Cool, bordering on cold, and windy and clear. That should do it for the next couple of days. Yesterday started with some overcast but the high pressure zone from the north west blew in and blew everything out… mid 70s in the afternoon but the gusting wind made it a bit unpleasant. Today should be similar, with maybe a little cooler temps, and hopefully a bit less wind.
Yesterday I did stuff around the house. I did a project for the middle school theater. They were going to rent something that I have in my stacks. I said, nope! I’ve got that… and I did. Just needed to get all the parts in the same place. Today I’ll deliver and set up the lighting stuff and do some audio stuff at the school. Then I’ll do some fun stuff. After that, it’s a bit of home work, then Thursday taxi service for a couple of hours.
——-
Wednesday’s dinner was pork roast, sauteed zucchini with cheese, and take and bake bread. Yummy. Simple. Relatively cheap.
Anyone can learn to cook. Anyone can make tasty and nutritious meals, for less money than take out or restaurant food. Learning to cook is a prep… and a lot easier to do when the grid is up and stuff is plentiful and cheap.
Add cooking to your preps if it isn’t already part of your life.
And stack what you need to cook.
nick
@ray must be asleep!
———
48F this morning, so the “cooler” part is right so far…
Coffee is made. Lions have been bearded in their dens. There will be some additional back and forth as I need to shower and dress before school starts too. Usually I wait until they are all gone. Thankfully we planned ahead and we have the instant hot water heater. No need for someone to take a cold shower.
——–
n
Nope, I just had other things to do first.
Arlo is really pissing me off. The four original cameras I purchased were recording locally. The next two newer model cameras I purchased will not record locally unless I pay a monthly fee. I refused to use those cameras and Arlo would not give me my money back. The credit card company sided with Arlo as it wasn’t fraud. Grrrr.
Arlo even went so far as to only allow their chargers to charge the batteries in their cameras. Even though the connection to the power source is USB-A and the connection to the camera is micro-USB, only Arlo chargers will work.
Now Arlo has changed their app on the iPhone and iPad. I now get notifications constantly. I had the app set to only activate the cameras between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM. That is no longer an option and the cameras are active all the time. Constant alerts on my iPhone when anyone goes into the kitchen.
I went into the app and turned off all notifications on all devices. That did not work as I am still getting notifications. Whomever did the app development apparently never tested the app or is totally stupid.
The greed that Arlo has fully embedded within themselves, the piss-poor apps, and overall disdain for customers has placed them squarely on the “do not recommend, ever” list.
My next option, which I am seriously considering, is tossing all the Arlo devices in the trash and going with another vendor. Totally eradicate Arlo from the home. I have not been that impressed with WYZE although Mr. Rick thinks highly of them. I really want local recording which seems to be going the way of the dinosaur as all the companies now want to charge a monthly fee.
A new WiFi extender is slated to arrive next week. I will be beta testing the device so there are no out of pocket expenses for me. It will be the fourth product from a company I cannot name that I will be testing.
I will have to disable my Asus Mesh system and shut down the two additional mesh nodes leaving only the primary router active. That will involve replacing the node in the wife’s office with a simple switch. I have a wired connection to that location. I will then completely remove the wireless node in the living room and place the WiFi extender in that location.
The un-named company wants me to test the system with the ASUS router that I currently have. Apparently WiFi extenders and mesh networks work on some of the same frequencies (not WiFi frequencies) and having both working at the same time would cause interference.
In my mind testing with interference would be a good thing. In my neighborhood there are three WiFi networks including mine. When I was in Texas at the BIL’s house, there were 32 WiFi networks that could be seen. Surely a few of those were mesh networks. Dense housing developments would have dozens of WiFi networks and spewing radio signals. An extender working well in those environments would be a good thing.
Happy Vernal Equinox!
Dense urban areas will also have 5G micro cells operating in the unlicensed spectrum used by WiFi.
Wifi range extenders: I have the Amazon Eero 6 base station with 4 extenders. It “just works”; a relatively straightforward setup and hardly any problems.
I’m like you, Mr. Ray. I got tired of Arlo’s games. I really liked them in the beginning, but they are now all in a storage box. My choice was Eufy. I like their hub where all the cams connect since it has a 2.5” slot where you can put your own HD. They work fine, have AI, solar, doorbell cam that is wired or battery, and record to the HD even if the internet is down. As long as your WiFi is up, they continue to record to the HD and have built in AI. Eufy has plenty of cam options, are reasonable, but more pricey than WYZE. When the ‘net is connected, you get alerts, etc. Downloading vid from storage is relatively easy.
An option to consider. Chinesium like most.
