Cool again, but not cold. Clear sky. Yesterday was cool and dreary most of the day. Heavy mist, grey sky. But around 2pm something moved in and blew the heck out of Houston, and then we had sun and clear sky. Great finish to the day, and I’m hoping today is the same.
I did some auction stuff in the morning, then headed out. Lots of driving and several pickups later it was time to get the kid– who stood me up. I would have had an additional couple hours to go by my secondary location and storage unit, but instead I rushed across town and pushed two tasks to today. Kid wanted to work on a project with a friend. That part is fine, but jerking my schedule around isn’t.
In any case, I spent the half hour I had to kill at home listening to and watching the posted video of my volunteer middle school musical theater effort. The videographer really should have taken my cleaned up audio and mixed it in with the ambient recorded by the cameras. I got them both playing at the same time, and was able to A-B them, and mix them at different levels, and adding the audio direct from the board really sweetened up the recorded audio. Too bad he either didn’t know how, or didn’t want to. Pro level tools from only a couple of years ago are available free now. It’s mind blowing what you can do at home. If you have the time and desire.
The Powers That Be seem intent on throwing it all away. Civilization that is.
Not much we can do on a macro level, but on a local and personal level? Yes. Get your shite in order (better than me.) Get what you need to be independent and stack it. Find a network of people to work with for daily living tasks, and extraordinary tasks too. Let’s get through whatever big bad is coming.
—————
Today I’ve got a couple of pickups in the other direction from yesterday’s. And I’ve got the stuff I didn’t get done to do. I need to do some banking, make some appointments, and do some shopping for my potluck dinner. Then kid taxi at the end of the day to limit what I get done…
And getting ready for Christmas. And replacing stuff in the stacks that aged out. And finding places to stack some new stuff. (like my new manual tire changer- it’ll go to the BOL for use on the mower and maybe a golf cart or trailer tire)
There is always more you can do. Stack something.
nick
Ask me for anything but time.
Or a puppet on strings. Something isn’t right with the physics in the video.
I thought xargs has come up here before:
find . -name ‘*.jpg’ | xargs rm
If the filenames have spaces:
find . -name ‘*.jpg’ -print0 | xargs -0 rm
If you are deleting large quantities of files on a regular basis you may want to consider a small Perl script. Perl is faster than the shell at certain file system operations.
60F and feels like normal humidity. Dog went out to do his business and cornered something large, slow, and stinky in the back yard. Lots of maniacal barking, which I had to go out and stop. No actual fighting, I don’t think. It was just light enough to see the movement, not the animal.
———–
coffee is almost ready for me, and I’m certainly ready for it.
———–
Lunch is packed and the kids are stirring. Time to get them moving a bit more.
n
@greg,
thanks, I will RTFM about xargs, and probably forget by the next time I need it.
If you are deleting large quantities of files on a regular basis
– the NVR software creates “thumbnails” both large and small, on a regular basis. IDK why, I’ve never looked at a thumb, and the video is saved as .m4p, so no thumb is displayed. I forget to delete them when I delete old video when the disk fills up. There were as many as 64K in one folder, but most folders were 59K files, so I must have deleted a bunch at some point. Doing that many files from the gui is nuts. Much better to CL … and a good example of why we still need a CL.
Can you imagine how long windows would sit and spin trying to make it’s own thumbs of a folder full of 60K jpgs?
n
Large slow and stinky was probably a skunk. Neighbor three doors down had one spray his dog this morning just minutes ago, and the street in front of my house reeked of skunk.
I don’t mind the smell, actually. Smells like burning rubber to me, and it’s not unpleasant. But I wouldn’t want it on me or our dog, and in my daughter’s bed or on the couch.
Dodged a bullet.
n
I didn’t mention that it’s overcast, not clear. And the temp dropped three degrees in the last hour. I think we might be headed for the possible freeze tonight after all.
n
Went down a rabbit hole about debanking. One of the various causes is a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR), i.e., you do something that the bank finds…questionable, and they are required by law to file a SAR with the government. Some of the text from the article:
and more
That’s pretty insane, no? You aren’t accused of any sort of crime, but the bank may feel it needs to close your accounts “just in case”. However, they are not allowed to tell you the reason, or even disclose that there *is* a reason.
