Hot and humid, little chance of rain. The window thermometer in the kitchen read 112F yesterday afternoon. The sensor is always in the shade. I’m inclined to believe it. Holy Moly it was hot. REALLY hoping today isn’t as hot.
Did get some stuff done yesterday. Took the rebar to the scrap man. 442 pounds at 5c/lb netted me little over $21. Better than nothing and it had to leave the BOL some way anyway. Still, that’s a bit more than half of what steel was bringing just a few months ago. Would not have been worth making the effort if the effort was much more. Two cut off blades were used… a third would have broken the bank.
Did a quick pickup and stopped at the Habitat reStore on the south side of town. Their prices have gone WAY up, and their stock has gone way down. This store used to always have tile, doors, and paint, as well as new cabinets. They have only a few of those items now. I’m still looking for doors for the BOL, and not finding any deals. I want to try the reStore that’s north of Houston again because they always have used cabinets, and some doors. I want some cabinets for the laundry area at the BOL, and the key to buying used is to keep checking for new arrivals. I might get to there today since I’ll be on the north side of town anyway.
Or I might not. I still have to get the tire I found half inflated checked and repaired. I still need to go to HEB for the stuff I buy there. I still need to hit Lowe’s for the electrical stuff I need, and I still have a couple of other things to do at the house too, before heading back to the BOL. The net-net on all that is I’ll probably head up on Wednesday.
Some of the Costco run, and part of the HEB groceries will be added to the BOL stacks. There is always something to be added, or refreshed. Your own stacks are probably the same, so give them some love this week… Stack it up.
nick
Surprised you don’t have some self-vulcanising tyre repair plugs and their installation tools in the stacks. It’s a pretty easy repair, and can in a pinch even be done without removing the wheel from the vehicle. I had a flat on a Sunday some weeks ago, and having the gear saved me a lot of inconvenience on a day when the professionals were off work. Also saved a decent amount of money.
Same posting pseudonym on Reddit?
Our troll friend will be idle through the end of August. The 29th?
Supply chain issues still?
I have been looking for an interior louvered door, currently they start at about $300 for the size I want, for just a slab, and are out of stock.
Considering just adding a vent to the existing door, but the units I see are less than 1sf, which is my minimum desired area.
@CowboyStu: Let me know about the Indian Wells thing, I am almost done with house/cat/dog sitting duties here.
@denis, I have the plugs and tool,etc but prefer the patches from inside. My tire guy charges between $10 and $20 depending on the effort involved and how bad the hole is. Since it wasn’t critical (the spare was good, even the removed tire would probably have made it home if the spare blew), I decided to bring it to my guy. The plug kits are ESSENTIAL hurricane preps. After the hurricane there are roofing nails everywhere. I’ve got mounted spares for the Expy beyond what the truck normally has.
84F and rising on this partly sunny day.
Breakfast is down the hatch, coffee is about half gone, and here I am, bright eyed and bushy tailed…
n
Busting tires is easy with the proper tools, which can be carried in a car if desired. It does take practice, but alloy rims are naturally slippery, even though they are painted.
That said, I only carry plugs on trips. I do a proper breakdown and inside patch with liner sealant when I get home. Never had any patch or plug fail.
Nails of all kinds are now less common than screws in my experience. Screws leak; nails and staples often don’t.
During driving off road mant times in the Mojave Desert and Death Valley I have had several tire failures on my 4WDs. I carry a full size spare tire, a can of sealant, a 12 volt DC air compressor and all the needed tools. Always got home safely.
A “spare spare” is also a good idea. So is your satellite phone.
Amazon Prime.
Signed up for 7 days for $1.99.
Ordered a 2TB SSD drive for $109.00, about half price.
Ordered another Echo device with a clock for $29.00, about half price.
Ordered a Lexar SDXC memory card for the camera, 128 Gig, about half price. Really high speed with additional contacts. My camera can shoot at 15 FPS for 15 seconds without pausing.