I have Google Fiber at the SA house with an extender. I had to reboot it after software updates a couple of years ago. Since then, it and the main router are rock solid.
The Vegas house has Cox cable. I don’t need an extender here. The only failure in a year was when somebody set the router on the carpet and it overheated. I had to give an IT lecture to the minions after that.
>>I refused to use those cameras and Arlo would not give me my money back. The credit card company sided with Arlo as it wasn’t fraud.
@Ray, have you considered Small Claims Court?
Noon, very windy from the North, and 62 F at my house. Cold !
“Here’s the Graph Showing White College-Educated Women Have Gone Totally Insane”
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2025/03/20/white-college-educated-women-have-gone-totally-insane-n2654090
“It’s not like we didn’t know this already, but college-educated white women are the scourge of society. They’re political maniacs with views so left-wing you’d think it’s satire. They’re all about being ‘woke,’ DEI, and other lunacies that don’t have a positive reception outside of a college faculty lounge. NBC News broke it down. The white vote remains crucial, and that will be the case in future elections, despite liberal America’s persistent claim that white voters, especially white men, won’t matter. It’s an assumption that was brutally gutted in 2024.”
My middle brother lives with this. Very intelligent and very very liberal. Almost impossible to talk to.
Hat tip to:
https://thelibertydaily.com/
The other day, my brother, his wife, and I were talking about my parents in case an event happens. His wife wants to put my parents into a high rise assisted living in downtown Houston. My mother is in a wheelchair and petrified of heights.
My SIL does not have a clue and she is taking care, remotely, of her 94 year old mother who refuses to leave her home in Austin. Her mother would beat her with a stick if my SIL tried to move her out of her 70 year home.
I am looking at their system. Expensive.
That is not worth my time. The terms were explained in fine print on the Arlo website as was pointed out by support. I suspect I would lose if Arlo showed up. Even getting a win would involve a lot of hassle to get my money back.
That’s the problem. Austin born and raised.
Teasip too I imagine.
Austin (say it with a shudder like Hank Hill.)
Wifi range extenders: I have the Amazon Eero 6 base station with 4 extenders. It “just works”; a relatively straightforward setup and hardly any problems.
My new Ethernet Over Power equipment is working perfectly. Not a problem since I installed them over a month ago.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H74VKZU?tag=ttgnet-20
The old Ethernet Over Power equipment worked fine for over a decade until the little power outlet boxes burned up since their airflow was blocked.
That’s the problem. Austin born and raised.
Teasip too I imagine.
Austin (say it with a shudder like Hank Hill.)
How did you know that she was a teasipper ?
Her dad was a professor of economics at U of Texas. He was a really nice guy, I enjoyed talking with him.
@Ray Thompson
Enshittification is real.
I’d suggest taking your post, give it a good editing to turn it into a review, and then post it on every site you can find.
“Study Destroys Basis of EPA Climate Regulations”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/03/20/study-destroys-basis-of-epa-climate-regulations/
“For two decades, the public has been bombarded with dire warnings of an impending climate-induced agricultural apocalypse. The claim is that a climate warmed excessively by the carbon dioxide emissions of human activity will ravage the food supply and plunge humanity into famine and chaos.”
“For many reasons, none of this ever made sense. Now, a new study published in Scientific Reports has turned this narrative of catastrophe on its head, revealing that a global temperature rise of even 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) would not reduce crop yields—and might even increase harvests.”
“The paper, written by economist Ross McKitrick, dismantles a key pillar of the Biden Administration’s always-suspect upward revision of the “social cost of carbon”—a metric used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to quantify the supposed economic damage of carbon dioxide emissions. The fivefold increase of the social cost of carbon—from $51 per ton of carbon dioxide to more than $250—was based partly on the assumption that warming would devastate agriculture.”
Many unfounded lies have been told and written into laws of the USA and other first world countries.
If hot weather destroyed crops then Texas would be a barren plane. The only two things to destroy crops is lack of water and lack of fertilizer.
“Houston-based oil company lays off hundreds as part of cost-cutting plan”
https://www.chron.com/business/article/houston-apa-apache-layoffs-20231743.php
“The job cuts amount to between 10 and 15 percent of the company’s more than 2,300 person workforce worldwide.”
Lots of jobs are going away in the oil patch.
Two pieces of good news today:
Bondi Announces Arrests in Three Domestic-Terror Attacks on Tesla
https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2025/03/20/new-bondi-announces-arrests-in-three-domestic-terror-attacks-on-tesla-n3800979
I’d be happy to help if they can’t find a way to pump up those charges. Let’s have a darn good look at their cell phones and computers and see if they’ve been conspiring to commit terrorism, and rope in every one that knew anything and chose not to report it.
