Wed. April 14, 2021 – things to do outside the house today…

By on April 14th, 2021 in computing, linux, personal, WuFlu

Probably raining, probably warmish, although yesterday wasn’t rainy despite the forecast. It did start misty, and it did sprinkle later in the evening. Big fat lot of nothing during the day.

Spent the day arranging for my next dropoff and cleaning my office. Did two loads of laundry too. Had to stay close to home so I could pick up child 2 from school at 230.

Moved some stuff to storage, brought home a duffel I forgot about. Some stuff from the Goodwill Outlet, for the stack. While the vast majority of the outlet customers were fighting over 25c tshirts, I got an Orvis light weight fishing gear type long sleeve shirt, an Orvis heavy plaid long sleeve shirt, a fleece vest from Helly Hansen, and a rain shell from Mammut. The duffel was Eagle Creek. That’s about $500-600 new retail worth of stuff, all in like new condition. The whole bin was full of outdoor active wear, but most of it was cotton and (other than the plaid flannel shirt) I’ve stopped wearing cotton shirts. They must have dumped one guy’s donation box straight into the bin. It looks like it was never worn. If it’s raining later today I’ll be trying out the Mammut jacket to see if it’s really worth what they get for them. I paid $1.20 / pound. Better living for less, that’s me.

Quick update on my linux NVR… since reinstalling, and letting the update run for everything, it runs ok until it crashes. Seg faults, bo>virtual fail faults, and another one, happen at least once a day. The NVR server crashes, and just stops running. I notice that there aren’t any cam views displayed because the browser lost its connection to the NVR server, restart the server, and it works again. Well, I also noticed that 3 of my cam streams, all from the same model of camera, in the same aspect and resolution, were having visual artifacts. The bottom half of the image would ‘tear’ and turn into vertical lines, and jump around before looking normal. Watching the terminal output log, there were ffmpeg errors thrown at roughly the same time. Anyhow, I recall the install instructions talking about not using the ffmpeg that came with the distro, and there are instructions for getting the version they want you to have… which set me off to google to figure out how to downgrade or undo the update. Looking more closely at it though, the installed ffmpeg was from the correct place and was the same version. So what was different? Firefox updated too.

Guessing that FFox might be the issue, I installed chromium (the NVR developers preferred browser), and noticed there were ffmpeg helpers to install specifically for chromium, so I monkey punched the install, accepted whatever it offered or required, and started chromium instead of FFox to attach to the server… I haven’t had a crash or artifact in the stream since. If this keeps up, I may be finally to a stable and up to date state for the stupid thing. I had also installed chromium on the previous installation, but used FFox most of the time. Maybe the codec, or ffmpeg helpers or something needs to be there and they didn’t notice because they all just use chromium. Since I’m not using the browser for anything other than displaying the live cam views and managing the server, I don’t care what browser it is.

That messing around ate part of the day too.

So today I’ve got one pickup, some other errands to run, hopefully a visit to do some work at my secondary, and more office cleaning (which is also moving radio power supplies, UPSs, antenna feed lines, power strips, storage drawers, my vinyl cutter, monitors, and the huge pile of accreted ‘stuff’.) And that leaves off any attempts to get my old drives re-mounted in my new NAS (for recovery), or to get my existing NAS back under the desk and back on the network to run a good backup. I really don’t want to lose over 500 movie rips, or the hundreds of albums either.

I like civilization, and I really don’t want to lose it. Can’t get a backup in place…

So I keep stacking, and going through the stacks, and sorting, storing, and selling. You should too…

n

84 Comments and discussion on "Wed. April 14, 2021 – things to do outside the house today…"

  1. Nick Flandrey says:

    I spoke too soon, when I got up my NVR software had crashes. So, partial fix.

    n

    70F and 93%RH this am.

  2. Ray+Thompson says:

    Graveside service today. MIL’s grandkids will all be present, my son flew in yesterday evening, a nephew drove in from Orange TX, another nephew on reserve maneuvers in Atlanta flew in, niece will drive in from south of Houston. Everyone is meeting for lunch at Peggy’s in Boerne TX with me volunteered to pay the bill. I expect something north of $500.00 for everyone. Service is at 1:00 thus giving the people who drove time to get home, son flies back home tomorrow.

    MIL was a paper packrat. We have gone through 20 large boxes of papers. Most with many handwritten notes. Almost all of it worthless. Receipts from 1970 from a grocery store, pieces of junk mail with notes, receipts for taxes from 1972, the list goes on. We have gone through most of the stuff looking for identifying information such as account numbers and SS number, which she managed to write on many old bank statements and receipts. Found a box of blank checks, from a closed account, from 1975. All these boxes she demanded be moved with her when she transitioned to the senior living facility.

    The MIL had hoarding issues. I remember her dining room table always stacked with paper documents and receipts. What she was doing was sorting the paper and stuffing it away in boxes. Papers that had no reason to be saved other than her obsession.

    Going through those papers have consumed a large chunk of our time here. I am still gobsmacked at the stuff that has been found.

    We also found a royalty from an oil well. About $200 a year that her deceased husband was receiving. MIL had tried to claim the money as when her husband died she received everything in the will. The company has stated they will not make the chance unless the will is probated in Illinois. First is that there was no probate, no legal requirement for probate. Second is that the company cannot dictate how a will is settled as that is a matter for the courts. It is a stall tactic. With the MIL deceased it would be even more difficult for the wife to claim the royalties. I would need MIL’s husband original will, which we have not found, his death certificate which we have found, MIL’s will which we have and MIL’s death certificate. Then deal with probate in Illinois. For $200 a year I don’t think it is worth the effort. Lawyer fees would eat up 20 years worth of royalties.

    Today will be the roughest on the spousal unit. There has already been much tension and yelling at me. Most of which I have to let go. There have been issues with the gravesite, issues with the funeral arrangements, etc. No embalming as that would take two to three weeks. Funeral home is charging refrigeration fees. No open casket unless embalmed due to COVID. Only immediate family at the gravesite due to COVID thus ticking off other people, friends, and more distant family members, such family members having never visited MIL in the last 10 years.

    Same crap happened at my uncle’s funeral. Relatives had never seen, never knew existed, showed up at the funeral. Looking for money in my opinion. Same thing was being attempted here. People looking for some free stuff to which they are not entitled.

    We are hoping to leave here Friday afternoon depending on the state of disposal of stuff in MIL’s apartment. Most will be removed by a thrift store. So anything we don’t want we just leave. Which makes it easier. Even stuff to be thrown away will be removed by the thrift store. Clothes, shoes, furniture, dishes, etc. we can just leave.

  3. Greg Norton says:

    –cold snap? It was 89F this afternoon.

    ERCOT is still swimming naked, and their towel boys are MIA, probably back at home streaming “Falcon and the Winter Soldier”.

