Fri. Feb. 21, 2025 – another week without a world war…

By on February 21st, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, government, personal

Another week of winter. Cold again today, but slightly warmer, with a warming trend into the weekend. Hope so anyway. It was a bit warmer Thursday but still got pretty cold in the evening. 25F and windy feels arctic… Kid was wrapping up in a blanket waiting for the bus, and at school. Although, as she put it. she’d have to suck it up and pretend she wasn’t cold because you can’t choose to wear a miniskirt and then look cold…

Kid’s smart and dumb at the same time…

I woke up yesterday with some bad and specific back pain. I have been hurting for several days, but some stretching and gentle “adjustment” put me back into my “normal” range. Yesterday it was making me nauseous. So I stretched and went back to bed. Woke feeling normal, but that blew my plan for the day. Had a telemedicine followup early afternoon, then kid taxi stuff. Basically blew the afternoon too. Sometimes it be that way.

Today I’ve got pickups and home stuff to do. I need to get moving by mid-morning, and I should be done by late afternoon. I’m hoping the weather is sunny and warm… but I’ll take ‘clear’.

I don’t think anyone gets to 58 years of age without picking up a few aches and pains, and some minor disabilities. Some people have more than a few, and they aren’t so minor, so I’m grateful for every day with the minor issues I have. However, some days it does catch up with you. That has serious implications for prepping too.

Food for thought.

Stack some stuff to make it easier, or to compensate.

nick

66 Comments and discussion on "Fri. Feb. 21, 2025 – another week without a world war…"

  1. Greg Norton says:

    Couldn’t rip it using Handbrake.  There are some discs that I think they play games with the directories and menu system so that Handbrake can’t work.   Disc one, the movie, shows with 4 “tracks” each almost 2 hours long, and a bunch of short tracks.   8 hours won’t fit on a DVD so something is lying.   It plays fine in VLC and I’m sure in a stand alone player, but won’t rip.  I dislike when people mess around with standards.

    Use VLC to play the main feature of the disc using the menu system. Then, watch what track VLC selects for playback. That will be the number to target with your ripping tool.

    If HandBrake gets too confused with the large number of tracks, use MakeMKV. Registration every 30 days is required but free.

    I had to resort to command line mplayer on Linux for Jar Jar Abrams first “Star Trek” flick DVD. The actual playback track is … 37?

    A DVD has to meet the standard for playback in the living room. BluRay is a lot more challenging depending on how much money the studio wants to spend on security.

    Surprisingly, “Top Gun Maverick” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” were easy to crack.

  2. Greg Norton says:

    But that code doesn’t have any line numbers or a single GOTO command….  it can’t be real code….

    My “lead” knows how to use goto statements in C.

    Either him or the AI he’s using to write his cr*ppy code, which is mostly my code mangled/regurgitated by the “assist” tool.

    The AI generated Go code which management still wants me to fix for another young’n’ doesn’t have goto statements from what I’ve seen so far, but I don’t want to think that is supported with Kernigan being a stickler about things like bracket placement to begin a function.

    The standard Go install even provides a code formatter to rearrange things the “proper” way lest you get too far off the reservation with your import statements.

    Really?

  3. Greg Norton says:

    Surprisingly, “Top Gun Maverick” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” were easy to crack.

    “Stop Making Sense” too. Sadly, putting the amazing 7.1 Atmos audio track into the output produced by HandBrake results in a file which is too large to stash on the SD card I keep in the Kindle Fire.

    Which reminds me – pay attention to the audio track that HandBrake selects and how it processes the data. If the sound mix is important on the M4V/MP4 for archiving, do a passthru of the highest quality audio.

    And watch to make sure that you don’t get the director’s commentary on an older disc or “special edition” where those things are still present.

  4. Ray Thompson says:

    I don’t think anyone gets to 58 years of age without picking up a few aches and pains, and some minor disabilities

    I am 74, broke my back at 22, knee replacement at 71, take pills for blood pressure and type diabetes, hearing aids. I consider myself lucky that I am still quite mobile and don’t suffer from major aches that put me down.

    Mr. Nick seems to have more than his fair share of aches.

  5. Nick Flandrey says:

    The broken back asserts itself occasionally, especially after overexertion.

    The latest was “metabolic activity in the neck consistent with degeneration” which was volunteered in a report on some imagery unrelated to my neck…  so it must have been enough to get the radiologist’s attention.

    No one here gets out alive.

    ———–

    33F and not much breeze.  At least it is light earlier so we can see each other freezing at the bus stop.

    n

  6. ITGuy1998 says:

    I don’t think anyone gets to 58 years of age without picking up a few aches and pains, and some minor disabilities.

    51 and in decent shape. I’ve had a bulging disc (L3-L4) for years that has given me problems off and on. In the past couple years the pain has been more consistent. Steroid injections help, and last anywhere from 3 – 6 months. I’m scheduled for another one in April, or sooner if the pain becomes too bad. 

