Mon. Nov. 27, 2023 – the map is not the territory

By on November 27th, 2023 in culture, decline and fall, march to war

Cold and maybe not damp but I bet it feels like it. The forecast says <40% RH and a temperature range from low 40s to high 50s. That is enough to make my hands and joints hurt. We never did get rain yesterday, which let me get some lights and decor up. I feel less like a slacker with some stuff up.

I only felt slack because I pushed my own workdays back a couple of times. I wouldn’t normally have stuff up any earlier. So far it’s pretty restrained and monochromatic. Seems to fit the times, but then, I might have to stick my thumb in the times’ eye and have some color exploding all over everything…

Or not. We’ll see how much time and energy I have while doing all the other things that need to be done before the end of the year.

Today I’ll be doing some pickups, and jebus willing, a drop off. It would be nice to collect some checks too. Even here at stately Flandrey Manor, the light bill and water bill need to be paid, and evil megacorps don’t give their product away. Unfortunately, even my AAA+ clients are slow payers this go round. There is a fair amount of that in the world at the moment, and I’m not the only one noticing.

So, more stuff goes on the block. There is enough of it… and I need to get some of it back up on ebay too. I’ve been putting that off, but I don’t think I can delay any more. Plus I’ve got some leftover industrial stuff that I’ve been trying to get to the appropriate auctioneer, but he’s been jammed with bankruptcy sales. It would be nice to move some of that stuff out of here. This isn’t a great season for reselling, unless you have Christmas gift items. It is normally slow until February. But it is what it is, and who knows, it might be better than expected.

And monkeys might fly out of my butt.

In the mean time, there is plenty of prepping related stuff to do. You can’t just read about it, you have to do it. You will inevitably find that there was more to it than you thought, or that you couldn’t quite make something work, or that you were missing a critical piece. You have to do it. Pick something in your preps and use it this week. Be sure it will work.

And stack. Because that’s the EASY part.

nick

32 Comments and discussion on "Mon. Nov. 27, 2023 – the map is not the territory"

  1. Greg Norton says:

    I saw an abbreviated version of this segment on the local Sinclair station’s 10 PM newscast last night.

    https://fullmeasure.news/newest-videos/the-clot-factor-11-16-2023

    Austin? Sinclair? Granted it isn’t the local TENGA, Nexstar, or, God forbid, Faux News station, but Austin still has plenty of pinheads playing mask kabuki.

    The original air date was September, and I don’t remember that mini segment appearing at 10 PM to promote the half hour “Full Measure” broadcast at … midnight? We usually watch CBS/Sinclair on Sundays since the weather is as at least as competent as the Faux News and sometimes more accurate.

    As for the jabs, we’ll see who rusts first.

  2. Ray Thompson says:

    I looked at the Apple 35 watt dual USB-C charger, on sale for $44.

    At $33 the Anker 735 with 65 watts and an additional USB-A, compatible with older devices seemed like a better choice. YMMV.

    Mine came with the MacBook. As I said, too cheap to buy another.

  3. Nick Flandrey says:

    Is everyone else seeing my post as a wall o text?   I see it as one block…

    It has formatting in it, just like always.  I even went back in this am and added an extra blank line everywhere there is supposed to be one.

    42F and clear.  Sun is out.   Wife is sniffly and feeling poorly but went in to the office for at least a while.

    I’ve got stuff to do, but can’t start until 10am.

    n

  4. drwilliams says:

    Block-o-text

    “monkeys might fly out of my butt.”

    Livestream and monetize. 

  5. MrAtoz says:

    I love Anker chargers and cables. It’s Cyber Monday, so there are deals on Amazon and Anker for their products. My “solar generator” is an Anker 767 Powerhouse. I had to save up for that. It replaced the POS Jackery 2000.

  6. MrAtoz says:

    Yep, block-o-text.

  7. MrAtoz says:

    Mr. Lynn,

    Would you post your latest updated 6-star book list?

  8. nick flandrey says:

    If doing things the same way and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity, then what is doing things the same way and expecting the same result but getting a DIFFERENT result?

    n

  9. Nick Flandrey says:

    Switched to the visual editor, added two crlf in each line break, posted, rendered with big spaces in between paras…  So I switched back to text, removed the new symbols for nsp  and published, et viola.   

    Nuts. 

    n

    and it displayed in the editor with the proper breaks between paragraphs every time.

  10. Brad says:

    If doing things the same way and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity, then what is doing things the same way and expecting the same result but getting a DIFFERENT result?

    Normal life in IT?

  11. Ray Thompson says:

    I love Anker chargers and cables. It’s Cyber Monday, so there are deals on Amazon and Anker for their products.