    (Baby Yoda won’t have a new season until Fall)

    Texas collectively has their fingers crossed until Memorial Day, when the weather becomes more predictable — hot … and more hot.

    My weekly call to TWC got the “We cannot take your call at this time” recording, not even a connection to one of the jammie brigade “working” from home.

  4. Jenny says:

    I’m sorry Ray. I pray the chaos and bad behavior are mercifully short and that tensions ease quickly.

  5. Greg Norton says:

    Same crap happened at my uncle’s funeral. Relatives had never seen, never knew existed, showed up at the funeral. Looking for money in my opinion. Same thing was being attempted here. People looking for some free stuff to which they are not entitled.

    Sorry about the mess, Ray.

    Keep track of every funeral expense and make sure either the estate or your wife covers the costs. It sounds like you don’t need a third party “informant” running around with the right to receive death certificates in this situation.

  6. Greg Norton says:

    Anyhow, I recall the install instructions talking about not using the ffmpeg that came with the distro, and there are instructions for getting the version they want you to have… which set me off to google to figure out how to downgrade or undo the update. Looking more closely at it though, the installed ffmpeg was from the correct place and was the same version. So what was different? Firefox updated too.

    Running Ffmpeg in a command prompt without any arguments will bring up the details of the switches used to configure the build as well as version numbers of the main program and libraries.

    $ ffmpeg
    ffmpeg version 4.3.2 Copyright (c) 2000-2021 the FFmpeg developers
    built with gcc 10 (GCC)
    configuration: …

    Trying to compile from source pulled from the Git repository is not recommended if you value your sanity. I spent the better part of a year of my spare time going down the Ffmpeg rabbit hole figuring out the process I use to convert torrent videos to DVD for the living room.

  7. Pecancorner says:

    @Mr Thompson, my sincere condolences to your family. No matter the circumstances, there’s nothing easy about losing a parent/grandparent.

    @Nick re jewelry making and engraving. There are some amazing craftsmen out there! Engraving takes truckloads of attention span, which I don’t have. I am trying to learn some other techniques but I take it in spurts. A friend who is a retired jeweler lent us his bench with tools and rolling mills … but I am still trying to master soldering!

    What I work most with is powdered silver or copper aka “Precious Metal Clay”, which is kiln fired after molding or modeling. It binds by sintering, so it is not as strong as melted and cast. I started with it because it seemed to require less equipment. On the other hand, powdered silver is very expensive compared to casting grains or recycling junk sterling. I’ve tried mixing my own with methyl cellulose as a binder, and that works pretty well for copper and bronze, but results for fine silver are better with commercial mixtures. I like PMC for Fine Silver and Goldie brand for bronze. Mastering firing of bronze is a bear that I ain’t kilt yet!

    Now I have reached that point where I want to do “the real thing” with silver but that attention span thing keeps delaying the leap.

    We met another jeweler at Round Top some years ago who made tiny fishing reels that moved accurately. He told us he was obsolete due to CAD and automation: his careful hand carved original models were too expensive and too slow for modern jewelry manufacture. He seemed to do ok in his little artisan niche, but the days of commercial employment in that field are long gone.

  8. Nick Flandrey says:

    @pecancorner, all the custom and ‘repair’ jewelers here are vietnamese for some reason. I designed my wife’s engagement ring, with the jeweler, and the ‘back office’ made it. It is beautiful, did just what I wanted (actually disguised the size of the main stone, and the flanking stones act as guards, she can wear gloves and climb jobsite ladders with it on). Every shop I’ve been in, when I can look in the back, it’s vietnamese.

    They are still hand carving wax to replicate missing earrings for insurance claims, for example…

    But I suspect that all the ‘routine’ stuff comes in wholesale from overseas.

    n

  9. Nick Flandrey says:

    From official sources, more details on the possible vaccine related blood clotting…

    Cases of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia after Receipt of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

    As of April 12, 2021, approximately 6.85 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine (Janssen) have been administered in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are reviewing data involving six U.S. cases of a rare type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J COVID-19 vaccine that were reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). All six cases occurred among women aged 18–48 years. The interval from vaccine receipt to symptom onset ranged from 6–13 days. One patient died. Providers should maintain a high index of suspension for symptoms that might represent serious thrombotic events or thrombocytopenia in patients who have recently received the J&J COVID-19 vaccine. When these specific types of blood clots are observed following J&J COVID-19 vaccination, treatment is different from the treatment that might typically be administered for blood clots. Based on studies conducted among the patients diagnosed with immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia after the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Europe, the pathogenesis of these rare and unusual adverse events after vaccination may be associated with platelet-activating antibodies against platelet factor-4 (PF4), a type of protein. Usually, the anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this setting, the use of heparin may be harmful, and alternative treatments need to be given.

    n

  10. Chad says:

    I designed my wife’s engagement ring, with the jeweler, and the ‘back office’ made it. It is beautiful, did just what I wanted (actually disguised the size of the main stone, and the flanking stones act as guards, she can wear gloves and climb jobsite ladders with it on).

    Always a worthwhile view when the words “engagement ring” appear…
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5kWu1ifBGU

  11. Nick Flandrey says:

    But I like sparkly things.

    n

  12. Nick Flandrey says:

    Nice timeline

    https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/bernie-madoff-has-died

    n

    In 40 years, he never made a trade on behalf of his clients.

  13. Ray+Thompson says:

    @Jenny: Thanks. Thinks are generally under control. Some butthurt but I don’t care. This event is not about them. Brother in-law wrote the eulogy, it sucks. Nothing but facts. No real personal touch.

  14. Greg Norton says:

    @pecancorner, all the custom and ‘repair’ jewelers here are vietnamese for some reason.

    Up until Saigon fell, the “Vietnamese” jewelers were part of the ethnic Chinese merchant class, general dissatisfaction with whom was one of the catalysts for the civil war in that country.

    My father-in-law’s Asian fetish led him to be involved with the expat community in Orlando. After dealing with one family of former jewelers in particular, I had a very good idea as to why the rest of the country opted to expel the Chinese merchants from their society.

  15. Greg Norton says:

    In 40 years, he never made a trade on behalf of his clients. 

    Shanked in the shower? Too good for that guy.

    Having money with Madoff was a huge status symbol among the Jewish community in South Florida in the 90s and early 00s. He operated under the same kind of protection Magic Leap enjoys today — any suspicions about the operation were immediately met with accusations of antisemitism from influential investors and duped members of the trade press.

