Quinn would be at home in this weather

 

8951

 By early Sunday evening we had more than 11" of snow. I shrugged on my coat , pulled on my sheepskin mittens and grabbed the snow shovel. Of course I am more likely to spot a purple spotted monkey in my front maple than a plow in my cul-de-sac.

I was finishing the bottom third of my drive, anticipating the end, when my neighbor got stuck at the bottom of his driveway. Of course he did not shovel, he tried to drive his front-wheel drive van through it. I don't mind helping my neighbors, but when they won't help themselves...

I went over and pushed him. I pushed again as he got stuck in the street. I had to gently admonished him to keep the wheels straight. In the end he finally made it out and I finished my drive down to the apron. There is no use doing that part by the street until the plow comes - probably around Valentines Day. I'll brave the cold and do the last three feet at lunch.

Remotely Disturbing

 

A few weeks ago the wife bought these electric candles that run on batteries. They work via a remote that allows her to turn them on and off, set a timer, etcetera. 

Earlier this week she told me in jest she thought our house was haunted. She claimed she candles were coming on at random. Behind her back I scoffed at the notion. 

Alas, I was plopped on one couch and noticed the candles were on. I did not turn them on. The wife was upstairs. WTH?

I turned the candlesticks off and went back to whatever nonsense I was watching on the television.  The next time I looked the candles were back on. 

Challenge accepted.  

I won't bore you with the details beyond confirming without a doubt there is no ghost. There is, however, a Vizio soundbar. Every time we turn down the TV, the candles go on. Volume up does nothing, only volume down. And yes, as confirmation the "on" button for the candles turns down the soundbar.  

I tried the remote that came with the speaker. It turns on the candles. I tried an old Comcast remote we used to use. You guessed it, down volume turns on the candlestick.  Short of scrapping the candles or buying a new soundbar (my vote since I'll convince the wife's a new soundbar can only work with a new TV), we are just going to have to turn off the candle every time we turn down the TV, otherwise we better buy stock in AAA batteries.

Not yet, but maybe, probably, later

 

REO could really rock before they started playing that arena ballad crap.

January is going out like an angry honeybadger

 It sure looks like we are in for some rocky winter weather this weekend. You probably are also.

 Interestingly enough, this weekend also marks the anniversary of the Blizzard of '78, one of the biggest storms to hit this part of the country. That storm is memorable around the old homestead. The wife's father passed away at the height of the storm. This was before I met her later that same year. 

Anyway, before you diverted me, I was discussing the expected freezing temperatures and forecasted 5-11 inches of snow. As evidenced above, it is January, these things happen. Besides, for some places around the Great Lakes that amount of snow is just another day. Ho hum. 

For those of you who refuse to pony up the cash for my mediocre first novel, there is a description of the Blizzard of '78 in the book. 

Wayback MTV Staple

 

Dangerous Thinking

 We need to take over Greenland for the long-term security of the United States.

Now substitute "Ukraine" for Greenland and "Russia" for The United States.

If you don't like that analogy try ,Sudetenland, Alsace-Lorraine, the Balkans, or Tibet...

Perfect

Dear Minnesota

 This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary Notwithstanding 

Article VI clause II

On my mind

 Seriously, it’s been three days. Sure, it might be desert, but dry heat is no excuse. How hard is it to think up a name for a horse? Blackie, Red, Trigger, Silver, Man O’War, Secretariat — how about something mundane like Bob or even Joe?

You are probably bored too

It seems like it happens this time every year. That old ennui sets in. I am bored. The cold short days are often cloudy. Football is pretty much over and my team once again missed the playoffs. Real baseball is a couple of months away. 

I’m bored by work. I’m bored with TV. I’m bored by this blog. I have a proof of my second novel on the corner of my desk. I’m sick of it too. You can only read something a few dozen times before it becomes a blob of familiar words. I find I’m even bored by music. While I love reading, I’m kinda bored by that too. 

I know, boo freakin’ boo. 

Friday Music

 

Head Scratchin’ Here, Boss

 I see lots of Democrats, elected and voters, protesting the enforcement of immigration laws. 

I have yet to see a single bill introduced to overturn those laws. 

Maybe it’s all just theater. 

Complain, complain

 

Stolen SOTI

RIP

 Scott Adams has passed. The world of office humor is diminished.

His Dilbert cartoon entertained me to no end. 