    I looked at that 735 charger as it is on sale. It will not work with MagSafe cables on M2 Macs. A USB-C to USB-C cable must be used. That is a deal breaker.

    1
    1
  12. Lynn says:

    Just ordered three new can openers.  We were down to one, the old ones have disappeared or been thrown away due to rust.  “KitchenAid Gourmet Multifunction Can Opener/Bottle Opener, 8.36-Inch, Passion Red”. The big handle is nice for my arthritic hands.

         https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HSN5BYM?tag=ttgnet-20/

    Just more unexpected prepping.  I really need to develop a list of every thing needed in the household and then run an inventory annually.

    Dadgum, had to order dog food too. The cat food is carried by HEB which I prefer to purchase locally. The winter has them both eating more.

  13. Lynn says:

    Mr. Lynn,

    Would you post your latest updated 6-star book list?

    Lynn’s six star list (or top ten list) in September 2023: 

    1. “Mutineer’s Moon” by David Weber 
    2. “Citizen Of The Galaxy” by Robert Heinlein 
    3. “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein 
    4. “The Star Beast” by Robert Heinlein 
    5. “Shards Of Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold 
    6. “Jumper” by Steven Gould 
    7. “Dies The Fire” by S. M. Stirling 
    8. “Emergence” by David Palmer 
    9. “The Tar-Aiym Krang” by Alan Dean Foster 
    10. “Under A Graveyard Sky” by John Ringo 
    11. “Live Free Or Die” by John Ringo 
    12. “Footfall” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle 
    13. “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle 
    14. “The Zero Stone” by Andre Norton 
    15. “Going Home” by A. American 
    16. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card 
    17. “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline 
    18. “The Martian” by Andy Weir 
    19. “The Postman” by David Brin 
    20. “We Are Legion” by Dennis E. Taylor 
    21. “Bitten” by Kelley Armstrong 
    22. “Moon Called” by Patrica Briggs 
    23. “Red Thunder” by John Varley 
    24. “Lightning” by Dean Koontz 
    25. “The Murderbot Diaries” by Martha Wells 
    26. “Friday” by Robert Heinlein 
    27. “Agent Of Change” by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

  14. Lynn says:

    I added one more:

    I am adding 28. “Monster Hunter International” by Larry Carreia

    Somebody somewhere told me this is a list of young men’s adventure stories. They were not wrong.

  15. MrAtoz says:

    I looked at that 735 charger as it is on sale. It will not work with MagSafe cables on M2 Macs. A USB-C to USB-C cable must be used. That is a deal breaker.

    Probably not on sale, but they have others with 2-3 USB C and a USB A. Or single USB C (older) that easily charges my M1 16″ MacBook Pro.

  16. Lynn says:

    Whatever you do, do not take my predictions seriously.  Crude Oil is down to $75.  I predicted $100 before January and $300 by the end of 2024.

        https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/CL%3DF?p=CL%3DF

    Niels Bohr is right again.

  17. Lynn says:

    “REPORT: First American Released By Hamas Is RELATED To A Hunter Biden Art Buyer”

         https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/report-first-american-released-by-hamas-is-related-to-a-hunter-biden-art-buyer-mace/

    Coincidence ?

    Hat tip to:

        https://thelibertydaily.com/

    1
    1
  18. Gavin says:

    If doing things the same way and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity, then what is doing things the same way and expecting the same result but getting a DIFFERENT result?

    Gaslighting

  19. paul says:

    I’m going to try freezing cooked turkey.  Maybe a FoodSaver does a better job than a Dazey (or whatever) Seal-A-Meal.

    The turkey Seal-A-Mealed  was mushy.  The texture was between hot dog and potted meat.   It didn’t seem to have freezer burn.  The dogs liked it so it didn’t totally go to waste. 

  20. Greg Norton says:

    Whatever you do, do not take my predictions seriously.  Crude Oil is down to $75.  I predicted $100 before January and $300 by the end of 2024.

    Corn Pop wouldn’t even make it to the convention as the nominee if the oil price was above $100 and headed towards $300 as primary season begins.

    He may not make it to the convention regardless, but oil above $100 would mean that a lot more walkin’ ’round money would be necessary in South Carolina.

    The mainstream media already has their January and February in Savannah booked.

  21. Lynn says:

    “Retailers Lost Over $4.4 Billion in Democrat-Run New York Due to Organized Shoplifting”

        https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/11/retailers-lost-4-4-billion-democrat-run-new/

    We need to go back to public caning and the stocks.

  22. Lynn says:

    I’m going to try freezing cooked turkey.  Maybe a FoodSaver does a better job than a Dazey (or whatever) Seal-A-Meal.

    I finished off the 10 lb turkey and dressing last night so the wife is going to cook a turkey breast only with some dressing for her and the daughter.  I will sneak in a bite or twenty.

