Patchy clouds, high in the low 80s, occasional sprinkles. Which is what yesterday was like for our part of Houston.
Friday was a good day. Did my errands. Gave daughter 1 a nice birthday.
Then I ate far too much sugar and fell asleep in the chair in the office, until a chase on the scanner woke me around 3am. THEN I went to bed properly.
Today I’ve got two auction pickups, a trip to my storage and secondary locations to unload stuff, and some more birthday activities planned. Busy day for me.
Short shrift for the keyboard and my internet friends. Talk amongst yourselves….
(and stack some stuff)
nick
Planning and execution.
Good job on the birthday, Nick.
It’s the Animal Crossing version, whatever that means, and the only game my wife recognised was Legend of Zelda ,so that’s what she got.
The Switch Lite is the smaller handheld without HDMI and detachable controllers. When your wife eventually asks for a Switch of her own, that’s the one to keep in mind. 🙂
I always viewed the Wii as a arbitrage-fueled fad, and my kids never really liked the WiiU. However, Nintendo really nailed it with the Switch. I’m only disappointed that they seem to have forgotten the Advance Wars series … for now.
When you get hit up for the SD card in the next few days, buying the Nintendo official hardware isn’t necessary. Google around for alternatives.
Sam’s Club run yesterday. Inflation observations.
The endcap of “Grilling Beans” was gone, and Bush’s Baked Beans were back in their usual place with a “special price” of $7.11 for an 8 pack.
The usual $5-6/lb sirloins we use for stir fry were $10/lb — not even the “Prime” blue tray.
Chicken thighs in short supply. Wings unobtainium. Drumsticks plentiful but at 90+ cents/lb.
(The chicken “shortage” seems like a test, but it is working.)
The cool thing about the Wii were the controllers. You could have 2-3 people standing in the room, waving controllers around to play. As opposed to the click-frenzy of the other gaming systems of the day. Having played Wii for more than a decade, though – we had one in the office back in the day.
Today was the volunteer “work day” for the town, maintaining hiking trails and such. Unfortunately, I was part of a larger group, which always means that work proceeds at the pace of the slowest. Last year it was just me and a neighbor, and we probably got 5x as much done. Ah well, it’s as much about “meat space” as anything else.
Spent the last couple of hours playing computer games. Time to head out and do something useful…
I can’t remember where I first came across it, but “Two plus two equals five, for sufficiently large values of two” has stuck with me.
This video is by a former owner of a long defunct guitar effect company that is still revered by electric guitarists to this day. She has a YouTube channel that deals with electronics, etc. It has excerpts of the 60 minutes episode that it came from.
She has broken stride in this video by giving her opinion on the targeting camera videos of some fighter aircraft that filmed some unexplainable stuff.
My question is, is Military pilots on military missions giggling and call each other dude standard operation procedure these days, or was this some kind of video hoax? I would probably not dismiss it out of hand were the communications between supposed military fighter pilots more professional.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6tDHZj5q5Q
My question is, is Military pilots on military missions giggling and call each other dude standard operation procedure these days, or was this some kind of video hoax? I would probably not dismiss it out of hand were the communications between supposed military fighter pilots more professional.
Late 20s/early 30s speaking like the characters on “The Regular Show” isn’t uncommon these days, even in professional settings.
Life imitates art.
My doctor and I discussed Cologard in detail. First off, with a family history of colon cancer, you shouldn’t do it. Second, from what he said, it tends to miss the slower acting and more benign tumors early in their growth. Third, there is a risk to having a colonoscopy. No invasive procedure with sedation is without risk. It’s all about weighing the risks. In my case, we decided that given my history and previous results, I could do Cologard. YMMV. LSMFT. AM and FM stereo.
I’m only a lowly chopper pilot, but any pilot under my command was ripped and totally embarrassed at pilot debriefings for inappropriate chatter on secure or unsecure radio. Unprofessional.
What’s missing from those videos audio is grunting. What aircraft were they in? During high g maneuvers fighter pilots grunt and strain because they are managing their breath and tensing core muscles to control blood flow.
Other than that, the casualness and giggles could be because they are seeing UFOs and they know it. They FINALLY got their own shots of one (which is what one guy says essentially).
And I find it interesting that we’ve ALL been conditioned to automatically dismiss anything with the UFO label attached, despite decades of them being part of the zeitgeist. It’s like some people are shaking their head and going “wait a minute…if there’s evidence why are we all reacting this way and not asking the right questions?”
Interesting add ons though Alan, I had come across Fran’s channel before, but didn’t know her story.
