Warmer, but still wet. Might be clear. The national forecast was weirdly specific about leaving a bit of clear on our part of the map. Yesterday turned into a fairly nice day by late afternoon. Still damp, but nice.
And I really didn’t get much done beyond catching up on auction stuff. I did look at what it’s going to take to block off the breezeway, and I’m really not looking forward to it. I’d much rather waste time on the internet with my friends. I did get to the HEB to pick up a few things. The extra kids ate a bunch and I needed to top up some lunch snacks and drinks for D2’s school lunch. Swung by the meat dept., but nothing I needed was on sale. They had chuck shoulder roast (select grade) for $3.50 which isn’t bad, but isn’t great and the individual cuts were not great. Eye round roast at $4 wasn’t tempting, and the brisket at $3.50 didn’t move me. I am FULL in the freezer department, so unless I buy another one, it’ll have to be a great bargain before I can buy…
Today I’m supposed to head to my client’s house to poke at some stuff. There is an intermittent issue with signal dropout, that I think is connector related. I’ll lube and clean with Deoxit Gold and see if that helps. If not, I’ve got some failing gear to replace. Depending on that work and any updates or networking stuff I do, I might or might not have time to do a pickup later in the day. I can push the pickup to Wednesday, but I’m already giving up days I promised to my buddy working on my stuff at his shop… Time. Ask me for anything but more time.
And yet, my prepping plan depends on having more time to get ready for whatever is coming. Looks like war to me. It’s a historical cure for a poor economy, and a proven political distraction. It’s also a great way to pass money and power to people. I don’t know the timeline, and we could be in full on economic collapse with all the difficulty that entails before the dogs of war are loosed… or we could just muddle on, with everything getting worse and worse by degrees… However it plays out, time to prepare, and resources to stack are both probably in limited supply.
Stack some for you, and I’ll stack some for me…
nick
The drink isn’t as profitable as it used to be. The 2.5 gallon syrup bag/box is running ~ $100 looking quickly on the interwebz and the water/syrup mix ratio is generally no more than 5:1 so figure 12.5 gallons of drink, 50 32 ounce portions, $2/portion.
The staff can be trained to fill the cup with mostly ice, but you’re still looking at $1 expense going into the cup.
The mix at McDonalds or Chipotle is 4:1.
Another score for Big Mike to settle with the white devils and their orange King.
The King will be first and then Mike will come for the rest of you.
If you haven’t seen it in a while, run “Aliens”.
The most recent BluRay is amazing.
I don’t know if “Aliens” is safe for the kid. Mine were bored by it. OTOH, they still don’t understand what I took them to see with one of the last “T2:3D” shows at Universal Orlando nearly a decade ago.
Which reminds me — one of the casualties of woke/cheap Disney is the “Alien” scene in “The Great Movie Ride” as the attraction was gutted to make way for “Mickey’s Runaway Railway”, The Mouse’s cut rate answer to the new Harry Potter and Jurassic Park roller coasters at Universal Orlando.
The Mouse has nothing to answer Super Mario and his friend, Donkey Kong, which will see focus testing before the end of the year.
I really do think that is why all of these scandals are coming to light this Spring.
In Florida, the Dems are talking about renominating Andrew Warren for Hillsborough State Attorney and daring DeSantis to remove Warren again to add another score requiring settling to the pile.
I was in Army flight school when I saw Alien on the big screen. I immediately went out and bought the Alien action figure at the store to display on my desk.
Nerd Alert!
Aliens was even better. “Get away from her, you bitch” is on my soundboard for Zoom sessions. Along with “I’ll be back”, “Get to the choppa”, “Jane, you ignorant slut”, “So let it be written, so let it be done” and various one-liners from the robot in Lost in Space. Especially his laugh. Oh, and the sad trombone sound.
“Resistance is futile”.
I’m more partial to the “Incorrect strategy, Number One” from that episode.
That was the first thing that popped into my head when I got the severance agree from the former WalMart store manager quota hire who ran HR for the tolling company.
Gee, what does “Waiver of ADEA rights” entail …. Oh!
Incorrect strategy, Number One.
Just dropping in to say “hello”. I was away for a long weekend to celebrate a relative’s birthday, and work caught up with me when I got back. The punishment for taking leave is the pile of work that awaits on one’s return…
Tomorrow is a public holiday here, so I will probably pack my bags and head off to the BOL. Roebuck season begins on Thursday. Hurray!
Paul, glad to see you have been posting and keeping busy. Thanks for the oven-fried chicken instructions! I will definitely try that. I rarely eat chicken, but I had some “buffalo”wings over the weekend and enjoyed them, so I’ll give making my own chicken dish a go soon.
