Cool, then warmer. Sunny but windy? We’ll see. At the BOL we had a stunningly gorgeous day yesterday. Houston got storms, we got mist, then a fabulous spring day. 70sF at night, 80sF during the day. I’ll take every nice day we can get.
Got up and poked around, but then started doing maintenance on my lawn mower. It was time to install the new drive belt, replace the blades, check filters, and do an oil change. All of which got done, but I still didn’t get to mow, because now there are other issues. Without the drive belt slipping, the top speed is higher. But now something is jamming, catching, or binding, and sometimes you can’t stop. After driving into the retaining wall, and almost pushing it over an plummeting 8ft, I put it away for the time being. I’ll look at it next week.
So I did get some stuff done, but that opened a list of other things to do now. Story of my life…
Today I’ve got some home stuff to do, some auction stuff, and if I have any time left, I’ll help my buddy at his shop. Then it’s Tuesday kid taxi service.
Do not falter. Stack.
n
Plus, no Hot Skillz involved for the resume.
I find it interesting how much Hot Skillz code depends on streaming I/O to and from a shell subprocess.
Maybe it is just the group I’m directly involved with at work.
Ask them the difference between a multi form HTTP Post and a single form/Put, and all they know is the difference in the parameters passed to the command line Curl utility.
“What do those parameters mean?”
Crickets chirping.
And management wonders why I insist on a raise before I learn the Hot Skillz language well enough to stabilize their code. Isn’t the resume building “opportunity” enough?
68F and looks pretty clear out.
Coffee bean broth is filling the mug, kid’s lunch is packed. Lions have been poked.
Time for some intarwebz.
——————————
Parts of the agreement are at risk of non-implementation
– quoted for the tortured language. From a German gov press release.
n
Written by AI or outsourced to Subcontinent.
When I called American Express to challenge the third late fee at our house in four months yesterday, the rep had a really weird Autotune-sounding filter which seemed to be an attempt to modify the sing-song Subcontinent accent into something vaguely African American but failing utterly and in an obvious way.
I’d heard about the systems but never encountered one previously.
I wonder if the output sounds African American because that’s who trains the AI.
Written by AI or outsourced to Subcontinent.
– or just passive voice .gov dialect
n
Oh hey, our local high desert mayor made the news again:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/socal-mayor-says-he-wants-eliminate-homelessness-giving/
I actually saw a link a while back but didn’t follow it, until I saw the keyword “SoCal”, then I said to myself it HAS to be Rex. Yup. Nutjob and PR hound. Always entertaining.
Thanks.
Yes, very stubborn.
I like it.
n
Who first published Dune?
Those magazine stories became one single book, which Herbert shopped around to twenty different publishing houses. None of them signed on. Dune was long and confusing, much like the process to replace spark plugs on a Subaru. So, when Chilton reached out to Herbert the book seemed like a natural fit.
https://www.jalopnik.com/dune-was-originally-published-by-a-car-repair-manual-co-1847940372/
As a (former) Corvair owner, I approve.
Chilton’s foray into fiction was a one-off. Clancy’s “The Hunt for Red October” was originally published by The Naval Institute Press, which was a departure for them at the time but they followed up by publishing other fiction, including Stephen Coonts’ “Flight of the Intruder”.
One of the Holy Grails of book collecting is buying a box of estate sale books and finding a pristine copy of Dune in the bag from The Strand with the original August 1965 receipt.
“Dune” is headed back to obscurity for another 20 years or so. Warner is bankrupt and, after a promising start with “Part I” the suits turned the current movie series into The Zendaya Show with “Part II”.
I doubt Hollywood and other traditional media with actual human actors will be around much then, it will nearly all be CGI and AI. Which makes reboots easy, do a 2d to 3d interpolation, replace actors with virtual, reskin the armatures, change the bg & sound track, re-render…
Dune is too complex to script, too expensive to license, and the marketing hooks for spin-offs and toys are not sufficiently numerous.
Well, I hear there is a “Sandworm Starter Kit”, but like the Red Eared Slider they are illegal in many places.
What about the Junior Pre-School Crysknife?
Or the Gom Jabar Sleepover Game?
Or the “How to snort spice” guide.
Plus, no Hot Skillz involved for the resume.
I find it interesting how much Hot Skillz code depends on streaming I/O to and from a shell subprocess.
I am 64 (soon to be 65). I don’t care about Hot Skillz and the Hot Skillz employers don’t care about me. Most software employers won’t even look at anyone over 45.
Zendoosha is a hack actor.
“I wonder what van that was?”
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2025/04/i-wonder-what-van-that-was.html
“I’m sure most readers have noted a news report that two Mexican nationals were arrested in Colorado after being found driving a van with 180 “boxes”, each containing 1,000 rounds of NATO 7.62x51mm (i.e. .308 Winchester) ammunition. That’s 180,000 rounds of ammo – rather more than the average range or hunting trip requires!”