I’m 10 minutes into her five minute plea, and I have to make some breakfast….
n
(and I’m skeptical of anything 60 minutes or 20/20 does.)
OK, boomer.
“The cool thing about the Wii were the controllers. You could have 2-3 people standing in the room, waving controllers around to play.”
–yes, the archery stuff was way cool, and we even had wheelchair using grandma playing along with the kids in the bowling game. It was really great.
The current issues is that almost every wii in existence has failed the same way and the last time I looked into it, there wasn’t a fix. The HDMI goes black and you can’t use the machine.
n
New Van Morrison album:
Posted on May 22, 2021 by John Hinderaker in Music
Van the Man Rebels
I have listened to Van Morrison on and off since his Gloria days with Them. In case you have lost track, he is still recording at age 75. And his most recent production–a 28-song compilation titled “Latest Record Project, Vol. 1”–has ignited a controversy. First the music, then the controversy.
What struck me listening to the album, which I am still working my way through, is how good Van sounds. The genre, blues, is not my favorite, but the Man can still sing. The production values are good, too, to my ear. I will leave music criticism to Scott, but “Latest Record Project” is a legitimate album, not something tossed off by an over-the-hill crank in his garage.
Why is Morrison’s record controversial? Because, while most of the songs are apolitical, some reflect Van’s disgust with the totalitarian leftism of our time. Thus, songs include Where Have All the Rebels Gone?, Stop Bitching, Do Something, They Own the Media, and Why Are You On Facebook? No doubt some of the others express wrongthink from time to time, too.
…
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/05/van-the-man-rebels.php
and another article on American Spectator:
https://spectator.org/van-morrison-new-album-latest-record-project-volume-1/
I’ve noted before that anyone of a conservative bent that is still buying anything from Amazon is foolish (actually, one comment that I made elsewhere is that it makes about as much sense as selling oven bricks to the nazis when you know you’re own people are getting burnt) but in this case I made an exception because 1) it gives an incremental push up the ranking, and 2) I get to write a “verified purchaser” review and hone the sharp edges so they bleed.
✓
The current issues is that almost every wii in existence has failed the same way and the last time I looked into it, there wasn’t a fix. The HDMI goes black and you can’t use the machine.
The bigger problem long term will be the optical drive in the Wii.
The WiiU games are easily ported to Switch, and the only other optical drive from Nintendo is in the GameCube.
The GameCube drive has held up remarkably well, but once Microsoft bought RARE, the pipeline of highly anticipated games for the platform dried up.
Why is Morrison’s record controversial? Because, while most of the songs are apolitical, some reflect Van’s disgust with the totalitarian leftism of our time. Thus, songs include Where Have All the Rebels Gone?, Stop Bitching, Do Something, They Own the Media, and Why Are You On Facebook? No doubt some of the others express wrongthink from time to time, too.
The Cats In Space had a promising pair of albums in their first two releases, but they took on Facebook with the first single from the second CD so, for now, their fan base is limited to the UK, where the radio stations will play their music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVL0J0H6w9c
As for why people are still there, again, “The Social Network” was a script so good that a soap retread like David Selby looked liked Olivier in Shakespeare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B28el9aEDco
“Handful Of Black COVID Survivors Experience Massively Enlarged Tongues”
https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/handful-black-covid-survivors-experience-massively-enlarged-tongues
What the heck ?
It is getting really weird out there.
And these poor people. Unless this is a fake.
They were “Jeff Goldblum’d” by the COVID mecho-gene-splicing experimental pseudo vaccine.
LSMFT
LSMFT means “Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco” ???
Climate change, dontcha know. Couldn’t possibly be race because that’s just a social construct.
“Found my Church Gun”
https://gunfreezone.net/found-my-church-gun/
“It can even be a nice BBQ gun with a bit of fancy grips.”
“Single action, 2.5 inch barrel.”
Ruger GP100 seven shot 2 inch barrel is cheaper and a .357 magnum. Shoots like a dream. That 7th shot is always surprising. Of course, I got mine three years ago before the crazy started.
https://www.handgunsmag.com/editorial/review-ruger-gp100-7-shot-357-magnum/330920
“Handful Of Black COVID Survivors Experience Massively Enlarged Tongues”
Climate change, dontcha know. Couldn’t possibly be race because that’s just a social construct.
Lupus is an inflammatory disease where race is a risk factor. Gotta wonder if it is in their family history.
Of course, one possible treatment for Lupus is Hydrochloroquine. God forbid you establish a link between Lupus and the Wuxu Flu.
