Cool and sunny. [76F at 9am]
Yesterday started out cool but got up into the high 80s or low 90s in the sun later in the day. It was sunny and HOT in the driveway. It’s nice and dry though, at least for Houston, so all the water I’m finding under stuff, and trapped in tarps will actually dry out.
I found some parts in the garage that I had forgotten about, and I still haven’t found some parts I’ve been looking for. Found lots of old rat mess too. Cleaning and organizing. Should have been done years ago, but I always have something else that needs doing. This week is no exception, but I’ve bumped some stuff around on the priority list to get more visible stuff done for my wife. Some cleaning inside the house will probably happen today too.
Dinner was ribeye from the freezer, and stuffed mushrooms and baked zucchini from the store. My wife ended up having to go to her site inspection, so she stopped for vegetables and chicken last week. I’d have preferred not, but I’m not the boss of her. Funny thing is, she never does the shopping normally. It must be a bit of cabin fever. In any case, she made the veg and I did the steak. Teamwork! Birthday cake for dessert.
Texas is relaxing some of the covid rules starting yesterday. Nothing that affects me, or my family, but I’ll be watching the numbers closely this coming week. I’ve stopped checking them twice a day. They keep growing though, relentlessly, and even more so outside of the US. We’re not done with this any time soon.
So keep stacking, stay in, and stay safe. Skills are free, and knowledge can save you time, money, or even your life….
n
My ex-wife’s church in her home town started doing “appreciations” for members as death was approaching. The idea was that instead of having a bunch of people say good things about someone after he was dead, why not do it while he could still hear it.
Memorial Day weekend is usually the big house hunting holiday in Austin with the rental market being the fallback plan. This year should be interesting.
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/20-people-arrested-after-allegedly-obstructing-i-35-as-part-of-nationwide-protests/
Tyler Durden cowardice on the eve of the big Berkshire meeting today. Could be anyone.
The Gecko isn’t cutting any breaks on insurance rates for the Wuxu Flu, but succession is surely going to come up so maybe Buffett wanted a distraction.
The unrealized gain/loss reporting requirement is an irritant to The Gecko.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/berkshire-hathaway-reports-50-billion-q1-loss
Amusing trick in an aircraft.
People in all cities are demanding free rent and housing during the pandemic. They feel they have the right. But the property owner who still has to pay on loans, taxes, insurance, utilities, etc. should not get any relief. Those that are asking for rent deferment will have thousands to pay in a few months. Most will not and will just leave the place after stealing all the fixtures and trashing the place.
If these people don’t have enough money for rent and food, tough. The common advice is to have six months worth of money in the bank to cover expenses during times like such as this. But these people would rather spend money on XBox’s, booze, drugs, cigarettes, rims for that 1982 Cadillac, hair extensions, tattoos, fancy nails, gold teeth, anything but fiscal responsibility.
They made their choice, live with it. The world does not owe them a living. Give them a cot in a warehouse with a couple of portable toilets, community shower, and shared sinks. Baloney and cheese sandwiches. Enough with the leaches who keep demanding more and doing less.
Good for the pilot.
From the article:
Well duh. They are now testing 100 times as many people. Cases are going to increase. I am more concerned with the number of people positive versus the number of people tested. The ratio is the important number.
I doubt most governors would understand the concept. Even if they did it would not fit into their new role as emperor of their state. The feeling of power must give them an orgasm at night. They have never felt so much in control and consider themselves exempt from any of their executive orders.
That list of phantasy books starts out a bit heavy on the YouGoGurrrl!!111!! but ends up with a bunch of classics. I’ve read or watched more than a third, but really it’s not just the 11 or 12 since so many of them are just the first in a multi-book series.
We were talking about the Pratchett here a couple of days ago, so I’m glad to see the note that Wee Free Men is the first in the Tifany Aching series and that someone else thinks it’s appropriate for kids.
Nice to see the real classics too, Tollbooth, Wrinkle, Earthsea.
