85F, overcast, windy, but no more humid than the Gulf coast normally is. That was yesterday, and hopefully today. Theme parks in the broiling sun are no fun, and if the wind gets too strong, they shut down rides.
We had a nice day yesterday. Pretty calm and relaxed,with the second half in airconditioning…
Today we’ll be outdoors a lot. I’m hoping for Goldilocks conditions again. I haven’t been to this park in at least 25 years, so we’ll see how we like it. Then it’s moving to another city for a couple of days. It’s going to be a long day today.
I wouldn’t say I’m having fun, but I am enjoying most of it. The kids surprised me at the museum, so I’m learning and growing… and that’s a good thing.
Stack.
nick
Thursday. Good morning!
I hope you do enjoy your trip, Nick. It doesn’t sound awful. I usually find the worst part of any trip is working myself up to actually leave home…
Busy days at the moment. Another vehicle needs its roadworthiness check today. Yesterday’s was a pass, and I hope today’s will be too. Toyotas are generally reliable and trouble-free, so I am confident, even though today’s car is probably twenty years old or more. It has been driven little and carefully maintained mechanically. I even gave it a clean, contrary to my usual policy of neglecting polish and not wasting potable water. Cross your fingers!
Honestly, I’m surprised that he was so honest.
Honest, or stupid? Or perhaps clever and calculating enough to get out of further jury duty by saying that…
We’ll never know.
Mild bad news. W1’s Yaris failed its inspection. The plastic headlights have gone a bit opaque through age and UV. Apparently it was enough to interfere with the necessary measurements. The guy said to polish them up and come back… I was going to do just that, but now it is raining outside like a cow watering a flat rock. Bah.
Yes. Or just trade it in and let it be the next guy’s problem.
I don’t know. That was at a dealership the auto group I worked for at the time had just purchased, and I was doing a quick survey. I left shortly after so never had a chance to dig in. It honestly could have been either one. That dealership’s tech setup ( a Ford) was ancient.
Bless your heart. Why even post if you don’t want a discussion? Oh, that’s right, I know.
Up, fed, packed, moving toward the car. A day of theme park adventure awaits.
40% overcast, no rain in the forecast,so that’s good.
Springhill Suites by Marriott has a nice free breakfast, including meat eggs and waffles.
Time to go!
n
My right hearing aid crapped out. Constant red light while in the charger and I have no idea what that means. All I know is the device is no longer functioning. Off to VA audiology to have the device looked at. I suspect the device will have to be sent in for repairs and that takes 7-10 days. Service is at no cost, but there is a cost in inconvenience. I suspect other providers, such as Costco and Miracle Ear all have the same situation.
DuckDuckGo Kungfoo indicates a charging issue. Same problem in two different chargers. So, yeh, the device is borked.
I am partial to Hampton Inn which has good breakfasts.
I have been to Disney World four times. I went with a girl and her family that I had met in Las Vegas shortly after the park opened. It never worked out with the girl.
The next two times I stayed off property because it was cheaper. The last trip I stayed on property at Animal Kingdom. I am never staying off property again. The savings are not worth the hassles of the shuttles, that only operate once a day and by the time the shuttle makes its last pickup, the vehicle is jammed with sweaty people and annoying kids with inadequate A/C. Whereas the Disney shuttle ran every 30 minutes and was full, but not jammed. It was also nice to leave the park in the middle of the day and return later.
The resort also offered a really nice swimming pool and free soft drinks at the resort. Room access was through the wristband. A couple days before arrival the wristbands arrived via UPS. The room was assigned when we arrived and we went straight to the room. Check out was just leave. The bill was charged to the credit card.
While the wristbands are really convenient, there is a downside. Purchasing stuff was too easy and it was difficult to keep track of the spending. Disney knew this and uses it to their advantage.