And then God built a real locomotive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mqD-jZVLEI
And if the above doesn’t get you then watch out for this:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/21/mucormycosis-black-fungus-disease-linked-covid-spreads-india
11% of India’s population has had at least one shot and only 3% are fully vaccinated.
Compared to 48% and 38% respectively for the US.
“Patrimony: A Pip & Flinx Adventure” by Alan Dean Foster
https://www.amazon.com/Patrimony-Pip-Flinx-Adventure-Adventures/dp/0345485084/?tag=ttgnet-20
Book number thirteen of a fifteen book series. I reread the well printed and well bound paperback that I just bought new since my old one is packed away. I have acquired books fourteen and fifteen in the series and will read them soon.
Flinx has his own FTL spaceship, the Teacher, built and given to him by the Ulru-Ujurrians. Flinx is searching for the Tar-Aiym planet full of Krangs that has moved itself across the Galaxy to a new location. But, on the look for the planet of Krangs, Flinx looks for more parental information.
The reading order of Pip and Flinx:
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/f/alan-dean-foster/pip-and-flinx/
ADF has a website at:
https://www.alandeanfoster.com/
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (107 reviews)
I didn’t know that. I wonder why they call it lupus? Means wolf in Latin IIRC.
There’s a white fungus making the rounds in India, too, but it’s Aspergillus, a fairly common critter.
Steam is magical.
Sentinel DG8 Steam Wagon
Pretty common. Not across HF/VHF/UHF when talking with ATC or ground control/command post, of course. However, intercom and hot mic on the plane between crew or between aircraft flying in formation was full of informal chatter. We used to get occasional reminders that black box recordings were not confidential. As always, flight safety and the mission come first (or it’s your ass) but talking smack was a regular occurrence.
Well, home and ready for some dinner. Takeout chinese delivered tonight. We do try to support local businesses.
Picked up my stuff. Talked to the auctioneers. One guy that hasn’t been returning my calls explained that he’d had another heart attack and had a stent inserted. He’s back at work and said I can come by Monday! The other guy was holding a previous purchase for me to pickup, an antenna cable, but I never made it and he’s disposed of it. Bummer, but understandable. I just forgot about it. Two of the stops were for my non-prepping hobby, one was for some cobbler equipment. I want to have the stuff for shoe repair, because it looks fun, and who knows? As a bonus, I’m only buying it when it’s super cheap so I can sell it later for a profit if I need to.
Flipped some metal shop equipment to my (probably a prepper) neighbor. Same one who bought my latest little freezer… We talked a bit about chickens. Meatspace!
Did a quick pass thru Goodwill, and bought someone’s stamp collection for 50c. That was my long shot for this trip. Fingers crossed there is something good in there, although I have no idea about stamps. The really funny thing is that dozens of people looked at that bin full of books, and at least a couple of book buyers went thru the bin, but none of them opened the “old book” to see what was inside. The cover says something like “A Traveler’s Stamp Collection” and it’s clearly old. No UPC code, they’re not interested. Tripping over dollars in their rush to pick up pennies. I grabbed a few books for the reference shelf, and a couple old books for sale. Visibly old, no UPC, but a quick lookup on ebay says “selling for $10-16”. It’s grinding but that is what you get some days.
And some days, like yesterday, you pick up something like this for a couple bucks…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174774540961?epid=230225706&hash=item28b15fdaa1:g:ALcAAOSwkkxgpV5l
I haven’t gone thru the box but some of it is in there, and the box is heavy…
n
Granted I didn’t know the value of that kit, but I recognized that special lego was something to grab….
n
The nice thing about sets of Lego, Erector, trains, etc. is that missing pieces can often be replaced.
Conversely, misc. pieces are often worth picking up even if there is no set or a very partial set.
✓
“When wind turbines are no longer useful: They get explosive demolition”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/05/22/when-wind-turbines-are-no-longer-useful-they-get-explosive-demolition/
“Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) of Phoenix, Maryland, USA (acting as Explosives Design and Performance Subcontractor to Main Demolition Contractor, Dallas Demolition of Houston, Texas who was working for RiverCap Ventures of Rocky River, Ohio, the General Demolition Contractor) performs the successful explosives felling of 90, Mitsubishi 1000A Wind Turbines in New Mexico.”
“No effort was made to preserve foundations or other wind farm infrastructure. CDI’s crew felled the 90 Units in two (2) mobilizations to the site, permitting the Wind Farm Owner to complete salvage of blades and drive-train elements from some of the wind turbines to provide replacement parts for similar Units they operate at other wind farm locations. The Units were safely felled, exactly per plan, and ahead of schedule.”