The Narnia books, yeah you always get some smartypants going on about the “Christian” aspects. NEVER noticed them as a kid, and I got the books for my Confirmation party, until the last, when I figured out that they were killed and in Heaven. STILL didn’t see any particularly “Christian” parts. I’ve been listening to the very good American Family audio production in the truck. VERY well done and entertaining, except for the voice of Aslan, which is a strange and off-putting choice.
Coraline is just creepy.
n
If I did that in a choppa’, it would probably be limp. Quiche eatin’ Army Aviator.
The Narnia books, yeah you always get some smartypants going on about the “Christian” aspects.
And Harry Potter doesn’t have any Christ allegory. Not at all.
Rowling was shameless. She stole from everybody.
But these people would rather spend money on XBox’s, booze, drugs, cigarettes, rims for that 1982 Cadillac, hair extensions, tattoos, fancy nails, gold teeth, anything but fiscal responsibility.
Cadillac? Around here it is $50,000 trucks on 84 month loans 0% interest, with the dealers advising repossession of the current car loan(s) as part of the deal structure.
Since the virus I’ve seen at least one dealer offer 90 months 0% interest, but that ad disappeared before I saw it again to note the name.
Yep you can write about black masses, human sacrifice, witchcraft, demon summoning, druids, animism, or any number of other ‘religious’ practices and if anyone squawks, they’re intolerant christian bigots, but write something that (as an adult is clear) contains christian allegory and you get dismissed with a sneer.
n
I Amusing trick in an aircraft.
I can’t remember who’s the pilot on here but I’ve been wondering if old biplanes have rudder trim?
Oddly enough I’ve never read the Narnia series, but I started out with _That Hideous Strength_ et seq., enjoyed _Screwtape Letters_ and found _Surprised by Joy_ a fascinating argument even though I’m a dyed-in-the-wool atheist. Religion fascinates me. On OFD’s recommendation I read through the entire Catholic catechism!
My conclusion? Catholics are guilt junkies. 🙂
What a great idea. Must be a little tricky to manage without spooking the honoree. In our social and church circles, major milestones, such as a 50th wedding anniversary, are celebrated. Sometimes these are just a mention from some leader at a routine gathering, or sometimes (rarer) they are big events with crowds. Yes, we should celebrate while someone is still able to enjoy being part of the celebration.
I grew up in a predominantly Irish community. As a kid, I went to a few Irish wakes. Although the honoree was of course dead, WE celebrated!
Finally, I don’t know much about it, but the New Orleans tradition of a funeral parade and celebration seems a good idea, especially the happy music and strutting. The paid mourners, not so much.
If you are Baby Yoda-ed out tonight, “Svengoolie” has the original “Frankenstein” on MeTV.
https://svengoolie.com/blog/the-month-of-monster-mayhem-begins-with-the-classic-karloff-frankenstein-tonight
Meanwhile the H&I network is currently airing what is arguably the best stretch of “Deep Space Nine” episodes made during the series’ run, “A Call to Arms” through “Sacrifice of Angels”. “Rocks and Shoals”, penned by no less than Ronald D. Moore, ran last night. Sunday through Friday.
Avery Brooks may have gone off the deep end as of late, but he rocked on “Deep Space Nine”.
And his baseball too.
Avery Brooks may have gone off the deep end as of late
Of late? I saw him quite a few years ago on, what was it?, _Captains of Star Trek_ and the guy was just blooming bonkers! Any idea what happened to him?
I phrased it badly. The appreciations weren’t done when the honoree was on death’s door, but typically as they were getting up there in years and starting to ail but still healthy enough and alert enough to appreciate it. I saw only the one, but was informed that they were universally well received.
Isn’t it a reasonable assumption that every professional actor, musician, and artist has a screw loose? It’s not quite completely true, but close enough that the exceptions fall into the measurement noise.
Happy people don’t make art.