Nick, well done for your 15 years. I am supporting a buddy who has climbed on the wagon; what a battle! Alcohol is the one drug that it is socially acceptable to press on people, and so ubiquitous that it’s hard to avoid.
(Brad on Switzerland, from a few days ago)
Brad, without meaning to be brutal, CH doesn’t get much attention here, one way or the other. If I had to say, I would guess that the general feeling is that CH needs the rest of the continent more than it needs CH, and that it is fair for CH to pay the Cohäsionsmilliarde to have the benefits of partial access to the EU club. The UK is learning the hard way what it means to no longer be a member, and their ever more desperate pleas to upgrade to a “Swiss” or “Norwegian” solution are falling on deaf ears.
CH lost a lot of its sympathy value with individual citizens when it gave in to US bullying and did away with banking secrecy. It is no longer a place where (moderately) wealthy Europeans can easily go to hide their money from the voracious taxman. No more “Robin Hood” (or maybe Wilhelm Tell) charm and mystery.
I do discern a certain level of jealousy as regards Swiss prosperity, alongside an undercurrent of annoyance that CH is a nice and desirable place to visit, but prohibitively expensive for all but the wealthiest – or the poorest – of tourists.
Personally, I am jealous only that I can’t carry my K-31 or a SIG Sturmgewehr openly on the bus! I used to be a member of the local Swiss shooting club, and that was great fun. I got on very well with the Eidgenossen.
@Denis
I only see the ‘desperate pleas’ from some of those who never wanted to leave (the 48%). My feeling is that those or us who wanted to leave (52%) are disappointed that our government has not done enough to use it’s new independence – but would never seek to rejoin the failing institution that is the EU.
Not brutal at all, just true. The reason the EU won’t spend any time negotiating with us is because we are insignificant. 8 million vs. 350 million. Send your junior diplomats with no authority to do anything – it’s good practice for them.
Which brings me back to my question for Switzerland: so why are we doing things like paying $1.2 billion/year? Pocket change for the EU, but a lot of money for us. Just stop.
Of course, basically the whole world has given in. It would have been possible for countries – specifically the EU – to stand up on their collective hind legs and say “no”. One individual (tiny) country? No chance.
Of course, there is one place you can still reliably hide your $millions: the US. Because they don’t require their banks to report anything to foreign countries. It’s very much a one-way street.
64F and clear this morning. Certainly warming later…
————–
seems like any reluctance to shoot cops has been worn away.
————–
And this is not the first cannibal story of the year. Might be the third… but atm I can only recall t he guy eating a leg on the streetcorner.
———-
and this is good news, but I thought the jury was mostly in favor of acquittal from the earlier news reports. Which article is wrong?
BTW, “mexican national” on US soil illegally, trespassing on the guys land, and carrying arms… I’d like to think that he’d of been no billed in Texas. Maybe given a commendation.
n
And IDK if it’s a language issue or a mindset…
Cancelling because he was “too drunk to fly” implies that there is a level of “drunk” that is still OK to fly… Should just be “was drunk”, or “had BAC above xxx”.
n
The Army standard is “12 hours from bottle to throttle and no after effects.”
Oh DM, will you ever hire someone to proofread? Or do the lifestyle interns just get a pass… Because Emma Richter can’t write for toffee…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13364247/boca-bash-florida-party-lake-boca-raton.html
n
Oh, and there is this one from another of “Emma”’s articles
and no after effects
– can’t imagine pulling Gs while hung over.
n
This is normal:
Fury as Columbia University protesters stage insurrection-like takeover of Hamilton Hall after ignoring deadline to leave encampment.. but will they be arrested?
I believe the Uni said it won’t call NYPD anymore, so LET IT BURN! The cops were too rough.
The only answer is cops with shields and batons. The “students” are destoying property and trespassing.
I just don’t get Columbia, FNYC, and pro-Palestine.
Shortages. Declining standards. Failing infrastructure and institutions.
We’re living in it.
n
I have a friend whose wife is dependent on IVIG and chemo due to a rare autoimmune disease.
This is not good news for her. I’ll check with them and see how they’re doing.
I don’t think any mass media outlets, including newspapers, are employing proper copy-editors and proofreaders anymore. The standard of writing is appalling, even in “respectable” publications.
PaultheMac, I was in the UK recently, and I visited a couple of supermarkets. The lack of choice, the drab empty shelves and inflated prices reminded me of nothing so much as visiting the former Soviet-Bloc countries of eastern Europe shortly after the fall of the Iron Curtain, except that those countries actually had an air of optimism about them at that time. They also had bananas.