Ordered two cases for the external SSDs (the one I bought, plus the other that I already have 1 TB), normal price.
All will arrive on Thursday. At which point I will cancel my Amazon Prime. The $2.00 for the trial more than compensates for the savings.
I just bought some “Hedera Coin”. A crypto based on the same company’s ledger tech. I’ve been watching them for some time.
A basic Android device with GPS and OsmAnd installed along with pre-cached maps is also a good investment.
GPS on my iPhone was completely blacked out for about 20 minutes in the Bellevue section of Nashville Sunday morning, and I depended on my Android tablet to find the Interstate after I went exploring for guava pastries at a Publix further off the freeway that the first one I hit.
I’m not sure what happened with GPS on my iPhone. It may have been the weird USB port VW makes available. The 12 V port needs a fuse, and I was unable to use my car charger.
I ordered from Amazon yesterday, and got a month of free Prime. This time, it made a difference in shipping time.
Surprised you don’t have some self-vulcanising tyre repair plugs and their installation tools in the stacks. It’s a pretty easy repair, and can in a pinch even be done without removing the wheel from the vehicle. I had a flat on a Sunday some weeks ago, and having the gear saved me a lot of inconvenience on a day when the professionals were off work. Also saved a decent amount of money.
I have used the self vulcanizing tire kit both successfully and unsuccessfully. And if I used it now, I would probably replace the tire when convenient. I did drive on a tire that I fixed using the following kit for several thousand miles without an issue.
https://www.amazon.com/HolaKit-Compact-T-Handle-Puncture-Motorcycle/dp/B0B3W4MQGZ?tag=ttgnet-20/
A “spare spare” is also a good idea. So is your satellite phone.
My son was in the Mojave desert back in 2005 or so and the driver / navigator drove into a 30 foot deep ravine at 3 am in the morning. They were the lead humvee in a Marine convoy. They shredded all four tires and ripped the transfer case out of the vehicle. Luckily, the 7 ton truck following them managed to turn and did not follow them but his 20 ? 30 ? ton trailer went end of end after them with 4,000 ??? mortar rounds in it. All Marine vehicles have runflats so they winched the humvee and trailer out of the ravine and towed them with the 7 ton trucks. Then they picked up the mortar rounds and water bottles out of the ravine by hand.
With wait times only slightly reduced, I”m not sure “almost empty” applies, but people are feeling the crunch at the grocery store… while the resorts are raising prices and cutting amenities?
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/where-everyone-disney-world-just-about-empty
n
“Texas power demand to hit record highs again as heat bakes state”
https://news.yahoo.com/texas-power-demand-hit-record-120624815.html
“After setting 11 peak demand records last summer, ERCOT forecast usage would break the current all-time high of 80,828 megawatts (MW) on June 27 four times over the next two weeks – hitting 82,362 MW on Tuesday, 82,732 MW on Thursday, 83,843 MW on July 17 and 84,135 MW on July 18.”
We will see. Most air conditioning systems do not ever turn off above 100 F, they are maxxed out at that point. That is for both residential and commercial systems.
Hat tip to:
https://www.drudgereport.com/
I asked on the CU’s website “How do I close my account?” They sent an e-mail yesterday that basically said “call us”. So I did. Gave name, address, last four of SS. He sent an e-mail with a password and a link. Enter password, “sign” the form and hit send.
Done. He has to get approval from someone in a meeting because my balance is over $3000. They are going to mail a cashier’s check.
I was expecting the Spanish Inquisition.
Then I deposit that with my tracking device and do the Treasury thing. The sweet spot appears to be 26 weeks.
“SpaceX Starlink Satellites Have to Dodge Objects in Orbit Nearly 140 Times Every Day”
https://gizmodo.com/spacex-starlink-satellites-dodge-137-objects-daily-1850616506
“Starlink satellites executed 25,000 avoidance maneuvers over a recent six-month period—an orbital situation that’s set to become even more challenging.”