“I’ve bought ammo online for years, and had it delivered to my home. 1,000 rounds of 7.62x51mm. military ball ammo weighs 27-28 pounds, plus packaging: call it 30 pounds per box, to be on the safe side. That means the total cargo load in that van was about 5,400 pounds, or 2.7 US tons, plus the weight of driver, passenger(s), fuel and other baggage – probably well over 6,000 pounds in total.”
Those headlights were pointed at the moon with all that ammo in the back.
“Due Process”
https://areaocho.com/due-process-3/
“There are a lot of Democrats running around and bleating about the Constitutional right to due process and illegal immigrants. Where does the right to due process appear in the Constitution? The Fifth Amendment:”
“Kilmar Abrego Garcia is an illegal immigrant who was deported to El Salvador and is being held there in prison. A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s release, an order affirmed by the Supreme Court, and to provide evidence of the actions it has taken to get him back.”
“Here is the problem with that- the Supreme Court doesn’t have the authority or the jurisdiction to order that. He is a foreign citizen who is in prison in his home country. The US government in general, and the US Supreme Court in particular, doesn’t have the authority to order the Salvadoran government to do a thing.”
“It doesn’t matter whether or not he is a gang member, an illegal, or a criminal in the US. The Supreme court cannot order the executive to invade another country, it just isn’t within the SCOTUS’ enumerated powers. The rest of the argument is moot.”
There is no right to Due Process for non citizens of the USA.
This will be the big oral argument before SCOTUS in May. If they say yes to due process for crimmigrants/non citizens, tRump will either have to say suck it, or we will never get rid of illegals. 20 million or so before judges will place us well into the “Star Trek” future.
SCOTUS apparently can’t rule on the Constitution without 100’s of pages of nuance. It is clear to me: non-citizens get basic human rights if deported, no Constitutional rights. Crimmigrants get jack shite.
The President of Columbia (country) said tRump pulled his visa. How long before the ACLU sues tRump to get it reinstated?
“Who Is the Mysterious Swiss Billionaire Spending Hundreds of Millions Bankrolling Leftist Causes in the U.S.?”
https://thelibertydaily.com/who-is-mysterious-swiss-billionaire-spending-hundreds-millions/
“(DCNF)—Over the past two decades, a reclusive Swiss billionaire has poured more than $800 million into left-wing causes across America, and now states are fighting back.”
“Hansjörg Wyss, 89, a Swiss national with an estimated net worth of roughly five billion dollars, has quietly become one of the most influential donors on the American left. He has spent more than $800 million bankrolling hundreds of left-wing causes across the United States, donating millions to climate change groups, abortion activists, and the Clinton Foundation.”
I am tired of these people.
So that is where Greta got her money.
I’m 56.
I think it would be interesting to learn the Hot Skillz language, but management will have to show me the money.
At least as much as the 38 year old makes who I would be bailing out.
Every job I’ve had since I turned 40 has crossed legal lines regarding age to some degree.
This will be the big oral argument before SCOTUS in May. If they say yes to due process for crimmigrants/non citizens, tRump will either have to say suck it, or we will never get rid of illegals. 20 million or so before judges will place us well into the “Star Trek” future.
SCOTUS apparently can’t rule on the Constitution without 100’s of pages of nuance. It is clear to me: non-citizens get basic human rights if deported, no Constitutional rights. Crimmigrants get jack shite.
There are 40 million illegals in the USA.
“Tesla misses on Q1 results but claims cheaper EVs are still on track for 2025 launch”
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-misses-on-q1-results-but-claims-cheaper-evs-are-still-on-track-for-2025-launch-201633390.html
“Tesla is navigating CEO Elon Musk’s dwindling popularity, new EV competition, and the threat of auto tariffs.”
“Tesla reported Q1 revenue of $19.34 billion vs. $21.43 billion (Bloomberg estimate), well below the $21.3 billion reported a year ago. Tesla posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.27 vs. $0.44 estimated.”
Still very profitable.
Johnny Taxi is coming !
Johnny Cab has moved on from Starfleet Medical to waxing philosophical and teaching at Starfleet Academy.
https://trekmovie.com/2025/04/13/robert-picardo-on-how-the-doctor-is-deeper-in-star-trek-starfleet-academy/
Helped my buddy for a couple of hours. Took 200# of batteries and some assorted metal to the scrapper on the way home.
HEB has Easter merch, including candy, half off.
And they had prime Sirloins for $7/#, limit two packs.
Brisket was $3.50~ but I don’t have the freezer space.
n
ha ha
I spent years paying mine back.
n
Another victim of SSRIs?
n
I think your number is short about 60 million.
The Constitution is for American citizen. It’s the American Constitution not the World Constitution. The world of StarTrek is currently fantasy. It’s not for law breaking illegal aliens.
Once the shrieking about Trump stops, Borrower Defense will start to gain traction.
Many “good” schools were in on the loan nationalization grift.
Their reputations will go En Fuego.
Cool.
No. We live on Ferenginar now, complete with Grand Nagis Trump and FCA Liquidator Musk.