In 2009, before Brexit was so much as a twinkle in David Cameron’s eye, the House of Commons library published an own-research briefing entitled “Economic Costs and Benefits of the EU”. It concluded that the benefits to the UK of EU membership vastly outweighed the costs, as I remember talking to a British diplomat about it around the time it was published. I recall, because the person was rather smugly telling me how much more the UK was getting out of the EU than it was paying in.
I see that research has since been memory-holed, because the information was contrary to the “leave” narrative and the subsequent “leave” vote. Following the official link to it from the Commons Library, one gets a message saying it has been withdrawn and replaced by another paper entitled “The economic impact of EU membership on the UK”, to which there is another link, this time one that doesn’t work. Hmm.
My impression regarding Brexit is that all the UK subjects are getting what a slim majority voted for, and they are getting it good and hard. I am amazed that anyone can be disappointed in politicians and governing parties that demonstrably prevaricated before Brexit about what the consequences of leaving would be. Not even the Iron Lady, Mrs Thatcher, who was no fan of European federalism, thought leaving the club would be in the interest of the UK, and she never made any move to do so.
Subcontinent.
Hopefully, the drug doesnt come from India like the one in the story.
The word for today is “fusion”. Such as:
“Mark your calendars for May 9 because Blackberry Smoke is bringing their electrifying performance to 713 Music Hall.”
“Dive into their latest album, Be Right Here, where the Georgia-based band’s unique fusion of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and vintage country shines brighter than ever, capturing their resilience and commitment to their craft in every track.”
@paul, from watching it happen thru all the estates sales and sellers I deal with, it takes a year for most people to work thru the logistical and legal and financial issues involved in a loved ones death. You (the general “you”) have an additional burden in that your brain is not functioning like it used to during that period- you are absorbing a huge and monstrous change in your life and it’s a shock to your whole body.
The wife is at four years since her father died in Sept 2020 and she is still settling his crap XXXX precious stuff. After the townhouse sale, she needs to split the stock between she and her sister.
Last night on Coast To Coast, George Nory’s guest said that we will have a wooly mammooth baby in less than five years.
He did not venture how long until the first T-Rex.
Does the USA no longer possess any water cannons?
@Denis
Living in the UK, I don’t have the same ‘impression’ and ‘slim’ or not, it was a majority. UK has many problems, most, in my opinion, to do with … poor quality of politicians (common worldwide), high level of immigration, Net Zero implications, poor decision making in response to Covid (particularly economic impact) etc…
I stated to those who were interested prior to the referendum that leaving the EU could have a marginal negative or positive economic effect – difficult to forecast (and ignore all the fictitious analyses those who wanted to remain) but my reason for choosing to leave was that we could become again an independent country were we chose those who made our laws (unlike the EU).
>> The only answer is cops with shields and batons. The “students” are destoying property and trespassing.
And rubber bullets, have they gone out of style?
@PaultheManc: I understand the sentiment. One thing I dislike about the EU is the massive centralization in Brussels. The EU Parliament mostly behaves sensibly, but the EU Commission often behaves like wannebe dictators.
Since the BLM riots in Austin, yes.
I guess he never has not taken a close look at Whoopie Goldberg.
Every line from Bill Paxton’s character, Private Hudson, was hilarious.
LOL I love the DM:
Irina Shayk, 38, is topless as she strips down to micro panties for a Marc Jacobs campaign… amid claims she wants to date Tom Cruise, 61
DON’T SEXUALIZE ME! WANNA SEE MY ASS-CRACK.
Also LOL:
Northwestern Announces Full-Ride Scholarships for Palestinian Students
Do those University idiots think Hamas is going to let some dirt person get one of the positions?
I hope more alumni pull some money.
“US drug control agency will move to reclassify marijuana in a historic shift, AP sources say”
https://www.chron.com/business/article/us-drug-control-agency-will-move-to-reclassify-19431139.php
Oh, those guys in the White House are lighting up again at 2pm.
It’s Obola’s cocktail hour redux.
I did stuff today. Someone’s health insurance changed and the new plan covers dental. Therefore, no need for a separate dental plan. I tried to cancel it last week. That’s an hour of my life I will never get back. You can’t cancel over the phone, or on a website, you have to mail a letter…. or call your credit card company and contest and block the charges.
I called the CC today. I don’t like VOIP because it’s choppy. I’m not a fan of Indian accents mostly from lack of listening to it. Make it choppy and it’s hard to understand them. The ladies seemed nice but that’s their job, too. I think I have future charges blocked. That’s all I wanted to do. Last month’s charge has been paid and I don’t care if that is refunded. Just stop them from charging me. Time will tell.