“It’s getting awfully crowded in low Earth orbit with more than 4,000 Starlink satellites currently in orbit and thousands more that will soon make their way up there. SpaceX’s internet satellites often stand in the way of orbiting spacecraft, defunct satellites, or space junk, racking up 50,000 potentially dangerous approaches over the past four years.”
Wow !
“Texas A&M recruited a UT professor to revive its journalism program, then watered down the offer after “DEI hysteria””
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/11/texas-a-m-kathleen-mcelroy-journalism/
“The university celebrated its decision to hire Kathleen McElroy to revive its journalism program. She says she’s staying at UT after she felt judged because of her race and gender.”
Looks like my alma mater made a good decision.
Don’t forget Genie+ and Lightning Lane passes.
My in-laws are dropping $100 each on passes when they go to the parks, and that’s after my mother-in-law signs them in for free.
I heard two families comparing $200-300 daily tabs on Genie+ in the lobby of the Coronado Springs back in March. Granted, Spring Break, but, still, that’s pretty steep added on top of admission, and the Tron coaster wasn’t running full time yet.
The Mouse has two years to figure it out. Super Mario is coming, and he’s bringing his friend, Donkey Kong.
My 4 ton heat pump cycles. Last month’s electric bill was $107 for 879 kWh.
The “new” double pane double hung low-e argon gas windows made a big difference. The off-white metal roof, attached to 1×4 slats with R-6 or R-7 foam board between the 1x4s made a big difference.
Before the windows and the roof, an electric bill pushing $300 was normal. So, yeah, the folks saying “replacing your windows is a waste of money” are full of digested food. The windows cost $3800 in 2014 and then Jeff installed them for I forget what. Round it up to $6000 with extra materials and labor. I bought a sweet little 4″ circular saw that he used to cut the siding around the old windows. Pull the old and the new windows were for “new construction”. Sealed in and 1×4 Hardiboard for trim. Looks nice. NO drafts. Round it out and say I’ve saved $80 a month on the electric bill with just the windows. That’s what I figured, the new roof happened a couple/three years later. Six years to break even.
If we get enough stuff in orbit, Earth can have pretty rings like Saturn.
Step one of the marketing campaign, Super Mario’s movie, is out on home video.
My wife said the flick was so-so but the writers didn’t screw it up. Plus, it was only 90 minutes, including credits.
You could have added solar panels and stretched that break-even point to about 327 years. Then pat yourself on the back for being a greenie.
I still want to put up a solar roof with a handful of big battery packs. Saving money isn’t the goal. Independence from grid failures caused by storms, economics, or deliberate action by government or other terrorists.
On my brand new metal roof? No way. Nothing on the roof. Ever. Other than a random cat wandering around.
The DirecTV HD garbage dish was moved to a pole. Before I told them to go away.
I don’t care about being a greenie. I care about making that old buffalo nickle bellow.
I really need to use the sarcasm tag.
Averaging 9 cents per kWhr, nice. Baseline here is 16.1, jumping to 25.5 for tier 2 somewhere in the mid 300kWhr area.
>> I was expecting the Spanish Inquisition.
https://youtu.be/Cj8n4MfhjUc
My 4 ton heat pump cycles. Last month’s electric bill was $107 for 879 kWh.
You are oversized with your new windows. I have a 3 ton and a 4 ton at the 3321 ft2 one story house, I am oversized too. But my a/c keeps the house at 72 F until 106 F. Maybe more.
My dad found out the problem with his new generator at his 3 phase house. The installer wired the generator correctly but the house is backwards. So, he got 230 volts on his 120 volt circuits. He now has a new clothes washer and two dead a/c units. Several of his bulbs blew too.
None of these emails proves this particular hypothesis. What they do prove is that people who insisted that the virus came from an animal were determined to make that case and suppress other theories for their own purposes, and knew that nothing backed up their assertions.
