Cold. Wet. Dreary.
Like yesterday. Hopefully minus yesterday’s rain.
I did get stuff done yesterday. Got my auction bins dropped off. Got my rent house plumbing done. Got paid for a year’s worth of work. (Not that many days actually, but over the course of the year.)
Kids stayed up late watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and then the replay of the ball drop. Very late night for them and us. I’m sleeping in.
And then I’ll greet 2021 and hope that it is better than 2020. Not too surprising, considering the range of people I know, but I do know people that not only survived but thrived this year. There are always opportunities if you are ready and able. I expect that part to be true for 2021 too. Keep your eyes open for them.
My thanks to all of you for your support over the past year. This place is much more than me, or the sum of its parts. I’m honored and humbled that y’all keep coming around. Thank you.
2021- Build on what you’ve got. Avoid crowds. Don’t get on the bus. Keep stacking.
Nick Flandrey
First and foremost: here’s wishing y’all a happy and healthy 2021! May it be better than 2020 – not a high bar to clear.
Someone asked yesterday about Signal. I’ve used it as my default text-messaging app for years. If you send a message to someone who is not using Signal, it just goes out as a normal SMS. If the other person is also a registered Signal user (it registers to your phone number, logically enough), then the message is sent encrypted. The encryption is reputed to be quite good.
Most importantly: “it just works”. Aside from installing it and designating it as your default messaging app, you never have to think about it.
At the risk of going against the flow, I would like to point out that academic doctors are the real doctors. “Dr.” has been an academic title since the 13th century. Medical doctors…aren’t. Wikipedia has an article that covers some of the history, but here’s the short version.
In the 19th century, it became trendy for generally learned people to be addressed with the Dr. title, even if they didn’t have academic qualifications. There were lots of “snake oil” salesmen who self-designated themselves as “Dr.”, to give their concoctions some air of authenticity.
The combination led to medical practicianers often being addressed as “doctor”, and this was officially encouraged by the medical associations in the US starting in the (iirc) 1920s or 1930s. However, medical doctors are not “Dr.” by anything but their own designation, and this was specifically a US (or, more broadly, English-speaking) phenomenon.
In Europe, people graduating from medical school can submit a quick-and-dirty paper that will be counted as a dissertation – and thus be awarded a PhD along with their medical degree. Some bother, some don’t. It’s normal for them to be called “doctor” regardless, this having spread from the US/UK over the last half-century or so.
A pro forma doctor title for a hastily written paper – that is pretty much what Jill Biden did. Unfortunately, lots of otherwise reputable schools will offer an easy PhD to prominent people, because they figure it’s good publicity. Plus, of course, Jill Biden’s PhD is in education, which has become a dumping ground for the incapable.
2020 WON. (Say it out loud).
I have replaced the video cable, pulled and reset the video board, and replaced the power supply. The video is still fragged in my home pc. Best Buy tomorrow for a new video board !
Best Buy will want to sell you a gamer card for $200. Double check the power supply requirements on the box, and keep in mind most new cards do not include D-SUB, the legacy VGA connector.
If you are still running Windows 7, Nvidia gives the OS short shrift with regard to driver stability. I currently have a relatively recent GT 730 2 GB DDR5 card in my primary desktop, and, every once in a while, the screen blinks and I get a message that the driver reinitialized. This does not happen with Windows 10 or Linux on the same machine.
I ran a GT 240 512 MB card for nearly a decade in the same machine without a hitch, but the card just wasn’t enough to drive a 1080p 16:9 monitor with Starcraft II.
‘“real” doctors’
At the risk of going against the flow, I would like to point out that academic doctors are the real doctors.
With regard to Ken Jeong, I was pointing out that he has an academic credential which did involve a lot of work. I’ve never seen him use the “Dr.” anywhere in publicity even tough he has solid medical credentials and a specialty not for dilettantes.
Co-hosting Fox’s New Year’s Eve special was not Jeong’s best moment, but the writing was pathetic. The Murdochs did not sell the TV networks so Disney can’t be blamed for that mess.