I need to make another, and probably final, trip to DW, take the kid, his wife and grandkids. Yes, my wife too! I want to stay in hotel that the monorail runs through. It would be one of those trips where if Disney offers it, we will get it. Meet the characters, breakfast with the characters, dinner with the characters, really nice rooms at the resort, express passes or whatever it is called, multi-park access, probably a five-day trip.
Yeh, it will cost a fortune. I can either spend the money on crap I don’t need or spend it making memories and enjoyment. At this point in my life enjoyment and memories are more important.
https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/06/04/explosive-device-found-in-carry-on-sacramento-suspect-arrested-n2203027
Baseline probe. Probability is high that there was a second level that they missed.
And the perps luggage was checked through to NC, FFS.
The response to something like this should be cancelling the flight and a forensic exam of the passenger list. A search team with a federal warrant should be rolling to the perps address in well less than an hour, with full SWAT support, and every point of sale for the cell phones should have a visit by the end of the day.
The perp should be in Gitmo with a full i-team peeling him like a rotten onion.
Mr. Ray, do you have a backup, like Air Pods, etc., while you wait?
I have been to Disney World four times. I went with a girl and her family that I had met in Las Vegas shortly after the park opened. It never worked out with the girl.
I’ve been at least a dozen times. We stayed at the Swan Reserve for our last vacation trip to Disney (we held a work gig there last year). Not bad, and you can walk to the water taxi to get to the park or take ride share from the hotel. That was the trip D3 paid for the VIP experience. Her husband crapped out for some wimpy reason (along with everyone else) so it was the two of us for two days of being driven to every park and taken in the back to the front of any ride we wanted. If you want to spend money at Disney, that is the way to do it. Our tour guide drove us in a big black SUV. Picked us up and dropped us off at the Swan.
Yes, I do. Although not as effective and people think I am not listening to them speaking while wearing the devices.
I’m still just using the left hearing aid after having the left one die. not really ideal. Trying to decide what to do.
Used my Pixel buds the other day just to see. Can set noise suppression to on, none or transparent.
People think you’re not listening? Good, they’re likely right.
Didn’t you mention this a week or two ago? Or am I suffering some kind of temporal dislocation, either remembering something from a year ago or remembering an event from today, a week or two ago? If the latter, I’m annoyed. Why am I remembering your hearing aid and not winning lottery numbers?
Found out yesterday that my brother’s worse off than I had realized. He hopes to make it to the new year. Our mom thinks that’s optimistic. He’s not happy but there’s not much to be done except get through each day one at a time. I’m not happy about it, either, but about all I can do is drive up and help with chores around the property and other things that come up.
BTDT and it sucks. But being there is important, and even though it doesn’t seem like much, it really is.
I feel like I failed my brother in his last days, but he continued to thank me for what I did do.
Are They Stealing the Los Angeles Primary?
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/06/04/are-they-stealing-the-los-angeles-primary-n3815603
If a small Latin American country had tried that kind of phony voting shiite when James Earl Carter was watching for every opportunity to shaft our allies, they would have been called out in a second.
If a bank had ten thousand load applications and not one minority got approved, there would be congressional hearing.
It’s time to de-certify California’s statehood–they do not meet the “free and fair elections” required to be in the club.
The fact that the question is asked gives you the answer.
Past-best-by prat immolates self
https://redstate.com/bradslager/2026/06/04/the-damning-detail-proving-scott-pelley-was-fired-for-cause-and-not-ideology-revealed-by-pelley-himself-n2203034
Wonder what shampoo he uses? Must be good stuff to keep his hair white when he head spends so much time up his backside.
Sorry to hear that, SteveF. Tell him you love him*, and do whatever you can to help, as you are.
*Or to get bent. Some people need telling that, but I sincerely hope your brother is not one of those. I have a list of people who will get told what they need to hear if ever I have the facility of knowing approximately when I will join the choir eternal.
“Meat eggs” sound intriguing. Are those anything like Scotch eggs? 😉
BTW, until one has had proper haggis Scotch eggs, one hasn’t lived.
When SteveF is right, he’s not wrong.
I have a list of people whose graves will be defiled if I ever find them.
