Sat. Sept. 10, 2022 – non-prepping hobby day, then family stuff…

By on September 10th, 2022 in decline and fall, lakehouse, personal, prepping

No idea what the forecast is calling for, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say “hot and humid.”

It was nice at the lake yesterday morning.   Even a bit cooler than the day before.   It got much warmer in the afternoon.  Kind of a theme, cooler mornings, but afternoon still scorching.  Eventually it will be merely warm in the afternoon, and we’ll call that “Fall”.  But I natter on …

Did some work on the gas line to the kitchen and getting stuff back together before I had to leave the BOL yesterday.   Neglected to clean everything, and pick up.   DID run 2 loads of laundry including towels.

THAT WAS AWESOME!  Laundry robots.   Put the dirty in, take the clean out.   Western civ ROCKS.  Laundry and keeping clean used to take an inordinate amount of time, by anyone’s standards.   Industrialization, wealth, and civilization gave us indoor plumbing, potable water delivered to the faucet, sewers, and robots to clean our clothes.  Clothes that are so cheap, we buy some that we NEVER WEAR until we GIVE THEM AWAY!  Don’t forget how amazing this is.  Don’t forget that a large part of the world does NOT live this way, and that we are more likely to “revert to the mean” than they are to install washers and dryers.

Make a plan to gradually step down the ladder.  Get the pieces in place.

And stack the things.

nick

73 Comments and discussion on "Sat. Sept. 10, 2022 – non-prepping hobby day, then family stuff…"

  1. Greg Norton says:

    “Green Champion Switzerland: Jail Time If you Heat Your Home Above 19C / 66F”

    Get warm, go to jail !

    When I asked for an updated quote on the job the other day, the AC company we have out regularly to do maintenance backed off of their earlier offer to replace our Nexia thermostat with a Honeywell RedLink, suddenly claiming that we had the best thermostat for our downstairs system.

    The quotes for the new upstairs system included Oncor incentives for variable speed units requiring proprietary thermostats with wireless capability.

    I’m suspicious that Oncor/ERCOT want the capability to control temps in households in a “crisis”, but it is strictly anecdotal evidence for now. Still, the AC companies act way too weird about installing anything where central control would be impossible without installing more hardware.

    One upside to the 2021 freeze is that ERCOT was distracted. 

  2. Ray Thompson says:

    Life’s a bitch, then you die.

  3. drwilliams says:

    Western civ ROCKS.  Laundry and keeping clean used to take an inordinate amount of time, by anyone’s standards.   Industrialization, wealth, and civilization gave us indoor plumbing, potable water delivered to the faucet, sewers, and robots to clean our clothes. 

    About 20  years ago there was a series on PBS where people spent months taking on the roles of ordinary people from British society of just a few decades ago. The women took on traditional roles for the time, and my recollection is that it was laundry that nearly broke the program. We’re talking 2+ days each week to set up outside to heat water and clean clothes in batches, with lots of manual stirring and lifting. 

    I just ran a search and I believe it was called “1900 House”.

  4. Greg Norton says:

    If the ads I saw last night during the local Faux News are any indication, Robert Francis is already in negative campaign mode, generally not the direction of a candidate who is ahead.

    Still, Abbott shouldn’t be even this vulnerable.

    Lots of Texas Tribune quotes in Robert Francis commercials. Get a real newspaper, kids.

  5. drwilliams says:

    When I asked for an updated quote on the job the other day, the AC company we have out regularly to do maintenance backed off of their earlier offer to replace our Nexia thermostat with a Honeywell RedLink, suddenly claiming that we had the best thermostat for our downstairs system.

    Does that mean that questions are asked when a Nexia drops out of sight?

    No answers on the internet, and there is a paucity of threads about replacing Nexia with something else.

    Sounds like the best strategy is never let one in the house, never buy into z-wave anything, and never connect appliances to the internet.

  6. JimB says:

    Sounds like the best strategy is never let one in the house, never buy into z-wave anything, and never connect appliances to the internet.

    Agreed. I asked my 1955 GE spare refrigerator if it wanted to be connected, and it didn’t answer. I like respectful silence, longevity, and service.

  7. EdH says:

    Dragging a bit this morning, received a flu shot yesterday. 