    I’ve found, like Nick, that exercises help a lot. I do specific stretches and PT exercises every night that really helps keep things aligned and pain minimized.

    I asked my doc when surgery comes into play. She said “you’ll know. When the pain gets to be too much, you will tell me.” 5 years ago, I would have said never. Now? I can see a day in the future where I will get surgery. I can look back and see the gentle ramp up in pain, with it increasing in intensity and duration more recently.

    At least I can still walk 3 miles with the dog and run a couple miles (slowly!) Interestingly, walking for distance is one of the things that irritate the disc. Running does not.

  7. Nick Flandrey says:

    Sitting becomes a problem, which seems crazy, but it’s sometimes one of the most painful daily things I do.

    n

  8. brad says:

    pretend she wasn’t cold because you can’t choose to wear a miniskirt and then look cold

    Oh dear. Teenage girls…

    I’ve found, like Nick, that exercises help a lot.

    Absolutely. My lower back started bugging me quite a few years ago. Exercise (weights, sit-ups, etc.) followed by stretching improved it quite a lot. Running is out, because my knees don’t tolerate it any more, but hiking is fine.

    Strangely, playing tennis is also ok, even though it involves a lot of running around. I’m a terrible tennis player, but my club puts up with it with good humor. As I tell them: you have to watch out, because you never know what a ball I hit is going to do – and neither do I.

  9. Greg Norton says:

    By order of the Lt. Governor. HAHA

    HBO’s “Silicon Valley”.

    Hot Dog or Not Hot Dog.

  10. EdH says:

    I have a friend visiting Anchorage.

    When he stepped out of the elevator this morning he was met by a SWAT team.  Apparently there is a hostage situation on another floor than his, and all the other hotel guests were notified and removed downstairs … except they missed  him and his son!

    He’s a pretty phlegmatic kind of guy: “ We’re showered, dressed, and ready for the day – the rest of the guests are in PJ’s.   And free breakfast!”

  11. EdH says:

    At least I can still walk 3 miles with the dog and run a couple miles (slowly!) Interestingly, walking for distance is one of the things that irritate the disc. Running does not.

    Yes, L3-L4, mild pain and numbness in the thigh during walks.

    My doc when reviewing the scans & reports said it “isn’t bad enough for surgery yet” and then paused, as if he expected me to argue for it.  No, not until it is all the time pain & severe.  

  12. Ray Thompson says:

    A/C Heating unit is on its last legs. Yesterday the thermostat called for heat and there was none. I rebooted the thermostat and that got the unit going. A technician came out and found some deep browning on the control board near two 5-watt resistors and some dark places on the board connector indicating heat from current draw. The new control board is $450.00. I don’t want to spend any more money on the unit.

    I have had to replace the condenser fan, both capacitors, two pounds of freon, inducer fan, and inducer motor over the last three years. The unit is 15+ years old, Carrier, with an average lifespan of 10-12 years. It is time to replace the unit before a major component fails.

    I can get a new two stage heating and cooling unit, 4 tons, installed, with new 5-wire thermostat wire (right now I have a 4 to C converter) for $10.6K. Ugh. The A/C guy will order the unit today, will have it tomorrow and will hold it for me. I have scheduled installation for April 15. The delay is for cash flow issues and when there is a time of nicer weather. If the unit breaks before then the A/C guy will have it on his premises and can install it within a day.

    Not the news I wanted to hear, but not entirely unexpected.

    11
  13. Nick Flandrey says:

    @ray, control boards for older units are pretty generic and can be ordered on ebay.   I did a board swap myself to keep my old system running.   I know why you want to change for new, but it’s an option.

    I’m curious if your guy will push for connected t stat like Greg’s system…   I’ve got a very basic t stat and we don’t do any time of day adjustments, since I’m here all day.    I put a third party t stat on the system at the BOL so we could monitor and adjust the system remotely, and that’s very handy.   Since it isn’t my home network I’m not particularly worried about chinese back doors or data collection.

    ——

    had my lunch now it’s time to get some stuff done.

    n

  14. Nick Flandrey says:

    How very puritan (and coasting on inertia) to think the hooters outfits are “revealing”.  FFS, don’t the authors have internet access?

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/consumer/article-14421723/hooters-brink-bankruptcy-filing-restaurant-closure-fears.html 

    The sports bar-style restaurant is well known for its wings and its scantily clad waitresses, ‘Hooters Girls’ 

    Hooters – known for its scantily-clad waitresses – is preparing to file for bankruptcy, becoming the latest American restaurant chain facing financial problems.

    The US arm of the chain is preparing to restructure through Chapter 11 in the coming months, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News this morning.

    Hooters has enlisted law firm Ropes & Gray to assist with the filing, expected within two months, the sources said. 

    Like other struggling chains such as Red Lobster – which filed for bankruptcy in the summer –  Hooters is blaming the rising cost of rent and food and customers eating out less.

