The Part I Don't Like

Carter is dead, so now they'll try to immortalize a President that caused more harm than good. To me, the effort is damn near impossible, but there has to be at least one person that disagrees with me, other than one of his close relatives. May their task be light, and their BS thick. They'll need it. It's hard to shine up a turd. 

I Don't Know What It Was, but It Kicked My Butt

I know it was a virus. What kind? Maybe a flu variant, or some other virus, but whatever it was, it made me sicker than I've been in decades. My fever lasted for a few days, and it finally broke with a torrent of sweat, which was an uncomfortable way to wake. Maybe it's my age, or maybe in the past I just soldiered on because work demanded, but this one is requiring doing nothing, resting when not resting, and letting my body heal. My stomach feels as though I tried to do 200 push-ups, which is the result of trying to cough up a lung. The cough is now productive, and the spells are few and far between. 

No, I didn't go to the doctor. I was one more night of unbroken fever from doing so, but saved from dealing with urgent care doctors, or nurse practitioners. They must have a playbook they follow that demands they keep Pfizer, and the other big boys in the money, regardless of how many people they kill. I'm getting to the point even talking to them is a nerve grating experience, and think they probably feel the same after dealing with me. 

So recovery is underway, I plan on doing nothing during the rest of the holidays, will probably sip some bourbon later during the recovery, and avoid any person that had contact with children, adults with children, or has seen them while driving past a school. They carry germs, and have no problem with sharing.

AI and the Bureaucracy

Have you wondered if the many of the interactions you have with government employees are with computers and not people? I have, and wonder how many government employees paid to perform tasks are just sitting around at home, letting their computers do all their work, and the oversight that is their responsibility neglected, or ignored. In many situations, how will you know? I doubt it's possible, and wonder if many of the actions of the current administration are performed by machines, and the machines are only doing what rogue programmers are programming them to do. What are the legal ramifications of such actions, and how can you tag someone with criminal charges?

Fani in a Sling

I think Fani Willis through ignorance, or outright maliciousness, decided it was a good thing to prosecute Trump without any legal authority. It's now put her ass in a sling, but I think the public deserves to have the funds she wasted returned. That, and her license removed, prosecution for her conduct, and never allowed anywhere near a court room again. She deserves worse, but at this point, it's enough. Maybe the future will show her legacy is filled with more than just being removed from a case.

Why Blame Biden?

Regardless of what the media reports, Biden has been toast for at least half a decade. Medications,  manipulation by the media, and other subterfuge were the only reason he was allowed in public. Some even think most of his public appearances were by a double, and some photos I've seen make me wonder. 

Biden is not in charge, somebody else is pulling the strings, the alphabet agencies are hiding who it is, the media is part of the charade and Congress is sitting on their hands. Biden hasn't done anything, and blaming him is ridiculous. If Trump does his job, the curtain will be pulled back and some higher officials will find "three hots and a cot" is their future. It can't happen soon enough.

Perception, Angular Size, and Drones

I've been reading a few articles, and watching some videos, of the drones spotted over New Jersey. There's a lost of sensationalism in reports, and it makes me wonder about those involved. 

I've seen big drones up close. At a facility I once worked that had huge stockpile of product, a drone was used to survey the piles of material to determine volume. It was around 4 feet across, which is much larger than the toy drones many have, and was a huge investment for the surveying company. It took two people to unload it from the truck that carried it, and carried elaborate surveying instruments onboard. It was interesting to watch, and I never paid much attention to it as it flew, but if I hadn't seen it on the ground, I would have had no idea of its size, or distance from me, without some reference. 

The sun, and the moon, are about 1/2 degree in angular size. To put that into perspective, if you hold your arm out, and stick your thumb up, about one half the width of your thumb will cover either. Doing so makes you realize how perceived sizes can be misleading. Both look like they cover a large section of the sky when rising, but in reality, even then you can blot them out with half your thumb. 

One article stated the individual that saw the drones reported they were up to 6 feet in diameter. Were they? How did they determine this? They also reported they would sometimes fly with their lights off. That made me wonder what they were seeing them with. Were they silhouetted against sky glow? Did they pass so close they had something close to reference them for size?

From what I know, drones larger than a few ounces require a license. Considering the size of New Jersey, and the population, I'd think there are thousands of licensed drones, which can be operated a few hundred feet above the ground without violating any FAA restrictions. Knowing how people are, how alcohol affects judgement, and the willingness of some to hatch elaborate pranks, I wouldn't be surprised if a little party by someone with more money than sense is what caused the reports. That, or a police force was using drones to chase a criminal, or for covert surveillance. 

