Sun. July 26, 2020 – supposed to be a day of rest, right?

By on July 26th, 2020 in culture, decline and fall, personal, WuFlu

Hot but maybe not as much, humid, well, Houston….

Yesterday cooled off considerably after the rain bands came through.

I did an auction pickup, spent a bunch of time in front of the computer bidding on things, and made a run to my secondary location.  I’ve got a dumpster I can use there, and I had some trash that I didn’t want to have around until the next heavy trash pickup here.

Laundry and chores around the house ate the rest of the day.

It was funny to realize, as I drove through the flooded streets on my way home, that I didn’t even CARE that there was a hurricane coming ashore today.   I looked over the yard to make sure there weren’t a lot of loose things laying around, and that everything that needed to stay dry was under cover, but that’s about it.   When you’re already living your preps you don’t have to do much extra.


I’m doing another pickup today, more furniture for the house.  I was ready to cut back on auctions, but it sure is convenient and the universe is dropping the stuff I need/want in my lap, so I’m not going to complain too much.

Rifle parts, tactical gear, camping stuff, freezers, pools and bikes, workout gear,  and a variety of other things, from cleaners and disinfectants to toilet paper and cases of twinkies have all been in auctions here the last few weeks.  Actual guns have all been expensive, but there have been a variety in the estate auctions.  I’m trying to be judicious, but… in the secondary market you buy it when you see it.

I’m afraid that the primary markets are headed that way too, if it’s in stock you better grab it.  I hope it doesn’t get as bad as the soviets, where you’d buy shoes in whatever size was available and then try to trade.

Suppose someone starts sniping amazon Prime semis on the freeways?  or Consolidated Grocers?  Suppose it catches on as a “thing”…

I put links to a couple of ‘protest’ related incidents in the comments late yesterday.  PLEASE actually go and look at the pictures and video.  It’s one thing to see a story about this being the 57th day of rioting in Portland, it’s quite something else to see the pictures.  Same for the shootings involving vehicles.  Learn what you can from the unfortunate experiences of others.

It might not be the wuflu that keeps you home, it might be the violence on the streets.

Have you got enough?

Keep stacking, don’t let this catch you unprepared.

 

n

71 Comments and discussion on "Sun. July 26, 2020 – supposed to be a day of rest, right?"

  1. Greg Norton says:

    put links to a couple of ‘protest’ related incidents in the comments late yesterday. PLEASE actually go and look at the pictures and video. It’s one thing to see a story about this being the 57th day of rioting in Portland, it’s quite something else to see the pictures. Same for the shootings involving vehicles. Learn what you can from the unfortunate experiences of others.

    Portland has been looking for an excuse. It is one of the reasons we got out. Effective unemployment in the high 30s and 1/4 of the metro on food stamps is not a recipe for social stability.

    Again, the next time you catch a rerun of “Cops”, the radio call in the opening credits, “132nd and Bush”, is to a notorious corner in SE Portland.

    Didn’t the last of the enhanced unemployment checks go out yesterday?

  2. brad says:

    African immigrants do just fine in the US; it’s only the US-born blacks that have a problem. Clearly a cultural one: The BLM movement appears to be typical: “give us free stuff, because we are too incompetent to earn stuff ourselves.” If BLM continues Burning, Looting and Murdering, I don’t see how Trump can lose in November.

    From what y’all have been saying, it sounds like Corona has hit the supply chains in the USmore seriously than the ones here. OTOH, given just a little time, capitalism will do it’s usual excellent job: Shortages cause increased prices, which provide an incentive for someone to close the gap.

    In that sense, I have to view Corona as a net positive: reducing the crazy global interdependence and revitalizing more local production, reducing wasteful mass tourism, finally giving a solid push to working from home, and accelerating various (imho desirable) social trends.

  3. Ray Thompson says:

    give us free stuff, because we are too incompetent and lazy to earn stuff ourselves.

    Fixed it for you.

    What “free” money they get is spent on fingernails, hair extensions, tattoos, new cell phones and gold teeth.

  4. Greg Norton says:

    Oh boy it is getting sporty out there.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/07/breaking-austin-police-confirm-protester-shot-killed-motorist-carrying-rifle-may-approached-vehicle/

    I didn’t see anything on the local news this weekend. Of course, they had people whining about getting their extended unemployment cut off.

    https://www.fox7austin.com/news/austin-service-industry-workers-demand-congress-extend-600-week-unemployment-benefits

    “A lot of uncertainty at first. I wasn’t sure if I was going to have to move out and drive across the country to live with my parents …”

    And the problem with that is?

    Austin wants to be Portland and/or Seattle.

    The city even recently unveiled a plan to expand the light rail and dig a transfer station/tunnel underneath the city, like the one under Seattle’s downtown.

    https://www.capmetro.org/projectconnect/ways-to-move/system-tunnel/

    As my wife said when she saw the details, “Nice homeless shelter”.

