Sun. May 18, 2025 – Somebody might rest today, but not me, well, not much

By on May 18th, 2025 in culture, decline and fall

Warm bordering on hot, and well into hot later, if forecasts and common sense are to be believed. It was sunny and hot Saturday with my driveway thermometer showing over 100F in the afternoon. Probably be the same today. Although, the wind picked up a lot in the late night, so something might be blowing in on the winds of change.

I didn’t get as much done as I’d hoped yesterday, but then I was pushing against the world and that never goes well for me. For some reason I couldn’t make the time math add up correctly, so I was late or missed most of my appointments. I did stop at the boat guy and finish the paperwork, so that was an important task off the list. Now to go to Fish and Game and complete the changes in ownership and get the registration in our name.

Today I’m sleeping in a bit, then putting away all the stuff that came home in the past week. I will also try to pull stuff for my local auctioneer. That is pretty much the extent of my goals for the day. Some yardwork can happen too, if it’s not too hot.

Not much stacking this week, more refinement and retrenchment, with a bit of stacking. I’m gonna have to work harder, and smarter. Joy.

We’ll see how I do. You- do as I say, not as I do! Stack.

nick

47 Comments and discussion on "Sun. May 18, 2025 – Somebody might rest today, but not me, well, not much"

  1. lynn says:

    4 am and 46 F in Helena, MT.  Going to airport for 545 am flight.

    Am sunburned and tired.  Had a beautiful 19 inch brown trout jump onto my fly line yesterday amongst others.

    10
  2. Denis says:

    Hmm. Mexican Navy attempt to knock down the Brooklyn Bridge appears to have failed. I hope no-one was hurt.

  3. SteveF says:

    I was pushing against the world and that never goes well for me.

    You were doing it wrong.

    Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. –Archimedes

    Find you a lever and a fulcrum and show the world who’s boss.

    10
  4. Denis says:

    She typed gibberesh and sent the email…

    So Red Hen is my boss!!!

    Hurra, a SteveF sighting. Happy, happy.

  5. SteveF says:

    Had a beautiful 19 inch brown trout

    The only brown trout I know of are also called sewer trout. 19″ is a candidate for a world record.

  6. Greg Norton says:

    The airport is huge. Lots of foreign people from Asian countries. Generally rude and inconsiderate. But that could almost be said of most travelers on flights today. Saw a lot of planes from foreign countries, China, Korea, Hong Kong, and some planes I did not recognize. We toured the airport upon landing and took what seemed to me to be a circuitous route to the gate.

    I’ve heard stories recently about older Asian women expressing dominance in crowds, particularly in Texas airports, with sly elbow jabs to complete strangers, pretending nothing happened afterwards.

    Strictly annecdotal, but something is up.

    Having been around immigrant Asians most of my adult life, I look at Khan and Minh on “King of the Hill” as the poster children for the general thought process until proven otherwise based on experience. Of course, I am “Hillbilly”.

    Most of the in-laws except for my wife’s mother are simply banned from the house post-Vantucky. Evidently, there are cousins in WA State who take the same approach with the group of “ayees” and “achoos” (sp?) which include my wife’s mother.

    This is America. Some decided to abandon the old ways which made the family poor in Taiwan but others cling to the traditions, particularly Number One Son “Big Achoos” and their own first born. 

    Number One Son can be stupid like box of rocks, but Number One Son still make Number One decisions for family.

  7. Denis says:

    Sad. The Brooklyn Bridge crash killed two and injured more.

    Maneuvering a tall ship is not an easy matter. 

  8. Ray Thompson says:

    Stumped I am…is this hotel part of a US / international chain? E.g. Marriott or Hilton?

    Days Inn which is owned by Wyndham. I tried other chains and the prices were higher. I found this place on Hotels.com. The wife and I like two queen beds as we tend to sleep better in hotels. The beds being not as comfortable as home I tend to toss, turn, and squirm more than normal.

    Up at 5:00 AM as I suspected. I really despise time changes in travel but it is a necessary evil.