  16. Nick Flandrey says:

    AC’s latest two part-er is worth a look. Lots of quotable lines, and a nice, well written ‘slice of life’ in these times. A bit melancholy but that suits the times too.

    https://adaptivecurmudgeon.com/

    n

  17. TV says:

    From yesterday:

    The one time I worked as a PM, I took over a team that was constantly being pestered by management and by the internal customers. Interrupted by phone calls, the customers dropping by their desks, it was crazy. They were working long hours, only because they couldn’t get anything done during the day. That was my hill to die on: “No one talks to my developers – if you want something, talk to me.” That made just a wee difference, both in productivity and in morale…

    The situation is common (especially for support teams) and what we have found works for this is implementing Kanban with a work-in-progress limit. You can talk to the team lead (typically a PM) about the priority your fix should have but you are not allowed to speak to the team about that. Works a treat.

  18. Pecancorner says:

    @Nick and @Greg,  he didn’t mention “globalization” among the reasons he was forcibly “retired” from a commercial jeweler in the USA, but it sounds accurate that that was as much a part of the mix as the rise computers and automation.

  19. Nick Flandrey says:

    https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israeli-owned-ship-attacked-uae-coast-2-days-after-natanz-incident

    “Nuclear arms in the Middle East
    Israel is attacking the Iraqis
    The Syrians are mad at the Lebanese
    And Baghdad does whatever she please
    Looks like another threat to world peace
    For the envoy”*

    –ah everything old is new again.

    n

    *”The Envoy” is a song from Warren Zevon’s 1982 album of the same name

  20. TV says:

    The MIL had hoarding issues. I remember her dining room table always stacked with paper documents and receipts. What she was doing was sorting the paper and stuffing it away in boxes. Papers that had no reason to be saved other than her obsession.

    Going through those papers have consumed a large chunk of our time here. I am still gobsmacked at the stuff that has been found.

    Ray, my condolences for the loss of your MIL and I agree with the other advise offered regarding support for your wife. It is a rough time for both of you.

    Regarding the hoarding, I had the same experience with my Dad. He kept every bill he ever paid, with phone bills going back to the late-1950s (60 years of phone bills!!!). He kept everything that wasn’t paper as well (I think we threw out about 20 2HP or greater electrical motors he had picked up to repair or recover the copper from, and dozens of paint cans with an inch of dried paint in the bottom). As he reached the end of life he could not make decisions on what to dispose of, and so it got worse: he kept everything, including junk mail. 60 years in the same house – I spent 3 long weekends filling 3 8x8x20 ft. bins with junk. Some of this is generational – it isn’t hoarding at first when you come from nothing as my Dad did. It ends up as hoarding when you never dispose of anything and then subsequently lose the ability to make any decisions.

    You do find out interesting things about your parents that were never discussed. As a European displaced-person with a pronounced accent he could not find a Canadian girl to marry, so he used a matchmaking service for European women, which is how he married my mother. What I did not know is that he almost married once before. In 1955 he paid return fare on a passenger ship for a woman to come over and meet him to decide on marriage. She declined. The receipts and details were in one of the many suitcases filled with mostly junk I went through.

  21. Nick Flandrey says:

    My parents had file boxes full of bank statements and receipts and they all had to be gone thru, looking for lost accounts. Dad had dozens of bank accounts- child of the Depression. What complicated it was that many of the banks went thru a dozen name changes over the years, and we had to keep track of all that. Also, he liked to hide money so nothing could be thrown out unsearched.

    I sorted thru his boxes of paperwork that were ‘ready at hand’ and the box of hidden ‘important’ papers and it was all crap. 10yo receipts for nothing important, repair bills, commercial letters. Meanwhile, the actual important papers were lost in a sea of paper stacked on tables and desks.

    Funny thing, his mom wasn’t like that at all, but my mom’s mom was. She was dirt poor and saved everything that might be useful later. She did use it, making craft projects, dolls, and other things. Her generation always had some sort of hand work close by, but she had several lifetimes stored. I don’t know who was driving the ‘save all the papers’ but dad ran the money so I’d assumed it was him. Thinking about it, it could have been as simple as mom saying “we should keep that”…

    I recognize my bins of power adapters and electronic parts as the acorn falling close to the tree. I’m not saving more parts unless they are somehow unique or immediately useful. Nothing more “just in case”. I actually sold 75 power cords in the last auction… and if the hamfest was happening, I’d take a couple bins of salvage parts with me this time. I’ve got a lifetimes worth of parts too.

    n

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  22. ITGuy1998 says:

    Does anyone have any experience with therapy for teens? I believe my son (almost 17) needs someone to talk to. He confided in me last night he’s been feeling lost, or adrift, since his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. He said he feels like his future is all jumbled and uncertain now. I definitely want to get head of this. Im glad he can confide in me, but I think he could benefit from talking to someone other than his parents. I’m checking with his pediatrician and endocrinologist to see if they have local recommendations. Any general thoughts or experiences?

  23. ech says:

     Jan 1 through DOD for John Smith and then a second for the remainder of the year for the Estate.

    Unless they changed the rules, the estate tax return can be done on a calendar year basis or on a fiscal year basis i.e. if the date of death is November, you could do a November/December one and one the next calendar year, or do a November to October of the following year. In either case, the IRS wants it closed out in two years or you have to explain. My mom’s was delayed due to Harvey – we had stuff to distribute that got delayed by our having to move out of our house to an apartment, put stuff in storage, repair the house, move back in.

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  24. CowboySlim says:

    “Does anyone have any experience with therapy for teens?”

    Unfortunately, I see “mental health” as a total fraud.  Nobody has ever been cured of a “mental illness”.  Nor has any “mental illness” ever been prevented, such as polio.

    I also, IM(not so)HO, believe that behavior modification is a complete impossibility.

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  25. RickH says:

    Unfortunately, I see “mental health” as a total fraud.

    I must empathically disagree. As one whose son committed suicide due to bi-polar issues, which is a mental health disability/disease, medication and counseling with a competent professional  can be very helpful for someone suffering from depression or other mental ailments.

    Why would a disease that affects one’s mental state of being be a fraud?

    There are national suicide help lines which can be found with the googles; one is 800-273-8255 .

    Take a look at this site that I built/manage, and tell me that mental health is not an issue. https://www.facesofsuicide.com . All are of family members or friends that took their lives, many due to their mental state. And their suicide does not affect just the person who took their life. It affects their family and friends.

    An emphatic ‘dislike’ for your comment, @CowboySlim .

  26. MrAtoz says:

    Does anyone have any experience with therapy for teens?

    Sorry about your son’s situation. I would check his school counselor for recommendations. If you have a local mental health/suicide hot-line, a call there might yield some good leads.

    Mothers regularly bring their teens to talk to MrsAtoz during our on-site programs, but she is not a certified counselor. Many of the teens need a structured environment to thrive in. Some of our programs focus on Parent Leadership specifically to provide that structure. COVID is crippling our children with isolation. We are about to do our first in-person program in a year. Teen angst is real and COVID makes it crippling.