    In the fall it emerged that bosses at the 42-year-old chain were in urgent talks with lenders and advisers as the popular chain tried to address $300 million of debts.

    – let me guess.   The smart boys were all about leveraging the free money, “unlocking” growth, and expanded rapidly with financial shenanigans.     So the debt comes due, it’s not free anymore, and you can’t meet your payments, because the business environment has changed…

    At least everyone who made the decisions that might kill the company are protected and well compensated….   thanks to friendly boards…

    n

  15. lynn says:

    >>Here is the final C++ code that I was working on the other day that I am pushing to the users tonight as version 16.23:

      DataItem * comItem = getItem (GEN_COM, SYM_general, false);
      std::vector <std::string> comIds;
      if (comItem)
       comIds = comItem -> getInputStringArrayValue ();

    Umm, yeah, I knew there was a reason writing COBOL code was my favorite. 

    Hey, that there is Grade A C++ code with C pointers thrown in it for speed.  It is a lot faster to pass a 4 byte pointer instead of a 600 byte object so we do that all over the place.  That code is also reentrant and event driven.

  16. Nick Flandrey says:

    and not a single GOSUB…

    feh, and you call yourself a programmer…

    n

    🙂

  17. Nick Flandrey says:

    Ok now I really AM leaving the house…

    n

  18. drwilliams says:

    Whatever floats your bits. 

  19. EdH says:

    My Alaska-visiting friend says flash bangs, shots, and apparent window entry … all over now, the police surrounding the hotel are starting to stand down.

  20. Ray Thompson says:

    I’m curious if your guy will push for connected t stat like Greg’s system

    No, well, sort of. He will install the system using my current Ecobee thermostat. I have four wires to the thermostat instead of five. I have a converter box installed in the unit that provides a “C” wire so the thermostat has power. The installers will run new five cable so the converter box can be eliminated.

    The A/C guy said he may have a board in his boneyard that I could have for $0.00. He did not recommend that solution giving the age of the unit. In his words “I would be polishing a turd”. A comment I heard about the garage door spring replacement. The new unit will be more efficient and qualifies for a tax credit. He said replacing the board is just delaying more problems. Specifically the compressor has past its design life and there are micro-leaks in the coils. All very expensive to replace. He said it is better to act now and have a good, efficient, reliable system. He also said to avoid Carrier and his preference is Trane.

    Hey, that there is Grade A C++ code with C pointers thrown in it for speed.  It is a lot faster to pass a 4 byte pointer instead of a 600 byte object so we do that all over the place

    Yeh, in COBOL all a programmer passes is gas. And I was a really good COBOL programmer.

  21. ITGuy1998 says:

    He also said to avoid Carrier and his preference is Trane.

    I think both are fine. I have two units, the originals were both Carriers. I replaced one last year and one this year and went with Carrier again for both. The originals lasted 13-14 years, so a good life. I did several repairs myself. I went with Carrier again because it is easy to get parts.

    I also have ecobee thermostats. I despise connected devices, but I gave in. I do have them completely separate access point and network, so there is no access to anything else.

  22. Greg Norton says:

    How very puritan (and coasting on inertia) to think the hooters outfits are “revealing”.  FFS, don’t the authors have internet access?
     

    Everything from the cleavage down is covered with the Hooters waitress uniform.

    Peavey hosiery, usually two layers, go under the circa 1985 Dolfin shorts.

    The wives ran the restaurants in Florida at the original locations back in the day. They put together the uniforms and hired the girls.

  23. Lynn says:

    Well crap, I found out yesterday that I am prediabetic.  My A1C back in September was 5.8.  If I had bothered to go to my appointment back then, I would have found that out.  Instead, I forgot the appointment and did not find out until yesterday.  The good thing is that I have dropped 13 lbs since then, 263 to 250 lbs.  The new GP doc says that I need to drop another 20 or 30 lbs to get out of the prediabetic stage and stop eating sugar.  They took a bunch of blood from me this morning for updates and we are going to talk when I get back from Oklahoma.

    This getting old thing really sucks.

  24. Lynn says:

    Another week of winter. Cold again today, but slightly warmer, with a warming trend into the weekend. Hope so anyway. It was a bit warmer Thursday but still got pretty cold in the evening. 25F and windy feels arctic… Kid was wrapping up in a blanket waiting for the bus, and at school. Although, as she put it. she’d have to suck it up and pretend she wasn’t cold because you can’t choose to wear a miniskirt and then look cold…

    The kids around here are wearing sweat pants or tights under their skirts.  Seems logical to me.

  25. Lynn says:

    I don’t think anyone gets to 58 years of age without picking up a few aches and pains, and some minor disabilities. Some people have more than a few, and they aren’t so minor, so I’m grateful for every day with the minor issues I have. However, some days it does catch up with you. That has serious implications for prepping too.

