Cool and clear, warming later. I hope. It was nice at the BOL this morning, a bit chilly but the sun was beating down. I was sweating while hanging Christmas lights. I’m hoping for similar here in Houston today.
Got up reasonably early. Did stuff. Little stuff, but mostly stuff that needed to be done. The extra Christmas lights on the dock went up when the mower didn’t start… no idea why, no time to troubleshoot or recharge the battery. Eventually drove home and did the thing I needed to do here.
Today I’m taking the truck in for a look-see at the drive line and rear end. I noticed a small visible wobble, really small, in the rear wheel that was hit, and there is a slight pull to the right. Getting it checked out is probably prudent.
Before that though, I’ve got a pickup to do, or maybe more than one, and some stuff that needs to be moved to the shop. I’ll have to leave the truck at the repair shop overnight, so I need to do some stuff today.
Other than that it is another normal day here at Casa de Nick.
Stack!
nick
Social Security Administration: I mentioned that someone has made an appointment in Baltimore to claim my SS benefits. I have sent a registered letter stating that this is likely fraud, but who knows if it will get read, or read in time.
They have a phone number to call, for example, if you want to cancel the appointment. There’s no call-center software on the other end, it just rings. And rings. And then you get disconnected. I’ve tried over 30 times so far, at various times of day.
There’s also an email address. At least I got an auto-reply: we will read you email in the next 60 days. 60 days? The appointment is next month, so that’s likely to be useless.
Creating an account to log into the SSA website? They support two login services. Hey, progress – I can enter an international phone number! But I don’t have the documents they require, because I don’t live in the US. One of the sites would let me use a Swiss ID, but only as one of three documents. No, I don’t have a US driver’s license, etc, etc. Also, the only document I possess that has both my full name and my SSN is my military ID. Which they explicitly do not accept as a valid document? So I’ve run into a dead end there as well.
I have just found a web page with a different phone number, specifically for reporting fraud. I will try that number today.
My undergrad engineering program mandated everyone take the EIT exam as a condition to get the ABET-certified degrees. Passing was not necessary, however, and many of my fellow students did not make a passing score.
Despite mediocre grades I had one of the highest scores in the department at 83. Passing was … 68?
I think the point of the mandate was to use the exam scores as a kind of quality control in the engineering program core classes. Thermo was the problem child class at the time, but Circuits wasn’t far behind.
My female best friend who made a 73 on the test dismissed my score was white male standardized test advantage.
(Yeah, there’s a story there, but for another time.)
Time value of money got really important in large projects, public and private, after Reagan and Tip O’Neil passed a big change to depreciation laws in 1984. Plus, this was the era of double digit interest rates and 14% 30 year fixed mortgages as Volker beat inflation down so Treasuries were really investments and not just liquidity instruments like they are today.
Fast forward 30 years, and I now see passing scores on the EIT exam used as credentials by the young’n’s. One girl at the tolling company, a Miami Ohio ME grad, even uses the initials after her name in her email signature and Linkedin page.
Miami Ohio is the alma matter of the Cracker Barrel CEO.
The Fed didn’t buy the Treasuries in the early 80s like it has since the financial crisis.
The sex robots will require a lot of paper so time value of money is about to ratchet up in importance again in engineering cirriculums for all fields.
38F this morning. At least it’s clear, and the sun seems to be rising. That should help later. I did bring in the lime tree before we went to the BOL, and hadn’t taken it back outside yet so that was safe.
I should harvest the herbs though if we are going to get colder.
———–
Haven’t started the coffee yet, but did eat half a grapefruit. I don’t want one all the time, but sometimes I get a craving for ice cold grapefruit. No sugar, just a sprinkle of salt to kill the bitterness. (wish life was that easy)
Kinder and frau have been poked. Some are moving.
Maybe I should start the coffee.
n
I love grapefruit!
But I just had lunch. Too bad.
Might I suggest a system of speakers in the bedrooms and a playlist consisting of crying babies, Baby Shark, and Caramelldansen? Make sure that the volume knobs are turned to 11.
Caramelldansen
– Ok, didn’t know that one. LOVE IT!!!111!!11
For a wakeup call, I think Babymetal ‘Gimme Chocolate’ would be better…
or maybe ‘Doki Doki Morning’
n
You can leave a message (which I did). There is no indication of what happens next.
You can also fill out an online form. Of course, that form does not accept international addresses or phone numbers. According to ChatGPT, somewhere around 5.5 million US citizens live outside the US. Not counting military, and not counting anyone else (like me) who earned social security credits, but is not a citizen. But web forms don’t need to be international :-/
I can only hope that one of my reports makes its way through the system in time to stop the appointment next month. Or, even better, to have the police waiting for whoever shows up.