Perhaps more a diversion than a probe? There might be a competent and discreet operator on his way someplace else.
“Meat eggs” are called balut in the Philippines. Let the egg incubate for about 3 weeks and then boil it.
Sounds disgusting..
I use to have a list. I decided they were not worth the effort.
…and crunchy.
More please!!!
Trump’s DOGE purge strikes back: EIGHT THOUSAND federal workers face the chop under sweeping order
Our goobermint is seriously overstaffed. Too many bosses with 2 or 3 assistant bosses. They are all highly overpaid for what they do. We sheeple should move the entire Federal goobermint to the middle of the Nevada desert.
Yes. Or just trade it in and let it be the next guy’s problem.
Nah, I cannot do that to somebody else when I know about the problem.
It is $6K to get fixed. I just do not know how soon I need to get it fixed. One of the people on reddit says it is time when the timing computer cannot compensate anymore and starts throwing codes.
A new F-150 4×4 XLT Supercrew with the FX4 and Max Tow package is $70K out the door with taxes. And I want the full time 4×4 which is the Limited at $80K. You don’t want to know what the wife said.
More please!!!
Trump’s DOGE purge strikes back: EIGHT THOUSAND federal workers face the chop under sweeping order
Our goobermint is seriously overstaffed. Too many bosses with 2 or 3 assistant bosses. They are all highly overpaid for what they do. We sheeple should move the entire Federal goobermint to the middle of the Nevada desert.
This sounds like some of the Swamp to me. And 98% of these people are dumbrocrats.
Springhill Suites by Marriott has a nice free breakfast, including meat eggs and waffles.
My wife made me meat eggs for breakfast. Scrambled eggs with chunks of turkey sausage and potatoes. I added the chunky salsa.
Not necessary. Simply disallow all air conditioning in the District of Columbia. That won’t get rid of everyone but it will help.
As for laying off 8000 government “work”ers, that’s fine, I guess, but it’s barely a token. Increase the number by 100x and maybe I’ll be impressed.
“Nvidia’s laptop chip is a bet that AI will need more than the cloud to flourish”
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/nvidias-laptop-chip-is-a-bet-that-ai-will-need-more-than-the-cloud-to-flourish-171209056.html
This is why I am porting my software from Fortran to C++. The CPU market is fragmenting very quickly now. Reminds me of the 1990s with all the Unix boxes coming from dozens of distributors.
“Sweep with Me (5) (Innkeeper Chronicles)” by Ilona Andrews
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1641971371?tag=ttgnet-20
Book number five of a six book paranormal fantasy romance science fiction series. Please note that this book is a novella, not a full length novel. I reread the well printed and well bound POD (print on demand) illustrated (kinda) trade paperback published in 2020 by the Nancy Yost Literary Agency that I bought new on Amazon in 2023. Note that “Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband and wife writing team. And yes, this is science fiction, there are spaceships, teleportation devices, beam weapons, and space stations.
BTW, this series is very much like “The Princess Bride” book. A lot of magic, a lot of good old human sweat and tears, many good guys, and quite a few bad guys. Ah yeah, maces and swords. And poison.
Dina Demille is an innkeeper in Red Deer, Texas. Only her Victorian inn is not like a typical bed and breakfast, it is an intelligent magical haven named Gertrude Hunt for aliens coming to Earth or using Earth as a way station. Dina does have a permanent guest, a retired Galactic aristocrat named Caldenia who is hiding from several bounty hunters, who paid for permanent room and board.
There are many inns like the Gertrude Hunt on Earth, that is because Earth has been designated as Neutral Ground for the various Galactic races, many of whom don’t get along. That’s why Caldenia is safe within the confines of Gertrude Hunt, the inn has many powerful weapons to protect itself and guests. Several of the bounty hunters are still chasing Caldenia for the massive bounty and have taken on the Gertrude Hunt Inn to their dismay.