That’s a truism from 30 years involvement and an arts degree…..
n
“Avery Brooks may have gone off the deep end as of late”
Of late? I saw him quite a few years ago on, what was it?, _Captains of Star Trek_ and the guy was just blooming bonkers! Any idea what happened to him?
“The Captains” was a bit bonkers in general, but Captain Kirk has a nice airplane in retirement. Priceline has been good to The Shat.
Brooks didn’t participate in the recent DS9 doc “What We Left Behind”, but, to be fair, that was a wildly uneven project.
Houston PD lost an officer and a chopper last night
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8280095/2-Houston-police-officers-hospitalized-helicopter-crash.html
–so after the crash, while HPD and HFD and lifeflight were all still on scene, six people STILL got into a gun battle RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. That is NOT an area I’d want to live in.
n
–so after the crash, while HPD and HFD and lifeflight were all still on scene, six people STILL got into a gun battle RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. That is NOT an area I’d want to live in.
Waze routed us out there on one return drive from Galveston. Never again.
On the upside, convenient to the airport!
Memorial Day weekend is usually the big house hunting holiday in Austin with the rental market being the fallback plan. This year should be interesting.
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/20-people-arrested-after-allegedly-obstructing-i-35-as-part-of-nationwide-protests/
So that’s where the money that used to bankroll Antifa and BLM went!
“Six people who attended SC funeral now dead of coronavirus, officials say”
A dear local lady, beloved even of “newcomers” like me, died this past week. It was expected, she had cancer, but it was a heartbreak that her assisted living center was on lockdown during her final days so no visits. And no funeral. The family held a private graveside service but the community didn’t get to come. In better times, the town would have filled the church to overflow for her.
My wife’s favorite uncle went into hospice this week out in Abilene. He is only 75 or so and dying of prostate cancer. He is at least half Cherokee and smoked heavily until he was 60 (there seems to be a connection) . She will not get to go to his funeral with the lockdown rules. At least we will have the good memories. He helped her keep her junky cars running back in the 1970s. He helped me swap engines on a car in his front yard back in 1982 (went from a heavy oil burner to a light oil burner).
Over The Hedge: mowing the back yard
https://www.gocomics.com/overthehedge/2020/05/02
I’m with the first commenter, I wonder how much George charges. And how does he steer with those short arms ?
Speaking of literature, “Who’s Laughing Now, Assholes?” A Letter from Henry David Thoreau to Literature Faculties at Cushy Liberal Arts Schools
Heh.
(h/t Instapundit)
Gov. Screwsom didn’t please many in my town yesyerday.
https://news.yahoo.com/many-sacrifices-californians-draw-line-120047517.html
I’ve been plugging away at spring clean up. The snow is still melting into the street and still present in shady areas of the yard. However enough of it is gone that I can start redeeming the sins of a neglected Fall.
Poop clean up is complete. Well, except the hen house (how did I not clean it out last fall after we ate the birds?), oh well at least it doesn’t smell. Most unpleasant job was the 12′ by 30″ above ground pool. Oh horror. I was unable to completely empty it last Fall, with moms brief battle with cancer and death and subsequent multiple trips to California. Fetid swamp. Nasty indescribably creepy weird lumpy mats of I don’t know what drifting menacingly across the surface. Rotted birch leaves.
Yeah. That was fun. The backyard smells Alaskan Springtime fresh.
I need to flip the pool part way and hose it out some more, then let sun do a bit of work followed by a lot of elbow grease. I’d like to chuck the liner however I can’t find a replacement as in years past. Woe.
Eggs in the incubator are barnyard mix. We will eat or sell them in the fall depending on what happens with my order of Chantecler eggs. I prefer the Chanteclers for eggs and eating (doesn’t pay to be male in the animal world). If the Chanteclers are a bust the barnyard mix is a hedge bet. I’ve got a couple inquiries out for rabbits. We’ve raised meat rabbits in the past. Low effort, low cost, low space requirements. Easier to process than chickens. It’s too early to plant outside. The greenhouse is a train wreck. Trying to convince my spouse to help me move the damn thing forward about 12′ so I can more easily clean out the wreckage and address the raspberries that have launched a full on invasion from the neighbors yard.