And bail awaiting trial? Not just no but heck no.
Memo to Academia: State Dept Is Serious About Kicking Out Terror-Linked Foreigners
https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2025/03/20/memo-to-academia-state-dept-is-serious-about-kicking-out-terror-linked-foreigners-n3800965
Free speech is not the issue. The terms of the visa were clearly violated. Out he goes.
No bail for him, either. If the DC circuit can let U.S. citizens rot in jail awaiting trial, they can darn well let this one and all like him that come after. Use those same cells.
And ramp it up. There are thousands like him.
Harvard Students Can’t Do Math
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/03/harvard-students-cant-do-math.php
Anyone taking remedial algebra in college, Harvard or wherever, should not be eligible for student loans and the college should be investigated for fraudulent admission. Why do I suspect that there are exactly zero white males taking remedial algebra at Harvard?
“Barbary, Islam, and Jizya”
https://areaocho.com/16766-2/
“Let me lay out a few thoughts with regard to the current conflict in the Red Sea.”
“What we are seeing in the Red Sea is a continuation of the Muslim desire to force everyone to either convert or pay tribute. That is why piracy is a problem in the Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden. The Muslims in Yemen and Iran have decided that people either pay tribute or serve them in their desires. Those morons wouldn’t be able to do anything if it weren’t for the Iranians supplying them weapons. Note that European nations’ shipping is being left alone. I wonder what that is…”
“The US has long taken the position that the open ocean is free for navigation. We can either try to fight another forever war of insurgency against Yemen, or we can cut their weapons off at the source- tell Iran to stop supplying missiles to terrorists or else. No need to engage in a long war- tell them to stop selling weapons to them. If the weapons continue to flow, then take out the Iranian navy. If they want to continue after that, we can bomb the missile factories. If we don’t want to do it, all we have to do is tell Israel that we will no longer hold them back from doing it themselves.”
So when do we nuke the Houthis and the Iranians ? We could use Clean Nukes.
“BYD’s 5-Minute ‘Flash Chargers’ Make Tesla Superchargers Look Archaic”
https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/byds-5-minute-flash-chargers-make-tesla-superchargers-look-archaic
“An EV charging breakthrough from China’s BYD is more bad news for Tesla amid growing Elon backlash and tumbling sales numbers. But a hit to its technical chops might hurt the most.”
It is my understanding that BYD cars do not meet current USA safety standards. I do not know if BYD cars meet EU safety standards either.
Had a bit of a blizzard yesterday. 6″ of snow. No power for about 10 hours. Now, temps are back in the 40s. Good times.
Sure, Mooch, sure:
Michelle Obama reveals the real reason she won’t answer Democrat calls to run for president in 2028
No, it is not about her daughters. It is really the amount of money she can grift off her new poopcast, useless speeches, and Obola name recognition.
I still don’t want that much current under my hand. And, yeah, PC Mag got the Dumbo memo to denigrate Tesla at every chance they get.
Do you think the new Vice-Dumbo, Hogg-lette, had to take any remedial classes? Welcomed with open arms.
Inside The Now-Shuttered Federal Agency Where Employees Lived ‘Like Reigning Kings’
https://www.dailywire.com/news/fmcs-slush-fund-abolished-by-trump?topStoryPosition=undefined
They need to get a pro crew in to do a 15-minute documentary, edit a 3-minute teaser for the networks, and post the long version on YouTube. Then the attack dogs go out on the various programs and ask why PLTV isn’t showing the public how their tax dollars have been wasted.
Every one of these employees should be investigated and charged with financial crimes related to their theft of taxpayers money.
Liberal heads to explode in 3, 2, 1:
Trump Sends Invitations to His Signing of Executive Order Abolishing Department of Education
Will the Dumbo’s start singing at every Congressional meeting? How many lawsuits will be filed through activist judges? Will Randi Weingarten take up arms (before her heart attack)?
In my lifetime…
My new word:
enshittcanification–the process of dismantling bloated government and permanently depositing the entitled bureaucrats in a tip, then bulldozing it over
I just spent an excessive amount of time in the Arlo app to get the camera settings back to where I wanted the settings. That was enough to put me over the edge. The cameras are being eliminated along with the Wyze cameras. If anyone wants anything beyond the basics it is just too tedious to put up with the poorly designed applications.
I went with Eufy and ordered a 4-camera pack of exterior with the base station and hard drive. The hard drive was only $40.00 more than the unit without the hard drive. If I have issues then it is all covered by the warranty. And the drive is probably new whereas my only existing spinning rust is probably 5 years old and has been sitting on the shelf for three years. And the old drive is 5.25 so probably not useful in a 2.5″ slot. I may swap out the provided drive with a SSD drive in a couple of years.