  27. lynn says:

    You are going to need 50 years of food and water for each person in your hidey hole. Also an old missile silo

    Wool. If you haven’t read the series, definitely do. Now there’s a series that should have won awards, but he’s a white male, so…
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silo_(series)

    Wool is a freaking awesome series but hugely depressing. And yes, the Wool series should have won a Hugo.
    https://www.amazon.com/Wool-Hugh-Howey/dp/0358447844/?tag=ttgnet-20

  28. lynn says:

    Re the astrazenica vaccine and blood clots, using figures to the end of March the risk looks like 1 per 250,000 tilted slightly toward younger females. The risk of blood clots due to the contraceptive pill in women is 1 per 1000. NB these are those with clots not fatalities.

    https://theconversation.com/blood-clot-risks-comparing-the-astrazeneca-vaccine-and-the-contraceptive-pill-158652

    My youngest cousin’s wife developed a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) soon after they got married about ten years ago. They took her off the contraceptive pill immediately but she still has DVT problems. She has a clot catcher in her thigh that they pull out every couple of months as it clogs up. Her dad has DVTs also but she got her first one at 23 or 24. They have her on Coumadin but it is not helping very much.
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352557

  29. lynn says:

    I like civilization, and I really don’t want to lose it. Can’t get a backup in place…

    Minneapolis has lost civilization. I am wondering what is going to happen when the antifa move out to the burbs.

  30. Alan says:

    –stay with the vehicle and live. Period.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9467317/Congressional-staffer-died-Death-Valley-car-got-stranded-wife-injured-foot.html

    n

    Tires burn. Everyone should have a couple of road flares in their vehicle, especially if they are going off the beaten path. That Subi is not an off road vehicle, and if you think it might be, what are the chances it had off road tires mounted?

    I’ve owned a couple of Foresters. They’re “off road vehicles” in the sense that they have full-time AWD and higher (8.7″ IIRC) ground clearance. OEM tires are all-season, not true off-road.
    That said, seems like possibly something missing given they were found together and he was dead and other than her injured foot, she was relatively okay. Will be interested to find out his cause of death. Also, what was the cause of the two flat tires? Driving where cars didn’t belong? Were they walking for help when they wound up on the ledge? If so, sounds like they didn’t just backtrack the way they drove in.

  31. Pecancorner says:

    Does anyone have any experience with therapy for teens?…. I’m checking with his pediatrician and endocrinologist to see if they have local recommendations. Any general thoughts or experiences?

    I think boys, especially, can benefit from having a good counselor, and your son’s doctor and endocrinologist are the right people to ask for an appropriate referral.  It helps take some of the pressure off when young men can talk openly about what is going on with them, and frankly to learn from a professional that they aren’t “crazy” and that meaningful help makes life better.

    A prayer for your son’s wellbeing.  Sounds like a wise young man … with a wise father.

  32. Alan says:

    Re the astrazenica vaccine and blood clots, using figures to the end of March the risk looks like 1 per 250,000 tilted slightly toward younger females. The risk of blood clots due to the contraceptive pill in women is 1 per 1000. NB these are those with clots not fatalities.

    I have always had problems when things are presented like this when there is a death involved. You see, there is always one that makes that 1 in X and there is nothing special excluding you from being the 1.

    The problem now for J&J and AZ is that (so far) there have been no reported incidents of blood clot side effects with either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccines. So if the options are there – and will be in the US as Sleepy Joe yesterday committed to 300 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna – then why get jabbed with the J&J or AZ if you turn out to be the “1 in X” that dies?

  33. Clayton W. says:

    Does anyone have any experience with therapy for teens?…. I’m checking with his pediatrician and endocrinologist to see if they have local recommendations. Any general thoughts or experiences?

    Therapy can be a help, but the therapist must ‘fit’ with the person. It can take a while to find the right one.

    I, for one, would HATE to go back to my teen years unless I went back with a great deal of wisdom and pharmaceuticals! I was an angry teen. I had good reason, but it still sucked.

  34. lynn says:

    Does anyone have any experience with therapy for teens? I believe my son (almost 17) needs someone to talk to. He confided in me last night he’s been feeling lost, or adrift, since his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. He said he feels like his future is all jumbled and uncertain now. I definitely want to get head of this. Im glad he can confide in me, but I think he could benefit from talking to someone other than his parents. I’m checking with his pediatrician and endocrinologist to see if they have local recommendations. Any general thoughts or experiences?

    Congratulations for being a good dad ! As you know, the first requirement of being a good dad is just showing up. Kids need their dads and so many do not have them, we are seeing the effects of that in society now.

    My daughter has been disabled since she was 18 with Lyme disease. We think that she got it when she was 15. She is now 33 and possibly at a tough stage since she is having blood issues. She has a Lyme colony at the back of her brain that we cannot destroy that causes her constant migraines with extreme light and sound sensitivity. She had several seizures before we caught that and got her on some good meds. Lots of hugs and spending time with her is important. Especially since she was self isolating even before the Covid. Her friends have all gotten married and are having babies now which is extremely discouraging to her with all of the other nonsense in her life.

    We also take her to talk with a therapist at a Christian Counseling firm with people that we known and trust at our church. The people there are good (mostly) and talk about the need to balance life from a Christian perspective. I would not take any young person to a non Christian counseling firm. Or any person. Too many of the counselors nowadays advocate suicide and other such non solutions. If you go to a church, talk to the preacher privately about this, you would be surprised what they go through on the days ending with a y.

    It is tough dealing with personal health issues. I had my first heart attack 12 years ago at age 49 and still get very depressed about it. I thought I was superman and the brutal realization of that was disappointing to my id. Your son is probably dealing with the same issues. He thought he was superman …

  35. lynn says:

    @Jenny: Thanks. Thinks are generally under control. Some butthurt but I don’t care. This event is not about them. Brother in-law wrote the eulogy, it sucks. Nothing but facts. No real personal touch.

    @Ray, feel free to stand up at the funeral and say something nice about your MIL. Your wife will like that.

    I stood up at my FIL’s funeral in front of the 30 people there when the preacher we hired asked for comments. My wife stood up first, then my daughter stood up and said how nice her grandfather had been to her dog when we visited. I stood up and related how grateful I was when my FIL came over and helped the wife and I drag wet carpets and furniture out of our house when we got flooded in 1989.

  36. MrAtoz says:

    The plugs regime:

    Biden’s UN ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, tells the National Action Network that if America’s going to join the UN’s Human Rights Council, we must acknowledge our own failures: “White supremacy is weaved into our founding documents and principles”

    Please go fcuk yourself Ambassador Doosh-Nozzle. What an embarrassment. This Critical Race Theory nonsense. I’m sure she said this with plugs’ full approval. Can reparations be far behind. How about we dig up the Founding Fathers and hang them in front of the Jefferson Memorial. Then drag them to the Washington Monument and burn them to ashes. Fcuking ProgLibTurds.

