Overcast, grey, humid, misty, dripping, and hot too. That was yesterday, and it will probably be today.
Because of the weather, overcommitment, kid taxi duties, and the chance to pick up a bunch of stuff for my non-prepping hobby, I didn’t get what I wanted to get done, done. I put off going to my client’s house. He’s out of town for a few days, so there isn’t any reason to make a quick short trip to do the gear swap. I can do it, and the network gear swap next week, when I have more time on site.
Also because of the weather, I didn’t want to uncover the stuff currently in the back of my pickup, nor did I want to load it for the trip to the BOL. My remote weather station was reporting bad weather north of here, and the NWS was warning about tornadoes. I can’t mow the grass in those conditions, and anything in the truck would get soaked. So I dithered and delayed.
Now it is a new day and we’ll see if I’m headed up. I didn’t win the boat I was bidding on, so I don’t have to do that pickup on the way… I missed the lot closing while checking the fit of some goodwill items for the kid…
I have one small lot to pick up today. And I’ve got stuff to move around. I should be able to get that done, then load up if the weather is ok. If it’s not, I’ll go up later in the week.
Meanwhile, I’m stacking. Lots going on in the world, not much of it good in the long run. Take care of your future.
nick
I detect weekend sloth.
Daylight is burning.
Tyler Durden cowardice reporting on a new policy left by the departing US Ambassador to China: No more Bang Bang.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-rolls-out-new-romantic-restrictions-govt-workers-china-prevent-ccp-honey-traps
My father-in-law’s Asian kink literally killed him, and that was a Thai woman after only a few hundred grand in life insurance to pad her retirement.
I shudder to think what the moron would have done with a clearance.
Went to replace a couple of solar powered security lights guarding the awning (for the boat, now the RV), such lights having been up for 15 years. Neither one was working, and I suspect the batteries are no longer working. Given the age, and the price for new batteries, and the cost of a completely new light, I would rather just replace them.
One light on the inside beam had a nest which I promptly knocked down. Oops. Five eggs broke when they hit the concrete. All had embryos and the bottom of the nest was warm to the touch. The indicates there was a sitting bird and I just killed five future baby bird chicks. I doubt nature will miss the birds but I really don’t like killing animals, especially really young ones.
(This isn’t like aiming for a for a squirrel trying to cross the road. There was no sport. /s)
At least the next wasn’t a large hornets nest, Mr. Ray.
I’m a little under the wx today, and it’s been a while since I’ve been sick. I blame the tRump tAriffs.
Got up at 7 to see the kids off to their various adventures today.
Then went back to bed.
Alarm went of at 945 and I am up. Coffee is dripping into the cup. W is still snoring… but I’m moving. Stiffly.
———–
82F and overcast. No rain yet.
n
There are supposed to be a lot of Tesla protests this weekend. I recommend the dealers hire a bunch of pipe hitters and have them lounging in the showroom. Coffee, donuts, and baseball bats.
I wonder why the LSM just talks about US tariffs? They won’t show what other countries charge us. I think the fact the US can cause a global financial crash speaks volumes on the power of the American dollar.
My wife is P!SSED at orangeman bad. She’s sure the tariffs will stop sales of her products dead. I don’t think so, and it’s too early to tell.
n
I’m watching two auctions live. They have live onsite bidding too. It’s construction equipment and farm stuff. Fencing, generators, light towers, containers, that sort of thing.
I tried for a couple of new “shed in a box” lots, but they quickly outpriced me. There are a couple coming up though, and I wonder if the demand has been satisfied and they will go cheaper.
The first went for $1200, the next for $800. If we get down to $500 I’m in…
n
I attended a play at my old high school last night. Chicago, Teen version.
The high school has a history of really good productions, and this one was pretty good.
My adult son was the rehearsal pianist and played in the orchestra.
The teen version is shorter, because they cut out some of the more adult words and songs.
At one point, a lead character’s mic went out, and she realized it, and so she actually used her voice.
She’s got potential.
Headed out to lunch witn my 3+1 boys and various wives.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2025/04/05/arizona-man-convicted-in-hate-fueled-plot-to-target-christian-churches-with-hoax-bomb-threats-n2655038
He commits multiple hate crimes, but it cannot be revealed that the perp is a Muslim? Or am I wrong and he belongs to the Church of Mr. Rogers?
Do you need a food taster when out with that group?
n
Everything is going to get blamed on Trump Tariffs.
The Switch 2 delay is the one that will really bite the White House hard.
