More of the same today as yesterday. Slightly cooler than normal, due to overcast and rain, and overcast, with occasional rain…
Youngest got a reprieve from the broiling sun yesterday, as it was overcast all morning. She really needed the break, as she’s pretty burned and more sun wasn’t going to help. She was feeling bad enough that she agreed to wear a hat, even though it wasn’t cute. They got a little cooling rain too, which helped.
I got my rain in the afternoon as I was driving around doing pickups. More driving than I like, for less stuff, but sometimes it works out that way. The big storm chased my from Webster to Pasadena, from south to about the mid line of Houston on the east side. I took a different route than I usually do, stayed off the Interstate, and saw what the neighborhoods are like. Not good, btw. I think it’s important to vary your route so you see what’s only a block or two from your normal route. If for some reason you HAD to deviate, you are at least a bit familiar with the area, and know what to expect. Some places it is much worse off the normal path, some places it gets a lot better. Knowledge is good. Scouting alternate routes is good.
Today I’ll do some domestic bliss, maybe some shopping, and possibly one pickup that is out of the way for the pickups I’ll have on Friday. I might take a load of stuff out of the house too, or do some organizing at the shop with the idea of moving out of another storage unit. Kid’s band practice will be extra long today with tomorrow off. I’ll either use the time well, or waste it. We’ll see which.
Time does keep on passing by…
Use your time to stack… and make improvements to your situation.
nick
I had a home sleep study done recently as part of a process of elimination for a blood pressure at the recommendation of the cardiologist The results came back showing a mild problem, and the nurse immediately started the spiel about the CPAP without talking about the alternatives.
I had to ask about the alternatives, including a mouth guard and nasal sprays, but that wasn’t the priority.
If you think you have a serious problem, definitely get it checked out.
In my case, I want to get down to one med for my blood pressure. The job had me up to three, and, working with the cardiologist, I’m down to two.
If I get one more eliminated, I’ll consider the recorded CPAP diagnosis a small price.
Ultimately, ditching my current job will be the solution. The firing was the point when the blood pressure “problem” started.
I’m drawing the line at getting a CPAP for now, however.
I will throw the dice on that risk.
YMMV, especially in California.
(Ok, well, not anymore)
After confirming with the Veteran Service Officer (VSO) about my back pay, getting copies of the Decision Review, it has been confirmed that I will be receiving a significant chunk of back pay. It will be the largest the VSO has seen since he has been on the job for 5 years.
What to do with the money? First 10% will go to the church. Most will go to the media department as when I was in that role money was difficult to get allocated.
I am looking at getting a new F-150 Cowboy Cadillac to replace my 11 years old F-150. There is only one Platinum trim level within 50 miles of where I live. We will look at that today.
I have also looked at the King Ranch trim level. It is cheaper than the Platinum trim level with almost all the same features. The King Ranch version I looked has the Ecoboost Hybrid option with the power outlets in the bed. It is a nice vehicle. A lot of features including a heads up display. I am not too keen on the 4WD as I lose mileage (about 2 MPG) and some towing capacity.
There are settings on the display panel for the road conditions and the computer will select the best mode, including front wheel drive only. There are four settings on the 4WD control. The usual 4H, 4L, 2H and A. I am not sure what the A mode setting does.
The salesperson pointed out there is also rock crawl mode. Um, just nope. Only an idiot would spend that kind of money and beat the snot out of the vehicle crawling over rocks.
One issue is the height of the truck. The powered retractable running boards are about 3″ higher than my current F-150. That may be a problem for the wife. We will find out today. I would also need a new hitch that is lowered by 3 inches.
The color I found is not my favorite and there is another dealer with a red version that may be closer to my liking. That depends largely on the interior color. I don’t want black.
The King Ranch supposedly comes with real leather as opposed to fake leather in my Platinum. The fake stuff has held up really well and I have no complaints.
The options are significant in both trim levels are significant. Lane departure, adaptive cruise control, all around backup camera, all the usual power stuff, auto dimming lights, keyless entry and start, engine stop/start, the list is long.
