A Conversation Brings Back a Memory

 My wife, and I, were sitting on the porch, drinking coffee with my sister-in-law, and discussing how certain things were not negotiable when we were young, and how one certain look from our mothers could curtail any thoughts of whining. Going beyond whining could lead to things worse.

My sister-in-law told of a story of saying something inappropriate to her mother, who grabbed her by the hair and pulled her from their car to show her dissatisfaction with her daughter.  A spanking with a belt followed, which always involved a short wait, since her mother wanted her anger to subside before the belt wailed. She then asked her if she understood why she was spanked. My sister-in-law said that was worse than the spanking. She knew she had to confess to her error in judgement, and admit the failure. 

After we all laughed about the event, I told them of my error in judgement when I was about sixteen years old.  

I was sitting at the kitchen table, my mother was behind me and asked me a question. I don't remember the question, but I do remember the answer, which was not a good thing to do: "It's none of your business."

The next thing I knew, I was levitating. My butt was now a few inches above the chair, I was moving to the right, and the power that caused the levitation was suddenly released. Falling on my butt on the floor, registering the pain, and realizing there was a new pain, I turned to look at my mother standing over me with a handful of hair. I don't remember what happened afterward, but I do know - as I look back in time - it took a tremendous amount of strength to pick me up by my hair with one hand and throw me to the floor. Her message was clear, and I probably gave her an appropriate answer at that time. 

My wife, after laughing with my sister-in-law about my memory, stated: "You should write this down", which I did. Now both events are in writing for future reference by anyone that cares.

I'm Cynical

 Cheatle resigned. Now what? More investigations that lead nowhere? No accountability, as usual? More destruction of records and the constant effort to keep anyone from speaking? I see nothing will be resolved, the administration continuing feckless behavior, and the constant chatter of theories as nothing more than a distraction.

Bleh!

While The Fingers Are Being Pointed

From what I know, Trump has his own Secret Service detail from his presidency. This raises the question of what were they doing? If they were competent, and knew the security was not up to standards, why the hell did they allow him to go on stage? While everyone is pointing at the head of the Secret Service, and ignoring the fact Trump was supposed to be secure by his personal agents, how can you automatically blame her for trusting those responsible for Trump's immediate safety?

So, He Bails

Biden is dropping out, which is no surprise. At the rate he was going, his ability to utter two intelligible words was an iffy thing, and even his supposed supporters were clamoring for him to leave. Harris is the supposed new candidate, which if things go like I think they will, will assume power after Biden is deemed unfit to lead. This will allow a glimpse of her "remarkable" leadership qualities to promote her electability. That, or they will pull a rabbit out of the hat, and come up with someone new who the media will promote to a level unseen in history. 

This is all theater. Thinking there is an orderly election process going on is unreal. It's a production, we're the audience, and the cost to watch is way too expensive for my budget. 

Understanding The Mental State

A neighbor across the street, who was older than I was, left home, went to Houston, and joined the police department. Over the years he advanced with his duties, and eventually became part of the Secret Service guarding Walter Mondale, which was his task up to retiring. I had one conversation with him years later, when he was visiting his mother. 

The conversation we had was generally just catching up, nothing of real importance, but fascinating. He would look me in the eye, but only for a short period of time. It was as though he was analyzing my expression, categorizing what he saw, and his eyes would then return to the constant scanning of everything around.  I determined his training had changed him into a person that was supremely aware of their surroundings, analyzing the possibilities of threats, and constantly focused on everything. 

I feel too many of Trump's detail were not trained as they should be. They are supposed to protect the President by shielding him, but they are also supposed to be aware of any security gaps, possible threats, and prevent them from happening. If they weren't Secret Service, they were probably unqualified.

In My Opinion

 My years of experience tell me the assassination attempt was not the work of an organized group. My  experience tells me - and I've dealt with EEO/DEI policies for decades - the worst of civil servants end up at the top. Why do I think this? Because bureaucrats are so scared of losing their job, too many are woefully unqualified for their position, and expecting them to function at a high level of competence is unrealistic.  The worst are promoted, because they're too hard to fire. Incompetent officials hire friends, family, yes-men, and sycophants, instead of those qualified.

Those entrusted with protecting Trump were feckless as a group. Not only were there not enough agents for security, those in charge had no idea how they left too many gaps exposed for what was taken as an opportunity by a disturbed young man. With a better detail, the news reports would have only reported how a young man was caught attempting to sneak into the event with a rifle. 

If there is any single group to blame, then it is whoever promoted, and allowed, an unqualified individual the position of head of the Secret Service. That's a position that should be held by someone with years of law enforcement experience, some military experience, and a clear understanding politics are not acceptable to be practiced by those hired to protect important people. This administration failed, will fail again, and some people need to be fired.

A Plethora of Screw-Ups

The attempted Trump assassination exposed many things, but more than anything else it exposed how the U.S. government is filled with screw-ups. The Secret Service looks like a group of bumbling trainees, which if my current assessment of most government entities is correct, that's exactly what Trump's detail was. When you add the fact the person that is running that show is woefully unqualified for the position, except for their vagina, I'm thinking many mid-size communities have a better security detail than Trump's on that day. It's how it is today. Government employees can't be trusted to be competent. They don't have to be. All they need for their job is either the correct skin color, or have the correct hardware between their legs. It's EEO madness, but it's definitely diverse, if you take out exceptionalism as an important part of employment.

For those in civil service that aren't as I've described, I mean you no disrespect. You know how it is, and I hope you don't lose your mind before you retire.

Everything Ramped Up This Evening

An attempt was made to assassinate Trump. The assassin failed, but the Secret Service failed too. Why did the Secret Service fail? From reports coming out, the detail was denied manpower by those that could provide it, and if I had to guess, they did what they could, and were suddenly placed in the middle of an event training doesn't prepare for. That, or they failed in providing a large enough perimeter to protect Trump. Either way, the heads to roll are those that failed to understand the needs of a detail to protect a candidate when asked. That, and the security detail should have provided a physical barrier between Trump, and the audience, if they couldn't cover every angle possible. Suspicious minds would be wondering if it was all planned, but failed.

From the chatter over the internet, civility ended tonight. Those that support the Democrats will now walk on eggshells, and hope the majority that feel they've been abused by the government will not retaliate...which will happen in my mind. Regardless of opinion, the current administration has neglected the safety of the nation, injured the economic well-being of the nation, slandered those that only wished to stop the unregulated control by agencies, threw people in jail for angrily voicing their opposition to what they felt was an illegal election, destroyed foreign policy, slushed money from government contracts, allowed criminals to roam freely, and did so without any oversight by those paid to represent the United States. The last straw was trying to assassinate the candidate that opposed their efforts. 

We live in interesting times. Civil discourse is dead, the cuffs are off, and the fight for good over evil has begun. 

Early in the Morning

My dog had an urgent nature call, woke the appropriate people (wife and I) and was let out to take care of his business. It's a rare occurrence, and I really appreciate he's not lazy and just finds somewhere in the house. Unfortunately, the thought of immediately going back to sleep was fleeting. So, some coffee, and time on the porch was necessary. 

We had a heavy thunderstorm yesterday afternoon. It was one of those that has more lightning than necessary, heavy rain, and parked over our area. It left light fog, and a thin canopy of clouds that remained after sunset. I'll call it a harbinger of today, since the radar is already showing thunderstorms building toward the Gulf. From what the weather folks reported, it's the remainder of a front that stalled offshore, will migrate north, and eventually fade away over the next two days. 

It's humid outside. There isn't a breath of air stirring, and the heavy dew coating everything is dripping from the roof. The clouds are thin, with lightning dancing in the tops of the thunderstorms to the south. An occasional low rumble is heard, which interrupts a mockingbird singing in the oak tree in the front yard. It's a pleasant song filled with the calls of different birds I know, birds that may exist, but I've never heard, and strikingly accurate mimics of the frogs that sing after it rains. The bird is a virtuoso, full of energy, and the song will probably not end until morning light. From what I know, it's a young bird, and probably this year's hatchling. The parents were busy in the Spring gathering for their nest and I was glad they didn't choose a site for the nest where they could dive-bomb me when I was too close.

I had a few plans for today. I have my sister-in-law's generator to look at. It probably has a dirty carburetor, or worse. I won't know until I fiddle with it, but it's appearing that project, and my line trimming plan for what the lawnmower missed may be placed on the back-burner. I'll be awake for a few hours, and drowsiness will overcome me. That will require a nap, and if it isn't interrupted by a storm like yesterday, I might reconsider my projects afterward. Until then, fixing breakfast, at least one more cup of coffee, and some time on the porch mentally solving the problems of the world is necessary. 

