Mon. Sept. 23, 2019 – heading into the home stretch on September…

By on September 23rd, 2019 in Random Stuff

Cooler and damp, but I’m guessing.

We ended up getting about 3/4 of an inch of rain yesterday afternoon.  Some heavy, some misty light, but it sure added up.

I’m glad I got the yard work and pruning done when I did.

I’ve got three auction pickups today, and they are on opposite ends of town.  I’m going to be scrambling to get them done.  So OF COURSE the dog needs to go to the vet first thing in the morning.

And I have to give the state their ounce of flesh and get the truck inspected and registered before the end of the week.  And I really should get the pickup windshield fixed.  So I’m looking at a busy week.

On the plus side, the fan and AC dried out the water intrusion at my secondary site.  I sold my buddy a bunch of stuff from the driveway, and I picked up some hardware to move my roof rack project along.

Baby steps.

n

42 Comments and discussion on "Mon. Sept. 23, 2019 – heading into the home stretch on September…"

  1. Greg Norton says:

    Cooler and damp, but I’m guessing.

    Austin still had 100s this weekend, and the rainfall deficit continues.
    Even if we had Houston rain, Round Rock isn’t affected. Things would get ugly south of Downtown to San Marcos, however, where the hipsters live.

    Which reminds me — I’ve wondered about the construction of the new apartment buildings and houses going up around here. Some of the work seems awfully questionable.

    https://www.kvue.com/article/life/san-marcos-apartment-evacuated/269-8115536d-e63d-4a0c-9914-52aa412dc9a3

    To everyone in Seattle, LA, and San Francisco looking at Round Rock’s #2 rating from Money magazine for places to live in the US — forget it. Don’t move here. Its awful, and, heck, we just reelected our incumbent Congressman over “Doors”. You won’t like living here.

  2. Nick Flandrey says:

    My weather station said 102F in my driveway yesterday before the rain.

    Currently 76F and 99%RH.

    n

  3. Greg Norton says:

    For the uninitiated: “Doors” Redux. MJ Hegar has *serious* money behind her campaigns but no real core message beyond “Girls stick together”.

    That has kept Patty Murray in one of WA’s Senate Seats for 28 years, but Texas is still different.

    Again, if you live on the West Coast and are thinking of moving to Round Rock, we sent Hegar packing last year. Deplorable Central.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIYHz6fPAgo

  4. Greg Norton says:

    I changed the battery in my wife’s Exploder over the weekend after the fine Motocraft part started leaking acid through the cap, partially dissolving the terminal and discoloring/staining some of the nearby vehicle components. Gotta have the damage checked out soon to make sure it really is minor as swapping the terminal out.

    My usual rule is three years and out on the OEM batteries. I broke my own rule because I was busy with work Christmas break.

    Swapping the battery is easy, but Ford doesn’t want me doing anything else in the engine compartment. Lots of useless plastic covering everything up and preventing access. I spent an hour fruitlessly trying to get the battery pan out to rinse the mess properly. Toyota’s are dead simple … or were simple.

  5. SteveF says:

    Ray, nice wiring diagram. My only suggestion is to identify the different block colors with My Little Pony characters. Purple = Twilight Sparkle and so on.

    (We went through (a small) portion of the boxes in the garage and found a lot of The Peewee’s old toys. Including horses and ponies of all types. Lots and lots of horses and ponies.)

  6. lynn says:

    “Fall begins—where the heck is Houston’s first cool front?”
    https://spacecityweather.com/fall-begins-where-the-heck-is-houstons-first-cool-front/

    We are due ! The 1.1 mile walk last night at 11 pm was about two million percent humidity at 80 F. Time to blow all this nasty humidity down into the Gulf of Mexico.

  7. lynn says:

    “SECOND DAY OF NO MAIL: SERVICES INTERRUPTED BY USPS BUILDING COLLAPSE IN HOUSTON”
    https://kwhi.com/second-day-of-no-mail-services-interuppted-by-usps-building-collapse-in-houston/

    This is the only thing that I can find about the US Mail in Houston. Looks like we are going to have even more mail problems for a long time. Here is the first comment:

    “September 23, 2019 at 12:01 am

    I work for the postal service and safety is key ,we’re working fast to get Houston customers there mail I’m in Dallas tx working North Houston mail and it’s alot of overtime 12 hour 6 to 7 days so please be patient with us we’re trying to process quickly and correctly, and this could go on for months but you’re sure to receive mail…the is being processed it just it will take a little time…”

  8. lynn says:

    “East Coast Offshore Wind Projects Take Giant Steps”
    https://www.enr.com/articles/47524-east-coast-offshore-wind-projects-take-giant-steps

    “In a big boost to the emerging U.S. offshore wind market, Danish wind developer Orsted announced on Sept. 19 the first worldwide commercial deployment of GE Renewables’ offshore wind mega-turbine—the 12-MW Haliade-X now being tested in Europe—at its proposed wind farms off the coasts of Maryland and New Jersey.”