Every winter, Innkeepers look forward to celebrating their own special holiday, which commemorates the ancient treaty that united the very first Inns and established the rules that protect them, their intergalactic guests, and the very unaware/oblivious people of [planet] Earth. By tradition, the Innkeepers welcomed three guests: a warrior, a sage, and a pilgrim, but during the holiday, Innkeepers must open their doors to anyone who seeks lodging. Anyone.
The authors have a website at:
https://www.ilona-andrews.com
My rating: 6 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (11,435 reviews)
Lynn
“You are insane and NO!”
When SteveF is left, he’s not right.
Just stating the obvious.
Fortunately for my self esteem, I’ve never been on the left. Roughly centrist previously, which of course makes me Hitler’s more extreme cousin by today’s standards.
“’Peaceful protest’? St. Paul city officials absolve rioters who invaded and disrupted church”
https://www.wnd.com/2026/06/peaceful-protest-st-paul-city-officials-absolve-rioters/
“Web personality Don Lemon filmed a stunt that was set up by anti-ICE radicals to invade a St. Paul church, disrupt the worship, terrify children and intimidate congregants.”
“He and dozens of others already are facing federal charges for their violence.”
“But city officials in the Minnesota enclave claim there’s “insufficient” evidence to support state charges, and the church’s pastor has a message for the mayor, Kaohly Her:”
I knew that this was going to happen. These blue liberal cities are willing to throw away their long established citizens and this is just one way to do so.
Hat tip to:
https://thelibertydaily.com/
The Harry Potter sections of the Universal parks are all extremely well done and worth the time.
I was also really impressed with what Universal did with theming around the classic Monsters IP at the newest park, but that may or may not be your thing.
We rode the “E ticket” ride twice.
Super Mario and Donkey Kong are a bit of a letdown, which has probably saved Disney this Summer.
You assume that Nvidia has executed and will continue to execute flawlessly.
Incorrect strategy Number One.
The only real Chipzilla competitor is Apple.
I suggest avoiding the “All Star” resorts, especially during the Summer when the rain can leave you stuck in your room at the far corner of the complex.
During a tropical storm or hurricane? Fuggedaboudit. Disney hurricane hospitality legends happen at the $1000/night hotels, not All Star buildings.
Coronado Springs away from the DVC tower could be unpleasant as well.
I rode the Disney shuttle from our room at Coronado Springs, and the trip required 10 minutes just to circle the parking lot to pick up guests at four locations in the resort.
Driving to work today, I witnessed an accident where a young girl driving a Jeep Wrangler like a Mustang took a right turn lane too sharp and jumped the curb. The only thing that saved me from having my entire driver side crushed by the Jeep crossing the intersection and t-boning my vehicle was that she hit a pole with pedestrian signals and ricocheted away from me.
Geesh, Jeeps have a lot of plastic now. The pieces that hit the pole just shattered like glass.
“Turns Out Democrats Weren’t Just Coming for Your Rifles After All”
https://thelibertydaily.com/turns-democrats-werent-just-coming-your-rifles-after/
“As of this writing, four states have passed laws banning the Glock pistol, with California being the first state to enact a ban on Glocks, declaring them “machine gun convertible pistols” when Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB1127 into law in October 2025, followed by Maryland, Connecticut and New York. For the last three and a half decades, anti-Second Amendment activists have primarily called for banning so-called “assault weapons” after the release of a 1988 study for New Right Watch by Josh Sugarmann, who later led the Violence Policy Center (VPC).”
Unreal. And a violation of the Second Amendment.
“”BIG Cheating by the Dumocrats”: Trump Launches California Probe as They Try to Steal LA and Governor Races”
https://jdrucker.substack.com/p/big-cheating-by-the-dumocrats-trump
“California’s embrace of universal mail-in voting, solidified in recent years, creates the foundation for prolonged counting. I’ve long said an election in California is never over until Democrats manufacture enough ballots to win.”
I predict that the California mayoral and governor voting this fall will see cheating using mail in ballots in the millions.