A Fleeting Memory

 I was watching a television show about searching for proof of aliens. It was interesting, but like most, it was full of subjective opinions, a lack of definitive proof, and the questions raised by the experiences of people. It brought back a short conversation I had with someone over forty years ago, while working on a project on a rural highway in the East Texas woods. 

I was young, and the man I was talking to had worked for decades for what was then known as the Texas Highway Department. I brought up a report I read about an encounter by two women on a rural highway near the city of Dayton, Texas, which is now known as the Cash-Landrum incident. I was skeptical, and his response was he saw the highway where the incident was reported to have happened. Something very hot had damaged the paving, and it had to be repaired. He had no idea if it was real, or not, but something did happen to the paving. 

As time goes on, and people are gone, things that may be important disappear. Considering how the incident was "investigated" by those with the most to hide makes me wonder what really did happen. Those that would really know are either gone, or getting close, and if there is any proof, it's hidden away in some classified file never to be revealed. 

The one thing I always found as odd was the proximity of the reported incident to Houston, Texas. At about forty miles away, and with an operational military facility nearby, it hardly seems to be a place any alien intelligence would reveal their existence. The women did report a substantial amount helicopters (some having twin rotors) around the object, which would indicate military involvement. Somewhere, somebody knows something, but will never tell, and it will remain a mystery for a long time.

Reading Between The Lines

Why is the economy in shambles, crime unprosecuted, trust in public officials at an all time low, and the nagging problems of constant worry happening today? It's because most of us are not part of the club. We don't have unscrupulous stock purchases hanging over our heads. We don't receive kick-backs from large corporations for turning our heads, or creating profitable legislation for them and us. We haven't lost our moral compass and avoided following the path of decency. We don't report lies, call them truth, and torment those that expose the lies. We don't get a raise by just voting for a raise. We don't get to live in peace because of crime that prosecutes those that defend themselves. 

When you read between the lines, you realize all the supposed champions for the taxpayer will never turn on those that are obviously breaking the law because they have the same charges hanging over their head if they turn on their "buddies". It's a corrupt country, corrupt world and a corrupt society we live in, and I can see no good way for this to end.

Beryl Was Closer Than I Like

 After coming ashore, and the rain bands starting arriving, Beryl was a strong tropical storm in my neck of the woods. The wind reached at least 40 mph, with gusts to 60. Torrential rain would fall, we'd get a short respite, and it would come again. The heavy rain finally stopped around 2:00 pm, but the wind was still blowing around 30 with gusts up to 50. Over the next few hours, wind gradually lowered, the rain left and the sky started clearing. 

We lost power twice. The first time lasted about an hour. After it went out again, it stayed off to around 6:45 pm. It's now on, the house is cooling, and if you didn't notice the downed trees, broken branches, and leaf debris on the roads, you wouldn't know a storm had passed. 

Hopefully this is the last we'll see of this type of weather this season. One time is one too many, and should last a lifetime. Houston, and to the southwest, received the brunt of the storm. Millions have no electricity, and tomorrow is supposed to hot, with high humidity.

Beryl Took A Closer Path

Beryl became a category 1 hurricane before landfall near Matagorda, Texas. I've been there. It's on the Gulf Coast, the Colorado River flows next to the road to the beach, and it's not very high above sea level. If I had to guess, much of it was inundated by the surge, and it's not a pleasant place to be this morning. 

Locally, the wind is a steady 25 mph, with gusts to 35 mph. Rain is constant, although the heavier bands seem to be over in Houston. The eye at 6:40 am is over Bay City, which is about 80 miles southwest of Houston. At the current path, the eye will be closer to Houston in a few hours, and the wind will add problems beside the torrential rain. 

I'm judging the center of the storm will stay about 120 miles away from my location, and the rain bands have the potential to cause some heavy rain during the day. How much is a guess, but it could be up to 10 inches if the bands train over my area. 

The eye at 2:00 am wasn't as developed as it now. It's heading toward IH-10. Driving between Houston, and San Antonio will be treacherous, and I wouldn't recommend driving it to anyone. 

That's the way it goes. Initial forecast can be off by hundreds of miles, and what looks as though it will only lead to a few showers leads to day of really bad weather. At least it wasn't a direct hit to the south. 

Watching Beryl

 According to the weather forecasters, Beryl will come ashore somewhere around the Texas/Mexico border, and meander northeastward. That will bring us some rain, and it may be more than we want. Time will tell, but we're ready, if the road floods, and have generators, if the power goes off. Padre Island vacations will be shortened, and the wiser folks will leave by tomorrow evening.

Question For Weather Experts

 After watching some tooth gnashing about the heat in some places in the United States, I started wondering how the data from places that never had the temperature measured in the past affects the overall data. I can see where urban islands corrupt averages, and how analog measurements from the past may be arbitrarily rounded, or misread, which leads to inaccurate averages. Maybe some expert reads my blog, knows a little about how added data sets affect averages, and end my pondering.

Ignorance in Abundance

 I didn't watch the debate. Mostly because I knew it wouldn't be a debate, and Biden would appear as a disoriented old man. According to new reports, my assumption was true, yet many are still playing for team Biden, regardless of how ignorant they appear. 

Is it naivety? Is it denial? Is it outright subterfuge to hide illegal actions? It doesn't matter. Being ignorant is one thing, but wallowing in it like a pig in mud is another. My faith in the people of this nation is lowered, but it's been pretty low for a long time.

So...What is There To Debate?

The economy sucks, foreign policy sucks, unelected officials suck, we have no protection from invaders at the border, perverts are allowed to perform their bizarre theater in front of children, criminals are allowed to be free with a slap on the wrist, the media lies, basic rights are ignored, and our education system is creating a system of ignorant imbeciles. Biden can't rationalize this condition, Trump can say what he wants, but be censored, and in the end the theater of the "debate" will change nothing. I'd rather they give both baseball bats and let the winner be President. It would reflect the madness of our times.

The Thuggery of War

No matter how you dice it, or slice it, war is the work of thugs under the direction of those wanting to plunder the riches of other nations. Ideology is used to mislead, people are blindly led into believing they have some noble cause, and those that profit from the thievery, and other crimes, prosper on the deaths of those that oppose their actions. It's the work of evil, and always will be.

Two Days of Weather Hoopla

I've been watching what used to be called a low pressure wave cross the Gulf of Mexico. They've happened for a long time, and while some develop into tropical cyclones, others don't and usually bring beneficial rain to the Rio Grande Valley and the East Coast of Mexico. Now they're calling them PTC's, which stands for "Potential Tropical Cyclone".

The weather folks have been salivating for the last two days, speculating on torrential rains along the Gulf coast, warning of dangerous storm surges and filling their expensive time slots with what can only be called excited speculation. At this time, and I doubt it changes much, the Rio Grande Valley of Texas may get some heavy rain, but the rest of the state is only forecast as having a low chance of rain at the coast. If it continues as it has, that chance will drop further, and the weather folks that were giving updates at different coastal locations will be called back to the studio. 

One good thing is the rain is forecast to move up the Rio Grande, continue into New Mexico, and hopefully give those folks some needed rain. I'm sure they'll appreciate it; especially those near Ruidoso, New Mexico fighting a large forest fire. 

Doing Some Math

I was thinking about the date of my father's passing, and realized it's been almost 35 years since that day. That's 34 years we didn't celebrate a Father's Day, I still miss him.

It's Convenient

 So, Hunter Biden is convicted, and his father says he won't pardon him. Of course he won't, until it's necessary, which is probably somewhere after the next election. During the time leading to the election, Trump will be hounded by those that want him out of the picture, few will realize the law that Hunter was prosecuted for is another chink from the armor of the second amendment, and most will just follow the squirrel. It's all convenient, since the media is doing its best job of ignoring the crimes of the entire Biden family, the subterfuge of Pelosi, and the fact a tremendous amount of law enforcement officials lied about the authenticity of the laptop Hunter dropped off for repair. 

Watching the Purple Martins

 About two years ago, when the martin house pole broke in a strong wind, it was completely cleaned, and relocated to a new location. I wasn't expecting any purple, since the starlings, and sparrows, had taken it for their own, but there was always the chance they would come. They did.

The martins are something watch. They eat insects, and the height they fly determines where the insects are found. Some days they fly at around 100 feet. On others, they skim right above the grass. Either way, they can fly for hours in large lazy circles, avoiding each other, and gorging on insects. 