  8. drwilliams says:

    uh-oh

    “It will be like an avalanche”: Ukraine seizes key strategic city [Kupyansk]; Russia “pulling back”? UPDATE: NYT reports Izyum in Ukraine control

    https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2022/09/10/it-will-be-like-an-avalanche-ukraine-seizes-key-strategic-city-russia-pulling-back-n495551

    no updates on this story from yesterday:

    Did Ukraine capture a Russian Lt. General during its counteroffensive?

    https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2022/09/09/did-ukraine-capture-a-russian-lt-general-during-its-counteroffensive-n495492

    The two may be linked. If Ukraine did capture Lieutenant General Andrei Sychevoi, the consequences in disrupted command, lost intelligence and moral would be incalculable. Now that Ukraine has gained some ground back it will be interesting to see if they start immediately to deal with the quislings.

  9. CowboyStu says:

    Going out soon for my 2nd Shingles shot.

    Getting my 3rd KungFlu booster next week.

  10. Greg Norton says:

    Sounds like the best strategy is never let one in the house, never buy into z-wave anything, and never connect appliances to the internet.

    Any high efficiency system with a variable speed blower and/or AC compressor will require a proprietary protocol thermostat, and all of those have wireless tech anymore. You don’t get a choice.

  11. drwilliams says:

    @Greg Norton

    Any high efficiency system with a variable speed blower and/or AC compressor will require a proprietary protocol thermostat, and all of those have wireless tech anymore. You don’t get a choice.

    I’ve never bought into the “high efficiency” race. Complexity begets increased installed cost and maintenance, and very likely more frequent and costly repairs. I’ll take the system that is a few percent less efficient but has had the bugs banged out of it.

  12. lynn says:

    Lots of Texas Tribune quotes in Robert Francis commercials. Get a real newspaper, kids.

    No pay wall.  The articles are very carefully slanted and very well written at the fourth grade level.

    Abbotts wife is running a lot of commercials for him here on the radio.  I thought I was the only person still listening to the radio.  The millennials don’t listen to the radio.

  13. Greg Norton says:

    Abbotts wife is running a lot of commercials for him here on the radio.  I thought I was the only person still listening to the radio.  The millennial don’t listen to the radio.

    I noted last week that, since Darth Biden’s speech, the “BETO!” signs in my neighborhood now have Mothers Against Greg Abbot signs right next to them.

    Think about that acronym. See how it all fits together?

    I don’t think the Governor will lose, but the California money funding Robert Francis is going to data mine the polls and results like they did in 2020 with MJ Hegar’s Senate run and, before that, Robert Francis attempt to take out Rafael Edward in 2018.

    Rafael Edward should be concerned about 2024.

  14. lynn says:

    “71 House Democrats warn Pelosi against including Manchin’s permitting deal in government funding bill”

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/71-house-democrats-warn-pelosi-against-tying-manchins-permitting-deal-government-funding-bill

    “Democrats say Manchin’s bill will force them to choose between more pollution or government shutdown”

    The demonrats would never screw Manchin, right ?

    Shut it down.

  15. Greg Norton says:

    I’ve never bought into the “high efficiency” race. Complexity begets increased installed cost and maintenance, and very likely more frequent and costly repairs. I’ll take the system that is a few percent less efficient but has had the bugs banged out of it.

    Here’s the best part of the “high efficiency” numbers – the tech told me that they are all about to be notched lower as the Feds adopt new testing methodology. The AC units will be just as efficient, but they will have lower SEER numbers per the US Government as R134 is sunset.

  16. drwilliams says:

    Rafael Edward should be concerned about 2024.

    The White House, the Democratic Party, and what for lack of a better term we call the “Deep State” is increasingly desperate. If MAGA can refuse to be provoked into stupid actions before the election, and some real pipehitters start to accomplish things in Jan 2023, it will be uncharted territory. If that happens I expect a number of names that have been in the news will be asking for asylum in other countries. 

    Myself, I’d like to grab John Kerry and lock him in a room with a few tons of CO2 generated from his righteous private plane jaunts to arrange global warming restrictions on the hoi polloi. I would guarantee he would have a different attitude in a week.

