Forecast has the whole country in a high pressure zone, with clear weather for the next two days. Plenty of cold for everyone too. I expect that’s just what we’ll get. It was still very nice yesterday afternoon in the sun. Temps dropped pretty rapidly with nightfall.
I slept in and then did smaller things all day. I got several longstanding items off the list. They are little things but were for other members of the household, so I’m sure they are glad that I finally got to them. Did some domestic bliss too, and some cleaning and organizing. I need to clear out a space for the Christmas tree, so I need to keep moving with that.
Part of that was setting up IKEA cube storage to get some of my LP records out of crates on the floor. I got about 5 linear feet sorted. I have about two feet for ebay and local auction sale too. Old funk and R&B is bringing some good prices, and it’s not something I have a great desire to listen to. I am keeping some of the early rap and some of the more famous funk though. I’ve got a lot more to sort and shelve.
I even managed to cut the grass in the back yard, and install more anti-bird spikes along the top of the fence. Birds don’t bother me, but I’m trying to discourage the possums from using the fence as a literal highway. It drives the dog into a frenzy, and since the possum freezes, the dog just keeps going nuts until one of us gets him, or moves the possum along with a broom or stick. It’s also not neighborly to let the dog bark.
Today I’ll keep working the list and moving stuff around. I will try to take another load out of the house, either a scrap/trash run or getting more of the sale items out. Then I really need to start on the back patio, which became a dumping ground for too much stuff without other homes. I’ve been neglecting it too long.
I need to work toward clearing a path to get the safe out of the driveway and up to the BOL.
Of course all the usual stuff is going on too, and I’m sure some urgent stuff will pop up, because it always does.
That’s what happens when you are living your life.
Somewhere in there I need to work on the generators and do some other explicitly prepping stuff too. And always, there is stacking.
nick
Here I am, posting first. Who’s the timezone loser now, Denis? In your face!
drwilliams, thank you very much. I’ll format your lab procedure and put printed copies with the scales. The parents will likely appreciate the safe lab to start with. The kids will either think it’s cool, dressing up like “real scientists” to weigh pennies or they’ll hate it because of the rigor and bother when all they’re doing is weighing pennies. In the latter case, I’ll make sure to throw you under the bus, heh.
Agreed. Pay the air traffic controllers and anyone else who worked for the past month, and give them a bonus for the pay having been delayed. Not a cent for those who didn’t work, not even the employer share of their health insurance premiums.
Good morning, again, dear SteveF. How’s your chickens?
Fixed it for you.
Speaking of SteveF and other odd creatures, W1 was driving last night and observed an animal she couldn’t identify moving along the verge. Not a fox, not a badger, not a cat, not a raccoon.
I got the reference works out – it was a Raccoon Dog (Enok). Her first time to see one. They are present here, but mostly nocturnal and very shy, so most people have never seen one. I have, but I haven’t shot one yet. They look like a raccoon colouring-wise, but have a very different gait, which is especially obvious if they are moving fast, as they tend to do if they notice the observer. They are on the invasive species list, so to be treated as vermin.
@SteveF
Harbor Freight is a good source for inexpensive eye shields and gloves.
Depending on the age of the young scientists, introducing them to lab notebook keeping can be a worthwhile addition. Smyth-sewn bound notebooks with quad graph paper are inexpensive and easily available, and I could supply the set-up procedure (pagination, table of contents, etc.) and age-appropriate instructions.
Pennies can also be used for other experiments and extra-credit problems.
Well, 43F is certainly cold enough. It was 50F when I went to sleep so it continued to fall.
Lunch is made, people have been poked.
n
Nice 30F this morning. Clear sky. The morning dog walk didn’t take long.
39F here, and beautifully still here in the high desert. I was out in shorts at sunrise feeding the birds and rabbits with a mixture of birdseed and old veggies and stale raisins, and didn’t even notice the temperature.
Chores to do later, mainly a propane tank refill run to CostCo, etc. – the back’s a solid seven or eight, good enough (with the neighbors help). I will also pick up some sangria, some bottled water, a roasted chicken, some tortellinis and pesto – and maybe a chunk of beefy if there’s something attractive.
Events are conspiring to make a trip “down below” probable later in the week: a visit with an old friend just back from surgery, a quick welfare check on another elderly gentleman of my fathers generation (he gets more exercise than I do!), an old fiberglass boat to be cleared of personal belongings and prepped for sale or salvage (SoCal is awash in uninsurable boats of 40+ years age it seems).