While her credentials might be shaky, I do think people are underestimating *Dr.* Jill Biden and how viciously she will fight to protect her status as First Lady once ensconced at 1600 Pennsylvania. Even the cabal running Plugs probably has no idea what’s coming their way once Uncle Joe wraps his speech and the moving trucks roll.
Late last night, our HOA sent out an email laying out a variance they’ve issued for “temporary” use of RVs parked in driveways or, if necessary, the neighborhood streets to house family members requiring isolation for Covid.
After the experience with the Colonel Bat Guano neighbors in Florida, I’m not a fan of HOA activities beyond keeping common areas maintained, but I hope the management company remembers the meaning of the word “temporary” with regard to the RVs. The street in front of our house is already impassable in one or both directions at time on holiday weekends.
The timing and the stated reason for the variance make me wonder.
Someone important to the HOA needed the variance.
n
Sunny and gusting winds, 54F and 52%RH. Things are drying out.
We are right on the edge of being a Blustery day.
n
We’ve had very little snow this year – but tomorrow may make up for some of it. Currently expecting around 30cm (12in), but weather forecasts in the mountains are notoriously terrible. So it could be half of that, or double.
Younger son and girlfriend are staying here just now, studying intensely for the exams coming up in January. They’ve apparently been fully adopted into the pack, because our young dog was upset, when they walked ahead on today’s hike. The pack must stay together, and he was damned well going to… Damn that leash! Howl! Woof!
So the big woman dancing in the nude body suit during the NYFC NYE ‘show’ was in fact Meagan 3 Stallion, known for her recent hit “Wet @ss P#ssy” without the obfuscation.
The two songs she did last night– on TV. With a worldwide *cough* audience.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=savage+megan+lyrics
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=body+megan+lyrics
Make sure you hit the ‘more’ link and expand to the last verse on both.
I guess we should be thankful she didn’t sing WAP, or that the stage didn’t need mopping afterwards.
This sort of thing is EXACTLY what I’m talking about when I lament the fall of western civilization.
n
So the big woman dancing in the nude body suit during the NYFC NYE ‘show’ was in fact Meagan 3 Stallion, known for her recent hit “Wet @ss P#ssy” without the obfuscation.
The US recording industry sold out to thugs ~ 10-15 years ago.
Fox? I missed that part of the show, but the network definitely gave in to Prog special interests for the evening.
I got a laugh when the hosting duo caught Kelly Osbourne watching Jennifer Lopez perform on the next stage over for another network.
Whatever you may think of Jennifer Lopez or her outfits, she never phones it in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXZ0Qq_Nbc0
@nick:
Megan 3 Stallion (or is it “Megan Thee Stallion”?) is a rapper, isn’t she? In which case, I think what she does can only be called “singing” by stretching the term to, and arguably beyond, its elastic limit.
G.
I was going to use the “scare quotes” around sing, but decided not to . Which second of thought was too much to spend on the issue in the first place 🙂
Yep, rapper. Except now I think they are “rap artists” because they mostly don’t even rap anymore.
n
Happy New Year!
A few days back someone in the comments likened this blog to a barbershop.
A big shout-out to all the commenters here who keep the conversation civil, and especially to Barbara, Rick, and Nick who keep the lights on and the floor swept!
@brad, Cesar Milan The Dog Whisperer, would say that YOU are the pack leader and YOU need to be disciplining the pack, if it needs discipline. In other words, don’t let the dog make that choice or he’ll think he’s in charge.
I found Cesar’s show to be a great help understanding dogs and how to get along with them. Jenny has a lot of experience in that area and might disagree with Cesar, my understanding is he’s a bit to woo woo or poppsy for a lot of dog people.
It is awfully cute to picture though…. 🙂
n
What the world needs is a Teenage Daughter Whisperer with a show and books with advice that actually works and all that.
Why, yes, the teenage daughter is being a massive pain in the posterior again. Whyever do you ask?
