Today's Thoughts

I'm not happy about the prices of fuel. Foreign governments meddled in the world market with politics that are destructive, corrupted the supply chain, and future oil prices reacted accordingly. Regardless of our supply, there's more money to make for producers somewhere else, and if we don't buy it at their price, they really don't care about the financial burden it causes.  

The other night, right after sunset, I saw a brilliant object to the west. My first thought was it was a weather balloon, since it was north of west; seemingly too far north of the ecliptic, but when the light on a weather balloon would have faded, this object stayed bright. A little research showed it was Venus, and it's quite a sight in the evening sky. 

Local cities, and school districts, regardless of performance, are pandering for more money. To add insult to injury, the largest local city's school district has been placed in conservatorship. The grades are terrible, and the students can be violent. Both cities, and schools, have managed to pad the salaries, pensions, and bureaucracy, but failed in maintaining the goals of providing a public service. Such things make me glad I moved to a rural county, where the city of the county seat didn't elect any incumbents in the last election. That tells more than is apparent, and a dissatisfaction that demanded changes. Property tax pushbacks are common here, and keeping the rates lower attracts those wanting to flee the cities. Hopefully, they don't bring ignorance, and stupidity to the county. We have enough of that without any help.

The Iran thing is becoming something that demands decisive actions. This walking on egg shell approach only emboldens those that have fomented (and outright financed) terror against the United States for decades. The old "I'll kill you since you tried to kill me" approach usually works well, but has more results when you eliminate the financers and their banks. That, and removing their income source, which in this situation, means destroying Iran's ability to produce oil. They have an island that fuels supertankers and I'm willing to bet bombing it into another century will end the problems. Maybe not, but it's worth a try.

Weather has been dry, wet, dry, and now looks like it's going to be more wet. The grass, and the pekin ducks, will thrive. The grass I can eventually cut. As far as the ducks, my thoughts on that problem don't set well in the neighborhood. Maybe I should find a way to pen them up and give them to anyone that wants them. They are a bane to my wife's peace of mind, since they tear up plantings, and leave big divots in the yard. I find them to be nasty, horny, and loud creatures that have no real purpose other than food. 

I have a colonoscopy scheduled for next week. This will be my third one over the last fifteen years. The last one revealed two benign polyps that put me in the high risk category, which means a colonoscopy every three years. That, and since my brother died from colon cancer, even if no polyps are found, I'm still in the high risk category. Prepping is never an enjoyable task, and my wife isn't happy she has to drive me to the procedure. She says my back-seat driving is irritating. I guess it is. I have no real defense against her assertion, so my best bet is sleep, and keep my mouth shut on the way home...but we'll have to stop for something to eat. I'll be quiet as I munch on my first meal to break the long fast required for the procedure.

Two weeks in the future brings my bi-annual trip to my dermatologist. Liquid nitrogen will probably be used in copious amounts, and I'll pray I don't need any biopsies. I've learned to not say anything to family members about their exposure to the sun. They can learn like I did, and I wonder if they'll be thinking about my warnings in the future. Hopefully not. I'd rather them go through life without dealing with skin cancer.

I won't complain about the cost of just about everything. I can't do anything about it, except adjust my budget, and maybe: buy a few lottery tickets. The odds of winning that are much better than positive actions after voicing my complaints in a well written letter to my representatives. 

I supposed to have two carburetors arriving today for a weed whacker and a leaf blower. Both were neglected over time, and fiddling with both has yielded only the realization they will never run without new carburetors. Both have fire, and good compression, so they should be in top shape after the replacements. I'll cross my fingers. 

Dumb, and Staying That Way

 A brewery owner offered free beer when Trump dies. That's dumb, but after a visit by the Secret Service, he posted the agent's name, and phone number, with a message to tell him to stand down. That's more than stupid, and now he faces charges for doxing. He may be a shrewd brewery owner, but I doubt it. Somebody that doesn't realize their brand is dependent on all customers may find they lost too many by stupid actions. With the possible additional costs for attorney fees, or a criminal prosecution, he may find bankruptcy is in his near future, and his family may abandon him for being so dumb.

Rain Won't Stop Until Tonight

Yesterday, my wife, and I, made a push to complete some yard work. The grass was cut, and weed-whacking was completed. Forecasters called for rain, and man they were right. The first light showers started right after dark, and some thunder around midnight kept our dog nervous for about any hour. 

I woke during the night to some thunder, and awoke this morning to find it raining, with about 2 inches in the gauge. It's now at 3 inches, the rain has been steady for hours, and thunder tells me it will continue until tonight, when a late season front pushes it offshore. Radar confirms showers tracking from the West to the East, and the bands stretch hundreds of miles to the West. 