  5. Greg Norton says:

    The shooting of the protester finally hit local news. Other stations will probably follow tonight.

    https://www.kxan.com/top-stories/ems-at-least-one-critically-injured-in-downtown-austin-shooting/

  6. MrAtoz says:

    I assume that you have read the awesome “We Are Legion”:

    Oh, yes! All of the books. Great story.

  7. MrAtoz says:

    As my wife said when she saw the details, “Nice homeless shelter”.

    There is a system of flash flood tunnels under Vegas that became a big homeless community. There is a documentary on it somewhere. I haven’t followed the story, but I think it was cleared out some years back due to concern “the homeless are in danger”. Live in the flood zone, die in the flood zone.

  8. Greg Norton says:

    There is a system of flash flood tunnels under Vegas that became a big homeless community. There is a documentary on it somewhere. I haven’t followed the story, but I think it was cleared out some years back due to concern “the homeless are in danger”. Live in the flood zone, die in the flood zone.

    Unfortunately, the location of the proposed tunnel/transfer station is right in front of the Texas State Capitol, a section of town that doesn’t flood.

  9. brad says:

    “We Are Legion”

    Ah, the Bobiverse. Hilarious, and well-told story!

  10. ITGuy1998 says:

    The Pleasure Island multiplex at Eisney in Orlando used to have one of the best-tweaked theaters in the country.

    The wife (then girlfriend) and I saw The Phantom Menace there in 99 while we were on a Disney/Universal trip.

  11. MrAtoz says:

    I wonder how long until our goobermint gets involved in the quality of “face coverings”.

    I can sense this: “face coverings now have to be certified as N95+ to *really* prevent the spread of ‘Rona and have to be certified as *masks*”.

    There is no end to goobermint trying to cripple us sheeple.

  12. Greg Norton says:

    I wonder how long until our goobermint gets involved in the quality of “face coverings”.

    There isn’t much they can do without a lot of additional manufacturing capacity.

    And even an N95 mask is iffy on well people.

    Right now, the goal is to maintain fear to get school cancelled until August of next year but with full teacher pay and capital projects fully funded. Even poor quality masks accomplish that.

  13. Greg Norton says:

    My Alabama traffic ticket from June 27 finally entered their court system. A $100 fine became a $269 penalty with court costs, on top of what it will do to my insurance.

    I’m seriously contemplating showing up for the court date on Sept. 4th at the Civic Center in Mobile and rolling the dice that the Trooper won’t show up on *the Saturday before Labor Day*. At a minimum, I can ask for driving school, which must be done in person anyway, and if the officer does show, I will make sure that our concerns about his approaching the vehicle without any precautions despite the ongoing pandemic and my Texas license plates are noted for the record.

    Until last month, I hadn’t had a ticket in 30 years. Might as well make them work for it.

  14. JimB says:

    Right now, the goal is to maintain fear to get school cancelled until August of next year but with full teacher pay and capital projects fully funded.

    NO!! If teachers and administrators are paid at all, they should be paid a fraction of normal, proportionate to their “work.” Make up the rest with stimulus XXXXX unemployment XXXXX payola checks. After all, this is an !!EMERGENCY!!

  15. hcombs says:

    Yesterday was supposed to be my “down day” this week with nothing planned outside the house. Then I got email alerts of two ATMs out of receipt paper, one with a low cash balance, and another throwing too many reject errors so off I go. Took most of the day to get to those machines and resolve the issues. I dragged home beat at 6pm and the wife asks me “Whats for supper?” … Ended up getting take out Chinese that satisified no one but probably ticked all the boxes for a “meal” that Newsom has ordained.
    Today we visit the MIL. Not my favorite drive but must do what the wife wants now she is getting better.

  16. hcombs says:

    I wonder how long until our goobermint gets involved in the quality of “face coverings”.

    Not just the quality but usage. For example I can’t wear a N95 mask properly because of my beard, ditto with surgical masks. Lots of side spill. Will I be forced to shave?

    Then there is this CDC study that basically says public use of masks are mostly useless.
    https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0994_article
    “Although mechanistic studies support the potential effect of hand hygiene or face masks, evidence from 14 randomized controlled trials of these measures did not support a substantial effect on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza.”

  17. Nick Flandrey says:

    @harold, glad to hear she’s getting better, that’s a blessing.
    n

  18. CowboySlim says:

    @JimB: WRT Indian Wells Brewing Co., I first tasted it several summers ago at the Kennedy Meadows General Store during their annual cowboy day (wonderful BBQ food and cowboyband was great!). Then on way home grabbed a six pack at the gas station/convenience store in Mojave where 14 intersects 58.

    Back home, have been buying on order at one of those liquor, wine, beer superstores in Costa Mesa.

