Hopefully not raining, and kinda warm.
Rained late yesterday. It was so humid before that that it might as well have been raining. Really gross feeling to be working out in 80F and 99%RH. Clammy. After the rain it was 53F at midnight. Chilly willy.
But I did get the lights up, so I’m much happier than I was. It’s a bit later than I’d have liked but the house and yard look festive. There are a lot more houses decorated this year in the neighborhood than last. IDK if that’s a reflection of people being home and having the time, not going away on vacation, or just more younger and traditional families moving in. There is nothing like having kids to rekindle those desires for the traditions you grew up with.
I’ve got presents to wrap today, and hopefully stuff to drop off at the auction house. Didn’t happen yesterday, but I really want the bins out of the living room for Christmas. I need to decide which presents get wrapped for Christmas, and which get saved for birthdays in 4 months. Kids are gonna do alright in the present department no matter what.
The older one is a bit blase’ about the whole thing this year. The little one is practically vibrating with anticipation. It’s a lot of fun to watch it through their eyes normally. They miss their friends and the family get togethers, and the Holiday travel. I’m happy enough staying home, but I ache for them.
Funny how all the speculation about cv19 being a bioweapon has faded. It would give a nice target to the white hot pent up rage, if it was allowed to blossom… but I guess that would be bad too. Maybe some people will wake up dead after a tasty soup, or a kiss on the cheek sometime soon. Russia isn’t exactly unscathed by the chinavirus after all. Christmas wishes used to be so simple.
Time for me to get going on my list for the day. I had an ebay sale so I need to hit the storage unit and get the item, and get it shipped out. That’s in addition to everything else. Still, glad for the sale, maybe things are picking up.
Keep stacking.
n
How worried are they about the two Georgia run-offs? Mitch really doesn’t want to move out of his plush office…
Raphael Warnock will not go to the Senate from Georgia. Regardless of what the Republicans do, old school Dems have their limits.
Funny how all the speculation about cv19 being a bioweapon has faded. It would give a nice target to the white hot pent up rage, if it was allowed to blossom… but I guess that would be bad too. Maybe some people will wake up dead after a tasty soup, or a kiss on the cheek sometime soon. Russia isn’t exactly unscathed by the chinavirus after all.
The Wuxu Flu isn’t a bioweapon. I’ve lived with the antics for 30 years. You Ain’t Got No Ice Cream. And my in-laws put all kinds of crazy things into their mouths if for no other reason than to keep the oldsters happy, part of the family politics among Number One Sons to be the Number One Number One Son.
This week’s in-law craziness is the oldsters getting stirred up about my three week stay at the prostitution racket motel outside Seattle in 2013. On the surface it appears to be about the money, but my guess is that it is more embarrassing that the redneck learned a piece of family truth.
Of course, the cousins will take the money if offered … again. I’ll bet the property taxes on the one cousin’s California house are late again. The cousin married to the Dell VP, who lives in Dana Carvey’s old neighborhood and drives a Model X Tonymobile.
UPDATE: The first installment of the property taxes were paid on time, but the second installment is due in April, and that got paid late last year by almost a month, resulting in a $1300 penalty.
Well isn’t that special.
The ISP, the network provider, has paid the cities and continues to pay the cities for the use of the right of way. There is a franchise fee tacked on to my bill every month and that money is supposedly remitted to the city. That is to pay for the privilege of using the right of way. What is carried on those lines is of no concern of the cities involved.
The cities contention is that Netflix, et. al. are using the right of way without compensation to the city. Those bit, bytes, whatever are traveling on city property and thus the city must be compensated. Last I checked I own the property on which the right of way sits. I pay taxes on that little slice of property, I maintain that little slice of property. The city has forced me to let the city use my property without compensation.
Even though the cities pays nothing to ISPs that carry the traffic. Just the opposite. The cities are out nothing for the data traffic. The cities are just looking for ways to grab more money. It would seem that Neflix owes me $0.05 each year for their traffic that is crossing my property and the city should get nothing.
I supposed the cities could extend this to being compensated for every kilowatt that travels on the electrical lines. After all those lines run on right of ways (city and private owned) and thus the property owner should be compensated. I find no franchise tax on my electrical bill but it would certainly seem a ripe opportunity for the cities to grab more money.
Even though the cities pays nothing to ISPs that carry the traffic. Just the opposite. The cities are out nothing for the data traffic. The cities are just looking for ways to grab more money.
Here in Texas, the city entities of Dallas and Houston were technically insolvent before the pandemic due to future pension obligations. As Detroit’s bankruptcy proved, the courts will put the pensioners before any other creditors at 100 cents on the dollar regardless of the insanity of the benefits paid.