The grass will thrive over the next few days, and the opportunity for cutting is up in the air. With the amount we're receiving, it will take days for the yard to dry enough to mow.  

We needed the rain. Late Winter, and early Spring, were mostly dry, and between burning bands, and fire danger alerts, drought conditions prevailed. This will probably end our drought, and there is the possibility the next month will be wet. We'll see. One sure thing is the hotter conditions will accentuate the humidity, and many afternoons will be unpleasant. The cool of evening will bring the mosquitoes, and sitting on the porch after dark out of the question. 

Another One Gone

I read a news report that stated David Allan Coe had passed on. I'm sure some might not remember him, but for those that embraced the music scene of Austin, and the outlaw brand of music, remember his take on the Steve Goodman song "You Never Even Called Me By My Name". 

Coe didn't fit the mold of Nashville at the time, but succeeded in a time when Disco didn't quite fit those that were raised in the country, and sought music that told the stories they were more familiar with. Truly an outlaw by any description, he never gave up on his music, and entertained in spite of how some might have viewed his life. He'll be missed for his added flavor to the long, varied menu called Country and Western.

Better than Firing

Kimmel is a scum-bag, but I wouldn't fire him. I'd fire his handlers, including ABC, Disney, and all their investors. Turn off the television, avoid all Disney endeavors, and watch them squirm in the heat. Will enough do this? Of course not. Few want to miss their favorite television show, and the kids are crying to go to Disney World.

It's Lovebug Season

In the South, small mayflies called lovebugs appear in the Spring and the Fall. Some season have few, and others have swarms that turn your car windshield into a grimy, streaked paste of black bug goop. Removing them can be a challenge, and if you wait a long time, the sun bakes them into a bug "concrete" that is hard to remove. 

This season is appearing to be a bad one. They're everywhere, and increasing daily. How long until this peaks remains to be seen, but even short trips lead to dozens on the grill and windshield. 

I've found dryer sheets are good. You wet the front of the car, get a bucket of water, and use the dryer sheets to rub on the bugs. Keeping things wet is important, so avoiding allowing things to dry is important. It doesn't take intense scrubbing. Constantly keeping the mess wet, with gentle rubbing removes the bugs, and prepares the car for a wash. Allowing things to dry leaves a residue, which is unsightly. 

So, here we go again. This is twice a year without fail, and will never go away.

Trying to Make Some Sense Of It

 The Strait of Hormuz is open, and then it isn't, and then it is, and then it isn't....it's never ending. Some report say we bombed Iran's military out of existence, and others state there's so many hiding places, small boats, and armed military, it's almost impossible to find them all. With nobody really knowing who's in charge, the best description is it's total chaos. 

What will happen next? More corrupted intelligence will appear, large insurers will have bowel problems, the U.S. military will continue with thinking you can win a war by cherry-picking targets, NATO will continue to be a money pit, Europe will sit on its hands, China will threaten, Russia will threaten, North Korea will launce some missiles into the ocean, fuel prices will remain high, Australia will be low on fuel, Democrats will continue trying to destroy the United States, the media will continue publishing propaganda, and Iran will be another huge pit where billions are thrown into the building of bombs, so they can be dropped into the pit. It's good times for arms manufacturers, oil producers, politicians, and terrorists. The rest of the world will just have to suck it up and continue watching the madness.  

We'll See Where This Goes

 News reports state there is a tiff between Trump and the Pope. It's about immigration, and from what I've read, the Pope thinks the time someone lives illegally in the United States should determine whether they stay, or not. This makes me wonder. There seems to be some irony with someone that lives in a fortress, surrounded by armed guards, and with complete autonomy about who lives there, to make statements about immigration. We'll see where this goes, but I doubt it will go anywhere good.

I Think There Will Be More Of This

Some people don't want any donated blood from those that received certain injections.  I understand the concern, and the supposed research only makes me more suspicious of some researchers and doctors. Too many jumped on board with sometimes incomplete testing by pharmaceutical companies, and injected (and still inject) patients even with other research pointing to dangerous, permanent contraindications with the process. With Covid, there was no reason for many to receive any inoculation, but regardless of what research showed, the results were hidden, and there were billions of dollars made on a product that had the potential to kill more people than the illness it was supposed to prevent. 

There are millions of healthy older adults that probably only had DPT boosters when they were young. Not so today. Dozens of injections are given to the young, and some research shows there may be a correlation between the injections and health problems. Of course, there's a huge market for the medications, and it's advantageous in the near term to promote the product. Time, honest research, and education may show the foolishness of this process. The past is full of peddlers that have "miraculous" results from their products, and I have no doubt many of the companies selling their products are more concerned about their bottom dollar instead of the ultimate consequences of their actions. 