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/42-people-west-virginia-mistakenly-given-regeneron-antibodies-instead-vaccines
“Mistakenly”
Huh, venmo is really paypal. Who knew?
n
I have replaced the video cable, pulled and reset the video board, and replaced the power supply. The video is still fragged in my home pc. Best Buy tomorrow for a new video board !
Best Buy will want to sell you a gamer card for $200. Double check the power supply requirements on the box, and keep in mind most new cards do not include D-SUB, the legacy VGA connector.
If you are still running Windows 7, Nvidia gives the OS short shrift with regard to driver stability. I currently have a relatively recent GT 730 2 GB DDR5 card in my primary desktop, and, every once in a while, the screen blinks and I get a message that the driver reinitialized. This does not happen with Windows 10 or Linux on the same machine.
I ran a GT 240 512 MB card for nearly a decade in the same machine without a hitch, but the card just wasn’t enough to drive a 1080p 16:9 monitor with Starcraft II.
I m going to get the cheap NVidea board for $99.99. But they only have one in stock which with the poor inventory methods for the floor, means they could only have ZERO:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pny-nvidia-geforce-gt-1030-2gb-gddr5-pci-express-3-0-graphics-card-black/5901353.p?skuId=5901353
So the big woman dancing in the nude body suit during the NYFC NYE ‘show’ was in fact Meagan 3 Stallion, known for her recent hit “Wet @ss P#ssy” without the obfuscation.
The US recording industry sold out to thugs ~ 10-15 years ago.
Fox? I missed that part of the show, but the network definitely gave in to Prog special interests for the evening.
I got a laugh when the hosting duo caught Kelly Osbourne watching Jennifer Lopez perform on the next stage over for another network.
Whatever you may think of Jennifer Lopez or her outfits, she never phones it in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXZ0Qq_Nbc0
We don’t watch live tv anymore and sounds like we did not miss much last night. We were out walking last night when midnight occurred and I was wondering if WW III just started. I was surprised that the air raid sirens did not go off with all of the mortars going off. Today I have firework debris all over the driveway, house, and back patio. In fact, my neighbor has a 125 ft driveway like us and and had mortars lined up every 10 ft. He was just walking and lighting don hs driveway.
The wife is watching the original “Parent Trap” on Disney+ right now. Good stuff.
@lynn
Maybe one of these? https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nvidia&i=computers&rh=n%3A284822%2Cp_89%3ANVIDIA%2Cp_36%3A-12500%2Cp_85%3A2470955011&dc&qid=1609530496&rnid=2470954011&ref=sr_nr_p_85_1&tag=ttgnet-20
(Filtered for under $150, nVidia brand only, Prime shipping)
“A.F. Branco Cartoon – The Good Old Days”
https://comicallyincorrect.com/a-f-branco-cartoon-the-good-old-days/
“If you think 2020 was bad, 2021 may be much worse with Biden and the Democrats in charge. Political cartoon by A.F. Branco ©2020.”
“He looks like he is about to cry.”
https://gunfreezone.net/he-looks-like-he-is-about-to-cry/
“Beto O’Rourke looks downright pitiful. It seems he is staring at mommy who is waving a lollipop as prize for being a brave boy.”
Why is Bozo getting the vaccine now ? He is not aged.
@lynn
Maybe one of these? https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nvidia&i=computers&rh=n%3A284822%2Cp_89%3ANVIDIA%2Cp_36%3A-12500%2Cp_85%3A2470955011&dc&qid=1609530496&rnid=2470954011&ref=sr_nr_p_85_1&tag=ttgnet-20
(Filtered for under $150, nVidia brand only, Prime shipping)
Thanks but I want it today. I will use Big River if the Best Buy inventory turns out to be a lie. I have another card at another Best Buy if needful.
I need to carry more spare parts at work. But new motherboards have their own video included now. My home pc is an old Gigabyte Z68K with no onboard video.
In fact, I am going to go by work first and see if we have any video boards stashed around the place. I have computer parts stashed all around the place with parts for three new PCs on my office desk right.
