79F and 93%RH. Forecast is for no rain. Openweathermap called for just under 1.8mm of rain yesterday and that is probably about what we got. I’m beginning to trust their prediction. Thanks for the tip.
I’m tired and slow this am. Nothing jumps into my head or fingers…
So we’ll have to just toss it open…
n
Invited the people over who are buying our house. Time for a toast, and also to talk about a lot of little details…
Meanwhile, we “mostly” have our building permit for the new house. “Mostly” because, for whatever reason, the town wants us to separate the house from the access road and file a new application to build the road. Some bureaucratic little detail that I trust our builder can get sorted out.
I was talking with someone yesterday about a new school campus that was built in our district. The district owns the parcel of land, but one half is in [an independent village] and the other half is in City of Houston. The architect was told that the buildings absolutely MUST NOT cross that line as then permits would be required from both COH and the village, and they would not be forthcoming. So the playground is entirely within COH jurisdiction and the buildings are within the village.
I’m sure there is a reason for their request, but it might not make sense to you.
n
(take it as a warning too. It’s either an indication that they are willing to work with you to accomplish your goals, or they are starting to put up barriers to your goals. Their NEXT request should help you determine which it is.)
I’m not the only one with brain fog today, no one busted me on the day of the week mistake! 🙂
n
I’m sure there is a reason for their request, but it might not make sense to you.
It makes sense to me. The City of Houston is technically insolvent due to outstanding pension obligations for police and fire fighters. The school district, probably in better financial shape, is a potential source of revenue.
54Âş and sunny now, but thunder-boomers are possible this afternoon.
Big election excitement yesterday. Seems that in two cases polling location bags were swapped. Two election judges (one from each pair) caught the mistake the night before and called the courthouse first thing. The other half of each pair went ahead & started the day, not noticing that it said the WRONG WARD AND DISTRICT. Fortunately, it all got sorted before voting started and nobody missed an opportunity to vote.
@Brad – sounds like bureaucrats are the same the world over. Make sure that T is crossed left-to-right, not right-to-left and you’ll be fine. We hope.
I got over 17000 steps yesterday. Not bad for a day of driving around & visiting.
Umm, this could be bad…
“Major Texas border station has been closed for fever outbreak after a 16-year-old boy died of the flu while in immigration custody
Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez had been detained at the Centralized Processing Center in McAllen earlier this month
On Sunday the teen told staff that ‘he was not feeling well’ and was seen by a nurse, who determined he had the flu and prescribed Tamiflu
He was then transferred to the Weslaco Border Patrol Station to avoid other detainees getting sick but was not hospitalized
The teen was found unresponsive Monday during a welfare check, an hour after agents had last checked on him
Hernandez Vasquez is the fifth child from Guatemala to die since December after being apprehended by US border patrol agents
Medical staff imposed the quarantine at the center after a ‘large number’ of detainees were found to have high fevers and symptoms of a flu-related illness”
Umm, this could be bad…
Even scarier is the dispensing of Tamiflu by *nurses*. That is not a drug to be taken lightly.
My wife got a call from someone looking to staff a doctor at the semi-secret processing center for Chinese illegals in Taylor. One of the job requirements was the ability to drag a “dead weight” of 15o lbs across a specific distance on concrete.
We passed on that “opportunity”, but these places obviously have difficulty hiring doctors.
WRT to cellphone batteries, I had an almost nightmare type experience a while back.
When the Samsung SII was currently popular, I signed up for a $30/month, 2 year subscription which included the phone at no extra charge.
About four months later, no longer hold charge and back to the local AT&T store. I was informed that they could neither replace the battery nor the phone with a new one after 90 days, I would have to contact the customer service center.
I thought too much hassle so Google resulted in a Samsung battery for $30+ and a generic for less than $10. Ordered generic.
Well, still not hold charge, so not a battery issue, but something inside. Has to call customer service center.
Rep reading script mentioned “battery”, and trying to hurry along, I mentioned that I had already done that. To which the script reader said the T’s and C’s were violated when I installed a non-Samsung battery; therefore, there was no help possible from them.
I was stricken speechless for a brief period and then I recovered. I told the script reader that such was totally unacceptable to me:
1. I would not spend $400 to replace a phone which had no initial cost.
2. I would not pay $30/month for the next 20 months for a service with an unusable phone.
I told him that I would go back to the store:
1. Would not accuse them of lying to me when they said that you would help me, but now refused to help.
2. However, I would politely advise that in the future they not suggest to customers that the customer service center will help them, as it was not 100% true.
3. I did mention that I my conversation might be somewhat emphatic and I would not be whispering to preclude disturbing other customers.