I cleaned the pellet stove today. Scooped out the ashes, used the brush to clean the chimney, and then the shop vac to clean the firebox. The vac has a HEPA bag. I aim the exhaust out the sliding door anyway. Then shove the hose into the chimney to get the loose ashes. The last bit was cleaning the glass. It’s ready for next year.
I think it takes longer to get ready and then put stuff away than actual cleaning time.
When the house is open like to light a stick of incense once in a while. Sandalwood is my favorite just by habit. I have a variety pack and they all smell nice. Even Lavender. I’m going to throw that one away. It smells nice but tastes like soap. Knowing what soap tastes like is what I get for being a smart ass when I was a kid.
Tomorrow’s project is like the weather. We’ll see. I need to put the battery in the riding mower and at minimum mow the pathways. That depends on the coming rain. The pellet grill needs fixing. The auger motor went bad. I have the part. I’ve replaced it before. I just have to do it. And of course there is /always./ laundry. Lovely lovely laundry.
Just stay busy. Moping around with a sad face is not allowed. Moments of verclempt are allowed but stuff that stuff down and file it away. Because I say so.
Sheesh. The pile of laundry is huge. On the plus side, once it’s done that’s about all of the laundry until November. I mean, I’m out in the middle of 25+ acres.
I had to visit the funeral home yesterday. The prepaid plan sent a generic form that I signed but Texas has a special form.
I asked if he knew anything about cause of death. He said they “the County” has been doing toxicology tests a lot lately.
So. He has a hernia. Not new. It’s a muscle pushing through, not an intestine. His doctor said it’s not a problem. He has a tumor on a kidney. That’s all he knew, just a tumor. That’s new. And some other stuff that is perhaps normal for a guy a month shy of 80. And some cardiovascular stuff which is “duh, yes his BP was a bit high” but it all seemed to settle on that he had a stroke. His mom had several strokes before the last one so, not unexpected.
After hearing that, yeah, cremation is the only way. It sounded like they took the man apart like gutting a deer. And then read the entrails. I did not ask if he comes from the coroner in a body bag and everything goes into the oven. I thought it. I didn’t ask, I have a pinch of class and tact. A pinch.
Anyway. Might get ashes next Friday. Not this coming Friday, more like May 10th or so. Same for the death certificate.
Seems to be a slow process. I don’t recall it taking so long with my Mom. But she died in the hospital.
And that pile of laundry isn’t gong to wash and fold itself……
“White House permitting rule draws ire from industry, Manchin”
https://www.ogj.com/general-interest/government/article/55032429/white-house-permitting-rule-draws-ire-from-industry-manchin
“The White House’s Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) finalized a rule that it said would streamline the environmental review process under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA).”
Yup, those marijuana smoking MBAs in the White House are trying to shut down the most successful industry in the USA, the crude oil and natural gas industry. Ten million plus jobs in the USA, down from fifteen million jobs just a decade ago.
And yet, my prepping plan depends on having more time to get ready for whatever is coming. Looks like war to me. It’s a historical cure for a poor economy, and a proven political distraction. It’s also a great way to pass money and power to people. I don’t know the timeline, and we could be in full on economic collapse with all the difficulty that entails before the dogs of war are loosed… or we could just muddle on, with everything getting worse and worse by degrees… However it plays out, time to prepare, and resources to stack are both probably in limited supply.
Now that the fourth large bank has failed this year, is it time to start opening checking accounts to store money at half a dozen banks ?
My father-in-law had checking accounts at nine banks most of his adult life. He grew up during the depression in upper New York State. He said that banks would close for a week or two and the reopen after a cleaning of all the ledgers. There was no rhyme or reason, they would just randomly close. If you had money there and needed it today, too bad, so sad.
Not brutal at all, just true. The reason the EU won’t spend any time negotiating with us is because we are insignificant. 8 million vs. 350 million. Send your junior diplomats with no authority to do anything – it’s good practice for them.
The googles say that the current population of the EU is 450 million. I thought it was 550 million though so I was too high.
550 million with all of the Africans…..
W.C. Fields was said to have opened hundreds of bank accounts as he traveled about during his pre-movie career(s).
“No one who distrusts the Federal Reserve and the FDIC can be all bad…”
The deliberate surrender by Congress of their law making duties to the administrative state (executive branch) is something J. Pournelle would mention on occasion.
There has been some pushback by affected parties, but not nearly enough.
The “Shroom Gang”.
Barry and Big Mike must have some quality stuff out at Robin’s Nest, maybe even grown on the grounds, where Magnum’s guest house used to stand.
Google shows the estate pretty much scraped clean.
Another piece of the culture gone, regardless of what you thought of “Magnum PI”.
When the house is open like to light a stick of incense once in a while. Sandalwood is my favorite just by habit. I have a variety pack and they all smell nice. Even Lavender. I’m going to throw that one away. It smells nice but tastes like soap. Knowing what soap tastes like is what I get for being a smart ass when I was a kid.
