Bad Karaoke

I have a neighbor that will turn up the volume, and play their music a little loud on some weekends. Usually, it doesn't bother me, since I can't here it in the house, and much of the music I like. Unfortunately, they sometimes like to sing with the music. The off-key, cat wallowing can be annoying, but tonight they crossed a boundary. Some young female was singing with "Can't You See", and butchering a fine song by the Marshall Tucker Band. That's terrible, unconscionable, and there is probably some criminal charge needing to be made. I'm sure they thought they were doing a fine job, and those around probably held their ears. I know their beagles didn't start howling until the next evisceration of a country song, but I understand why, and wonder if the song before was crossing their line too.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

Oil Change and Tire Rotation

 Today I'll have the oil changed in the car, and the tires rotated. It's an occasional task, and it makes me think of today's costs. 

When I first started owning vehicles, the largest tires were 15 inch tires, and many of the vehicles I owned had 13, or 14, inch tires. They seemed to work well. That, and disc brakes were not common, nor anti-lock brakes. I don't know what the stopping distances were in comparison to vehicles today, but like anything, adjustments were made for what was available. I knew the limitations of the vehicle, and compensated for the limitation. Whether that's really that important today doesn't seem to be something so demanded, but I do know the larger tires are more expensive, and the electronics involved in brakes has increased the cost of vehicles. 

Oils have come a long way since I started driving. With the additives, and synthetics, oils don't break down like they once did. Where an oil change was demanded at 3000 miles in the past, the oils today can still have full lubricating qualities up to 15,000 miles. While I was working, we had a synthetic oil on one of our vehicles tested over time. The synthetic in the diesel truck we tested didn't show any degradation in performance until around 17,000 miles. 

Times change, and many of the changes are good. Where a vehicle in the past was basically shot at 100,000 miles, with good care and maintenance, some are still dependable at 300,000 miles. I know car companies would rather people buy more often, but with vehicles costing a substantial amount of a new homes, people just don't have the money and want to wait as long as possible before buying new.

Some Honesty Would Help

Dishonesty is rampant. Politicians proclaim they want to help, and then make millions on inside trading, gifts from just about everyone that can bribe them, and do so for decades. To make things worse, so many of them are corrupt, their supposed ethics watchdogs ignore the corruption. 

Many of those taking public assistance do so by lying. To make things worse, they drive expensive vehicles, which can be found at Section 8 housing, and in grocery store parking lots, where they use ill-gotten money to buy groceries working people can't afford. 

People hire illegals, their churches assist in helping them to survive in the United States, and when those that enforce the law try to perform their job, people riot, assault the officers, and the local government helps in the insurrection by promoting the violence. 

Many in the media choose to fabricate stories, outright lie, and think their subversive activities should be protected because of their distorted opinion of the First Amendment. 

Those that count the votes may be the worse. Not only are illegal votes counted, and any efforts to audit the ballots are met with law suits to prevent access. This destroys the integrity demanded by our Constitutional Republic. 

The only solution to these problems can never be legislated, or demanded. Integrity is a form of self-discipline that only comes from those raised in an environment that demands a refusal too use deception to achieve gain. That environment has been polluted by those that use any method - including criminal activities - to achieve wealth and power. 

How this disregard for honesty can be changed is something that won't happen without a conscious effort by people to make the change. I don't have much faith this will happen. Too many are part of the grift, too many are apathetic, and the slide downhill accelerates.

"Going To" and "About To"

When I was supervising crews, some of the standard answers were "I was going to" or "I was about to". I'd watch a new equipment operator crawl into the cab of a machine that cost a half million dollars and ask a question I already knew the answer. "Have you checked out the machine?" They were reaching for the key, when I would ask, and I knew they had no intention of checking the oil, other fluids, and greasing the zerts on the machine. The answer was "I was going to", or "I was about to." It was a standard answer, and indicated my trust would need to be earned, or they would soon need to find a new employer. 

That's were we are as a country. All the new hires have the same answer, and if they think there's any trust, there isn't any at this time. The Clintons are still free, illegal voting is still occurring, the grift is still strong in some states, the debt is growing like mushroom in crap, after a rain, the "deep state" is still muddying the water, judges are still ignoring the Constitution, aliens are still roaming at will, the autopen is still in charge of many important actions, and the media is still cheerleading some of the worst reprobates in history.  It's time for things to happen, and if Trump doesn't know this, he only has three more years to insure someone is checking the machine before the engine starts knocking.

Things That Wake Me Up

I awoke at 2:00 am with my hip hurting. It happens occasionally, and I know why. Falling asleep on my left side can cause my right hip to hurt, which usually just requires adjusting, and sleeping on my back...but not tonight. I couldn't get comfortable, so I got out of bed and fixed a cup of coffee.  

I went out on the porch to see the stars, but there were no stars to be seen. The fog is thick at the ground, and the only thing to see is the waning crescent of the moon. Looking at it made me smile. The best description is the Cheshire Cat. Nothing to be seen, except the grin. 

So, I'll walk around awhile, wait for the pain to subside, maybe watch some television, or surf the internet. Eventually, I'll get more comfortable, and hopefully, go back to bed to sleep some more. If not, I'll wait a few hours, make breakfast, check the mouse traps in the well house, and piddle. I have some projects, with none being critical. That allows a tremendous amount of procrastination. 

Meanwhile, From The Nose Bleed Section

They caught the person responsible for planting the fake pipe bombs (or were they fake?) on January 6 when the supposed insurrection was in full swing. Bondi said the last group of supposed administrator of the alphabet agencies were sitting on their hands, and whistling to the wind. Who knows? We haven't been given much to warm our hearts on justice being served. 