    Maneuvering a tall ship is not an easy matter. 

    The ship was not under sail from what I have read but was using engine power. The problem with that is the engines are that powerful as they are not the primary propulsion system. The news is saying there was a failure in the engine system.

    No cellular service from Xfinity wireless and I cannot get into my account to see if the settings are correct. That may be a good thing. I should have service in Alaska but who knows.

    Boarding the ship at noon, sailing at 5:00 PM. First stop in Alaska is not until sometime Tuesday.

  9. Ray Thompson says:

    And to add: The hotel is an old hotel that has been remodeled. It was obviously a different brand or name and Days Inn acquired the property which was subsequently acquired by Wyndham.

    I took a shower this morning and that water was hot, hot, hot. I would guess 150 F or more, enough to burn if not careful. I darn near scalded my hand when I stuck it in the water stream after running the water for a couple of minutes to get rid of the cold water in the pipe. It was painful but no burns.

  10. lynn says:

    Had a beautiful 19 inch brown trout

    The only brown trout I know of are also called sewer trout. 19″ is a candidate for a world record.

    Nah, they can get way bigger.  My son caught a 24 inch.

  11. lynn says:

    Apparently the Missouri River had a massive Rainbow Trout dieoff last summer as the population was way down. We caught mostly whitefish.

    Whitefish dont jump.  I had a rainbow jump twice.  I watched a lady catching a rainbow that jumped four times, once almost four feet in the air.

  12. lynn says:

    Back in the air from SLC to HOI.

  13. Greg Norton says:

    737-900. Obviously an older plane by paint missing on the front around the windows. The nose cone looks new. They had to bring in something the pilot called a “jump starter” because some power generating system used for starting was not working. I guess it is not critical to the flight operation.

    Delta. 

    IIRC, either late in 2020 or early in 2021, the poltroon women running the airline from their Buckhead condos during the Pandemic Kabuki floated the idea of goosing employee health insurance premiums for those individuals who refused the pending “safe and effective” jabs. This was even before Corn Pop’s large employer mandate since no one knew the exact details of the shots other than that they were coming and would be “safe and effective”.

    I’m sure that idea went over big in the maintenance hangars at Hartsfield and elsewhere.

    OTOH, goosing healthcare premiums for jab refusal was a popular idea four years ago, even among regulars in this space.

  14. MrAtoz says:

    OTW to El Paso and New Mexico for gigs. Then to SA.  My Southwest app scolded you must use power banks in plain view. no charging in your carryo.

  15. Greg Norton says:

    OTW to El Paso and New Mexico for gigs. Then to SA.  My Southwest app scolded you must use power banks in plain view. no charging in your carryo.

    The carry on bins have been full and/or improperly loaded on every flight I’ve been on in the last year or so. A Hecho en China power bank getting warm and going En Fuego under load wouldn’t be noticed right away.

    Of course, they are all Hecho en China.

  16. drwilliams says:

    Maybe someone has already done this so I don’t have to. 

    Simple thing, if the data is available–and it should be.

    We’ve spent years adopting technologies that are supposed to save energy, with a good number shoved down our throats by green zealots who have no compunction about collateral damage (see: CFL bulbs).

    A partial list:

    —CFL bulbs

    —LED bulbs

    —mandated efficiency standards for appliances

    —mandated efficiency standards for furnaces

    —mandated efficiency standards for automobiles

    I want the data to create a graph, year-by-year, of the amount of energy that has been saved by each of these and all the other mostly EPA-imposed “energy saving” mandates.

    Then I want to add to the graph to show the rise of energy usage by the AI “monkey tricks” and projecting into the future.

    And then I want a new graph showing cumulative energy savings. I strongly suspect that this graph will peak and turn downward, then plummet like a stone as it plunges to zero and below, showing the rise of AI wiping out all the energy savings from other areas.

