Cold and damp. 50F late last night and I’m thinking that will continue into this morning. It is supposed to be clear for a couple of days, so probably a front moving in, dropping the temps and moving out the clouds. I’m no weather liar, but that’s the story I’m running with today.
I did make a bit of progress yesterday. I installed a new faucet and drain in the bathroom. I’ve got another to do, and then I need to diagnose what is wrong with the shower mixer. Oh, and re-tape and spackle the ceiling where water leaking caused damage. Wife can paint the ceiling at that point, whenever she gets around to it.
I also got a couple of things listed on Craigslist. It’s still around, and good for selling some stuff. I never did get motivated to do FB marketplace. If I have something to sell very locally, I’ll ask my wife to ping her sell/swap groups in the neighborhood. I might try to move a freezer that way if I can’t come up with a buyer myself. I got a couple of things listed on ebay too while I was at it. Also sorted some stuff.
All in all, progress was made.
Which is good. Now for a whole metric buttload more….
Stack progress and successes one atop the other, as well as food…
nick
Federal spending is ~$6T on a GDP of ~$26T. 23% of every nickel and dime of GDP.
Well, whaddayaknow….
43F, 92%RH clear and sunny. Lots of contrails today as the golden sun lights up the sky.
n
Another EV truck destined to become collectors’ garage queens?
I’m shocked. Shocked!
Tyler Durden cowardice protecting someone in the mainstream automotive press. Other sites reference the video.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/man-discovers-brand-new-ev-hummer-will-take-five-days-fully-charge
Ford, at least, sends the Lightning out to EV and/or Blue Oval critics as of late. I’m wondering just how committed Ford is to the agenda at this point; they might be having second thoughts.
Charges in Rust death:
https://nypost.com/2023/01/19/alec-baldwin-charged-in-fatal-rust-shooting-of-halyna-hutchins
Well, in fairness to the greenies, charging taking one week is relatively quick compared to the amount of time it took to decompose foliage and dinosaurs into crude oil. Then there’s the amount of time to drill, pump, refine, and deliver to the fueling station. /sarc.
White House knows nothin’, SecServ knows sumpin’ sumpin’
https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/01/secret-service-has-a-list-of-regular-visitors-to-bidens-delaware-home-that-stored-classified-documents/
Oof! time for Killer Baldwin. He’ll either get off or Hollyweird goes into panic mode.
This quote shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the setting and circumstances of the accident… and ignores sworn depositions….
– if the prosecutor had said that second line, I’d move for change of venue as it’s adversarial and prejudicial. As it is, I’d move for that anyway arguing that if the jury really is prejudiced like the lawyer believes, there isn’t any way to get a fair trial.
I’m also a bit confused that the article says they are federal charges, but the state is making them. Later when I have time, maybe I’ll read a bit more and between all the bad reporting, enough will slip thru to get the facts out.
n
>> White House knows nothin’, SecServ knows sumpin’ sumpin’
https://youtu.be/HblPucwN-m0
>> Later when I have time, maybe I’ll read a bit more and between all the bad reporting, enough will slip thru to get the facts out.
No need for the facts to get in the way of sensationalism.
“Infographic: Automobiles Are Getting Cleaner, But Could Be Better”
https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/infographic-automobiles-are-getting-cleaner-but-could-be-better
The average fuel economy of cars in the USA is 25.4 mpg. That is pretty good by my book.
Subbing again today, and tomorrow. Already have three days booked for April.
It seems to be me that the quality of the education system, and the students has deteriorated. Or maybe my memory from my time in school is not good enough.
The Google classroom I don’t think has helped. It has made the teachers, for lack of a better term, lazy, in my opinion. Or maybe the use of Google classroom is justified to reduce paperwork and paper grading for the teachers. Maybe the educational powers to be have determined that using electronic means has merit. Such powers to be probably never having been educators themselves.
I also find that respect for teachers and school officials is not what I remember. Conning the teacher, getting away with something, seems to be a constant issue. I don’t know that I can fully trust the little cretins.
I have no idea if they have gotten their work accomplished as I don’t have access to Google classroom. When a student says they have completed their work I guess I have to believe them. If they didn’t complete their work that is a problem between them and their teacher.
