Huh,can’t do italics in the headline…
Cool and clear, warming later. Spent pretty much all day yesterday indoors. Only went out to cut stuff, and then back the the grindstone…
But a lot of stuff got done. Closed in walls that were open for plumbing. Disconnected the old copper- finally. We are fully on the new pex everywhere that is connected. I’ve still got 2 hose bibs to connect, but that’s it.
I’ve got some cleanup to do, and I’d like to get the berry bushes in the ground, even if I end up moving them later, but at least the plumbing made progress.
So I’ll do what I can this morning and then head home. School function tonight that I can’t miss, and an auction pickup on the way home (!not a collectible computer!…) so I can’t extend my mini-break another night.
Skipped the fire and radio last night in lieu of home cooked dinner and conversation. Meatspace, it’s what’s for dinner…
Stack what you can, especially relationships.
nick
Congratulations on getting away from the old copper pipe, Nick! I was dreading an announcement of a leak until now.
The windscreen of my car apparently developed a crack this morning – a hairline in the middle layer of the sandwich. Timing is awful, as the vehicle is due its two-yearly inspection on Thursday, and I suspect a cracked windscreen will not pass muster. Time to find out if the insurance covers a replacement. Grrr…
Germany shut their nukes last weekend and instantly became the second-dirtiest power producer in Europe:
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2023/04/the-daily-chart-germanys-energy-folly.php
But the real money chart is the one that shows the relationship between electricity cost and installed solar+wind generation capacity. For zero to 1000 watts per person, the price of electricity doubles from 0.15 Euros per kwh to 0.30. (R2=0.84)
Next time some green weinie says renewables are cheap, pull that chart out and ask what data they are looking at.
Tax Day!
“Additional Medicare Tax”. WTF?
I try not to get a large refund since it is a free loan to the Feds, but the extra contribution to Medicare and capital gains taxes selling Disney stock I’d held for more than a decade before DeSantis got started took us right up to the line.
Disney had a choice.
Don’t waste your time and breath. They don’t care about facts. Feelz and virtue signalling trump facts.
Renewables aren’t going to cut it to power the all-EV and AI future.
Next Summer in Texas will be when things get sporty.
Again, try to tell a Texan that they can’t plug in their Jesus Truck nightly.
Ha, ha. (Munoz voice):
Transgender activist whose threatening video went viral after Nashville shooting gets fired from US Forest Agency and blames Biden
Activate LSM to find out who ordered the firing! NOW!
Blames Biden? What? It’s Trump’s fault!
Pssst. Hey, Anheuser-Busch:
Old, now-deleted TikTok video exposes who Dylan Mulvaney REALLY is and what he’s up to (screenshot)
Gee, did you really think this guy is for real? It is so obvious. A-B deserves to be crushed for pandering.
I’ve seen the relatively recent German remake of “Tootsie”, which is much more believable. “Rublediekatz” starring Matthias Schweighofer of “Army of the Dead”/”Army of Thieves” fame in this country.
As I’ve noted before about the viewing experience, German chick flicks are … odd. In Germany, Schweighofer is noted for his work in the genre.
>> Don’t waste your time and breath. They don’t care about facts. Feelz and virtue signalling trump facts.
“Alternate Facts” ftw.
Unless you are in one of the 55 California counties granted a stay by the FEMA emergency declaration.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/taxes-due-tuesday-3-california-counties-17900158.php
Already filed mine though.
Here’s a site that ranks various weather forecasters as to their accuracy. For instance, for Katy, TX, the top-ranked accurate forecaster for Mark was WeatherUnderground. (here)
You can enter any location or zip code to see your area.
Scrambled thru my morning stuff. It was cool and overcast, then it started raining. That put an end to me working outside. Well, the clock put an end to that. I’m closing up and heading out.
Should be home by 330.
n
(in theory we only had a 20% chance of rain here. )
Rick’s DIY Law: “Every project requires at least three trips to the hardware store.”
Corollary: “The tool you need isn’t the one you have with you. And you can’t find it in your garage.”
“This NASA tech might just spur a major grid battery breakthrough”
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/batteries/this-nasa-tech-might-just-spur-a-major-grid-battery-breakthrough
“EnerVenue’s still got plenty to prove, but it already has a pipeline of orders and more than $100M in funding. A factory in Kentucky is on the way.”
