I did spend a minute or two looking at the full moon last night. After early poor conditions with haze and clouds, the air cleared and the moon looked pretty good. It didn’t seem especially big, or special but was a good bright full moon.
Grabbed the binos early this morning and got a good look before it sank below our trees. Kids looked but were not impressed. Two eclipses in the same year, the end days MUST be here….
Haven’t reviewed any of the SOTU address yet. Might skip it entirely. I usually like primary sources as the press is very selective in what they hear and report. We’ll see.
In a funny coincidence yesterday I was listening to youtube while I was driving. YT recommended a bunch of Jordan Peterson’s online lectures to me (and a ton of clip shows featuring him.) So I listened. He did one on Marxism and post modernism that was very interesting. He does a lot of digression and story telling and is very engaging. Anyway, he was relating some research on morality, and specifically some research involving RATS. Turns out, they play. Young rats like to wrestle and engage in ‘rough and tumble’ play. The researcher drew several conclusions about rat social structure and behaviour, but the most unlikely bit was that RATS LAUGH. He says they ‘giggle’ when tickled with a pencil eraser. He claims it’s ultrasonic, and you have to slow down a recording to hear it, but I think that MY RATS have learned to make an audible sound when laughing. AND THEY LAUGH AT ME. Wife says that just means it’s time to drop a match and walk away [or move to another house.] I must say that I don’t like thinking about giggling rats when I’m introducing them to Mr Shovel….
nick
Oh FFS, another Kennedy? WTF is wrong with people?
n
“Meet the Democrats’ super shiny new star! Joe Kennedy III bashes Trump as a bully and divider – but it’s the multi-millionaire’s lip gloss which gets all the attention
The grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, Rep. Joe Kennedy III, delivered the Democrats’ official State of the Union rebuttal
Kennedy slammed President Trump’s administration for its divisiveness, all the while smacking together his overly glossed lips
Partisan rebuttals have created some meme-worthy moments in the past, including Sen. Marco Rubio’s awkward water bottle grab ”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5333129/Kennedy-III-bashes-Trump-lips-attention.html
ADDED- and since he’s yapping from Fall River MA, we are missing OFD that much harder…..
ADDED MORE:
BERNIE!!! ” Sanders began.
‘The American people do not want a president who is compulsively dishonest, who is a bully, who actively represents the interests of the billionaire class, who is anti-science,’ he continued.
[so no democrats??]
‘And who is trying to divide us up based on the color of our skin, our nation of origin, our religion, our gender or our sexual orientation,’ Sanders concluded.
[Oh the irony! Feel the bern! Remind me again which is the party of the Progressives? And for which party IDENTITY POLITICS reigns supreme??]
That wasn’t lip gloss…
The Kennedy family think that they are collectively American Royalty. If you are in Massachusetts, you criticize them at your peril, because the locals seem to believe it.
As a family, they are collectively scum: corrupt and arrogant, the type of people who know that laws do not apply to them, that they can do whatever they damn well feel like – and they do. Maybe this particular instance is better? Dunno, never heard of him before.
Wow – the family resemblance over generations is just incredible. Maybe they’ve secretly discovered cloning?
” Maybe they’ve secretly discovered cloning?”
If there ever was a family with the money, narcissism, and motivation- this would be the one….
n
Camelot was a really fancy trailer park.
That wasn’t lip gloss…
Hmmm. That pizza was tasty.
Yeah. Pizza.
I’m thinking the Dumbocrats Identity Politics will lose them a lot of Indepents. People are just tired of rayciss, sexist, LBGTist name calling. Tired of projection, strawman and a party that then runs a bunch of old WHITEYS!!!!
That wasn’t lip gloss…
Best comment on Kennedy I read:
Robert Kennedy III apparently misunderstood his uncle Ted
Ted Kennedy told him to come out looking like you just got a blow job, not like you just gave one.
Ikonboard? I kind of remember that.
http://forums.ttgnet.com/ikonboard.cgi?act=Profile;CODE=03;MID=67-1022881441
Oh yeah, I miss Jeff Timm, who always ended his posts like this:
“CowboySlim
Who is going down to the beach to check out the 5 ft. high tide at 10 AM PST.”
http://forums.ttgnet.com/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=19;t=1172;st=150
http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/3448.html
The Kennedy family think that they are collectively American Royalty. If you are in Massachusetts, you criticize them at your peril, because the locals seem to believe it.
It isn’t just Massachusetts. Even my Reagan fanatic parents were believers in Camelot, but my father at least conceded that the coverup with Ted Kennedy’s swim party was beyond ridiculous.
I believe that the Kennedys are the reason that “The Godfather” often falls to third on the critics’ list of greatest American movies. There is more than a little of the family’s story in the book/movie
I’m offering this link, with only the comment that despite the title, it is worth reading through:
https://accordingtohoyt.com/2018/01/31/the-right-way-to-grieve-and-support-the-grieving-by-out-of-the-darkness/
nick
(when the universe hands me something so timely, I’d be an idiot to ignore it.)