Sandalwood is gross.
“Musk disbands Tesla EV charging team, leaving customers in the dark”
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/musk-disbands-tesla-ev-charging-202301433.html
Musk definitely manages by terror and fear. There is something to say about that management style.
We have three credit union accounts, two here and one still in WA State.
The WA State gets my EBay activity and holds enough money to pay off the Chinese relatives in Seattle for my two week stay at their no-tell motel racket (I mean that in the full legal sense of the word) if they ever call in that marker.
I bailed on the too big to fail banks more than a decade ago.
The deliberate surrender by Congress of their law making duties to the administrative state (executive branch) is something J. Pournelle would mention on occasion.
There has been some pushback by affected parties, but not nearly enough.
One of these days, people will go to the gasoline station but it will be closed due to lack of product. People will complain for sure that day.
And you recommend what?
We have three credit union accounts, two here and one still in WA State.
The WA State gets my EBay activity and holds enough money to pay off the Chinese relatives in Seattle for my two week stay at their no-tell motel racket (I mean that in the full legal sense of the word) if they ever call in that marker.
We have two checking accounts at Wells Fargo. In theory, Wells Fargo is too big to fail but, one never knows. I like Wells Fargo because their ATMs are free for us to use, anywhere in the USA. And some of their ATMs are inside buildings whereas the outdoor ATMs seem to attracting the wrong type of person nowadays.
I guess that the wife and I each have personal IRA accounts at Fidelity but I have never tried to use mine as a checking account also. I think that the wife has some non-IRA money in her Fidelity account but I am not sure.
I know a retired person whose Fidelity credit card pulls straight out of their Fidelity IRA but I am not ready to go that route.
The “Dallas” house still packs ’em in even after the cancellation of the reboot.
The owners and show producers have been very careful to preserve things. You can see “the shower” and the real foyer/stairwell of the house stood which in for the lobby of the cheap Mexican hotel where “JR” met his demise per show canon.
For some reason, I managed to see most of the episodes of the reboot. Everybody showed for JR’s funeral, even Jerry Jones.
Tourists will still flock to that place decades from now.
And you recommend what?
Anything but. I don’t know why but Sandalwood makes me want to heave. Lavender is right behind it for me too.
There used to be a store in the local mall that used sandalwood odorizer. The wife would go in with me on my imaginary leash following her. After about two minutes, I was out the door.
I used to like Irish Spring soap but the wife hates it. So I use Ivory soap now.
I don’t think that I have been in our mall for five years (pre covidacy) ! I know it is still there because it was a madhouse over the silly season (Christmas) but I just do not go. Except, I do go to the B&N in the mall parking lot once a year to see what crazy stuff they are doing now.
These Types of People will Die when SHTF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iveOuio1XpE
13-minute video. Gives ways to help get people (or yourself) out of the mindsets which will get them killed.
Actually, I’ve had a retarded thought about this. Some folks say to have a handful of cash on hand. Which is a good thing….. while the electricity is on. When the juice goes out, you ain’t buying gas or groceries. Because the cash registers and gas pumps are all computers now.
Power goes out, nothing at your local HEB works. It’s not a lack of product. It’s a for a checker, “how do I sell this shit without a working register?” And can’t make change because the register is dead.
Fair enough. We agree about Lavender. Irish Spring soap smells great but makes me itch like I’m covered with chiggers. Ivory soap is good for all over my body.
I think y’all are a bunch of cool folks. All y’all.
“Jack Smith Hit With Ethics Complaint for Using Lawfare Against Trump to “Interfere” With the 2024 Election”
https://thelibertydaily.com/jack-smith-hit-ethics-complaint-using-lawfare-against/
“(DCNF)—Special counsel Jack Smith was hit with an ethics complaint Tuesday for allegedly seeking to “unlawfully interfere in the 2024 presidential election.””
“Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik filed the complaint with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Professional Responsibility, arguing Smith violated DOJ policy by seeking to expedite Trump’s trial to “influence the general election” and violated the district court’s stay on proceedings when he continued to file new material. Smith is prosecuting the classified documents and Jan. 6 cases against former President Donald Trump.”
I hope that the ethics complaint proceeds but I doubt it.
Fair enough. We agree about Lavender. Irish Spring soap smells great but makes me itch like I’m covered with chiggers. Ivory soap is good for all over my body.
Our house water from our three water wells for our 500 home neighborhood sucks. I do not have a iron filter or any other of the filters like many of my neighbors have. When we first moved here I was still using Irish Spring and getting that itchy feeling. When I switched to Ivory, the itchy feeling went away. I had used Irish Spring since 1974 or so without a problem except my wife did not like the smell.