No one can afford a new car now so another $4000 on a Kia really isn’t going to matter.
@drwilliams, no mention of an FBI informant feeding him material, so looks like a legit catch. Of course, he got away with it 4 times.
I hate the “hate crime” enhancers. There are so many legal things wrong with the concept but here we are , a dozen years later, and it doesn’t even raise an eyebrow.
People will get used to anything.
n
Some advice, probably good advice.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14572975/trump-trade-war-tariffs-josh-hammer.html
n
@Nick
If you’re going to blow people up at random, how is it ever not an act of hate?
The primary purpose of the “hate crime” designation is to make non-crimes into crimes or misdemeanors into felonies. By limiting the designation to incidents with p.o.c. “victims”, the intent and the effect is discriminatory justice.
Follow the latest noose hoax in the news.
https://redstate.com/wardclark/2025/03/24/allentown-city-employee-caught-in-noose-hoax-faces-charges-n2187046
I’ve advocated for years that false claims of hate crimes are themselves hate crimes and should be prosecuted as such.
The ISDs in Texas have been frantically slashing arts budgets for nearly two years knowing that the flow of gimmies from the Legislature in the name of property tax “reform” wasn’t going to last forever.
The number I’ve seen related to a possible “reform” giveaway in the current session is $3 billion of the surplus for rate suppression next year, less than half of the money sprayed around in 2024.
I’ll partially break OpSec to say that we were out of town all week at a medical conference in Commiefornia.
Driving out to Pioneertown outside of Palm Springs the other day, both small towns we drove through on 62 north from I-10 featured a few restaurants and a Dollar General as the core of their business district.
The Dollar General stores looked new which meant that the towns subsidized them to be there.
Less than half an hour from Palm Springs/Desert Hot Springs. Retail in town was slightly better, but not much, which was surprising.
from AcSHQ this morning:
How many dollars in university grants has been awarded on developing cleaner separation techniques for rare earth metals? I suspect that the answer to that question is another indictment of the university grant system.
And as I’ve advocated previously, any invention made under a university grant should be the property of the U.S. government. Give the university and the researchers a small percentage as incentive. If they don’t wish to share, let them do without the grants. (and no, having a non-grant project in a university lab that is funded by grants doesn’t qualify)
Texas Governor Issues Strong Warning Over Controversial ‘Muslim City’ Proposal
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2025/04/05/red-state-gov-issues-warning-over-muslim-city-n2655049
Not just no.
What percentage of people in the general population know how to tie a proper noose anymore?
Abbott won’t actually do anything about it.
“Hate crime” is pure Orwell. It matters not one whit whether I killed or beat you out of greed, or because I hate something about you.
I have often been to the place where Eric Blair wrote “1984”. It is every bit as bleak as the picture he painted of society. I am sure he would be horrified, but perhaps not shocked, that his dystopian vision came true.
In happier news, I woke this morning feeling substantially better today than for the last three weeks, and especially compared with the past three or four days.
The second round of antibiotics seem to have worked, thank goodness. I was able to leave the house and drive to the bakery for some fresh breakfast rolls, which I even ate with relish. This afternoon, I accompanied W1 grocery shopping. I am shattered now, though. A quiet evening is on the cards.
I will go and see the oto-rhino-laryngologist on Monday nonetheless, as the infection had definitely affected my middle and/or inner ear. It’s a five-hour round trip, but I am taking no chances with my ears – equilibrium and hearing are just too precious.
Wishing you all a pleasant Sunday!
Well, there is something going on with the dollar stores, though I’m not sure what.
They built one in our little census denominated burg of 2,700 last year.
The cost to build something like that from scratch is on the order of $1.5 million. Presumably done with a construction loan that has to be serviced. Add Federal, state, county taxes, a monthly a/c & electric bill of something on the order $5000, property and liability insurance and the payroll (in California!): and yet they’re staying in business with no more than three or four customer cars in their parking lot at any given time.
At a guess, some form of Ponzi scheme.
It is a lovely morning. Supposed to be 72F later (95 by Friday).
Coffee, oatmeal and ibuprofen are consumed, time to start work.
I will put down some landscaping material, then start on prepping my tomato planters – last frost is officially 15 April.
Wind is picking up, sadly, already in the mid-20s, from the NE, which is unusual.
@Denis
“Wishing you all a pleasant Sunday!”
You also.
Be careful not to overdue. Remember that your reserves are non-existent.