Thanks for that link @nick.
I’ll just excerpt one point:
“Never, under any circumstances, tell someone that this experience is part of God’s plan when they are grieving.”
People who say this are so way out of touch and real understanding that there is usually no hope for them.
This link is bookmark worthy and I found it very helpful.
And this actually got an out loud chuckle from me…
https://westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com/2018/01/30/stand-up-state-of-the-union/
n
Oh yeah, I miss Jeff Timm, who always ended his posts like this:
Goeff Timm (Jeff Timm) is still around.
RayT.
Who occasionally is the victim of one his posts on FB.
““We choose debt. . .””
https://www.sovereignman.com/trends/we-choose-debt-22895/
“The idea is that Americans almost invariably tend to swing wildly every few election cycles, voting for the candidate who is as close to the opposite of the current guy as possible.”
Wow, he nailed it. The guy, or gal, following Trump will probably be a wild eyed liberal. Maybe named Kennedy.
Let’s hope not until 2024.
I remember when…
Mr. Thompson would occasionally post the question: what did you do today for preps? (or something close to that)
This week I’ve been studying for my ham radio license. Ordered and received an inexpensive UHF/VHF mobile radio, power supply, UHF/VHF antenna, and 100 ft coax cable. Been using my hand-held radio to “scan” local channels for about a month (thanks Mr. Nick!). My 14 yr old son and I installed the antenna in the walk-in attic and routed the cable. We cut a few boards and are staining/poly coating them this week for a double-monitor stand which the radio gear will sit underneath. Still need to get an antenna ground set up; not transmitting anytime soon but will have to get that in place quickly.
And working a 7-5 job, attention to wife and 17 yr old daughter, and cooking dinner every night. No wonder I hit the bed at night pretty tuckered…
What did you do this week?
Dennis
“2018 Prediction #5 — The H-1B visa problem will NOT go away”
https://www.cringely.com/2018/01/31/2018-prediction-5-h-1b-visa-problem-will-not-go-away/
“For all their billions in profits (and billions more in repatriated profits) these companies, which include biggies like Apple and Google, just can’t seem to bring themselves to pay market rates for labor if they can wriggle out of doing so. The Trump Administration sure isn’t going to make them do it, either. And for these reasons I predict that the H-1B visa program may change in 2018 but its problems will remain pretty much the same.”
Congrats Dennis! That’s real progress. Attic antennas generally work fine, and are preferable during storms and hurricanes. Just be sure your roof sheathing isn’t the foil lined “heat reflector” kind. I have that and was wondering why I couldn’t get any signal….
n
Wow, he nailed it. The guy, or gal, following Trump will probably be a wild eyed liberal. Maybe named Kennedy.
Newsom. Liberal, Gen X, telegenic, West Coast.
He may wait until 2024, but his Silicon Valley money people will want something done about Trump sooner if impeachment doesn’t happen.
“The Trump Administration sure isn’t going to make them do it, either. And for these reasons I predict that the H-1B visa program may change in 2018 but its problems will remain pretty much the same.”
Nielsen Media Research realized that not much will change under Trump and signed a new contract with Tata recently. The layoffs started this week at their center outside Tampa.
One of my friends lost his job in the Nielsen cuts, the second time he’s been replaced by an H1-B/L-1 in three years. Another friend went to Hyderabad last year to train his replacement ahead of the inevitable next step … at a company that rhymes with IBM.
“500 Petabytes And Counting”
https://www.backblaze.com/blog/500-petabytes-and-counting/
“It seems like only yesterday that we crossed the 350 petabyte mark. It was actually June 2017, but boy have we been growing since. In October 2017 we crossed 400 petabytes. Today, we’re proud to announce we’ve crossed the 500 petabyte mark. That’s a very healthy clip, see for yourself!”
Good night ! That graph is heading vertical.
Nick,
Good question about the sheathing; will check. I have spray foam insulation in the attic ceiling which is fun to deal with when trying to do projects like the antenna.
Next couple of weeks are pretty basic: more studying and listening to the radio. I hope to take my test at the end of Feb. Uncle Sam has me traveling next two weeks so won’t be able to crack the books very much.
Mr. T’s sudden passing and OFD’s current issues sidelining him caused me to realize I was slacking in action. So am forcing myself to focus more on what I can do Now vs Later. Baby steps are still steps!
Dennis
I noticed that Kennedy was in front of a car with the hood up at a school in Fall River, MA.
That family doesn’t have a good history with cars and rivers…..
@Nick – have you found where your little furry friends breached your perimeter? Don’t want them sending reinforcements to replace those that you’re eliminating.
I noticed that Kennedy was in front of a car with the hood up at a school in Fall River, MA.
That family doesn’t have a good history with cars and rivers…..
IIRC, it was a narrow pass between two islands, no more than 6-7 feet deep at high tide.