Banks; As a retired Navy guy, I’ve been banking with USAA for 40+ years. But I’m hearing weird things about them recently, so I’ve also opened accounts at a few credit unions, and may do a couple more. Because a man should have a couple of backup plans in case the big boys go squirrelly.
I used Mennen Speed Stick on my pits for years and years. It suddenly started to burn when applying after a shower. So I tried and changed to the Old Spice version. That was good for four or five years. Then it started to burn like fire.
Well. Gotta do something to control the stink. I read a post from a guy and he was swabbing his pits with a cotton ball soaked with rubbing alcohol. His point was the alcohol killed the bacteria that makes your pits and crotch smell bad.
I’m not doing rubbing alcohol. But aftershave works great! Anything from Pinaud works. Smells nice too. It stung a bit at first.
“Knowing what soap tastes like is what I get for being a smart ass when I was a kid.”
Soap poisoning!
Water quality enhancer:
https://youtu.be/ZEaRFcB1vm8
We/now I have USAA for house and car insurance. The boys do , too. They do seem to be getting squirrely the last four or five years.
As for banks, Frost Bank rules. I had a deposit refund check from my apt in McAllen and no one would cash that $250 check. BTW, all the other banks I tried to cash the check at are long gone. Frost was like “open an account and you can have $50,” Which, was a VERY good thing. Yeah, I needed the money for stupid shit like groceries. They have never tried to screw me since I opened my savings account in 1979.
I’ve dealt with Wells Fargo and BOA and a few others over the years and I’m a crook somehow.
Frost, good folks.
Try the unscented Speed Stick. That is the only one that doesn’t give me a rash, but it is kinda-sorta hard to find.
Publix in Tennessee is where I bought my last stash restock. HEB occasionally has it in the fancier stores.
There’s always the Zon: here’s a bunch of unscented ones .
I rarely hit Amazon for anything, especially something like that.
Visit a Walgreens in Louisiana, and, even in the boonies, half of the store is locked up to prevent five finger arbitrage.
The “I Should Have Known Better” story…
My main laptop SSD drive died last Tuesday AM. Worked fine the night before. A restart the next morning showed an error message that there was no drive.
Mild Panic ensued, as my last backup was at least a month ago. I had the thought to do a backup just before the trip to Utah the prior week, but didn’t.
I used my fancy computer toolkit to open it up, and looked for obvious damage. Nothing obvious. I removed and reseated the SSD; still no joy.
Although the laptop (HP Envy 17″, 36G RAM, 4TB SSD) was purchased Oct 2023 and still under warranty, I decided to take it to the somewhat local (40 min drive) Geek Squad for repair. It got there last Tuesday. I instructed them to try to recover data files first, then repair/replace the SSD.
They called Friday, and said that they were unable to recover any data, and that the SSD was ‘failing’ (not ‘failed’). It was very hot to the touch, and they could not copy any files.
So, the 4TB SSD was replaced with a new one from Samsung ($309, on sale from $450) (not sure of the brand on the old one that failed). They installed Windows 11, and did a final test. They found that one of the 32GB RAM modules was also failing, so replaced that ($70, was $75). Total cost was about $400. No labor charges. I was willing to pay that, as I had a plan to try to recover files from the old SSD.
I purchased an M2-SSD to USB drive converted from Amazon (here) ($19) ; a brand I have previously used. And a M2 heat sink (here) ($9).
And hoped that I could use my geeky skills to get data. (Source code for about 30 web site, plus all the fiction book files, including significant work on the latest book since the last backup.) I tried to stay hopeful that I would be able to recover the data.
I got the laptop yesterday. Worked fine out of the box;, Windows 11 worked fine. No programs or data.
I installed the SSD to the adapter and connected it to the computer. It was recognized, but the SSD was really hot to the touch. I turned everything off, and then installed the thermal tape and metal heat sink to the SSD. Got a small desk fan, pointed it at the SSD, and plugged it in. The heat sink worked well – it was just slightly warm to the touch. The heat sink did its job, and the fan helped keep it cool.
I was able to grab data from the SSD to the laptop. Then I used the LapLink program (had to buy another copy, since any previous copies are tied to previous uses – I had used the program to transfer programs and data to the new laptop last October) – $75. Transferring files took many hours, then transferring programs took more hours. That was done yesterday and today.
But the data and programs were recovered. Not perfectly. There are still some issues. Firefox didn’t grab my old profile, so I lost the saved passwords. Those will slowly be reset. I was able to get the bookmarks from the old profile – but not the passwords.