  23. SteveF says:

    We need to go back to public caning and the stocks.

    We need to go back to rooftop Koreans.

    the 10 lb turkey

    A ten-pound turkey?? That’s not a turkey, that’s a chicken with pretensions.

  24. Lynn says:

    “Can ERCOT show the way to faster and cheaper grid interconnection?”

        https://www.utilitydive.com/news/connect-and-manage-grid-interconnection-ferc-ercot-transmission-planning/698949/

    “Using a “connect and manage” process that doesn’t require network upgrades, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas brought 14.2 GW online in the last two years, more than any other grid operator.”

    Just do it ! The wires will melt if they are overloaded.

  25. Lynn says:

    “Redeveloping retired coal sites into nuclear plants could benefit the planet and the economy”

        https://www.utilitydive.com/news/redeveloping-retired-coal-sites-nuclear-epri/700544/

    “In most regions, the retirement of coal plants will require replacing the power and grid services in some form to meet grid reliability and end-user needs.”

    “Since 2000, more than 90 GW of U.S. coal units have been retired, driven in large part by efforts to meet decarbonization goals. By 2050, coal plants across 2,400 sites in 79 countries are expected to retire, representing 1,000 GW, according to new research by the Electric Power Research Institute, an independent, non-profit energy research and development organization. Power plant closures can adversely impact local communities that benefit from the facility through jobs and tax revenue. Until recently, newly constructed natural gas-fired power units often replaced decommissioned coal plants. Now governments around the world are encouraging redeveloping the sites into other forms of low- or zero-carbon power generation.”

    Yup.  Makes too much sense.

  26. Lynn says:

    “Money talks, and Disney doesn’t like what it says”

        https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/community-family/money-talks-and-disney-doesnt-like-what-it-says

    “I’m old enough (and young enough) to remember getting excited about every Pixar release, knowing that the next film would be a guaranteed classic (and in the era from Toy Story to Up, I was right). Disney bought Pixar in 2006. Since then, nearly half of Pixar’s offerings have been sequels or spin-offs.”

    “Now, Disney is losing millions on streaming, and the company’s box-office showings over Thanksgiving were miserable. The Marvels opened “with the lowest box-office numbers of any of the 33 movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Fortune reports , adding that the abysmal opening “mark[s] the end of an era of unquestioned dominance” for the Disney-owned Marvel.”

    “In short, We lose money when people hate our products and the ideas we advocate.”

  27. Greg Norton says:

    “Now, Disney is losing millions on streaming, and the company’s box-office showings over Thanksgiving were miserable. The Marvels opened “with the lowest box-office numbers of any of the 33 movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Fortune reports , adding that the abysmal opening “mark[s] the end of an era of unquestioned dominance” for the Disney-owned Marvel.”

    Disney Marvel is over if “Deadpool 3” tanks.

  28. Alan says:

    Found this deal via am mo seek…

    https://dancessportinggoods.com/

    $20 off $75 on your first order if you sign up for their email newsletter

    Flat rate shipping – $9.95 on what I ordered (quantity 1,000)

    YMMV

  29. Lynn says:

    “USC Professor Suspended and Barred from Campus For Saying, “Hamas [Terrorists] Are Murderers… Every One Should be Killed, and I Hope They all are Killed””

        https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/11/usc-professor-suspended-barred-campus-saying-hamas-are/

    “The University of Southern California has placed economics professor John Strauss on paid administrative leave, with an additional ban from setting foot on campus, following comments he made about Hamas terrorists during a student protest.”

    “On November 9, amidst a sea of students advocating for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and commemorating Palestinian “civilian” casualties, the 72-year-old scholar reportedly lost his academic poise and exclaimed, “Hamas are murderers. That’s all they are. Every one should be killed, and I hope they all are killed.””

    “His video immediately went viral online for telling the truth. The digital uproar led to administrative action, with Strauss being placed on paid administrative leave and barred from campus.”

    Very disturbing.  The university, not the professor.

  30. Greg Norton says:

    “His video immediately went viral online for telling the truth. The digital uproar led to administrative action, with Strauss being placed on paid administrative leave and barred from campus.”

    Very disturbing.  The university, not the professor.

    When we rolled into Madison, WI a few weeks ago, we drove past the obligatory UW student protest supporting Hamas.

    Check marked that box on our WI tourism list.

  31. Nick Flandrey says:

    Israel seems to have lost the initiative in Gaza.

    At least the terrorist simps are self identifying.  I hope people are taking notes.

    n

  32. Nick Flandrey says:

    @alan, the pricing on that site looked reasonable too.  Well within the ‘new normal’ even if the selection was a bit limited.  Everyone’s selection is limited now.

    n

Comments are closed.