Maybe a more appropriate location for Kennedy would have been at Udvar-Hazy in front of the Apollo 11 capsule. Neil Armstrong saved Uncle Ted’s political career as well as the future careers of various nephews and grand-nephews. Camelot lives!
I’m just playing with the new truck. Vacuumed it on Monday. Um. ear plugs next time, the little shop vac is on the shrill side. Yesterday I made use of spray white grease and silicon. Watch out, the doors shut on spring power hard enough to take off a finger. Ok, maybe not without razor blades attached to the door jambs. …
Today’s plan was to start washing the interior plastic but I sidetracked. It no longer toots the horn when locking the doors. It just blinks lights when un- and locking with the key-fob. The center brake light doesn’t work. The bulb is good. I checked the fuse box and lo! the fuse is missing. Oh, there it is, in slot 27 (a spare) instead of slot 25. Still no brake light.
For a bonus the recently replaced heater core is leaking antifreeze from the A/C drain pipe. It’s off to the shop on Monday. Maybe they can fix the air handler while they are under the dash. Defrost is useful once in a while. 🙂
“VIDEO: Luis Gutierrez triggered by ‘USA!’ chants, flees House chamber”
http://www.theamericanmirror.com/video-luis-gutierrez-triggered-usa-chants-flees-house-chamber/
What is this traitor even doing in Congress ?
Hat tip to:
http://drudgereport.com/
Rats! infest Paris…
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2018/01/no_author/hygiene-deficiency-in-paris-of-rats-and-other-vermin/
Well SB weekend is upon us. Beer, food and watching commercials.
By chance, I came across this picture today…
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxLWd_RKNPevRGxUMUtyRFAxWDQ/view?usp=sharing
I made it for SB four years ago. Pretty darn good
here’s how to do it
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/brown-sugar-bacon-recipe-1948823
@Nick: No mouser available?
The high desert eclipse was impressive. Spotlight bright before the eclipse, a deep copper during totality. No clouds or haze.
Tonight’s moonrise was almost as spectacular – a big orange moon rising through some sort of high cirrus.
Re: SuperBowl. I committed myself to not watching any NFL football this season. And was successful in my efforts (other than a few news headlines, which I have ignored). Watched college football instead.
So, not watching the SB. Might watch the commercials online; they’ll be available somewhere.
Haven’t really missed watching the NFL. College games are usually better.
I made a verbal offer on this house two weeks ago at $500K. It was $565K, they countered at $545K. I re-offered $500K (that is my current max affordability). Today they lowered the listing price to $545K.
http://www.har.com/6302-bridlewood/sale_60854385
The house has been for sale and unoccupied since August of 2016, originally listed at $625K. It is a nice house and very nice garage. It was over a foot higher than the flooding for Harvey (I personally drove by and verified this). The subdivision flooding problem will be fixed in a year or so by the FM 762 road conversion from two lane to five lane outside of the subdivision.
The house is nice but does have quite a bit of deferred maintenance such as paint and carpet. If we bought it, we would add a freestanding apartment behind the garage for our 30 year old disabled daughter. Probably cost about $125K (I hope less !). Bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchenette.
The house does have some unique items. The single bay garage door is 10 ft instead of 8 ft. The stairway is hidden behind a bookcase (weird !). The stairway is quite steep and has short steps so it is difficult to use continuously. The hallway bath has a shower which is always nice. The original two car garage was converted into a nicely sized game room.
The traffic in the area is horrible but the ongoing work on FM 762 will fix most of this. The school district added high school and two middle schools on FM 762 with zero road improvements five years ago. The county is widening FM 762 now from two lanes to four lanes plus a center turn lane.
The distance to our office is the same as our present house, four miles. But you have to cross the railroad tracks which can be blocked by trains going through 30+ times a day at 50 mph.
EDIT: And, there ain’t no levee needed to protect the house and area from the river.
@lynn, it certainly looks nice in the pix.
@ed, the local strays and ferals just sniff and piss on the garage door. They can’t be bothered to give chase. My little dog, who has some terrier in him, chases squirrels, but doesn’t seem to think rats are worth the effort.
@alan, I found a chewed hole in the soffit, next to a down spout. The wood pile is at the bottom of the downspout too. I set the poison box at the bottom of the downspout. The dirt evidence says they climb up the left side of the downspout…
None in the traps this am. Wife says there was a ruckus in the attic, so one probably got stuck but thrashed his way free. I need to set more of the snap traps around the glue traps. They seem to forget about the snaps when they are thrashing around, and then they get ketched. Don’t get ketched.
n
I’m off to an early bed. I was up late last night, and I’m feeling a bit under the weather. Sleep is the best preventative and cure for a cold or flu, so off to the land of Nodd…..
n
And the super moon was awesome last night. I don’t have any binoculars or else I would have gazed at it through those also.
We had clouds. It wasn’t all that super.