Cool, wet, and probably raining. Warming if the rain stops. Yesterday was rain off and on all day, and part of the night. I slept.
And slept. And slept some more. I did do one load of laundry and I took both trucks to get their emission testing done, but then I slept.
And that’s my plan for today. Moving means coughing and nose draining, so I’m staying put.
n
Stacks mean the household will run without me.
Would it be easier, faster, and cheaper to put a bigger battery backup in the neighborhood switch?
Up, temporarily. Not a school day, but all this sleeping is getting to me.
Had a donut, now back to bed. I might see the doc in a box today. I hesitated, because in D1 the cough passed in a couple of days. For me? Not so much. Seems to be getting worse.
n
Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am awake. I ask for your understanding during this difficult time.
Or a diesel generator.
Texas sold its regulatory soul for fiber.
Would it be easier, faster, and cheaper to put a bigger battery backup in the neighborhood switch?
It is not my switch. It belongs to xfinity and is 20 feet up a pole.
I have no idea if this is a fiber connected switch. There is a big cable on the power poles.
Fiber goes to the neighborhood switch on the power company’s poles.
Gerrold was famously the MC of the Hugo’s that help destroy the award, I can’t feel particularly sorry for him.
He never finished the Starwolf series, so don’t get your hopes up.
As Worf might say: “He has no honor.”
AT&T just put fiber in my neighborhood. I have no idea if fiber requires power to work.
Gerrold was famously the MC of the Hugo’s that help destroy the award, I can’t feel particularly sorry for him.
He never finished the Starwolf series, so don’t get your hopes up.
As Worf might say: “He has no honor.”
He is a militant gay. He and I have been facebook “friends” for a long time. I asked him a couple of years ago on the status of book 5. He replied that he was not my trained monkey. Publicly.
He and his son and family moved to Vermont about a year ago from California. I figured that he moved to get his inner muse going. I was wrong. He has gotten even crazier, so much so that his boyfriend left.
@Jenny – This isn’t terrible, and you can take the kid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwild1rw7Aw
“Trainspotting” will be back in theaters in two weeks. You can’t take the kid to that one, but, wow, what a movie. It deserves to be seen big.
All of the authors of big series are probably facing grief about unfinished work because of George R.R. Martin and “The Winds of Winter”.
I have an old Starlog magazine somewhere with Gerrold’s article about being an extra on the “Planet of the Apes” TV show, incuding makeup. He was essentially a trained monkey for that afternoon.
I don’t know why I have that but not my “Heir to the Empire” hardcovers.
Or my first edition Ousterhout book, submitted to one moving company for compensation due to packing damage to the cover.
Yes. If you give up your copper phone line, AT&T will install a battery backup on the side of your house to provide phone service for a few hours during an outage.
AT&T just sued the State of California over the requirement to provide copper phone service.
As I’ve discussed here before, it isn’t about the true demographics behind users of the service as much as the loophole in California law which allows the wealthy users of copper lines to put the service in the maid’s name and get the line at the subsidized cost.
I pay nearly $100/month for traditional phone service in Texas, without long distance charges.
It does for the repeaters that are needed every so often. Even the underseas cable have power boosters every so often so the underseas cable has to carry signal and power.
It’s powered by unicorn farts, so don’t worry about it.
It’s powered by unicorn farts, so don’t worry about it.I just put extra AAA batteries in my wireless mouse. That usually fixes things.
I also send extra batteries to Al Gore. He invented the Internet, so it only stands to reason that if the Internet needs power during a power outage, those batteries will help.
#followmeforgreattechsupport
Sam’s Club had Starlink reps in the store today when we made our weekly run.
$250 for the mini base station with $50 Sam’s Club cash.
Line up for that IPO, sheeple. Tony wants to be a trillionare.
“How World Cup team from Ebola-stricken nation aims to get to Houston”
https://www.chron.com/news/article/ebola-congo-world-cup-houston-22274508.php
“DR Congo is supposed to base itself out of the Bayou City.”
“The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is in the midst of an outbreak of Ebola, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports caused more than 175 suspected deaths as of Saturday. The outbreak was deemed a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, and the designation led to enhanced travel screening and entry restrictions for DR Congo residents from United States federal agencies.”
“Details about the arrival of the DR Congo national soccer team, which is scheduled to base in Houston during the World Cup, were revealed Friday.”
“Per Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, DR Congo’s team must isolate for 21 days or risk denied entry to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. DR Congo’s club is currently training in Belgium. Should it wish to play in its June 17 match against Portugal at Houston Stadium, it must isolate in Belgium, then enter the United States on June 11.”