    Going to check out General Store, but doubt they will have country day this year. Oh yeah, have met folks from Ridgecrest up there.
    https://www.facebook.com/KennedyMeadowsGeneralStore/
    https://www.kennedymeadowsgeneralstore.com/?fbclid=IwAR2UNlLmW-ZCSoxBL1IJI4ku149fYX7dpIfwxyLSx0gIWEKmjUqJoP3r_24

  19. Nick Flandrey says:

    The only reason it’s “face coverings” is because of the shortage of real masks. They could mandate that it be unicorn skin, but at least this time they realized that some things just aren’t available.

    n

  20. JimB says:

    I’m seriously contemplating showing up for the court date on Sept. 4th at the Civic Center in Mobile and rolling the dice that the Trooper won’t show up on *the Saturday before Labor Day*. At a minimum, I can ask for driving school, which must be done in person anyway, and if the officer does show, I will make sure that our concerns about his approaching the vehicle without any precautions despite the ongoing pandemic and my Texas license plates are noted for the record.

    Until last month, I hadn’t had a ticket in 30 years. Might as well make them work for it.

    Not sure what effect, if any, would be on your insurance, but weigh the potential costs. Driving a big bunch of miles on a major holiday weekend is not fun, nor is it free. “Making them work for it” just enhances their eventual bottom line, while depleting yours. Life is short, you could show your contempt for the dollar. Jus’ sayin’.

    Some traffic courts are kangaroo courts. I have told a sad story about a co-worker in FL too many times to repeat here just now. I am surprised you can’t get traffic school without showing up. Sometimes calling the court clerk and asking politely while explaining your situation can help a lot, sort of throwing yourself on the mercy of the court. In CA, selecting traffic school can be done on the phone or by mail and erases the whole thing, or it used to. Like you, I have not had any recent experience.

    When you first posted this, I did some reading. Wow. I had no idea there were such “laws.” Sort of the same here in CA, but of course different. Probably traps tourists. When we lived in FL in 1971, the local and state police used to target locals and give the tourists a break. We were wise to it, but there so many gotchas it was hard to escape some stupid ticket for long. Part of the cost for living in such a wonderful country. I’ll bet some countries are much harsher, like being shot at the side of the road, by some self-important citizen.

  21. SteveF says:

    Greg, before you drive 400 miles, try contacting the court clerk to see if they have a tele-appearance option. Cite concerns about Chinese Cooties if you need to.

    Aside from that quibble, I approve of your resisting the ticket and the ridiculously inflated charges. The entire traffic court and city court scam system work only because the overwhelming majority of ordinary, mostly-law-abiding working people just pay the fines for speeding or harmless violations because that’s the easier route for them on that day. With more people demanding trials before paying the $100 nuisance fine (plus $150 in “costs”) the system will grind to a halt.

    This is more true this year, now that prosecutors and judges are releasing actual violent or disruptive criminals while continuing to hit the normals with fines to keep the money coming in.

    In my opinion this is one of the best aspects of traditional American culture and values, resisting oppression in all its forms. And it’s one of the most contemptible aspects of Chinese culture and all others who warn their children that the nail which sticks up will be hammered down. Sure, people, accept grinding degradation for everyone rather than risk calling attention to yourself. Knuckle under as a group rather than stand up and stand together as a group.

    (Yes, I’m aware that American individualism and cussedness in resisting tyranny in all its forms is more myth than reality. We at least have those myths, which many other cultures do not.)

  22. SteveF says:

    “Making them work for it” just enhances their eventual bottom line

    How so? A $100 fine isn’t raised because you got a guilty verdict in a trial rather than pleading guilty when you mail in the ticket. Courts aren’t allowed to charge you for the privilege of having a trial rather than pleading guilty at a hearing — the Supremes have held this at least once and I think a few times. (Though it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that enterprising scumbags in various states and localities are weaseling around the prohibition, or outright ignoring it.)

  23. SteveF says:

    Then there is this CDC study that basically says public use of masks are mostly useless.

    Well, I guess Twitter and Facebook are going to ban the CDC’s accounts (if any) and Google will hide the CDC from search results. That’s their stated policy on anyone who disagrees with the CDC’s and WHO’s statements about the importance of isolation, masks, and distancing.

  24. Greg Norton says:

    When you first posted this, I did some reading. Wow. I had no idea there were such “laws.” Sort of the same here in CA, but of course different. Probably traps tourists. When we lived in FL in 1971, the local and state police used to target locals and give the tourists a break. We were wise to it, but there so many gotchas it was hard to escape some stupid ticket for long. Part of the cost for living in such a wonderful country. I’ll bet some countries are much harsher, like being shot at the side of the road, by some self-important citizen.

    Alabama was definitely running a tourist fleecing operation the weekend before July 4th. Of course, Austin and certain other communities along I35 have their own similar rackets, including “no touch” cell phone laws far exceeding the Texas restrictions, with the fine for the unsuspecting tourist being $500 plus court costs. When we first moved here, after the law passed, Austin PD used to line up at the south edge of the city, along northbound I35, scanning vehicles with binoculars and radioing ahead to have motorcycle cops detain the sheep for fleecing.

    I consider us lucky. Right before I got my ticket, we passed a cluster of Troopers gathered around one out-of-state (guessing) African American family’s minivan, everyone outside the vehicle, obviously waiting for K9 — kids, parents (both), and grandma. The Old South dies hard in Alabama, even in the era of “Black Lives Matter” protests.

    Bet the dog found something if the State Patrol went through that kind of trouble.

