Cool and damp.
Beautiful day yesterday. Sunny and cool, with blue skies. Damp of course, but about as nice as it gets this time of year.
I’ve got the kids home for one more day. I guess we’ll find something to do, I know I’ve got plenty. The list keeps getting longer too as household items are added.
I do finally feel almost my old self again, so that’s good. One more visit to the back cracker should put me as good as it gets. I’ll start stretching again after that. A few exploratory moves have me astonished that I’ve lost so much flexibility in my hips and lower body. I’ve always been fairly stiff, but man, my hips are locked tight.
I ordered the refurb Samsung S10e. Hopefully, all I’ll have to report is that it does in fact look and work like new. Wife ordered me the wireless charger dock to use on my old phone until the new one arrives. It will work with the new one as well. That should save some wear and tear on the usb port, and maybe the new one won’t burn…
I haven’t been paying attention to the fires in Australia. That was wrong. They are a major disaster. I sincerely hope none of our visitors are affected. If you are and anyone here can help in any way, please let us know in a comment.
No one wants to die in a fire. Don’t mess around. When it’s time to go, go.
Which is good advice in general too.
n
Good morning all. Brrr, 45 right now in SW FL.
Hopefully sent requiring a signature? It’s amazing what the delivery services will leave on your porch with nary a care.
Hopefully sent requiring a signature? It’s amazing what the delivery services will leave on your porch with nary a care.
Apparently, with UPS now, leaving an item without getting the signature is “driver’s discretion”.
It isn’t the neighbors or even random passer-by I worry about as much as the freak show contract drivers working for Amazon, especially during the holidays.
In the 32 years I have lived I have only had one package go missing. The regular carriers (UPS, USPS, FEDEX) have alway been good about leaving packages. Very low package theft in this area.
Then I had a substitute driver for USPS. Package went missing. It was CPAP supplies and I only found out when I got the EOB from my medigap provider. Went to the post office and they confirmed delivery, GPS coordinates in front of the house. What the lazy idiot driver had done was dumped the package at the mailbox instead of bringing the package to the house. Or kept the package for him/her self. Of course USPS said it was my problem as they had delivered.
…sent requiring a signature?
That can be a hassle. I have package coming sometime on Tuesday that will require an adult signature with ID and can’t be diverted to a pickup location. I can’t take the day off work and my roommate will be in and out all day. So I registered an account on FedEx website and paid $5.55 to schedule a delivery window (5pm to 8pm). I can arrange to be home from work by 5pm or make sure someone else will definitely be there.
If you’re curious, it is a gub. The cylinder on my SP101 would bind up after 2 or 3 rounds. I could clean it up and let it cool down and then I could get 2 or 3 more shots before binding up. Probably some tolerance has become too tight and the smallest bit of soot or heat expansion closed it up. When clean I can dry fire it without issue. The gun is 2 years old.
I called Ruger and explained the situation. They immediately emailed me a prepaid shipping label. I sent it out that day and 1 week later they emailed me that it was fixed and being shipped back. No cost to me at all. I don’t know what they did, I’m hoping there will be some info in the box. I don’t care too much as long as it works properly again.
We seem to have almost no problems with package theft here. I have just the opposite problem. 30+ years ago I signed a waiver with UPS so they could deliver with no signature, even if the sender required one. Very convenient, and a responsibility I was willing to take. Can’t do that any more. Worse, I can’t determine for sure if a sender will require a signature for a given shipment. Even worse, the drivers hardly make an attempt to get my attention, and just drive off, forcing me to wait a day for redelivery. Picking up a package at the main office is only between something like 1900-1930, and even then it might not be available. I am told I should have the delivery sent to one of the satellite offices and pick it up. No! I want it delivered to my door.
BTW, I have zero problems with Fedex and the USPS, but I can’t choose them.
I’ve been reading articles about the situation in Australia. There’s no doubt that it’s a disaster, but one comment on a WUWT article caught my attention. The guy posts a graph of historical controlled burns in SW Australia. If this graph is legit, then the area of controlled burns in Australia has dropped dramatically over the past few decades. Meaning: they used to do a lot more controlled burns, to reduce fuel load, but lately have been doing very little.
So now they’re paying the price.
Of course, the current dry year is a contributing factor. But Australia often has dry years – that was actually the topic of the WUWT article. Possibly more important were the recent wetter years that will have cause a lot of forest growth. So it’s a combination of bad luck (dry, hot weather) with decades of inadequate forest management.
@Alan
I haven’t been outside this morning but yesterday morning we were -15 Fahrenheit.