    “Compared to New York City’s Chrysler Building in height, the new turbine has the largest capacity on the market and a rotor diameter of 220 meters.”

    Ok, these make some sense. The wind always blows from shore to offshore or vice versa. Man, these dudes are monsters (220 meter, 722 feet, rotor diameter).

  9. lynn says:

    “PG&E Offers Plan to Exit Bankruptcy”
    https://www.enr.com/articles/47484-pge-offers-plan-to-exit-bankruptcy

    “Parent company PG&E Corp. and its utility subsidiary Pacific Gas and Electric filed a framework to exit bankruptcy that limits payments to victims and creditors to $17.9 billion, including $8.4 billion to wildfire victims, $8.5 billion to creditors and $1 billion to public entities. It anticipates raising $14 billion in equity.”

    I’ll be standing in line to buy some of the new PG&E stock. Not.

    PG&E will be looted again and again.

  10. lynn says:

    BTW, there are almost 60,000 commercial wind turbines in the USA now for almost 100,000 MW of capacity. Here is where they are.
    https://eerscmap.usgs.gov/uswtdb/viewer/#3.36/35.91/-96.22

    From:
    https://www.indianaenvironmentalreporter.org/posts/database-shows-locations-of-wind-turbines-in-the-u-s

  11. lynn says:

    “VIDEO: College students think world will end in 12 years”
    https://www.thecollegefix.com/video-college-students-think-world-will-end-in-12-years/

    “Many of these students said they believe humanity is on a collision course with climate catastrophe and agree with Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that there’s only 12 years left before the planet becomes uninhabitable.”

    What is wrong with these snowflakes ?

    How are they going to face real adversity like feeding and housing their kids ?

    Or another World War ?

    Hat tip to:
    https://drudgereport.com/

  12. lynn says:

    OK, here is a better prognosis for the US Mail in Houston. “After Imelda, mail still being processed despite damaged USPS facilities”
    https://www.khou.com/article/news/verify/verify-after-imelda-mail-is-still-being-processed-despite-damaged-usps-facilities/285-a5b89f14-846e-475b-acc1-bddf42035654

    “In a statement, she said the processing facility in North Houston and seven post offices in Southeast Texas were damaged by Tropical Storm Imelda.”

    “As of Friday, all post offices had shifted business to nearby locations, so mail is still being delivered.”

    “As for the processing facility, operations have reportedly resumed in a large portion of the building.”

    “The postal service said some temporary delays may occur, but all mail will be processed and delivered as quickly possible.”

    “Therefore, it is false that some areas won’t get their mail for a while, because at least some mail is moving in all eight areas impacted.”

    Sweet !

  13. Greg Norton says:

    BTW, there are almost 60,000 commercial wind turbines in the USA now for almost 100,000 MW of capacity. Here is where they are.

    Potential capacity, as Texas learned this Summer.

    Next Summer will be worse — more people, more EVs, fewer coal plants.

    Sooner or later, the rationing will start unless we build a *lot* more power plants. Maybe that was the plan all along.

  14. Ray Thompson says:

    there are almost 60,000 commercial wind turbines in the USA now

    The turbines in TN are about 2 miles from my house as the crow flies, 5 miles if you take the roads. However the roads in the area are owned by a private company that uses the land for 4-wheelers. Thus difficult to get there. I have seen them.

    What is astounding of the 10 of the 18 windmills that I can see only about 2 of them are turning at any given time. Either broken, or just not used. Even during the really hot days, with wind, most of the turbines are not running. TVA is sometimes mysterious, or stupid.

  15. lynn says:

    What is astounding of the 10 of the 18 windmills that I can see only about 2 of them are turning at any given time. Either broken, or just not used. Even during the really hot days, with wind, most of the turbines are not running. TVA is sometimes mysterious, or stupid.

    Most of the wind turbines worldwide generate electricity in the middle of the night. When nobody needs it. However, the offshore wind turbines generate power 24 hours a day usually.