We need a “last post” category, for people that post on the previous day’s thread.
Not that I would ever do such a thing.
Ahem.
California circling the drain factoid: last night I had Sunday dinner with my neighbors as usual.
His son’s girlfriend was there and was talking about work. She works as an accountant for a large established (several state) central air/heat company.
They’ve completely pulled all their operations out of Los Angeles County, apparently the regulatory burden cost was so great and so time-consuming that they now only work in Orange, San Diego and the Inland Empire counties.
They were driven out of a market of 10 million people…
There’s a documentary out on these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_You_and_the_Rain
Yeah, that’s me. I often post over coffee in the morning here, when the day’s new post isn’t up yet. Probably means few people see my post, oh well…
One of the reasons I usually circle back and check the next day.
I see your post, Brad! 🙂
How cool is that? Thanks!
This afternoon, I am writing a presentation for colleagues who require the application of a cluebat. Which reminds me of this.
One can only hope they aren’t paid. Oh, wait, we’re talking about spineless Redumblicans honchoing this bill. They’ll get back pay and bonuses for being on vacay.
The Redumbo’s better renig on any “promises” made on that bill. Just like the Dumbocrats do.
Yeah and it’s even worse for the oil industry here. And thanks to Screwsome and gang it doing to get worse. ( It’s not some – it screwall)
The Child just messaged me, apparently during class (which suggests that her attention is not on the class): “after this class can you help me be nice to people”
This leaves me scratching my head. Has she not known me her whole life? Maybe she messaged the wrong person. Or maybe it’s the setup to a joke. Either that or she suffered a woeful lapse in judgment.
@steveF, perhaps, like in the only real Star Wars stories, she’s like Luke, who sees something in his father that no one else sees…
Or she could just be pulling your leg.
n
Careful there. It’s like saying “candyman” three times in front of a mirror. If you say “circle back” three times in a row, a simpleminded, redheaded Communist will appear in front of you and start talking and talking and never shutting up.
Perhaps what she means is “teach me how you deal with stupid people without killing them.”
Please. I sat in on Michael Sipser’s “Theory of Computation” lecture one afternoon last year, arguably the hardest MIT CS class, and most of the students around me weren’t paying attention.
Fortunately, Sipser’s process gets most of them through the material with passing grades.
This wouldn’t be the same SteveF who started a post a few weeks ago with :
“If I had friends…” ??
(BTW, the coffee pretty much ruined that keyboard.)
I theorize that you have taught her too well…
My left knee feels almost normal today. My right foot ached some last night from walking funny.
Because dogs. And short days.
So I’m walking Buddy the Beagle with Penny following or leading as she does. Gravel driveway. On the last bit coming towards the house the drive slopes down. Pitch black outside with just a few stars. I stepped on a rock that rolled. Face plant. Bloody nose, mouth full of dirt and a decent gnash in my forehead. A stitch or two might have been a good idea. A butterfly bandaid, even. But I washed my face with warm water and used my toothbrush to brush the dirt out. Just stroke with the side of the brush, I didn’t scrub. Then I went to bed. Never thought until just now some Neosporing or Bactine might have been a good idea. My bath towel, well, I don’t care if the blood stains don’t wash out.
It’s all starting to itch. But hurts to touch. And while vision in my left eye is fine, and I don’t see any bruising ala black eye, it looks Japanese and feels puffy.
I haven’t decided what to tell anyone. “I’m a clumsy oaf” or “there was a fight and you’ll never find the bodies”.
Tell them that you don’t want to talk about it. When they press for details anyway, tell them you were hit by a chunk of blue ice falling from 30,000 feet.
“You should see the other guy.”
I like: “there was a fight and you’ll never find the bodies”. You might get a lot of “interesting” visitors. If they get aggresive you may be able to sue and collect some money if you want to spend a lot ot time on a “new hobby”.
It’s still chilly out. Although the sun is burning, roasting, fire if it’s shining on me.
I ran the heat today for a couple of hours to take the chill out of the house.
been working outside though, and it now feels hot when I come inside.
n
My shins and calves are “ashy”.
n
More more more
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/article-15276967/wendys-closures-sales-slump-ohio.html
n
EdH beat me to it. I hope your scrapes and bumps heal fast, Paul.
SteveF, I suspect the Child has applied a cluebat to a moron or morons, and must make amends. Perhaps bake a cake?
