Sun. Nov. 12, 2023 – at the BOL, for a while at least…

By on November 12th, 2023 in culture, decline and fall, lakehouse, march to war

Cool, bordering on cold. Hopefully not any rain, but it is forecast for some. It was 57F at midnight and damp.

Had my non-prepping hobby meeting on Sat. Sold the stuff I wanted to sell. Got volunteered for the Christmas party committee. Not much work and it’s a fun day. Meatspace.

Today I’ll finish unloading and putting away. Then if the weather holds, and the ground isn’t too wet, I’ll mow, treat for fire ants, and head home. The freeway is supposed to be closed all day so I’ll get to try an alternate route. Joy.

Still, it’s good practice.

I’ll be stacking the things I brought up. Stack something of your own.

nick

38 Comments and discussion on "Sun. Nov. 12, 2023 – at the BOL, for a while at least…"

  1. SteveF says:

    The freeway is supposed to be closed all day so I’ll get to try an alternate route. Joy.

    Still, it’s good practice.

    Try getting somewhere without anyone seeing you. That’s what you should be practicing. Expect for it to take longer than usual to get anywhere.

  2. Greg Norton says:

    And some excitement in Austin…

    https://nypost.com/2023/11/11/news/four-dead-in-austin-texas-hostage-situation/

    Don’t worry – the Interim Chief of Police is on the job.

    I can’t remember a time since we’ve moved here that Austin had a permanent police chief for more than a few months. Something inevitably goes awry and the Mayor/Council always need someone to blame.

    The Post is fudging the location of the event, which is actually in the suburbs to the far south, which should be “safe”.

    https://www.fox7austin.com/news/austin-police-officer-shot-killed-another-injured

  3. Greg Norton says:

    Today I’ll finish unloading and putting away. Then if the weather holds, and the ground isn’t too wet, I’ll mow, treat for fire ants, and head home. The freeway is supposed to be closed all day so I’ll get to try an alternate route. Joy.

    Still, it’s good practice.

    Driving from OScare International to Spring Green, WI last Saturday afternoon, the map program, Waze, had us do the route just using surface streets, no freeway.

    Waze has been weird lately, but it made for a long trip, especiallly with the rental car’s nanny features complaining about speed limits the whole way up

    We had an upgrade at the rental counter to a BMW X5, the true Exploder worthy of the title.

    Glitches with the car included a hesitation to engage reverse and the passenger front side door refusing to open without several tries after sitting outside in freezing overnight temperatures.

    Things that make you say “Hmmm….” — I saw very few Tesla charging stations, even in Milwaukee or Madison.

  4. Greg Norton says:

    Lost in all of the excitement last week was the release of Fedora 39.

    If you run Fedora, this is an important release to prep your system ahead of Fedora 40, which will be used as the basis for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 releases as well as any of the clones which still attempt to track RHEL.

    I use Fedora 39 on my road laptop, and I was able to complete the upgrade on a hotel WiFi early one morning before anyone else in the building was awake.

    The new release is very smooth.

  5. lynn says:

    Just had an adventure with our opener. The door wasn’t closing all the way, so I had a look. It had one of those interfaces: Tiny display and three buttons that you press, to program a zillion different menus. To get to various options, you press the button a certain number of times, or hold them for certain numbers of seconds. Gack.

    I need to go back and have another look – I saw a WiFi symbol in one of the menus. If one could do this via a web-page it would be easier. Of course, entering network settings with those buttons will be really exciting…

    I am still trying to figure out why my garage door opener, refrigerator, and F-150 need to be connected to the internet.  Sounds perfect for the rise of Skynet.

    My dad religiously connects everything to the internet.  He counted over 150 devices the other day.  I suspect that his oven will try to kill him now by undercooking the turkey.

    11
  6. lynn says:

    58 F here on the West side of the Brazos River.  Should stay cold all day.

    We get to drive on the new 100 foot of driveway today.  I have been parking in the front ditch.  The wife has been parking on the neighbors back third driveway.