Producing food on 7,000 ish feet in the middle of town isn’t easy. I think we will be growing in the driveway in buckets, and maybe some of Nick’s trash bag potatoes, this year. Trying to find bare root strawberries – I’ll put those in some gutter segments I have and overwinter them. I want to order dirt but nobody has any yet. We will see.
Chatted with back fence neighbor a bit. They had pipes freeze in December / January and have been dealing with the aftermath for months. Glad to be spared that particular nightmare.
Husband put a pork shoulder into the oven roaster. Smells good. We will eat well tonight. Cooking it outside to torment the neighbors. Warm enough (40’s?) that we’ve got the windows (those not facing my fetid backyard swamp) and door open to freshen the house.
I’ve enjoyed seeing what everyone is up to. Love this time of year.
Enough procrastination. Trim dog toenails and back at it. Goal for rest of day is to get the pool upright, greenhouse shifted, hen house cleaned, and trash picked up. Hah!
82 and sunny. This morning I finally painted the outside mat gas pipe on the side of the house that runs from the meter to the entry point to the house.
I also filled in and put back the sod in the ditch I dug to extend the sprinkler system to the second raised garden bed.
After lunch I went for a run. In the past month, the amount of people out walking has been impressive. Even more impressive is the number of kids on bikes. Not just little kids with their parents, but lots of free range kids. I hope some of them keep it up when things return to normal.
Chatted with back fence neighbor a bit. They had pipes freeze in December / January and have been dealing with the aftermath for months. Glad to be spared that particular nightmare.
No joke ! PEX piping reputedly can handle repeated freezing events. But, the rats really like chewing on plastic piping. A lot of plumbers around here in south Texas have moved to it.
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/pex-plumbing-pipe-844850
My buddy had his eaten twice.
big flood both times.
Not cheap.
n
I’ve been doing more cleaning and organizing in the garage. With my pink belly, I’ve decided to hide from the sun today. I don’t like the tight sharp itching feel of sunburn, even so mild I don’t see any red…
I found a couple of projects that I misplaced and a couple of things that were supposed to be listed for sale. Making space and moving stuff around.
Ordered some more shelf clips for my industrial shelf system. I decided that I’ll build a couple more “towers” in the driveway to store sale items. They are easier to keep dry than the tarped pallets, and easier to get into when it’s time to sell. I’ve got plenty of shelves and uprights, but ran out of clips. Every manufacturer has their own system…
n
If a picture speaks 1000 words, this one says “The shareholder lawsuits will be entertaining. Guaranteed.”
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/musk-caps-strange-week-suggesting-130058580.html
On today’s big Yahoo Finance streaming show, Buffett is explaining the big Treasury stash as I type. Treasuries are a liquidity tool not an investment, and the The Gecko understands that even many of the shareholders don’t.
Asia’s ‘murder hornet’ found in US for first time
Ah yes. First there was the coming ice age, then global overpopulation, but who remembers the Africanized honey bees that were going to kill us all!
Any other Chicken Little fables I’ve forgotten about?
PS
@mediumwave
Funny site, thanks.
That’s a lovely and thoughtful thing to do. I like it!
My sincere condolences to your wife and you. We all have such need of people like that in our lives, both in youth and again in old age. That practical help just makes life go better. We have a local friend who is still home, but prostate cancer is taking him too. A rough road.
May we all be well remembered when our time comes!
A year ago for her birthday, my mother asked me if I would write her a letter each week. She doesn’t use a computer or smart phone, very old-school. Even though we talked on the phone all the time, she wanted a letter instead. She said with a letter, she can read it again and again if she wants to. I don’t always manage every week but I try. A letter is little enough for a mother to ask.