  37. ITGuy1998 says:

    Thank you everyone for the the suggestions, advice, and encouragement – it’s truly appreciated.

  38. lynn says:

    “A.F. Branco Cartoon – Marxist Privilege”
    https://comicallyincorrect.com/a-f-branco-cartoon-marxist-privilege/

    “BLM founder, Patrisse Khan-Cullors is enjoying being more like a Capitalist than a Marxist with extorted money. Political cartoon by A.F. Branco ©2021”

    I note that all of those houses that she has been buying are in white majority areas. Does she know something ?
    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/04/marxist-black-lives-matter-founder-didnt-just-buy-million-dollar-compound-bought-four-high-end-homes-complete-airplane-hangars/

  39. lynn says:

    “Daunte Wright Had Warrant Out For His Arrest For Attempted Aggravated Robbery Charges After Choking a Woman, Holding Her at Gunpoint For Money”
    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/04/daunte-wright-warrant-arrest-attempted-aggravated-robbery-charges-choking-woman-holding-gunpoint-money/

    “The media portrayed Wright as an innocent, young father, but he was a dangerous man who threatened to shoot a woman and had a warrant out for his arrest according to court papers obtained by The Daily Mail.”
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9467375/Daunte-Wright-warrant-arrest-attempted-aggravated-robbery-charges.html

    Oh yeah, innocent boy.

  40. Alan says:

    Is there an easy way to play an embedded video on a website in slow motion? Trying to see why it appears (to me) that the first officer was having difficulty getting the cuffs on Daunte Wright.

  41. Alan says:

    How best to view links here to the Daily Mail site? The site demands you disable your ad blocker and it’s chock full of ads. I’m using Adblock Plus on Chrome.

  42. lynn says:

    Is there an easy way to play an embedded video on a website in slow motion? Trying to see why it appears (to me) that the first officer was having difficulty getting the cuffs on Daunte Wright.

    In the video that I saw, the first officer managed to close his cuffs around dead air as the criminal was struggling and trying to keep from getting cuffed. The young man caused this entire problem himself starting with robbing a woman who had been nice enough to let him sleep on her floor.

  43. lynn says:

    What an embarrassment. This Critical Race Theory nonsense. I’m sure she said this with plugs’ full approval. Can reparations be far behind. How about we dig up the Founding Fathers and hang them in front of the Jefferson Memorial. Then drag them to the Washington Monument and burn them to ashes.

    Here you go, $15 trillion dollars:

    “House committee prepares to vote on historic slavery reparations bill that could see 40 million black descendants receive trillions in government payments”
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9470797/House-committee-set-vote-13-member-reparations-commission.html

    1
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  44. CowboySlim says:

    I expected strong, emotional disgreement.

    Okay, the reality of “physical health”:

    Prevention:  In the 1940’s and 1950’s there were thousands of deaths and iron lung treatments that didn’t cure, but sometimes prolonged death.  Now, since the introduction of vaccines in the ’60’s, 100% prevention.

    Cure (note that I am not stating 100% cures for physical, non-mental illnesses):  Thirty years ago my daughter was diagnosed with malignent tumor, brain cancer. Two surgeries, radiation therapy and chemotherapy implemented  as hopefully providing a cure.  For the last twenty years she has undergone biennial MRI examinations with no evidence of recurrence whatsover.

    Yes, I am very pleased with the solution of her very likely fatality due to a medical illness.  I also hold the utmost sympathy for those here who have family members suffering from non-prevemtable and non-curable mental illnesses.

    Any examples of prevention, elimination of schizophrenia?  If not, any examples of cure?  Or, any other mental illness.

    Anybody want to agree with ultra progs who want to replace 50% of current cops out on the streets with people trained in mental health solutions?

    Oh yeah, don’t worry about diagreements as insulting to me.  I’ve been very used to such on some other forums.  They just don’t know the bounds of what they don’t know.

     

    4
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  45. Greg Norton says:

    Minneapolis has lost civilization. I am wondering what is going to happen when the antifa move out to the burbs.

    Heads will get cracked just like they do in Portland when the circus heads towards The Pearl or Hollywood District. In Seattle, the CHAZ didn’t leave Capitol Hill, and, except for the urban outdoorsmen present just about everywhere under overpasses along I35, Mopac, and 183, Austin’s mess stays confined to Downtown.

    Trump was dead on when he said he could fix Portland in an hour if invited to do so. A map of the hot spots in Minneapolis would probably show something similar to anyone familiar with the terrain.

    1
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  46. Paul+Hampson says:

    ITGuy1998 Re diabetes Type 1. No advice other than an example. My brother-in-law was diagnosed at about age 20. He is now a semi-retired lawyer closing on 70, it can be done, although he admits it has been hard work at times.

  47. MrAtoz says:

    Yep, just as I thought:

    PICTURED: Minnesota cop Kimberly Potter, 48, in prison garb after she’s charged with second-degree manslaughter for shooting dead Daunte Wright, 20: She faces 10 years in jail if convicted

    Meanwhile, the *unknown* cop who killed Ashli Babbitt skates. As far as we know he wasn’t even arrested or suspended. I’m pretty sure from pics the cop is Black and she is White. Potter’s mugshot is plastered everywhere whilst *unknown* remains *unknown*. Why don’t we know his identity?

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  48. MrAtoz says:

    Don’t become a cop.

    5
    1
  49. lynn says:

    Is there an easy way to play an embedded video on a website in slow motion? Trying to see why it appears (to me) that the first officer was having difficulty getting the cuffs on Daunte Wright.

    “Officer Tatum Reacts – Daunte Wright INCIDENT JUSTIFIED?”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SKivqzLois
    also
    https://tatumreport.com/facts-daunte-wright-shooting/

    I 100% agree with Officer Tatum. Take care of your stuff ! And do not fight with the cops. And the female cop who shot him cannot be a police officer anymore.

    And I love Officer Tatun’s tshirt.

  50. Chad says:

    Does anyone have any experience with therapy for teens? I believe my son (almost 17) needs someone to talk to. He confided in me last night he’s been feeling lost, or adrift, since his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. He said he feels like his future is all jumbled and uncertain now. I definitely want to get head of this. Im glad he can confide in me, but I think he could benefit from talking to someone other than his parents. I’m checking with his pediatrician and endocrinologist to see if they have local recommendations. Any general thoughts or experiences?

    My 12 year old daughter has been in therapy for a couple of years. Nothing major. Some anxiety and “negative mood” as they call it. She loves her counselor. It gives her someone she can talk to and confide in that’s not mom or dad (and not a friend who will spill all every time they’re in a spat) and that’s important for adolescents. The therapist touches base with us when needed, but mostly what they discuss is confidential (as it should be or there would be little trust and therapy would be a waste of time). Her therapist specializes in child and adolescent psychology and her certs are LIMHP, LCSW, and LADC. She has psychiatrists and mental health APRNs she can refer clients to if she feels medication may be necessary. Our daughter talks with her once a month. If there’s some drama going on or we feel something is “off” then we may schedule in an extra session or two as needed.