    Just wait for your middle 60s.  It goes from a gentle slope to a high speed slide downhill.  Screaming all the way.

    My parents tell me that hitting 80 is like downhill on a roller coaster with no uphill segments.

  26. Lynn says:

    But that code doesn’t have any line numbers or a single GOTO command….  it can’t be real code….

    n

    Just imagine 700,000 lines of code like that in hundreds of classes and thousands of methods for just our user interface, the calculation engine is 850,000 lines more.  It is a huge maelstrom of code when you are debugging.

    I’ve actually been called a pansy (and way worse) on the intertubes for using an IDE (interactive development environment) to edit, compile, debug, and link the software together.  There are some real crazy people out there.

  27. Ken Mitchell says:

    I found out yesterday that I am prediabetic.

    Standard recommendation to move toward a low-carb, high protein diet, and you don’t have to be extreme about that. More meat, more eggs, more cheese, fewer slices of cake, fewer cookies, fewer potatoes. Less pasta or bread.  “Subway” style sandwiches are right out, but “Subway” will make your sandwich as a “wrap”, where the tortilla doesn’t add as many carbs as the bread does. Rabbit food (salads, etc) at your discretion. GENTLE exercise; walking is good, jogging is bad. Running is NOT recommended, unless there is something chasing you.

  28. Greg Norton says:

    I’ve actually been called a pansy (and way worse) on the intertubes for using an IDE (interactive development environment) to edit, compile, debug, and link the software together.  There are some real crazy people out there.
     

    Unless you are doing kernel driver development on Windows, Visual Studio is the tool of choice IMHO.

    On Linux, however, I view IDEs for C/C++ as the work of Satan, particularly VS Code, which is Microsoft’s method of deprecating older Linux distros which many developers still depend upon.

  29. Ray Thompson says:

    I have two units, the originals were both Carriers.

    My current unit is a Carrier. The biggest issue is no access to clean the expansion coils. Cleaning would require removing a shroud and disconnecting the duct work. Mine is a pack unit, outside the house, with everything inside the pack. A popular configuration here. The company that installed it no longer sells Carrier.

    I am now going with another company, a local operator. I know him and his kids from the high school sports. He does work and bills me. No payment at the time of service. I did not ask why he likes Trane over Carrier. Kickbacks, easy to service, whatever. Everyone has had good, and bad, experiences with the major brands. 

  30. Lynn says:

    “Commiefornia’s Energy Crisis: State-Owned Refineries, a Recipe for Disaster”

        https://thelibertydaily.com/commiefornias-energy-crisis-state-owned-refineries-recipe-disaster/

    “California is considering state ownership of oil refineries as a response to the potential closure of several major refineries due to environmental regulations and market dynamics.

    • The closure of refineries, such as the Phillips 66 facility in Wilmington, could lead to fuel shortages, price spikes and logistical issues, given California’s limited import options and lack of a multi-state logistics network.
    • The proposal for state ownership is viewed as problematic, with concerns raised about the government’s ability to efficiently run refineries and manage the complex industry.
    • California’s regulatory environment, including policies like banning gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, has contributed to the current refinery crisis by making it unprofitable for private companies to operate in the state.
    • The situation highlights the need for a more balanced approach to energy policy, as California’s current trajectory could result in higher gas prices, shortages and a government struggling to address the problems it has created.”

    Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !

    California cannot even keep Los Angeles from burning.  What do you think that they will do with vaporized gasoline ?

  31. Denis says:

    Running is NOT recommended, unless there is something chasing you.

    My friends all have instructions that if they ever see me running, they are to shoot whatever is chasing me!

    Weird sudden rise in temperature here, more than 20 degrees C in less than two days, going from frosty conditions to shorts and t-shirt weather. Body is not liking switching modes from survive the cold to uncomfortably warm.

    The “crocus” holiday period in the Netherlands began today. I had to travel in Germany, and the Autobahn was clogged with Dutch cars stuffed with luggage, ski gear on the roof, and driving slowly in the passing lane. Grr. Never a GAU-8 on-board when you need one…

    The first of the early daffodils are blooming outdoors, and I had a vivid dream last night of conversing with my late father, who died during a cold snap in early March some years ago. The neighbours shovelled snow so that his remains could be carried out of the house. He and my late mother loved daffodils, and their garden was a riot of yellow in spring. I planted daffodils on their grave. Bittersweet.

  32. Lynn says:

    I found out yesterday that I am prediabetic.

    Standard recommendation to move toward a low-carb, high protein diet, and you don’t have to be extreme about that. More meat, more eggs, more cheese, fewer slices of cake, fewer cookies, fewer potatoes. Less pasta or bread.  “Subway” style sandwiches are right out, but “Subway” will make your sandwich as a “wrap”, where the tortilla doesn’t add as many carbs as the bread does. Rabbit food (salads, etc) at your discretion. GENTLE exercise; walking is good, jogging is bad. Running is NOT recommended, unless there is something chasing you.