I spent nearly twelve very dull hours today knocking out a demonstration grade PowerPoint presentation. I detest PPT, but in this instance, I had to make a little fine point about how it ought to be done, if it be done at all, which it shouldn’t be because PPT is the best way ever to bore an audience and ruin what could be a good talk, if the presenter weren’t constantly fiddling with and fretting over, or reading from, stupid slides. The only good part of PowerPoint is the “B” key.
As my contribution to the PPT is exemplary, and as I have conveniently contrived to miss the function at which it is to be delivered, the inevitable resounding debacle will be attributable exclusively to the ineptitude of whichever retard foolishly attempts to give the talk.
Schadenfreude? Who, me?
Now quickly to bed before it strikes midnight and I have to post tomorrow and upset sensitive SteveF again.
Wendy’s was above $10 for a Single and medium drink a decade ago here in Austin. In contrast, the local Burger King franchisee has held the line on a Whopper and medium drink at just below $10.
I never see anyone in the Wendy’s closest to our house, but they may do most of their business at lunchtime.
Wendy’s has not been the same since Dave Thomas died.
The wife and I get two small chicken sandwiches, two small fries, 4 nuggets each, and two small drinks for $10.00.
With the exception of Nashville, eating out in Tennessee during our recent trip was much cheaper than Austin.
We tried hard to only hit local places and made a point to avoid Cracker Barrel.
Even stopping at the Varsity in Midtown Atlanta was cheaper than a comparable place in Austin.
Until the Legislature runs out of surplus money to pay for property tax “reform” in Texas, the cost of living will remain high.
Today’s Tyler Durden cowardice protecting a mainstream source writing about another Monkey Trick player in trouble with Wall Street.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/coreweave-tumbles-after-slashing-revenue-forecast
Sean Duffy Is Having None of It After Pete Buttigieg Takes Swipe at Trump Over ATC Staffing Issues
https://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2025/11/10/pete-buttigieg-takes-swing-at-trump-over-atc-staffing-issues-sean-duffy-is-having-none-of-it-n2196061
Left a mark.
Buttigieg got spanked.
Unfortunately, he’s into that.
The End Is Near. Tehran Faces Evacuation As Water Supplies Reach Zero and the City Sinks Into the Desert
https://redstate.com/streiff/2025/11/10/the-end-is-near-tehran-faces-evacuation-as-water-supplies-reach-zero-and-the-city-sinks-into-the-desert-n2196051
Thank you, Lord.
Now do Qom, please?
@paul
I had a little injury last year. Told people I had a small accident. Top two replies:
“What does the other guy look like?”
“Did you need help with the body?”
For no reason. I’m a sensitive new-age kind of guy. Really. I have a cat.
Will Trump sue the BBC?
From the U.K. Daily Mail,
Shah is the chairman of the BBC’s corporate board. He has not resigned in the affair over fraudulent editing of a Trump 1/6/2021 speech.
Detail,
The Hill reports the lawsuit could be for $1 billion.
That Panorama documentary was aired in October 2024, a timing which suggests an effort by U.K. state media to interfere in a foreign election that was expected to be extremely close.
The U.K. Independent reprints Shah’s full letter to Parliament, dated today, on the controversy.
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/11/will-trump-sue-the-bbc.php
At the same time, the BBC has been exposed as a blatant shill for Hamas.
I wouldsuggest President Trump file suit immediately.
Not for $1 billion–for £1 billion.
If they’re short on cash, settle for half plus the Doctor Who catalog and all future rights. Then start work on a new special “Reverse the Polarity of the Neutron Flow–Trump and the Third Doctor”, with lavish AI bringing Jon Pertwee back to life, as he lands in 2026 to help Trump fight the Dalek-infested Democrat Party and their evil allies, the Auton-infested Musloids. Script rumored to be by Charles Stross.
Unless you wear a man-bun and have crocs I ain’t buyin’ it.
It is chilly willy out. Getting colder in the house too. I did run the heat for the first time to take the chill off, but then turned it back to cool. Didn’t get warmer, so it hasn’t run at all. I might turn it back to heat and set something fairly low to avoid it being cold in the morning. W is the opposite so that’s holding me back.
It was 70F in the house a couple of hours ago. It’s always warmer in my office from the lights and all the computers and displays, but I’m feeling a little cool draft at the moment.
n
Florida AG Uthmeier Coming Hard After JPMorgan Chase Over Insidious Effort to Debank Conservatives
https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2025/11/10/florida-ag-uthmeier-coming-after-jp-morgan-chase-over-insidious-effort-to-debank-conservatives-n2196065
Real jail time in SuperMax for every s.o.b. involved.