  25. JimB says:

    Going to check out General Store, but doubt they will have country day this year. Oh yeah, have met folks from Ridgecrest up there.

    Oh, yes, lots of Ridgecrustaceans there. Many of the cabins and houses there are either primary or secondary homes. Quite a commute. We used to go up to those parts to gather firewood, but it was all work. We would take a picnic lunch. Nice in summer, cccold in winter.

    Thanks for the links. Nice pictures. Once upon a time, I would have recognized at least one face, but not today. Too bad the festivities might be canceled, but not surprising. Maybe next year.

  26. Nick Flandrey says:

    On one move across the country I got popped in OK. The cop says “just pay the fine, we’re not on the computer, it won’t affect your insurance.” So I did.

    Cut to a year or more later in Cali, when I am asked by AAA insurance if I have any speeding tickets, I say “No”. I get my quote. Two days later they call back with a new quote. It’s $300/year more because the OK ticket for speeding DID show up. So the uncontested ticket cost $100 for the fine, and $900 in additional insurance costs because it took 3 years to fall off my record and get me back to a better rate.

    Do what you can to fight the ticket. The fix is probably in, but try hard. Maybe even calling an ambulance chaser in the jurisdiction. The additional insurance costs can be high.

    n

  27. Nick Flandrey says:

    EXPLOSIVES are used against feds and cops in Seattle, Portland and Atlanta while BLM protester is shot dead in Austin on night of nationwide unrest – as angry Trump vents on Twitter after deploying federal agents in bid to quell violence

    A protester was shot and killed in a shooting at a protest in Texas Saturday night
    Shocking footage showed people marching in downtown Austin when gunfire rang out
    In Seattle, cops declared the protests ‘riots’ Saturday afternoon after unrest broke out in the city
    People vandalized and set fire to the East Police Precinct and a juvenile detention facility
    Other protesters threw rocks, bottles, fireworks and other explosives at cops
    Portland demonstrators chanted ‘feds get out’ outside the Marriott, where they believe officers are staying
    Tensions mounted in Chicago, with protests taking place all across the Windy City Saturday
    Federal agents have so far been sent to Portland, Chicago and Seattle as part of Trump’s law and order sweep

    n

  28. JimB says:

    Bet the dog found something.

    They always do. I love dogs and cats, but most K9s give false positives in practice. Many reasons. I sure wish some court would rule on the problem, but that would upset the system. We can’t have that.

  29. Nick Flandrey says:

    Play stupid games, win stupid prizes….

    NYPD releases footage of man wanted in connection with slashing of Kelsey Grammer’s actress daughter Spencer

    Spencer – …. – then jumped in to try and diffuse the situation.

    ‘Several others, predominantly women, were also attempting to prevent the altercation from escalating.

    –wtf made her think she should jump in, besides a lifetime of not paying for her bad decisions and ‘you go grrrrls’ mythos?

    n

    The violent incident comes as New York City struggles with a shocking surge in violent crime after Mayor Bill de Blasio cut the NYPD budget by $1 billion.

    Last week, shootings were up of 253 percent in comparison to last year. Among those hit by bullets was a one-year-old boy in a stroller who was killed.

    For the month of June, murders were up 30 per cent year-on-year, while robberies rose 118 per cent.

  30. JimB says:

    “Making them work for it” just enhances their eventual bottom line

    How so? A $100 fine isn’t raised because you got a guilty verdict in a trial rather than pleading guilty when you mail in the ticket. Courts aren’t allowed to charge you for the privilege of having a trial rather than pleading guilty at a hearing — the Supremes have held this at least once and I think a few times. (Though it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that enterprising scumbags in various states and localities are weaseling around the prohibition, or outright ignoring it.)

    Oh, I was probably venting. My reasoning is that having more court work will eventually expand the courts, especially if that further increases revenue.

    Of course, the opposite is sometimes true. A few decades ago, CA changed many misdemeanor traffic offenses to infractions, reasoning that too many citizens were challenging them, and this required a jury trial in some cases. Expensive. But, who pays? Overenforcement is a mess, and we pay for it.

  31. SteveF says:

    I’ve challenged a number of traffic tickets and non-traffic citations for various violations, usually “harassment” which in practice means “not knuckling under to the stupid pig but there’s nothing real to charge you with”.

    In one traffic court, well known in the area for extremely aggressive pursuit of money — one of the “judges” ran for reelection by bragging that he helped bring 40% of the township’s revenue in from traffic fines. The ticket was for something that was in fact legal but the prosecutor and the judge didn’t want to hear it and looked for something, anything, to get me to agree to just pay the fine and be on my way. Nnnnope. Not paying a cent. Take it to trial if you think you have a case. Eventually the judge dismissed it. And told a cop to follow me out to my car and give me a ticket for anything he could. (That was said quietly but I have very good hearing.) Too bad for them I didn’t drive there.

