admit, that is cool. The old old old p-code compilers from Microsoft had that goal in mind but they were so slow that MS abandoned them

    Visual Basic 6.0 generated p-code unless you paid for the Enterprise edition.

    Microsoft promised the corporate customers that VB6 apps will continue to be supported with a run time until Windows 10 goes away. P-code, like Bill Gates’ srand()/rand() code with MAX_RAND of 0x7fff, will never die.

    I didn’t realize that our test facility was just across the runway from ERCOT at the Taylor airport. Someone finally looked it up today.

  39. Denis says:

    Godspeed, Mr OFD. Enjoy talking with RBT and Jerry Pournelle now.

    Thanks for posting Liz’ kind words – instead of seeking consolation, she offers it. Amazing. If I mentioned the prayer of St Francis (“O Master, let me not seek as much
    to be consoled as to console”…), scholar OFD would no doubt correct that it is not from the pen of apostle of Assisi!

  40. lynn says:

    Thanks for posting Liz’ kind words – instead of seeking consolation, she offers it. Amazing. If I mentioned the prayer of St Francis (“O Master, let me not seek as much
    to be consoled as to console”…), scholar OFD would no doubt correct that it is not from the pen of apostle of Assisi!

    Yes, I was comforted by those words also. Simply amazing.

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