Consider contacting the nearest U.S. consulate (or the embassy itself) for suggestions. I’m not optimistic they could really help, but you won’t know if you don’t try.
One of my favorite youtuber just said about kids…
“you shouldn’t be keeping your orgasms as pets.”
n
Ha ha.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15367101/Philadelphia-teens-theft-football-championship-game-Florida-Dicks-Sporting-Goods.html
Felony theft. Ha ha.
n
The FBI?
Or email the director directly?
Davenport. Pedo Junction, FL.
The two cans of soup arrived. Dropped off at the gate. Both cans are dented. Plenty of air balloons or whatever they are called but laying on top of the cans to fill the box does nothing to pad the cans.
67f and 29% humidity. Sunny with a breeze. Pretty nice day.
How about ICE? There’s a non-zero chance the fraud is being committed by an illegal alien.
Is there a reward hotline for that? It would be fun if they showed up at SSA to commit fraud, and got deported instead.
Postal Inspector?
Do they still have the option of paper checks?
The parents were already proved themselves to be irresponsible taking the kids to a sports tournament at Disney and (guessing) staying in a hotel in Western Way or the Coronado Springs resort.
That are accessible. Stay tuned.
Sympathy for the parents of the rest of the kids on the team.
There won’t be a criminal record if the coach pays to get them out of trouble before charges are filed.
Though, since they’re all minors, accessibility of the criminal records is not guaranteed.
Postal Inspector?
Do they still have the option of paper checks?
No paper checks for the SS monthly payment. Those are electronic funds transfer to a bank account only due to the SS checks being targeted.
“The sting is in the tail… sort of”
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-sting-is-in-tail-sort-of.html
“Mr. Smith tried a weight loss program… He didn’t expect THIS”
“Senate Democrats Are Keeping Race-Baiting Lunatic Jasmine Crockett at Bay With Texas-Sized Pole”
https://thelibertydaily.com/senate-democrats-are-keeping-race-baiting-lunatic-jasmine/
“(DCNF)—Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Senate run is facing an icy reception from lawmakers in her own party, who appear to be distancing themselves from her entry into the race.”
“More than a dozen Senate Democrats declined to comment or issue public support for Crockett’s Senate bid in brief interviews with the Daily Caller News Foundation on Tuesday. Democrats’ chilly reactions come as the party mounts a long-shot effort to retake control of the upper chamber in the midterm elections, with the Lone Star State being a top — though elusive — target to flip.”
She won’t be elected statewide in Texas. We recognize crazy around here. But she will get 40% of the vote against Paxton who will get 60% of the vote.
“BREAKING: Court Upholds Trump’s Trans Military Ban”
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2025/12/09/breaking-court-upholds-trumps-trans-military-ban-n4946871
“An appeals court on Tuesday ruled in favor of President Donald Trump’s ban on “transgenders” serving in the U.S. military.”
“The Trump administration just scored a legal victory against woke insanity and for military reform. In the case of Nicolas Talbott, et al. v. United States, D.C. Circuit Court Judges Katsas and Rao ruled in favor of the Trump administration’s transgender ban.”
Finally, a DC court rules for Trump. And yes, trans people are mentally ill.
Hat tip to:
https://thelibertydaily.com/
“Atlas”
https://areaocho.com/atlas/
“I swear to you, I feel like we are living in the middle of an Ayn Rand novel. Listen to James Talarico, a Democrat state representative from Texas:”
If people like this come into power in the USA, we are done for. The Civil War that will result from people like this will rip the USA into many pieces.
Grady Judd’s county. Charges will get filed.
Tuesday bedtime. That was a long and busy day. An all-day meeting, followed by range supervisor duties.
Fortunately, the colleague chairing the meeting had the good sense to lay on plenty of refreshments, which kept the participants provided with some calories for thinking, and also lightened the mood. Additionally, it saved me from running to the range on an empty stomach.
Ready for my bed. Goodnight!
If he is he nominee, the RINOs will sacrifice the Senate seat to get rid of Paxton.
“Twins Arrested For Threatening To Hang, Torture Trump DHS Spokeswoman”
https://dailycallernewsfoundation.org/2025/12/09/twins-arrested-for-threatening-to-hang-torture-trump-dhs-spokeswoman/
“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrest of two New Jersey men Tuesday who allegedly threatened to torture and murder assistant secretary of Homeland Security for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin.”