4. I then asked the script reader to connect me with the/his manager.
Script reader responded:
1. Hang on for a minute, let me see.
2. He stepped out, will be back shortly.
3. Most likely a lie, was there and needed to be filled in.
Mgr. got on phone and told me, from his script, it was a one-time exception but they would take care of me for a no-charge repair, and gave me a return authorization number.
Didn’t think about it until the next day, but then it came to my script. If I would have had to go back to the AT&T store:
1. I would have brought a flashlight that said Energizer (Eveready) on the outside and flash it around, not necessarily avoiding their eyes.
2. Unscrew the back and slide out the Duracell batteries.
3. As them why the generic batteries of another brand did not destroy the flashlight?
4. Get a new SII and we’ll put my generic battery in it and if it works, I’m out of here!
I do not take drivel, crap and lies from 800 number script readers.
“Trump says he won’t do an infrastructure bill while Democrats continue to investigate him”
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/22/trump-hosts-democratic-leaders-at-white-house-infrastructure-talks.html
I was wondering when Trump was going to shut it all down until the dumbocrats stop their idiocy.
And, I think that the dumbocrats in the House are going to impeach him no matter what.
Hat tip to:
https://drudgereport.com/
Openweathermap called for just under 1.8mm of rain yesterday and that is probably about what we got.
I see what you are doing. You are subtly trying to get us to transfer to metric units. Well, I won’t do it ! I am not going to throw away my two 10 inch crescent wrenches and replace them with 250 mm crescent wrenches.
Although, I cannot seem to find either of my 8 in crescent wrenches. So, I may buy a new 200 mm crescent wrench.
Freefall: space is boring
http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff3300/fc03281.htm
Almost any problem can be solved with duct tape.
It makes sense to me. The City of Houston is technically insolvent due to outstanding pension obligations for police and fire fighters. The school district, probably in better financial shape, is a potential source of revenue.
The City of Houston has about a half dozen school districts partially or fully contained within it. Any stealing of monies from any school district by any city will have the state legislature up in arms.
My wife got a call from someone looking to staff a doctor at the semi-secret processing center for Chinese illegals in Taylor. One of the job requirements was the ability to drag a “dead weight” of 15o lbs across a specific distance on concrete.
Isn’t that what an orderly is for ?
Is there any chance this will ever stop?
https://pjmedia.com/trending/chicago-high-school-falls-for-ok-sign-hoax-spends-53k-reprinting-yearbook/
No I guess not…
https://pjmedia.com/trending/liberals-are-livid-after-alabama-public-tv-pulls-same-sex-wedding-arthur-episode/
JEP used to always write that despair is a sin. Some days I wonder.
And, I think that the dumbocrats are going to impeach him no matter what.
They’re only going to continue the investigation as long as it takes to get Trump’s tax returns for the last decade. Then Perkins-Coie goes to work.
At this point, if they removed Trump from office, doesn’t Pence get the remainder of the term followed by two full terms of his own?
I started converting two of my outside 150 watt LED light fixtures from three ft pigtails to 8 ft pigtails last night for placement outside my warehouse. I have bought six more light fixtures. I managed to strip a screw in each of the first light fixtures that I tried to disassemble but the third disassembled ok when I switched to my Makita electric drill. I ended up cutting the old pigtail inside the outer enclosure and feeding the new pigtail through the waterproof plug. I discovered that the inside of the plug was coated with a liberal amount of silicone sealer so I am going to buy some of that tonight and do the same.
https://www.amazon.com/AntLux-Perimeter-Equivalent-Waterproof-Floodlight/dp/B077ZK6Q26/
I doubt that I am going to rent the manlift on Thursday though since I doubt that I will be ready after visiting my mother tonight also. I want to be able to install four of the new fixtures on and in the warehouse per day of manlift rental. Three per day might be more realistic though.
Great, just great. It looks like my chosen LED light fixture has been taken off the market. And I have only purchased 8 out of the 18 light fixtures that I am changing out. Lovely, just lovely.
The two light lixtures that I replaced in March ? are working very well. One of them is on twelve hours every night.
With politicians, it is not about doing that which is right, it is all about getting on television. Screaming about redactions does it; saying Mueller did a nice job won’t.
At this point, if they removed Trump from office, doesn’t Pence get the remainder of the term followed by two full terms of his own?
Pence is not electable on a national basis. The guy is as vanilla as they come. And I like him.
Pence is not electable on a national basis. The guy is as vanilla as they come. And I like him.
Both Presidents Bush proved that anything is possible with the right devious mind running the campaign. Bush I had Lee Atwater. Bush II had Karl Rove.
A Democrat elected in the wake of impeachment will be Jimmy Carter 2.0 — relatively squeaky clean but a one termer detested even by members of his own party in Congress.
Sounds like … Mayor Pete!
Well this brightened my day…..
https://hotair.com/archives/2019/05/22/breaking-trump-walks-pelosi-schumer-cover-remarks/
Well this brightened my day…..