The fleecing of city residents will only get worse.
well, slightly warm it isn’t. 39F at the moment but the sun is shining. Still gusting winds though, so I’m sure it’s “blustery” out.
n
From looking at other property issues, if it’s a “right of way” the city owns it even if it’s contiguous with your property and you take care of it (like the 15ft between where your property line is and the hard surface of the city street- you treat it like it’s yours but it’s not.)
If it’s an “easement” you own it, but the right to USE it got shared for compensation at some point in the past.
At the back of our property where an alley might have been, we have aerial and ground easements that allow various utilities to pass over or under our property. In the front, there is a 15ft piece of land in between the city street and the edge of our property that is city ‘right of way’ where curbs, sidewalks, and a little strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street would be. The city runs water lines in that right of way, and can put in sidewalks or widen the street without any compensation to me (because I don’t own it, regardless that I water and mow it.)
Any area that was developed as a ‘sub’ division of a parcel of land likely has both rights of way and easements. Whoever initially divided it set aside the space for streets and sidewalks, drainage, water detention, utility access etc.
WRT the entities taxing what’s CARRIED on the wires, didn’t ATT already try that with Netflix and lose? I’d think that anything a city tried to do would fall afoul of the interstate commerce clause as a restriction to free trade between the states.
n
not that the law has ever stopped the thieves in .gov from trying.
I will refrain from discussing both my varicose veins and the weather on this forum…
However, I think this might provide some amusement:
https://phys.org/news/2020-12-earthlings-astronauts-chat-ham-radio.amp
Vaccinating 2 MILLION people a week is the only way to fight it, new model warns
–no that’s not suspicious AT ALL
n
Imagine the scenario with The Camel ™ as the deciding vote in the Senate. Jauntily walks in, with her latest *kicks* on, thumbs down/up, cackling all the way out. She’d earn her keep right there.
Not one *eye* in the above.
LET THE HEELING AND CACKLING BEGIN!
The Redumbo’s blocked the $2,000 stim package. Good. I’m sure, if you read the bill, the $600-to-$2,000 up was not just a xfr of other pork, but additional amount to the bill. No more pork! Maybe the sheeple will get the message: both parties suck dead bunnies! Vote them all out.
Yep, plodski quickly accepted the $2000 without giving anything up. Why not? If you are printing pallets of money, what is one or two more pallets?
Now it’s DJT’s fault and those mean R’s… and DJT is somehow changing his mind on the porkulous projects because the foreign aid was ‘previously proposed by his administration.’
Not too hard to say that very few of the ‘crats are part of the Donald’s administration, not too hard to disavow the details that don’t match broader policy directives, like “Putting America First”.
n
BREXIT is a go.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9085263/UK-EU-haggling-fish-despite-deal-DONE.html
I can’t believe that I read this
I guess you can pull back from being one of Germany’s vassal states. Never thought I’d read that line though, how did it get to that point in the first place?
n
Just finished resetting all the ‘time’ settings for my security cams. Not sure what went wrong or when, but they weren’t syncing with nist time.
I thought I had them all set and confirmed working, but maybe I spaced on something like actually applying the changes. Or maybe they got scrambled at some point.
Setting the correct time will result in overwriting some recent video files, but that’s ok. Nothing but windy morning recorded on the internal cards anyway.
n
(process involved two different browsers on two different computers. F’ing javascript, and Java, and security settings you can’t change.)
Fuhrer Fauci turns 80 today. Happy Birthday! Now retire and let somebody else onto the gravy train. Like me! I can issue diktats with the best of them. Just ask my kids.
I have an easement. I fought Comcast over their use of the easement without my permission. Forced Comcast to move the line to another location. The Comcast line was running in the easement.
Just finished resetting all the ‘time’ settings for my security cams. Not sure what went wrong or when, but they weren’t syncing with nist time.
The cameras have a config for an ntp server?
Try pool.ntp.org if you continue to have problems with time.nist.gov. The NTP pool attempts to resolve to addresses near you, and I’m sure your area has a few quality servers nearby. 🙂
If you still have problems after that, you can install Chrony on the server and sync time across the local network. Even if the Internet gets cut off, you’ll still have the cameras synced with the server.
I went down the time server rabbit hole on the last job. We got into the GPS NTP servers, but those were not as reliable as the $1800 cost implies.
Quoted for truth. They usually work, but when they don’t, there usually isn’t a good reason why.