  17. Greg Norton says:

    And then I want a new graph showing cumulative energy savings. I strongly suspect that this graph will peak and turn downward, then plummet like a stone as it plunges to zero and below, showing the rise of AI wiping out all the energy savings from other areas.

    You assume that the AI monkey trick won’t run out of gas.

    What? Because CRWV jumps 14 points on Friday you think it really will be different this time?

    Go look at the major holders of Coreweave.

  18. Nick Flandrey says:

    All the energy saving nonsense that started in the 70s and morphed into “green” and “carbon neutral” is because the greenies didn’t want more power plants.   The regulated power companies didn’t want more power plants either.   The pols controlling the power companies didn’t want more power plants.   

    So they decided to push energy conservation to slow the rate of usage growth, and NOT build the plants that simple math told them they would need.    They absolutely didn’t see computer data centers and EVs coming.   

    EVERYTHING is an outgrowth of that desire to NOT build plants.   At some point, probably after the majority were deregulated, they figured out that to grow they would need new plants, and the power companies changed their tune on the subject, but by then it was too late and the “conserve at all costs” meme was firmly embedded in the social fabric.

    This is my thesis, I directly experienced it, but I don’t have research I can cite.   If anyone does, that would be cool.   And if you have an alternative view, share it…    Mine fits the observable facts, afaik.

    Their goals are not YOUR goals.    

    n

    11
  19. Nick Flandrey says:

    95F and part sun today.   I haven’t stuck my head out but I expect the humidity is pretty high too.

    n

  20. Greg Norton says:

    From the Hot Skillz news desk:

    “Rust is so good you can get paid $20k to make it as fast as C”

    https://x.com/FFmpeg/status/1922814549033447800

  21. lpdbw says:

    Energy conservation is related to Conquest’s law, if you assume “cabal of its enemies” refers to people who hate the human species.

    While I am, myself, a misanthrope, I nonetheless actually am fond of humanity and the accomplishments of Man.  It’s just people I hate.  So I’m in favor of anything that advances the status of humanity.

    Directly following from that, I detest anyone who denigrates the accomplishments of Men, which can actually be reduced to the accomplishments of Western Christian White Males with no significant loss.

    This puts me at odds with all Communists, Socialists, Totalitarians, Environmentalists, and Gaia worshippers (some overlap).

    The only exception is that the original Environmentalists were correct; we were allowing, with the complicity of the government, major corporations to pollute and poison the earth.  But it’s a far cry from stopping chemical dumping and rivers catching on fire, to depriving people of irrigation and drinking water because of a worthless niche fish species.

    Humans (and Western Civ) first.

    11
  22. Nick Flandrey says:

    AI contributing to the further enshitification of everything.     Several someones thought this was an appropriate and USEFUL application.

    One of my auctioneers, the shadiest one, bought and run now by subcontinent, is using AI to write item descriptions.

    They aren’t the only ones, and the failings are pretty easy to spot “This [item] is useful and elegant.  You won’t want to miss the chance to get [item] to enhance your life.  [Item] will make you sexy, rich, and popular.  Don’t miss out on [item].   They dance around the item without ever giving any real useful information.  You can recognize the outgrowth from the scraped and scanned useless search results.

    Here is an actual description of an auction item…

    Description

    Introducing ‘Now’ – the perfect blend of style and functionality for your everyday adventures. Crafted with premium materials, this versatile product offers unmatched durability and comfort. Whether you’re at work, at play, or simply relaxing, ‘Now’ seamlessly adapts to your lifestyle, ensuring you look and feel your best. With its sleek design and innovative features, it’s a must-have for anyone who values quality and elegance. Don’t miss the chance to experience the convenience and sophistication of ‘Now’ – your ultimate companion for every moment. Elevate your daily routine with ‘Now’ and embrace the present with confidence.

    Anyone care to guess what the item ACTUALLY IS?   

     |

    |

    |

    |

    |

    |

    |

    |

    it’s an audio CD. Someone’s new album titled “Now”.   Either the girl scanning the item didn’t recognize what it is, or their software couldn’t find the UPC code and pull a description from online,  so they used the AI plug in to insert that completely useless “description”.