I like them best when they are skimming right above the ground, and pass by at eye level as they feed. With the pond available, they skim the surface for water, and go back to their search for food. Mosquitoes are one of their favorites, and regardless of how many they eat, it never seems to make a dent in the swarms. It's their buffet, and their pleasant chirps fill the air in the quiet before sundown.

The martins arrive in early Spring, and leave in the early Fall for their trip to South America. Their arrival, like their departure, is abrupt. One day there are many, in a few days the number drastically decreases, and they're soon gone. I miss them. Their beautiful plumage is brilliant in the setting sun, and watching them is a pleasant way to spend the evening on the porch.

 

Here I Go Again

About two months ago, I noticed a spot on my hairline that seemed to be either a bite, or a pimple. It didn't go away, and grew quickly. My wife noticed it last month. It was time to go see my dermatologist. They made a quick appointment, a biopsy was completed, and a week later, I was notified it was a fast growing squamous cell cancer. They also told me the surgeon to do the Mohs procedure would call for an appointment in about two weeks. Due to a cancellation, they had an opening, which is today. So, I go for another surgery, which usually means a long incision, stitches and a new scar, although my surgeon is good, and the scars are hardly noticeable. 

Leaving after the appointment always make me wonder what people think of the huge bandage that obviously shows something invasive was done. I wear it for 48 hours, and change to a regular large adhesive bandage until the stitches are removed. I don't like it, but it's better than the cancer. 

This time, the surgeon was adamant about not waiting longer than six weeks for the surgery. I don't know if that's normal or something else prompted the statement. I'll soon know. 

Cesspools of Society

 My opinion of all large cities is they are cesspools of society. Outlaying communities try to prevent the stench, but with the corruption, lack of accountability, and huge tax revenues provided by owners of large pieces of expensive real estate (who don't live there), the greed, and bureaucracy flourish. The cities turn into money pits for taxpayers, and the general public has no control of how money is spent. Ignorance abounds, since the long periods of corruption invited poverty, crime and organizations that prey on the ignorance for gain. 

Is there a cure? Nope, unless enough people push the state to step in to stop the corruption. That doesn't happen because state officials are generously compensated for their complacency. In the end, the rot destroys everything, and society is forced again to start over. That takes time, and that time is controlled by judges that really don't care about much of anything but keeping their place on the bench, regardless of the outcome.

It's All There

I doubt many were surprised the Trump trial would turn out like it did. New York has been considered dishonest, with New York City perceived as a criminal enterprise for decades. It's a problem for the citizens, and with Trump owning so much in the state, he was ripe for the plucking by the thugs that run the state. He, however, used his skills to collect a huge amount of money due to the trial, and amassed followers that know if he can be railroaded, anyone with less power doesn't have a chance. 

Will the citizens do something? That's a big question, since they've done little to curb the criminal courts for a long time. I doubt they do anything legally, but in the background, the little retributions will appear. Small politicians will have a hard time in their daily lives, organizers may find the crowds they gather are not friendly, and vandalism will take become more than just a few words painted on a sidewalk. Of course, the police will turn their heads, since they have to live with those abused by the authorities. It's how New York has been shaped for a long time, and how it turns out is yet to be seen. I do know many will flee, and other states will be dealing with the mindset that created the politics of New York. May they be successful in stopping any advancement of the ideals that created such a fetid attempt at politics, and turn those evacuees into good citizens.

It's How It Is

Biden is a failure. So are the members of his administration, the current leaders of the military, the judges he picked, his supporters, and the media that fawned over an abysmal excuse for a human being. Only the foolish, and extremely naive, can believe he was elected honestly. He arrived in power by subterfuge, illegal donations, criminal actions, and with foreign influence. An accurate criminal investigation, without the members of the government to cover for the actors, would lead to convictions that demanded capital punishment. Maybe that's right down the road. It would sure lead to a feeling of relief to see the traitors to the United States lined up for execution for their treachery. May they stack them like cordwood and their dishonorable legacies be in history books for centuries. 

It Was a Surprise

 This morning, it was like yesterday morning. Hot, humid and uncomfortable. It was another day to plan the day by staying out of the afternoon heat. Yesterday, the heat index was 120 and it felt it. It was miserable, and to add insult to injury, when if finally cooled in the evening, the gnats chased me in within minutes. They were swarming, and regardless of repellent, they still would fly in my eyes, into my ears, and up my nose 

The gnats were still bad this morning, but the forecasters hinted we might get some rain. They were right, except the rain was part of a severe thunderstorm complex from the north. The worst went around us, but the winds was still gusting to what I determined was around 50 mph, which tore small branches from trees. 

I'm thinking the gnats will be gone for awhile. That kind of wind, with torrential rain, wipes them out, which is good. I'll count the weather as a blessing, and enjoy the porch during what will be a cool evening.

Remembering

 Years ago, I had a conversation with a friend that was upsetting. He told of his time in Vietnam, the relief of making it through his year in combat, and his return. When he arrived in the states, the soldiers were ushered through an area outside the terminal to catch a bus. Outside, the protesters were spitting on any soldier they found, and voicing their dislike of the war in Vietnam. 

What a homecoming. Spending a year fighting for his country, having only one big thought on his mind, and being treated like a criminal at his return. His politics weren't discussed when he was inducted. A letter from Uncle Sam demanded his appearance for training, and after watching the horrors of war for a year, many of his peers, who didn't have a clue, were insulting him for his duty. 

He had a brother-in-law that didn't come back. In a tank unit, he burned to death while doing his duty. My friend showed me a photo of him in high school. He had that fresh cut look, a beaming smile, and the appearance of youth. The next photo my friend shared was of his brother-in-law in Vietnam. The youth was mostly missing, there was no smile, and his eyes were focused on something far away.

You can't forget those that never came back, or were killed in training. They're gone, but somebody lost someone they loved more than life, and their heartache will follow them to their own grave. Today is for their memory, and for those they left behind.

Thousands of 1/4 Inch Bolts

Years ago, I was in charge of a project that involved the expansion of a rail car inspection and repair facility. There were multiple large buildings, new rail, re-routing existing utilities and the components needed for the expansion. It meant a lot of hours, sometimes 7 day weeks, and some rest for me when it was completed.  

One part of the project was to assemble a paint booth. That involved completing the booth, hooking up the gas for the heater, and all the electrical work. At around 100 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 20 feet tall, it was shipped with all the punched panels, the heater, the stack, and the roll-up doors for each end.

As time has passed, the one thing that stuck with me is the amount of 1/4 inch bolts, with nuts, required to assemble the building. The parts list, which you usually verify when a shipment arrives, showed the amount of bolts to be counted....if I wanted to. The amount was 10,000 each, 1/4 inch bolts with nuts. I didn't count them, really don't know if it was correct, but we finished the project with having to only buy a few dozen more. I chalked the loss up to what was dropped during assembly, or left on the roof to never be found. That, or they were never shipped. That was a lot of fasteners to place, and I'm glad I will probably never be responsible for a project like that again. We were stretched thin, the pickings were slim for new employees, being salaried meant I missed out on a lot of overtime, and the customer was chomping at the bit to see the project completed. 

A Quick Observation

There's a saying that is used to show the surety of a comment: "Is the Pope Catholic?" Considering how the faith is becoming fragmented due to the opinions of the current Pope, it might not be a good phrase to use in the future. 

What You Don't See

 A local sheriff's department is issuing a warning to boaters about the result of the flooding in the area. Debris, some being huge trees, may be right under the surface, or not seen in the chop caused by the wind. It's a good warning, since many don't realize what can be in the water. 

After Hurricane Rita, the local forests were exposed to winds not seen in many decades. Deadfalls were sometimes almost unimaginable, and when torrential rains caused floods the nest Spring, the waters was high enough to float complete large trees into the waterways. With two large rivers merging into the ship channel, I watched some of these floating hazards pass by when I worked in a local industrial facility adjacent to the channel. Some of the trees looked large enough to damage a ship's propeller. 

The floods clean away the debris in the forests. With the last severe drought last Summer, there is plenty of new deadfall to wash away. This will last for weeks, if not months, and some boaters will find their lack of attention leads to hoping someone will pass by to tow them back to the dock.

Another Week Passes

Mosquitoes were the biggest contributor to the last week. Fogging only allows them to get high, and bite with more vengeance. Mowing was not pleasant, and repellent only exposed the fact mosquitoes can find places you wouldn't imagine. We'll deal with them all season, unless it dries up as much as last summer. 