  32. Greg Norton says:

    Cut to a year or more later in Cali, when I am asked by AAA insurance if I have any speeding tickets, I say “No”. I get my quote. Two days later they call back with a new quote. It’s $300/year more because the OK ticket for speeding DID show up. So the uncontested ticket cost $100 for the fine, and $900 in additional insurance costs because it took 3 years to fall off my record and get me back to a better rate.

    The Gecko played dumb about the rate increase when I called their customer service line after I received the ticket. The wording that the Trooper used really concerns me since it states “MOVE OVER LAW FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT/EMERGENCY VHCLS” and someone objective looking at that would think I blew off a real emergency situation rather than an Alabama law originally passed to protect tow truck drivers.

    The cops were simply pulled over to the side, doing paperwork, with flashing lights on, waiting, two cars every couple of miles. No real emergency existed at any point I drove past where the racket was set up to work the sheeple.

    As far as an OK ticket going to CA, you’re probably paying the price for the revived interest in Cannonball record attempts. Law enforcement all along the most direct routes has been revved up since the successful 2013 run, and the car used for the Roy group’s attempt in 2007 was temporarily impounded in OK while the cops tried to create a crime to use against the trio. IIRC 44 states have a compact to share ticket data.

  33. Nick Flandrey says:

    “Then there is this CDC study that basically says public use of masks are mostly useless.”

    –I no longer believe any statements from the CDC or anyone else for that matter, since the politicization of wuflu. They bungled the ebola response in 2014. They were taken over by political hacks when they decided to study “gun violence” as a public health issue. They are global warmists.
    –Fuaci is a celebrity politician, vis -him throwing out the first pitch in a baseball game, who admitted to lying about the efficacy of masks for selfish reasons (so the agencies could get theirs FIRST.)

    –add to that, there is a long long long list of public policy and law that is mostly useless, based on false or outdated info/assumptions, or nothing more than a response to the urge to “do something, anything.” see also TSA and airport security, war on illiteracy/illegitimacy/poverty/drugs, knife and gun control laws, etc.

    Whether it works or not for the stated reasons isn’t a criteria for making it public policy, clearly.

    n

  34. Ray Thompson says:

    As my wife said when she saw the details, “Nice homeless shelter toilet”.

    Fixed it for you.

  35. Greg Norton says:

    “As my wife said when she saw the details, ‘Nice homeless toilet’.”

    Fixed it for you.

    Austin isn’t San Francisco … yet. I only saw one pile of human excrement on the street in the year I worked downtown, just up the street from the ARCH (homeless services).

    To be fair, however, it was SXSW week, and the excrement could have been from someone partaking too heavily in the Bacchanalia Overdrive that usually occurs in the city for those types of events. The crosswalk at 6th, Austin’s party street, right in front of the Driskill.

    (The Driskill, for those of you unfamiliar with the area, is where “W” celebrated his election win in 2000.)

  36. CowboySlim says:

    WRT to traffic tickets and traffic school: About 30 years ago, I was ticketed by CA Highway Patrol officer for speeding in Ventura County. I inquired about going to the traffic school and was told that could neither cancel the ticket nor reduce the fine for that ticket in that county. Just another tax fraud scam. However, the tax scam about was not to bad back then. No affect on my insurance.

  37. CowboySlim says:

    Here is my most recent ticket, about 20 years ago. Making a right turn on red light. Looking left, no car coming within 1/2 mile. Went through at micro speed, but did not come to the required 0.00000 mph complete stop as law required. At corner of srrip mall shops and stupid, scumbag cop, finishing donut pulled me over on my way to office. What an arsehole as I made no danger whatsoever. At conclusion, did not want to incur a speeding ticket, so I crawled away very slowly. A driver coming up the freeway off-ramp to turn up street in my direction, totally overestimated my speed. Then realizing it, he slammed on the brakes to avoid me as he thought that I would go by the off-ramp much sooner. Then he got rear ended. I kept going but guess I got the cop some more action.

  38. Greg Norton says:

    Here is my most recent ticket, about 20 years ago. Making a right turn on red light. Looking left, no car coming within 1/2 mile. Went through at micro speed, but did not come to the required 0.00000 mph complete stop as law required.

    I forgot to mention that, among other tourist-fleecing schemes, some Texas cities still have red light cameras issuing citations even though the devices are now illegal in the state.

    The law passed by the Texas Legislature did not void the camera company contracts on the effective date last Summer so be aware if you receive a citation in the mail.

    No, we don’t do red light cameras where I work, but some of our customers insist on receiving travel time stats for vehicles moving between toll plazas in their systems. What they plan to do with that data is beyond my paygrade.

  39. Greg Norton says:

    With 1/3 of mortgages in arrears and foreclosure moratoriums expiring, Hyundai could have the right product at the right time for the US market, especially CA. The name sucks, however.

    https://www.motorbiscuit.com/hyundai-rolls-out-its-first-rv-the-porest/

  40. ITGuy1998 says:

    Don’t know if this is a lie or not, but all of my local area Lowes are out of standard treted 6′ dog ear fence pickets. Home Depot too. They say there is a national shortage.