“Authorities charged Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores and Emilio Roman-Flores over posts on social media that declared their intentions to shoot United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on sight and to hang McLaughlin, according to a Tuesday release by DHS. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons vowed that threats against officials would not be tolerated.”
I am beginning to think that half of the USA is mentally ill. I used to think it was 10% or a ¼ but now, with so many people having TDS or worse, half. I am not sure that this is fixable without conflict.
Yes! Another notch in tRump’s belt for the de-pussification of the obola/plugs tranny military.
This is a great day. I expect anchor babies to get the boot next.
I’m reminded of the necessity to be very careful about what you post on social media or discussion boards. Along with other necessary privacy practices of physical actions and the use of any electronic devices.
Consistently applying good security and privacy practices (personal and device) is difficult and takes continual effort. Even driving around your area will expose you to License Plate Readers that can track your movements. Not to mention location tracking via your phone, such as cell tower connections and GPS tracking.
“Tesla unsupervised FSD milestone ‘very close,’ Piper Sandler says”
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-unsupervised-fsd-milestone-very-close-piper-sandler-says-185014902.html
“Potter and the Piper Sandler team cited data from a discussion they had with FSD Community Tracker, an independent website that measures the efficacy of FSD using available data.”
““The tracker’s core metric, referred to as ‘miles to critical disengagement,’ exhibited a >20x improvement after FSD v14.1.x was released in October (from 441 miles in the previous version to 9,200+ miles). This was the biggest sequential improvement in 4 years of data collection,” Potter said.”
I wonder what Waymo’s record is ?
That one was autocorrect.
What a piece of work she must be.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/media/article-15367741/Joy-Reid-racist-past-Christmas-carol-Jingle-Bells.html
n
SCOTUS Appears Poised To Recognize That Presidents Run The Executive Branch
https://thefederalist.com/2025/12/09/scotus-appears-poised-to-recognize-that-presidents-run-the-executive-branch/
outsourceddelegated to the executive.”? The power to direct the bureaucrats as he directs all Executive Branch matters. If Congress wishes to keep that power, they just have to make the rules themselves, right out there in public where the people can see, and pass them into laws signed by the president or passed over his veto. There is no “bureaucratic rulemaking in the Constitution.Vermont School District Faces Backlash After Raising Somali Flag
What a crock.
Time to recall the school board if they don’t fire the super.
Local republicans working the ground game. Two pretty young girls came to the door canvassing for some new conservative Christian representative for our district.
’bout time they started doing the work.
n
“Civil War 2.0 Weather Report: A Color Revolution In Progress?”
https://wilderwealthywise.com/civil-war-2-0-weather-report-a-color-revolution-in-progress/
“My advice remains. Avoid crowds. Get out of cities. Now. A year too soon is better than one day too late.”
“A similar replacement is taking place in New York City. New York has always skewed towards a heavy foreign population. Just like the two paperwork Americans shown below:”
“I’ve said before, 90% of American problems are downstream of immigration, and remigration would solve most of the pressure heading us towards Civil War 2.0.”
Paperwork Americans, I love it !
Foreigners with American passports.
“‘Checkmate’: U.S. Supreme Court Delivers Huge Win for Religious Exemptions”
https://noqreport.com/checkmate-u-s-supreme-court-delivers-huge-win-for-religious-exemptions/
“The U.S. Supreme Court today reversed a lower court decision against a group of Amish parents and school leaders who challenged the state of New York’s vaccine mandates for schools, ruling that the appeals court must reconsider the case.”
“Today’s ruling is a win for health and religious freedom advocates — one that could have implications for other states that don’t allow religious exemptions from school vaccine mandates, attorneys said.”
“Attorney Sujata Gibson told The Defender today’s Supreme Court decision is “checkmate” for states that refuse to accept religious exemptions. “It means we’re almost certainly getting the religious exemption back, not only in New York, but across the country,” Gibson said.”
Interesting. What will the scientologists and muslims do with this ?
I’m reminded of the necessity to be very careful about what you post on social media or discussion boards. Along with other necessary privacy practices of physical actions and the use of any electronic devices.
Consistently applying good security and privacy practices (personal and device) is difficult and takes continual effort. Even driving around your area will expose you to License Plate Readers that can track your movements. Not to mention location tracking via your phone, such as cell tower connections and GPS tracking.
The feddies (NSA) know where you are and what you have posted. I doubt that the staties do.
NSA has a backdoor in just about everything.