Or maybe Chase would like their own letter: “FDIC declines your custom.”
Wendy’s to close 300 stores as fears grow for fast food giant
It was 150 stores the other day. Things must have radically gotten worse quickly when the October numbers came in.
Wendy’s was above $10 for a Single and medium drink a decade ago here in Austin. In contrast, the local Burger King franchisee has held the line on a Whopper and medium drink at just below $10.
I got a quarter pounder with cheese, no drink, no fries, in the McDonalds drive thru today in Port Lavaca, Texas for $5.19. The sad thing is that I remember getting a quarter pounder with cheese for a buck a few decades ago.
I got a coffee and two chikfila chicken biscuits at the Rosenberg Chikfila this morning for $10.21. In both cases, I felt well served.
The whole meal was less than $5 not that long ago, including the oversized drink and big fries.
Although I have not had a quarter pounder in a long time, I do still occasionally get the Jack in the Box bacon ultimate…
>>Like JEP used to say, if it says “snake oil” it should be oil from snakes or oil for snakes.
Do we need to be more specific about “snake” oil?
Ouch, never mind, up too late and no Ray to backstop bad jokes late at night…
>>Buttigieg got spanked.
Unfortunately, he’s into that.
So tempting…but hardly a worthy target…
Tuesday. The sun is trying to peep over the horizon. The owl outside the window is singing his own lullaby, and yours truly is awake.
Lots to do today, on account of all the time burnt yesterday on PowerPoint nonsense.
First order of business is make a big pot of tea… and maybe a crêpe or three to go with that. Hmm. Crêpes with bacon and banana, perhaps. This has potential…
Wishing you all a beautiful day!
“Happy birthday, USMC – and thanks for helping to keep me alive”
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2025/11/happy-birthday-usmc-and-thanks-for.html
“Today is the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, founded on 10 November 1775. Congratulations to the Corps and all its members.”
“I have a particular reason to thank the Corps. After the Vietnam War, a number of former US Marines didn’t want to go back to the USA, because anti-war sentiment was rampant and they were fed up with being accused of being “baby-killers” and sundry other pleasantries. Instead, they wanted to go on “killing commies”, as some of them put it. A number of them made their way to southern Africa, joining the armed forces of South Africa and Rhodesia. I met several of them in both countries.”
“I’ve never forgotten one of them in particular. I won’t name him, at his request some years ago. I was a raw recruit, lying prone on the firing line during basic training. I was bored, shooting a few rounds, waiting for score, then doing the same again ad nauseam. The blistering hot African heat didn’t help matters. I muttered something to the man alongside me, something like “When are we going to stop wasting time on this **** and do something more interesting?””
“I felt a kick on my outstretched boot. Rolling halfway over and looking up, I saw one of our instructors, a former US Marine now wearing South African Warrant Officer insignia. I shriveled internally, waiting to be reamed for talking out of turn and assigned punishment PT. Instead, the Warrant Officer just looked tired. Glaring down at me, he said, “Recruit, an amateur practices until he’s got it right. A professional practices until he can’t get it wrong!” He didn’t wait for a reply, but turned away to sort out another recruit who wasn’t doing what he was supposed to be doing.”
There is nothing more dangerous than a bored Marine. The wife and I were at 29 Palms (the Marines call it 29 Stumps) back in 2007 to see our son and his 1,500 buddies as they were leaving for an all expense trip to Iraq for the second time. As we were wandering about, we noticed a group of Marines gathered around so we joined them. A gunnery sergeant was demonstrating how to use a government issued can of Off and a cigarette lighter to torch an ant hill. The dozen or so Marines were having great fun and enjoyment before their long trip to Iraq.
I also learned something else that trip. I was driving my Ford Expedition around the base at the posted speed of 30 mph. All of a sudden, three Marine Abrams tanks came up behind me at a much higher speed than 30 mph. As that lead gun was pointed at my back window, I hurriedly made a right turn. The tanks took off at a very high rate of speed, throwing asphalt road chunks all over the place. Tanks own the road, they don’t slow down for crunchies.
“Nancy Pelosi’s Daughter Launches Her Own Political Career, Announces Run for Office in California”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/nancy-pelosis-daughter-launches-political-career-announces-run/
It’s alive !