I approve of trying all different types of batteries. My favorite is still the ultra capacitors, except when they discharge all at once.
“Government default in June is ‘a significant risk,’ two new estimates find”
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/government-default-in-june-is-a-significant-risk-two-new-estimates-find-153846615.html
Ah heck, why not go ahead and default. We are going to default in a few years anyway.
“Infographic: Electric Vehicles Need Imported Minerals”
https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/infographic-electric-vehicles-need-imported-minerals
“While many EVs may be designed and assembled in the U.S. (or other NAFTA countries), the degree to which they are “American made” is limited by the resources needed to produce them. According to data from the International Energy Agency, the average electric car contains 53.2 kg of copper and many kilograms of lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, graphite, and rare-earth minerals. All told, the IEA reported in 2022, a typical electric car requires an average of 207 kg of minerals for an entire vehicle, including batteries and motors.”
“According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey, those minerals are largely imported. Based on USGS figures, some 72 percent of the minerals (by weight) used in an electric vehicle must be imported, which means that no EV can be entirely “American made.” We’ve broken down the minerals by the degree they are imported and by the cost per vehicle.”
Not a good idea to import that much material from just one country.
“Yet another Big Blue City crime warning”
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2023/04/yet-another-big-blue-city-crime-warning.html
“It looks like feral youths are increasingly out of control in many left-wing-dominated (i.e. “blue”) large cities and towns. Just in the past week, we’ve seen these reports:
You had me at feral youth. Reminds me of the first Mad Max movie.
One guy I know is level-headed, informed, and reasonablephp on every topic I’ve discussed with him … except EVs. He’s a True Believer, hand-waving technology hurdles, poo-pooing objections, and questioning the intelligence or motivations of anyone who doesn’t join the bandwagon. The monomania baffles me considering his sensibility on everything else.
The moment the signs go up at The Smithsonian and Yellowstone, the Republicans will cave.
Yellowstone in particular seems to be a hot button issue with a lot of people for some reason. Maybe it is the advance planning and time required to road trip out there.
LOL! “REI closes flagship store in Oregon” is what you get when you go woke. I love and still go to REI. I’m a coop member and bought my belt-drive 8-speed there. The CEO should have been cashiered immediately after BLM wokeness was invoked.
D4 and I saw Mario today. I liked it, but would have liked it just as much on my home theater. The pre-show ads had an Amazon trans ad that was bizarre. A “boy” somewhere in its teens, dressing up in girls clothes, dancing in class, with lipstick and a just-growing-out mustache. It reminded me of “Suitcase” Sam Brinton wearing women’s clothes, lipstick, and mustache. It made my stomach turn. Too bizarre, for me. I don’t accept it.
>> Corollary: “The tool you need isn’t the one you have with you. And you can’t find it in your garage.”
I always try to pick the project that requires buying a new tool. Never can have enough tools.
I thought that was a awkward girl with hair issues in the commercial. The spot is on almost every night during the “Deep Space Nine” feed on H&I, but I’ll admit that’s usually when we’re locking up for the evening and wrangling the cat for her pill so I don’t pay attention.
The women in my grad school classes had a lot more hair issues.
“Renewable energy PPA prices continue to rise despite Inflation Reduction Act relief: LevelTen”
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/renewable-solar-wind-power-prices-rising-ira-ppa-demand/647892/
“The average cost of North American power purchase agreements, or PPAs, rose 6.6% during the first quarter of 2023 in the face of unrelenting demand for clean energy, according to a new report from LevelTen Energy.”
“Solar PPA prices are up 8.5% since the end of 2022. Wind prices rose 4.9% during the same time period after falling slightly in the fourth quarter of last year — a drop LevelTen hoped was a sign that the IRA had helped relieve market instability.”
“Despite the upward price trend, demand for renewable energy continues to outpace supply, said Rob Collier, vice president of Energy Marketplace at LevelTen Energy.”
Insane.
So when did he finally give up on the Amiga?
Hey, I remember her! I went to high school with her and a few of her relatives. I was jealous they had more of a ‘stache than I had at the time. They did not have chin whiskers or side burns. Just a little mustache. I figured it was some sort of Indian / Mexican thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc4OpiIkB64
But how can this be??? I was told that only innocent young black didn’t never do nuthin wrong give you the shirt off his back aspiring rap artist men were ever killed for going to the wrong place by mistake.