Good, a big F-YOU from tRump. About time. Remember when Ryan gave Pelosi everything she asked for? The the Dumbos laughed in his face. No work by Congress means no more of my $$ spent on the FSA.
“A.F. Branco Cartoon – Skin Deep”
https://comicallyincorrect.com/a-f-branco-cartoon-skin-deep/
“Many parents are outraged at the idea of inserting a student’s adversity when scoring the S.A.T. exam. Many feel this is a backdoor way of using race as a factor over merit. Political cartoon by A.F. Branco ©2019.”
Nailed it.
HR: Get 20 health points for donating blood:
Me: What if I go out there, do all the work, and they don’t take the blood?
HR: You’ll still get the points.
Me: Okay – they’re going to reject me. It’s a pre-existing condition.
HR: Let me check
HR: Nope. No points. Only points for donating blood.
Me: … Bastages
I may have my first failing SSD drive.
Crucial MX300. Still under warranty.
The drive saw heavy duty use in my wife’s old MacBook for a year, and I’ve used the drive since then in my “Linux only” laptop.
I swapped out the SSD for a Firecuda until the warranty situation gets resolved.
HR: Get 20 health points for donating blood:
Me: What if I go out there, do all the work, and they don’t take the blood?
HR: You’ll still get the points.
Me: Okay – they’re going to reject me. It’s a pre-existing condition.
HR: Let me check
HR: Nope. No points. Only points for donating blood.
Me: … Bastages
Yup, no gaming the system.
I wish I could still donate blood. I have also not been able to donate blood for about 15 years now due to pre-existing condition (an auto-immune disease).
“Launching Today: Free Wolfram Engine for Developers”
https://blog.stephenwolfram.com/2019/05/launching-today-free-wolfram-engine-for-developers/
Interesting.
I disagree. I’m more than willing to earn those points. (Nearly) everyone else can earn those points. If I hadn’t volunteered I would be able to earn those points. I gave blood up until they told me I was no longer eligible. If I lied, they would take my blood.
If I had kept my mouth shut and been rejected (as I know I would be), I would earn those points.
@lynn, look on ebay for your fixture. Closeouts get bought up and sold there…
n
You can’t make this stuff up:
Israelis Try New Crowd-Control Method: Topless Women
@lynn, look on ebay for your fixture. Closeouts get bought up and sold there…
Wow, you are correct:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AntLux-LED-Flood-Light-Super-Bright-Stadium-Light-IP66-Waterproof-LED-Floodlight/352520152948
And Amazon found a 240 watt version of the 150 watt led fixture for me:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GZG4TJM/?tag=ttgnet-20
Wild.
I am now wondering if the Amazon listing will come back soon.
…and “Light Blink – Book Two” is released and available (as ebook only; paperback soon). Thanks to SteveF for helping out with editing.
Been spending a lot of time getting the marketing ready. New and upgraded web sites (an author site, story site). And a site for the old “Digital Choke” book (here).
All of them have landing pages (like this one here) to get signups for the newsletter, where you can get a free copy (PDF) of the “Pre-Blink” prequel short story.
Lots of tweaking and testing to get the sites ready and working properly. Plus new covers, banners, and more. And blog entries for the Digital Choke site. This marketing stuff takes as much effort as writing the stories. But have found some good resources for marketing.
With all that, doing ongoing maintenance of all the other web sites with updates and other issues. And, working on the first draft of the “Light Blink – Book Three” – and the outline. Early days on that one.
We shall see how this all turns out. It does keep me busy and slightly entertained.
Re: Impeachment
The president may be impeached but will not be convicted by the Senate or removed from office. When Bill Clinton was impeached, his popularity rose. Most analysts say that a vote for Impeachment will doom the Democrat party in 2020
Most analysts say that a vote for Impeachment will doom the Democrat party in 2020
Most analysts said that Hillary was going to win in 2016. I am not sure that the analysts are credible anymore in these “enlightened” times.
“Joe Biden’s campaign pitch: Make America Normal Again”
https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-biden-presidential-candidate-nostalgia-20190522-story.html
“In an odd way, Biden, like Trump, is offering voters the politics of nostalgia, only as a mirror image. Biden says he too wants to return the country to a golden age — in his telling, the halcyon days of what he calls “the Obama-Biden administration.” His message boils down to: Make America Normal Again.”
Really ? And whose “normal” ?
If people vote their pocketbooks, Trump wins hands down with this message. Not too many people want the Obola years back.
“Launching Today: Free Wolfram Engine for Developers”
https://blog.stephenwolfram.com/2019/05/launching-today-free-wolfram-engine-for-developers/
Interesting.
Python interface makes it even more so.
I read Wolfram’s book when he first published it and used Alpha extensively when I first returned to school.