I know some of the students do not want to be in school. Welfare is a lifestyle that works for their parents as a career, so why not make it the student’s career path?
Some students are going to work in the heavy trades. Basic labor, working equipment, etc. They see no need for education. What they are supposed to learn in high school is not going to help them in their chosen career.
My opinion is that if a student does not want to be in high school, let them out. The restriction is that they cannot apply for any form of state assistance, welfare, for a period of 20 years. If they get married the same restriction applies to their spouse. If that requires living in a cardboard box, then so be it. They made their choice.
My wife took our 35 year old disabled daughter to the hemotologist yesterday. Her blood hemoglobin was 6.0, it should be 11 to 14. All those six iron infusions we gave her last year are gone already. And her white blood cells were abysmally low due to the recent Covid she had. The hematologist tried to put her in the hospital but needed the obgyn to sign off and she could not locate the obgyn.
So today, the wife took the daughter to the ER. The hematologist wants the ER to put three pints of whole blood in her so the obgyn can do a emergency hysterectomy. But who knows what the ER docs are going to do as they are not responsible to the hematologist who is in the same hospital.
Charges in Rust death:
https://nypost.com/2023/01/19/alec-baldwin-charged-in-fatal-rust-shooting-of-halyna-hutchins
Yes, the armorer should be charged, Alec Baldwin, no. The DA is lazy and charging everyone in sight.
Spending more time planning the Europe trip this June. We will be traveling from Vienna Austria to Ebensberg in Germany. There is a direct train, leaves late evening, arrives late at night. Quicker than flying as it is about a three hour train trip. Earlier trains are anywhere from 8 to 14 hours as trains have to be changed and the layovers are long.
Need to book a flight from Oslo to Vienna. There is not a lot of options and that is anywhere from a three hour flight to 14 hours. I will pay more for the shorter flight, well worth it. I will book the flight on the Scandinavian airlines website as it is cheaper than Expedia.
In a month I will order the German rail pass. I think a five day pass will work. If I need more I can get a three day pass in addition. Really a good deal for foreign passport holders. A couple of train trips that we have to take are close to 5 hours. A fairly nice trip in 1st class on the Inter City Express (ICE).
Airline tickets were expensive. Upgrades to better seats on the long flights. There is more room, leg rests, dedicated overhead space, power outlets, and only six seats wide instead of eight, so more thigh room, close to the front of the plane, early boarding. The various taxes and fees added $1K to each ticket. Every entity has their hands out for money.
One of the former students will send me a SIM card for Germany. That allows the use of the DB train app for schedules, platforms, location on platforms and where we are on the journey. Also allows us to text the people we are visiting to let them know the train information. Cheaper to get a local SIM than try and get international use on my Xfinity wireless plan.
“Ransomware Takeaways Q4 2022”
https://www.backblaze.com/blog/ransomware-takeaways-q4-2022/
“1. Many Ransomware Attacks Go Unreported in the Media
2. Hospitals and Schools Continued to Be Targeted
3. Ransomware Attacks Take a Psychological Toll
4. Some Ransomware Is Badly Made, and All the More Dangerous
5. A Vast Majority of Ransomware Attacks Attempted to Infect Backups”
“BREAKING via ALEX BERENSON: New Chinese Study Shows that More than Four COVID Jabs Produced Near Complete Collapse of Immune System in Mice”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/01/breaking-via-alex-berenson-new-chinese-study-shows-four-covid-jabs-produced-near-complete-collapse-immune-system-mice/
I ain’t no mouse and I ain’t gonna get any more covid jabs.
“Free speech is facing new attacks in California and New Jersey” by Ben Carson
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/free-speech-is-facing-new-attacks-in-california-and-new-jersey
“Freedom of speech is one of the bedrock values our nation was built upon. The freedom to speak our minds freely and make our voices heard in the public square enables reasoned debate. It thereby allows the democratic process to decide on the best solutions for the challenges we face. When each side is able to make its case to the public, discerning citizens can use their common sense to guide them in their vote.”