MS Office 2019 transferred via LapLink, but the license key didn’t. A ‘key recovery program’ ($30) found other license keys, but not the one for Office 2021. I got a fresh key for Office Professional 2021 ($57), and that worked fine.
I still have to test/activate other programs. And slowly reset passwords on various sites. (Yes, I know there are password managers, but the one in FireFox works ‘good enough’). But am pleased that all the programs (mostly) and data (all of it) has been recovered.
Tomorrow’s tasks are to continue checking programs, activating where needed, and setting up the “Free FileSync” backups. And doing the backup. Maybe two of them. “Two is one, one is none…” And doing the backup for SWMBO’s laptop.
I will also continue the contact with the vendor that sold the HP. They will replace the SSD – so I’ll have an extra one. Not sure how to recover the cost of the 32GB memory module – we’ll see what they say. The replacement 4TB SSD will go in the adapter I bought, and will be used as another backup.
Some expenses involved, but willing to pay the price – and luckily it’s not a significant issue with the budget (all expenses were approved by the CFO here – AKA “SWMBO”).
Paul: what state are you in?
I bank with Max Federal Credit Union(used to be Maxwell FCU) and Alabama State (ASE) Employees Federal Credit Union.
When I moved here in 2019, ASE asked how I was affiliated with ASE and I told them I was a member of the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union but had recently moved to Alabama. The lady that asked the question stopped for a minute, then said works for me.
Most credit union want new members and will stretch the rules to get them.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I use Sure deodorant and have for many years. It’s inexpensive.
I think I saw someone casing the store for five finger arbitrage in Walgreens near the plantation tour outside New Orleans when we stopped looking for something my wife needed.
A Ford Transit Connect van/home pulled up next to my car, and the older white woman driver got out, entered the store just ahead of us, and seemed to wander aimlessly, occasionally stopping to look at one of the locked cases.
She left after not buying anything. Weird.
And it always seems to be Transit Connects with the older white women. The iconic “van down by the river”, manufactured by a company run by Chris Farley’s cousin.
I was doing errands last weekend and decided to pass Harbor Freight. I’ve misplaced the Quinn pistol-grip needle nose pliers that stay on my work bench. I was going to buy a replacement, but couldn’t find the email with a 25%-off coupon. Got home and found the coupon, except it was a 30%-off and good for up to five items, and expired that day. Rats.
This week I misplaced a pick that I keep on the same bench and decided to look for a replacement. Simple is not easy on the internet. Simple hardened steel pick, about 6-6-1/2″ long, with the end bent about 30-degrees. Round handle is too small, so I added a length of small diameter hose years ago (used to be red, has aged to brown with dirt and oil no doubt). It’s probably Starrett or similar, but the tubing covers up any name and it’s been too long.
Struck out at Starrett and Grainer. Google images no help. I just don’t see anything quite like it. Closest I can get is in the Ullman PH-4 set. At $11-12, I’m sure it’s not the same quality. I have other sets with screwdriver-type handles, and a variety of longer pick/hook single and double ended, so I’d rather buy the one as an exact or near replacement.
Anyone have any ideas?
, I’m out in the middle of 25+ acres.
– even so, I’d want the cockleburrs to stick to my pant legs, not my co….
WRT antiperspirant and deodorant, I found Arm & Hammer Ultra Max Unscented works very well for me. No real scent but you can tell it’s on if you forget, doesn’t stain or clog underarms on my shirts. Is very light and I have to sniff to know it’s there.
My dad didn’t like to get wet, so he’d swab his pits with alcohol in lieu of a shower. I occasionally do the same if I ‘ve got a stink that doesn’t go away even after soap… or if I change shirts to go out. And I use Dr Bonners bar soap, blue label peppermint, for face, hands, body and hair. Works great, smells nice but doesn’t leave a scent on you.
WRT to burning some smelly stuff, my wife likes “Pinon” with the ~ over the n. It’s a pine camp fire smell, that reminds her of nights in Albuquerque, it’s about all I can tolerate.
I have been a BofA customer for many decades. I have several accounts there. I know they are the suxx, but they are everywhere and I used to travel A LOT. I have an additional account for my business with a smaller regional bank. My worry is for the kids’ college funds in the 529 plans, or whatever they’re called. And my wife’s retirement money.
My retirement money, such as it is, is in an IRA, half in cash, half in an annuity. I’m considering paying the penalty and taking out enough cash to buy another lot at the BOL. Land is good. Numbers in a computer, maybe not so good. No investment out there is making enough to keep up with real inflation, so don’t even go there…
n
@RickH
Glad to hear data recovery was largely successful.
Thanks for the blow-by-blow and the geeky skills.