I’m not one of the twelve angry men

The good news is I was excused from jury duty after voir dire. That’s when the attorneys for either side can ask for your dismissal after questioning. I suspect the defense in this drug case were not keen on me after learning I voted to convict in two previous drug trials. Maybe collectively the State and Defense thought someone else should get a chance. 

It might have been my response when asked about my opinion on automatic license plate readers. I said “I’m not crazy about the amount of surveillance you see everywhere. That said, I willingly put a cell phone in my pocket. I have an Amazon Alexa in every room and a video doorbell. So welcome to 2026.”   The prosecutor may not have liked that answer.

I am pleased I don’t have to serve, but a tiny bit of me is miffed at the rejection. My objectivity was called into question. 

I think I’m up to eight times now

This is a pre-recorded post. I’m off to jury duty this morning. Yes, it is my civic duty . Here’s the thing, I’ve done my part. 

In the late 1980’s I served on a Federal Grand jury. That was 3-4 days every other week for about three months, then 1-2 days every other week for another month or two, then 1-2 days a month for another six months. It was 12 months of jury duty. 

In the late 1990’s I served on a trial jury.  In 2011  I served on another trial jury. 

In between I was called at least four additional times but did not have to serve. I believe I’ve done my share, but I’ll buck up and do it again if called to serve. 

But hey, I’ll make $30. 

The Blues Fall Down Like Rain

 

The whole thing might have been a comedy act, but that band was real musicians and they could really play. 

How about that?

 Indiana sure put a beatdown on Oregon in the football game last night. 

I never thought I’d see the day when IU became a football powerhouse. 

Political Darwinism

 If you show up with the intent to interfere with police, whether at the local, state , or federal level, it is not going to end well. You will not come out unscathed. You do so to elicit a response, because there will not be a favorable outcome. 

If you choose to interfere with police you are either a fool or a tool of others, or both. This is true of the stupid, foolish woman in Minneapolis. 

Let me say, I believe the ICE officers were overly aggressive. No one needed to be in front of the vehicle, she wasn't going anywhere. The street was blocked.

That out of the way, the stupid and foolish woman made three choices that determined her fate. 1.She showed up with the intent of interfering with law officers. Of that there is no doubt. People "visiting relatives" do not block the street with their SUV and they move when told by police. 2. She refused to exit the vehicle when ordered so by officers of the law. 3. She stepped on the gas.

I don't know if she intended to run down the officer or try and make a run for it. Either way, she compounded her foolish actions and wound up dead. Did she try to run down the agent? I don't know, but he clearly felt in danger of his life or he would not have shot his gun. I will go with that until someone presents evidence the ICE Agent is a murderous psychopath. 

If you want to give your hard-earned money to nearly two million dollars to the family of a stupid fool and tool, that is up to you. No one should be rewarded for criminal acts.

I think if you donated, it makes you a fool and a tool also. 

The Perp Walk I Want to See

 ICE is out rounding up illegals. Ok, we can discuss tactics and goals in a later discussion. 

Here is my question; when are we going to see arrests of the employers who hire and pay those people under the table? They are stealing (by omission) tax dollars on the same scale as the illegals collecting benefits. They are criminals as much or more than poor illegals who are trying to better their lives. 

Pithy Post Label Needed

 Sheesh, is it Thursday already? We’ve had a spate of mild weather this week and yesterday I thought I might shrug on a jacket and have a rare winter stogie out on the patio. Alas the boss gave me a project so I worked instead of playing hooky. The Company puts money into my bank account. Cigar manufacturers take my money, so my priorities are clear. 

Just do it already

 If we have wherewithal and ability to go to Venezuela and arrest a commie dirtbag, surly we can arrest some of the criminals who frequented Epstein Island for wild orgies with teenagers. 

Stolen SOTI

 

Back at it

 It is the first Monday of the New Year. I’m back at it after  being off pretty much the past two weeks. 

I love my job. Let me be clear about that. I also could retire if my personal financial situation would allow it. I started working at 14. At this point I’ll have to work until I die or win the lottery. So I’m back at it. 

I want to see it now

Okay, we’ve seen the report by the independent reporters. We have seen the fraud. When are we going to see cops knocking on the same doors? When are we going to see people perp walked? When are we going to see bureaucrats fired and arrested ? 

This is my money and your money. Why are we voting for anyone who thinks $20K a year is acceptable for child care?  I want to see elected reps defend this nonsense.

And when ANY politician claims that fraud is just part of going business  then he should be impeached and run out of town on a rail after a good dose of tar and feathers. And I’m not joking. 

Happy New Year