“For this reason, our founders passed the First Amendment to secure this fundamental right in our Constitution and restrain the government from suppressing the political speech of its citizens. This bears note as we have watched one of the biggest scandals of our generation unfold. The government worked behind the scenes with Big Tech companies to discredit, deplatform, and stifle conservative voices. This effort was pursued with the aim of interfering in our democratic process.”
These state laws are unconstitutional. Period. Bunch of freaking Marxists in state governments. All blue states.
Ha, ha:
Take a look at the ‘city of the future’ the folks at the WEF want you to live in
Report to the Houston Metro Public Residential Cluster. Draw one weeks worth of soy-rats. Although, the WEF will probably supplement soy-rats with bug-rats. Free hot sauce with every weeks rats! While the WEF eats organic beef in their McMansions.
There is the problem. Few discerning citizens and few with common sense. Most just vote what is going to get them more “freebies”. Welfare for everyone. Or just vote a straight party ticket without even knowing the issues. Having been served the Kool-Aid many years ago.
When the minimum wage was raised, prices started rising. Very few people understand that when the cost of producing goods or services increases, that increased cost has to reflected in the price of the product. People also do not understand that corporations don’t pay taxes, their customers pay the taxes folded into the price of the product.
There’s the challenge to Hollyweird:
An actor doesn’t get free pass’: Rust prosecutor tears into Alec Baldwin saying he DID pull the trigger and reveals he could face minimum of FIVE YEARS in prison
I bet Hollyweird big-shots will dump money into the “Save Baldwin” fund to cover their own asses.
>> Yes, the armorer should be charged, Alec Baldwin, no. The DA is lazy and charging everyone in sight.
Or the DA has political asperations…unfortunately for her she’s not Amish.
However…
Also reported from the Rust case…
The guy who had the active part in the accident, by ACTIVELY conveying the prop he wasn’t supposed to touch, and asserting that it was safe, took the plea deal.
The DA is asserting that Baldwin ACTIVELY committed the offense by pulling the trigger, because an FBI EXPERT says that is the only way the prop gun could have discharged. Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger in every statement. I don’t remember if he actually made statements about pulling back the hammer or not (I think he did, but can’t spend the time to look), but it seems you could raise a reasonable doubt that the prop discharged when he fumbled the hammer pull. I’ve dropped a hammer without intending to myself. There are more expert witnesses out there than one FBI guy.
The armorer failed thru passive inaction.
FWIW, the Property Master should have been investigated by OSHA as the Armorer’s Supervisor, because under the work rules, SHE had legal authority and responsibility for the prop weapons. Don’t know why no one is discussing her role.
For that matter, NMOSHA should be issuing a report to go with their fines. I haven’t seen that. I wonder if it will be entered into evidence in the criminal cases?
This is, at its base level, a workplace accident. State OSHA investigates workplace accidents, even fatal ones. Criminal investigations and charges come when there is a criminal element to the accident. I’m sure there was negligence, but I’m not sure there was criminal negligence. I guess we’ll see.
n
Or the DA has political aspirations
– one could take her public assertions that “no one is above the law” to be threatening. As far as I know, no one suggested that anyone is, (and the only one she could be alluding to is Baldwin), which could be taken as a promise of retribution or a declaration of vendetta. At least, it could be made to look like that.
As much as I don’t like the guy’s public positions and politics, I do want him to have a fair trial, because rule of law is kind of important to our civilization.
n
That ship’s done sailed.
That ship’s done sailed.
– the realist in me says “yeah” but the idealist says “gotta still fight”.
n
– well I remembered that part right.
n
If you don’t think it’s a witch hunt, ask yourself-
– why is there a “Rust Special Prosecutor Andrea Reeb” for a workplace death?
– would you feel the same way you do if it were “the good Baldwin” who had the accident?
– would you feel the same way if it was a prop KNIFE that got swapped for a real knife during a rehearsal?
– would you feel the same way if, despite all the safety rules and precautions, during the rehearsal of a hanging scene someone ended up actually hanged? Or if a piece of shrapnel from a special effects explosion hit someone?
– would there be a Rust Special Prosecutor if the Best Boy or camera dolly operator was knocked to his death in a fall from a scaffold? Or if it was Jose Perez the laborer at the local construction site?