    I have one rotten board that needed to be replaced. It’s in one corner, under constant shade from an oak tree, so moisture is an issue there. Lowes did have fifteen 8′ fence pickets in stock. I bought ten. Nine to replace the entire section on my side, plus a spare. I just cut them down to 6′ and treated the cut end.

    I also noticed the lumber section of Lowes was much more sparse than usual. Nothing else was out that I noticed, but inventory levels were definitely not normal. Just something else to keep an eye on…

  41. Greg Norton says:

    When we lived on the West Coast, we encountered lots of this control freak personality type. I call it “Church Lady Without A Church”.

    Honestly, even if Trump loses, I think a big chunk of the Progs are going to continue to walk around unhinged and spoiling for confrontations like that.

    https://disrn.com/news/woman-maces-couple-having-picnic-in-san-diego-park-for-not-wearings-masks

  42. Greg Norton says:

    Don’t know if this is a lie or not, but all of my local area Lowes are out of standard treted 6′ dog ear fence pickets. Home Depot too. They say there is a national shortage.

    I’ve seen a lot of new fences and other home improvement projects happening around me so I wouldn’t be surprised. Have you contacted a local specialty supplier?

    Trees for lumber and paper are a managed crop just with a longer growing cycle. We’ve done incredible damage to the just-in-time delivery system over the last six months.

  43. Nick Flandrey says:

    That hyundai camper actually looks really nice! It has some real innovative features too.

    n

  44. Greg Norton says:

    That hyundai camper actually looks really nice! It has some real innovative features too.

    133 HP, though, and it is still Hyundai.

    It is just mobile enough to relocate to the next street over in a California NIMBY enclave when the neighbors call in the cops to enforce the urban camping ordinances.

    If the stimulus checks aren’t renewed, a lot of toys like boats and RVs will be on the market cheap before the end of the year.

  45. paul says:

    Nice looking little RV. I’d rather have a /new/ bumper pull trailer for about 1/3 of the price.
    I have a truck and the bed offers extra room for ice chests and the BBQ grill. Along with a small generator.

    Hurricane whatever dropped almost an eighth of an inch yesterday. Today has been just a bit of sprinkle, enough to spot your glasses if you look up. Plenty of humidity…

  46. Nick Flandrey says:

    Rain in houston today was like the blind men and the elephant. Depending on where you were, you had sunshine or an inch of rain.

    I’m looking at some stuff on amazon, and it showed me some canned goods, amazon brand, and a lot is out of stock.

    Sliced carrots, cut green beans, peas and carrots, whole kernal corn, even sliced beets are oos.

    They’ve got some beans, some organic, and some no salt… I’m guessing those are less popular.

    n

  47. Nick Flandrey says:

    “It is just mobile enough to relocate to the next street over in a California NIMBY enclave when the neighbors call in the cops to enforce the urban camping ordinances. ”

    –those guys are living in $500 ’78 broken down faded tan campers, surely not $40k new ones…

    or converted Sprinter vans….

    n

  48. Nick Flandrey says:

    FWIW I don’t consider not wanting bums living in vehicles in your neighborhood NIMBY. NIMBY is when something for the common good is pushed around.

    No common good from the urban campers living on the street, nothing but trouble.

    n

  49. Greg Norton says:

    Sliced carrots, cut green beans, peas and carrots, whole kernal corn, even sliced beets are oos.

    Green beans in standard home kitchen can sizes have been unobtainium for a couple of months. Sam’s had a palette of Lakeside brand (?) which we rolled the dice on this week, but we paid twice the usual price.

    The Lakeside cans indicated the company was based in Wisconsin, but the heavy dual language Espanol/English label made me think it is something Walmart usually stocked south of the border. Tasted okay.

  50. Greg Norton says:

    FWIW I don’t consider not wanting bums living in vehicles in your neighborhood NIMBY. NIMBY is when something for the common good is pushed around.

    No common good from the urban campers living on the street, nothing but trouble.

    Bums, no, but working downtown, I was starting to see the phenomenon that I read about on the West Coast where the service industry people would live in their cars on the edge of the 6th Street entertainment district. Austin is sliding towards being like Silicon Valley or the Eastside of Seattle, and Apple hasn’t even started building that 15,000 person (planned capacity) campus around the corner from my house.

  51. mediumwave says:

    Rutgers English Department to deemphasize traditional grammar ‘in solidarity with Black Lives Matter’

    In the context of the current burning, looting, and murdering this bit of news is barely noteworthy, but it is just too breathtakingly asinine to let pass without comment.

    Added: Recall that OFD’s dream job was to be a tweedy English prof. No doubt he’d have a few well-chosen words in response to the article.

  52. SteveF says:

    “Say hello to my little friend.”

  53. lynn says:

    With 1/3 of mortgages in arrears and foreclosure moratoriums expiring, Hyundai could have the right product at the right time for the US market, especially CA. The name sucks, however.

    https://www.motorbiscuit.com/hyundai-rolls-out-its-first-rv-the-porest/

    Nice vehicle for somebody under 6 foot. But nobody who just defaulted on a mortgage is going to buy a $42K vehicle.