Dollar General’s modus operandi is to squeeze local governments for enough tax concessions to keep the lights/AC on and pay the manager’s salary. Profits from operating the store pay the construction loans and hourly payroll.
DG is 96% institution owned so that means your pension/401(k) plan and non-retirement mutual fund growth depend in part on that business plan working out long term.
How can this stand:
Rocky Mountain Sighs: Colorado Dems Pass Bill That Makes Misgendering Your Child ‘Abuse’
This blatantly unConstitutional. The Redumbo’s need to bolster up their lawsuits.
MrsAtoz and I binged “Slow Horses”. If I call her a twat (jokingly) can she claim spousal abuse. I don’t see the difference other than the Dumbo “The Signal” on everything Rainbow Alphabet Trannies.*
*Pat Condell has a couple of new posts on YT. His Rainbow Alphabet freakshow post from last year is a favorite.
Houthi cultural improvement grant on target:
https://redstate.com/bonchie/2025/04/05/watch-trump-shares-incredible-footage-of-strike-on-houthis-dunks-on-the-terrorist-group-n2187523
Wow, it just dropped from 85 F to 65 F from 2pm to 4pm. The cold front is coming in hard.
re: food tasters
If that was in response to my: “Headed out to lunch witn my 3+1 boys and various wives.” then, no, I don’t. Didn’t, since I’m back at the hotel now.
S1 is single. S2 and S3 are happilymarried. That’s the “various wives” part. Including my GF, that makes 7.
The plus-one boy is S3’s friend from birth. They’re both mid-thirties, and I’ve started including him in family gatherings since he lost his mother last year, and his father a few years back. So that made 8 for lunch.
Very lively discussion.
My boys were having frank discussions about their mother, XW1 to me. They have issues.
My GF was enjoying it quite a bit. I am less sanguine; I wish for the least amount of turmoil in all their lives.
The ISDs in Texas have been frantically slashing arts budgets
– our district is trying REALLY hard to get four bonds passed. They have a website and have been doing townhall meetings. What they don’t mention is arts spending, which iirc is required by law.
What they do mention is ludicrous.
Paraphrases*
“ with the new stadium, we’re leaving an open area where the marching band can line up before entering the stadium.”
“fine arts programs have students, and students will be able to use the common areas of the new facility”
“marching band directors will be getting new towers in the parking lots so they can see the band practice (the current towers are inadequate somehow, probably related to inclusion or ADA.)”
“if we move the natatorium to the wealthy school on the wealthy side of I-10, our parents and students won’t have to slum it to go to swim meets, and you get more parking spaces where the pool used to be.” **
n
* these are the actual arguments they are making about support for the arts, I just can’t look up the actual language atm..
** We live on the “poor” side of I-10. Houses in our area only sell for $500k-900K….
Wow, it just dropped from 85 F to 65 F from 2pm to 4pm. The cold front is coming in hard.
– we got some rain. Now it stopped again. and we’re only 68F… something is blowing in…
n
How the heII does click and drag stop working? Suddenly I can’t click and drag anything. Restarted FFox and I still don’t have it. Doesnt’ work anywhere else either.
n
“How the heII does click and drag stop working?”
I’ve had right-click fail seveal times in the last month, only to mysteriously start working again. Could not print this morning. Hit the print button, nothing happened. Tried to print to file, ditto.
Pro-Hamas Monument Vandal Heads Off for Short Vacation—in Federal Prison
https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2025/04/05/pro-hamas-monument-vandal-heads-off-for-short-vacationin-federal-prison-n2187537
I’m not dispositionally inclined to watch some foreign garbage deface an American monument.
He’d probably end up naked and spray painted red with the empty can stuck up his rectum.
Fightin’ words.
Ousted Vaccine Chief Says RFK Jr.’s Team Sought Data to Justify Anti-Science Stance
https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/peter-marks-fda-vaccine-regulator-rfk-jr-interview-9194e3b4?st=KTYgkn&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
and then there’s what the WSJ doesn not mention:
https://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2025/04/01/follow_the_science_why_peter_marks_was_asked_to_leave_the_fda_1101329.html
Be interesting to see where he lands.
Well, there is something going on with the dollar stores, though I’m not sure what.
They built one in our little census denominated burg of 2,700 last year.
The cost to build something like that from scratch is on the order of $1.5 million. Presumably done with a construction loan that has to be serviced. Add Federal, state, county taxes, a monthly a/c & electric bill of something on the order $5000, property and liability insurance and the payroll (in California!): and yet they’re staying in business with no more than three or four customer cars in their parking lot at any given time.