So much for 15 year old wind turbines. Not a very long life for production equipment.
My guess is that the maintenance is eating them alive. The gearboxes have incredible stories of burning up.
At that rate they’ll never pay back their investment.
Which is what I suspected all along.
n
“misc. pieces are often worth picking up”
–it’s my habit to scoop up every single piece of lego I can find when I’m digging thru the bins at the Goodwill Outlet. I sometimes end up with a cup, sometimes a bushel, and very rarely I get almost nothing.
I’ll either add it to my kids’ lego bins, or sell it in bulk in a local auction.
A couple of visits ago, there was most of a boeing propeller plane kit in pieces in the bin. Definitely had a vintage vibe. I filled 4 quart zip locks with lego that day. Haven’t even looked thru it yet.
n
When wind turbines are no longer useful: They get explosive demolition
Lynn, my wife and I have driven the back way from Tehachapi, CA to Lancaster. Along the way there are numerous old wind turbines, some dating back to the beginnings over forty years ago. The smallest are only 35 kW. Here is a good article:
https://www.tehachapinews.com/visitor-guide/things-to-do/self-guided-tehachapi-wind-farm-tour/article_077828cf-d15b-5e1c-bd03-c16e660b31cc.html
Here is a link to the general area; use it as a starting point:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oak+Creek+Pass/@35.0350692,-118.4065487,52952m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c21ea61c32fdc5:0x4c32dc3e394a702f!8m2!3d35.0605243!4d-118.388138
There are also active facilities for development, maintenance, and manufacture, as noted in the article. There are even some vertical shaft turbines at another location.
I am not a fan (!) of wind power, but do like to study machinery. When I see the modern turbine behemoths and solar farms littering the landscape, I think of the small nukes that could instead be located near where the power is needed. They would be out of sight, low maintenance, and silent. We have missed a great opportunity.
New medium scale reactor designs are also promising, and could generate much needed energy for coming electric cars. Hey, Elon, why don’t you take the lead and promote them? Your success will depend on something we don’t have yet.
“Army Of The Dead” on Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/title/81046394
“After a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries takes the ultimate gamble by venturing into the quarantine zone for the greatest heist ever.”
https://www.businessinsider.com/where-to-watch-army-of-the-dead
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/army-of-the-dead-movie-review-2021
Recommended if you like zombie movies. Very bloody and violent.
When wind turbines are no longer useful: They get explosive demolition
Lynn, my wife and I have driven the back way from Tehachapi, CA to Lancaster. Along the way there are numerous old wind turbines, some dating back to the beginnings over forty years ago. The smallest are only 35 kW. Here is a good article:
https://www.tehachapinews.com/visitor-guide/things-to-do/self-guided-tehachapi-wind-farm-tour/article_077828cf-d15b-5e1c-bd03-c16e660b31cc.html
I have driven through there several times on the way to 29 Palms to visit my son while he was in the Marine Corps. He used to ride his motorcycle through there with winds at up to 65+ mph.
Jay Leno has a vertical wind turbine on his garage. I have no idea how well it works.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/videos/a6866/jay-lenos-green-garage-wind-turbines-video-1077019761/
Jay Leno has a vertical wind turbine on his garage. I have no idea how well it works.
Looks nice, and I enjoyed the music. I don’t know how well it works, either. Maybe his location is good. I do know I frequently see lots of wind generators sitting idle or at very low output as I drive by them. The small ones on individual houses I know of are pretty expensive, and I doubt they produce much energy averaged over the year.
Once, many years ago, I thought of building a small wind generator using a car alternator. It was a clever design that used a pivoting stand that allowed it to survive high winds. My problem was I couldn’t figure out how to economically use the power without a lot of expensive electronics. The cheapest scheme was to dump the energy into a water heater, but that was impractical. It could be successful to power heaters inside the house in the winter, but that would only be part of the year. Anything bigger or more sophisticated would never break even with our lack of steady wind.
@Nick: Stamps, ugh. My mother had a collection dating back to the 1960s. The best possible use for any and all of the stamps would have been postage, since most of them were unused. The post office has been running a racket with their collectible stamps – and even moreso with the ones that they sell you already cancelled. But you never know – the book you bought implies that it may contain international stamps. Maybe it will have something actually rare in it…
It’s Sunday here, and you slugabeds in North America are still sleeping. Not sure what I’m going to do with the day. Weather is nice, if still unseasonably cold, but you can’t make noise on Sundays (which is actually a nice law, once you get used to it – no neighbors mowing their lawns, no construction work). Maybe do some clean-up, and then just curl up with a book, who knows…