They Should Stay Gone Longer

Regardless of their theatrics, the Texas Senate passed the redistricting map, which was the impetus for Democrat Congress members to run away. It was a grand performance, but now they have to come home to face the consequences. Their money provider had his funds cut off, they are being fined $500 each day they don't return, and in my opinion, they need to stay away for a long time. The fines will add to the public funds, although I doubt many have the funds to pay their fine. 

Cause and Effect

A local city is kicking around a method to improve their water, and sewer, infrastructure. They raised their rates last year, and according to citizens, it didn't do anything. Some want the rates to be raised, and some want to borrow the money. Both options mean the money collected was either never enough, or was used for another purpose. My opinion is it was wasted on administrative costs not associated with anything other than shuffling paper, employee perks, underfunded pensions, and the general complete lack of fiscal responsibility by those in government. The decision, regardless of what it is, will lead to more people leaving, less tax money due to devaluation of real estate, more bureaucracy, and another nail in the coffin of fiscal health. It's the city way. I'm glad I don't live there, and glad I never had the loss of clarity and wanting to move there.

Early to Bed Early to Rise

I went to sleep early last night. I was tired, and followed my brains demand to get some sleep. The reward was to wake before 5:00 am, and have the opportunity to enjoy the quiet of the early morning. 

With the Perseids in full swing, I saw two meteors by accident. If I had been out earlier, watched more closely, I probably would have seen more. Still, I did observe Venus, and Jupiter, which were close the morning. That, and noticed Orion fully above the horizon. That's the harbinger of the approaching colder days. Summer is starting to fade, and the morning temperatures reflect the change. 

My little dog decided to join me on the porch for awhile. He had to have a short bark at something only he was aware of. Whatever it was, the bark must have chased it off. Then again, since I'm not completely aware of dog society, it might have been a morning shout-out at the dogs in the neighborhood. If so, they didn't respond. He wanted back in, so I honored his request.

Texas Democrats fled to other states to avoid their responsibility. It's a figurative holding of breath to show their childish displeasure of not getting their way. I have a feeling they'll get a spanking, and since Beto's funds for helping are cut off, and he's being investigated, the tantrum might yield more grief than anticipated. The new threat of punishment is having them removed from office due to abandonment. If that sticks, the Democrats in Texas might find their mouths wrote a check their asses can't cover.

Local news brings reports of shootings, traffic mayhem, displeasure of highway construction, and the mishmash of reports that fill the spaces. Some actually have follow-up, but many don't. 

I'm getting tired of the refuge ducks that appeared a few months ago. They're nasty, loud, and why relatives keep feeding them is beyond my comprehension. Without food, they could just wander off, or return to the derelict neighbor that allowed them to escape from their pen. In the past, when confronted by escaped animals, he denied ownership. This time has been no different, but with 21 possible pots of duck gumbo wandering around, the colder weather might bring some good meals. I need to learn the easiest way to dress out a duck. Domestic duck has a wonderful flavor, which is much better than wild duck.

...and I have to add: If you don't pay your traffic tickets, you go to jail. If you attempt a coup, nothing happens, and you get a book deal from publishers that would sell their mother's wheelchair for improved sales.

Playing the Game

I was in charge of a paving widening project in a local city. It was a Summer project, right in front of an elementary school, and was anticipated to be complete before school started. Everything was going along as planned, and even though the inspector had a tendency to be a problem on some details that were ridiculous, I felt we would be complete as anticipated. 

We were placing cement stabilized base for under the proposed new concrete paving. Even with an unmarked, and repaired, water line leak that flooded the base, I felt the base was processed as needed, graded, and after the curing time, wanted my inspector to run a density to continue. 

He arrived, ran his density, and proceeded to tell me the density was just shy of the 95 proctor. Knowing the game, and my specifications, I asked if he had placed his gauge probe into the subgrade. He had, and I explained to him the project didn't have a bid item for working the subgrade, but would be glad to stop, request a change order, and when approved, remove the base, process the subgrade, run density on the subgrade, replace the base, and get paid for the entire process. He paused a minute, thought about what I just said, and ran another density in just the base. It passed, and we started setting paving forms. 

I'd been burned in the past by similar things due to my ignorance of specifications. I learned the hard way, and refused to be rolled over by inspectors that didn't have a complete grasp of the entire picture. If I had to go to the engineer, I wouldn't hesitate. While they could beat me up with the spec book, I had the same book, and could swing with the best of them. 

We completed the project in time, it was bought within a short period of time, and after decades, the paving is holding up. 

Never Say "Yes"

I get robo-calls from different supposed local numbers. The newest scam I find is on my voice mails. The recording asks if it is me and continues with "Just say yes". In a perfect world, these scammers would be caned 20 lashes and forbidden any electronic communications under penalty of death.