Huh, that’s funny. I was thinking about using one of my old gps receivers to get the time… like one of the expensive rack mount devices, but never really got started exploring it.
n
I spent nine weeks installing C2I systems on Pendleton…
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/fast-moving-wildfire-threatens-major-marine-corps-base-near-san-diego
n
Huh, that’s funny. I was thinking about using one of my old gps receivers to get the time… like one of the expensive rack mount devices, but never really got started exploring it.
If you already have the equipment, it doesn’t cost you anything but time to experiment.
“The cameras have a config for an ntp server?”
–yup. As you can imagine, accurate timestamps on the video help tremendously, so all pro or pro-sumer level cams have the ability to use a timeserver. Some of my older cams will only use a dotted quad, some will do name lookup, a couple of the new ones came preconfigured for time.microsoft.com
The DST settings are usually F’d up since the change in start and stop times, but that’s ok, I’ll check them manually and just change the timezone twice a year.
I didn’t try running the CL you gave me for CUPS yet, after a reboot it filled my drive with error logs in 2-3 days. Half a TB of error logs….
I don’t have time to spend on it atm…
n
Which is often more expensive than cash, or else simply unaffordable at present.
The DST settings are usually F’d up since the change in start and stop times, but that’s ok, I’ll check them manually and just change the timezone twice a year.
There is a really convoluted standard for specifying time zone strings with accurate start and stop for DST embedded in the text, but I can’t remember where you would find the spec document.
At one point, I had to rewrite a good chunk of the SGI Irix time library since the version shipped by the vendor was non-thread safe. For a while, I could crash SGI servers at will manipulating the TZ environment variable and calling malloc() even from user processes.
well, slightly warm it isn’t. 39F at the moment but the sun is shining. Still gusting winds though, so I’m sure it’s “blustery” out.
I was out at 2 am last night picking up my trash cans and throwing the trash back in them. The blustery wind blew them over and onto the country road in front of my house.
Why bother? Tag with UTC.
“The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books” by Dan Livingston
https://best-sci-fi-books.com/the-best-modern-classic-science-fiction-books/
I have read the Rudy Rucker books, the most excellent “To Say Nothing Of The Dog”, the amazing “The Girl With All the Gifts”, the awesome “We Are Legion (We Are Bob)”, the strange and upsetting “The Road”, “Red Mars”, “Leviathan Wakes”, the cool “Ready Player One”, “Old Man’s War”, and the utterly significant “The Martian”.
“Marc Morano: We Will Go From COVID Lockdowns To “Climate Lockdowns” Under Biden”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/12/23/marc-morano-we-will-go-from-covid-lockdowns-to-climate-lockdowns-under-biden/
“They’re trying to essentially use the COVID lockdown model for the climate emergency model. And they are going to go from COVID lockdowns to climate lockdowns,” Morano said. “Senator Merkley (D-OR) came out today and is urging a President Joe Biden to declare a national climate emergency which would give him emergency powers that he could bypass democracy, much in the same way that blue-state governors have already done with the COVID lockdowns,” Morano said.”
I have long stated that COVID is a practice run for much more draconian measures to restrict freedoms. It was a test to see how people reacted. The serfs among us will be highly restricted while the elitist ruling class will enjoy their freedoms.
To quote (and add to) another poster: The end is much nearer.
“They’re trying to essentially use the COVID lockdown model for the climate emergency model. And they are going to go from COVID lockdowns to climate lockdowns,” Morano said. “Senator Merkley (D-OR) came out today and is urging a President Joe Biden to declare a national climate emergency which would give him emergency powers that he could bypass democracy, much in the same way that blue-state governors have already done with the COVID lockdowns,” Morano said.”
Good luck with enforcement. Even with “Stage 5 Lockdown”, people were out today in North Austin.
Seems enforcement may be taken a bit more seriously in North Korea:
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/11/27/939478095/north-korea-executed-coronavirus-rule-breaker-says-south-korean-intelligence
Of Iain Banks’ Culture novels, The Player of Games, which he has on the list, is the worst. It’s a horrible, over the top polemic. It’s feminist SJW on steroids. Plus PoG was written in 1987
Yeh, we left the Knoxville area late morning to avoid the predicted snowfall. Especially over the Cumberland Plateau with an elevation of 2200 ft at the highest point. Most of the snow stayed west of middle Tennessee. Knoxville got a couple of inches and the roads in Knoxville and going west are snarled with many at a standstill.
Went to Walmart in Hendersonville where we are camped a Hampton Inn. Three cars in the lot thus probably only three rooms occupied. Yet there was a line outside of Walmart. There is an occupancy restriction in the county and stores are only letting a certain number of people in the store. No sign here of people restricting their movements.