The 4WD King Ranch drove quite nice. Acceleration is excellent because of the boost from the electric motor. There is an 8 year warranty on the batteries. The truck was quieter than I thought I would have considered.
What is most interesting is how quickly word spreads. I went on the Ford website and did the “build a vehicle” and the last part was a submission. Apparently that goes to several different dealerships. I have been called by three dealers thus far. Desperate “Lot Lizards”.
I have no plans to purchase until the money is actually in my account. I have not told any of the lot lizards whether I am going to trade, finance, or pay cash. I will pick what is most beneficial to me, not them.
Another local dealer will get a Platinum edition within a week which we will drive. But I suspect that we would need to custom order what we really want. That is a six to eight week time frame to get the order fulfilled. That is not a big deal as I am not in a hurry and don’t “need it now”. Which probably frustrates the lot lizards. They don’t like people that leave the lots without buying.
Lynn, praying for your father and you all.
Silly busy at work today. I was supposed to have the afternoon off, but had to cancel those plans. What did Dr Pournelle like to say… it’s a great life, if one doesn’t weaken.
Nick, I forgot to say it yesterday, but I’ll say it now. If part of your getting rest need to involve letting this place freewheel for a while, or asking someone else to do daily posts, do it. We will survive.
I have been on CPAP for almost 15 years. My first machine was paid by insurance, sort of. The machine is actually “rented” for 14 months, with billing to a person’s insurance monthly. After 14 months the machine is owned by the user.
That first machine was replaced by me after five years. As a much better model was available. I purchased outright for $800 whereas insurance wanted $120 a month for 14 months. The $800 did not go against my deductible, but I would not have met it anyway as it was so high. I would have paid twice as much for the machine. Medical waste and abuse in my opinion.
My current machine, about three years old, was paid for by Medicare. Same deal, rented for 14 months. But my deductible was lower. I needed to replace my last machine because I got a message on the display that the end of life had been reached.
I don’t take the machine when I fly, only when I drive. I took the machine one time and it was just annoying. The TSA goons treated the machine like it was bomb. Took it out of the case, swabbed it, and examined with their grubby little hands. Then when a person gets to a destination there is the need to find distilled water. It is a hassle.
I am now fully adjusted to the machine and really don’t notice it when I sleep. Does it help? Seems to. My events are at about 2-5 an hour which is considered very good. The machine uses the cell network to phone home and report several statistics that the sleep doctor can access.
I angered my sleep doctor as I changed the settings. She was aghast that I would do such a thing. I should not be messing with a sophisticated medical device without proper training. I said it was my machine, my body, my choice. I changed the air pressure range to what I liked better. It was working and I will continue to change the settings if I desire.
@denis, thanks, but I get itchy if I don’t post. The length and quality of subject matter has already decreased quite a bit from the peak. It doesn’t take long to do a normal post. The “real” posts, with a specific subject and advice or a cautionary tale, take about an hour per page of text. They get edited and re-read. I haven’t done one for a while because they take more thought and time.
———-
83F and sunny, so a little bit cooler. Could be 90F at 9am.
I’ve decided to try changing my caffeine management strategy a little. I’ll have a cup of tea or single coffee when I get up, and then an hour later have my big cup. Supposedly, waiting a while will help with a crash later in the day. I’m willing to try for a few days.
Time to put it to the test.
n
The insiders want your trade in vehicle to sell out the back door if someone comes through the door who needs the truck to work.
I doubt any new F150 on their floorplan is under $50k.
I actually saw a few on one lot. A couple were under $40K. Low end, basic, limited trim options, 2WD, single seat cab.
Not Fleet sales or marked as sold?
Driving back from an errand in Georgetown a few weeks ago, I noticed that the local Ford dealer had a bunch of pricy looking trucks hidden out at the nearby quarry.
I imagine that the “blue” laws here in Texas will be modified in the special session already scheduled for next month to deal with the veto of theTHC product ban.
A lot of corporate insurance plans have HSAs and company match of contributions which users believe have to be spent within the tax year like FSAs.
