Hot and heavy humidity. Yesterday was OPPRESSIVE. We even got some rain in the late afternoon, which helped a bit, but did not entirely clear the air. I broke a sweat just resetting the live trap in the garage. The little possum hasn’t showed back up, but there is a much bigger one lurking. He’s not afraid of being seen either. I baited the trap with wet cat food this time.
Spent the morning and early afternoon doing pickups. Hit a couple of thrift stores and scored some good stuff for resale and for home. Brand new horseshoe game for only $10 was nice. Big long box of baseball cards might be really nice… or a bust, but the hunt is fun. The Pokemon cards I found are all too new to be worth much, $1-4 generally. Still, they are basically free when paying by the pound. I doubt I’ll ever find a binder with 450 cards in it again, but I always look. I’ve got several bins to sort and go through today. Two of my auction houses agreed to take stuff in a week, so I can start planning for that.
No word from the foundation guys about their final site visit before work commences. Hope I can make whatever date they come up with work.
Went to my local HEB store for a quick trip and it was decimated. IDK if it was just the time of day, or in combination with shortages, or if things have gotten worse in a week, but OMG. Every aisle had big gaps, with either one or two lonely items left, or NOTHING. The sugar section of the baking aisle was bare. Bread aisle was down to a few random loaves. Eggs, just a few cartons, all with one or more broken shells. Peanut oil was 3 bottles, so I got two…
On the plus side, 80/20 ground chuck was on sale, $3.59/lb, and chicken legs were at 99c again. Only one turkey in the whole cooler though. Sodas were stocked, but the snack aisle had open shelves. Very hit or miss, with several things I was looking for just not there.
Buy it when you see it.
And stack it high.
n
74F and saturated. Still dark but I think today will be sunny and hot too.
News should be interesting today. Betting on ‘turmoil’.
n
Lots of store stock is probably back in the Curbside area. Is the service still free where you live?
HEB is running “help wanted” spots on TV locally. The employees in the ads imply that their labor needs go far above the store level.
I also noticed Kroger delivery ads airing during the local news Sunday night. I didn’t think about it at the time, but Kroger doesn’t have stores in this area so they must be trying the same experiment that the chain is running in Central Florida – delivery only. That’s one way to cut the labor costs, but energy prices are going to eventually be a problem just like they were in the 70s.
The Grocery Getters will need a new name soon.
Curbside shops the aisles, just like regular customers. They use their carts, but otherwise the same.
@brad, pick your shower partner! Or one will be assigned to you…
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/switzerlands-environment-minister-suggests-people-shower-together-save-energy
n
Heil Greta. Big Smile!
Be glad it is only water coming out of the shower … for now.
My local HEB has been out of Crisco shortening for the past two weeks (maybe longer, but I just hit my re-stock point a couple of weeks ago). Other shelves are spotty – things like fiber supplement capsules are mostly empty, haven’t seen dried mango in the bulk food section in weeks, etc. Even Buc-ee’s has been out of chocolate rocks for a couple of weeks now.
Got my first shingles injection at the VA this morning. I have been trying for 8 years but no one seems to have enough supply. I was told by the VA that the vaccine is very expensive and is in very short supply. I return in three months for my second injection. The VA clinic apparently now has enough of the vaccine.
I wanted to get the Covid booster, but the VA does not provide those. VA clinic said go to Walgreens as the government pays for the injections. I will also get the flu vaccination in a couple of weeks at the VA clinic.
This afternoon I am off to the local hospital for an X-Ray on my left shoulder. VA is paying for that on the community care program. I am hoping I don’t have to have a shoulder joint replaced. I have been in pain, and some limited movement, for the last two months. Doesn’t act like soft tissue damage.
Vlad can’t quite manage an overland invasion, ya really think Elon is worried about his satellites?
Vlad is a desperate man and desperate people do crazy things. The SpaceX satellites already have to maneuver each orbit to miss the last Russian anti satellite shotgun mess from several years ago.
My HEB is removing several aisles of their shelves right now. That is not good as that means they are cutting their SKUs again.
And where is my Louisiana Hot Sauce ?
The stocking guys told me they are removing ailes of shelves at all the HEBs.
Down at the Twist and Shout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuapCENFM2U
Well, waiting for Ed to criticize my post for not having “actual facts”,
Sometimes your personal disaster comes at the hands of others.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11231663/At-six-people-critical-condition-building-exploded-Chicago.html
n
I would put money that a meth lab got something wrong.