Artemis 2 Reentry Velocity

I was wondering why the Artemis 2 reentry velocity was so high. A little googling informed me of the reasons. One is the fact using the Moon to slingshot it back to Earth leads to a higher speed. Another is it saved fuel, and the most concerning: To test the heat shield....which generally doesn't yield good results when it fails. 

The reentry is forecast to beat Apollo 10's record of reentry speed. That speed is right at escape velocity, which (if my ignorance is correct) will mean only one shot at reentry. Otherwise, a miss will mean a gravity assist from Earth, and the capsule will be flung out into space. 

The astronauts are in for the ride, and I have to admire their bravery/recklessness. Their are no mistakes with this mission, and all have terrible consequences. May God be with them.

Getting Up To Speed

 I've been reading some of my posts, with some back in 2011. As far as I can tell, things haven't really changed that much, but according to news reports, we're supposed to think they are. To summarize:

- The national debt is still rising

- The Middle East is in turmoil

- Congress is still feckless and filled with fleshy headed mutants.

- Judges are still legislating from the bench with impunity.

- The worth of the dollar shrinks daily

- People on a fixed income are still behind due to the ridiculous way the cost of living is calculated.

- Terrorist are still out there, and there may be more than ever

- Illegals are still gaming the system, and doing so with impunity

- The media is mostly on the wrong side of right.

- Corruption in the public sector is rampant. 

- The education system is only turning out functional idiots.

I could go on, but the main point is 2011 is fifteen years ago, and regardless of who is President, the moral foundation of the United States has eroded to the point dishonesty is considered "business as usual". If there is any punishment, it's basically a slap on the wrist. 

So, you're up to speed, and it appears the road is bumpy. 

2026 - A Space Oddity

Of all the things on a spacecraft, one of the most important things is a functional toilet. News reports state the toilet on the Artemis capsule is malfunctioning. Nine more days to go, no way to shorten the voyage, and no port-a-potties available. It's like riding in a van with four people for ten days without a commode. I wouldn't want to be downwind when they open that hatch after they land. Hopefully, someone saved some Walmart bags, hid them onboard, and there's some place to store the packages....I wonder if they have a jettison hatch for such occasions? 

Been Busy

I haven't been writing much. I've been busy on burning a stump, which was dug out of the ground by a nephew with a small excavator, and dragged to the burning pile. 

The stump is what was left of a huge willow growing on the edge of the pond. The root system was enormous, and the roots are not like anything I've ever seen. The fine roots are so closely spaced, they're like a sponge, with dirt encapsulated in the tiny spaces between. They burn up like steel wool, and it takes a hot flame to burn them away.

So far, I'm a little over a dozen of smaller nuisance trees contributing to the burning. Most were around 8 inches in diameter at the base, and offered a good hot fire to burn away the major part of the stump, which was turned over, and the area covered with roots on the top. Much of the stump is gone, but there is still more to burn away, after I clear any dirt that is now exposed. That's for another day. The project is beginning too much like a job, and I'm ready for a vacation from the task. 

I see there will be another Moon mission. For some reason, this one is concerning for me. While I know technology has allowed improvements to older designs, and safety included in these improvements, I have this nagging feeling D.E.I. has corrupted those involved. If this project is like most other projects the government has manipulated with its grubby fingers, an astronaut should really consider another line of work.  May God be with them, because the incompetent are not much help.

Thinking

I'm a little mixed about the bombings in Iran. On one hand, I see a terrible threat to the world is being removed. On the other, I see some huge economic changes that sometimes have unintended consequences. How it plays out will be seen, but the power play is enormous, and the stakes are high. 

Voting is a precious right too often abused. Why some feel demanding identification is a bad thing, it doesn't really make sense, unless you are only in power due to fraud, and know you'll never win another election without illegal voting. President Trump stated the Democratic Party is now the worst enemy of the United States. I agree. He only stated what the majority of citizens believe. 

In spite of all the hype, the economy is far from being close to what is healthy. The national debt continues to climb, the dollar continues to have less value, and people are struggling to keep even the basics within their budget. 

Another ignorant restaurant owner decided their politics are more important than their customers. I don't think their effort will turn out well, and telling their employees the doors will close is in their near future. 

Locally, the thugs seem to be increasing in the nearest large community. City leaders are pontificating, people are complaining, and in one situation, a judge threw the book at a young man that decided violence is the best method of functioning in society. He'll have time to think about his errors, be exposed to the rest of his kind, and probably not do much better in a few dozen years. At least he won't be roaming the streets, and maybe he'll be joined by more of the critters that roam the nearest large local community.