    Yeah, I have been moving in that direction already.  I walk 1.5 miles/day five days a week.  No more stopping at Shipley Donuts every other day or so for a one lb apple fritter.  Salads for lunch and supper most days.

    No jogging, I tried to amputate my left knee in a glass door back in 1987.  They put it back together with 100 stitches (65 inside stitches).  I cannot feel the knee since I cut all the nerves but it does move ok for walking.

    Hey, no more toasted sourdough bread with blackberry jam once or twice a day ?  I would rather die.

  33. Lynn says:

    “Larry Correia brings the smackdown to wannabe auditors”

        https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2025/02/larry-correia-brings-smackdown-to.html

    “The inimitable Larry Correia, best-selling author and friend, has written another outstanding (and rather profane) rant against those who presume to know what’s involved in an audit, such as those currently being conducted of the operations of government administration.  (Being a chartered accountant and a forensic auditor, he knows whereof he speaks.)  Here are some excerpts.”

    Yeah, when I see people talking down the auditors, that is a sure sign that something bad is going on.

  34. Lynn says:

    “Practice Pearls”

        https://areaocho.com/practice-pearls/

    “I have done previous posts on firefighting, brain injuries, and other things seen in my various lines of work. Response to these insights into how the sausage is made have been generally positive, so I figured I would toss out another one.”

    “Ever since Florida legalized medical marijuana, those of us who work in the emergency department have seen an alarming uptick in people coming in with complaints of nonstop vomiting. If you ask, they will usually admit to you that they smoke marijuana. Those who won’t admit it always show it on toxicology screens.”

    “The syndrome that is responsible for this is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, or CHS. This is a fairly new thing that has been becoming more and more of a thing since the legalization of marijuana has gained steam across the country.”

    I have been wondering if THC gummies would help me get to sleep before 4 am.  I am not going to wonder anymore.  I do not need projectile vomiting as a new feature.

    5
    1
  35. Nick Flandrey says:

    GAU-8  – not only will it stop them in their tracks, it will push the debris off the road.

    ———-

    Daffodils – I pulled an all nighter at an oil company office in Aberdeen Scotland over a decade ago, and as we came out in the pre-dawn, there was low mist, and a field of daffodils next to the car park.  Smell  of smoke on the air.   Silvery gloaming.   One of the travel memories I take out and polish now and then… 

    ———-

    @lynn, slice the bread half as thick.   Cuts the carbs in half.   Switch to premium no sugar added jam…    Taper off.  It’s better than losing your feet.   and yeah, that apple fritter is SO GOOD.

    ———-

    WRT state owned refineries,   there are plenty of negative examples in south america…

    Doing so would be just another step on the road to third world status.

    ———

    Back from my pickups.  It was mostly stuff for me.   Stopped at a couple of estate sales in the area, as I had an hour before one pickup opened for business.   Prices were generally high.   One was REALLY high for an estate sale.   I did get some 80s vinyl at about $4/album with the covers in horrible condition.   I like to pay less, but they were artists I want for my own collection, and $4 isn’t a bad price for anything from the 80s.   I got a zippo letter opener, and a calibri cigar cutter for $3 at the other sale.   Both scores.   Zippo anything is collectible and Colibri is too, with the cutter selling for around $40.  Much nicer than the $2 plastic cutters.  Given how high everything else was priced they clearly didn’t realize the stuff was branded.  I probably should have picked up the partial bottle of Laphroaig scotch too, now that I look up the cost of a bottle.   It would have been for company as I don’t drink alcohol, and never liked scotch anyway.  Oh well, someone else will enjoy it more.

    n

  36. Greg Norton says:

    Like other struggling chains such as Red Lobster – which filed for bankruptcy in the summer –  Hooters is blaming the rising cost of rent and food and customers eating out less.

    Hooters is a credit card restaurant, much like the other Tampa-originated chain, Outback Steakhouse, but the charge looks funny on an expense account reimbursement for a business traveler.

    It wouldn’t surprise me to see Bloomin’ Brands file for Bankruptcy or acquired by private equity.

    The Carabba’s co-founder, Damien Mandola, who lives locally, put a bullseye on Tampa with his latest concept, developed in Austin since the non-compete with Bloomin’ expired.

    https://mandolas.com/

    We went to Uncle Damien’s fancy restaurant south of Austin, Trattoria Lisina, for our anniversary dinner splurge.

  37. drwilliams says:

    @lynn

    Do you happen to know what federal permits/licenses are required for refineries?

    I’d like to see Trump’s DoE/EPA inform the State of California that they have no track record that would argue that they could run an oil refinery, making it unlikely that the DoE/EPA would approve transfer of federal permits.