  16. lynn says:

    “‘You Have Stolen My Dreams and My Childhood’: Greta Thunberg Gives Powerful Speech at UN Climate Summit”
    https://news.yahoo.com/stolen-dreams-childhood-greta-thunberg-181924681.html

    I see this person in a tiny SS uniform and a small riding crop that she uses to beat the common folk with as they rub two sticks together trying to make heat in the middle of a snow storm.

  17. SteveF says:

    of the 10 of the 18 windmills that I can see only about 2 of them are turning at any given time

    That’s my experience, too. In particular, if you drive the Molly Stark Trail across southern Vermont you’ll see a row of turbines despoiling the famously scenic ridgeline. Maybe two will be turning, leaving the other eight or so just sitting there being ugly.

  18. SteveF says:

    I see this person in a tiny SS uniform

    You’ve seen Dinesh D’Souza’s tweet, right?

  19. mediumwave says:

    I see this person in a tiny SS uniform

    Like this charming lass, perhaps?

  20. paul says:

    Plenty of places comparing her to the SS. But she’s not German. She’s Swedish.

    The image of her stomping around beating the peons with her riding crop is pretty funny.

    Anyway. She’s 16. She don’t know from Shinola.

  21. lynn says:

    I see this person in a tiny SS uniform

    You’ve seen Dinesh D’Souza’s tweet, right?

    Nope.

  22. lynn says:

    I see this person in a tiny SS uniform

    Like this charming lass, perhaps?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKIeZE0LEFA

    Ok, now you are scaring me.

  23. lynn says:

    Plenty of places comparing her to the SS. But she’s not German. She’s Swedish.

    The image of her stomping around beating the peons with her riding crop is pretty funny.

    Anyway. She’s 16. She don’t know from Shinola.

    Her country of origin does not matter. I am talking about what her behavior reminds me of.

  24. SteveF says:

    mediumwave, not a criticism of you, but that YouTube link exemplifies what’s wrong with most of the people who put up YouTube videos. Static pictures and text which could have been better presented as a static web page, music and fades which add nothing, and a great delay in obtaining the information, at least for those of us able to read without sounding out every word.

  25. SteveF says:

    I am talking about what her behavior reminds me of.

    How dare you!

  26. lynn says:

    I am talking about what her behavior reminds me of.

    How dare you!

    I dare.

  27. mediumwave says:

    mediumwave, not a criticism of you, but that YouTube link exemplifies what’s wrong with most of the people who put up YouTube videos. Static pictures and text which could have been better presented as a static web page, music and fades which add nothing, and a great delay in obtaining the information, at least for those of us able to read without sounding out every word.

    Totaly agree. All the other choices were worse.

  28. Greg Norton says:

    I see this person in a tiny SS uniform

    No. A Hitler Youth uniform, complete with a whistle. Just like in “The Sound of Music”.

    And just like Pope Benedict used to wear.

  29. SteveF says:

    Sargon’s take on the little climate dictator’s performance is that it was a scripted performance. Her father’s an actor, her grandfather was an actor and director, and the disseminated video of her speech looks a little too polished.

  30. CowboySlim says:

    Out here the green windmill turbines of AOC kill many Golden Eagles, and that is OK. But don’t you shoot one with Game Warden in sight.

  31. lynn says:

    Sargon’s take on the little climate dictator’s performance is that it was a scripted performance. Her father’s an actor, her grandfather was an actor and director, and the disseminated video of her speech looks a little too polished.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mioDAKACre8

    Did you read the comments ? This one made me laugh: “After her speech I want to wrap a tree in plastic and set fire to it”. There were much more incendiary comments.

  32. JimB says:

    I spent an hour fruitlessly trying to get the battery pan out to rinse the mess properly.

    Been out of touch for a while today, so now is as soon as I could post this. Probably redundant for this group, but bears repeating. Stir as much baking soda into a container of hot water as you can, until some stays undissolved in the bottom of the container. Soak the acid affected areas with this solution, being careful not to get any into electronics modules or connectors. If you see any bubbling or foaming, keep adding until it stops bubbling. You can rinse if you want, but it is not necessary unless you intend to touch up any paint. Just let it dry, or mop up with paper towels.

    If any paint was damaged by the acid and peeled from metal, wire brush or sand to remove loose paint. Retreat with the baking solution solution. Let dry thoroughly. In your humid environment, use some heat to get it really dry. Driving for a rain free day might be a good way, or careful use of a heat gun.