    Get local referrals from friends and family. Get your son’s input too (does he want to talk to a man or a woman, young or old…). Tell him it’s just talking. It’s just a therapist, a confident. You’re not dragging him off to an in-patient psychiatric ward to spend the next 5 years in a drug induced stupor. Destroy the stigma.

    Any examples of prevention, elimination of schizophrenia? If not, any examples of cure? Or, any other mental illness.

    I think I see where you’re coming from, CowboySlim.

    Mood disorders like anxiety and depression are somewhat curable in that people can be taught skills to help them properly cope with those moods. They can also frequently be temporary. Not everyone with anxiety or depression is under treatment for them for most of their life.

    Psychotic disorders like schizophrenia are typically permanent, but can be MANAGED with antipsychotic drugs and regular visits to a psychiatrist to adjust meds and help ensure compliance. That’s not unlike a lot of medical conditions that can’t be cured but can medicated to manage symptoms or extend life expectancy.

    There is a lot of evidence that many in prison and many homeless are those with undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues (frequently compounded by using illegal narcotics or alcohol to self-medicate). I’m not going to say if we had the gold standard in mental healthcare in this country and it was all free that our prisons and streets would be empty. However, coverage of and access to mental healthcare certainly has room for improvement.

    The complication with mental health problems is their affect on others. If you have heart disease and don’t get it treated who does that affect except you? If you’re schizophrenic and don’t get it treated you may end up hurting other people as a result. So, the former is your problem but the latter becomes a problem for everyone.

  51. Pecancorner says:

    Is there an easy way to play an embedded video on a website in slow motion?

    With You Tube, in the control bar at the bottom of the video is a little flower shape (or thick gear shape). That is “settings” , and it has playback speed, so you can slow it down or speed it up.  SteveF told me about it to use it to speed up the sound on “commentary” type videos and podcasts – I read a lot faster than people talk, so usually prefer a transcript.  Listening to them talk like the chipmonks removes some of my annoyance that they didn’t bother writing it down! 😀

    Re geniune mental illness such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, etc. I’m no professional, but have known many people with such diseases, socially, in business, and even some family. What I have noticed is that, once they have a good diagnosis and treatment plan, at that point the individual’s personality sometimes makes a significant difference in how well they manage life with their disorder. There are much better medicines now than once, but a person who wants to live an orderly life is much more likely to maintain compliance with their medicines and other daily life matters than the rebel who doesn’t want to follow advice.

    And as Chad points out, often people suffer not just one malady, but several, and thus they face much bigger challenges than we may know.

  52. drwilliams says:

    @MrAtoz

    Don’t become a cop.

    …If you are one, have an exit strategy. If you find yourself in a jurisdiction where the elected officials are idiots, seek another job before it is too late.

    Brooklyn Center City Manager Curt Boganey was fired on Monday evening, hours after he publicly disagreed with Mayor Mike Elliott’s assertion that the police officer who fatally shot a black man in the Minneapolis suburb should be immediately fired in response to the incident.

    [note: I edited the above by applying the Symmetry Principle. If white, brown, yellow, red skin colors are not capitalized, them doing so with black is racially discriminatory.]

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/daunte-wright-shooting-brooklyn-center-city-manager-fired-call-due-process-police-officer

    The disagreement came about when the city manager asserted that all city employees receive due process, and this case would be no different.

    The city manager and the police chief are gone. The mayor has prohibited normal police response to rioters’ assault with deadly force (thrown brick and concrete block). The mayor is getting help from the county sheriff, national guard, and state patrol, who are not bound by his restrictions and are using tear gas and other means when appropriate.

    The sheriff should state publicly that if the mayor is sincere in his belief then the deputies will be happy to withdraw.

    The guard and patrol does what the governor says, up to a point. The guard and patrol commanders should should put it to the governor: either we get a strong statement of support wherein you explicitly disagree and say that our people will not be put in danger by having inadequate defense, or we will withdraw behind a secure perimeter and make no arrests.

    If the press had any responsibility, they would ask pointed questions about the equipage and rules of engagement for the security details of the mayor and governor. Just taking a swag, but betting that the mayor didn’t hav security before, but has it now.

  53. Ed says:

    Amusing discoveries today, some blasts from the past.

    I picked up a box of stuff from a former employer who is closing his business (not COVID related, btw) and found a bunch of stuff of mine and called me about it..

    A peep sight, an old David White survey level (sans tripod, but *I* lost that), in its case, but the foam has disintegrated.

    And a Garmin Eagle GPS from 1996.  Weighs a pound at least.  I have the urge to try and charge it to see if it still works, but should check the battery first I suppose.

    The ephemeris *might* be a little out of date…

  54. Nick Flandrey says:

    “How best to view links here to the Daily Mail site? ”

    — if possible, on another site. There is usually a ‘watch on youtube’ in the bottom right corner.

    I have uBlock Origin and I don’t see the nag, or 90% of the ads. Somehow some ads do get thru but it’s usable. same for zerohedge.

    I try to be mindful of linking to DM for every story, often I’ll try to find some other outlet to link, just to establish it’s not only the DM with the story.

    I’ve written many times why I read and link DM, when it’s so poorly written, and the site is abusive to readers, and the short answer is, they had the most honest campaign coverage the first time around, they always follow up on stories, they break stories more often than any other major outlet, and I am male enough to like seeing pretty women. Unfortunately I also have to see the BigAssians and whatever RHONY is…

    n

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  55. Nick Flandrey says:

    “The ephemeris *might* be a little out of date… ”

    –depending on how it handles the date rollover, it will probably be fine if you leave it with a view of the sky for a couple of hours.

    I’ve got a couple of older Garmins that I did just that, and eventually they displayed the correct position and time.

    n

  56. Nick Flandrey says:

    Rain chased me all across town today, from SE to W. Now that I’m home, it’s spattering with some thunder in the distance.

    n

    71F

  57. drwilliams says:

    @ITGuy1998

    Does anyone have any experience with therapy for teens? I believe my son (almost 17) needs someone to talk to. He confided in me last night he’s been feeling lost, or adrift, since his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

    He might get the most benefit from a peer support group. The condition is rare enough that he probably doesn’t have any friends with the same problem. Likewise you would probably benefit from a parents group.