In other words, they lied and smeared the reputation of other scientists. This is, it seems, how they view avoiding “harm to science.”
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2023/07/11/the-evidence-keeps-piling-up-on-covid-n563851
Getting closer to canceling Fauci’s pension and putting him in prison.
If he wants to suddenly identify as a woman to get a safer cell, they will have to have a lottery for all the people that suddenly identify as gender-changing surgeons.
https://www.masterresource.org/krebs-mark/energy-appliance-victory-dc-circuit/?fbclid=IwAR1z2JXvJ_WHbxh6NdRS6QsyK9KBGE-VsxGbghJPtIAEPWXPsY2UjlBXPSA
As I’ve pointed out before:
–a $2000 refrigerator with a compressor that runs all the time to be “efficient” and is unrepairable when it fails prematurely does not make economic sense
–replacing safe refrigerants with explosive compounds is already killing people and endangering firefighters, and likewise makes no economic sense without rigged computer modeling
Got my tire fixed. $12 for the interior patch. And they put it back on the truck.
I live a charmed life. I know this, but sometimes even I get freaked out by it. Walked into the northern Habitat reStore and found a metal staircase that looks like it’s a very nearly perfect replacement for the BOL patio stairs. I ordered the trailer I’ll need to get it tomorrow, if no one buys it before I can get back there. They only hold for 2 hours. You have to take it when you pay. So I held it thru the end of the day today, and I have to just hope I can get the trailer and get back up there to get it before someone else does tomorrow. I expect to have to do mods and accommodations to get it to fit, but it’s a 90% solution right off the bat. Absolutely nuts. What are the odds?
I didn ‘t get to the grocery store or Lowes though, so that will push a bit. Gotta jump when the universe says jump.
n
“Elon Musk’s 75-Year-Old Mother Says She Sleeps on ‘Mattresses Or Blankets On The Floor Or In The Garage’ When She Visits Her Son — The Richest Man In The World”
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musks-75-old-mother-150110379.html
“Maye Musk also mentioned that her other two children, Kimbal and Tosca, have encountered similar situations. “We adapt. It’s still better than sleeping on the ground in the Kalahari Desert with lions or hyenas nearby, which I did as a child,” she said.”
Hey Ma, it is gonna rain tonight, don’t forget the tarp !
The State of Texas places rebuilding restrictions on the houses in Boca Chica Colony, which I believe is part of the state park, with property owners of private parcels grandfathered into some kind of cooperative arrangement for right of way.
Before Musk char broiled the area, the ecosystem was phenomenal and still mostly wild. Lots of quiet money like the fishing shacks off the SW Florida in Pine Island Sound. “Jus’ plain folk” have never lived out there even though the structures are modest.
Musk and Tattoo Woman also have a big house in the Westlake area of Austin according to my plumber, who is the go to guy for gas light fixtures which are all the rage out on Lake Travis.
Yup, there’s another ‘conspiracy theory’ found to be true.
n
Science + Politics = Politics
Medicine + Politics = Politics
Art + Politics = Politics
Are we seeing a pattern?
Yeah, China. Trump tho.
I totally forgot this weekend that Tennessee makes Invermectin available at pharmacist’s discretion, without a doctor’s prescription.
Publix would dispense it.
@Lynn
“The installer wired the generator correctly but the house is backwards.”
The house passed code inspection, the installer assumed, and nobody’s to blame, so your dad gets to write the check?
“Yeah, China. Trump tho.”
Dong sooey chow.
@Lynn
“The installer wired the generator correctly but the house is backwards.”
The house passed code inspection, the installer assumed, and nobody’s to blame, so your dad gets to write the check?