  7. lynn says:

    Check your new garage door opener to see if it takes voice input.  Dad’s microwave takes voice input.  So does his oven through the Amazon cone.  It also says “I love you” to him every time he talks to it.  Yes, creepy, very creepy to hear that.

  8. SteveF says:

    I am still trying to figure out why my garage door opener, refrigerator, and F-150 need to be connected to the internet.  Sounds perfect for the rise of Skynet.

    I’m more concerned about human malfeasance than about cybernetic malice.

    I’m sure it’s not universal, but there’s a stereotype that those who understand the “internet of things” technology, and who are not obedient little libtards, have fewer smart or connected devices than the average American.

  9. Ray Thompson says:

    Some days you feel like the turd that does make it down on the first flush.

  10. Ray Thompson says:

    that does NOT make it down

  11. Greg Norton says:

    I am still trying to figure out why my garage door opener, refrigerator, and F-150 need to be connected to the internet.  Sounds perfect for the rise of Skynet.

    All of the vehicle manufacturers put cellular modems in their products, capable of “phoning home” without your knowledge 24/7 unless the battery is disconnected. You signed a piece of paper agreeing to this if you bought the vehicle new or through whatever Ford calls their certified used program these days.

  12. lynn says:

    All of the vehicle manufacturers put cellular modems in their products, capable of “phoning home” without your knowledge 24/7 unless the battery is disconnected. You signed a piece of paper agreeing to this if you bought the vehicle new or through whatever Ford calls their certified used program these days.

    My F-150 has a 3G modem plus wifi modem in it.  The 3G network was shut down in 2022 so that is gone.

    I am now wondering when 4G gets shut down.

  13. MrAtoz says:

    My F-150 has a 3G modem plus wifi modem in it.  The 3G network was shut down in 2022 so that is gone.

    I am now wondering when 4G gets shut down.

    Last year, Subaru killed its 3G network. Whatever modem is in my 2018 Outback, it works on 4G, so Subaru’s “Starlink” system still works. I guess they planned ahead. I have a paid account, so I can remotely find and unlock my Subie. No remote start on my model.

  14. Nick Flandrey says:

    Slept in despite the best efforts of my phone alarm, which I forgot to shut off.  60F with a light overcast.   Dog wants to play fetch while I eat my breakfast.  He thinks I”m lazy because there isn’t a long hallway or clear space to really throw the ball down, like at home.  It only goes about 10 ft.

    Hardly worth chasing in his opinion.

    n

  15. Ray Thompson says:

    My F-150 has a 3G modem plus wifi modem in it.

    MY F-150 has nothing, 2014 model, last of the steel beds. Well, it does have XM and navigation but neither of those transmit. In spite of what the CSI and FBI shows imply.

  16. ITGuy1998 says:

    https://www.foxnews.com/sports/texas-am-expected-to-fire-jimbo-fisher-nearly-6-seasons

    76 million buyout. College is not worth the price most people pay.

  17. dkreck says:

    Nights have been falling to the mid 40s. Not that the house was cold but we had the fireplace(gas logs) on low last night at my daughter’s request. This morning wife complained the house was chilly (not really) so switched the a/c to heat and let it push inside up 2 degrees to 73. Put electric blanket on bed on Friday but not needed. Already shorts and t-shirt time at 10am going up to to predicted 79 today. Winter is not here but keeps the troops happy.

  18. Ray Thompson says:

    I keep my house at 70F during the winter. At night the thermostat drops to 60F. It will start the furnace going early enough to reach the target 70F by 07:30. Usually it is within a couple of minutes of meeting that goal.

    If my house is 70F at 22:00 when I go to bed, and the outside temperature drops to 32F, the house will never get below 65F.

    I enjoy the smart thermostat. Even if it does phone home. The electric, or gas company, do not have control of the device, yet.

  19. Lynn says:

    https://www.foxnews.com/sports/texas-am-expected-to-fire-jimbo-fisher-nearly-6-seasons

    76 million buyout. College is not worth the price most people pay.