I’m not looking at a machine or even the alternatives outside of a plan with the cardiologist to eliminate the second pill, and I’m not scheduled to go back there until after Summer.
I see the GP in a few weeks.
Not they I know about. The trucks were on the lot, two of them, white, plain wheels, with dealer stickers. Both less than $40K. Absolute minimum equipment.
Well, it seems, according to the Ford Website, that the Platinum edition that I want, is also 4WD. It is also about $12K more expensive than the King Ranch edition. I may be skipping the Platinum edition and going with the King Ranch.
@Ray
“Another local dealer will get a Platinum edition within a week which we will drive. But I suspect that we would need to custom order what we really want. That is a six to eight week time frame to get the order fulfilled. That is not a big deal as I am not in a hurry and don’t “need it now”. Which probably frustrates the lot lizards. They don’t like people that leave the lots without buying.”
We’re coming up on the end of the model year and you might be able to use that to your advantage. A 6-8 week lead time on an order is close to getting you to 2026.
“I angered my sleep doctor as I changed the settings. She was aghast that I would do such a thing. I should not be messing with a sophisticated medical device without proper training. I said it was my machine, my body, my choice. I changed the air pressure range to what I liked better. It was working and I will continue to change the settings if I desire.”
Don’t tell an old programmer that he can’t change the settings.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of idiots out there. Many of them on the roads in Houston.
I have an even lower trim level, and I use the adaptive cruise control all the time. The 360 degree camera is great when fitting the behemoth into a parking space. This is my first car with keyless ignition. I wear the fob like jewelery, and use the touch controls on the doors and the start button. Don’t use the rest much, at least consciously, and I turned lane departure off. It scared me.
One of the things that surprised me is how fond I’ve gotten of the feature where you stop at a stoplight, and can take your foot off the brake. It keeps the brake applied until you give it gas to go forward.
I am not too keen on the 4WD as I lose mileage (about 2 MPG) and some towing capacity.
The 2019 4×4 ecoboost is incredibly efficient. 16 mpg in town. 22 mpg at 65 mph. 18 mpg at 80 mph. I doubt the 2×4 would be more efficient than that.
Not sure about the towing ability. I have the max tow package and my 4×4 / offroad double shocks and springs are rated for 13,000 lbs tow. I would prefer a ¾ ton over 8,000 lbs though for the longer wheelbase.
I love the 4×4 for ice and mud. I will never have another 2×4.
Rock crawling and crab walking get the attention in the commercials. I saw the latter work last Thanksgiving at the in laws.
As soon as the Hummer commercial hit, the room went silent and you could tell that every male under 30 in the room was thinking about how to scam Grandma out of enough cash to buy one.
I absolutely hate the electronic dash in dads mercedes. And if i walk more than 10 feet away the engine shuts down (no a/c) and the vehicle totally locks down. Very inconvenient in a hotel with mom in the lobby on her wheelchair.
There is no way mom can climb into my lifted 4×4 truck though.
Libs of TikTok:
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/madelineleesman/2025/06/26/democrat-state-rep-shoplifting-n2659493
also:
Take off your shirt, tie the sleeves, and make your own bag…
oh wait…
is that the shirt you stole from Target last time?
How about a night in the lockup with the illegals his party loves? Bet they would love him back.
There are settings on the display panel for the road conditions and the computer will select the best mode, including front wheel drive only. There are four settings on the 4WD control. The usual 4H, 4L, 2H and A. I am not sure what the A mode setting does.
A is for AWD, all wheel drive. That comes in the limited. Rapteur, tremer, and platinum. Less milage though. I guess there is a viscous coupling in the 4wd transfer box too. My XLT does not have the A.
Another local dealer will get a Platinum edition within a week which we will drive. But I suspect that we would need to custom order what we really want. That is a six to eight week time frame to get the order fulfilled.
Be sure to get Max Tow. That gets you 36 gal tank, the trailer gear mods in the 10 speed tranny., tje 5 row radiator, the tranny cooler. The 4wd max tow gets you the electric locker on the back axle that I love for mud and boat launching.
re: blood pressure meds
I used to be on 3 meds and dropped HCTZ after an unfortunate incident of dehydration. I figured the risk of a diuretic was too great.