Line up for that IPO, sheeple. Tony wants to be a trillionare.
Tony wants to be the FIRST trillionaire.
FTFY.
RLTS wants to get off this rock, the money is just a means to the end. Pioneers end up with arrows in their back, while the follow on companies succeed.
n
Doc in the box says ‘bronchitis’ and z pak. Cough syrup. Rest and fluids.
Joy.
n
“Another Detransitioner Wins a Huge Settlement”
https://thelibertydaily.com/another-detransitioner-wins-huge-settlement/
“(Zero Hedge)—A woman who underwent a double mastectomy after identifying as “nonbinary” has reportedly secured a confidential $3.5 million settlement after suing the mental health professionals who approved her for the life-altering procedure. Camille Kiefel, 36, alleged in a malpractice lawsuit that two Oregon therapists signed off on the surgery after only brief telemedicine consultations, despite a documented history of mental health issues. The settlement was reached just days before the case was set to go to trial.”
“The case is already fueling renewed scrutiny of how quickly some medical providers have approved irreversible gender procedures for vulnerable patients struggling with serious mental health issues.”
The Mutilated are starting to get their revenge. The next phase will be killing their torturers.
Hat tip to:
https://thelibertydaily.com/
“The Score”
https://areaocho.com/the-score/
“Here are the lists of assassination attempts against prominent Republican figures:”
Looks very legit to me. These are the beginnings of a war on conservatives.
The RNC Just Scored a Major Election Security Victory in North Carolina
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/05/24/the-rnc-just-scored-a-major-election-security-victory-in-north-carolina-n2676600
If non-citizens voted in any election, they should be deported immediately.
Fight the deportation and get every additional charge that the DOJ can find.
I see way too many Colonists at my polling place lately.
After being whipped.
And the poll worker who let them vote should be strapped right beside them.
I am more than willing to pay him money for things I need.
I needed something better than copper DSL, legacy phone & cable couldn’t be bothered, he provided it.
In a few years my father’s experiences show that if I still want to drive safely I’ll need an aid, Tesla will provide it.
In a few years my father’s experiences show that if I still want to drive safely I’ll need an aid, Tesla will provide it.
When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming like his passengers.
= = this is a joke, not true = =
If non-citizens voted in any election, they MUST be deported immediately. It’s already Federal law; immediate deportation for a non-citizen to vote.
My phone rang a couple of times last week. It was Sarah. I/We have known her since oh, 1982.
I guess she did a butt dial. She has a brother named Paul. So I called her back. Direct to voice mail.
Then she sent a text saying to call only after 8PM on Sundays. Oooookay. That’s not happening,
I’ma going to take that as “don’t call me”.
8PM is bed time around here. I run on Dog Time.
She inherited like a million and a half when her Dad died. But she’s working. 72 pushing 73 real hard and she has a job. I asked why are you working and well, “I need the money” was her answer.
Gee. She retired from the State of Texas after more than 25 years and has SS. Just taking a guess from what I know of what she made at the state, and guessing from what I get from SS, I guess she’s pulling in almost five grand a month.
A few months ago she bought a new to her car. I forget exactly, the pictures in txt messages did look nice, but it was like a four year old Toyota or Subaru.
This is the woman who inherited 1.5 million not all that long ago. And she has to work. At 73 years old.
Anyway. Not my money problem. Not my circus. It really is a puzzle to me.
I’m really trying to not be a butt hurt whiner. So I won’t be. I deleted her contact from my phone. To eliminate any temptation of the horror of calling at the wrong time.
I have no idea how the taxes work when one inherits 1.5 million. Say FedGov takes almost a third. Then drop a hundred grand to pay off the house and everything else. Stuff the remaining million into t-bills or Cds and live off the interest and SS money and state gov retirement. Might be about $6500 a month.
I don’t know. I’m making up numbers for her from my situation.
I mean. I don’t have a million bucks. And I didn’t’ have 100 grand in t-bills for all of last year. But I still made almost $3500 in interest. Times ten with a million bucks. I’m pretty sure I would notice having an extra 35 grand income a year.
Anyway. It was beautiful day today once it warmed up from 63F. Sunny with fluffy clouds. Just enough breeze to blow the cigarette smoke away.
By the staring, it’s time for the Afternoon Cookie. 🙂
There’s a floor below which you pay no fed taxes on inheritances. I believe $1.5 Million is beneath that floor. Texas has no income tax.