At a guess, some form of Ponzi scheme.
The building is $300/ft2 plus $300,000 for the deluge system to build. Most of them are 5,000 ft2 plus another $100,000 to $500,000 for the land. Plus $200,000 for the parking lot concrete. That is $2,000,000 and rapidly climbing.
Texas. Watch.
“Senate Passes Trump’s Agenda Budget Blueprint After Late-Night Voting Session”
https://americafirstreport.com/senate-passes-trumps-agenda-budget-blueprint-after-late-night-voting-session/
“(The Epoch Times)—The U.S. Senate in the early morning hours of April 5 approved the budget blueprint to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda after a marathon voting session.”
“Under the rules of the reconciliation process, which is being used to pass the sweeping package, all amendments must be considered—leading to voting sessions that last well into the night, known as a “vote-a-rama.””
“This time was no different, as the long vote series began in the evening on April 4 and continued into the early hours of Saturday. Lawmakers finally advanced the resolution in a 51-48 vote, which fell mostly party lines, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky both voting against.”
Rain never really came. Spotty every time I went out to do something.
So I did small things.
Planted the apple tree. I bought 3, two for the BOL, one for here to replace one that died. I hope I got a complementary variety to the one I already have here. Apparently you need two to get good fruit. They’ve been sitting in the front yard, being blown around by the wind because I forgot to bring them with me last visit to the BOL. The one for here is finally in the ground. I’ll take the other two up next trip.
I started breaking down the stuff that is in the back of my truck. I have to break down the three rolling laptop workstations from a medical center, because I don’t have anywhere to put them for later. I got one done. They were the “bundled” lot when I went to pick up an equipment rack and some audio gear. Turns out I scored. They each have a tripplite battery charger and inverter with a Lithium Iron Magnesium Phosphate battery. They are designed to power a lappy or a net appliance and a screen while rolling around the clinic or hospital.
I didn’t just trash them because medical stuff always has good parts. No computers, but two extension cords, and dell keyboards and mice, and this battery
https://www.greentecauto.com/hybrid-battery/repurposed-batteries/energy/u1-12rt-valence-lfp-12v-40ah-512wh-battery-with-bms
and this inverter
https://tripplite.eaton.com/150w-medical-grade-power-inverter-for-mobile-application~HC150SL
Rock solid gear.
The aluminum framework will scrap out, and I’ll put the electric extend-o-shaft (that adjusted the height of the table) in with my other automation parts.
The batteries were the score though, I thought they’d just be lead acid. The built in battery management system is showing “good”.
——–
Did some other small things, then finished watching the movie I started last night. “Sisu”. Joe Rogan mentioned it calling the protagonist one of the most badass of movie badasses. I agree. Good movie. Watch it free on Roku channel. The synopsis on the roku channel is a bit underwhelming. A better description would be “a warrior who walks away from war stumbles into some Nazis who FAFO.”
https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/f5d0541f28db5cbd9bc8550c4fce3e6c/sisu
Gory, but recommended.
—————–
I should eat something. I had a late lunch but now, yeah, I could eat.
n
We called those “COWs” the first time around, for Computer On Wheels.
Had to change the name to “WOWs” for Workstation On Wheels. Some of the dumb bunnie nurses thought we were calling them cows…
It’s not just the doctors who are stupid.
For those that don’t cook:
8-quart Insta-Pot:
1-½ lbs carrots (approx, saved the skinny ones from a 2-lb-bag)
Cut off ends, peel, cut into 3 pieces.
Into pot.
2-lbs potatoes (B-size Yukon gold, pre-washed, not peeled)
Into pot as second layer.
Add one can Campbell’s Beef Broth. Rinse can with about an ounce of water, add to pot.
2-lb pot roast
Into pot after seasoning on all sides with garlic salt & pepper blend plus salt-free seasoning.
½ white or yellow onion, quartered, peeled, separated.
cover top of roast and add the rest around the sides.
Put the top on the Insta-Pot and rotate CW to seal.
Move vent valve to “Seal” position.
Plug in.
Push “Manual” and set time to 26 minutes (This leaves middle slices of roast with rare center. Adjust time up or down 2-minutes per your preference.
Prep time 15 minutes.
IP will start automatically, then heat until enough steam pressure is generated to close the pop-off valve.
When the countdown goes to zero, the timer will change to show upward incrementing time prefaced by “L”. Let it cool for 15 minutes (“Natural release”). If the lid will not rotate CCW to open, move the valve to “release the residual pressure.