Just have to convince my wife. Only, if we did that, I’m not sure we’d save energy. In fact, might take a little longer…
Politicians say stupid things, news at 11:00…
Speaking of which: Trump complained about Biden (at the Queen’s funeral) having to sit in the back with 3rd world nations. Sitting next to Biden: the Swiss president. Thanks Donald, back to school now…
Maybe the 1st world nation leaders did not want to sit next to Spongey. Who punished the Swiss?
Another thing to ‘stack’ …
There’s a CO2 shortage due to various factors – one of which is an extinct volcano that is contaminating the CO2 supply. Which is causing problems in the beer-making industry, CO2 being a key ingredient.
Coupled with increased prices for aluminum cans. Beer prices are going up. From this source (among others):
Lucky me – don’t drink beer, so this shortage won’t affect me. (Also don’t drink carbonated sodas.)
Drew the short straw?
Which only indicates that they don’t capture it. Far more is produced that one would need to add the final fizz. I add between 15ml and 20ml of wort to each 500ml bottle, to provide the fizz.
So: an easily fixed problem for any large brewery.
Fly Air DeSantis newest non-stop from Texas to Delaware.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/20/us/migrants-flight-texas-desantis
The CO2 shortage has been going on for a while. The tolling company break room had a Freestyle machine in the break room, and getting CO2 during football season pre-pandemic was always tough.
When things got really bad the year before the lockdowns., one of the managers who was a home brewer brought in a canister from his stash.
I like mustard in a jar. That low class yellow stuff. I don’t like mustard in a squeeze bottle because it seems that no matter how much I shake it, the first squirt is yellowish water.
I use a knife or spoon to spread it so I’m not saving on dish washing with a squeeze bottle.
I tried to open a jar of Best Maid yellow mustard today. Glass jar, metal lid. Just like a jar of pickles. Whacked the jar upside down on the counter and on the floor. No way today. I had the thought of using a screwdriver to pry on the lid but if I break the glass it all goes into the trash.
Ok. How about using a church key? I can make a hole in the lid to break the vacuum and then put the contents in a mason jar. Even better, use the bottle end of the church key and slightly pry the lid in several places.
That worked.
@Lynn, might be interesting to you.
Energy at the End of the World Seminar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJGmd__dmI8
The geo-strategic factors of Oil and Gas production and distribution starts about an 1:02 into the presentation, world/country demographics being the first hour.
I had mail today from the credit union. Since I’m about to hit 65 I can get life insurance from them. Just $56 and change per month for $10,000 coverage.
That’s as far as I read. If the plan is similar to stuff offered on TV they cancel the policy when you turn 80. I intend to live longer than 80.
$56 a month is $672 a year. Add on the hassle of dealing with making payments. Ten grand divided by $672 is 14.8 years…. so just a few months before I turn 80.
How about I toss $60 in my change jar every month? Or put it in savings so I get that awesome 0.2% interest?
The wife is hitting 65 in a couple of months. Somehow all of these people got her cell phone number. She is getting downright mean with the callers wanting to sell her a Medicare plan. Normally when I hear that tone of voice, I run and hide. Now I am able to hang around for the grand finale, she is not kind.
xkcd: Everyday Carry
https://xkcd.com/2674/
Hey, I am guilty of carrying too much stuff to meet every emergency. That is why I drive a F-150.
At least I am not carrying four guns yet like my hero, Josey Wales. I only carry two.
Explained at:
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2674:_Everyday_Carry
Dilbert: Dave and ESG
https://dilbert.com/strip/2022-09-20
I ain’t saying nothing.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/spencerbrown/2022/09/20/sunny-hostins-racist-attack-on-nikki-haley-backfired-immediately-n2613341
This is where phonics comes to the rescue. It’s pronounced “bee-otch”.
So why is there a problem, hun, since your party has been in charge of education in the blue cities for more than two generations?
And who’s the race traitor? From here you look ¼ “of color other than pink” and ¾ Ivory Snow.
@paul
Did you try running the lid under hot water?
“DOE, federal agencies to draft plan for slashing transportation carbon emissions”
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-federal-agencies-transportation-plan-carbon-emissions/632215/
“The Biden administration intends to release a plan in-mid December for slashing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector related to funding streams created through the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Department of Energy said Friday.”
Lovely, just lovely. They are going to make the transportation sector as reliable as wind turbines.
@Lynn
Normally I’d say two is enough with magazines being available, but with a wheelgun. And Colonel Mortimer’s “system” never caught on*.
Lee Van Cleef, For a Few Dollars More
“Free Decryptor Released for LockerGoga Ransomware”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/free-decryptor-released-for-lockergoga-ransomware
“If you’re the victim of LockerGoga ransomware, it’s now possible (and easy) to get your files back.”