Rain appeared again, and over a two hour period, we had over three inches, which was bad, but the tremendous straight line winds made it worse. The storm moved slowly, and we were blessed no tornadoes formed in our area, but trees still were uprooted, and low lying areas filled to the brim again. The weather folks called it a derecho, and Houston caught the worst of the large path of straight line winds. It's path, according to experts, was from Austin to Florida. 

The news is still filled with pandering, although it's beginning to look as though even the staunchest of Democrats are realizing they have backed crime that would make a Mafioso blush. So many laws have been broken, and it's looking as though people are going to respond with vengeance in mind.

The prosecutor of Trump's trial is obviously expecting a big payoff by someone. His career is over, and I think even publishers will avoid his story. New York will be exposed to law suits that will be impossible to defend, and those that can leave will do so at the earliest opportunity. May his downfall be a spectacular example of how evil is punished. He deserves nothing better. 

Our road is flooded, so we won't be going anywhere today. It should be down by tomorrow, and we can take a drive to see the damage. I'll avoid the outside as much as possible. I'd rather the mosquitoes feed on something else. 

Inflation Rates and Other Bogus Statistics

From my point of view, statistics, reports, analysis, projections, and other references on inflation are bogus. I use the Walmart bag weight to dollars spent to determine such things. At this point, I've either gained a lot of strength, or my money is buying much less that is being reported by inflation statistics. I'd never notice a 3% to 4% difference in weight, which makes me think the actual difference is somewhere around 25%. To my fixed income, that's unacceptable, and somebody needs to have their ass whipped for this nonsense.  

So, When Do They Do Their Job?

New York State has a commission to regulate the actions of judges, which includes suspension of a judge. Considering their allowing the current court system in New York City to run helter-skelter, and ignore the basic rules of conduct, I can only assume the majority of the commission are part of the problem. This will never change, until the corruption is removed. How this is accomplished is beyond me, but with the fleeing of important businesses, and wealthy people, it's apparent they might think about cleaning up their system.

And The Trees Will Fall

We're blessed (sometimes cursed) with Live Oak trees. One of the largest in Texas is in Columbus and is an amazing tree to behold. The branches, like most old trees of the species, droop over the decades and eventually touch the ground. The canopy of large trees can stretch to dozens of feet, which determines the root structure. The size of the branches alone dwarfs the trunks of many trees. 

Some engineers build roads with these types of trees adjacent to the paving. Over time, the roots either destroy the paving, or the tree root structure (which is shallow) doesn't support the tree. This leads to trees falling over, leaving huge root bundles exposed, and in some situations, leads to the slow death of the trees. 

After last year's drought, and the current abundance of rain, some trees are falling unexpectedly across roads. Luckily, nobody was injured, but the threat will remain. Some things are learned the hard way, and this is one, but considering my past experience with engineers, some are so full of their "knowledge" they have no idea how clueless they really are. 

Almost Over

I awoke this morning to thunder, and heavy rain. The forecasters were unsure last night how much rain we'd receive, but warned of a possible deluge....which we had. There was 3 1/2 inches of rain in my gauge, which brings my total to 13 inches since last Wednesday. The extra rain didn't change the current flood, and the receding water allowed me to drive out this afternoon.

 It's wet, and the ditches are full. The local creek is high, and from what is being reported, will gradually recede over the next few days. The afternoon storms forecasted didn't reach us, and it's looking like we won't have but passing showers for days. We need the drying, and if things are dry enough, mowing will be demanded. I'll get what I can, when I can, and if worst comes to worst, use the string trimmer in the areas too wet for the rider. 

Feast and Famine

Last year, we were starting what turned out to be a severe drought. Ponds were obviously feet lower than normal, and the danger of fire was a looming threat. That's now definitely over, and as of this morning, the flooding is similar to when tropical storm Imelda inundated the area. The rainfall is not nearly as heavy in our area, but it's been falling for days; and it's still raining. I dumped 7 inches out of the rain gauge yesterday, and from looking, we've had around 2 more inches in the last few hours.  The road in is impassable, and it will be too high to drive through for days. 

Waiting To See

We have a local creek that influences the drainage of our road. Earlier in the week, it was high enough to cause water to go over the road by a few inches. It crested the day before yesterday, and was on the way down. That recession of water will now end. As of the last few hours, we've had over five inches of rain, and it's still falling. Now, we wait to see how high the water will be. The road is already flooded with the rain, and the creek will have to handle the drainage. I have a feeling staying home will be mandatory for a few days.

Out of Control

The supposed protesters milling around college campuses, and taking over buildings, are out of control, but when it gets rough, the hired thugs will leave, the students that stay will find no compassion. Those that epitomize stupidity will find any threats of violence will be answered with reciprocating violence, a stay in jail, and finding their college career is over. Those that are organizers might find a developing interest by Mossad, who takes care of their problems in any way they feel is necessary.

Laughable

Jimmy Carter was a terrible President. His meddling, ridiculous foreign policy, and thinking doing an interview with Playboy magazine were just the highlights of his inability to lead the United States. The economy was in shambles, fuel was rationed, the oil industry lost hundreds of thousands of jobs, and to finance anything, you had to be willing to take on double digit interest rates. 

Compared to Biden, Carter was the best President ever. Biden is not only a thug, his family is too, and to add insult to injury, the thugs that pull his strings are doing the best they can to hide the fact Biden had fallen into senility that would put most people into managed care. We should be laughing at the comedy. Instead, we hold our breath and wait. I don't like waiting, and would love to see Biden, his staff, his handlers, and anyone else connected to this administration frog-walked into jail. I could use the huge laugh of watching such of an event.

*spit*

New Arrivals

 Earlier in the week, my wife noticed two new ducks in the pond. A little research revealed they're Black- bellied Whistling-ducks. I've seen them about 40 miles to the south, but only in one spot. From what I know, they're not real common in our area, but their numbers are increasing, and I'm thinking they are looking for new foraging areas. 

This morning revealed six, which makes me think there are more about, but some are still too shy to land. We'll find out in the next few days, but I have a feeling those here will stay for the food thrown to the geese. Hopefully, we don't end up with so many we have to chase them away.

               

Ringside

Boxing is an interesting sport, although some don't call it a sport. People sit in the audience, trainers are at the corners, two fighters duke it out, and eventually one is considered better at boxing. Meanwhile, wagers are placed, the rule makers guarantee nobody feels cheated, and another bout is planned. 

That's where we are. The rule makers are making the rules, spectators gather, wagers are placed, and the next bout is planned. Who are the fighters? All of us. People are purposefully turned against each other, the promoters are promoting their contender, bets are being placed, and those that plan the events sit in comfort, while amassing more riches and power. The only thing not for sure is when the bell will ring for the first round. 

Maybe They Should Be Sent Away

With all the support for Ukraine, and even waving their flag in Congress, we should honor their choices, provide 80 pound packs, give them a gun, and send them to Ukraine to help. We can do without them, they can take the place of U.S. money, and if they fail in their task, it won't be because we wasted more money on global manipulation.

Landscaping

Through general consensus, two pine trees were felled today. The weren't really that big at only about 30 feet with trunks around 12 inches in diameter, but after cutting them into pieces, and stacking them in a pile for burning, I've determined I will have some sore muscles tomorrow morning. The oak trees they were shading will enjoy the extra sunlight.

It Took Some Practice and Paying Attention

For some reason, and probably because I could, laying out project sites became my task. Whether it was setting string line for forms, or plotting topographical information for earthwork, if I didn't know how to accomplish the task, I had to learn. 

Old school craftsmen I worked with had a method of squaring by using a 3,4,5 system of measuring. One didn't feel comfortable with anything but doubling the numbers, which I understood, but I think he probably couldn't comprehend any multiple of the numbers would work. Still, his other skills were invaluable with building projects. Simple things, such as always laying out tile, or flooring from the centerline were things I didn't know, but when applied, led to the understanding how the final aesthetics required the method to insure an even border, or correctly centered. 

Setting long straight lines presented some problems. Regardless of the distance, if there were two points to work from, a long string line could allow setting intermediate points, but very long distance could be inaccurate due to deflection by the wind. After the company I worked for allowed me to buy a meridian transit, the feature of being able to tilt the telescope allowed me to use a helper, while I sighted their location, and fine tuning the location of a stake, or mark on paving. I didn't trust the feature for turning angles, unless it was only for a ball-park location. I relied on two measuring tapes for that location, and had to watch helpers like a hawk to guarantee they were holding the tape in the right location. I failed to do that one time, several anchor bolts were poured in the wrong place, and the butt-chewing wasn't nearly as tough as my own feeling of disgust. 