“The Broken Sword” by Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy
https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Sword-King-Arthur-Returns/dp/0812545133?tag=ttgnet-20/
Book number two of the three book Forever King fantasy series. I read the well printed and well bound MMPB published in 1998 by Tor that I bought used on Amazon. Unfortunately, this book and the following book in the series are out of print so there are only used books available. I have yet to decide if I am going to purchase and read the third book in the series, it was only written by Molly Cochran and is reputed to be not as good as the first two books.
Arthur, the High King of Britain, was killed in battle by Saxon invaders around 600 AD, the first time he died. His latest resurrection in the 20th century is as Arthur Blessing. At the age of thirteen, Arthur is being raised by Hal, the resurrected Galahad. And they are searching for Arthur’s aunt, Emily Blessing, who is roaming Europe to keep ahead of the assassins chasing them all.
The authors have websites at:
https://mollycochran.com/
http://warrenmurphy.com/
My rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (141 reviews)
>”I always try to pick the project that requires buying a new tool. Never can have enough tools. “
Wait, which thread does this address? Or is it kind of in transition?
>”in girls clothes, dancing in class, with lipstick and a just-growing-out mustache”
or
>”Corollary: “The tool you need isn’t the one you have with you.”
“Here Are the Electric Vehicles That Are Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/electric-vehicles-phevs-eligible-for-7500-dollar-federal-tax-credit
“Strict battery-sourcing requirements take effect on April 18 that cut the list of eligible fully electric vehicles down to just four brands. Here are the EVs and PHEVs that made the cut.”
“Elon Musk Says US Government Had Access To Private Twitter DMs”
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/elon-musk-says-us-government-had-access-private-twitter-dms
You have no privacy with the federal government in the USA. None.
We need an amendment guaranteeing us with privacy.
Tax Day!
“Additional Medicare Tax”. WTF?
I try not to get a large refund since it is a free loan to the Feds, but the extra contribution to Medicare and capital gains taxes selling Disney stock I’d held for more than a decade before DeSantis got started took us right up to the line.
You will pay your taxes and you will be happy.
“Dramatic Video Shows Large Mob Looting Compton Gas Station”
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/shocking-video-shows-large-mob-looting-compton-gas-station
Matt Bracken predicted this. “WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS: HOW AMERICA’S CITIES MAY EXPLODE IN VIOLENCE” by Matt Bracken
https://www.americanpartisan.org/2020/05/when-the-music-stops-how-americas-cities-may-explode-in-violence/
We are in Step One: Flash Mob looting.
The techs installed our new upstairs AC system today.
From the “Things that make you say, ‘Hmmm…’” files, about midway through the instlal, Oncor showed up to replace the “smart” power meter on the side of the house.
Also, the techs had to be told again that we were not accepting another Nexia thermostat and the new system had to work with the existing 4-wire Honeywell control or the installation wasn’t happening.
Home in time to shower and take d2 to her recital/concert. Stopped at the northernmost reStore since it was on my way. Lots of iron work – gates, railings. Lots of doors but none that fit my requirements. Lots of recycle kitchen cabinets. One whole house generator, but only 75Amps. Transfer switch was 200A, so why the limited genny?
Mysteries abound.
no tile for my bathrooms.
Now to get my ear pro off the charger, ready for a first year trombone recital.
n
Home in time to shower and take d2 to her recital/concert. Stopped at the northernmost reStore since it was on my way. Lots of iron work – gates, railings. Lots of doors but none that fit my requirements. Lots of recycle kitchen cabinets. One whole house generator, but only 75Amps. Transfer switch was 200A, so why the limited genny?
My transfer switch is 200 amps and made by Siemens. My generator can make 158 amps at max on natural gas. I suspect that the 200 amp transfer switch is a commonly used size.
From the “Things that make you say, ‘Hmmm…’” files, about midway through the instlal, Oncor showed up to replace the “smart” power meter on the side of the house.
Odd. Those smart power meters should be good for 30 to 40 years unless something fried it.
They thought it was defective since it failed to surveil/control his thermostat. Turns out, he wasn’t using their thermostat, so the meter was probably functioning ok.