  17. CowboyStu says:

    I’m waiting for Ed (not EdH from Bakersfield) to return.  This other Ed recently expressed a preference in seeing conclusions backed up by “actual facts”.

    Well, I have one concerning election stealing with documented, actual facts.

    I’ll keep checking in.

    3
    1
  18. Brad says:

    “Green Champion Switzerland: Jail Time If you Heat Your Home Above 19C / 66F”

    That’s been all over the tabloids here, as well. Also, the Martians landed, and Elvis is alive.

    The government has issued guidelines, but no one is going to knock on your door and check your thermostat. Heck, most thermostats aren’t marked in degrees anyway, just numbers 1-6. Ours don’t even have that, just lines. 

    People set their thermostats to be comfortable. This winter, I expect most people will dress a little warmer and turn their thermostats down half-a-notch.

  19. Lynn says:

    I’m suspicious that Oncor/ERCOT want the capability to control temps in households in a “crisis”, but it is strictly anecdotal evidence for now. Still, the AC companies act way too weird about installing anything where central control would be impossible without installing more hardware.

    None of my six a/c systems (house and office complex) have automated thermostats.  And it is going to stay that way.

  20. Ray Thompson says:

    Also, the Martians landed, and Elvis is alive.

    Elvis I might believe, Martians no way. I want links, facts, reliable sources.

    Now where is that sarcasm tag?

    None of my six a/c systems (house and office complex) have automated thermostats

    I have an automated thermostat, connected to the web. Never had an issue. I don’t think the local utility would ever get access. If they did, I would go back to simple, like I had, which I have saved.

    The local utility can shut down my water heater and pool pump. Got a rebate for allowing that option. The utility changed the logic board as it failed to turn back on the appliances one time. Responded in less than 45 minutes. I don’t think the utility updated their records as this summer during the extreme heat nothing ever shut down.

    Now excuse my while I answer the door. I think Elvis is ringing my doorbell. 

  21. EdH says:

    Personally I am happy to have the old Daynotes back, r/politics/daynotes was not a pleasant experience.

    I can get current politics 24/7/365 almost anywhere, indeed it is almost unavoidable, but Daynotes here has always been a bit of an oasis, though it does creep into even my own posts.

    And that is as political as i am going to get on a weekend.

  22. Lynn says:

    “FCC Proposes ‘Five-Year Rule’ for Disposing of Old Satellites”

         https://www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-proposes-five-year-rule-for-disposing-of-old-satellites

    “Operators currently have 25 years to carry out post-mission disposals into Earth’s atmosphere.”

    “As The Register reports(Opens in a new window), the FCC released a Fact Sheet(Opens in a new window) yesterday entitled “Space Innovation; Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age.” It details how there are currently over 4,800 satellites operating in orbit around the Earth and “many more to come,” which will increase the chances of collisions significantly.”

    I like this new rule.  The Pixar documentary “WALL-E” was fairly unnerving when they left Earth and had to burst through the satellite belt.

  23. Nick Flandrey says:

    Just realized I didn’t even do a good morning comment!

    Well, guten morgen minen freres…. or something like that…

    Was very comfortable this am, but is 95F at the moment, with overcast.   Sun was out for a while.

    Meeting was a bit low on attendance as it’s the first one after our big regional show, and I guess people got their dose of hobby two weeks ago.   I had fun.

    Then came home, and finished the book I was reading, Into the Real by Lydia Sherrer and John Ringo.   The mcguffin is in fact obvious, but that’s ok.  The ending is satisfying, the characters grow and develop, they triumph,  and there is a LOT of room for more books to come.   The VR (technically AR) and online gaming stuff may not be to everyone’s taste, but I enjoyed it immensely, even though I don’t do online gaming.  I am familiar with some of the most common tropes and memes from online gaming, and didn’t trip over anything.   Looking up the author (Ringo farms out ideas to willing co-authors is my understanding when he doesn’t have the time or background to develop them himself) this book is pretty far from her normal range of work.   She’s got plenty of talent and does a good job in this genre.   There are a couple mentions of stuff that could  be considered ‘woke’ if there was an agenda behind it, but I think it’s just story and background.  In one instance  it gives instant deeper background to a secondary character.   It reminds me more of the way those things were handled in earlier 90s SF, it’s just part of the character or the environment.   If the blurb sounds interesting, I recommend it as a fun read.

    n

  24. Nick Flandrey says:

    Ok, the author of this post is a notable ‘doomer’ but the list is mostly just list, with links.   There are a few ‘editorial’ comments.

    https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/list-33-things-we-know-about-coming-food-shortages 

    This is why I’m saying, stack it high, stack it deep.   You don’t have enough freezer space.

    n

  25. paul says:

    You don’t have enough freezer space.