When after years of using poor-boy methods for layout, the company I worked for finally bought a total station. The flexibility of the instrument was liberating. I could set some fixed points far away from the work, which allowed recreating points inside the project if they were disturbed. The software bought for plotting the points allowed the creation of unknown points, which could be downloaded into the total station for use in the field. Instead of spending a long time using string lines, and measuring tapes for layout, I could establish points with one helper. 

When I first started construction, TxDot, which was then called Texas Highway Department, had a survey crew in most every district office. Their job was to establish stakes for the contractors, which could be everything from offset points, to establishing the right of way. They, at that time, used transits, long survey chains, and a lot of walking to complete their task. When they had free time, they worked sections of the highway to check the location, and elevations, of permanent markers established around the district. The long process could mean long journeys on foot to establish temporary bench marks, arriving at the survey marker, and then doing the same back to where they started. The task involved what is called a level-loop. All the grade shots during the traverse were placed in a field book, and when the loop was finished, if a discrepancy was found, the loop might have had to be completed again to determine the cause of the error. Today, such a loop can be performed my one person with GPS or a remote controlled total station.

Over time, TxDot moved away from having a field party, and contractors became responsible. With a large lay-off during the seventies, many members of the field parties were hired by contractors, and stayed, instead of returning when the state wanted to hire them back during better financial times. That led to my opportunity to work with them, learn invaluable skills, and increase my knowledge.

With technology today, the old methods are becoming forgotten. GPS allows accurate measuring without understanding the methodology, and those doing the layout work probably would be lost if they had to accomplish the same task with a transit, a survey chain and a pocket calculator. It's like many things which may never be necessary again, but if they do become necessary, there will be few around to teach the methods.

Lawnmower Observation

I've owned, and operated, lawnmowers for decades. During that time, I've worked on many of them, and the repairs included just about everything, including rebuilding an engine. Over time, I've noticed the newer engines last longer than the older engines. Whether it's because they're built better, or the newer oils are much better, is something I don't know, but in the past, the engines would usually present problems long before the decks did. 

These days, the decks on riders just don't seem to last that long; especially if they're stamped. Replacing them seems like a good idea, until you realize the cost will probably be over a thousand dollars after you buy the accessories that need changing too, and you perform your own labor. Depending on the model, that can be at that magical point where it's so close to half the price of a new one, replacing it is a better option. 

I gave a way a fine mower a few years ago. I'd changed the deck once, but the new deck only lasted three years. Changing the deck was still an option, but the mower was old, and I foresaw other things going out, with the knowledge the stamped deck would become a problem. Still, it was frustrating, and only showed that to get long years out of a deck, paying for the most expensive riders, with a heavy welded deck, was the best option. Still, they don't last forever, but if you have a welding machine, building a new one is always an option. Well maintained, the engine will last a long, long time, and replacing belts, or pulleys is usually an easy task. 

Now That It Is Over

 We were cloudy, with light rain, all morning, which made me wonder how the eclipse would appear in cloudy skies. When the time arrived, the clouds thinned, and between some areas, the partial sun could be seen clearly. When the sun broke through, the light was as dim as a few minutes before sunset. We were close to a full eclipse. The amount of sun appeared as a thin sliver, like a fingernail clipping. 

So, it's now over, it was something to see, and will be a long time before it happens again in my area. I doubt I will be around to see it.

It's Not What it Seems

I was reading a news report about a young woman, with many emotional, and physical, problems, who has will be euthanized to handle her problems.  I'm appalled, and wondering how officials, and psychiatrists have become so subverted to condone the action. I'll explain below how I arrived at this opinion.

Decades ago, my step-mother's sister hung herself. It was a response to severe depression and her feeling of hopelessness.  It left her parents, two sisters, her husband, and three children to deal with their emotional response. They were saddened, angered, feeling guilty, appalled, grasping for answers, and had to live their lives with their emotions. To make things worse, her son put a shotgun in his mouth, and destroyed his family decades later, when his depression led to the same conclusion. His actions reawakened the emotional responses and added his wife and child to the same. 

Years ago, after an argument, and I slept on the couch so she could have space to deal with it, my ex-wife woke me the next morning with a confession. She had allowed her depression to overrule, took a handful of Vicodin, and tried to end it all. Instead of doing the deed, it made her violently ill, and she threw them up before they were absorbed. 

How do you describe how that makes you feel? I was surprised, sad, angered, lost, feeling guilty, hopeless and devastated. If she had succeeded, I don't think the feeling could have been worse. She, through her actions, showed how selfish and cruel she could be. I knew she had emotional problems, I was trying to deal with them, and regardless of my efforts, my efforts were in vain. 

Years later, and after more years of dealing with her problems, I had to admit defeat, divorce her, and allow her to live her life the way she wanted. She died last year of health problems other than depression, which made me wonder if she had taken the path of not taking care of herself to accelerate the path to death. 

So, I don't really care what people think. Suicide is not relief. Suicide is a horrendous emotional burden placed on the people that are left behind. I'll never condone it, or consider it a good response to any problem with life. 

It's Probably Best I Didn't Make Any Plans

Weather folks are predicting clouds for the eclipse areas within driving distance for me. Preliminary thoughts were I'd drive around four hours, watch the eclipse from some rural backroad, and drive home. That would be a waste, since making a drive like that for a few minutes of dark, cloudy skies isn't really a fascinating experience. I can do that on any night in my own back yard for hours. In fact, I have done that, while enjoying a cup of coffee on my own porch.

Law Enforcement Paradox

Law enforcement is expensive. It involves the salaries of the officers, the equipment, the station and the support staff. To law abiding citizens, it is supposed to be the bulwark between crime and unbridled unrest. To the criminal, there is supposed to be a legitimate fear of arrest, and the possibility of incarceration or worse: death. Large communities have a greater need for law enforcement, while rural areas, due to the time it takes for law enforcement to respond, have the option to solve criminal problems with extreme prejudice, since the citizen's survival might depend on their actions. 

With the "catch and release" policies now prevalent in many cities, there is a paradox with law enforcement. The officers either quit, become apathetic, or become frustrated by their daily tasks. Their efforts yield no results. The safety of the public is compromised, and the criminals basically become in charge. Otherwise, there is no real law enforcement. Responding in certain ways to exposure to crimes can lead to arrest of the victim, officials are isolated by personal security, and society decays. Victims are supposed to allow the laws to prevent crime, but after getting a smile from the person that robbed them, while shopping for groceries, they realize they have no protection.

In the end, either the crime is prevented, criminals are prosecuted, and people can live in peace, or anarchy becomes prevalent. Law enforcement, in today's context, only offers a false security. It doesn't provide the service that necessitates its existence, and the money that is allocated for its use is wasted. It's not the fault of the good officers. It's the fault of those that subvert for power.

It's Ironic

Somewhere in California, a worker that lost their job at a fast food restaurant, is ordering their favorite meal from a kiosk at another fast food restaurant that doesn't have cashiers. 

Why They Do What They do

 There are people with enough money to buy governments, influence public opinion and control entire countries. Why do they do this? Because if they control the economy, can own the government, and do what they want, nobody can ruin their isolation from the unwashed masses. They will sacrifice million to control, and if you don't believe this, study some history about the numerous Communist governments and their guarantee for the few to subjugate the many. Their current efforts are on the United States. 

I Don't Think It Will Take Very Long

 I've been reading articles with people speculating on how long it will take to clear the collapsed bridge in Baltimore. My timeline? The channel will be open by the middle of April, and the bridge will be completed within four years. Regardless of investigations, conjecture and other distractions, speculating on long periods of time is unrealistic. Modern bridge building methods are fast, and if I had to guess, the basic design was planned years ago, someone is already bidding on the main support girders, and with all the standard designs already in place, many large contractors already have most of the bid items already loaded into a bidding software program.

Now Houston Joins the Club

 Houston is on the verge of bankruptcy. I'm not surprised. Meanwhile, many of the smaller communities outside the city are thriving. Why? Because they aren't run by Democrats and the minions of poverty that leach off productive citizens. It serves the city right. Whether the Democrats arrived at their power by illegal methods (my suspicion) or has that many ignorant voters really doesn't matter now. The city is a cesspool of failed policies and ignorance.

It's Strange How Memories Return

Years ago, after a hard day at work, my boss, and I, stopped at a watering hole to have a beer. Call it a working man's/woman's bar. Basically just a hole in the wall, with pool tables and loud music. Conversation was limited to the strength of your voice. 

I wasn't paying much attention to my boss's conversation with the woman next to him at the bar, but she was animate, loud, and regardless of what she was saying, I couldn't understand what she was saying. My boss must have been annoyed, because he stood, slapped me on the back, and yelled "I'll see you tomorrow." and left. 