It took me a little while to get into the hang of composing in long hand , but I’ve gotten better. It’s nice to be able to thank her for little things she did when we were growing up, or reminisce about funny things that happened. I find myself recalling things fondly that I was not so fond of at the time. Ha!
Jenny, condolences on the loss of your mother. 🙁 You have tackled some dirty jobs! I wish I had some of that manure tho. I can’t get anyone I know to let me have any LOL they all use it themselves on their own gardens! We’ve never raised hens, but I like the idea of just butchering them when they stop laying. I knew a man who said his mother made fried chicken only at breakfast time, and that instead of plucking them, she just skinned them. I’ve decided if I ever did keep chickens that might be the way I would do it LOL My hubby loves chicken skin fried crisp so I probably couldn’t get away with it.
No joke ! PEX piping reputedly can handle repeated freezing events. But, the rats really like chewing on plastic piping. A lot of plumbers around here in south Texas have moved to it.
I have a roll of Honda’s capsaisin-flavored tape for the DI wiring harness of my car. In theory it would probably work for exposed PEX, but the tape was pricey on a per-foot basis. I wonder if the Critter Ridder spray would be a problem on PEX.
I never saw PEX in Central Florida. The old citrus groves which became housing developments are still home to way too many rats and other varmints.
@mediumwave
Funny site, thanks.
You’re welcome!
Condolences to you and your wife, Lynn.
From yesterday – Re: robot vacuums
I had a Roomba for 12 years and bought a different brand when we moved in January. I love the idea of robot vacuums – but – my roomba had problems with almost anything left on the floor. It would jam up on charger cables, strings, legos, and regularly get stuck unde the edge of the couch. So I didn’t use it without completely going over the floor first. Meaning I didn’t use it much. After the move I knew we would have no legos so got another. Then the wife went on oxygen and now we have oxygen hoses on the floor and can’t run the new one.
I had problems with cords until I hid them. One time we could not find the unit. Turned out it had climbed into the bottom liner of the couch where a small section came loose. Looked for an hour. The one I have ordered is supposed to detect cords using an array of 14 sensors. Regardless, I am still impressed by the technology and how well they clean.
Please let us know how it works and what model. I have a roomba and all I’ll say is that it isn’t compatible with cords or cats.
“Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are” by Sarah Hoyt
https://accordingtohoyt.com/2020/05/01/come-out-come-out-wherever-you-are/
“One thing we’ve found — this has to be the most studied disease in the universe — is that sunlight kills it. So the chances of transmission outside is about zero. (And no, it doesn’t have wings, or hang suspended outside in midair to get you. Honestly, sometimes I wonder what’s in people’s heads. If this virus could do that, so could EVERY OTHER ONE. To an extent, sure. They’re everywhere. If you’ve read H. G. Well’s War of the Worlds, you know that. You also know that unlike something from outer space you evolved on this Earth and have a level of defense against the teeming life of the planet in general. Or maybe you don’t. I found out my kids’ teachers thought if you used water it went away forever, so who knows?)”
“Anyway, sunlight kills the virus, which didn’t transmit any too well INSIDE the Diamond Princess, in some of the best possible conditions for it, AND with an ideally aged and infirm population. So you’re pretty safe outside. Closing the parks? Demanding you wear masks outside? Yeah. It’s just governors getting their fash boots on.”
“The other thing we’ve found out is that vitamin D deficiency is the greatest predictor of “will need hospitalization.””
Note to self, go outside every day for 15 minutes.
And how do all of these people come up with these “facts” ?
From a way earlier question, I’m a pilot. Most biplanes (for that matter, most light airplanes) don’t have rudder trim in the cockpit. Usually there will be an aluminum tab on the back edge of the rudder that can be bent by hand to trim for straight and level flight, but in all other flight regimes the pilot must adjust the rudder to keep the plane straight. As the power goes up, the likelihood of having cockpit-adjustable rudder trim increases.