    Or space for another freezer.  Yeah, I could make room in the feed shed but that’s about like having a freezer in the garage. 

    A better plan is it toss the emu hides I have.  If they were ever going to be tanned, it would have happened by now.  Then grind and render the emu fat.  Even with a coarse filtering and putting it back into the freezer, that would save a lot of space.  A plan for when the weather cools.

    I mean, if the emu stuff is out of that freezer there would be a spiral ham and three briskets.

  26. paul says:

    Well, guten morgen minen freres….

    Jacques.  As in https://allnurseryrhymes.com/frere-jacques/

    Yeah.  We did it in French in grade school.  Third or Fourth grade.  The class was divided in thirds… starting at different times.  Sounded cool… make the hair stand up on your arms cool.  And then it was time for flutophone practice.

    Thanks for the earworm.  Grin. 

  27. Jenny says:

    Started two small batches of hard cider yesterday. Simple – cider and yeast. 
    Trying Lavlin EC-118 for one batch, and Cider Jacks (I think) M02 for the other. Also took the pressed apples, dropped them in a big glass jar, covered with brandy added a cinnamon stick and cloves. Will strain and sweeten in a few weeks. Let it rest and hey presto Christmas gifts. 
     

  28. lynn says:

    Who the heck is Rafael Edward  ?

  29. Geoff Powell says:

    @lynn:

    The millennials don’t listen to the radio.

    Make that “don’t listen to ”commercial radio” and I’ll agree, as a millennial myself. Thank $DEITY for the BBC, particularly Radio 3.

    G.

  30. Geoff Powell says:

    @paul:

    Yeah.  We did it in French in grade school.  Third or Fourth grade.  The class was divided in thirds… starting at different times.  

    That’s called a “round”. “Frere Jacques” is written to be sung that way, normally in 4 parts in my experience. 

    There are many others.

    G.

  31. paul says:

    This seems to be a real thing:

    https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/62842183

    Hard to read.

    Then again, Chaucer in 5th grade (in a modern font) was do-able…. just for the story.

  32. drwilliams says:

    @lynn

    “Who the heck is Rafael Edward  ?”

    Your Senator Cruz

  33. Geoff Powell says:

    @drwilliams:

    I just ran a search and I believe it was called “1900 House”.

    There have been a plethora of such series on BBC TV, in the “Back in Time for…” family, and also the “… Farm” family. The work was indeed backbreaking for all, particularly the women. I believe many people don’t appreciate the labour-saving nature of modern devices, and look back to a “simpler time” that probably never existed, except in their imaginations.

    Which is why I have no sympathy for the “back to a simpler time” faction. I suspect that, if they actually had to live in their simpler time, they would be wanting to come back to today’s conveniences, probably within days.

    G.

  34. paul says:

    Make that “don’t listen to ”commercial radio”

    Yep.  Around here it’s a couple of country music stations.  Ick.  A “christian” easy listening station that’s not bad.  And of all things, a rap station complete with “mutha f…” this and “ho be that”.  

    None of it is worth the electricity needed to power the radio.  It’s all commercials and moron DJs jabbering between songs.  For example, I can get in the car, catch the last half of a song, and it’s just commercials and jabbering all the way to the grocery store.  Four miles, about 13 minutes depending on time of day (wildlife) and weather.

    KWTX out of Waco used to come in great.  Ditto KLBJ out of Austin.  I can’t blame the car radio, they tune in the same on three different cars.  

    I have an FM antenna in the attic to feed the stereo.  Ah, and then we installed a metal roof.  Oh well, it’s all commercials and jabber.