Cooking time 39 minutes.
Use tongs or a meat fork to remove the roast to a cutting board. Trim fat to taste and discard . Carve slices ¼” thick. You may want to cut the roast in half lengthwise to get a flat side to put down to steady it during carving. Leave the meat on the cutting board.
Use tongs or a perforated spoon to remove the vegetables to a large dish.
Return the meat to the pot to soak up some juice.
Unplug the pot so the warmer is off.
Plate your vegetables and season to taste. Pull a couple slices of roast and add to plate.
Enjoy.
I bought a loaf of Rosemary Parmesan Cheese bread at Costco, cut ¾” slices and then cut them in to lengthwise. Ladled some of the juice into a custard cup and dipped the bread. (This bread will keep for a week in the refrigerator. It makes excellent toast, but is wide, so cut the slices in half. If you can’t eat that much bread in a week, cut the loaf in half and put half in a freezer bag in the freezer, right next to your container of pre-cooked thick-sliced bacon for breakfast sandwiches.)
I split the leftovers into 4-cup Rubbermaid containers to make lunch/dinners. The meat gets cut up before being added, and juice goes over the top. (These can be frozen, also, if you get tired of eating roast.)
Plate, cup, flatware, and cutting board go into the dishwasher. The removable stainless steel IP pot liner can go in the dishwasher, but I find it easier to wash by hand with the lid. Don’t forget the little drip catcher that is clipped to the back of the base unit. (I keep an acid brush with the bristles clipped to 3/8″ to clean stuff like this).
Knives get washed by hand, drained cut edge up, hand dried, and returned to the knife block. If they need touch up steel on the edge do it now, then re-wash. Knives in the block should always be ready to go. (It’s only in a restaurant when you sharpen them immediately before use because the rest of the staff is lazy f***s and won’t do it.)
[If you have good knives you should pull them periodically and lay them on the counter on a kitchen towel. Clean the outside of the knife block to remove dust and grease. If it’s unfinished wood give it a light wipe with pure mineral oil, let it sit tor 10 minutes, then buff it off. Any unfinished wood-handled knives should get oiled also, but they should have had periodic re-oiling as cleaning them after use removes oil. Inspect the knives. Check for loose rivets or scales, cracks at the blade edge and bent tips. Set aside any that need repair. Take a close look at the cutting edge. If the edge is not uniformly sharp, make it so. A diamond stone and round diamond file for serrated knives should be part of your tools. A multi-grit Lansky sharpener will take care of more extensive needs, but requires some practice. Buy some cheap used knives and practice.]
>>Did some other small things, then finished watching the movie I started last night. “Sisu”. Joe Rogan mentioned it calling the protagonist one of the most badass of movie badasses.
94% on RT. Added to my list. After watching the trailer have to see if W2 is interested. Looks like the violence is not too realistically brutal for her tastes. We started watching The Mayor of Kingstown (another Taylor Sheridan series) but she gave up about five episodes into Season 1 (of 4), too bloody for her. I am continuing ATM.
“Is Climate Change Real? Short Answer: Yes — But It’s Complicated.”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/04/04/is-climate-change-real-short-answer-yes-but-its-complicated/
Actually it is not complicated. CO2 in the atmosphere is like any other chemical and subject to saturation limits. The first amount of CO2 raises the world temperature the most. The second amount of CO2, less rise. The third amount of CO2, very little. The fourth amount of CO2, almost immeasurable.
The so-called climate scientists all think that the amount of CO2 in the atmostphere affects the world temperature uniformly. The fourth amount of CO2 on the atmosphere has the same effect as the first amount of CO2. That is wrong.
@Paul, did you name the steers or are you going to eat them ?
I posted about “Sisu” when it hit home video.
The same director, Jalmari Helander, made “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale”, a really different take on a holiday movie.
Helander also made a TV series, “Kalifornian Kommando” which is on my list.
The rest of the world understands it is show business.
Nurses are insane.
>>What percentage of people in the general population know how to tie a proper noose anymore without looking it up on the internet?
F I F Y
We had a series of power dropouts. took out my NVR pc and main pc. No time on the UPS at all. Add “fix or replace the office UPS” to the list.
@greg, I don’t remember you mentioning Sisu, or I was too busy to look into it right away. I’ll have to look for the other two.
@alan, there is a lot of blood spray and some flying body parts… it’s almost cartoonishly over the top, but it’s still graphic.
Past time for bed.
n