    Years ago I had a cat that developed diabetes at 14. Shots twice a day, monthly blood sugar testing at the vet, and it was managed very well for about two years. Then the first-choice veterinary insulin became unavailable, and the second choice could not keep him stable. I bought one of the early meters and tested him daily, adjusting dosages as necessary. Changed his diet to 100% Black Angus ground round, raw, 3-4 time a day, so had to do the same for the other cat. Kept him alive and lean and healthy for another three years. When he could no longer jump effortlessly up onto the bathroom counter for his blood sugar check and shot, I knew the end was near. He was 19 and the vet told me he had never had a feline diabetic patient last much beyond a year. I spent a lot of money. It was worth it–he was my friend.

    You and your son will have to study and learn and ask questions and be vigilant. I can’t imagine anything more worthwhile.

  58. Alan says:

    But I like sparkly things.

    Now they can manufacture identical diamonds in a lab…waiting for the DeBeers counter advertising…

  59. Alan says:

    Going through those papers have consumed a large chunk of our time here. I am still gobsmacked at the stuff that has been found.

    We also found a royalty from an oil well. About $200 a year that her deceased husband was receiving.

    @Ray (et al); don’t forget to check for abandoned funds in any states your MIL had lived in.
    After my mother’s brother passes we found ~$1,000 from a long dormant account that had been escheated by NYS.

  60. ITGuy1998 says:

    @drwilliams – good idea, and I’ve been researching local options for a support group. Also, as chance would have it, one of his close group of friends has been Type 1 since he was 10. That’s has been a great help to him.

    Once again, thanks to everyone for your thoughts and ideas.

    I had another talk with my son this afternoon.  He says it’s not solely the diabetes, it’s just a lot of things. He does talk to us, some things he’s more comfortable talking to the wife and others with me. That’s perfectly fine. The important thing is that he talks to us. I’m still going to research therapy options, but am going to hold off doing anything. I remember how hard it was to be a teen sometimes.

    It will take time to adjust to his new normal. I will, however be keeping a closer eye on the situation.

  61. Marcelo says:

    Patch Tuesday. Below for Win10. Mostly security. 8.1 and 7 will have also have their own.

    https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-releases-windows-10-builds-19042928-183631500—here039s-what039s-new/

  62. Marcelo says:

    Vivaldi has announced that it will be disabling Google’s new tracking feature FLoC in its browser to help protect users’ privacy.

    https://www.neowin.net/news/vivaldi-and-brave-web-browsers-come-out-against-googles-floc/

    Duck-Duck-Go and Brave announced tackling this new Google tracking method a day or two ago.

  63. lynn says:

    Patch Tuesday. Below for Win10. Mostly security. 8.1 and 7 will have also have their own.

    https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-releases-windows-10-builds-19042928-183631500—here039s-what039s-new/

    I see that I got a update for Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 – v5.88 (KB890830) on my office Windows 7 x64 Pro machine. Looks nasty as usual ! You know, Microsoft does still try to take care of the rougher edges of Windows 7.

    Installation date: ‎4/‎14/‎2021 3:03 PM

    Installation status: Successful

    Update type: Important

    After the download, this tool runs one time to check your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps remove any infection that is found. If an infection is found, the tool will display a status report the next time that you start your computer. A new version of the tool will be offered every month. If you want to manually run the tool on your computer, you can download a copy from the Microsoft Download Center, or you can run an online version from microsoft.com. This tool is not a replacement for an antivirus product. To help protect your computer, you should use an antivirus product.

    More information:
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/890830

    Help and Support:
    http://support.microsoft.com

  64. Ray+Thompson says:

    @Ray (et al); don’t forget to check for abandoned funds in any states your MIL had lived in.

    I have done that for several relatives in all known states. Found a few items which the relatives claimed. I have also done the same for deceased relatives. Also for myself.

    Funeral is over. Went well. Good visit with niece and nephews. One of the great grandchildren broke down as she is finally old enough to realize that someone she knew has died. The other grandkids are not yet to that point.

    Had a good lunch before the funeral. After the funeral went for ice cream then to a park across the street. Talked with everyone for about two hours, kids played and sort of got to know each other. As depressing as funerals can be this one went really well. I think everyone was glad they came as all had a good visit.

    Someone dying should not be the reason for family to gather. I remember as a youth the large family reunions I would attend as a child. Memory seems to think it might have been 50 people including the kids. Always happened once a year. After my parents dumped me on my aunt and uncle there was never another one that I attended. Aunt and uncle lived too far away to attend.

    I have also come to the realization that I will never return to San Antonio. No reason. The construction on I-410 around the US-151 is horrible. The traffic is heavy most of the time. Sometimes a lane will end without much warning. Striping on the roads is poorly done and worn so lane location is a guessing game. In the construction area on the access road, who knows where the lane is, that suddenly ends with no warning.

    May come back to Texas to visit brother-in-law in Bryan. May visit nephew in Round Rock, but doubtful. Same for the nephew in Conroe, niece south of Houston and the other nephew in Orange. I may never travel I-10 and I-35 again in my life. Sobering.

  65. drwilliams says:

    @Ray

    Sounds like you’re holding up well. Travel safely.

    “Someone dying should not be the reason for family to gather. I remember as a youth the large family reunions I would attend as a child. Memory seems to think it might have been 50 people including the kids. ”

    Agree. It was about the same for me growing up: annual reunions with folks converging from a wide radius. There will probably be no bigger gathering than the last funeral–it’s the biggest motivator for the older folks to travel, and fewer will with each passing year. The attrition in the next younger generation has already been horrible and the oldest are approaching 80. Doesn’t help that the last death exacerbated a schism in the family that will probably never heal.

    When my parents passed I had a short discussion with my siblings: Mom and Dad would not have wanted us to fight, so we won’t. Helped that there were no farms involved. Petty stuff doesn’t/didn’t matter.

    ADDED: Nothing worse than disagreements over land. One of the relatives is in the Supreme Court history with a case involving farms.

    “I may never travel I-10 and I-35 again in my life. Sobering. ”

    If you start to miss 35 just think about it in a snowstorm with 40mph winds and half an inch of ice. 😉

    One of the peculiarities of life is that you immediately know when you’ve done something for the first time, but often don’t know when you’ve done it for the last.

  66. Alan says:

    ITGuy1998 Re diabetes Type 1. No advice other than an example. My brother-in-law was diagnosed at about age 20. He is now a semi-retired lawyer closing on 70, it can be done, although he admits it has been hard work at times.

    @ITGuy1998; hopefully (if appropriate in his case) his docs have him using one of the continuous monitoring products (e.g. Dexcom) to possibly relieve some of his anxiety about his diagnosis. Good luck in your search for further help.

  67. ITGuy1998 says:

    @Alan – yes, he has a Dexcom. He was doing manual testing for the first couple of weeks. His endocrinologist gave him a dexcom trial that lasted until he got his first shipment late last week. What a great invention, and makes life so much easier.