I didn’t need it anyway, since the same emotional trauma that caused the incident caused me to lose weight, and my blood pressure was tied to my weight.
Since then, I have lost another 60 pounds, and I’m down to one BP med, and I’m only taking half the dose the doc prescribed. 5mg daily of lisinopril. There may be a positive effect due to exercise and sauna as well.
I’m still 40 pounds overweight, and I suspect when I figure out how to lose those, I’ll be off BP meds altogether. It’s tough though; a couple of restaurant meals on a trip, a couple of hamburger buns, and I regain 10 pounds.
@Greg, I don’t know anything about your stature, but carrying extra weight, and eating carbs, do dreadful things to your health. The carbs part even applies to skinny people. And stress leads to inflamation and cortisol increases, which are just plain bad.
The problem is all stress.
I won’t be sad if the monkey trick mania crashed tomorrow.
I am mid-normal BMI.
The AGI Bottleneck No One Wants to Admit
I was told it was AUTO. The computer will pick the best mode based on the conditions. A sort of “set and forget it”. But salesperson are sometimes not knowledgeable.
That is what I am looking at getting. I visited three dealerships today and none of them had King Ranch in stock. I suspect I will be ordering what I want rather than get what the dealer has in stock. I am OK with that having done that before on my last Toyota Avalon.
I found out that physical owner’s manuals are delivered with the vehicle. Instead, the manual is on the display screen. You have to sit in the vehicle to read the manual. That is really stupid. I would rather read the manual in a chair, in the house.
Anyway, today is done. I have discounted getting the Platinum edition and decided on the King Ranch. The Platinum has the running boards for entry about 3 inches higher than my current vehicle. The King Ranch is only about 2 inches higher. I did look at the Lariat but was not impressed. I just don’t like the black interior. The King Ranch has a tan and dark brown leather interior. The Platinum is about $10K higher for basically a different logo. There may be other differences but nothing concerns me.
Is it available as a .pdf you can download?
A Table of Contents is nice, an index is great, but often Search and Find are faster.
I don’t know. A graphical display that shows the vehicle where you touch to get additional information. I did not see an index so such an existence is unknown.
Regarding owner’s manuals – the googles are your friend.
You can order directly from Ford https://www.ford.com/support/vehicle/f150/2025/owner-manuals/
Also several third-party places to order; ask the googles for ‘owners manual for 2025 ford f-150 king ranch’ (adjust as needed).
I got an OEM manual set for my last vehicle purchase via eBay.
The manual is also subject to revisions from the central authority.
>>You have to sit in the vehicle to read the manual.
Well, at least you can read it while using the Ford Blue Cruise!
Only in the first year of ownership unless the owner wants to pay.
Nothing else matters except the CRWV share price.
FOMO!
there are plenty of idiots out there. Many of them on the roads in Houston.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14852107/Texas-45-freeway-shutdown-armed-woman-folding-chair.html
– and one of them took the I-45 expressway hostage…
Fortunately I was in NW houston, not N houston.
n
I was in Atlanta one time and traffic was a standstill on I-285. A person was standing on a bridge over the I-state threatening to jump. I had turned on talk radio to see what the issue was. The overwhelming comments was to push the person off the bridge so traffic could move again. Zero compassion or sympathy.
@ray, my first thought was that the cops must have been on scene very quickly or someone would have just popped her, or run her over. Tempers fray pretty quickly in traffic.
n
Cue Curtis Armstrong … and Stephen Williams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocdd1vEeeL0
I’ve been enjoying the Sherlock Holmes films with Basil Rathbone. Someone put them on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@FeatureFilm/videos
I liked listening to the radio plays in my truck for a while, and it’s the same guy playing Watson…
Yes, they are super cheesy, but still keep enough of my attention while I’m sitting here doing other things.
n
I could never stand watching Nigel Bruce’s portrayal of Watson as a bumbling fool.