I have never even heard of LockerGoga.
Normally I’d say two is enough with magazines being available, but with a wheelgun. And Colonel Mortimer’s “system” never caught on*.
I only carry wheelguns now. My dadgum wrists do not allow me to rack a semi-automatic anymore. I have been wearing a modified ace bandage on my right wrist for three months now. I have managed to reinjure it five times so this may become a lifetime thing or until I give up and have carpal tunnel surgery.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XA0NOC/
“German Bakery Slapped With €330,000 Gas Bill After Contract Canceled”
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/german-bakery-slapped-eu330000-gas-bill-after-contract-canceled
“A German bakery was slapped with a €330,000 (US$330,000) gas bill after a new energy company suddenly terminated their contract which guaranteed pricing until the end of 2023, Junge Freiheit reported, citing Bild.”
“”Are they crazy?” said owner Eckehard Vatter, who says he has 14 days to pay the bill. “A year ago, we paid €5,856 per month in gas costs for our large furnaces and heating,” he added.””
Sucks to live in Europe now. Just wait until winter comes. I would like to think that this would not happen in Texas but I am getting discouraged by all the climate change nonsense. I am getting hammered by the climate change stuff multiple times a day working in the oil and gas business.
How to dress to rob a gub store:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-riqplQrjA
I strongly suspect it will suck to live in Texas this Winter. The energy utilities are staying quiet right now since they’ve obviously decided that they will be better off under Abbott than Robert Francis.
I just paid another record light bill at our house. I’m sure the record won’t last long.
The US will bail out Europe as much as possible.
>> I have never even heard of LockerGoga.
Lady Gaga’s third cousin from Louisiana??
>> I only carry wheelguns now. My dadgum wrists do not allow me to rack a semi-automatic anymore.
@lynn, have you seen this? Noticeably easier to rack. Also available in .380 if you want a smaller profile.
With bad wrists a light saber is right out, too.
With bad wrists a light saber is right out, too.
Something less massive, like a rapier, perhaps? 😉
German producer prices post surprise record jump in August
https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/german-producer-prices-post-record-jump-august-2022-09-20/
I noted curious omissions.
After years of championing solar and wind power and claiming that they are competitive with fossil fuels, the green weinies are silent. They are not calling for an emergency expansion of wind turbine building. Surely the super-efficient wind turbine plants, powered by 100% green energy, can pick up a little fossil fuel slack? And with solar and wind competitive in price, they are not calling for investigations into price gouging just because of a little fossil fuel shortage.
What is wrong with this picture?
Great idea!
I strongly suspect it will suck to live in Texas this Winter.
I have a whole house generator. We don’t even know when the outage lasts longer than 10 seconds since it is so quiet.
>> I only carry wheelguns now. My dadgum wrists do not allow me to rack a semi-automatic anymore.
@lynn, have you seen this? Noticeably easier to rack. Also available in .380 if you want a smaller profile.
I have a version 1.0 of the S&W Shield 9mm. Almost the hardest semiauto gun to rack that I own. And I own four semiautos.
What would I do with my eight wheelguns ?
Are they “weinies” or “wienees”
Great idea!
Bad idea. My right wrist is almost nonfunctional. I cannot do anything without my wrist guard.
I learned how to type on the mainframe teletype operator terminal of a Univac 1108 in 1970. That WWII surplus paper roll terminal had ¾ inch travel keys so one had to beat them into submission. But playing Lunar Lander on it was awesome.
“Food Supply Stays Tight as Disappointing U.S. Harvest Adds to Global Challenges”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/food-supply-stays-tight-as-disappointing-u-s-harvest-adds-to-global-challenges-11663645212
“Agriculture executives say at least two years of bumper crops are needed to relieve pressure from drought and the war in Ukraine”
2023 is gonna suck for the world.
back to the beginning of the supply chain…
https://twitchy.com/samj-3930/2022/09/20/omg-she-went-there-royal-commentator-tears-don-lemon-a-new-one-after-he-claims-royal-family-should-pay-reparations-watch/
Lynn says:
Can confirm. VERY tough, and my wrists and shoulders are fine.
@Lynn
This technique might help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwF7-kcW62M
note: includes discussion of Shield
I’d suggest having a serious talk with your doctor about carpal tunnel surgery. Waiting until you have to is not going to lead to a better outcome.
Get ‘er done, get healed, then put up a bunch of targets, put on the ear protectors, and practice until you can shoot the bullseyes out of the target with either hand.
Probably best buy a bunch of ammo, first.
What’s the old saying?