The hardware might be good for that long, but the software will get tougher to maintain and keep up with evolving crypto standards.
“Netflix Shuttering Its Original DVD-By-Mail Business In End Of Era”
https://deadline.com/2023/04/netflix-to-shutter-original-dvd-by-mail-business-1235329844/
Yup, end of an era.
The hardware might be good for that long, but the software will get tougher to maintain and keep up with evolving crypto standards.
Typically, they should be able to load an updated operating system with new crypto. Unless, the new crypto requires a hardware chip.
The Best Buy near the house doesn’t have movies in stock. The New Releases rack at the front of the store only has video games.
I just rented “Cocaine Bear” from the Redbox at Walgreens.
>”My transfer switch is 200 amps and made by Siemens. My generator can make 158 amps at max on natural gas. I suspect that the 200 amp transfer switch is a commonly used size.”
Doesn’t the transfer switch have to handle the full main breaker load from the grid? Are your main breakers less than 200 amps?
>”My transfer switch is 200 amps and made by Siemens. My generator can make 158 amps at max on natural gas. I suspect that the 200 amp transfer switch is a commonly used size.”
Doesn’t the transfer switch have to handle the full main breaker load from the grid? Are your main breakers less than 200 amps?
Yes, the main breakers are 200 amps each. Yes, the transfer switch has to handle those 200 amps. Yup, you are correct, I did not think that through.
Yannno, I thought I would recognize the Main Title theme from the original Star Wars anywhere. I was wrong.
And I know there were no bagpipes on stage, yet there was a sound very much like the drone…
But the kids did better than expected, and the advanced group sounded pretty good. They did the opening theme from the first Harry Potter, and other than fluffing the weird sliding note change, it sounded great.
Didn’t need my hearing pro after all.
🙂
n
>> “Here Are the Electric Vehicles That Are Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit”
Don’t go looking for a Chevy Bolt thinking you’ll (almost) be breaking the elusive $25k barrier (before the fed rebate). The base MSRP is $26,500 but either the dealer has single-digit allocations and/or packs on $5K of ADM. And base models with no option packages seem to be as elusive as base Mavericks. It will be interesting to see if/when Tony drops in the Model C (compact) and if it really is $24,999 or maybe better if we just wait for our skateboards?
>> I just rented “Cocaine Bear” from the Redbox at Walgreens.
We anxiously await your review!
>> And I know there were no bagpipes on stage, yet there was a sound very much like the drone…
Uncredited remote appearance by @Jenny and her pipes. 😉
>> “Netflix Shuttering Its Original DVD-By-Mail Business In End Of Era”
What? No, wait, my wife still had “Staying Alive” in her queue…starring Travolta and directed by Stallone…zero % on RT!
>> Also, the techs had to be told again that we were not accepting another Nexia thermostat and the new system had to work with the existing 4-wire Honeywell control or the installation wasn’t happening.
@Greg, did they comply?
Saw the movie Renfield two nights in a row.
Gory but really funny and darn good chemistry. Last night alone as an escape from responsibility. Tonight to drag my husband out for a date night after a good but stressful day. Good guys won, bad guys suffer, and everything works out in the end. Call it comic horror. Theater was packed as it was $5 night. The howls of laughter thru the film made it even more fun.
I generally dislike gore. This was so graphic novel like in its gore that it worked. If you found humor in the bodies falling like rain bit in Guardians of the Galaxy, this is of a similar vibe.
Anyway. My belly hurts from laughing.
@MrAtoZ
pre-show ads had an Amazon trans ad that was bizarre
Yeah, that showed before our movie also. I thought it was gross and it disturbed me. I don’t even know what was being advertised.
@nick
Glad you got to the concert. It sounds mildly painful but fun. I wonder if things would have different for my sister if our folks had gone to her trumpet concert stuff or her softball games.
what you’re doing is good parenting and your daughters will grow to appreciate it.
>> My trans
ferswitch is 200 amps and made by Siemens.FIFY ???
Okay, yes, up too late and have to be up decently early tomorrow for PT.
So…good night all…except guten morgen to @brad.
Guten Morgen!
Good morning! Brad and I are in the same timezone…
Have to meet for a beer someday 🙂