    But what you are going to see is the Google / Facecrack / MS software engineers making $100K/year buying these and living in the complex parking lot rather than living in a $3,500/month studio an hour away.
    https://www.businessinsider.com/google-employee-lives-in-truck-in-parking-lot-2015-10

  54. lynn says:

    Sliced carrots, cut green beans, peas and carrots, whole kernal corn, even sliced beets are oos.

    Green beans in standard home kitchen can sizes have been unobtainium for a couple of months. Sam’s had a palette of Lakeside brand (?) which we rolled the dice on this week, but we paid twice the usual price.

    I’ve been buying Green Giant cut green beans in 16 oz canned sizes at HEB in unlimited quantities. Also Green Giant canned sweet yellow and white corn that we love. I’ve got about a 100 cans on the pantry floor ready to be moved to the offsite storage. I also bought a case of Bush Blackeyed Peas at Walmart last week.

  55. lynn says:

    Rutgers English Department to deemphasize traditional grammar ‘in solidarity with Black Lives Matter’

    In the context of the current burning, looting, and murdering this bit of news is barely noteworthy, but it is just too breathtakingly asinine to let pass without comment.

    Added: Recall that OFD’s dream job was to be a tweedy English prof. No doubt he’d have a few well-chosen words in response to the article.

    I’m sure that OFD’s chosen words would fit right in with the new street language curriculum.

  56. Nick Flandrey says:

    Low expectations of blacks used to be called the tyranny of soft racism. The need to be a ‘white knight’ fits there too.

    n

  57. Greg Norton says:

    But what you are going to see is the Google / Facecrack / MS software engineers making $100K/year buying these and living in the complex parking lot rather than living in a $3,500/month studio an hour away.

    I paid $1600/mo. for <400 sq ft studio in Issaquah in 2013. The local park-n-ride was a bus stop for Microsoft's employee shuttle to Redmond ~30 minutes away. Amazon was 40 minutes to the stop in the Downtown tunnel/transfer station.

    Given the definite disconnect between cars and apartments in my complex, I strongly suspect that a lot of the units had more than the permitted number of residents, H1Bs living *very* quietly four or more to an apartment.

  58. JimB says:

    Making a right turn on red light. Looking left, no car coming within 1/2 mile. Went through at micro speed, but did not come to the required 0.00000 mph complete stop as law required.

    Stop sign tickets are a big deal on many military bases. Probably no other excitement. Same for many places.

    I have ridden a motorcycle since before it was socially acceptable, so I am used to being scrutinized by the police. The worst was the short time I lived in a Chicago suburb. Back then, nobody wanted to get pulled over by the Chicago police. The best approach is to blend in, and even avoid some places.

    It used to be that in some jurisdictions the police would ticket a biker if no foot down at a stop sign. I have actually seen riders kick the ground at 5 mph and not get stopped. Just for grins, a friend (really) took a stop sign ticket to court. His testimony consisted of throwing a ball in the air and asking the judge if it had stopped. He argued that he could stop, roll backwards, and take off without planting a foot, thus stopping twice. I don’t remember the outcome, but some officers claim there is a need to stop for a “short” time. Never saw that in the vehicle code.

    The moral of the story is to get acquainted with the local practices and be as inconspicuous as possible. And, NEVER let a patrolman follow you for more than absolutely necessary, even on a crowded street. Turn ASAP. I have been friends with various police officers and sheriffs, and they agree. The more sight contact, the more likely a stop. All of us make little mistakes that can be used to justify a stop. Just human nature, I guess.

  59. JimB says:

    I’ve been buying Green Giant cut green beans in 16 oz canned sizes at HEB in unlimited quantities. Also Green Giant canned sweet yellow and white corn that we love. I’ve got about a 100 cans on the pantry floor ready to be moved to the offsite storage.

    AHA!! So you’re the one causing the shortage. 😉

    Couldn’t resist.

  60. ITGuy1998 says:

    Stop sign tickets are a big deal on many military bases. Probably no other excitement. Same for many places.

    The local base here is notorious. If you do 1 mph over the posted limit, you will get a ticket. No complete stop at a stop sign? Ticket.

  61. CowboySlim says:

    Rutgers English Department to deemphasize traditional grammar ‘in solidarity with Black Lives Matter’

    10-4, I ain’t speak no bad grammar.

  62. Marcelo says:

    Just read a comment that said:

    Surface 3 has it now. Not seeking, it has arrived automatically.

    It is now rolling fast.

  63. Ray Thompson says:

    some officers claim there is a need to stop for a “short” time. Never saw that in the vehicle code

    Judge in Oak Ridge pulled that stunt on my friend. Even the ticket stated “did not stop long enough”. Friend said he stopped completely. Judge said “in my opinion it was not long enough”. Friend had the statute and read it asking the judge where a time duration was stated. Judge threatened my friend with contempt of court. My friend let it go as he could not prevail. Corrupt judge looking for revenue for the city by legislating from the bench.