  38. Lynn says:

    Switch to premium no sugar added jam…

    No, no, no, no!  I gave up my apple fritters, now I have to give up my blackberry jam too ?

       https://www.heb.com/product-detail/h-e-b-more-fruit-blackberry-fruit-spread-15-5-oz/126758

    “BLACKBERRIES, SUGAR, WATER, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: FRUIT PECTIN, CITRIC ACID, CAROB BEAN GUM, BLACK CARROT JUICE CONCENTRATE (COLOR).”

    It does not have high fructose corn syrup in it.  But it does have sugar.

    It is like putting liquid blackberries on your toast, pancakes, etc.

  39. Lynn says:

    @lynn

    Do you happen to know what federal permits/licenses are required for refineries?

    I’d like to see Trump’s DoE/EPA inform the State of California that they have no track record that would argue that they could run an oil refinery, making it unlikely that the DoE/EPA would approve transfer of federal permits.

    The real question is, which permits are NOT required to run a refinery ?

    Every refinery in the world, especially the USA, has contaminated the ground water underneath them.  Until 1970, if they had a bad batch of diesel or gasoline, they dug a hole in the ground and poured it into the hole.  No liner, no nothing.  By the time the refinery had another bad batch, the hole was empty and ready for more hydrocarbons.

    All refineries run in batch mode.  They will take anywhere from 10,000 to 10,000,000 barrels of crude oil and convert it into gasoline, naptha, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel, etc.  And then start working on the next batch.

  40. drwilliams says:

    @Lynn

    “Every refinery in the world, especially the USA, has contaminated the ground water underneath them”

    And the CA refineries have added MTBE.

  41. Nick Flandrey says:

    The article used the future tense when describing what “could” happen, and yet all those listed things HAVE happened.

    Delusion.

    n

  42. Lynn says:

    “The Electric State | Official Trailer | Netflix”

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpN98z8Kf5E

    “In the aftermath of the robot war, the only path forward is into THE ELECTRIC STATE. Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci and directed by the Russo Brothers, only on Netflix MARCH 14. 

    “Set in a retro-futuristic past, this blockbuster adventure from filmmakers Anthony and Joe Russo follows Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), an orphaned teenager who traverses the American West in search of her younger brother. Joining her on the journey is a sweet but mysterious robot and an eccentric drifter (Chris Pratt). The film also stars Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Woody Norman, Giancarlo Esposito and Stanley Tucci. Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, Hank Azaria, Colman Domingo and Alan Tudyk join the cast in voice roles. THE ELECTRIC STATE premieres globally on Netflix MARCH 14.”

    Looks good.

  43. Nick Flandrey says:

    Mystery as feds swoop on JetBlue plane and detain its PILOT

     

    Jeremy Gudorf, 33, was detained at a Boston airport after a warrant for his arrest was discovered during a routine check of the plane’s occupants.

    – does anyone else think that a “routine check” of plane passengers for federal warrants is F’ing strange?   And completely out of line?

    n

  44. Lynn says:

    The article used the future tense when describing what “could” happen, and yet all those listed things HAVE happened.

    Delusion.

    n

    I assume that you mean the refinery article ???

  45. Lynn says:

    Mystery as feds swoop on JetBlue plane and detain its PILOT

     

    Jeremy Gudorf, 33, was detained at a Boston airport after a warrant for his arrest was discovered during a routine check of the plane’s occupants.

    – does anyone else think that a “routine check” of plane passengers for federal warrants is F’ing strange?   And completely out of line?

    n

    I just a notice from GPA (Gas Processors Association) that TSA has proposed to start running cyber security at all Refineries and Natural Gas Plants in the USA.  The GPA said no freaking way and urged all of us to contact our congresscritter.

    ““GPA Midstream and other energy trade associations submitted comments to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in response to the agency’s proposed rulemaking: “Enhancing Surface Cyber Risk Management.””

    “Why it matters: The alliance of associations submitting the comments represents each segment of the oil and gas industry affected by TSA’s proposed rule, including midstream hazardous liquid and gas pipelines, gas processing plants, refineries, gas utilities, and liquified natural gas (LNG) facilities.”

  46. drwilliams says:

    @Lynn

    I can recommend:

    St. Dalfour Black Raspberry Fruit Spread – 10oz – 100% from Fruit, No Artificial Ingredients, Non GMO, No Cane Sugars, All Natural – Pack of 6

    https://www.amazon.com/St-Dalfour-Natural-Spread-Raspberry/dp/B004AHD5VK?th=1&tag=ttgnet-20

    I just finished a jar last weekend–on toast.

    Good on pancakes, too. Not as good as maple syrup, but good.

  47. drwilliams says:

    I just a notice from GPA (Gas Processors Association) that TSA has proposed to start running cyber security at all Refineries and Natural Gas Plants in the USA.  The GPA said no freaking way and urged all of us to contact our congresscritter.

    ““GPA Midstream and other energy trade associations submitted comments to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in response to the agency’s proposed rulemaking: “Enhancing Surface Cyber Risk Management.””