    He is also now using the insulin pens instead of syringes. Also a huge difference. Not only easier to dose, but he says he can’t even feel the shot compared to the syringe. An insulin pump, which his friend has, won’t be for a while, if he wants to go that route.

  68. lynn says:

    “I may never travel I-10 and I-35 again in my life. Sobering. ”

    If you start to miss 35 just think about it in a snowstorm with 40mph winds and half an inch of ice.

    Almost as much fun as Ranger hill (between Abilene and Fort Worth) on I-20 with an inch of ice climbing 1,500 feet of elevation over five miles. I had a VW rabbit diesel (non-turbo) with it in third gear the entire way at 20 mph.

    Or the opposite, going down Ranger hill in July (over 100 F) with a company dually and a 48 foot gooseneck trailer that weighed 28,000 lbs – had a Honeywell TDC-4500 computer and a 480 volt three phase to 120 volt three phase transformer in the tongue with three air conditioners and a full P, T, F measurement lab with a full mile of data highway cable (4 inches in diameter). I lost the trailer brakes at the first mile, smoked immediately when I applied them. The truck brakes could not overcome the fifth wheel as it started to come around me every time I used them. I had to shift her into neutral at the third mile as the diesel was 500 rpm over the redline. Ended up at 95 mph at the fifth mile. If we had blown a front tire … all four of us engineers had to get out when I came to stop five miles later as I was shaking badly. So were the other guys.

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  69. lynn says:

    May come back to Texas to visit brother-in-law in Bryan. May visit nephew in Round Rock, but doubtful. Same for the nephew in Conroe, niece south of Houston and the other nephew in Orange. I may never travel I-10 and I-35 again in my life. Sobering.

    I thought that you had a relative in Missouri City, Texas ?

  70. Greg Norton says:

    May come back to Texas to visit brother-in-law in Bryan. May visit nephew in Round Rock, but doubtful. Same for the nephew in Conroe, niece south of Houston and the other nephew in Orange. I may never travel I-10 and I-35 again in my life. Sobering.

    I know the feeling. The last time I saw Baker City, OR in my rear view mirror, I hoped that was the last time I was on I-84 west of Boise … unless the deal is too good to pass up at Gresham Subaru.

    Don’t laugh. I’ve been asked twice about the drive by potential car buyers since we moved here.

    The enthusiasm wanes when I describe most of the drive as “Westworld”. The mid-way point is Moab, UT, where the series films.

  71. Nick Flandrey says:

    https://www.zerohedge.com/political/out-kill-cop-sniper-loose-maryland

    –something strange going on with this

    n

  72. Nick Flandrey says:

    Alexander Fraser Tytler quotes Showing 1-4 of 4
    “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years.

    House committee prepares to vote on historic slavery reparations bill that could see 40 million black descendants receive trillions in government payments

    Insert doors song.

    n

  73. drwilliams says:

    When the ammo runs out:

    Cold Steel 1860 Heavy Cavalry Saber

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaJSrjv6ckw

    unboxing review

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsZunfrHdOw

    42.9 ounces. Fun to watch, but about as practical as carrying a 4-pounder on a horse. In this case, carrying one afoot would result in your trophy being taken by a lighter blade.

    This led to the obvious leap and a visit to Albion’s official Lady Vivamus repro page. $3,000. Yikes. 2.75 lbs. Double Yikes!! I’m not Oscar Gordon and not twenty for a good bit. Pass.

    Think I’ll go back to Leonard’s unboxing and look at that Marine NCO sword…

     

  74. mediumwave says:

    House committee prepares to vote on historic slavery reparations bill that could see 40 million black descendants receive trillions in government payments

    People who never owned slaves paying money to people who were never slaves. Yeah, that’ll work out just fine!

  75. Nick Flandrey says:

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9471575/DOJ-NOT-pursue-criminal-charges-against-Capitol-police-officer-shot-Ashli-Babbitt.html

    Criminal charges were not expected in this case because videos of the shooting show Babbitt encroaching into a prohibited space, and second-guessing the actions of an officer during the violent and chaotic day would have been a challenge.

    –are you fukcing kidding me? AND STILL NO NAME.

    n

  76. drwilliams says:

    so:

    Criminal charges were not expected in this case because videos of the shooting show Wright resisting arrest, and second-guessing the actions of an officer during the violent and chaotic event would have been a challenge.

  77. Nick Flandrey says:

    When an official gets the boot for insisting his employees get a presumption of innocence and due process, rule of law is dead. When an officer gets the boot for stating facts in the face of lies, rule of law is dead. Rule of law has been dead in MN for a while, but now the corpse is stinking.

    Rule of law has been a laughable punchline in DC for years, but it mostly affected insiders. Rule of law in DC is dead.

    Ditto Chicago. Ditto NYFC.

    I’m sure good times are just around the corner though.

    n

  78. drwilliams says:

    I noticed that the photo in the Maryland sniper article showed a military vehicle with personnel in jungle camo clown suits.

  79. Nick Flandrey says:

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9470441/US-Navy-officer-punished-letter-accusing-enlisted-sailors-deviants-perverts.html

    Note to LT Loudmouth, spellcheck is your friend. Grammerly might be a good idea too. I note that no one disputed the actual accusations he made.

    n

  80. lynn says:

    When the ammo runs out:

    Cold Steel 1860 Heavy Cavalry Saber

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaJSrjv6ckw

    I’ve got lots of ammo …

  81. lynn says:

    Rain chased me all across town today, from SE to W. Now that I’m home, it’s spattering with some thunder in the distance.

    n

    71F

    We got 1 or 2 inches of rain this afternoon here in west Fort Bend County.

    I got to drive through almost a foot of water on the road home from HEB. The road construction guys forgot to remove their sandbags in the storm drains. I was going 50 mph and all of sudden the Highlander in front me braked hard. Then he was going through bumper high water. Not bumper high on my F-150 4×4.

  82. brad says:

    Comparing reparations to blacks to the reparations paid to Japanese who were interned in WWII? There is one slight, minor, trivial difference: The Japanese people were actually locked up, whereas none of the blacks in question have ever been slaves. Nor were their parents, nor even their grandparents, and probably not their great-grandparents. Reparations for what, exactly?

    Funny, how none of the other people whose ancestors were mistreated are crying for reparations. I have Irish blood, there were Irish slaves in the New World. Can I have some reparations, too?

  83. Nick Flandrey says:

    We’ll be back to parsing just how black someone is. Octoroon? Ok you get money. Too many white ancestors? No.

    n

  84. Chad says:

    House committee prepares to vote on historic slavery reparations bill that could see 40 million black descendants receive trillions in government payments

    People who never owned slaves paying money to people who were never slaves. Yeah, that’ll work out just fine!

    Lately, I am kind of in favor of this. Give them the money. It’ll all be spent in under 3 years and they have to STFU about it forever after cashing the check.

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