Cleanup on Aisle 3
https://legalinsurrection.com/2024/12/reports-israel-bolsters-syria-buffer-zone-destroys-ousted-assad-regimes-chemical-stockpiles/
I have been sprayed by a skunk. 1967. Full load. Got that much spray, that close, and it was enough to make me gag and puke. I washed for a couple hours in the creek with various soaps. I thought I had it all. Nope. Turns out my sense of smell had become temporarily immune.
Others could smell me. I could fill a room. I was relegated to sleeping in the barn for the next week until the smell had somewhat dissipated. School then started so I was made to ride in the back of the bus with the window next to me open. It was still warm enough to have the windows down as buses back then did not have A/C. School was, ahem, interesting. Of course, I was the laughing stock for several days. Some sympathy from the teachers, mostly ridicule from the other students.
It took a couple of weeks before I was completely free of the odor. It gets in the pores and hair and takes time to go away.
It would be especially bad on a warehouse club desktop, regardless of whose name is on the outside.
The company stock is again at the price where the execs received their RSU grants this Spring.
Gonna need a bigger layoff soon.
Or the five days/week return to office mandate we’ve heard about starting after the first of the year.
Tomato juice cutting the odor of the spray residue is an urban legend originating with “The Partridge Family”.
The power of early 70s network TV.
That legend endures as subsequent generations discover the reruns.
US banks were effectively nationalized following the failure of Silicon Valley Bank, but they’ve been wards of the Federal Government since the “Great Recession”.
“Beware the sun’s ‘battle zone,’ a new phase after solar maximum”
https://www.chron.com/news/space/article/sun-battle-zone-19969702.php
“The phase will likely begin in the next year or two and last until 2028.”
“Solar maximum is the explosive peak of the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, when the number of sunspots on the sun’s surface is at its highest. These spots can unleash solar flares and coronal mass ejections that can trigger intense geomagnetic storms on Earth, disrupting satellites, astronauts, and communications signals like radio or GPS. They can also create dazzling auroras. In October, NASA confirmed the sun reached this period of greatest solar activity, which could continue for the next year or so. Eventually, the sun will reach solar minimum, with a reduction in sunspots until the next solar cycle begins.”
We are all going to die.
“Is Amazon preparing to buy Roku? Some analysts think it’s possible”
https://thestreamable.com/analysts-see-possibility-of-roku-being-acquired-by-amazon-the-trade-desk-or-another-company-in-2025
“Amazon, a retailer like Target or even internet media buying platforms like The Trade Desk could be in on a Roku acquisition, if one crops up.”
Or Walmart.
“UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooter Allegedly Used a 3D-Printed Gun”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooter-allegedly-used-a-3d-printed-gun
“It might be the first time someone used a 3D-printed gun to carry out an assassination.”
“Google’s Quantum Chip Can Do in 5 Minutes What Would Take Other Computers 10 Septillion Years”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-makes-quantum-leap-willow-chip-multiverse
“Google makes a quantum leap that suggests we may live in a multiverse.”
Quantum computers are not going to happen. They require dedicated hardware.
Amazon has their own platform, and the acquisition could draw anti trust attention.
Maybe Microsoft, but Redmond has botched every hardware acquisition they’ve tried.
Sony?
They bought a theater chain without drawing attention from regulators.
Factually, that is a given. When is the real problem. Unless you are on death row in Texas with a reservation for sparky.
Florida too, but Old Sparky is now optional. Injection is the default.
“USPS worker shot dead at Texas facility, co-worker arrested”
https://www.foxnews.com/us/usps-worker-shot-dead-at-texas-facility-co-worker-arrested
“A worker was shot dead at a USPS processing facility in Missouri City, Texas, Monday night and a co-worker has been taken into custody, Fox 26 Houston is reporting, citing local police and the USPS.”
“The deadly incident took place at around 10 p.m. when police were called to a processing facility at 611 Highway 90 Alt after reports of a shooting.”
“Police found one worker dead inside with gunshot wounds and arrested another employee.”
This is the mail sorting facility for Fort Bend County. I guess that we will not be getting mail today.
The big San Antonio “blowtorch” ClearChannel/IHeartRadio station fired their afternoon drive time host, Joe Pags, on the Friday after the election.
Normally, driving home, I only hear the tail end of the Cutie Pie (Hannity) Show so the sudden change came as a surprise last week, especially since Pags had run afternoon drive for 19 years.
The replacement was the syndicated Jesse Kelly, a huge step down IMHO, but I guess he fits in the slot after Cutie Pie better than Pags. The Kelly show is probably also cheaper, originating within the Premiere/IHeartRadio system.