Now I was trapped. She decided to have a conversation with me I couldn't really hear. I just nodded my head and made an occasional comment that seemed to be in reference. Hoping she would go away, so I could politely escape, she suddenly became loud, with spittle flying, and from what she said, she thought I asked her to go home with me. 

So, as she was stating whatever she was stating, I began to wonder what the best course of action should be. Should I apologize? Should I be angry she was so vain she would think I would ask her to go home with me? It seemed like a long time was passing, but it was only a few moments. 

I said loudly enough for her to hear: "I didn't ask you to go home with me." swallowed the last of my beer, and left, somewhat relieved, but wondering if she would follow me out to complain, or one of the other inebriated patrons would try start something. Nothing happened. I started my pickup and left. 

It was an object lesson for me. Bars are always filled with people drinking, people drinking have a tendency to be stupid, and a more cautious person avoids them. 

Baltimore Bridge Questions

 From what I can see from photos, the bridge that was hit by a container ship was more exposed than a bridge of its type should be. I don't see any large protection dolphins, which considering the danger of a ship collision, should have been placed long ago. 

I may be missing the dolphins, but even if they were there, they weren't designed for the larger ships that serviced Baltimore. Time will tell how this all works out, but it's looking to me like some negligence will surface, and will be blamed on anyone but the officials that could have made a difference, but didn't want to spend the money, or were hoping nothing would happen while they were in charge.

I probably need to clarify about what a protection dolphin is. The local large bridges have them at each corner of the main supports to act as fender to prevent a ship from striking the columns. Each consists of a circular outside wall of sheet pile driven into the channel bed, the inside filled with select fill material and the top capped with concrete. They're substantial, and any ship would be stopped before striking the bridge supports.

My Thoughts About Boeing

Boeing is having problems with their planes. According to news sources, the CEO resigned and three safety heads in reaction to this, which to me, translates into Boeing's upper management doesn't have the qualifications to build a paper airplane, much less the ability to run a company building the tremendously complicated aircraft of today. It's a sign of corporate America. Hire the people that say the right words, play the stupid games, kiss the asses of anyone that might get them a promotion and ruin a company that could excel if unmolested by the putrid, worthless, ignorant pieces of sewer flotsam that manage to float to the top,

Why Socialism/Communism Doesn't Work

I spent a huge amount of my career dealing with people. My opinion is that there are too many willing to sacrifice their liberty for a free ride. In a healthy society, being lazy, or unproductive, isn't something that the rest of society accepts. If the restraints of government, or an organization, allow the lazy the same benefits of those that produce, those that produce will either try to escape the system, or refuse to offer anything more than what the most unproductive achieve. This invites anger, retribution, and a yearning for the situation to end. The final result, as the past has shown, there isn't enough, somebody has to be eliminated to conserve resources, and genocide appears. Those in power flourish, and never have any qualms about eliminating those that don't follow their narrative.

Constitutional Right, Illegals and B.S.

 I don't care what any legal scholar thinks, or professes, illegal aliens have no Constitutional rights. In a strict, logical assessment of their condition, they're invaders, which our military should keep from crossing our borders. That, and if it requires a wall fifty feet high to keep them from crossing illegally, then that's what needs to happen. That, and all states should concentrate on preventing any person from crossing into the U.S. without proper documentation. It's the duty of all citizens to protect their country, and illegal aliens are not citizens, shouldn't be afforded any special considerations mandated by the Constitution, and ejected from U.S. soil when apprehended.

My Wife's Work

 My wife is passionate about her quilts. That, and regardless of how impressive they are, she finds fault in every one she does. Still, I like to brag about them, so I'll brag about her current lap quilt she just finished. 

The picture below is after she sews the 2 inch squares together on the board she uses for the layout. This one had 625 squares. 

The finished product is below. After all the sewing of the backing and quilting, the edges were added to add to the final quilt.

The finished quilt measures 46 inches by 46 inches. While it is a lap quilt, this one was placed on the wall to be treasured.

Thinking About My Ancestors

Like most people, there is little known about my ancestors. While I can find names from a few generations back, I know nothing about the people, except what few conversations I had with my father. Other than a few photos, documents, and postcards, there is nothing to fill the vast blank pages documenting their lives. I know this is normal for most people, but it's still tragic in my mind. I would like to know more, but there is no more to find. In a way, time has erased their time on this planet, and the rich experiences of their lives are gone forever.

Shuttling Them Around Doesn't Make Them Go Away

In my opinion, the illegal aliens are being shuttled around, and while draining municipal funds, the real problem isn't going away. They were promised many things, and some have taken advantage of the free stuff, but the truth is there isn't enough money to pay their way, and citizens that operate within the boundaries of regulations are pushed to the side. To make things worse, veterans are treated with less concern than illegal aliens that thumb their noses at our laws. 

Shuttling them around won't make them go away. If I had to guess the near future outcome, the current administration will crack down on them before the Federal election to place feathers in their cap. Of course, this will involve more shuttling of the illegals, and to anyone with more sense than a garden vegetable, will appear as political sleight of hand. 

Sounds and Scents of Spring

March usually brings the drastic changes of Spring. Bare trees sprout buds, flowers appear, winds from the Gulf bring a damp, cool breeze to our area, and the grass starts growing. The chances of a freeze are very low, and gardens are planted. 

The air is full of the scent of fresh cut grass; enjoyed with the low drone of lawnmowers in the background. Migrating birds appear, and disappear. Clear days show brilliant greens against the deep blue sky, as the trees start to fill with new leaves. Evenings on the porch are enjoyed with a hot cup of coffee, pleasant conversation, a few mosquitoes, and the eventual chill of the night approaching. The night sky shows the Winter constellations will soon be gone, and in the early hours, the Spring constellations fill the eastern sky. 

It's a grand time of year. I know it will soon be almost unbearably hot, but for now, I'll enjoy one of the best seasons of the year.

Separation of Powers?

The Constitution breaks down the powers of the government to help preserve the liberty envisioned by the founders. In theory, it's great, but in practice, all branches of the U.S. government are feckless. Congress is so full of idiots, there is no responsible legislation that protects the citizens. The Supreme Court is a cumbersome body with a few justices that wouldn't understand their task if it bit them on the leg. The President is a blithering imbecile, with an out of control administration. It is what it is, and the only real separation of powers is between the government and the citizens. The last time there was a big set-to for redress of grievances was a mess, and it's looking like that's the path that will be taken in the future.  

Really Not Super

 Another "Super Tuesday" has passed. The necessary hoopla announced the arrival; and the politicians basked in their glory. Meanwhile, in spite of all the hype, we go on with all the damage done to satisfy egos, acquire wealth, and to use power for control. My cynical mind tells me it's all the same thing all over again; and some people that need severe punishment will either have access to their avenue for crime, or fade away without punishment.

Bleh!

Dry Line Thunderstorms

I was looking to the West this evening and spotted the top of a thunderstorm in the distance. Looking at the radar showed an isolated storm about 100 miles away. To the North, there were a few more about 200 miles away. The weather map shows a dry line, which to those that live in Tornado Alley it's the start of the sometimes severe thunderstorms that appear on the boundary between dry and moist air masses. Locally, we're not affected, but those in Central Texas can find an afternoon shattered by large hail, and maybe a tornado. That, and if it's dry, the lightning can spark grass fires in the areas that don't receive any rain. 

Usually, the dry line storms are more prevalent in the northern plains during the Summer. But right now,  they can appear all the way to the Mexican border during the right conditions. At night, they're spectacular to watch from a distance. Underneath one of those storms isn't so pleasant, unless you like being petrified by severe weather.

Their Comfortable Lives Explain Their Actions

High ranking elected, or public, officials live a life more comfortable than those that generate the taxes they consume and waste. They'll never muddy the water and jeopardize their positions by their own actions. It's the nature of humans and all experiments in government ever tried. The United States Constitution was written to control the damages of these people, but the slow degeneration of the laws demanded have eroded the authority to where it hardly exists.

Handwriting on the Wall

Nikki Haley has lost the backing of the Kochs. Otherwise, what has been an abysmal, long term waste of money is ending. Why they backed her is beyond me. She's all smoke and mirrors and a career politician that will do anything (including changing her name for political gain) for another chance to stand at a podium to try to convince people she's on their side. 

First of Spring

 I noticed some trees covered with some small clusters of red flowers interspersed with the trees in the local woods. I didn't know what they were, and had never really noticed them before. My niece told me they're maples, and they were native to the area. I'd seen redbuds, which are just now starting to bloom. They're the harbinger of Spring, and appear when the first of the buds appear on the oaks. If we don't receive another hard freeze, the woods will soon be full of the bright, early green leaves, which bring a sharp contrast to the azure skies that appear after a mild cold front. 