The house was built in 1961 (the foundation was poured one week before Hurricane Carla, and then another two feet added after Carla). I doubt that there was an inspection. The installer was suppose to check the phases but he did not. So Generator Supercenter of Victoria is buying new stuff for the ‘rents.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2023/07/10/telegraph-how-central-bankers-got-it-spectacularly-wrong-on-net-zero-inflation/
Let’s just break this down:
1. How could otherwise smart people get the inflationary impact of renewable energy so wrong, when it is obvious to anyone with basic scientific training that renewables are not fit for purpose?
a) Short Answer: They’re not smart.
b) Longer Answer: They’re in a position where they are used to being stroked and have come to believe that this means they are smart. This is the same group that told us not to worry about the inflationary consequences of printing money. Two centuries ago this type believed they could jigger the mess accounts to hide the imbalances, and ended up ruining the library carpet.
2. There is only one explanation which makes sense. They don’t personally understand the science, and they are getting bad advice.
Smart people would recognize the double fail and move to correct. Smart people would realize that they need to understand the science to prevent future failure. Ever heard of a banker that passed thermo? Not Smart for $1 Trillion, Alex.
What does “getting bad advice” mean? Does this mean that they never recognize that they are getting bad advice, and make corrections? Probability is vanishingly small.
The most likely answer? They know they are pissing in our faces and calling it rain: there is no way green energy works. The Masters think they can get away with it and never have to reap the whirlwind if they can break technology, starve the population, and create a Serf Class kept in line by a Stazi Class. The fourth Class is the Trusted Advisors. There’s just the four–dead isn’t a class.
“Generator Supercenter of Victoria is buying new stuff for the ‘rents.”
Good.
@SteveF
“Are we seeing a pattern?”
Like an abandoned diaper floating in a public pool.
Cherry crop was bad last year. “Sale” price was $5.99 on $8.99 regular. This year regular price is $5.99, but they’ve always been a dollar off with a lot of $2.99 sale. Saw $1.99 today and bought another 2#.
Been eating a lot of cherries and strawberries this year, along with a lot of salads. To be fair (to be fair…to be fair…) cookie consumption is also up, as is coffee (+ iced). Beer may be down slightly.
BP 116/75 this week. Hydrated weight seems to be steady.
Brother of a friend was out of town last week and fell–couldn’t get up. EMT’s hooked him up and the remote doc ordered airlift to the premiere cardiac facility in the state. Recovering alcoholic, grad of Quad Bypass University. now with an advance degree in Inoperable Aortic Aneurysm. Timeline is days.
(Engineering Time Estimation: Calculate time required to do job. Double it. Round to next largest unit. 8 hours>16 hours>16 days.)
“Days” does not round up very goodly at all.
Wish I could take up running again. To many hard surface impacts made me quit last time, and I’m still walking so it must have been in time. Maybe time to look for property on a golf course.
I’d like to have everything wear out at once. Timing is everything.
A family friend that bought into the running craze when it started, and continued too long, is all crippled up now with a lot of replacement joints. Too much exercise is as bad as too little.
@drwilliams, I’m sorry to hear about your friend. I’ve had a couple with similar circumstances and it’s always a tragedy. “Days” at least gives you some time to close some books.
———-
Still pretty warm outside. Headed to bed early. I”m going to try for an ‘out and back’ tomorrow with the staircase. Drive to the BOL, unload, drive home. I didn’t get the electrical stuff I needed from Lowes to just stay up there and the trailer rental needs to be terminated. I’ve done the similar drive to Austin and back routinely in the past. Shouldn’t be a problem. Still won’t be ‘fun’.
n
@Nick
Have a smooth ride.
>> As I’ve pointed out before:
–a $2000 refrigerator with a compressor that runs all the time to be “efficient” and is unrepairable when it fails prematurely does not make economic sense
–replacing safe refrigerants with explosive compounds is already killing people and endangering firefighters, and likewise makes no economic sense without rigged computer modeling
No sense? See below…
SteveF says:
11 July 2023 at 21:21
Science + Politics = Politics
Medicine + Politics = Politics
Art + Politics = Politics
Are we seeing a pattern?