Or is it that someone famous is involved?
Or that there was an evil scary double plus ungood gun shaped object involved?
Strip the salaciousness, schadenfreude, and grandstanding away, and this is an employee, at work, in his work environment, doing what he was told to do, with the tools and equipment provided, having been assured by the people whose job it is to ensure the safety of everyone involved that it is in fact SAFE to do what he’s been instructed to do.
Through the actions and inactions of those people, supposed experts at their jobs, who failed to do their jobs, an ACCIDENT occurred. A fatal accident. A “lost time” accident. Accident doesn’t mean no one was to blame, or at fault, it means that it wasn’t the intended action or outcome.
We don’t punish people for having an accident unless their actions contributed to it. From all the statements I read, from the documents released, and from my experiences and knowledge of working in the industry, Baldwin the actor didn’t do anything wrong. Even if he HAD pulled the trigger, in that place, under those conditions, that wouldn’t have been wrong.
n
Instructions for cancer-fighting cells (see here):
More fun with phones. . . .
I swapped batteries between the phone. That fixed one problem. Now it’s my phone turning off. It’s done it twice, just sitting there and it’s dead in the morning. I put it on charge and it showed 38% charge. I let it charge, it seemed to charge very quickly which is odd. Then back onto my desk. On but unused. Dead this morning. Connected the charger and it showed 35% and turned off about five seconds after I disconnected the charger.
Ok. I have a bad battery.
I have another battery. It’s the one that came with my phone. I think it’s ok. I replaced it because of all of the junkware running on the phone was making me charge the phone every other day.
I bought an external charger. To see if it works, I charged the spare the other day. It’s been sitting on a shelf for several months. Put it in my phone this morning and it showed 88% charge. I think that’s about right, I seem to recall that charging to 90% was better than a full charge.
My phone thinks its been up for three days. There’s a big jump up in battery life after changing the battery this morning. Who knew it had to be on the charger for a while to reset the battery usage graph? \
Pretty nice weather around here for mid to late January when the winds lays.
Adam Baldwin of “Firefly”, “The Last Ship”, and “American Underdog” fame is not a Baldwin Brother (TM).
I bought some Amazon Basics batteries. AAA and AA. I don’t know if they are any good beyond “10 year shelf life”. I doubt I’ll give a shirt(-r) in ten years. I figure I’ll have other things things to yell at when I hit 75. (wtf?)
Just don’t leak goo all over.
They look just like the batteries from Tractor Supply but for a different label. I’m not impressed with the Tractor Supply batteries, they don’t seem to last long. But I haven’t had a leaker yet.
HEB batteries? They last. They look, by the metal crimping, like EverReady batteries.
I assume the DA is going after Killer Baldwin with Involuntary Manslaughter and saying:
Involuntary—
In the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, or in the commission in an unlawful manner, or without due caution and circumspection, of a lawful act which might produce death.That would be my guess after all the backstabbing, rumors of an “unsafe set”, and walkouts. It will be an interesting trial. It could set precedents.
I guess Stephen Baldwin. Pretty unknown, though.
He’s already been deposed about his true role as Executive Producer. As I suspected, it’s just a vanity thing, an ‘honorarium’, and possibly a way to get more money on the back end. No day to day responsibility. “Producer” Baldwin might have had some legal responsibilty on set, (but didn’t). “Actor” Baldwin does not, other than the general responsibilities that any employee has.
The Unit Production Manager would be the person with that responsibility, but I’ve not heard word one about her/him. Maybe it’s in the OSHA report.
n
Yup, Adam is “the good Baldwin” in the gun culture.
n
“without due caution and circumspection, of a lawful act which might produce death.”
– in a fair trial, based on public revelations so far, that first phrase would be pretty hard to establish. He wasn’t grandstanding, showboating, or messing around (Brandon Lee I’m looking at you.) He was rehearsing the actions expected of him in the scene. And the key to the second phrase is “might produce death”. It’s a stretch to think an inert prop, what is supposed to be nothing more than a piece of metal, that he’s been informed by the expert is completely safe, and under industry rules he isn’t supposed to finger bang, by it’s mere presence in the scene “might produce death.” Cars, horses, working at heights, even stress can be considered things that “might produce death.” The onsite catering “might produce death.” Living your life inevitably produces death after all.
n
The DA is making what could be a career ending step. Surely there is more to this than what we see. Maybe the “cold gun” guy and others are going say KB was reckless.