“A new F-150 4×4 XLT Supercrew with the FX4 and Max Tow package is $70K out the door with taxes. And I want the full time 4×4 which is the Limited at $80K. You don’t want to know what the wife said.”
But a new-to-you $50,000 truck. Change your mind within the grace period. Trade that one and your old one in on the new truck you want. Count the monthly insurance payment savings (ie, two payment on two trucks down to one payment on one truck) in your financial calculations showing how much money you saved.
Make sure the front door is unlocked in case you have to bail out quickly after presenting the numbers.
“Not necessary. Simply disallow all air conditioning in the District of Columbia. That won’t get rid of everyone but it will help.”
The founders were imperfect. They put the capital in a swamp for a reason, but could not anticipate air conditioning a mere hundred years later that would support the growth of the infection.
*Desktop and laptop* competitor, to be clear.
And that they’ll develop reliable, fully functional, and good-performing drivers (hahahahahaha!) or that they’ll release correct and complete documentation for others to develop drivers (HAHAHAHAHAHA!).
“Trump Softens Red Line: ‘No Reason’ To Retrieve Iran’s Nuclear ‘Dust’ As It’s Effectively ‘Entombed’”
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/oil-prices-fall-white-house-signals-will-maintain-ceasefire-iran-unless-american
I am guessing that Trump does not want to send in the troops to dig up the enriched uranium.
But the Iranians will dig it up as soon as they can.
“High fuel costs forces American Airlines to suspend some of its summer routes, company says”
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/energy/high-fuel-costs-forces-american-airlines-suspend-some-its-summer-routes
“Los Angeles to Cleveland
Note that these are all California destinations or takeoff points. My SWAG is that the jet fuel may not be available in California to meet the needs of the airlines.
“Police Officers Admit DEI Training Pressured Them to Ignore Dying White Teen Henry Nowak”
https://modernity.news/2026/06/04/police-officers-admit-dei-training-pressured-them-to-ignore-dying-white-teen-henry-nowak/
“Anti-white indoctrination and two-tier priorities left an 18-year-old bleeding out while officers believed his attacker’s racism claim”
It is now or never for the UK.
We will be facing this in the USA in 20 years, maybe way sooner.
A new F-150 4×4 XLT Supercrew with the FX4 and Max Tow package is $70K out the door with taxes. And I want the full time 4×4 which is the Limited at $80K. You don’t want to know what the wife said.
Actually, I may get a Toyota 4×4 Truck this time. The F-150s seem to be problematic and the company seems to not be interested in fixing them. I need to study them in my copious spare time.
“I was just following orders”. Right.
Kenny of All Trades just dropped his latest truck camping video and it is about his truck, rather than camping with his dog Toby.
I knew it was a full sized diesel, but it’s actually a factory snowplow version. Oversized suspension sure, but also there is oversized cooling (these can sit idling for hours and operate at 2mph sometimes) and oversized electrical system components because of all the aux equipment.
He reports that without the 3000 pounds of truck camper it really does ride like a truck, but it’s quite responsive and stable with the weight on it.
He also weighs in briefly on the gas versus diesel issue, says both are competent and he’s had both, but notes that the gas engine has to run at higher RPM and the transmissions hunt a bit and the noise gets very intrusive on a long drive.
I cleaned out the spare fridge today. The dozen cans or so of iced tea and fruit juice have been there at least two years. It’s been there for company. That was the plan. Maybe pushing four years. I’m too lazy to see if the cans have dates. I figure if I have never ever thought to get a can of tea on a hot day, odds are I won’t.
So it goes into the trash tomorrow morning.
From the house fridge a can of Rotel tomatoes is going away. Can’t say it’s bulging but it’s been in the fridge for four years. Also leaving is a half brick of Velveeta of the same age. It’s not dried at all but the flavor isn’t quite right. Not bad, just off a bit. If an event happens where I want to make Rotel cheese dip, I’ll buy fresh parts.
So excitement here. Much wow.