I had probate on his will about a month ago so getting the land and house into my name was taken care of. I think but with a burp or few. The tax assessor folks changed the land over and I did retain the ag exemption. The house is still in process.
They sent the “estimated tax bill” last week. We now I, get two bills. The land was in my name. The house in his name, the deceased, and no homestead or over 65 exemptions. I went visiting and they looked it all up and sure enough, there was a missing form. So I completed the exemption form again. I’m suppose to get a letter when approved. Of course it’s a new over 65 exemption amount because the deceased’s doesn’t carry to the spouse or heir.
I could look at older tax statements to see what the house was frozen at but there’s no point. In ‘93 the house and acre was valued about $50 grand. I’m too lazy to walk across the room and look in the files. This year they say $310,000. Just up almost $100,000 from last year. Nothing I can change.
So it’s finally almost done. One more bit of stress going away.
After the tax office I walked over to the lawyer’s office. Yes, I do get the original will back when the court has finished everything on their side. They will let me know when.
Small town for the win!
Then to HEB and I ran into couple of folks I worked with, nice to visit and catch up a little.
Aww man! Can’t we live on Vulcan or Romulus or even Bajor? There has to be something in the Rules of Acquisition somewhere. Pass on Betazed, the mind reading stuff gives me the creeps. Frengi women are not uh, attractive. Ditto Klingons.
@paul, that new tax assessment is a kick in the teeth for sure. You should protest the valuation as a matter of course.
n
@nick, I’m going to.
When we went through probate in Texas for the wife’s mother, the probate process kept the will. Either the law firm or the court. No return of the original will.
A couple of months ago PEC, the electric co-op here, sent notice of a rate increase. Some parts go up, some go down. But overall if you use 1500 (or was it 1200?) kilowatt hours you would see about a 4.25% total increase.
Ok, fine. I use that much juice in January and maybe February. What I do not recall hearing anything about was an increase in the “Service Availability Charge”. You pay that just to have a meter. Up from $23 to $32.50 per meter is a nice chunk of change with 94,000 meters.
Time for a walk with the dogs.
The curse of Crazy Eddie’s comes for Tish:
https://hotair.com/tree-hugging-sister/2025/04/22/one-of-the-craziest-things-about-the-tish-james-unmasking-is-who-caught-her-n3802034
Somebody start a GoFundMe for him to do the 535 Club. Pelosi first.
Williamson County has started the process moving to add toll lanes to Parmer/Ronald Reagan all the way from University to the intersection with I-35 north of Georgetown.
Eventually, toll lanes will be added to 29 from Ronald Reagan east to the bypass that dumps onto I-35 at the cave tourist trap.
Lots of Subcontinent heading your way soon.
As a (former) Corvair owner, I approve.
Bryan Adams concert was so awesome a couple of years ago. He has a Corvair car balloon that they float around the place before and during the concert.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LImysFYQpGE
This is his Corvair Convertible music video with his 90 year old Mom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0caIWs0O9c
They sent the “estimated tax bill” last week. We now I, get two bills. The land was in my name. The house in his name, the deceased, and no homestead or over 65 exemptions. I went visiting and they looked it all up and sure enough, there was a missing form. So I completed the exemption form again. I’m suppose to get a letter when approved. Of course it’s a new over 65 exemption amount because the deceased’s doesn’t carry to the spouse or heir.
I could look at older tax statements to see what the house was frozen at but there’s no point. In ‘93 the house and acre was valued about $50 grand. I’m too lazy to walk across the room and look in the files. This year they say $310,000. Just up almost $100,000 from last year. Nothing I can change.
Aren’t you almost 70 ? The tax amount should locked when you turned 65.
But that might be only the one acre for the house. But the rest of the land should be ag exempted for the emus formerly, now A and B.
How are A and B doing ?
The Final Problem
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/04/the-final-problem.php
“no local legacy news outlets would publish his name”
The pressure on the Trump DOJ to get federal terrorism charges filed in this case just jumped ten-fold.
And hopefully, as the process moves forward and they have the inevitable contact with state “justice” officials, they will draw their own conclusions and get motivated to open an investigation of the malicious prosecution of Derek Chauvin and the lack of state prosecutions in the Feeding Our Future scam.
Minnesota law enforcement at the state level is a cesspool with lots of smelly big chunks bubbling at the top.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/04/19/cernovich_impeaching_judges_gives_congress_subpoena_power_ability_to_find_out_how_anti-trump_cases_are_assigned.html
It would appear that the assignment process is statistically certain to be corrupt.
Had come off? Or was in the process of coming off?
It matters. Mental issues like suicidial ideation are enhanced during the withdrawal process.
I was on Wellbutrin for 18 months, and my doctor was extremely careful reducing my dosage in small steps. He also makes a habit of doing the weaning in Springtime, because the weather is more hopeful and less gloomy than Fall or Winter.
Mental issues like suicidial ideation are enhanced during the withdrawal process.
– this. Almost all of the mass shooters that are young men are on, or were on, SSRIs prior to their spree.
n