    Gonna be almost totally donor money.  There used to be a Tank McNamara comic that had the fans in the stands passing around a credit card machine to fire the coach.  There are at least two billionaires in the TAMU former students …

    Just wait until the new hire gets $12 million per year with a ten year contract and the team goes 3 and 10.

  20. Nick Flandrey says:

    Got the truck and trailer unloaded and put away.   Decided to bring the curbside carpet I picked up for my Halloween display up here and pressure wash it.    Right now it’s just hanging to dry.  I’ll wash it another day. 

    As soon as I finish lunch, I’ll try to cut the grass in the front yard.  It’s relatively flat and smooth, and needs it the most.   Soil is too wet to be cutting the hill.

    n

  21. Greg Norton says:

    Just wait until the new hire gets $12 million per year with a ten year contract and the team goes 3 and 10.
     

    They are still tallying the damage in Tallhassee from Jimbo’s tenure.

    No one decent will want the gig lest they end up like Willie Taggert. Tom Herman already made a trip to College Station at the end of last season and passed in favor of career rehab in Boca … replacing Willie Taggert!

  22. RickH says:

    Here’s hoping @Jenny and her rabbits are safe:

    Parts of Alaska declared a snow emergency and broke some longtime snowfall records after nearly 20 inches fell in two days, causing power outages and work, school and public transportation closures.

    The National Weather Service said 17 inches fell at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Wednesday and Thursday and upwards of 30 inches fell on the outskirts of town. Since the beginning of November, 28.6 inches of snow have fallen in Anchorage and other parts of southcentral Alaska.

    Forecasters said the unprecedented snowfall makes it the sixth snowiest November on record for Anchorage.

    Link here, among other places.

  23. Greg Norton says:

    My F-150 has a 3G modem plus wifi modem in it.  The 3G network was shut down in 2022 so that is gone.

    I am now wondering when 4G gets shut down.
     

    If the truck has a WiFi transceiver, a firmware upgrade will put the vehicle on 5G using unlicensed spectrum if available.

    Of course, that’s assuming Tommy Boy has anyone left on the payroll capable of writing the code.

  24. paul says:
    If the truck has a WiFi transceiver, a firmware upgrade will put the vehicle on 5G using unlicensed spectrum if available.

    I suppose so, if the radio can go to 5G freqs.  Thing is, they’ll have to sneak it in with some kind of factory recall.

    I’m not going to play that again.  My Dodge Stratus with the DOHC 2.4 liter engine had a few recalls.  For pollution stuff.  Yeah, nice, I went from 34 mpg on the highway from Burnet to Plano to 27.

    I don’t know how it works with Nissan.  The truck has GPS for location on the built-in maps but that’s just a receiver.  Sirius Radio (that I don’t use, I don’t drive enough to “need” it) I suppose can transmit somehow from the little shark fin on the roof.  I can bluetooth the phone to the radio and  might do that someday for squirts and giggles.   I don’t think it has any kind of wi-fi, my phone doesn’t see any.

  25. Lynn says:

    I got to drive on the new 100 foot by 12 foot entrance to my driveway tonight.  I love it !  First time since last Tuesday.  Well worth the money.   No longer do I have to climb or drop eight inches in two feet at the entrance.  And no four inch elevation change in the broken panels.

  26. Greg Norton says:

    @Lynn – I had cr*p Internet access all day today.

    Cue the Hoff.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9gb30mGe4k

    The crazy thing is that WV is running out of patience with Neal Brown, but Jimbo has the exact same record this year. The only upside to hiring Jimbo would be the TAMU alumni picking up the tab for the rest of his contract term so a rebuilding in Morgantown would be done on the cheap.

    So what changed this weekend? I thought TAMU stomped someone. I don’t keep up.

  27. Greg Norton says:

    So what changed this weekend? I thought TAMU stomped someone. I don’t keep up.