And now I am headed out to see the touring production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Never saw it, never worked on a production. Might be interesting. Gets me out of the house, and with other people… have to disarm though.
Taking my ear protection, just in case.
n
All will kneel before DeSantis.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/blackrock-caves-desantis-over-esg
The Tyler Durden pseudonym has been getting quite a workout as of late.
It wasn’t inert. It is a real gun that was used with live ammunition at the same location.
The DA is going with “I don’t give a shit if it was a movie set” and is going to try and prove carelessness on the part of the two charged. We already know the same gun misfired before and was used for live fire at the location. Like I said, testimony is going to be interesting.
Cue Don Meredith … oh, wait … he is?
Well, cue YouTube.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/microsoft-will-stop-selling-windows-10-licenses-this-month/ar-AA16wHKP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtGxusvUT3k
RIP Dandy Don.
Good Lord, Meredith was a guest star on “Supertrain”?
I digress.
Redmond is going to be very serious about deprecating Windows 10 since maintenance of the VB6 runtime sunsets with support for the OS. Of course, deep pocketed customers will get whatever they want in terms of support for their internal apps.
Everyone else needs to figure out dot Net for “simple” Windows GUIs.
We saw a touring production of “Phantom of the Opera” when it first toured flyover country.
The then-almost-new Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center main hall’s infrastructure could not support the weight of the chandelier prop so a significant amount of structural work had to be redone just to accomodate that show.
We also saw Blue Man Group when they first hit the road 22 years ago. The Blue Men weren’t nearly as interesting as their opening act and collaborators on “I Feel Love”, Venus Hum with Annette Strean in peak voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iFBXjRbVl0
From 7th row center, you could feel the power of that girl’s vocal cords.
Sean Hannity had this author on today, “Green Fraud: Why the Green New Deal Is Even Worse than You Think” by Marc Morano
https://www.amazon.com/Green-Fraud-Deal-Worse-Think/dp/1684510856?tag=ttgnet-20/
He thinks that the libs are going to try for a multiple year lockdown for the climate.
“That’s what’s in store for us if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Democrats pass their radical climate plan—the Green New Deal.”
“It is packed with guarantees so completely irrelevant to the problem it purports to “solve” (like “free college” and incomes for everyone “unable or unwilling to work”) that even its boosters have admitted it’s not really about the climate.”
Gonna have to nope right out of that one.
>> https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/man-discovers-brand-new-ev-hummer-will-take-five-days-fully-charge
2022 Hummer EV charging at Level 1 – one mile per hour – 212 kWh battery – 329 mile range – 1000 hp – 0 to 60 in 3.3 sec – $87 to 107K
2018 Nissan LEAF charging at Level 1 – six and a quarter miles per hour – 40 kWh battery – 150 mile range – 147 hp – 0 to 60 in 7.4 sec – current used price with top level trim ~$23K
He needs a 220 v outlet so he can charge at Level 2.
Level 2 charging requires a 240 V NEMA 14-50.
lpdbw says:
“Could you explain “sock darner”? I am not familiar with that expression in that context.
But I expect I feel the same about Allahpundit as you do, whatever it means.”
This morning I posted the reference on yesterday’s thread, and then had to correct it, so if you haven’t please read both.
>> The DA is going with “I don’t give a shit if it was a movie set” and is going to try and prove carelessness on the part of the two charged. We already know the same gun misfired before and was used for live fire at the location. Like I said, testimony is going to be interesting.
From what I recall closer to the incident, Baldwin claimed ignorance of prior gun issues during production. Baldwin’s position, as eloquently stated by @nick (will try to find his post) is that he’s just a dumb actor following the script which calls for an inert gun as a prop and as such he had neither the need nor the expertise to examine the gun and determine its status. Blame belongs on the armorer (pink-hair girl) and her boss, the AD.