Too hot (99F) to do much, so just little things here.
Organized the big storage closet a bit, mostly camping and astronomy gear, and added things into a cheap metal gun safe I use for documents. I figure it will keep the honest people out.
I do need to do some fridge purging myself, I do tend not to eat my veggies unless I make a full meal, and it’s just been too warm to make many of those, so there must be some pretty past their prime stuff in the crisper.
The birds and rabbits get outside will get a chance at it too.
If they’re not too far past their prime, make a stir-fry. The skillet doesn’t need to be hot very long so it doesn’t heat the house much and isn’t too uncomfortable for the cook.
“BREAKING: Senate Votes 48-50 to Reject SAVE America Act – FOUR Republicans Join the Democrats”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/06/breaking-senate-votes-48-50-reject-save-america/
“Four Republicans voted to reject the Graham Amendment: Murkowski, McConnell, Tillis, and Collins.”
“The amendment needed 60 votes to pass, but this voted showed that the Republicans likely wouldn’t pass the SAVE America Act if the filibuster was nuked.”
Figures.
At least Mitch McConnell will be out of the Senate at the end of the year.
Bolton to Plead Guilty
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/06/bolton-to-plead-guilty.php
Too bad they can’t cauterize his mustache and transplant a weiner dog’s ass onto his lower lip.
“At least Mitch McConnell will be out of the Senate at the end of the year.”
Collins expects that there is a bunch of oppo research that will put a stake in Platner’s Nazi heart.
It would be almost funny if the time came and they said. “We really don’t seen much difference between having Platner vote against us on everything and you voting against us on the important shiite.”
Be even funnier if the Dems hought Mills was their backup plan and DOJ dropped a felony indictment on her before the end of the month.
Collins does vote for the Repuglican judges and justices. You gotta say that about her.
As will John Cornyn, Thom Tillis, and Bill Cassidy. And with any luck, Lindsey Grahamnesty. And if Nazi Platner bumps off RINO Collins, it’ll be no real loss.
So if the GOP maintains control of the Senate, we OUGHT to see a new Majority Leader, because Thune will have lost at least 5 of his fellow RINOs.
“Meat eggs” sound intriguing. Are those anything like Scotch eggs?
BTW, until one has had proper haggis Scotch eggs, one hasn’t lived.
– RBT thought I used too many commas… and you guys bust my chops when I use too few 111!!!1!!!
About to get to bed. Nice day at Busch Gardens. Overcast and low 80sF until afternoon. We were done about 330pm and it was just getting sunny and hot. Lots of coasters were ridden. Not much else to do there. But the coasters are really good, except for one, which was short and lame. Park was barely occupied and the QuickPass option was probably unnecessary, but we didn’t know that going in. We or just the kid, rode several coasters multiple times in a row. Behavioral warning signs were in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Lots of signs that the amish or people that act like them are a problem all over the park. Notices about line jumping, and of throwing stuff at the rides were everywhere, and a bunch of additional netting was in place to extend barriers to throwing stuff. The construction was very temporary looking, not up to permanent theme park quality of fit and finish.
Several rides were down for long term repair/upgrade, and a few were down due to failures. There were burned out light bulbs and places where paint was lacking or had been hastily applied. IOW, looking a bit shabby for the start of the summer.
Still a nice enough day. And anyone who complains about WDW costing a lot hasn’t been to the other parks. Locker use was mandatory for even small bags and they CHARGE for it. Universal required it but it was free. EVERYTHING had additional fees and good food was crazy expensive. Metal detectors and bag search on entry but only one coaster required a metal detector. Last year at Universal it was EVERY ride. Cameras were new, everywhere, and poorly installed.
Not a lot of accommodation for wheels either, not strollers or assistive devices. No where near the level that Disney goes to.
——–
BTW, if you go to WDW, I highly recommend staying on property. You can even ‘rent’ points from people and stay in the Vacation Club properties. I also second Greg’s comments about the very cheap properties like All Star…
——–
Time for bed.
n