Brrrr.
Not two weeks ago we were in the 40’s and everything melted. Followed by a foot of snow and now a cold snap.
Crazy Anchorage weather.
One winter I traveled to Norway to visit former exchange students. Chose the winter trip as we wanted to have Christmas in Germany with another foreign exchange student. New Years was to be celebrated in Norway.
I remember the cold, I think it was -18f one day, a short day, lasting from about 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. That type of cold made the snow very dry, fluffy, not of this ice encrusted junk we get in TN. You could walk around for hours and your clothes would still be dry. Walk around 10 minutes in TN (when we get snow) and the pants legs are soaked.
I enjoyed walking around. I had several layers of clothing and insulated winter boots. I also inserted some of those warming packages in some critical spaces which helped a lot.
One of those walks was almost a disaster. I encountered some ice and my feet slipped out from under me. I went down hard on the back of my head. I blacked out for a duration that is unknown, could have been 3 seconds, could have been 10 minutes. When I finally came to I managed the 300 yard walk back to the cabin with some serious balance and vertigo problems. Wife asked me what took so long and if I had gotten lost. I took of the outer layers of clothing and laid in the bed. Everything was spinning and moving making me very nauseous.
I believe I had suffered a significant concussion. Of course I did the stupid thing (it’s a guy thing) and kept it to myself until the next morning. I should have been sent to a hospital to be checked for problems. The next day I seemed to be OK. Still occasional flashes of light, balance was still a little iffy. Second day I was fine with no after effects.
As Forrest Gump stated “Stupid is as stupid does.”
@Ray
You’re spot on about your observation about the dry qualities of the snow and it’s lovely walkability.
My first Alaska winter I worked swing, and shared a single wide with some generous friends. It was my habit to walk for a bit after work around the trailer park. There was a creek with over wintering ducks (if you feed them they fail to migrate). The city was dead silent and to 23 year old me, horribly romantically Jack London-y.
Anyway, we were in a cold snap. I had my walk, watched the aurora, and eventually wandered back to the trailer. The snow was dry and squeaking, my nose hairs froze, and I couldn’t feel my cheeks, toes, or fingertips.
My friends had woken and realized I was long overdue to be back. Saw my car in drive and understood I’d gone walking. They were gearing up to find me when I returned. I was roundly scolded for walking alone in those temps. Because a slip with a brief period of unconsciousness is deadly at those temps.
You, sir, were indeed fortunate!
Aw jeez. The Qi charger arrived today, but doesn’t include a power supply. Because actual Qi devices only need a 2A 5v supply, but samsung needs a 3A 9v supply, which I don’t have. SO no phone for me today, and I guess I’ll order the correct psu…
n
The epstain pictures are not what I’d expect, if the official story was correct. I’m far from an expert, but ….
And “nooses” plural? Why? Is reminiscent of all the guns strewn willy nilly around the room in Vegas….
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7855039/Graphic-photos-Jeffrey-Epsteins-autopsy-reveal-bloodied-neck.html
n
The epstain pictures are not what I’d expect, if the official story was correct. I’m far from an expert, but ….
Of course it wasn’t suicide, but this kind of conspiracy requires a lot of people to keep a secret.
Nerves will be tested. Prince Andrew failed the test already.
If you haven’t read/watched Ricky Gervais’ monologue at the Golden Globes, find it. A thorough skewering of the Hollyweird elitist doosh’s. It’s hard to understand why they would hire him.
Cuz why would a guy with millions, who walked calmly into custody, who presumably has safes full of blackmail material and “friends” in the highest places, who’s already beaten a similar rap, and who is such a narcissist, and has brass balls so big, he has the NYPD stand guard at his door while banging underage girls while out on work release, kill himself?
I guess it’s just one of the mysteries of our age…..
n
Over The Hedge: Hyena bike mode
https://www.gocomics.com/overthehedge/2020/01/06
Heh.
If you haven’t read/watched Ricky Gervais’ monologue at the Golden Globes, find it. A thorough skewering of the Hollyweird elitist doosh’s. It’s hard to understand why they would hire him.
Gervais hasn’t worked that much in the US in the last few years, but he is still a player because he retains his rights to “The Office”.
Any deal for a reboot will have to involve Gervais.
“this kind of conspiracy requires a lot of people to keep a secret.”