I don't know if the facts will ever be known. I do know the theories, rumors, and outright lies will continue. They are usually more newsworthy, and sought for sensational reports. 

Now...How Do They Fix It?

The hype is thick, the boundaries are being set, the entrenchments are being dug, and the battles will start. Meanwhile, how are they going to fix the damage? People still are facing the expenses that became unsustainable, inflation has decimated wages, those on a fixed income have absolutely no hope of relief, and too many people are insulated from the damage they created, or participated in. The wise are saying it will take time, but many don't have that time. So, how are they going to fix it? I see very little that will be done, and it is making me furious,

Offense and Defense

Years ago, I read a book by an officer that commanded Army troops in Vietnam. It was an interesting read, but what really stuck in my mind was how the officer knew that defensive actions allowed enemy forces to group and attack. He didn't just expound about his thoughts; he explained through the events how they worked. 

Politically, the undesired effects of the defensive position of so called conservatives is glaringly apparent. It's time for that to change. A strong offensive effort is more than needed to remove the damage caused by allowing destructive ideas to flourish with nothing but pandering as the reaction. Laws have been broken, the lives of good people have been destroyed, and those responsible need to be punished for their efforts. That will never happen unless there is an overwhelming push to destroy the enemies of the United States; both foreign and domestic. There are sufficient laws to obtain this goal, and I expect Trump's appointments to accomplish this task.

Cold Rain and Heaters

We've been in the mid-forties all day, with occasional steady rain. With the high humidity, the chill goes to the bone, so running the heater to break the chill is necessary. 

My sister-in-law asked me to check on my other sister-in-law's heater. She said it had the odor of something dead when it was running. I went to check it out; hoping it was something easy to find. 

I looked with a flashlight, found nothing, and decided I need to go further into the system to find the source of the odor. Removing the squirrel cage blower revealed the problem: a dead mouse was laying on the heating coils. With the squirrel cage blower out, I decided the best thing was to go ahead and clean the fins. A little time with a screwdriver, small brush, and a shop-vac removed the accumulated dust. After replacing the blower, and checking the operation, the heater checked out ok. Vacuuming the cabinet removed the dust that accumulated over time. 

I need to do the same cleaning for my furnace. I'll wait for a nice day, with cool temperatures, and do the deed on a much better day for the task.

Up With the Roosters

According to most people, "up with the roosters" means to wake up at dawn. Roosters don't wake up at dawn; they wake up at 3:30 am, scream at the top of their lungs, and every rooster within earshot does the same. That, and it's not the "cockle doodle doo" as heard in cartoons. Some do, but they're the minority. Some will make you wonder if you should call 911 and report a murder. Others sound as though they're gargling corn, or are three pack a day smokers. All continue for hours; regardless of the weather. So, now you know you have been told something that isn't true. You're welcome.

After 83 Years

 When I was in school, the bombing of Pearl Harbor was still fresh in the minds of most people. Between that atrocity, and the other atrocities revealed over the next few years, the evils of the world were revealed. I doubt many of the younger generation of today even think about the significance of today. That, and the youngest have little idea of the horrors their parents felt after 9/11. The past fades away, those that dealt with the attacks on the U.S. slowly die off, and eventually the significance of the events are mostly forgotten. 

So, at a little before 8:00 am, it will be the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I won't forget the day, but many will. My generation is fading, my parent's generation is gone, and history becomes only a curiosity of those that make the effort to research the past.

I Think This Will Turn Into a Mistake

The proposed new government agency which is supposed to make the government more efficient will be hiring. Otherwise, another agency will be created, which will be run by the government, and I doubt anyone that has more brains than a house plant will believe it won't become another bureaucratic money pit. Congress is supposed to do that job, and it's the President's job to reign in spending without the aid of another bureaucracy. Regardless of the plan to have the agency disappear after the job is done, I don't believe that will ever happen. It's like drinking alcohol to fight cirrhosis of the liver. 

I'm Seeing Some People Mistakenly Expected Integrity

Biden pardoned his son. Some people appear to be shocked, or can't quite grasp the action. Integrity would demand Hunter bellied up to the bar and faced the consequences of his actions. Biden doesn't have that, most people know this, and expecting anything else is foolish speculation.