  35. paul says:

    Which is why I have no sympathy for the “back to a simpler time” faction. I suspect that, if they actually had to live in their simpler time, they would be wanting to come back to today’s conveniences, probably within days.

    I have sympathy for the “back to a simpler time”  folks.  Sure, from what I’ve been told, you had to change the spark plugs on your car every 10K miles and getting 20K miles on a set of tires was good in the ‘50’s.

    Can we roll it back a few years?  Say, to 1986 or so?  Before most of the Diversity Stuff the Media is shoving at us didn’t exist?  

    We would still have washing machines and self defrosting refrigerators and A/C. 

  36. Geoff Powell says:

    Here in UK, I am unfamiliar with remote thermostats – they are uncommon, in my experience, even in new-builds.

    I might have contemplated a Nest, before the Chocolate Factory bought them. Afterwards, no way. Too much chance of snooping.

    That said, our “smart” (read: remotely-readable) meters appear to have a shut-off relay. Whether it’s a service killer for non-payment, or whether it can be used for load-shedding at need is unknown to me. I’ve not heard of either. I only know about the relay from watching Big Clive’s teardown.

    G.

  37. Greg Norton says:

    Who the heck is Rafael Edward  ?

    Cruz. I think he’s in trouble until he learns to avoid flying commercial.

    Cruz’ wife is a Director at Goldman Sachs. She either has a jet or regular access to one.

  38. drwilliams says:

    South Korea Fusion Breakthrough: 20s 100 Million Degree Fusion Plasma With No Instability

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/09/09/south-korea-fusion-breakthrough-20s-100-million-degree-fusion-plasma-with-no-instability/

    Wonders if they have a diversity program?

  39. drwilliams says:

    “Take two pounds of Arbuckle’s coffee, put in ‘nough water to wet it down, boil it for two hours, then throw in a hoss shoe. If the hoss shoe sinks, she ain’t ready.”

    https://www.mashed.com/992116/what-did-cowboys-really-eat-in-the-old-west/

  40. Ray Thompson says:

    Before most of the Diversity Stuff the Media is shoving at us didn’t exist?

    The only place there is no diversity are football and basketball teams, collegiate and pro. Because they pick the best at what they do. Something that is frowned upon in the business world to keep things racially balanced.

  41. Jenny says:

    @Geoff

    That’s called a “round”. “Frere Jacques” is written to be sung that way, normally in 4 parts in my experience. 

    And if the round contains a message that appears as the parts pull together it is called a Catch. Lots of them written in Middle Ages. Funny naughty hidden messages in pious sounding songs. 
    A modern one:

    Hi ho cry the merry dwarves (beat beat)

    It’s off to war we (beat) are

    To strike our foes both blind (beat beat) and dumb

    Sung correctly in the parts the dominating lyric?
    Dwarves Are Dumb  Dwarves Are Dumb Dwarves Are Dumb

  42. drwilliams says:

    Ignorant and bigoted.

    The troll’s best qualities.

  43. drwilliams says:

    Navy: We’re not releasing any more of our UFO videos. Not sorry

    Public: We’re not giving your woke brass any more boats and planes to mismanage. Not sorry

    https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2022/09/10/navy-were-not-releasing-any-more-of-our-ufo-videos-not-sorry-n495585

  44. drwilliams says:

    Oregon Gov. Signs Law Allowing Students to Graduate Without Proving They Can Write or do Math

    “SB 744 gives us an opportunity to review our graduation requirements and make sure our assessments can truly assess all students’ learning”

    https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/09/oregon-gov-signs-law-allowing-students-to-graduate-without-proving-they-can-write-or-do-math/

    How about a new Federal law:

    States that do not have high school graduation requirements will not receive federal funds for secondary or post-secondary education. Individuals wishing to participate in any federal college loan program will be required to pass a high school proficiency test first.

    In other words, you can’t expect the taxpayers of other states to foot the bill for your secondary school failures, and if your graduates don’t have the minimum requirement for college, they won’t be able to get federal loans.

  45. Lynn says:

    “Don’t Misquote Me.”

        https://areaocho.com/dont-misquote-me/

    “Isn’t it time that we admit that blacks are largely a race of criminals who have a pathological inability to live in civilized society? It’s well documented that more than half of all homicides and nearly half of all violent crimes, are committed by blacks.”