Spring is arriving, and in this area, this is one of the most pleasant times of year. Early mornings bring temperatures in the low fifties, and afternoons are usually breezy days with temperatures in the mid-seventies. I'll enjoy the days and mentally prepare for the hot, humid days of Summer. They're not far away. 

The Reality

 In 2021, the 30 year fixed rate mortgage interest rate was 3.15% to those with good credit. Today, the fixed interest on a 30 year mortgage is 6.9%.  Here is the difference for a $350,000 home:

3.15% interest loan - $191,468.47 total interest with a $1504.08 monthly note.

6.9% interest loan - $479,836.17 total interest with a $2305.10 monthly note. 

That's the reality of the current difference facing home buyers just now being exposed to the home market. Even those that can afford the cost will hesitate before buying, and those in real estate may find their annual revenue will decrease dramatically this year. For those that are willing to finance, and are not beholding to large banking interests, offering a lower rate can yield a long term profit for their investment...as long as it all doesn't hit the fan.

I Doubt It Has Anything Do Do With Morals

I've read that some Democrats are voicing their disagreement with the actions of the judge that used his kangaroo court to cause Trump a financial burden. My opinion is they know the tide can turn, and revenge will be served. They have no morals and their only motivation is fear of reprisal. May their fears be realized and their punishments long lasting.

A Great Man Has Passed

 Chuck Mawhinney has passed.  Those that served with him, or read about his life, know a great man is now gone.

It's All In The Context

Texas, and I assume most states, have laws against elderly abuse. Basically, when an elderly person is exploited, or abused, whether physically, or mentally, there are criminal charges applied to the actions of the abuser. Otherwise, if you use an elderly purpose for power, or gain, such as presenting them as sound of mind when they aren't, and knowingly know your actions may not reflect their whims, it's illegal...unless they're President and you have the media helping with the criminal activities.

**spit**

An Old Adage

Fani Willis, who is attempting to prosecute Donald Trump by methods beyond what is allowed by jurisprudence, has now been showed to have lied about her romantic relationship with a hired attorney. It's a fine example of the old adage "You don't screw the help" and at the rate she's going, she not only faces contempt charges, she might have her law license removed, which will end her legal career. Maybe she can learn to code.

Chuckleheads

 We have too many chuckleheads. We have them sitting in the White House, Congress, all the agencies, teaching at all levels of education, pontificating on the alphabet networks, publishing periodicals, playing professional sports, in entertainment, sitting in judge benches....the list goes on. How that many people can be that stupid is beyond my comprehension, but when you consider how many have college degrees, good family backgrounds, never really had to work with their hands, and haven't a clue about what most people have to do to survive, it's makes more sense. The U.S. has been a land of plenty, and it appears too much plenty allows the formation of more chuckleheads.

Skills By Observing

I've never built stairs. In theory, I knew how the risers are cut, but never had to cut any. For porches, I'd buy the pre-cuts and make them work. However, my wife doesn't care for the 7 1/2 inch step height, which I understand. The less you have to step up, the more comfortable is walking up the steps. I'd seen risers cut, so I decided to build them myself.

The problem with pre-cuts is the standard height of the steps. To take care of my wife, I decided on a 6 inch tread height for some steps I added on the side of the porch. With our new dog, she wanted a small yard for him to be safe if we can't watch him. So placing new steps, adding some fence, and placing a small gate at the front steps will give him and area for outside, without worrying if he decides to chase the UPS truck. 

I found a site on the web with a calculator for the steps. I knew the rise, and the run didn't matter, since that was a flexible distance. Placing my figures, seeing what was necessary, buying the materials and careful measuring with a framing square, soon yielded the risers. Placing two deck boards beside each other gave me the tread width I needed. The fence is started, and I hung the gate on the two 4 by 4's I concreted in the other day.  

So, the steps are in, without the handrails. That's tomorrows task, if it doesn't rain. Truthfully, I wouldn't mind if it did. Not working like I once did revealed some muscles I forgot. A little Acetaminophen helps, but rest is probably best. I have some more post holes to dig for the fence, and that's not my favorite task.

What Won't Happen

As bizarre as it may seem, and with the backing of those that obfuscate for hire, we won't see a debate between Trump and Biden. To a society that is intuitive, focused on what's right, and suspicious of those that become politicians, it would be more than necessary to decide on who receives their vote. Politicians usually only promise what they can't deliver, and know their time in office will be short if they can't show they have the leadership skills to do what's right; even if it requires cutting the waste of government spending. 

Biden is demented. Medically, that's "loss of cognitive functioning", and it's apparent. In a debate, the event would be a tragic, cruel event, showing the deceit of his acquiring the office of President of the United States. He didn't win the office legally, and regardless of his past, it's now obvious those so willing to sell their country out are using an old, feeble man to continue their criminal activities. While Biden should be punished for his past, his handlers should be punished for his present position. He isn't in charge, and those that are have spit on every U.S. citizen with impunity. 

So, we won't see a debate, and the efforts of those that handle Biden will be a macabre show of deceit. They don't care of the damage they caused. Those at the top will hope to escape prosecution (and probably will), and those at the bottom will become collateral damage. May justice be swift for those involved, and may the United States return to the constitution directed country as designed.

It's Not What It Seems

Anyone paying attention realizes there are tons of medication commercials on television. They show how "helpful" they can be, the importance of discussing your possible need for the medication with your doctor, and the professional commercials are obviously expensive. I've been suspicious for years; especially after the illegal, and immoral, actions of big pharmacy were allowed by government officials during the Covid debacle. This article gives insight into how the only best interests are the monetary gain, power, and continuation of both by those we are supposed to trust. 

When the Bad Weather Isn't

 During the year (especially when cold fronts threaten) we can get what I call "dicey" weather. When the storms are really bad, the thump when the first gust of wind hits the house, it leaves a few moments of panic. That, and when you can read a book by the lightning, or the rumble of thunder is like a twenty mile long string of loaded dump trucks passing by, there's no doubt the weather will be "dicey". The worst can bring power outages, and depending on how many trees fall on the lines, how long that lasts can be a crap shoot.

The weather folks (bless their hearts) predicted we had the possibility of some severe thunderstorms overnight. They weren't really really sure if they would reach our area (in fact they were betting they wouldn't) but wanted to keep the possibility open for their general CYA protocol requirements. This, to me, guarantees light sleeping, and a general feeling of anxiety. 

So, with my radar link handy on my phone, I watched television until late, watched a line of really strong storms develop, and decided to go to bed, since it would be hours before the storms arrived. The storms looked like they were losing their punch, and maybe the weather folks were right. 

I didn't sleep long. A low rumble of thunder woke me, and I knew I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. Within a few moments, I could hear heavy rain falling, which indicated to me the weather was about to get dicey. A quick glance at my phone showed a line of storms with heavy rain, and the white in the middle of the storms made it clear there was either very heavy rain, or some severe weather about to arrive. 

I got up, fixed a cup of coffee, and went out on the porch. The heavy rain had stopped, and there was only an occasional bolt of lightning in the distance. Looking at the weather map, there was some severe weather about twenty miles to the south, and it was looking as though the line of storms in my area weren't severe, although we were about to get some really heavy rain. It soon arrived, passed in a few minutes and only left some steady rain. That was good, but according to the original forecast, there would be two rounds of storms, and the second would happen when the wind shift arrived. 

Now, it's still raining, and the radar is showing round two will arrive sometime in the next few hours. It looks like it will be either bad, really heavy rain, or both. I won't know until arrives. Hopefully the severe stuff will stay away, but I'm not counting on it. I'll go make another cup of coffee, cook some sausage, and make breakfast. If the power goes out, at least I had a good breakfast. 

The Point Where It Is Obvious

My years in construction supervision gave me the knowledge to immediately discern if an employee, or subcontractor, were competent. I had to know such things, or those I worked for would immediately know they made a mistake in hiring me, or allowing me to supervise a project beyond my capabilities. In the honest world, which only judges on skills, it determines who survives, or not, and in many situations, guarantees a critical structure is safe.

After thinking about the news I read daily, I realized the "experts" and "tenured professors" have reached the point they're so incompetent, they have no idea how incompetent they are. To make things worse, governments have hired what should be culls, and they are in positions that allow them to arbitrarily ignore all laws, or legal precedence. Meanwhile, a huge amount of the "journalists" turned out by these ivory towers of ignorance not only have no idea of their real purpose, they have no clue how their pandering, and repeating of the narratives now being ignored, made them useless. 