Farm for five years, lose money for two, break even for two, and make money one year.
Not a reasonable proposition when the cost of fuel doubles, the cost of fertilizer triples, and the cost of everything else you need outpaces inflation.
Oh, yeah. The bank wants to renew your loans but the interest rate went from 3% to 9%
Those “agriculture executives” are making salary plus bonus, and their companies are taking very little risk.
Many years ago I found a nifty tool in the hardware store, meant to be a pipe wrench or irregular shape wrench/holder. It uses a synthetic rubber strap that threads through a handle/lever, infinitely adjustable (length limit). It works like a charm. Made by Mastergrip (pat. pend.) at the time. I don’t see this one on the market with a quick search but I’m sure there is something similar out there.
@ paul and paul, look for oil filter wrench… or ‘strap wrench’.
Aids like that are critical for helping people stay happy and healthy in their homes.
Like the first time I showed my gramma how to pull open a chips bag, instead of tearing it like she was used to. (Or use scissors)
WRT gun store robbery, if the cops are on the ball, they will get them. I’ve previously commented on how they got the guys that robbed the Carter Country here.
Kinda an oversight to get the bollard spacing so wrong…
great video though.
n
Yep, kinda eliminated the purpose for bollards. There might be a fire exit code requirement…
Jar Strap Wrench:
https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Strap-Wrench-5-Ribbed/dp/B012RPKM8A/ref=sr_1_10?crid=UDSJKB3A1QB6&keywords=jar+wrench&qid=1663726163&sprefix=knudson%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-10&tag=ttgnet-20
I know this as a “Gilhoolie” from around my parents house:
https://www.amazon.com/Keychain-Opener-Seniors-Arthritis-Openers/dp/B094C44JRP/ref=sr_1_37?crid=UDSJKB3A1QB6&keywords=jar+wrench&qid=1663726253&sprefix=knudson%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-37&tag=ttgnet-20
Unobtrusive under cabinet opener:
https://www.amazon.com/Jar-Opener-Weak-Hands-Seniors-Arthritis/dp/B07LFJ6RV4/ref=sr_1_52?crid=UDSJKB3A1QB6&keywords=jar%2Bwrench&qid=1663726253&sprefix=knudson%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-52&th=1&tag=ttgnet-20
@Lynn: Don’t be in any hurry for wrist surgery. I had a friend go in for a deviated septum with a huge scar from a much earlier heart surgery. The anesthesia damaged his heart and the repair surgery killed him.
I’d suggest having a serious talk with your doctor about carpal tunnel surgery. Waiting until you have to is not going to lead to a better outcome.
Got bigger problems. I may be having a heart bypass in October / November. Am getting evaluated now. Next test on Oct 4.
@Lynn: Don’t be in any hurry for wrist surgery. I had a friend go in for a deviated septum with a huge scar from a much earlier heart surgery. The anesthesia damaged his heart and the repair surgery killed him.
One of my partners had a triple bypass and mitral valve replacement in Feb 2020. Bad timing. He died of pneumonia six weeks later. I am fairly sure that he had the Koof. He could not talk or email after the heart surgery.
Probably best buy a bunch of ammo, first.
Who doesn’t have 10,000 rounds ? I’ve got .22 ammo dating back to the 1980s.
Farm for five years, lose money for two, break even for two, and make money one year.
Not a reasonable proposition when the cost of fuel doubles, the cost of fertilizer triples, and the cost of everything else you need outpaces inflation.
They harvested the cotton field behind my house last Friday. They used the old harvester that produces the old round bales with stems and leaves in the bales. My farmer buddy tells me that the new rectangular bale harvester that does not collect the cotton stems and leaves costs $1.25 million. Are you freaking kidding me ? How can anyone with less than 100,000 acres of cotton afford that ? And they only plant cotton every third or fourth year around here. Last year all the farms grew corn.
I saw an early model Allis Chalmers cotton harvester prototype in the mid ’60s. The way I remember, cotton was still picked by hand then! The beast had vertical rotating drums with foot long rods of some material closely spaced horizontally to whisk the cotton off the plant.
Heard an anti- betto radio ad today. They pronounced “beto” to rhyme with “pedo” and kept saying he was “too dangerous” to run the state. I think they inadvertently give him too much credit with the “too dangerous” bit.
They play sound bites of him speaking, but don’t use the “hell yes we’re going to take your guns” clip. They use him praising BLM and defund the police, and one about slavery that I can’t remember.
I rarely get exposed to ads except on the radio and billboards, so it was a bit of a surprise. Found it interesting in a meta kind of way.
n
>> I would put money that a meth lab got something wrong.