Speaking of justice. Regardless of what is reported, placed in investigation, or tossed around Congress, I don't have a fuzzy feeling about the state of justice in the United States. Too many obvious criminals are allowed to continue their stints in Congress, or allowed to sell books, when they should have been flogged, tarred and feathered, tied to a rail, and tossed into a pit of raw sewage.

I don't know how everyone feels, but the economy sucks. Inflation has stolen at least 25% of my income in the last four years, and nobody is reporting how they performed the procedure outlined above in solving this problem. 

Illegals have shown the worst of people in other countries only become problems in other countries. The best solution is to deport any found, close down all immigration, and give at least twenty years for those that legally immigrated to become accustomed to the American way of life.

Regardless of what's being reported, the desperate adds on television indicate the Christmas sales will be abysmal. The deals are too good, and in my opinion, it looks like the major outlets will do just about anything to break even. 

Trump has suggested giving newborn families $1000 for each baby. That's fair, but I won't my share to be retroactive to the year I was born and the money gathering 6% interest. 

I'm helping my wife to make some homemade vegetable beef soup. We have different opinions, but manage to work together on the production. It tastes really good, and the slow simmer will bring out all the flavors.

So...Another "Election"

 While elections are important, it's more important to guarantee the votes are legal. While all the hoopla is about the candidates, or expenditures, the fact elections are not honest is pushed onto the back burner. Until everyone is forced to appear in person, and their finger dipped in ink, elections are just another way of fooling all of the people some of the time.

So, There's a New Pope

 I don't know anything about the new Pope, except he's from the United States. So is Pelosi, Schumer, AOC, all the Bidens and the list goes on. What he does is how I'll develop my opinion of the lead politician of the Catholics. Maybe he'll do something good, but history shows he may not.

The New Slush Fund?

 I've noticed the AARP is being pushed by the Hartford to attract clients. If I had to guess, the exposure of how AARP reaped billions from skimming a percentage of premiums from United Healthcare is either wanting them to get out from under the microscope, or the executives want a raise. It's a billion dollar slush fund, and substantially more than is taken in from membership. According to a news report I read, the partnership between AARP and United Healthcare is reaching the point of renewal (or not) this year, which would mean they find a new source of income, or possibly face scrutiny they don't want. Regardless, neither really cares much for seniors, although they do care for their Social Security, and Medicare, benefits. 

Middle of the Night Stuff

Sometimes, I wake in the middle of the night for no reason I can find. Tonight is one of those nights. Before I woke, I was dreaming, but it wasn't one where waking is mandatory to prevent further damage to peace of mind. I've had those dreams before; some filled with the terror of impending death, or a hopeless situation. My dream was of dealing with meeting with an air-conditioner contractor for a new unit at my parent's house, which was my house they were living in, which I'd never seen before, but was familiar with, even though it was a complete fabrication of my imagination. That, and it was near a town I knew, but was a town I've never been to in real life, and the people I was dealing with were people from my past that (as far as I know) never had anything to do with air-conditioning installations. It wasn't stressful. It was more like a typical day just dealing with life. So, after waking, and realizing sleep wasn't possible, I decided for some coffee and time on the porch. 

My neighbor's dog was raising hell at something. Considering the location, I had the feeling it had a critter in the dumpster. It would run one way, bark at the dumpster, run around to another strategic location, bark again, and make every effort to keep the dumpster surrounded. Shining my spotlight didn't reveal anything but a startled dog that slunk away as though I was scolding it. My dog, which decided to go on the porch with me, added a few woofs for good measure, and the dogs in the neighborhood added their woofs to show their solidarity. 

I stayed outside for a little longer to see if there was something that led me to waking. I couldn't determine anything out of the ordinary. Maybe it was the gusty wind from the approaching change in weather disturbing my sleep. That, or maybe the change in barometric pressure is more of an influence than known. I'll never know, but do know the coffee is good, the temperature is 71 degrees outside, and it's the grand time before civilization shatters the morning calm. I'll take my coffee back to the porch and contemplate the correct solutions to the problems of the world.

The Fiction of Reality

I've watched multiple "reality" programs on the television. They can be interesting, but they aren't reality. 

Boat skippers, and crew, being paid to be on television don't have the same financial concerns of those that don't. That, and those thinking they should also try the same endeavor have a tendency to cause problems with fishing limits, and yields.

Regardless of how portrayed, few people have a few hundred thousand to remodel a home overpriced at a few hundred thousand. That, and few envision an entertainment space of a thousand square feet for entertaining. Most people just want the opportunity to own their own home, but can't afford a note that's more than half of what they make...if they can even get financing for that endeavor. When you add the taxes, heating costs, and insurance to these "Taj Mahals" of fantasy, reality goes out the window.

There are more "reality" shows, but they're all entertainment. Reality is much tougher and restrained by considerations most people face. The drama showed, and obvious retakes, or staging, of actual events, is not reality, and never will be. I can write that those that hold the camaras, feed the crews, take care of arrangements, direct or produce, and endure hours of boredom, are the reality stars. You seldom see them, and they're edited out of most productions.

The Clear Indication

 The last Denny's has closed in San Francisco.  There's nothing I can add, the article says it all.

A Little Late

I was perusing my blog, made some mental calculations, and realized I missed my blogoversary  by 5 days. I'm guessing it's best, since it's the 13th anniversary, which has been an unlucky number since Judas was the 13th guest at the Last Supper. 

For those that visited, have visited, are bots, heard about me, but really didn't have the time to visit, really don't care and are washing their car, I'm glad you came....or didn't.

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. 

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.