The myth is at least two decades older.
I doubt the legend will die as long as “The Partridge Family” is seen somewhere.
Sony dumped the show on Tubi for now.
Wait, you mean that doesn’t actually work?
What does?
n
Time. Time heals all
woundsstinks.So much fail in this —
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14177579/california-mother-jessinya-mina-shot-killed-toddler-two-year-old-unsecured-gun.html
22yo with a 2 yo and a 6yo child with an 18yo boyfriend. Supposedly shot by the toddler. Except the boyfriend and the roommates were transporting her when EMS “took over”.
In Cali. leaving aside her poor life choices. BF is 18. Not legal to own a pistol. Why was she sleeping at 5pm? Where did the BF leave the gun? Where did he get it? I bet BF did it.
n
I recall reading this article:
Science: The seven deadly smells of a skunk
By John Emsley 4 August 1990
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12717282-900-science-the-seven-deadly-smells-of-a-skunk/
Dr. Wood was the first to isolate thioacetate compounds from skunk scent, which react with water and are responsible for the persistence of the smell. He continued research for years and was featured on an episode of Nature in 2009.
See also:
https://wgme.com/news/local/this-is-the-only-effective-diy-way-to-get-rid-of-skunk-stink
Another resource:
https://extensionpubs.unl.edu/publication/g2100/2011/html/view
*Neutroleum alpha is a trademark name for “methyl salicylate”. It his a scent masking solution with wider use than skunk scent. And it’s pricey.
http://www.chemcas.com/msds112/cas/176/119-36-8.asp
Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid dish soap should already be in every prepper’s stores. Successful use requires letting the liquid mixture dry before rinsing it off. Hydrogen peroxide has strong bleaching action, so this it should not be used on clothing.
“Israel Zeroes Out Syrian Military Before Hezbollah Can Seize It”
https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2024/12/10/israel-zeroes-out-syrian-military-before-hezbollah-can-seize-it-n3797751
Israel seems to be fairly well run lately compared to the USA. One expects that the new boss of the USA will do a much better job than the potato that he is replacing.
Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid dish soap should already be in every prepper’s stores. Successful use requires letting the liquid mixture dry before rinsing it off. Hydrogen peroxide has strong bleaching action, so this it should not be used on clothing.
Basically, removal of the first layer of skin.
The mission readiness numbers of the IAF must match the 90% or so the USAF had back in the heyday of the cold war.
BREAKING: Nancy Mace Assaulted on Capitol Hill by Transgender Activist
https://redstate.com/terichristoph/2024/12/10/breaking-nancy-mace-assaulted-on-capitol-hill-by-transgender-activist-n2183047
Note that this appears to be simple assault, with a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
or one-tenth the FACE Act penalty for blocking access to an abortion clinic if an injury occurs.
“Israel Zeroes Out Syrian Military Before Hezbollah Can Seize It”
There’s been a lot of angst about trading the Assad regime for a pack of Al-quaeda. Destroying Assad’s weapons, including chemical WMD’s, puts this in the win column for the region. The people of Syria will likely pay the price.
Now wouldn’t it be a shame the next time the Afghan’s parade U.S. military equipment after Jan 20 if homing missiles descended and blew our property into scrap.
James Piereson: DOGE Targets National Endowment for Democracy’s Federal Funding
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2024/12/09/james_piereson_doge_targets_national_endowment_for_democracys_federal_funding.html
Easy $320 million per year savings.
“Basically, removal of the first layer of skin.”
Remember Granny’s lye soap from The Beverly Hillbillies?
Mrs. Drysdale: “Your skin is like leather!”
Granny: “Nice, isn’t it?”
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2024/12/a-new-era-in-civil-rights.php
cue to 1:44:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgp_7Nk6vjI
46F and windy. I don’t know if it will freeze tonight, but I did bring my potted lime under the patio roof. I didn’t harvest all the herbs though. If it freezes, they’ll all be lost.
I am glad I shut off and drained the hose bibs at the BOL, as it always gets colder there.
Time for bed, as I can’t do anything about the weather, and tomorrow is another day.
n
And if you use it on hair, you will be blond.
Here’s an idea: end all federal funding of all NGOs. Why should they exist at all? If what they do is a valid function of government, then it probably should be done *by* the government. If not, then it should not be done at all.
The exception would be things like medical care, which may well be provided by nonprofit organizations on a fee-for-service basis (i.e., for Medicare and the VA).