    Sound and fury signifying nothing.

    n

  23. Nick Flandrey says:

    There is far more to this story.    

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14724885/palm-springs-ivf-clinic-bombing-terror-attack-suspect.html 

    Someone groomed this guy and fed him what he needed.   No way he just sprang up out of nothing on his own.

    Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, is accused of setting off the blast just before 11am Saturday at the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs inside a silver Ford Fusion sedan, the FBI said. 

    Bartkus is the only person who died in the incident, which authorities are calling an ‘intentional act of terrorism.’

    Four others were injured from the blast but none of them are employees of the clinic, according to city officials. 

    In his writings, Bartkus allegedly said he was ‘pro-mortalist’, something he described as someone who intends to bring on their own death as soon as possible ‘to prevent your future suffering, and, more importantly, the suffering your existence will cause to all the other sentient beings.’ 

    He also recorded a 30-minute-long audio clip explaining why he ‘decided to bomb an IVF building, or clinic.’ 

    ‘I figured I would just make a recording explaining why I’ve decided to bomb an IVF building, or clinic. Basically, it just comes down to I’m angry that I exist and that, you know, nobody got my consent to bring me here,’ he said. 

    n

    Bartkus also said he was ‘angry’ that IVF clinics exist, adding: ‘These are people who are having kids after they’ve sat there and thought about it. How much more stupid can it get?’

    ‘These are people who are having kids after they’ve sat there and thought about it. How much more stupid can it get?’
    Read More
    BREAKING NEWS
    Fertility clinic explosion was terror attack
    article image

    He is suspected of setting off a large vehicle-borne improvised explosive device outside of the clinic, which performs IVF treatments, egg collections and other procedures, according to its website.

    Authorities found an AK-47 and an AR-Style rifle, as well as ammunition next to the burnt vehicle, the LA Times reported.

  24. Nick Flandrey says:

    Only “shocking” if you’ve been sleepwalking thru life or only watch MSM.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14724387/donald-trump-shocking-theory-links-bill-hilary-clinton-numerous-deaths.html 

    Everyone else?  Ho hum.  Old news.

    n

    Remember, like Christmas lights, Epstein didn’t hang himself…

  25. Nick Flandrey says:

    Meh, I’ve seen smaller bikinis and bigger @sses.   It’s historically rare to see someone with so little reason to be famous though.   Modern culture, how awesome when just being related to someone with a leaked sex tape makes you famous. /sarc

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14723815/Kylie-Jenner-thong-bikini-Turks-Caicos-Timothee-Chalamet.html 

    n

  26. Nick Flandrey says:

    More poor programming that’s gonna cost me time…

    Against my better judgement I used the online service to renew my license plates.    To start, you enter your plate number and last 4 digits of your VIN.

    Then you answer questions about yourself, confirm the information, select a payment options, and then “ADD THIS TO YOUR SHOPPING CART AND RENEW ANOTHER VEHICLE” which gave me hope….

    But, no.   I continued, did the plate/vin thing again, confirmed the info, went to payment, and  the total for “license plate HAM123 is $77.”   IE the cost for one plate, one vehicle.   Some smartass programmer did a data validation, decided that CONTRARY TO STATE LAW, only one vehicle can be tied to each license plate, and did the transaction for ONE registration.

    Now I’m going to have to call, figure out who to talk to, probably go somewhere, and get this straightened out this week.  FFS people.  STATE LAW.  State website.

    BTW, ham radio plates have been an extra PITA during every single interaction with officialdom.   They saved me money, but only thru a quirk.    Not recommended. 

    n

  27. Greg Norton says:

    Meh, I’ve seen smaller bikinis and bigger @sses.   It’s historically rare to see someone with so little reason to be famous though.   Modern culture, how awesome when just being related to someone with a leaked sex tape makes you famous. /sarc

    The late Kardashian patriarch was part of OJ’s attorney “Dream Team”.

