Problems with the computers are multiplying.
The desktop computer is down. The old monitor puked. I had an old ROKU TV that I kludged via HDMI cable but now it is refusing to move out of "Guest Mode".
The upside is that I finally figured out how to bias the new power cord for the old laptop with a bit of electrical tape so that it makes a good enough of a contact to charge the battery. Not a viable, long-term solution but I will be able to limp along until the "new" computer shows up.
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| Opium poppies in the background? |
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Hay
I stacked bales of alfalfa hay today
It was only 60 bales, but I am out of shape. Southern Belle and Handsome Hombre were moving them in wheel barrows and my job was to stack them in the barn.
The driveway was a goat festival. We had the general contractor, two electrician's vehicles, our two vehicles, a tractor and a hay-wagon in the drive at the same time. SB and HH parked on the side of the road. Everybody was patient and it all got worked out.
Rain
A third of an inch of rain is predicted for tonight.
Moving the ball off of the one-yard-line
Things are looking good in that regard. Unfortunately, getting things in ship-shape and apple-pie order is costing some money.
Posted for future reference
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| Lubrication points for the Victorio Artichoke Roaster bolt-carrier group. "G" for grease. "L" for liquid lube. |
The shut-down
I have been pleasantly surprised that so many services are still being provided even though the Federal government is "shut-down". We are still getting our mail. Various on-line databases are still functioning. That was not the case under Obama era shutdowns.
I once heard a former director of Michigan's Department of Transportation brag that they shut-down rest-stops during State of Michigan budget issues in order to cause maximum pain to the public. The actual amount of money involved was trivial. His thinking was that an angry citizen who just soiled his shorts will pressure his legislator to agree to anything in order to get the government working again. That was back in the early 1980s.
Social Credit
I wonder if people who lose their shit during on-line discussions ever consider the "Social Credit" implications.
Some folks go bat-shit crazy on-line figuring "it is all compartmentalized". They assume their on-line persona is completely separated from their professional persona. However it is getting close to the point where Human-Resources can use algorithms or purchase information from Alpha to connect the ranting crazy-people to the payroll. If an enterprise is actually required to turn a profit, how many employees who delight in alienating half of their potential clients can they afford?
"Freedom of speech" means that you can say or write it. It does not mean that you will be shielded from the consequences.
It seems prudent to exercise self-control (a quaint and old-fashioned thought) because the walls in the digital village are becoming more porous.
Toxicology reports
I think it is in the public's best interest to have access to the toxicology reports on mass shooters.
At various times, every vehicular fatality listed whether they were wearing their seat-belt or not. At other times the blood-alcohol levels were published. Those numbers were listed in the paper because it was information that people needed to make rational decisions.
Since Michigan is a cannabis-permissive state, it would be interesting to know the THC levels in the Grand Blanc mass murder's blood relative to what has been documented as potentially triggering cannabis-induced psychosis.
It would also be useful to know testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and synthetic anabolic steroid levels. Include meth, cocaine, fentanyl...the entire universe of "hard" drugs.
Also what kind of psychotropic drugs he was prescribed and taking for PTSD....
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Wow, Breton's farm girls had some impressively large feet.
ReplyDeleteoooooh. I'm going to have to go back and look closer. I love big feet!
DeleteSixty bales is a lot of work, especially in confined spaces. Putting each bale one into place puts a strain on back and shoulders at the far ends.
ReplyDeleteNot that long ago the local print newspaper would print the weekly blotter report from the various agencies. It was always interesting to read who had been arrested and for what. But the local newspaper has disappeared and the mad media isn't interested in stuff like that.
ReplyDeleteBring named and shamed publicly had an effect on crime rates. NOBODY wanted to be the topic of small town gossip...
We still have that with the police dept reporting via our phone. Run across it occasionally. Our crime is mostly robbery. Murder rate is almost nil.
DeleteMass media*
ReplyDeleteI think you had it right the first time Fred..---ken
DeleteArt sure used to be beautiful. It was there to show us the best people had to offer. Not anymore. ---ken
ReplyDeleteThanks as always for keeping the tradition alive, ERJ.
ReplyDeleteRe Shutdown: I remember past shutdowns where the point (said quietly or occasionally out loud) was to make it as painful for the average person such that they would clamour for a deal. At least in my experience of the last week or so, there is minimal impact.
Re Social Credit System: Once upon a time we were instructed that we should pay careful attention to our reputations (including public statements, photos, etc.) as these could come back to haunt us. It is foolish to assume such things will not be used against one.
Obama purposely made them painful, to the point of ridiculousness.
DeleteTrump is being careful to reduce the pain and keep as much of the government open as possible.
In the past, lots and lots of workers were furloughed and their offices effectively shuttered.
This time, many workers are "excepted" and working on administration priorities or projects that still have funding. I think the idea is that the law says they'll get paid eventually, so who not get as much work out of them as legally possible.
I am in that category and am working part time (for now).
Jonathan
Putting up hay = farm/ranch aerobics
ReplyDeleteIt was a job I never looked forward to but was always pleased when I was done.
No more horses, so no more putting up a couple tons of hay,
A long time ago I work for a dairy farmer who was proud of putting 2000 bales in the barn in one day. I milked cows in the morning, worked on the hay crew after breakfast and milked before supper
DeleteThat was my life as a teenager also. Great memories and lots of muscle came from it. And today you can't hardly find a kid to mow the lawn with a riding lawnmower 'cause it's "too much work." ---ken
DeleteGetting a new set of computers today myself. Windows 11 is forcing the move. Needs more muscle. Also, moments waiting for a screen to turn add up to a lot of employee hours over the year and lost productivity. Personally, I buy the most capable I can buy when I buy so I can ride that pony as long as possible. The transitions are terribly expensive in lost productivity. Money flying out the window! Roger
ReplyDeleteI would echo that comment about lost productivity through these transitions. Some long time ago I was responsible for starting a mass migration to Windows 7, and corresponding updates to Word/Excel, the training overhead put a significant dent in work throughput for quite a while.
DeleteI did seriously consider a move to Linux instead, but organisational politics made that impossible.
"His thinking was that an angry citizen who just soiled his shorts..."
ReplyDeleteNot me... I'd've just squatted and left my gift at the locked gates... I ran into that kind of situation at a gas station once. I REALLY had to go. The clerk said I couldn't use the restroom. I told her that if she didn't, I'd go 'round back and crap on the building. She still refused. I left a Banksy painting of projectile diarrhea on that back wall... Somehow it felt even better than if I'd been able to use the restroom!
I read an article on Instapundit just yesterday that said a study showed that over 40% of driver victims in fatal car crashes in Ohio have THC levels in their blood that were multiples of the legal limit. With that level of drugs, somehow "victims" isn't the right word - FAFO. One one hand, I'd say let's allow Darwin to do his job here, but the druggies put others at risk. Perhaps impaired driving charges should be upgraded to attempted murder.
ReplyDelete