I'm waiting to see what automobile manufacturers do with the lowering of regulations. They need to find ways to make vehicles more affordable, easier to work on, and avoid doing stupid things like losing huge amounts of money on electric cars. 

Corruption abounds in just about every government entity that exists, and the worst of corruption eats up the money confiscated for taxes. The past shows this doesn't end well. 

There are more things that keep me in a sour mood. Hopefully, things  change rapidly for the better. 

Thinking About Self-driving Cars

I don't think I'm alone in my wariness of any car that is driven by a computer, and GPS. I'm guessing it's a natural reaction after watching "2001 A Space Odyssey". There's that suspicion the computer will go rogue, lock the doors, and take me down a boat ramp because I called it a dumbass. That, and seeing how much my insurance premiums would go up after an accident that happened when I was eating my hamburger picked up in a drive-through after I said I was hungry. 

Health Paradox

From what I've read, the manipulation of time to satisfy a multitude of obscure reasons isn't good for your health. Our health is important. If you don't believe it, look at the billions spent on advertising health products, government printings for your health, gymnasiums in just about every town, health food stores, health products online, insurance wellness demands for your health, and research on health. Health is important, unless it involve Daylight Saving Time. If it disturbs your sleep pattern, causes lethargy during the day, upsets you schedule, gives you heartburn, and causes irritability, then you just have to nut up and deal with it. Your health isn't that important, unless it involves anything other than when your clock tells you what time the sun rises. 

Lightning Is Not Your Friend

We had a front creep through, some thunderstorms, but nothing severe. As the storms subsided, and the rain let up, lightning struck close enough where the flash, and sound, were simultaneous. A step out on the porch showed the security light was out. The television, which will sometime turn off when lightning strikes close went off. The lights didn't flicker. 

My nephew lives across the road, and he soon drove up with his wife to check on me and my wife. He stated they saw sparks falling after the strike, and thought our house was hit. I noticed something in the yard under the security light, and went to investigate. 

Apparently, lightning struck the fixture, and the high current blew the top cover off the fixture when the insides instantly blew apart. Examination of the roof, around the yard, and the service drop didn't show any damage, which gave me some relief. I was concerned lightning struck the roof, and there was fire in the overhead. 

 

When the lightning struck, we were watching a DVD, so when we turned the television back on, everything was working. That was a relief, but examining the bedrooms showed the televisions would not turn on. To make things worse, when we switched to satellite to watch, it's out too.  

The security light is on a service pole is less than twenty feet from my house, so the strike was as close as it can get without striking the house. Too close for me, but far enough I thank God it didn't hit the house. That, and the lightning went to ground through the provider's grounding system instead of through the wiring in my house. 

So, tomorrow will require a call to the satellite provider, a trip to the box store for two televisions, and the hope none of it will cost too much. My feeling is that the damage will be below my deductible, and calling the insurance company a waste of time. 

Spring has Sprung

 As I was checking my phone this morning, while sitting on the porch, I noticed a fine coating of pollen on the screen. The longer I sat, the more accumulated. According to the weather folks, tree pollen is heavy today, and I can testify they're correct. My sinuses agree. Right now, it's mostly oak pollen. The pine pollen will soon appear, and the pond will have a thin coat of yellow on the surface.

Kitchen Sinks

I've changed kitchen sinks. It's not a tremendously complicated process with some, and can change the look of a kitchen. One thing I don't care for is the kitchen sink in the island. I never thought much about this, until I visited a relative that had one. 

I don't see how this is sanitary. So much food is prepared, and served from an island, and when the water is turned on, any nasty water in the sink can splash on the food. Maybe I'm being too cautious, but the popularity of sinks in an island just doesn't make sense to me. The sink is where dirty pans, and dishes, accumulate. Just the sight of such things can curb my appetite if they're in a serving area.

Infrastructure and Incompetence

It's becoming common for news reports about water system problems in my hometown. I left there years ago, except to take care of my mother during her last years, but I read local news about the town. Problems with the water appear too often, and it's obvious the EEO/DEI quagmire of incompetent officials has turned what should be healthy water into something that needs boiling. Of course, the diverse/racist bunch of incompetent boobs pontificate on their supposed efforts to take care of problems, but reality shows their ridiculous efforts led to those with money leaving, mishandling of public funds, and a failing infrastructure. From my past experiences, such problems won't lead to anything but bandaging bad components, until grants are acquired, or taxes are raised. It's the plight of too many cities, and the scourge of the United States.