@Ray Thompson
One of the worst consequences of Sweaty Bill Gates ridiculous push for everyone to go to college is the denigration of the trades and the elimination of a votech career path through high school.
But someone who runs heavy equipment all day long still has a need for education. They have to read and understand job applications, insurance policies, bank statements, safety instructions, rental agreements, time purchase contracts and a ton of other stuff. And coming out of high school with an ability to listen, ask questions, and think critically is going to help them in myriad ways, not the least of which is holding on the their hard-earned money when all the slicky boys are working to separate it from their wallets.
President Tulsi Gabbard, the US counterpart to Wee Pierre, right down to the WEF leadership classes.
The Green New Deal *and* Medicaid For All. First 90 days.
RIP David Crosby
https://dailycaller.com/2023/01/19/david-crosby-dead-81
Ever.
As usual lately, I saw the video on the Letterman YouTube channel first.
Well, that didn’t suck. Voices were good and powerful. They sped up the tempo throughout so it was 90minutes, no intermission.
Jesus was a scrawny white boy tenor with a man bun. Judas was a heavy set black man with long ‘twists’. Mary Magdeline was a curvy black woman with a voice that could give you diabetes it was so sweet. All the voices were good. Hard to believe they made the bad guy a black man, but on the other hand, it is Judas’ show, so he’s the lead…
Monolithic set, and VERY limited color palette, mainly white, grey, and black, but it worked. Lighting only caught my eye a couple of times, so very well done. Costumes generally sucked but that was part of the whole aesthetic.
My Axil active hearing protection worked well. The plugs result in about a 27dB cut, with the mic and amp adding it all back, except limiting loud noises. You can increase the volume for ‘super hearing’ but it would be a mistake in any but the quietest areas. The music sounded very good thru the ears, voices too. There were a couple of things, the lowest level is designed to perfectly cancel the cut from the plugs, but I found myself wishing I could lower the boost just a bit. And the other issue was the eq curve boosts around 10K hz, which helps with intelligibility but also leads to sibilance. It would be nice to have an app that would allow tweaking the eq, and the level settings. Given that the show was too loud overall, I’m glad I had the ear pro. They were much better than the Walker ones I wore to the kids’ musical show… and leagues better than just wearing ear plugs. Pretty sure they are 10x as expensive as the Walkers, so they should be good.
Next time I’ll bring my passive ones, that are supposed to be frequency neutral, and have two choices for dB cut.
WRT being armed, the theater is downtown, as most of them are, in an area smart people don’t walk thru alone at night. I’m sure the cheap real estate from the urban blight was part of the decision to site it there. “Theater districts” and redevelopment efforts tend to be in sh!tty parts of town. Knowing that, and being desireous of squeezing more money from patrons, this theater has an attached parking garage. So I left my Shield in the car and walked indoors to the theater. Sucks, but no one has sued them yet. Walk thru metal detectors at the door, and a hand wand if you pop. That I was ready for, but they made me check my freaking pocket knife. It went in a baggie and I got a claim check for after the show. I’d never give them a dime, but it was a work thing for my wife, so I sucked it up. But sweet jebus the retardedness is at new levels. At least they didn’t try making the audience wear masks. Some touring productions are requiring that…
Still had the small knife in my first aid altoids tin though. F#cking liberal pantywaists.
I did meet a nice couple, and get out of the house, so there is that.
n
https://www.headphonesty.com/2021/02/best-hearing-protection-shooting/
n
The Paramount in Austin still required masks and proof of vaccination or a negative test result to attend an event there up until recently.
I’m guessing the policy was dropped after Labor Day, but I swear that we passed on seeing Kevin Smith’s “Clerks III” tour this Fall because the vax/test/mask mandates were still in place.
The agenda dies hard in Austin, and the Good Germans keep their armbands -er- masks out of sight but still within reach, waiting for the return of ze good old days, ja.
Well…I think most would agree that going to a gym wouldn’t be a bad idea…
https://thepostmillennial.com/biological-male-considers-filing-human-rights-complaint-after-being-barred-from-bc-womens-gym