    Depending on which theory you want to believe, Robert Kardashian took the murder weapon out of the house in the golf bag prior to the cops conducting the search. 

    Kardashian is clearly shown holding the golf bag in multiple videos/photos of the press conference held by the lawyers prior to letting the cops into the house to conduct the search.

    An identical golf bag found inside the house was tested for blood and DNA by LAPD, but the forensics report came back clean.

    Later, when Paris Hilton was the “it” girl of reality programming, TMZ started the ball rolling on the Kardashians when they started investigating a previously unidentified Paris bestie who turned out to be Kim.

    Thank/blame Harvey Levin … and OJ … for the Kardashians

  28. Ken Mitchell says:

    As bikinis go, that’s a pretty modest one; I’ve seen them a lot skimpier, and on better bodies. But rhinestones? On a bikini?  I can think of less comfortable things to have pressed against my crotch, but not many. And I guarantee that she’ll never wear it to swim. 

  29. Nick Flandrey says:

    I will hand it to Kim Bigassian, she leveraged the HELL out of the exposure and built a legitimate business worth an incredible amount of money and influence.   All the rest of them are just along for the ride.

    n

    (and greg is right, the only reason anyone gave a damm was who her daddy was, and that leaked sex tapes were still a novelty.)

  30. Nick Flandrey says:

    ham radio plates …   Not recommended.  

    – I should specify, “not recommended for one of the primary ”benefits” which is multiple vehicles sharing the same plate and renewal date.”

    Single vehicle seems to be fine.

    n

  31. Nick Flandrey says:

    Since I am avoiding work outside, I just looked at the google analytics for this site, this week.

    It shows 9 users from South Africa?   I’m assuming those are VPN connections, but if not, welcome!  Feel free to contribute and join a conversation.

    n

  32. drwilliams says:

    AI-written descriptions are the latest Self-Inflicted Pox on eBay (SIPoe).

    I was looking at listing a Star Trek game as part of my drive to just list shiite and get rid of it. IIRC it has a couple pieces missing. So I look at eBay to see if it’s worth listing, and didn’t find one of the 5-6 “used” examples that actually stated something fundamental: “complete” or otherwise. 

    BTW, one of the many earlier SIPoe’s was their “Item Specifics” which like as not wants a whole bunch of carp that is not applicable, but misses things like “complete”.

  33. drwilliams says:

    Joe Biden Has Prostate Cancer

    https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2025/05/18/biden-has-prostate-cancer-n2657252

    Good. I hope it comes with waves of excruciating pain that cannot be managed by anything short of massive doses of opioids, and the feds assign a watchdog to make sure that he doesn’t get them, just as they have been denying large doses of opioids for thousands of seniors in similar pain. 

    The fact is that FJB is himself a cancer, and deservesto got out the hard, slow way crying for his mama.

    Fauci next, but I bet that despicable little lying coward has a hot shot stashed to help himself out.

    9
    1
  34. Greg Norton says:

    I will hand it to Kim Bigassian, she leveraged the HELL out of the exposure and built a legitimate business worth an incredible amount of money and influence.   All the rest of them are just along for the ride.

    So when does Bruce Jenner get to reverse the boob job and return to presenting as male?

  35. Greg Norton says:

    Joe Biden Has Prostate Cancer

    https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2025/05/18/biden-has-prostate-cancer-n2657252

    That kind of Gleason score tumor doesn’t just appear suddenly, even in someone Corn Pop’s age.

    Given the cover up about the dementia, another cover up about aggressive prostate cancer wouldn’t surprise me.

    My wife has patients Biden’s age with aggressive prostate cancers and they just live with the condition rather than risk the side effects of treatments.

  36. Greg Norton says:

    My wife has patients Biden’s age with aggressive prostate cancers and they just live with the condition rather than risk the side effects of treatments.

    The hormone treatment mentioned does bad things to men and not something to be considered lightly.

    The nastiest woman on our HOA board in Florida was a lapsed rabbi biological male who underwent hormone therapy for aggressive prostate cancer.