There is an entire industry based on scaring workers that they can’t retire because they haven’t saved enough.
I filed for SS at 67, 3 years before I wanted to, because I got fired. I still get enough SS every month to meet all my needs. I would appreciate the 24% more if I could have waited, but Houston Methodist wanted the glory of being the first to mandate the vaxx.
She’s probably paying a lot more in taxes because she’s working. Your SS is mostly not taxable, unless you have enough other income. Then a portion becomes taxable; ;the more you make, the bigger the portion.
I’ve been retired 4 years and have not touched my IRA or investment account yet. I have reduced my separate savings, and maybe in a year or so will have to start drawing down a bit. That coincides with Required Mandatory Distributions from the IRA, so that fits.
It is time for a Bedtime Cookie here, but nobody is giving me one. Humph.
I suppose I will just go to sleep and dream of cookies instead.
Nick, I hope what the Doctor prescribed will help you quickly. It was wise to get yourself checked out.
Goodnight.
Oh. She lives in Austin, too. No telling what her property taxes run.
I have no idea how the taxes work when one inherits 1.5 million. Say FedGov takes almost a third.
The federal estate tax exclusion in the USA for 2026 is $15,000,000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estate_tax_in_the_United_States
It was $11,580,000 in 2020.
You could think about girls in bikinis and dream of cakes.
“If non-citizens voted in any election, they MUST be deported immediately. It’s already Federal law; immediate deportation for a non-citizen to vote.”
Which is why we need to have those cases in immigration court without exception. There must be no mechanism permitting any other court to have jurisdiction. Judges in other courts who purport to find reasons otherwise should be de-judged.
It depends on your time horizon. The purchasing power of $35k in less than 10 years will be half of what it is right now using conservative estimates of inflation.
A real inflation rate of more than 10%/year wouldn’t surprise me.
A real inflation rate of more than 10%/year wouldn’t surprise me.
And a real inflation rate of 30%/year in the near future would not surprise me.
The Pizza Box Dream.
Between VA, SS, RMD, and interest I bring in enough to survive without concern, with half of that tax exempt. RMD is starting to hit hard. I have a plan devised by my investment advisor to minimize that impact. It still hurts my federal taxes. TN has no income tax.
“There is an entire industry based on scaring workers that they can’t retire because they haven’t saved enough. ”
Yes. There is. And they want to help you. For a percentage.
I guess I’m a weirdo. Looking at what I was going to get from SS, I was looking at $850 a month. So that’s what I worked for. Just me, $850 a month. Ended up being $980 a month. Tho I get survivor benefits on SS (a very unexpected benefit) and I’m pulling from my 401k, Yeah, the budget in my head is $1000 a month income. And I’m getting almost $3000.
The 401k is just weird. Best I can tell, I put in about 40 grand pre-tax. I’m pulling a grand a month, they keep $200 for taxes. I got all of the withholding back last year. But I started with about 75 grand in the 401k and last I looked I’m down to 70 grand. After pulling a grand a month for the last year. That;s just messed up.
Hey, what ever. Anything after the 40 grand I put in is pure gravy. About two more years to get my 40 grand out.
Ok. uh, both electric bills run about $160 a month. Starlink, $120. Cell phone is $40. Plus beer and dog food and groceries. A bit over $400 a month. Round up generously and call it $500.
Plus stuff from Big River.
I’m doing good. I think. I dropped five grand on getting the floor insulated and didn’t flinch. Much. New flooring in the living room and hallway was almost as much.
Savings is growing with unspent income. That’s good.
Property taxes suck a dog’s red dick. The big shocker is house insurance. And I’m about “that far” from telling them to stuff it, I ain’t giving you $4000 a year for nothing. Esp when you value the house, sight unseen, with what ever Zillow says.
I have a 100 year metal roof. Double pane low e windows. yada yada. Last month’s elec bill was $75 so I can say my “energy efficiency” BS has worked. And that’s before the floor insulation project. Truck is pretty new and paid off. I mean, my CC bills are what I spent in the last month.
I got this. I don’t have to find a job to pay bills.
And I just fixed PMR #6523 for a customer and popped a maintenance release 16.27b for her. Which, was related to PMR #6090 from 2014. PMR stands for Program Modification Request.
Dadgumit, I could have been watching the Astros beat up on the Cubbies with my mother this afternoon. I did spend an hour and a half with her after church. And I did leave the game on for her as she cannot operate the tv remote anymore.