“The Black Cat” starring Rathbone and a cool supporting cast shows up on “Svengoolie” once a year or so.
Rathbone isn’t playing Holmes in the flick, but his character makes a sly reference to his more famous role at one point.
No Warner Oland “Charlie Chan” flicks?
watching Nigel Bruce
– I came to it thru the radio plays, and I like his voice for some reason.
Watson as a bumbling fool
– holmes feeds into it too, but in the episode I just watched, twice some random thing Watson says triggers Holmes to come up with the right answer. He does need to be at least a bit of the ‘everyman’ as a foil to Holmes. He is a little too blinded by female pulchritude.
n
IMO, the best “Sherlock Holmes” was Jeremy Brett, in the PBS versions. Excellent work.
Lynn, praying for you and your whole family. This has to be stressful for all who know your father. I hope he gets the attention he needs, and returns to good health. 86 is definitely not “old.” I used to think so, but as I approach 80, it doesn’t seem very old.
I have been busy, but lurking every few days, so sorry for not seeing this earlier.
In other news, today (26 June) was our 54th wedding anniversary. I remember Paul Harvey announcing the couple with the longest marriage of the broadcast day, and it was usually in the low 70s. We won’t make it to that because we got a late start. Hopefully to be achieved in the afterlife.
Ray, have fun ordering a new pickup. One slight correction: your church will be the *second* beneficiary of your back compensation. The tax man will always be the first. Too bad income averaging is no longer done.
@ Mr Lynn.. Thoughts and prayers for you, your father and family.
Regarding auto owners manuals, I am only familiar with Chrysler, but several brands can be downloaded as PDFs directly from the manufacturer. I prefer those, because I can put them on my phone to always have with me. Some of them work well on the small screen. Some are also very small file sizes, and the text is fully searchable. As was recommended, Google is your friend, especially for older models. This does vary widely by brand.
I always used to get the Factory Service Manual, and recommend it even for those who don’t do their own work. Unfortunately, these are no longer available for many newer models. I have heard that some third parties such as ALLDATA are good, but have not tried them. Apparently, one or a few companies have a short term subscription deal for hobbyists, with downloadable data. I need to look at this for our newest car, a 2015 model that apparently no longer has a FSM released outside of the dealer network.
Also, beware that some FSMs are antiquated formats. I paid ~$100 for a 2006 FSM from the manufacturer. It requires Internet Explorer, and supposedly won’t run on anything else. With IE sunsetting, this is a real problem, although I just read that the Windows 11 version of Edge has a pretty good IE emulation mode. Still, this manual is not as useful as the older PDF format, which is a faithful analog of the book. I did find that searching for foreign versions sometimes gets the older PDF format.
Also, try this: https://charm.li/ For a description: https://charm.li/about.html This is the best of several I have tried, although it only covers 1982 through 2013, with some gaps. Another source is the public library system, although I have not found genuine FSMs, only the aftermarket publishers. Some of these are in digital format, and can be downloaded, although I have not found any that I thought were worthwhile. There is a trend to prevent us from getting good information on the second most expensive item most people own. Hmm, do new houses come with manuals?
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Trump Just Dropped a Trade Bomb on Canada
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/jeff-charles/2025/06/27/trump-announces-termination-of-trade-discussions-with-canada-n2659578
Maybe trying to charge a tax retroactive to 2022 is not a good idea.
Trump’s bid to end inclusion of illegals in the Census may win in the Supreme Court this time
Weingarten also notes this statement from heavyweight constitutional legal scholar John Eastman:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/06/trump_s_bid_to_end_inclusion_of_illegals_in_the_census_may_win_in_the_supreme_court_this_time.html
The first U.S. Census conducted in response to the requirement of the U.S> Constitution took place in 1790. In that year as in later years there were certainly people in the country who were not citizens. Were those non-citizens “enumerated” or not?
Karmelo Anthony reportedly files court paperwork for a public defender
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/06/karmelo_anthony_reportedly_files_court_paperwork_for_a_public_defender.html
Nope. Can’t help you.