  37. MrAtoz says:

    This puts me at odds with all Communists, Socialists, Totalitarians, Environmentalists, and Gaia worshippers (some overlap).

    Don’t forget the Amish Americans!

  38. MrAtoz says:

    Since plugs‘ cancer is already in his bones, it is clear his doctor lied about giving him a clean bill of health. It wouldn’t surprise me his mental state is in part due to heavy duty cancer drugs. tRump will get to issue the flags at half mass order during this term.

    Don’t ever forget the lying LSM covered all this up to help the Dumbos/Deep State maintain power.

    Edit: Hi, Mr. Greg!

    8
    1
  39. Ken Mitchell says:

    So Joe Biden has prostate cancer.  Or does he?  Could this be simply another diversion, a “plea for sympathy for an old man” as Jill tries to fend off all of their legal problems? Or is the traitor really about to croak? 

    Or is this a Covid-shot caused “turbo cancer”?

    One can never know which set of lies are the closest to the “truth” with these people!

    11
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  40. Nick Flandrey says:

    Hoo boy it’s hot out.    Sun is beating down now too.

    I’ve been doing some cleanup in the garden beds and the back yard.  I’ve let stuff fester for too long.   There are TREES in some places.   As a bonus, the fence guys moved all my stuff away from the fence, but of course didn’t put it back.

    And the fractal nature means I need to fix the mower before use.  And the sprinklers.

    And trim around the utility lines.

    n

  41. Greg Norton says:

    And the fractal nature means I need to fix the mower before use.  And the sprinklers.

    I just got a quote on retrenching one of the zones of our sprinkler system to route the supply lines away from the property line.

    One of the neighbors has a group of illegals who do various projects for him and he pimps out their services to other households in the neighborhood.

    My immediate neighbor on one side, “Jian Yang”, runs the house as a rental and uses the illegal labor to maintain the fence. Unfortunately, when the workers put big holes in my sprinkler supply line working on the fence, they revert to the third world approach and avoid letting me know about the problem so it can be addressed immediately.

    I don’t know Jian Yang’s real name so I borrowed a name from “Silicon Valley” since there is a resemblence.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJsOA4Zl6Io

    Another piece of observational humor brilliance from Mike Judge.

  42. Greg Norton says:

    I just got a quote on retrenching one of the zones of our sprinkler system to route the supply lines away from the property line.

    Round Rock literally sits on a big rock so running sprinkler line can involve a trencher.

    That is somthing best left to professionals.

  43. Lynn says:

    BC: Big Wind

       https://www.gocomics.com/bc/2025/05/16

    Gross.

    BTW, while fly fishing, we don’t say the W word when it comes up and destroys our casts.  And drops the temperature by 20 F.  Because you might get more of the W.

    And it is the allergy season.

  44. Nick Flandrey says:

    What is the world coming to when there is enough demand that the chinese can mass produce this item, and enough of them get sold that one ends up in my returns auction?

    https://hibid.com/lot/247035652/-739-70w-dc-24v-diy-telescopic-reciprocating-linea?ref=catalog 

    I’ve gotten used to seeing this item.

    https://hibid.com/lot/247035647/position-enhancer-chair-weightless-bouncing-mount?ref=catalog 

     but t he linear thruster is new.  I guess I should be glad that the accessory pack isn’t included in the listing.

    n

  45. Nick Flandrey says:

    Well, I thought about a tiny little fire tonight but I think I’ll go to bed instead.

    n

  46. Alan says:

    >>I should specify, “not recommended for one of the primary ”benefits” which is multiple vehicles sharing the same plate and renewal date.”

    @nick, was there consideration of any “quasi-official” status  being of value in a SHTF bug-out scenario? 

  47. MrK says:

    “plea for sympathy for an old man”

    Well.. um.. donning my aluminium, (correct spelling btw :P), beanie… 

    He will be gone in 6 months.. Dead men tell no tales.. etc..

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