So, here we are. Those that should be have the most knowledge, and wisdom, are showing daily they not only can't be trusted, their sacred halls of education are becoming as important the dew claws on dogs. The country is full of people with degrees and no education. It's a sad situation, and with the removal of important knowledge for critical responsibilities, we've reached the point where the blind are leading the blind.

What Are Your Experiences?

I've seen doctors, and I've seen nurse practitioners over the years. I have a guarded opinion about both. Some doctors are woefully uninformed of the nature of their patients, and some nurse practitioners don't seem to have a grasp of the responsibility of their autonomy. I can see why undesirable aspects of both happen, but can't see any cut and dried method to prevent conditions unfavorable to a patient. Reviews of either can be misleading during internet searches, and opinions of other patients may not have any bearing on your own condition. Both are limited by regulations, lack of quality time to spend with patients, and due to shortages, some culls shouldn't be in the medical profession. 

Personally, I've been blessed with primary doctors. Whether it was by sheer luck, or careful consideration, isn't really important without a sure-fire method of determining their qualifications. All have taken time for my questions and concerns. That, and willing to send me to specialists for things such as skin cancer and internal medicine concerns. 

I've had some bad experiences with nurse-practitioners. Their qualifications weren't the problem. The problem was their "jumping ship" where they were working, not leaving specific instructions for future doctor visits, and basically having me slip through the cracks. To the office personnel, I didn't exist, until I called to ask why prescription weren't refilled, or when my next appointment was scheduled.  Even that led to some frustrating attempts to play the "listen to the following list" menu and finding the correct person to handle my problem. 

I wish I had a good answer, but from my research, doctors have a tougher role to fill when it comes to accountability. Nurse practitioners will leave for multiple reasons, go to another doctor, or clinic, and their concern for patients seems to only be transitory. I can't fault them for wanting a better environment, or more money, but somewhere is a balance that demands more obligation to their patients. 

I have no solutions, but I do have questions. My experience is mine alone, may be totally irrelevant to most other situations, and not reflect the experiences of anyone else. That's why I'm asking for other opinions. 

Drainage and Ignorance

 We've now had more than enough rain. It's as usual. The demand for rain usually leads to more than enough, and the drainage issues reappear. Some are easily solved, since they only involve removing some debris from drains, or digging a small swale to eliminate a low spot. Others can't be solved, unless you can accept the solution of bulldozing large areas of developed land that impedes drainage from areas that were developed later in unfavorable areas. It's part of development, and regardless of opinions, no taxing entity can bear the cost of building the needed drainage structures for a 100 year flood; if that's even possible. To make things worse, the cleaning of drainage structures, profiling of ditches, and other drainage maintenance requirements are never considered that important, until there is an unusual amount of rain. Even then, the taxing entities act surprised, look for a federal handout, and make promises they know they can't keep.

So, here we go again. The taxing entities will hope the water goes down soon, those that live in areas that have poor drainage will deal with water, the sun will shine again, and it will all be pushed onto the back burner...until we get another rain event. 

So, I went out to check the rain gauge. Last night, before I went to bed, it had about 2 inches of water. It overflowed, so we had over four inches of rain overnight. Weather folks say it's mostly over, which is good. It will take days for the water to recede in the worst of areas.

Extremes

 According to the experts, we're still in a drought. "Abnormally dry" is the description, and looking at the local ponds, it's an accurate description. The feet of water lost during the long dry spell is still apparent, and only a few inches has been added over the last few month. That's supposed to change over the next few days. 

We're forecast to have between four and ten inches of rain, with higher amounts in certain areas. With the ground finally reaching a point of near saturation, that much water will overwhelm outfalls. How much depends on how often the heaviest of rain falls. If there is sufficient time between the heaviest of showers, the runoff might have time to subside. If not, the water will inundate the surrounding areas and flooding will occur. Due to the timing, much of that may impact rush hour, and certain schools may find they need to close early to keep students from being stranded. 

We'll see how this turns out, but it's necessary to make a Sunday trip to the grocery store. Too much rain will flood the road to my house, and it can take days for it to subside. That, and it's looking like we'll have rain for at least five days. Shopping in the rain sucks, and just going to the store is guaranteed to expose the most ignorant of drivers. 

Criminals May Think Twice

Most people don't like criminals. I'm the same, since I like my things, despise deceit, don't care for feeling threatened during my daily activities, and carrying a gun is uncomfortable. Criminals should probably stop and think about their actions. With law enforcement finding their hands increasingly tied, people finding their resources are more precious due to the economy, and the frustration of people in watching the courts let too many dangerous criminals go back on the street, even petty crime become more threatening. Capital punishment by citizens becomes more common, and the officers that have been watching the crap show become less willing to bother with those that make their job seem to have a point. That, and people that feel justice will not be served have memory problems, or are unwilling to wait for a criminal investigation to reach a dead end. 

Criminals that only receive a severe beat-down may be the lucky ones. It won't take many bleeding-heart-do-gooders to shift criminal victims into embracing the creed of "dead men don't tell tales". Even if someone is turned loose, retribution will be more common and the witnesses increasingly harder to find. It's the way of anarchy. When the government doesn't allow peace, peace will be reached by other methods. Power will be achieved by brutal violence, and the small minority of law enforcement officials will not intervene if the sidewalk justice ends the career of criminals that they've arrested more times than they can remember. 

Another thing: Regardless of how many illegals they allow in, many will want to return home where it's safer and the "crazy" gringos are not mad all the time. They came as criminals, they threaten the survival of citizens, and are unwelcome by the majority. They group together, but never realize they are outsiders and all are considered the same. Apathy soon fades for those that feel threatened, and even the most peaceful will find it's easier to ignore the plights of the invaders than to ignore their shrinking resources.

A Little Bit of Ice

 The Arctic front was slower than anticipated, and the freezing rain was very light after the heavier rain fell before most bridges were below freezing.  Icicles are about a quarter-inch long, and the freezing rain has moved on eastward. According to the experts, the clouds will hang, and tonight will bring temperatures in the mid-twenties. That's cold enough for me to catnap, run some water around the house, and keep and eye out for anything unusual. 

Tomorrow will bring clear skies, a high in the thirties and a low tomorrow night around 20 degrees. Without much wind, and everything insulated, I doubt any pipes will freeze, although I'll still probably be catnapping during the night. 

We'll have light freezes over the night during the next week, but highs will be well above freezing. I haven't checked next week's forecast, but it's Winter and just about anything can happen. I've seen it extremely wet this time of the year and watched dust blow during late January and early February. 

What's Next?

Texas closed a park in Eagle Pass to everyone, except those authorized and the authorized doesn't include Federal agents. Google Earth shows the park, how close it is to the border, and a street view of the entrance shows a SUV and a checkpoint. Otherwise, this park has been a problem for more than the current situation. According to reports, razor wire was cut by Border Patrol agents to allow illegal invaders to enter. 

Now, we'll see how the Feds react to having their toes stepped on. I'm sure the agents are jumping with joy, but their handlers will probably write a check their asses can't cover. 

We'll see.

Remembering Cold Days

I stepped out this morning to a temperature of 40 degrees and the wind howling. The front came through yesterday, but the severe weather forecast didn't happen at my house. It was a strong front, and the wind did take down my porch curtains, but that was due to my neglect of securing them before taking a nap. 

In the past, on days like this, we'd work. Some tasks would drive us away (such as roof work) but most everything else required huddling from the cold, getting used to the cold wind blowing up the back of your coat, chapped skin, and the supreme fatigue after spending the entire day in the elements. Nothing compares to working in cold weather. 

I don't miss days like this at work. My instinct was to tell everyone to go home until better weather, but I knew we could accomplish something, and I was obligated to continue the quest for a profit, and the need of the hands for income during the winter months, which led to many days without work. It was what it was, and I'm glad those days are over.

I'm The Last

 Up to this evening, I had one sibling left. That ended when she was struck by a car while crossing a busy street. I'm the last of five siblings, and it sure feels lonely.

This Is Really Not News

 According to this article , Democrats using insider trading to fill their pockets is a concern. Really? A Concern? This has been going on for decades, and not a one of them has even had their wrist slapped for their actions. Real news would have a report they rounded them all up, horse whipped them, and covered them with salt. 

Here We Go Again

In theory, the new year starts something new, bright and fruitful. In reality, it's only changing the last few numbers when writing down a date. Hopefully, this year will be remembered as one of the best in recorded history.