I also ordered one interior camera that will monitor the kitchen, entry way, and the main hallway. Altogether, with tax and shipping it was $706.00. There was a sale on the 4-pack from $800+ to a little over $500. The extra camera was $129. Not too far from regular cameras that require monitoring to store any video. A security camera without video is basically worthless. I will recoup the extra cost in a couple of years of needing to pay for monitoring with the other systems.
All the Arlo and Wyze cameras have been taken down, the base stations disconnected, everything tossed in a bag, and removed from Alexa.
So, UP YOURS ARLO.
Big Mike would be the fossil on the debate stage in 2028.
Who is going to be left to shill for the Obamas by then?
Hannity?
Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me at this point.
“Rogue Soros-Funded NGO Plots Multi-City Assault on Tesla as Democrat Domestic Terrorism Escalates”
https://thelibertydaily.com/rogue-soros-funded-ngo-plots-multi-city-assault/
“(ZeroHedge)—While the FBI investigates far-left terrorist attacks against Tesla service centers, showrooms, Supercharging networks, and vehicles, the radical Soros-funded non-profit Indivisible is preparing to launch a multi-city offensive against the American company in the coming days.”
This is terrorism ! Why is the FBI not out arresting George Soros, Congresscritter Jasmine Crockett, etc, etc, etc ?
“Nolte: Married Couple Deported to Colombia After Living Illegally in U.S. for 35 Years”
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/03/20/nolte-married-couple-deported-to-colombia-after-living-illegally-in-u-s-for-35-years/
“A married couple in Orange County, CA, were deported this week to Colombia after living in the U.S. illegally for 35 years.”
“After breaking into our country, Nelson Gonzalez, 59, and Gladys Gonzalez, 55, spent years trying to legalize their status. According to KTLA 5, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement explained that the couple had “exhausted all legal options to remain in the U.S. between March 2000 and August 2021.” But they still didn’t return home.”
“The couple has three daughters, aged 23 to 33, who were born in the U.S., which makes them legal citizens. KTLA 5 says, “They were devastated when they learned their parents had been detained on Feb. 21 during a regular check-in with U.S. immigration officials.””
““Gladys and Nelson, neither of whom have a criminal record, were originally held at the Adelanto Detention Center in San Bernardino County before being transferred to a facility in Arizona and later Louisiana,” the report adds.”
“One daughter said her “parents have been traumatized by everything that’s transpired [but] are grateful to no longer be in detention centers and have made contact with family in Colombia who are helping them start a new life.””
Just because your children are born here does not make you a legal citizen. I am sorry but the illegals need to go home and petition for visa to come back.
“JD Vance: Unlike Kamala Harris I Don’t Have ‘Four Shots of Vodka Before Every Meeting’”
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/03/20/jd-vance-unlike-kamala-harris-i-dont-have-four-shots-of-vodka-before-every-meeting/
Is he as tough as Trump ? Time will tell.
Vance is our best candidate for 2028 at the moment.
“Tom Homan Hears AOC Whine and Knows He’s Over the Target”
https://rumble.com/v6qxm3i-tom-homan-hears-aoc-whine-and-knows-hes-over-the-target.html
Yes ! An audio target identifier !
Big Mike would be the fossil on the debate stage in 2028.
Who is going to be left to shill for the Obamas by then?
Hannity?
Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me at this point.
We are talking about the same Sean Hannity who offered to buy Obama and his family first class one way tickets to Kenya back in 2016, right ?
https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/hannity-obama-kenya-birthers-230317
>>That is not worth my time. The terms were explained in fine print on the Arlo website as was pointed out by support. I suspect I would lose if Arlo showed up. Even getting a win would involve a lot of hassle to get my money back.
Yeah, if you won, I wouldn’t count on collecting a judgement, but having it recorded could screw with them some day down the road.
>>“JD Vance: Unlike Kamala Harris I Don’t Have ‘Four Shots of Vodka Before Every Meeting’”
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/03/20/jd-vance-unlike-kamala-harris-i-dont-have-four-shots-of-vodka-before-every-meeting/
Is he as tough as Trump ? Time will tell.
Vance is our best candidate for 2028 at the moment.
Pretty obvious now (at least to me) that Trump’s inner circle spent 2020 thru 2024 formulating the plans that secured T47 (outside forces not withstanding). Hopefully work has already started for/with JD for 2028.