    “Why it matters: The alliance of associations submitting the comments represents each segment of the oil and gas industry affected by TSA’s proposed rule, including midstream hazardous liquid and gas pipelines, gas processing plants, refineries, gas utilities, and liquified natural gas (LNG) facilities.”

    Trying to find another basket to put eggs in and leverage their mad skills in cyber security…

  48. Lynn says:

    @Lynn

    I can recommend:

    St. Dalfour Black Raspberry Fruit Spread – 10oz – 100% from Fruit, No Artificial Ingredients, Non GMO, No Cane Sugars, All Natural – Pack of 6

    https://www.amazon.com/St-Dalfour-Natural-Spread-Raspberry/dp/B004AHD5VK?th=1&tag=ttgnet-20

    I just finished a jar last weekend–on toast.

    Good on pancakes, too. Not as good as maple syrup, but good.

    I am going to try “GOOD GOOD No Added Sugar Blackberry Jam – Low Calorie & Low Carb – Keto Friendly Jelly – Vegan – Gluten Free – Preserves – 12 Ounce (Pack of 1)”, 5 calories for 1 tbsp:

       https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP2P14WM?tag=ttgnet-20

    I used to eat the St. Dalfour. It is excellent but high calorie.

  49. Lynn says:

    “Ray Dalio: America’s Hidden Civil War, and the Race to Beat China in Tech, Economics, and Academia”

       https://tuckercarlson.com/tucker-show-ray-dalio

    “Chapters

    5 chapters in this episode

    1. The Hidden Civil War Happening in the US

    2. Will the Advancement of Tech Destroy Us?

    3. Ray Dalio’s Predictions About AI

    4. Should We End the Development of AI?

    5. China vs. the US In the Race for AI Advancement”

  50. drwilliams says:

    Holding Employers Accountable: ICE, HSI Charge Business in TX for Harboring 8 Illegal Alien Employees

    HSI says the owners, who are both lawful permanent residents in the US, admitted they knew the aliens were in the US illegally and that they harbored them on their personal property via employing them.

    Two of the Mexican illegal aliens interviewed by HSI said the same, the owners were aware of their unlawful status and “willfully” harbored them onto the property.

    https://redstate.com/wardclark/2025/02/21/holding-employers-accountable-ice-hsi-charges-business-owners-for-harboring-illegal-aliens-n2185848

    Lawful permanent residents not so lawful? Could this be a common pattern? 

    Then simultaneous raids on Tyson chicken plants in multiple states, followed by early morning hours arrests of the CEO, president, all VP’s, and every freaking one of the board. Perp walk in jammies.

  51. drwilliams says:

    @Lynn

    “I am going to try “GOOD GOOD No Added Sugar Blackberry Jam – Low Calorie & Low Carb – Keto Friendly Jelly – Vegan – Gluten Free – Preserves – 12 Ounce (Pack of 1)”, 5 calories for 1 tbsp:”

    Before you pull the trigger on that purchase, compare ratings and cost per ounce. The cost per ounce on the Dalfor is incorrect–divide by the number of jars: $2.68/6 = $0.45.

    I like the tall skinny jars, too. My refrigerator door space is always a premium with all the condiments.

    My jar says 45 cal per serving.

  52. drwilliams says:

    @NIck

    “. Will the Advancement of Tech Destroy Us?”

    Aliens intervening in Earth’s affairs because we “advanced technology too rapidly”, or just our own apocalypse without aliens, was a big theme in American science fiction in the 50’s and 60’s. By comparison there have been a handful of stories dealing with the perils of other advances. Vernor Vinge wrote two of the best with his “Bobble” novels, The Peace War and Marooned in Realtime (collected in SFBC’s Across Realtime).

    Many is the time I have yearned for a gun that shoots bobbles.

  53. drwilliams says:

    https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=413769

    Tonight’s rating is 4.

    Thank you, Pooh.

  54. Lynn says:

    “I am going to try “GOOD GOOD No Added Sugar Blackberry Jam – Low Calorie & Low Carb – Keto Friendly Jelly – Vegan – Gluten Free – Preserves – 12 Ounce (Pack of 1)”, 5 calories for 1 tbsp:”

    Before you pull the trigger on that purchase, compare ratings and cost per ounce. The cost per ounce on the Dalfor is incorrect–divide by the number of jars: $2.68/6 = $0.45.

    I like the tall skinny jars, too. My refrigerator door space is always a premium with all the condiments.

    My jar says 45 cal per serving.

    https://www.heb.com/product-detail/h-e-b-more-fruit-blackberry-fruit-spread-15-5-oz/126758

    My HEB More Fruit is 30 calories per tbsp.  The Good Good jam is 5 calories per tbsp.

    I gotta try the zero sugar jam to see how bad it is.  I suspect it tastes like sugar free jello.

    I dropped 40 lbs in 2004 by cutting ALL sugar for six months.  272 → 232 lbs.  