Meeting with the son was at the hotel. It sort of went OK. Still a lot of tension and a lot of issues not settled. His wife is really sensitive to anything we do or say. We do something with the grandkid they don’t like and they just get pissed. Don’t tell us not to do what we are doing so we don’t know they don’t like what we are doing. Instead they just fume and get angry and tell us we are not welcome.
Much more of this and I am ready to make the son an orphan and be done with the drama. My dad did it to me so I know how it works. Wife is fairly upset over the entire scenario. At some point I will balk at playing the instigator and him and his wife playing the victim.
Limited visiting time tomorrow. They will have Christmas by themselves in the morning. We are not to arrive until 9:00 AM and be gone by 12:30 PM.
Also found out the grandkid is in speech therapy. He was the last time we visited. We were never told. He is 33 months old and is still not speaking. Son’s wife was playing with toy animals, putting them to her mouth, and saying the word. Wife starting playing with the kid using the same toys but was not putting them to her mouth to say the words. Son’s wife was livid we found out. Apparently it was part of his speech therapy but we were never told. Hard to do what is desired if one does not know.
I didn’t get past Consider Phlegm. The story had a few interesting ideas and the Culture universe is definitely worth exploring, but not by Banks.
Sympathies, Ray. I don’t put up with that nonsense any longer than I have to* but haven’t been in the position of cutting a descendant out of my life. Have you laid it on the line with the son, telling him to cut that crap right out or else?
* Four years, six months, a few days remaining for the last one.
Went to Walmart in Hendersonville where we are camped a Hampton Inn. Three cars in the lot thus probably only three rooms occupied. Yet there was a line outside of Walmart. There is an occupancy restriction in the county and stores are only letting a certain number of people in the store. No sign here of people restricting their movements.
Free hot breakfast at least?
I usually eat a bagel and a cup of yogurt at those hotel setups, but I won’t say no to bacon.
“Of Iain Banks’ Culture novels”
–I can’t keep the Ians straight, is this one the trade unionist where every story somehow involves unions? I had to stop reading that Ian. The other contemporaneous Ian (of uncertain spelling) was well worth reading. Although I haven’t in a while.
n
“GOA Thanks the Tens of Thousands who Took Action in Rebuking the ATF”
https://gunowners.org/atf-withdraws-its-pistol-brace-proposal/
“Great news!
In a Notice issued yesterday by the Associate Deputy Director of the ATF, the agency has officially withdrawn its pistol brace proposal that GOA had alerted you to here.
Yes, you read that right. Gun owners have won a huge Christmas Eve victory!”
True dat. A real gift would be abolishing that 3 letter agency. (sigh) Not gonna happen.
Well, about half the gifts are opened, and the kids are in bed. Santa can come and the Bofors will probably miss him again. He’s wiley.
There was much squealing, way past the range when my hearing stops. Past what dogs can hear, and maybe even bats for that matter. 9yo girls can split diamonds with their vocalizations….
The 11yo got a mouse pad. Some books. Some clothes. She wasn’t very into Christmas, so Christmas wasn’t much into her– so far. In the morning she should be happy with the gifts, they are much more in line with Christmas at our house.
When did fireworks and shooting the guns become a thing for midnight Christmas Eve? LOTS of fireworks, plus the occasional mag dump. With ammo being so expensive, I wouldn’t think they’d be wasting it…
Some stockings need filling then I’m off to bed.
n
When did fireworks and shooting the guns become a thing for midnight Christmas Eve? LOTS of fireworks, plus the occasional mag dump. With ammo being so expensive, I wouldn’t think they’d be wasting it…
My neighbors shot off about a dozen mortars on Monday evening. They were pretty.
Shooting off guns into the air is bad news. You need to move out to Katy.
Moving is a consideration. Of course my citrus trees JUST started fruiting this year…
Merry Christmas Mr Lynn! Get some sleep!
n
No. English Muffins, Milk, Orange Juice, sweet rolls, cereal, hard boiled eggs was all.
No. English Muffins, Milk, Orange Juice, sweet rolls, cereal, hard boiled eggs was all.
Not bad. Bacon is always good, though.
Nope. This is part of his “Culture” series, which is about a galaxy-wide civilization of humanoids that have very long lifespans, effectively zero cost manufacturing of anything, and very capable AIs that are smarter than humans and run their ships (which tend to be huge). Earth is not part of the Culture – we aren’t advanced enough to be considered for membership.