    Coach Prime gets the press, but Texas State has used the transfer portal to compile a better record, including stunning Baylor and effectively ending their season on opening weekend in Waco.

    That point can’t be lost on the TAMU alumni. Who wants to play for Jimbo at this point?

  28. Nick Flandrey says:

    Home safe.  Only a little rain, and the freeway was open after all.   One accident on the freeway, ambulance and several fire trucks.  I was behind one truck as they responded, for about 5 miles.   Long drive on the freeway for responding FD.

    n

  29. SteveF says:

    Some images I made which you may enjoy. Or may not. In fact, I don’t want you to enjoy them, per se. I want them to make you think deep thoughts.

    https://coldfury.com/2023/11/12/images-with-words-post/

    https://www.dailypundit.com/dailypundit.wordpress/2023/11/12/images-with-words-post/

  30. Alan says:

    My LEAF pops up some message every so often about transmitting data back to Nissan. I keep pressing NO, but really I figure in this situation Yes means Yes and No means Yes. As it is said, you can run, but you can’t hide. 

  31. Nick Flandrey says:

    Five US Army special forces troops are killed as MH-60 Black Hawk crashes off the coast of Cyprus: Elite soldiers stationed to region after Hamas terror atrocities in Israel 

     

    The MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was on a refueling training mission when it crashed off the coast of Cyprus late Friday, officials said. The Pentagon has dispatched commando teams – including Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 –  to the region to stand-by for hostage rescues in the Gaza Strip. Cyprus is around 150 miles from Israel. The helicopter was from the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment – the Night Stalkers – which ferries commando forces on secret raids. ‘Out of respect for the affected families, and in accordance with Department of Defense policy, the identities of the crewmembers are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notifications have been completed,’ United States European Command said in a statement. When officials first announced the crash on Saturday, authorities said the cause was under investigation but there was no indication of hostile activity.

    RIP guys.

    n

  32. Nick Flandrey says:

    Wait until winter gets going in the Windy City…

    Thanks, but not thanks! Chicago is so unpleasant migrants are fleeing BACK to with 20,700 border crossers so-far bused to Dem-run ‘sanctuary city’ 

     

    Since August last year, 20,700 migrants have arrived in Chicago from Texas. The Lone Star State’s Governor Greg Abbott sent migrants to Chicago and other Democrat-run cities because of their proud status as ‘sanctuary cities.’ They offer enhanced protection against detention or deportation for undocumented migrants. Venezuela-born Michael Castejon, 39, and his family have been sleeping on the floors of police stations and shelters after he could not afford to pay rent in Chicago. Now, he is looking for his family to return to South America after they failed to settle in the US.

    – don’t let the door hit you on the @ss, and don’t forget to tell all your friends.

    n

  33. Nick Flandrey says:

    Ah, I wondered what the fireworks were all about as I passed the big temple on my way home…

    Indians set new world record after lighting more than 2.2 million oil lamps to celebrate Diwali 

    Lotta indians in Houston.

    n

  34. Nick Flandrey says:

    Here’s hoping @Jenny and her rabbits are safe:

    Parts of Alaska declared a snow emergency and broke some longtime snowfall records after nearly 20 inches fell in two days, causing power outages and work, school and public transportation closures.

    whew, good thing she got that roof structure fixed.

    – let us know you are ok Jenny.

    n

  35. drwilliams says:

    just lost another long comment to an Int Server Error

    not feeling very served

  36. brad says:

    We have had a pile of precipitation the last week or so. And more coming this week. At our altitude (1200m) it has now turned to rain, but higher altitudes have masses of snow. Good for the glaciers, I suppose. Certainly good for the ski resorts, which will have a whopping Christmas season now.

    We’ve been watching the new Planet Earth III series, narrated by David Attenborough (at age 96, geez, the guy is amazing). As usual with BBC, amazing photography. As usual with Attenborough, great narrating. Unlike the last couple of BBC nature specials, they’ve toned down the climate panic. They must have realized that they were annoying people, rather than helping. Recommended!

Comments are closed.