She was really confused today. Breaks my heart to listen to her ask me the same question a half dozen times. I answer and wait for her to ask me the same question again.
Mom used to be really sharp even though she only graduated from high school. All three of us showed up to kindergarten able to read and write and count to ten or something like that.
Oh. And t-bills. Of various times. 4 week. 6 week. 8 week. 13 week. 17 week. 26 week. 52 week. It’s kind of crazy. I just look at it like hey, I have 10 grand, what term pays the most.
Poke around:
https://home.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/TextView?type=daily_treasury_bill_rates&field_tdr_date_value_month=202307
Generally, 26 weeks pays the best… 17 is good, too.
Sure, there is something that pays better than t-bills . I don’t know how to tap that spigot.
But at my age, a 10 year or more bond that pays more than a t-bill but if I’m dead?
So. T-bills. Sure. You have to keep up. But t-bills pay a full percent of interest more than Frost Bank pays on CDs. And I don’t have to drive to Austin.
Between VA, SS, RMD, and interest I bring in enough to survive without concern, with half of that tax exempt. RMD is starting to hit hard. I have a plan devised by my investment advisor to minimize that impact. It still hurts my federal taxes. TN has no income tax.
The financial advisor guys and gals are starting to scream about the RMDs causing people to jump up in the tax brackets. And to pay more IRMAA for Medicare. I just figured out that the wife and I may get IRMAAd next year since my wife is getting RMD’d on her inherited IRA.
I am going to start my Social Security in a year when I turn 67. I figure no matter what, means testing for Social Security is probably coming in 2030 or so.
She was really confused today. Breaks my heart to listen to her ask me the same question a half dozen times. I answer and wait for her to ask me the same question again.
Mom is only 18 years older than me. I am wondering what I will be like if I make it to 84?
Today’s new thing is that she is saving empty boxes in her 458 ft2 apartment. And she quit eating lunch a week ago. I tried to grab the empty boxes on my way out but she said that she needed them. Oh well.
The story spun to us when younger was that putting money into tax deferred was smart. We would pull the money when our tax bracket was lower. Yeh, how’s that working out? Another con job. I pay more in taxes now than I did 20 years ago.
If it does, it will only be for new applicants. Existing recipients being reduced would be a career ending move for legislators.
There is talk almost every year about reducing VA compensation for those on SS. Or reducing SS by the amount of VA compensation. Something about “double dipping”. That proposal does not get far. It would put a lot of vets under the bus and on the streets.
Irrelevant . That does not matter. My dad graduated school at 8th grade. That’s how it was back then .
My Dad was smart. Knew lots and lots about everything. How much school you go to does not matter at all. So. “graduated high school” is a bad metric.
But yeah. I watched my Mom spiral into a cloud of fog. She taught me how to wipe my butt and read and write and oh, so much much more.
It’s hard to watch Mommy fade away. All I got to offer is hugs.
The Crystal that Could Destroy All Medicine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksn5yrsC3Wg
the real title should be:
“Why Ritonavir Stopped Working”
which is one of the chapter titles.
One comment says: “I don’t like the trend making every thumbnail and title ambiguous. It tells nothing about what this video is about and makes future searchability impossible”
Yeah, verily. Looking forward to a future where all information is on the internet but not searchable.
The title is clickbait b.s., but the video is a decent introduction to the concept. Science fiction fans will recognize Kurt Vonnegut’s ice nine from Cat’s Cradle. I don’t recall if Vonnegut ever explained the origin of his idea.
It’s not a dream if it works, though.
People 10 miles away were getting 1GB fiber for $45/mo, I was paying $120 for 45yo copper. I literally could not install a ring camera because the bandwidth wasn’t there.
The fiber bundle runs down the road about 750′ away to feed the local substation that our copper goes to – they had NO PLANS to give anyone here an upgrade. Level dry sandy soil, utilites on poles, only county permits needed, thousands of people, the easiest possible build out – and NO PLANS.
“Existing recipients being reduced would be a
career endingsuicide move for legislators.”The new legislators would get elected on a platform of reversing the move and stripping the old legislators of their unearned pensions. Putting a bounty on the heads of the old legislators would be popular, too.
Doc is OLD SKOOL. Prescription version of Robitussin DM, good cough suppressant, good decongestant, good anti-histimine. CLASSIC drug package. And it works.
4 hours passed and I woke up. Coughing as I move. Dinner. Had to eat something. Now to dose and go back to bed. I’ll probably wake again around midnight, otherwise I’ll see you in the morning.
n