    I don’t want to cut my feet off in a couple of years.  Three of my blood aunts are diabetic (one controlled her diabetes by dropping 50 lbs).  My 84 year old mom is older and heavier than them and not diabetic, go figure.

  55. Nick Flandrey says:

    Too bad they got the math wrong and the bobbles popped.  

    I’ve often thought that the model of the tinkers after the biowars and the oppression was how things could logically end up.

    I never really understood the singularity in the second book.

    n

  56. Lynn says:

    I am driving to an engineering conference Sunday, Monday until Thursday.  There is going to be food everywhere.  Lots of fried, greasy food.  And Beer.  Lots of beer.  The hotel has a free full service breakfast also.  It will be a disaster.  Usually I come back from these things five lbs heavier.

  57. Nick Flandrey says:

    I really like the cherry preserves at HEB.   I don’t eat enough of them to worry about the sugar much.   

    n

  58. Nick Flandrey says:

    @lynn, when I was doing Atkins full time, stage two, I was also doing trade show support for a living.    The Rosemont Convention center in Chicago has one food vendor, someone’s brother in law.   Not a lot of low carb choices.

    It takes commitment.

    n

  59. Lynn says:

    Here is today’s video, “twenty one pilots: Stressed Out [OFFICIAL VIDEO] ”

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXRviuL6vMY

    BTW, that is India Ink on Tyler’s neck and hands. Not tats.

  60. Nick Flandrey says:

    @drwilliams, the “dad’s making friends” video was what drives my daughter nuts.    We had “friends of the moment” when I was growing up.   Some kids ended up in the same place at the same time, so you got together and did stuff.   You played a game, explored, or just hung out.   Then you went your separate ways when the street lights came on.   This was really common when we were out camping.   We’d hang out with whatever kids were around in the campground.

    ===

    I’m in the check out line at goodwill, strike up a conversation with a guy in line, and he suggests getting together for a cigar… or pipe.    (he found a pipe stand, mid century modern, in walnut, and I congratulated him on his score.)

    Daughter is amazed.  How did you do that?  He gave you his number and you made a date.  [not a gay date, although it’s possible that was his motivation.  He’d have to be pretty desperate though…]

    We learned as kids to get along, do stuff together, and have fun for a while.   kids today don’t live in the actual physical world and have trouble with real interactions.

    They can’t meet people and act casually.   

    No wonder we have tinder and a hookup culture.   You order your masturbatory partner online, spend some time in the same room, then part.   No real world interaction needed to start or arrange the encounter.  Aftermath managed on X or instagram.

    Put younger people in the same room today, and they’ll both be ensconced virtually in their phones.

    n

    10
    0
  61. Greg Norton says:

    @lynn, when I was doing Atkins full time, stage two, I was also doing trade show support for a living.    The Rosemont Convention center in Chicago has one food vendor, someone’s brother in law.   Not a lot of low carb choices.

    Someone’s cousin. Somone’s brother in law supplied the concrete to build the convention center.

    We stopped there to see the Murray Brothers Caddyshack on the way out of O’Scare. The neighborhood doesn’t offer much in the way of alternatives to carbo loading.

    We should have gone for the Volo Auto Museum instead that afternoon.

  62. Lynn says:

    “Kash Patel Orders 1,500 FBI Agents and Staff Out of the Building on Day One”

         https://redstate.com/streiff/2025/02/21/kash-patel-orders-1500-fbi-agents-and-staff-out-of-the-building-on-day-one-n2185870

    “FBI Director Kash Patel followed up a fiery introductory speech on Friday (Kash Patel Brings the Fire As He’s Sworn in As FBI Director— ‘There WILL Be Accountability’ – RedState) with equally fiery action. He ordered 1,500 staff and agents to be transferred from its Washington, DC, headquarters to various locations across the nation. Some 1,000 agents and staff will be reassigned to cities the Trump administration has designated higher crime locations where they can fight crime rather than engage in political shenanigans. Another 500 staff will be reassigned to Huntsville, Alabama, which is the DC equivalent of exile to Siberia.”

    YES !  Get the feddies out of DC !

  63. Nick Flandrey says:

    The warning not to complain about nepotism, because you never know whose brother in law you are talking to,  goes double in places like Rosemont… or pretty much any blue city when dealing with anything part of or touching officialdom…

    I had to literally tell my business partner to STFU as we were walking down the hall from one exhibit hall to the other…  If you’ve been there, there are some very… unique… and amateur decorations in the public areas of the Rosemont Exhibit center.   SOMEONE’s spouse or cousin did those decorations because no real artist did…   and talking shite about them OUT LOUD IN THE VENUE is just plain dumb.

    And slightly dangerous.

    nick

  64. Nick Flandrey says:

    I really shouldn’t have finished the cup of coffee in the evening, but I hate throwing out food…   

    I’m going to try for sleep now…

    n

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