    Touch up with either rust converter paint or Rust Oleum paint. The conversion paint is supposed to convert rust to an inert material. I have used one product once, and didn’t like it, but YMMV. I have used genuine Rust Oleum brush paint applied with a good brush over the bare metal, two coats if necessary. I used to use the primer, but was in a hurry and skipped it once. The paint adhered well, and is still good after about four years. Again, YMMV. I live in a dry climate, so corrosion is minimum here. When I lived in the rust belt, we used the Rust Oleum primer on metal conditioner (phosphoric acid) treated bare metal. The steps are a little involved, so not pertinent here, but I had better luck with this than with automotive primers. Yes, you can apply auto paint over it.

    So far, I have only needed black and white Rust Oleum paint for my work, but it does come in lots of colors, and one of them probably will match well enough if applied in under hood areas. For those who say this paint poorer than it used to be because of VOC regulations, I might agree, but I live in California, and have used the newer stuff. It IS different, but seems to be as good as ever. I recommend it for all but the most demanding applications. There ARE better treatments, but the ones I know require a LOT of preparation and steps. Not worth it for a vehicle with the name Exploder. 😉

  33. nick flandrey says:

    I like rust converters too. They give a nice ‘tooth’ for the paint to stick to. I have brushed, rolled, and sprayed the rustoleum “safety blue” and “safety yellow” paints from their “industrial, HardHat line”. They will flow out nice and smooth. Leave them untouched to cure for twice as long as it says on the can, and it will be nice and durable as well as shiny.

    I have a can of battery cleaner. It foams white, and changes to red in the presence of acid. You spray and rinse ’til it stays white. Seems to work.

    n

    Wear good goggles, and bad clothes, you’ll get staining or holes.

  34. nick flandrey says:

    WRT the little hitler youth, if anyone “stole her childhood” it’s the adults who burdened her with the AGW lie.

    n

  35. Greg Norton says:

    Touch up with either rust converter paint or Rust Oleum paint. The conversion paint is supposed to convert rust to an inert material.

    As far as I can tell, all of the material affected by the leak was some form of plastic except for the battery terminal. The top of the battery took most of the hit.

    The vehicle is not long for our house once the payments are done. It is our last Ford.

  36. lynn says:

    I see this person in a tiny SS uniform

    You’ve seen Dinesh D’Souza’s tweet, right?

    “Dinesh D’Souza
    ‏Verified account @DineshDSouza”

    “Children—notably Nordic white girls with braids and red cheeks—were often used in Nazi propaganda. An old Goebbels technique! Looks like today’s progressive Left is still learning its game from an earlier Left in the 1930s”
    https://twitter.com/DineshDSouza/status/1175848457191510016

  37. SteveF says:

    Yep, that’s the one, Lynn.

  38. Greg Norton says:

    “Children—notably Nordic white girls with braids and red cheeks—were often used in Nazi propaganda. An old Goebbels technique! Looks like today’s progressive Left is still learning its game from an earlier Left in the 1930s”

    The braid looks like an extension, carefully pinned to the top. It is still in the exact same position later (or is it before?) when she’s carefully positioned for the scowling money shots at Trump’s arrival.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmXOPrCr_F4

    Watch the expression on the kid’s face change as she gets into character.

    “Oh, is that really the President of the United States? Wow? Wait. Focus. He’s a bad man.”

  39. Nick Flandrey says:

    It’s always demands with them too. I DEMAND this, I DEMAND that… president stompy foot tried that for 8 years. How’d that work out?

    They are ALL spoiled children making demands of the adults in the room. So of course their current role model is a young girl making demands. The only really odd thing is how freaking WHITE she is. I guess they are working at expanding their appeal, but it ain’t working for me…

    n

  40. Greg Norton says:

    They are ALL spoiled children making demands of the adults in the room. So of course their current role model is a young girl making demands. The only really odd thing is how freaking WHITE she is. I guess they are working at expanding their appeal, but it ain’t working for me…

    Based on the Twitter mob reaction to D’Souza’s tweet, I’d say that the propoganda ploy worked for them.

    I had a front row seat for the Cover Oregon propoganda campaign for the state’s failed Doh-bamacare exchange. The OR Ministry of Truth (or whatever they call it) went white/young with the most frequently-played commercial, but not as young as the girl speaking at the UN.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PY7CyTgTBM

    Laura Gibson lives in NYC now. Interestingly, she was nearly killed by a gas explosion a couple of years back.

    $10 million? I saw $60 million as the campaign number frequently in Portland media back then, but the whole thing has been swept under the rug in the last six years.

  41. MrAtoz says:

    Mr. dkreck, thanks for the post on Globull Warming. A great read.

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