    I have no idea how to fix this or even deal with the truth.

  46. Lynn says:

    Oregon Gov. Signs Law Allowing Students to Graduate Without Proving They Can Write or do Math

    “SB 744 gives us an opportunity to review our graduation requirements and make sure our assessments can truly assess all students’ learning”

    https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/09/oregon-gov-signs-law-allowing-students-to-graduate-without-proving-they-can-write-or-do-math/

    They have been graduating students from many high schools in the nation for decades with no measurable skills and somebody finally decided to legalize it.

  47. drwilliams says:

    @Lynn

    “I have no idea how to fix this or even deal with the truth.”

    With regard to the quote, I would say no, not just no but f*** no.

    Black culture as it exists today has been largely destroyed by a multi-generational program designed by the Democratic Party–party of slavery and Ku Klux Klan and Margaret Sanger–and their hangers-on to keep the overwhelmingly white and corrupt old power structure in place.

  48. Lynn says:

    Ignorant and bigoted.

    The troll’s best qualities.

    The under bridge dweller is special.   It exists to take down the higher level humans who actually make a difference.

  49. drwilliams says:

    @Lynn

    Are you familiar with James Gifford and Nitrosyncretic Press?

    Company name explained here:

    http://nitrosyncretic.com/nsp_about.php

    James Gifford is the author of 

    Robert A. Heinlein: A Reader’s Companion

    http://nitrosyncretic.com/nsp_title_raharc.php

    Published in 2000, there is an errata sheet downloadable on that page. The new Kindle version has a few minor edits. Note this is a reader’s resource, not criticism. Recommended.

    I dipped into it the other night and followed up by visiting the website. I was gobsmacked to find that he is also a fan of the Gilbreth’s and has not only a new book

    Cheaper by the Dozen at 75

    but has a website

    https://www.thegilbreths.com/

    that includes information on other new books related to Frank Gilbreth’s career.

  50. Lynn says:

    “Environmentalists Petition EPA to Ban Natural Gas Use in Buildings”

        https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/09/10/environmentalists-petition-epa-to-ban-natural-gas-use-in-buildings/

    “It never ends…. In the wake of the 725-page “Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA), consumer choice for energy could be intentionally restricted to electricity by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Or at least that seems to be the plan. According to a petition submitted by environmentalists, EPA should regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from using natural gas in homes and businesses.”

    “The eco-lobby has been emboldened by their “win” with the passage of the IRA. Never satisfied, their petition is one of the first attempts to expand it.”

    This will not end well.

  51. Nick Flandrey says:

    I have no idea how to fix this or even deal with the truth.

    genocide and transportation to a penal colony were the main two ways, if I’m not mistaken.

    ——————————————————-

    decided to fill up and get some groceries after dropping D2 at her party.

    Kinda pricey.   Granted I bought a lot of snack packages and treats, and soda, (school lunch etc) I hit $300 without any meat.

    They had 80/20 ground chuck on sale, $3/lb, but take away 20% and that’s not really a bargain.   They had almost no beef in the case.   Chuck roast on sale, at $4 but it was so low grade I wouldn’t even make pot roast with it.  Each piece had a huge fat/gristle band thru the middle, much more than usual.   They were offering “chuck steaks” which were the chuck roast sliced to ½ “.  Never saw that before.   One lone ”tomahawk” steak, and some brisket.   That’s a pretty poor selection.

    The cookie aisle had very few name brands.   Mostly mexican, HEB, and off brand copies of name brands.  Cracker section looked similar.   Either they are moving down market, or it’s all they can get.

    Gas was $2.89 so that was nicer, but dayum.

    n

  52. Lynn says:

    I have no idea how to fix this or even deal with the truth.

    – genocide and transportation to a penal colony were the main two ways, if I’m not mistaken.

    Yes.  We may be headed in that direction as a part of the future civil war in the USA.

  53. Lynn says:

    Ok, the author of this post is a notable ‘doomer’ but the list is mostly just list, with links.   There are a few ‘editorial’ comments.

    https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/list-33-things-we-know-about-coming-food-shortages 

    This is why I’m saying, stack it high, stack it deep.   You don’t have enough freezer space.

    n

    So there is a severe food shortage coming in 2023 following a massive energy shortage that will rear its head this winter.  I doubt that we will see either in the USA.  But the screaming from the rest of the planet will drive many bleeding hearts crazy in the USA.  