@lynn, I won’t give the thieves at BB a dime, why not try Microcenter?
They are like Fry’s used to be.
n
@lynn, I won’t give the thieves at BB a dime, why not try Microcenter?
They are like Fry’s used to be.
n
I have two BBs at five miles each away from me. Microcenter on Rice is 21 miles away. Still, it is a good backup if the BB inventory is a lie and I don’t have anything at the office.
Interesting is how many venerable US companies are licensing their names to Chinese manufacturers to be slapped on lower quality goods. Latest was some “GE” LED nightlights that were made and sold by a separate Chinese company (as noted in 6 point type on the back of the package).
Happy New Year everyone!
Interesting is how many venerable US companies are licensing their names to Chinese manufacturers to be slapped on lower quality goods. Latest was some “GE” LED nightlights that were made and sold by a separate Chinese company (as noted in 6 point type on the back of the package).
Having initially secured the manufacturing rights and producing batches of the product adhering to the original specs, China has a reputation of subsequently reducing the quality of both materials and workmanship in order to increase their profit by selling an inferior product at the original price.
LOL! Bless you all! People have been trying to solve that one since the beginning. There was a reason families used to ship their 12 or 13 year old daughters off to be governesses (ie babysitters) for an aunt or older sister, or for pay for an unrelated household. Ditto with boys and boarding school or apprenticeships.
I found an old ATI Radeon X1300Pro PCIE 256 MB video board at the office stash.
https://www.amazon.com/AMD-ATI-Radeon-X1300-Card/dp/B000E5VQP4?tag=ttgnet-20
I have no idea if it has Windows 7 x64 drivers.
ADD: Nope, no official Windows 7 x64 drivers.
I grew up with GE appliances. My first house was GE top to bottom. I still have the GE microwave. Daily use for nearly 40 years.
The original refrigerator is long gone. It had a 5-year parts and labor warranty on the compressor, and we had a replacement at about 18 months. Worked flawlessly after that and lasted20 years.
One family member is in the LG refrigerator linear compressor hell for the second time in two years. Failure-prone design, with failure prone replacements and a looooong wait time. Class action suit in progress. Initial warranty was part only. Big red flag there.
I found an old ATI Radeon X1300Pro PCIE 256 MB video board at the office stash.
https://www.amazon.com/AMD-ATI-Radeon-X1300-Card/dp/B000E5VQP4?tag=ttgnet-20
I have no idea if it has Windows 7 x64 drivers.
ATI drivers of that era leave much to be desired.
Buy the GT 1030 card. I put an EVGA card with that chip in my kids’ PC, and it has performed well.
Modern browsers try to make use of the acceleration capabilities of the newer video cards if available. Even if you are not into Minecraft or Fortnite, a newer card has advantages.
Interesting is how many venerable US companies are licensing their names to Chinese manufacturers to be slapped on lower quality goods. Latest was some “GE” LED nightlights that were made and sold by a separate Chinese company (as noted in 6 point type on the back of the package).
GE has effectively gone bankrupt.
Interesting is how many venerable US companies are licensing their names to Chinese manufacturers to be slapped on lower quality goods. Latest was some “GE” LED nightlights that were made and sold by a separate Chinese company (as noted in 6 point type on the back of the package).
GE has effectively gone bankrupt.
Not yet. They are turning the battlewagon around slowly and are almost out of danger. They have discarded many of their divisions such as Baker Hughes.
Disclosure: GE has been one of my customers for decades.
Hope a better 2021 for all!!!
Best to you!!
Upon review, I see that I never actually wished you all — — —
Happy New Year everyone!
Happy New Year!
I see that the latest stimulus payment is a tending deposit to my account. Well, what to do?
I don’t need a gub. I’m ok for ammo for what I have. 22 was cheap. I need ammo for my old (stamped 1896) Russian rifle but last time I looked 7.62Russ was pricey.
I suppose I’ll stock the pantry. I can’t think of anything else. Maybe more pellets for the stove.
Oh. Another generator! That would be good. Then the pantry.