I have the PTdZ indoor in the SA house livingroom where it covers the LR, kitchen and entryway. It is always on since we are moving. MrsAtoz insists it be unplugged when she is there. No problemo.
“I am sorry but the illegals need to go home and petition for visa to come back.”
I have some sympathy, but I am not sorry. I’m sorry that our nation has been run by elected and unelected PLT’s who have flaunted the immigration laws and left people who have legally applied to dangle for years as illegal invaders have broken into our country and thumbed their noses at the system.
We need more cases like this in the headlines. When a criminal enriches themselves by an illegal act they are not allowed to benefit. We need to put a stake in the heart of the idea of birthright citizenship.
Why, yes, yes it is terrorism. I think Soros backed terrorist agencies are in for a rude awakening under tRump. Pam Bondi and now Dan Bongino have said they are going to get them. No more harrassing and arresting parents as WHITEY! supremacists. Hunt these bastards down and throw the book at them. Jack up all the charges they can.
Yes, I’m talking about Cutie Pie.
He had a clear plant caller today during my drive home, wanting to take 30 seconds to thank Elon for his car.
Why, yes, yes it is terrorism. I think Soros backed terrorist agencies are in for a rude awakening under tRump. Pam Bondi and now Dan Bongino have said they are going to get them. No more harrassing and arresting parents as WHITEY! supremacists. Hunt these bastards down and throw the book at them. Jack up all the charges they can.
One can only hope.
Had a good day.
Got stuff done at school.
Had a nice lunch. Turned some money into noise.
Did my kid taxi stuff
Watching youtube…
planning tomorrow’s tasks.
n
“Alex Jones Bankruptcy Judge Rejects Latest Infowars Asset Bid”
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/alex-jones-bankruptcy-judge-rejects-latest-infowars-asset-bid
and
https://www.infowars.com/posts/breaking-alex-jones-gives-a-critical-update-on-the-future-of-infowars-in-response-to-court-ruling-setting-stage-for-shutdown/
“A judge shut down efforts to revive the sale of Alex Jones’ Infowars assets after two companies expressed interest in acquiring the property through the right-wing conspiracy theorist’s bankruptcy.”
“Lopez also said that FUAC, which operates ShopAlexJones.com, “doesn’t have standing to seek a sale of FSS assets.””
“FUAC filed a motion last month seeking to restart the bidding process. It submitted a new $8 million cash offer to the trustee overseeing Jones’ bankruptcy in December, doubling its previous bid.”
It looks to me like the bankruptcy judge has conspired with the so-called victims to limit Alex Jones free speech.
Home this morning after a month of traveling.
Husband, daughter and I went to New Zealand to visit my fathers side of the family. Several days in travel mode on either side. Two red eyes for return means we will be of limited function for a few.
Excellent visit. Quite a lot of time with my aunt, a few hours with uncle – he’s in hospital so that increased urgency while limiting availability. And an evening with adult cousins. A few days with second cousin my girls age. And an afternoon with my half sister born before my parents met, and adopted out upon birth. Plus I filed my NZ citizenship by descent paperwork. Not sure what I’ll do with that, did it mostly because I can.
A great visit. A little sight seeing, mostly spending time with family. North Island – Waitomo, Rotorua, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Auckland. Car towed once. Car battery died a different day. Resolving complicated by our cell status. Effectively offline for a month. Had a data esim but learned too late my Alaska provider requires advanced notice to enable Wi-Fi calling. We didn’t much care so embraced the freedom the problem gave us.
On the morning of our last day I got punched in the left eye by a stranger on the train in Auckland. I’m fine, she couldn’t punch with any skill, I’ll tell that story later. I made several fails that I’ll humiliate myself with sharing. Later.
@jenny, glad you are home safe. Missed your voice, so we need double to make up for it ;-P
I can’t really imagine you getting punched for cause, so there must be more to the story… Hopefully no real damage done.
Welcome back.
n
I’m trying for an early night, we’ll see if it happens.
n
Good morning, and welcome back, Jenny!
Today is looking like the day to get the robot lawnmower out of its winter storage, give it some fresh blades, and set it running for the growth season.
I didn’t quite manage to do that on Saint Patrick’s day, which would have been traditional in Ireland for the first mow of the year, but it’s at least the correct week.
Hopefully the glorious Saint will approve nonetheless, and we’ll have a nice green lawn. Not leaving that to chance, though, so will fertilise, treat for weeds, and give any iffy patches a top dressing of sand and compost with some grass seed.
It’s unseasonably dry here at the moment, so a bit of gentle rain would be good for germination, but the lack of moisture has also been limiting grass and weed growth, so the lawn is not looking too ratty after the winter.