    The local base here is notorious

    All the bases are the same way. Speeding and failure to stop were common on Randolph AFB and Lackland AFB. I got a speeding ticket on a bicycle, two mph over the limit, 17 in a 15. I asked the SP how would I know as I had no speedometer on the bicycle and all speedometers on bicycles are notoriously inaccurate. No money involved but points. Get too many and base driving privileges are revoked. Except I wasn’t driving. Never did comprehend the logic of that stop.

  64. Greg Norton says:

    I’ve been buying Green Giant cut green beans in 16 oz canned sizes at HEB in unlimited quantities. Also Green Giant canned sweet yellow and white corn that we love. I’ve got about a 100 cans on the pantry floor ready to be moved to the offsite storage.

    Our HEB is moving from a mid-grade to high-grade store, complete with an on-site flour mill.

    Until they’re done, the place is a train wreck.

    The flour mill is a new one on me. The Costco in Vantucky had an on-site coffee roaster, a big industrial scale model that must have served many stores, taking advantage of the import market available in Portland but careful to make sure the actual roasting work got done on the WA side of the river.

  65. lynn says:

    “17 Funniest Fantasy Books” by Dan Livingston
    https://fantasybookworld.com/17-funniest-fantasy-books/

    I have read “Hounded”, “Storm Front”, and “Pippi Longstocking”. I have seen “The Princess Bride” movie several times.

  66. Pecancorner says:

    The Lakeside cans indicated the company was based in Wisconsin, but the heavy dual language Espanol/English label made me think it is something Walmart usually stocked south of the border. Tasted okay.

    Those odd brands are something. I was able to buy 20 cans of “Ankla” brand tuna for 50 cents a can the other day at United. I did leave some on the shelf. They didn’t have a sign up on it, but my husband saw it on their ad. The clerk said it was just something they got as a special buy. I hope it is tasty, because the cans don’t expire until 2025. If we don’t like it, that would still be cheap cat food so I can probably trade it to someone for that use!

  67. Greg Norton says:

    Someone is finally back in the office in Fort Myers.

    What? You thought those prices already on the web site were the deals? Good Lord, no.

    IIRC Hertz has a lot of GM Arlington on their lots, and this won’t help their situation. Chevy is fast approaching sitting at #5 in trucks. Being #6 isn’t impossible if Nissan starts their inevitable fire sale soon.

    I don’t know why Tesla is bothering with the pretense of the Austin site. GM hasn’t made quality product in Arlington in years, possibly a decade.

    https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/a33422578/hertz-has-to-sell-182000-cars-by-2021/

  68. lynn says:

    From BH in The Fort Bend Journal:

    “What’s Next?”

    “Corona season.
    Then riot season.
    Now hurricane season.
    I don’t know if I need a mask, a Glock, or a generator?”

  69. JimB says:

    The Costco in Vantucky had an on-site coffee roaster, a big industrial scale model that must have served many stores, taking advantage of the import market available in Portland but careful to make sure the actual roasting work got done on the WA side of the river.

    I saw the big roasters at a couple of Costco stores in the Ontario and San Juan Capistrano areas a few years ago. Gone now. I just figured it wasn’t profitable enough. I buy coffee in sealed cans because it has to last some months. Not good luck with those poorly sealed bags.

    Those odd brands are something. I was able to buy 20 cans of “Ankla” brand tuna for 50 cents a can the other day at United. I did leave some on the shelf. They didn’t have a sign up on it, but my husband saw it on their ad. The clerk said it was just something they got as a special buy. I hope it is tasty, because the cans don’t expire until 2025. If we don’t like it, that would still be cheap cat food so I can probably trade it to someone for that use!

    Or, you might consider donating it to your favorite charity. My wife is a skilled coupon shopper, and tries lots of things. Some of them go on to donations. Win-win.

  70. Nick Flandrey says:

    There are a lot of small brands, produced regionally by family producers. My dollar store actually has a bunch, doing versions of classic cookies. Windmills, almond crescents, etc. Made in USA and clearly showing where.

    I don’t go in there too much as the hispanic pedos creep me out, but I used to try to walk the aisles at least every couple of months.

    I like to try out new stores, to see what they carry. Well, I used to.

    n

  71. JimB says:

    There are a lot of small brands, produced regionally by family producers. My dollar store actually has a bunch, doing versions of classic cookies. Windmills, almond crescents, etc. Made in USA and clearly showing where.

    Yes, and some soaps and hand lotions made in Canada that I like.

    Dollar Tree stores in our area are the best for my needs. The local one is very big, because it is in an old larger building. Nice wide aisles, clean, and good stock – at least before the virus. Now, still good, but the two times I have been there stock of some items was low or nonexistent. My wife gets lots of items there, and knows what is a good deal.

    I have bought some of their sardines and other canned fish, and most are as good as the higher priced stuff. Local and national brand cleaning products are also good deals. Lots of other stuff, but have to know what is good and a good price. One of my favorite stores.

    Oh, I needed a small coin cell for a noncritical use. Regular stores wanted several dollars each. Dollar Tree had a keychain flashlight with three cells. Never used the light, just the cells, which were Good Enough.

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