They need help from Walter (Heisenberg) White and Jesse Pinkman.
>> Oh, and I used to work with a guy who was the mop and bucket guy at an adult bookstore, that featured a peep show. He used to chat with the girls while they were performing. They were COMPLETELY uninvolved in what they were doing.
This, and more, in “The Deuce” on HBOMax.
>> Nibbling away at my winter prep list. Got two exterior lights replaced out front. One has a built in GFCI outlet. That’ll help with the chickens. No junction boxes under old fixtures just a hole big enough for wiring in siding. Added ‘redo it right’ to next years list.
@Jenny, for peace of mind, make sure your in-the-wall connections are nice and tight until you get the junction boxes installed. I use these nowadays instead of wire nuts.
Alan, I have used various wire nuts since I was a kid in the 1950s. Never had a failure. As part of an outdoor renovation on our house, I recently removed about 20 wire nuts I installed in 1978. The connections were clean and solid. I reinstalled the original fixtures with the same wire nuts. I expect the same performance.
I recently discovered and am tempted to try the Wago and other brand lever connectors. I have seen the various videos with the overcurrent tests, but will not be convinced until I buy and test some. I will do that as soon as I get a round tuit. I am curious how much clamping force they apply.
The convenience is a strong point, but they are expensive compared to wire nuts. One area where I see an advantage is joining one stranded fixture wire to one solid wire. That is tricky if the stranded wire is not tinned. OTOH, they are a little larger than wire nuts, and might not fit into some tight spaces, such as electric motor terminal boxes.
I used to know an electrician who liked the crimp barrels often used on ground wires inside boxes. Crimping on solid wires is difficult, but he claimed he never had a problem. I have used them for that; I always worried about long term performance. Never liked field crimped connections, with the exception of crimps on stranded wires. Good crimpers are essential, and can produce solid connections if done with the correct dies and connectors.
Thanks Alan!
The trick is not tinning, the trick is to extend the stranded wire about ¼” above the other wires before applying the wire nut. I have also heard about pros and cons of twisting, or not twisting, the wire before applying the wire nut. When using wire nuts be careful of the sizing as wire nuts are color coded as to minimum gauge and number of wires and also the maximum.
I have never been a fan of back stab outlets and switches. For higher current application there is just not enough contact surface to make me feel comfortable. I am certain that UL has tested such application with back stab otherwise they could not be sold, legally. The connections are sometime difficult to remove as a small screwdriver has to be inserted to release the clamp.
I also do not like screw terminals where a “J” hook is required on the wire and the wire has to be wrapped around the screw. I like the clamping fixtures where the screw is loosened, the “straight, not gay” wire is inserted behind a plate under the screw. The screw is then tightened thereby clamping the wire behind the plate.
Consider getting an ECX screwdriver for doing the screws. A flat head is the worst to use. A phillips head is much better than flat head. A square driver is better than both as it will not strip the screw without considerable force. The ECX is the best as it combines the flat head, square and phillips head. Electrical outlets and switches are designed to use the ECX, along with the others. The ECX will not slip, damage the screw, and allows considerable force without damage. Well worth it.
https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-48-22-2041-Ecx-Screwdriver/dp/B00KQCIAL8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=10K1NGMZLH4I1&keywords=ecx+screwdriver&qid=1663761579&sprefix=ecx%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-3&tag=ttgnet-20
Crimping should only be done on ground wires, not hot or neutral. Those connections are difficult to remove and may require cutting the wire.
The only failure that may happen is in high heat environments. Inside a motor such as my pump motor. There the connections are done with a screw terminal. External junction boxes do not get as hot.
I have never had a wire nutted connection fail. They have been used for dozens of years, tried and true, and cheap. You can get specialty nuts with longer skirts. You can get outdoor rated wire nuts with dielectric grease inside the nut.
The connections are obviously within code. But only low current applications, lights, outlets used for lights and low current devices. Again, a problem of contact surface area. I am not a fan of the cost at about $0.70 to $1.00 per connection. The ease of connection certainly makes them a tempting alternative. I just don’t see myself redoing any connection that often to justify the price.
No. I forgot that trick. I did think about using an oil filter wrench.
The strap wrench idea is good. I think I have or had one. Maybe my Mom had one.
The presenter fails to point out that the opening technique should be applied close to the body, not at arm’s length, as she is demonstrating. One wouldn’t try to twist open a stubborn jar of pickles at arm’s length, and this manipulation, which also requires the application of force, should be done with the forearms against the torso, and the barrel pointing in a safe direction.
Count me among the Wago fans!