Last night dinner was just buttered toast, still recovering from the early April head & chest cold, relapsed over the weekend, had to cancel a dentist appointment.
Feeling better.
Dinner tonight was a couple of Andoille sausage in the air fryer, a microwaved (glove) baked potato, and some steamed broccoli.
Perhaps 15m, started to on-the table. With a glass of Sangria.
The poor a/c in this house pushes me towards fast & electric…
Good suggestion. There’s a branch nearby, and that would be a good alternative to a bunch of military-affiliated credit unions. BTY, the former “Air Force Association Credit Union” has just changed their name to “Soarion”.
I have become the opposite, the minimum 45m round trip into town will cost me nearly $10 in California gas ($5.50/gal), and the crazed drivers therein upset me, so I am now ordering nearly everything.
A couple of bottles of Vo5 here, two tubes of toothpase there … if Amazon doesn’t mind delivering for the yearly cost of Prime, then I am good.
Since there is a (relatively) small local Amazon warehouse many small things are next day, a fair amount two or three day (Grapevine WH?) but some stuff still takes forever – the Coaches Oats are taking almost 10 days to arrive.
The local Walmart’s are as you say mostly locked up these days anyways, and the clientele that are in there are often a bit on the sketchy side. I will still go in on occasion, but only on Sunday mornings before about 10 AM.
Picks
I have aheavy duty Craftsman pick that I refer to as my cotter pin puller. I looked for it using duck-duck-go and found a picture but apparently they don’t sell the one I have.
Some years ago I picked up a bunch of NOS dental equipment, gorgeous stainless steel stuff, it had some nice picks, with relatively long & big barrels, but of course not for super heavy duty stuff (for molars, not motors).
@Bob Sprowl
Pretty sure I know which one you mean. I have three tool chests that have small drawers that are about half picks, so I have a variety.
The one that I lost is good for pulling o-rings from couplers and other jobs where pencil grip type control is needed. The end of the handle is also the right size for seating an o-ring.
follow-up from yesterday:
Kristi Noem did the right thing
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/04/kristi_noem_did_the_right_thing.html
Watching the news over the last few days.
“Hamas supporter” is a drop-in substitute for “rabid animal”.
Seems like the campus plagiarists should be relieved at the respite that the protests and campus occupations are bringing, but I’d be willing to bet that the “professors” showing up to take part have a high probability of being in both groups.
@EdH
I have some of those picks. My favorite is double ended–one end broke off (motor, not molar) and I reshaped it and made it even more useful.
There are two-part adhesives that come in a double-cylinder “EPX” package that loads in a dispenser similar to a caulking gun, but with a double plunger. The plungers are plastic and replaceable, because they not only get gunked up, the A/B ratio can vary from 1:1 to 1:2 and others, so the plungers can be different diameters and have to be matched with the package. It’s a nice system that uses a quarter-turn static mixer nozzle on the front, and is designed so you leave the mixer on a partly used package and replace with a new one when you want to use more.
The gun part is made out of plastic with a metal version as a upgrade. But since the same configuration is used for some dental materials (silicones for molds) there is a dental applicator that is nicely polished stainless steel. I scored a couple at an estate sale for a dentist a few years back.
There are times when a flying dump truck full of warm spit would be useful and this is one:
https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2024/04/30/all-you-need-to-know-anti-american-activist-bill-ayers-showed-up-at-a-u-of-chicago-pro-hamas-protest-n2173573
Did pickups today. Filled the pickup truck. I now have a bunch of the Camplux instant hot water heaters. I will try to flip at least one to a neighbor at the BOL.
Another couple of solar panels, one small one with a charge controller.
Other bits and pieces.
Oh, and two new rear wheels and tires for the lawn tractor.
n
yeah, wait for it:
https://twitter.com/buitengebieden/status/1785401683939381493
yeah, wait for it:
https://twitter.com/buitengebieden/status/1785401683939381493
That was 30 minutes of my life.
https://twitter.com/buitengebieden/
but a good thirty minutes… my face hurts from smiling.
n
Yaknow… I try to get to bed early, I really do. And then someone links to cat videos…
I’ll see you in the morning.
n
We’ll know more when Tony wants us to know. Part of some master plan? That’s a somewhat different question…
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/musk-disbands-tesla-ev-charging-202301433.html
In the “Can’t Make This Up” category…
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/cant-make-this-up-emergency-slide-falls-boeing/
@Paul: Sounds like you’re doing ok. One day at a time. Keep posting – we like hearing from you.
Abdicate responsibility, keep the grift. It’s a great gig.
First came muscle power, then animal power, then water power, then…
Power is civilization.
From the ’50’s: “Old Spice means quality, said the Captain to the Bosun, so look for the package with the ship that sails the ocean.”