    You know, we could lose 10% or 20% of the population of the planet in 2023 and 2024.  This will be serious. Tne societal pressures will be immense.

  54. Alan says:

    >> Dragging a bit this morning, received a flu shot yesterday. 

    @EdH et al, thoughts on timing of the seasonal flu jab? I know the pharmacies have started advertising their availability recently but my most recent PCP counselled on waiting until about the end of October so as to obtain the most effectiveness during the typical peaks of flu season. 

  55. Greg Norton says:

    “Environmentalists Petition EPA to Ban Natural Gas Use in Buildings”

    This will not end well.

    We were on the fence about a new upstairs HVAC system this year, but I want a gas furnace. 

    Today’s Darth Biden inflation surprise at Sam’s – $25 for the Boy Scouts -er- “Scouts” box of microwave popcorn.

    Oh, and $1.86/lb for chicken legs.

  56. Alan says:

    >> I’ve never bought into the “high efficiency” race. Complexity begets increased installed cost and maintenance, and very likely more frequent and costly repairs. I’ll take the system that is a few percent less efficient but has had the bugs banged out of it.

    I thought it was the variable speed functionality that tied you to a proprietary thermostat and not the high-efficiency?

  57. Alan says:

    >> I can get current politics 24/7/365 almost anywhere,

    Instead of politics we can revisit the discussion as to whether the “365” in 24/7/365 is redundant or not…  😛

  58. Greg Norton says:

    I thought it was the variable speed functionality that tied you to a proprietary thermostat and not the high-efficiency?

    The High Efficiency units above what is currently considered 14 SEER start getting into a variable speed blower and/or AC compressor.

    You can get away with not using a proprietary thermostat with a variable speed blower, but you won’t have a choice with a variable speed AC compressor.

  59. Lynn says:

    “Augason Farms Long Grain White Rice Emergency Food Storage 24 Pound Pail”

        https://www.amazon.com/Augason-Farms-Grain-Emergency-Storage/dp/B00LBGNHE8?tag=ttgnet-20/

    $36.55 today.  If these guys are correct then will be $100 in a few months.

    But the real question is do we need this in the USA ?

  60. Lynn says:

    My TAMU Aggies lost to Appalachian State today.  What in the world ?

  61. Lynn says:

    Wow, I just saw a commercial for Bozo O’Rourke during the Houston Astros baseball game.

  62. ITGuy1998 says:

    Roll Tide. Yeah, I cringe a little saying that,  but I’m financing that machine a little bit more now (taxpayer and student parent).

  63. drwilliams says:

    “variable speed blower,”

    https://www.ebth.com/items/8843806-schwinn-airdyne-stationary-exercise-bike

    Extend the horizontal tubes and lengthen the chain to move the operator out of the way, then add fairings to connect to the ductwork.

    If I thought I could get a hundred of that older model and average $100 each, I’d do it. Problem is the real average would be $250-300.

  64. drwilliams says:

    @Lynn

    “Augason Farms Long Grain White Rice Emergency Food Storage 24 Pound Pail”

        https://www.amazon.com/Augason-Farms-Grain-Emergency-Storage/dp/B00LBGNHE8?tag=ttgnet-20/

    $36.55 today.  If these guys are correct then will be $100 in a few months.

    But the real question is do we need this in the USA ?

    Yes.

    50# of Members Mark Jasmine Rice is $34 at Sam’s.

    5-gallon pail with Gamma-seal lid is $15. 

    Backfill with dry N2 if you have it (and you should–it’s got lot’s of uses)

    Put the buckets in an unheated space for 48-hours when you get a hard freeze, or use a freezer.

    Stack four in the back of a closet with two cases per bucket of Campbell’s soup. I use a mix of beef and chicken broth and the highest calorie other soups like cheddar. If four doesn’t fit space or budget limitations, do two or even one.

    If such an arrangement is not safe from vermin, get a clean open head 50-gallon barrel (about 22″ id and 33″ tall) and use a mix of buckets to use the space most efficiently, filling corners with other supplies.