They can probably just buy a dossier on you from google/apple/roku/netflix/facebook and combine it with your credit cards to know pretty much everything you do from how often you have sex or work out, to who you associate with. Probably 90% of your medical history too from online searches.
n
I’m trying to repurpose an old Win8.1 laptop as a Linux web surfer. I’ve been through about 20 of my old Linux CDs with no success in booting, but a Windows 7 disc starts right up. Bitrot I suppose.
Could be something to do with the secure boot, EUFI or whatever it’s called.
n
Same effect with UEFI and BIOS. Right now I”m trying to figure out if there’s a problem with the SSD I put in.
https://beerconnoisseur.com/beer/brooklyn-brewery/black-chocolate-stout/
Popped a five-year-old bottle a week before Thanksgiving.
“A venerable entry in the Imperial Stout category, this broad-shouldered brew that drinks well in its youth yet achieves an incredible depth and complexity with a couple of years of bottle age.”
Just sampled this year’s brew.
I’m a long-time fan of the Imperial Stout’s. Anyone who enjoy’s this style should check their local sources for the Brookly BCS, and purchase a case. Limit your drinking to one six this year, and cellar the rest. Next year buy another case, and do a side-by-side to compare 2025 and 2026.
Repeat in 2027 with three to compare. At that time you can decide if it’s worthwhile to skip second-year tasting. Each year the decision comes: sample, or wait.
FWIW, my opinion is that the curve has a double-bend similar to a titration curve, and the improvement is 90% after five years.
If I had a time machine I would give my younger self the traditional investment advice, but also some imbibement advice. I should have dug a cellar on the farm in 1970 and parked a few cases of the Sempe ’45.
D/L and make a bootable USB stick?
n
I should have dug a cellar on the farm in 1970 and parked a few cases of the Sempe ’45.
– throw a box of Davidoff cigars in tubes in the cellar too. The best comparison I could find online for the (already aged) 2000 tuvo series was $200 per cigar now that it’s aged another 25 years. Finest smoke that every passed my lips.
n
If the Windows 8.1 laptop has < 4 GB RAM, you will have better luck booting a 32 bit Linux.
Try Debian 11 32 bit.
That era machine could have a 64 bit processor but 32 bit UEFI. Making a bootable USB still will require a bit of work.
I’ll post a link when I am on my other machine.
Mossad has the cell phones through Amdocs.
Amdocs acquiring The Big Nerd Ranch and ending the education and publishing activities is somewhat disturbing.
The Ranch had some really talented iPhone and Android programmers, and, going back 15 years, they were the go-to source for training to get up to speed on iOS development fast.
I think I’m headed to bed.
I could watch videos all night, but that would be a poor choice.
n
Marco Rubio Makes ‘Times New Roman’ Font Great Again
State Department to end Biden-era ‘diversity and inclusion’ initiative requiring use of Calibri font in official communications.
FFS.
Almost all official communications should be in Comic Sans to remind people what we’ve lost, that has been replaced with clown world.
n
I am a bad geek. I really need to give context. Yes, that’s where I started, but the first stick failed on both the HD and the SSD. Then a 2nd copy failed on the SSD, then a different version of that distro failed also. The CDs were to see if I could get any Linux distro installed but none booted at all. Then the Win 7 CD booted and started the install, which is when I posted that comment. Then it failed also, but I had DL’d a different distro by then which seems to be working. I really hope I don’t have to go through another install.
At that, it’s still easier than installing OS/2 from floppy disks on a generic clone PC, which took about 3 weeks to track down obscure drivers and configuration files back in 1992 or 3.
Wednesday. Fusion orb in the sky has cleared the horizon.
I should be up and working, but Stefan Gotteswinter dropped a new YT video, so I am now learning how to replace the worm gear on a Deckel milling machine dividing spindle…
Breakfast presently, and work thereafter. Have a good day!
Good suggestion. Sent.
The more I think about this, the wilder it is. I just turned 65: Someone knows that, and figured they would sneak in first, since I probably won’t claim benefits until 67. That same someone probably knows that I live outside the US: hoping I will miss the fact that this is happening until it is too late. That same someone has presumably managed to create decent fake IDs. I doubt I am a special case – this smells like a large, well-organized operation.
I am also pretty annoyed at the various government offices. Phone numbers that are never answered. Emails to be read months later. A fraud reporting option that cannot accept international information. It’s all just so massively incompetent…which is what would enable large-scale fraud.
One or more of those is where this ought to land, but I don’t think I could get taken seriously. They would almost certainly tell me to contact the SSA.