” but last time I looked 7.62Russ was pricey. ”
–all ammo is pricey atm. But a gub your don’t have ammo for is just a club…
n
I see that the latest stimulus payment is a tending deposit to my account. Well, what to do?
Whenever I received one of those checks in the past, I bought Savings Bonds, effectively giving it back.
If I really need the money, I can still get at it. In a SHTF situation, until the Government defaults, they will have to redeem the bonds in some manner.
Haven’t I heard stories of the government redeeming Civil War bonds, or is that just a myth?
Micro Center has a one hour wait to get in at 5pm and they close at 6pm so I bailed.
AMD drivers of any era are atrocious and they deprecate support for chips fast.
Maybe Windows gives you basic support and that is probably what you are looking for…
I am at Best Buy in the parking lot for curbside delivery as the store is closed. I bought the cheapest video board as I am not convinced that is my problem.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pny-nvidia-geforce-gt-710-verto-2gb-ddr3-pci-express-2-0-graphics-card-black/5092306.p?skuId=5092306
And what can we expect from the ‘Second Gentleman’? Help to become the First Gentleman??
Or get them married off. Alas, in these enlightened days we’re stuck with the brats.
It may be rose-colored hindsight, but I don’t remember both sons combined being such a nuisance. I don’t know if that’s because she’s a girl, because she’s effectively an only child, because we’re no longer cash-strapped and therefore get her more things than the boys had, because of vagaries of personality, because of the invention of the iPad, because of the physical isolation from her friends*, or something else. I just know that I was really disappointed to learn that sending children to work in industrial-age factories for sixteen hours a day is no longer a thing.
* If the isolation is the major problem, I’m going to kick Andrew “Stupidest Anthropoid Ever Measured” Cuomo in the seat of the pants, followed by punching every identified Karen in the face. The kid has a few friends with sane parents but it’s not always convenient for them to get together. Her best friends’ mothers (and it’s always the mother) have all bought into the isolationist hysteria (word chosen with malice aforethought) and act like we’re trying to kill them when we try to arrange for the girls to have some time to hang out in person.
Oh goodie. Our neighbors have some leftover fireworks. We are getting a mortar a minute right now.
Well youtube is endlessly and wonderfully weird.
Absolutely NO idea why this channel ended up in my recommended list. I haven’t been able to stop watching. I’m filled with dread/anxiety/and even disgust while watching but I can’t turn away. I also can’t help but imagine the STINK. 1M views. Half a million subs. The Hoof GP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p20b_R5b7s0
REALLY sharp knives.
n
@nick – quit horsing around and do something constructive !! 🙂
(let the puns begin…)
I’m bullish on that young man’s prospects…
That’s bull.
The scenery to and from the workplace is very nice. And the filters in my brain are adjusting to the scottish accent. I can understand 97% or more of what he says now, even when he’s talking about the ‘bills’ and his old girils.
n
I am at Best Buy in the parking lot for curbside delivery as the store is closed. I bought the cheapest video board as I am not convinced that is my problem.
You already replaced the power supply. The only other thing to check is the memory.
Try the torture test in Mersenne.org’s Prime95 software.
GT 710 isn’t terrible for general purpose use, but DDR3 for graphics? Ouch.
I am at Best Buy in the parking lot for curbside delivery as the store is closed. I bought the cheapest video board as I am not convinced that is my problem.
You already replaced the power supply. The only other thing to check is the memory.
Try the torture test in Mersenne.org’s Prime95 software.
GT 710 isn’t terrible for general purpose use, but DDR3 for graphics? Ouch.
It was the Sapphire AMD video board. It had toasted itself but was still partially running if you did not mind the 2 inch wide vertical orange stripes. And Winders blue screened almost immediately with it. I am back up and running on my main pc at the house now. And the cheap video board works great with my 27 inch LG monitor running in 1080p. Firefox works great and spider solitaire work great.
I really need to move to the WD 500 GB sitting on my desk from the 1 TB Caviar Black. That will get me some speed.