  65. Nick Flandrey says:

    Child 2 safely returned from her movie/dinner/hang with friends birthday party.

    D1 feeling better after a day at home, W1 not feeling better.   D1 tested and no wuflu, W1 not tested yet.

    I’m going to try to get to bed early.  Probably won’t make it but I’ll give it the old school try.

    several of my daily reads are reporting issues with their blogs related to google owned blogger  shenannigans, like changing their visitor count, reducing traffic, breaking RSS feeds…  could be coincidence or could be harassment.     While we use wordpress, we are hosted elsewhere, not blogger.  We are also a bit less provocative and political.  Nevertheless, if you have issues please comment or email to let us know.

    n

  66. EdH says:

    @alan, re:flu

    I usually wait as well, but I was at Kaiser for something else, and asked, and they said there were definitely new strains since my last shot and it would be a good idea, so why not?

    I am not sure but I think I can get another if it is called for.

  67. Alan says:

    >> Cruz’ wife is a Director at Goldman Sachs. She either has a jet or regular access to one.

    She’s a ‘Managing Director,’ but wasn’t immediately evident in which banking discipline. SWAG salary plus bonus – $500K to $1M. Enough for a Cessna but not a Gulfstream (unless there’s family money). More likely has easy access to one of the GS corporate jets or via fractional jet shares. Doesn’t hurt in investment banking for your hubby to be a US Senator. When you get to the MD level a lot is based on relationships and bringing in business.

    Appropriately biased The Atlantic article from a few years back: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/10/heidi-cruz-ted-his-senate-bid-and-2016-race/573256/?utm_source=twb

  68. Nick Flandrey says:

    Finally caught the marauder on video.   Didn’t know what was knocking everything off my shelves in the garage.   Freaking possum climbing down out of the breezeway to the house, and busting every thing up.   That’s what’s making the noise in the house soffits too.

    Someone is getting trapped and blocked out of  the house.   now I know what I’m doing tomorrow.

    n

  69. Lynn says:

    “Johnny Manziel teases college football comeback after Texas A&M’s stinker vs. Appalachian State”

        https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/johnny-manziel-teases-college-football-comeback-after-texas-a-m-s-stinker-vs-appalachian-state/ar-AA11GviL?cvid=ea1bf9a7b1374a8d9cd2359366bd5bdd

    Never gonna happen but, it would be sweet.

  70. Alan says:

    >> Can we roll it back a few years?  Say, to 1986 or so? 

    We need to go further back for cars, definitely before catalytic convertors.

  71. Alan says:

    Your daily serving of Kamala’s word salad…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY9BItR9YaQ&t=21s

  72. Alan says:

    >> decided to fill up and get some groceries after dropping D2 at her party.

    Kinda pricey.   Granted I bought a lot of snack packages and treats, and soda, (school lunch etc) I hit $300 without any meat.

    Today’s sighting at the grocery store was really over the top – a “pint” (well, 14 ounces, but that was shrink-flation from several years ago) of Haagen Dazs ice cream was $7.49!! Thankfully a real 16 oz pint of a similar flavor from Ben & Jerry’s was on sale for $3.49.

  73. JimB says:

    We need to go further back for cars, definitely before catalytic convertors.

    Very few pre-cat (1975-ish) engines had hardened valve seats, so incompatible with unleaded gasoline without machine work or head swaps. The first five years with cats are likely best for back yard mechanics. Those cats can be removed if they fail due to plugging. Also, the lower compression ratios of that generation will be happier with today’s lower octane fuels.

    There are many other considerations, but it gets complicated. Done right, you will have a fuel-versatile, easy to maintain, low specific output, gas guzzler. It will get you there.

    Modern engines with fuel injection are to be avoided due to replacement parts obsolescence and general finicky-ness. Much older engines are not good candidates for many reasons including lack of parts.

    There are many other considerations. Talk to 7 serious car nuts, get 7×11 opinions that will work for them. I know a guy… who has a heavily modified engine that runs on propane (only, not a conversion.) He has had it for at least 40 years, and thinks propane will be available for as long as he lives. Given his age and health, he is probably right.

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