–or a lot of people to end up dead.
n
Nick, apologies. Had an email from my neighbor, and he paid much more for his new Note 10+. I was confusing an earlier phone purchase. The other friend really did get his for less than $300, but that was on some kind of Verizon family plan; a large family. I have seen AT&T, my carrier, offers on two Note 10 phones for something like $300 each. I actually do need two phones, one for my wife. Undecided, and will do some research. Buying a phone in an emergency can be traumatic. I have my original Note, but it doesn’t take the SIM that fits the Note 3. I kept it for other uses, but haven’t needed it. I really don’t care about the SIM, because I rarely use my phone as a telephone. Usually less than one call a week, even when traveling. Most of my friends use email, the original killer app. However, with no SIM the phone has no Internet access except over Wi-Fi, which turns it into a small tablet.
It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it….
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/01/free-money-chelsea-clinton-hauls-in-9-million-from-corporate-board-position/
n
For getting her picture with fat cats. Another Hunter Biden do nothing and get paid for your mug and access.
I cut the tip of a finger sharpening kitchen knives yesterday. Took the time to apply some Vet Bond after the blood flow slowed. It’s still holding.
@Nick: I picked up a charger at the 99 Cent store yesterday, for $3, on a lark. No USB power brick, so I used the iPad brick. It worked, but I’m not sure I’d trust it not to fry the phone or power brick.
I’ve got Vetbond, but I usually just use superglue. Admittedly, the superglue is hard and will crack and flake.
Does the vetbond burn as much as superglue?
n
I’ve got Vetbond, but I usually just use superglue. Admittedly, the superglue is hard and will crack and flake.
Does the vetbond burn as much as superglue?
Superglue for general purpose work contains toxic chemicals, including methanol, and the curing process is exothermic. You want to buy Vetbond.
I’ve had this conversation before with my wife.
It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it….
Web Hubbell must be so proud of his little girl.
Originally from NYC and while not as bad as AK, it’s one of the reasons we headed south to FL about eight years ago.
Now to me, 45 here means a sweatshirt (not zipped), while the FL natives pull out their parkas.
https://insidefirstaid.com/bleeding/3m-vetbond-surgical-skin-glue-for-cuts#my_personal_vetbond_experience
Good story!
I started using superglue to seal cuts on my hands when I was an active rock climber. I’ve heard the stories of how it was developed as a skin glue and why is isn’t used for that purpose. I still use it anyway for things that bandaids don’t do well sealing.
Interesting to learn that triple antibiotic dissolves the vetbond, I wonder if it works on superglue too? I’ve got some solvent here, if you have superglue, you should get the accelerator and the solvent, just in case.
I think I better make sure I know where my vetbond is, and maybe order some more for the other kits.
n
Fans of Chaos Manor – take a look at this announcement:
https://www.jerrypournelle.com/chaosmanor/the-estate-of-jerry-pournelle-announces-new-website-and-facebook-group/
Sounds cool, but a massive amount of troll banhammering will be needed.
Just in the simple comments of Larry Correia’s blog, there’s plenty of need occasionally.
A conservative OWM like Jerry is gonna be an irresistible target.
n
Well, waddaya know. The apple 18w charger works to power my new wireless charging station. Hooray, I have a fully charged phone again. Just in time to act as my alarm clock for school tomorrow.
The kids aren’t gonna be the only ones regretting the early hour…
But I’ll be back to getting a couple hours work done before 9am.
n
I saw the star wars 9 movie today with my son and my father. I had low expectations and they were exceeded. According to my nephew the movie is badly paced and I agree.
It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it….
Web Hubbell must be so proud of his little girl.
Heh !
I saw the star wars 9 movie today with my son and my father. I had low expectations and they were exceeded. According to my nephew the movie is badly paced and I agree.
A lot seems to be missing from the cut currently in theaters. Regardless, the film has done what it was supposed to do — sell theme park tickets. From what I’ve read online and seen from vloggers on YouTube, the Star Destroyer sets in the film mirror what riders experience in “Rise of the Resistance”.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-disney-rise-resistance-follow-20191231-qg6b4pru35azdeyl5nbtmy67em-story.html
Interesting that the FastPass/Magic Band system isn’t in place yet. One of our village idiots from pre-merger GTE ended up fairly high in IT at Disney in Orlando, and, if what I’ve heard is accurate, he was involved in development of the back end behind making the bands work.
They’re not all geniuses, even at Disney. Politics. And before anyone asks, white, male, probably mid 40s now. Twenty years ago, he lucked out, cashing nearly seven figures in options in a “B2B” startup buyout deal so legendary that it still resonates around Central Florida.
I use the little yellow nozzles that come with the Vet Bond and squeeze a drop out after nozzle use to make sure the bottle works again. I wonder if I can buy the nozzles separate? Don’t want to run out.