Ten Commandments of Gumbo

 There are rules about Cajun gumbo that have been passed down through the generations.  Like all commandments, they are sometimes broken, but with repentance, these transgressions can be forgiven.

1 Thou shalt never use tomatoes in Cajun gumbo. The Creoles sometimes slip a tomato product into their gumbo, but Cajun gumbo hath no tomatoes.

2 Thou shalt not use Un-Cajun Sausage.  Louisiana makes plenty of sausage.  Andouille and smoked sausage work just fine.  The one exception may be Conecuh sausage.  It's made in Alabama but tastes like it is made in Louisiana.

3 Thou shalt not use store-bought roux. Just don't.  Take your time and pride of craft to make your own roux.

4 Though shalt always use a bowl.  Don't put gumbo on a plate.  Only Philistines and Yankees would commit such a sin. 

5 Thou shalt only use a wooden spoon.  When you're cooking roux or assembling the gumbo, a wooden spoon is an absolute necessity.  We might use a metal ladle to dip it out for serving, but the wooden spoon is critical for a good roux.

6 Thou shalt always adhere to the "gumbo to rice" ratio.  It's simple match.  Two parts gumbo to one part rice.

7 Thou shalt always have filet available.  Filet, or ground sassafras is a gumbo staple.  Some folks like it, some folks don't.  But it is a sin to make gumbo and not have filet available for those who like it.

8 Thou shalt not mix chicken and sausage with seafood.  Just don't.  If you want a seafood gumbo, make it.  If you want a squirrel or a duck gumbo, make that too.  If you use catfish, it is called a court-bullion.

9 Thou shalt not tell people where the potato salad goes.  Some like it in a separate plate, some like it in their gumbo.  It's personal taste, and none of my business.  Nor your business either.

10 Thou shalt always stir counterclockwise.  I don't know where this one came from, but I always stir counterclockwise.  It just always been like that.  I'm sure it is a minor transgression and has no detriment to the gumbo.

If you get down to New Orleans, all these rules might not apply, but the Creoles have been thumbing their noses at the Cajuns for years.  But, just because someone ignores the rules don't mean that the rules don't apply.  Repent and prosper.

Gumbo Weather

 If this cool snap has done nothing else, it has certainly lifted our spirits from the doldrums of the summer. I went to the grocers this morning, and ran into three people who were making preparations to make a gumbo.  Which is exactly what I was doing.

When the weather gets cool, folks all over Louisiana get a twitch, a compulsion, to make gumbo.  I have a small whole fryer and four leg quarters in the pot, along with a stick of butter, four bullion cubes, with salt and pepper, starting to make the stock I'll need.  I have cut up three pounds of good sausage and have chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery to add to the mix.

When the chicken gets fall-off-the-bone tender, I'll dredge it from the pot and set it aside to cool.  After lunch, I'll gather my implements and make a big roux.  After the gumbo is assembled, I'll let it cool and put it in the fridge.  I have called some friends, and after church tomorrow, I'll put it back on the stove to heat, and make a pot of rice.

The basic recipe is here.

We Voted

 Early, in-person voting started today in Louisiana.  Belle and I went tot he polls and cast our ballot for the presidential election, a congressional election, and a state constitutional amendment.

We vote at Kees Park in Pineville.  When we got there the line was out the door, approacking the parking lot.  After we voted the line had gotten tot he parking lot.  Belle and I have been early voting for several years and this was the longest line we had been in.  Plenty of machines and workers, the line moved smoothly and we were done in about a half hour.

It was not a bad time at all.  If they'd let me, I'd do it again tomorrow.

Exultation

 Evidently, the Jewish world is celebrating the death of Yahya Sinwar, the political leader of Hamas.  This asshole was the planner for the October 7th attack last year and was the prime target of the IDF in Gaza.

From all accounts, Sinwar was a truly evil peckerhead and got the treatment that truly evil peckerheads so richly deserve. He didn't get a bomb dropped on him, or a missile to the forehead, he got shot by the IDF.

Nobody is going to miss this asshole.  I mean, hell, his mamma named him Ya-Ya.

Interesting Question

 Some of us were talking last week, and a question was posed: If a citizen is forced to commit a justifiable homicide.  A purely justifiable case of self-defense.  Is that citizen required in law to notify the police?

We all agreed that if you have to kill someone, calling the police is a good idea, but that wasn't the question.  Are you required to call the police?

This question was posed to a retired state trooper with 20+ years of service, and to me, a guy who carried a badge for 37 years. The two of us were stymied.

Let me be clear, in any situation of self-defense, there are only two roles. The victim and the bad guy.  You, as a good guy/victim want to call the police, if for no other reason than to have them come and remove the corpse.  But, the question remains, are you required by law to call the police?

Cool Snap

 On the way out the door this morning with my first cup of ambition, Belle told me that I might want long pants.  She was right.  It was cool and breezy on the back porch this morning.

Before I left to run errands, I put on a flannel shirt for the first time since last winter.  It's nice outside, cool and breezy with temps in the 50s. My first errand was to take the dog to the groomers, where he will come home shorn this afternoon.  He'll freeze his little butt off, but Belle is looking for his sweater.

We'll have warm weather again, but this little break sure feels nice.

Gerrymander

 According to the latest Louisiana census data, the state is 31% black.  With six congressional districts, the recent Democrat governor wanted to add a second minority district.  The legislature was unable todo so without some severe gerrymandering, but they drew it anyway.  Louisiana's 6th district stretches from Baton Rouge in the southeastern part of the state, to Shreveport, in the northwestern part of the state.

PawPaw happens to live in the new district, so I'll be forced to vote in that district.  I just pulled my sample ballot, and learned that thankfully, there is one Republican on that ballot, Elbert Guillory of St. Landry parish.  Guillory is black, but he is a registered Republican in a field of Democrats.  My choice is simple.  I'll push the button for Guillory, and hope that he prevails and represents us well.

Would I Ever

 The conversation came up this weekend.  Would I ever vote for a black woman?  The answer is, yes I would.  When that woman's political philosophy, mental acuity, and moral values align with mine, I'd vote vor her.

Two examples come quickly to mind.  Condoleezza Rice and Candace Owens are examples of women that I would vote for..  Both of these women have political philosophies that align with mine.  Intelligent, conservative, tough, and smart enough not to run for office, I think these ladies are great.

Would I vote for a black woman?  Sure, the right black woman.  The current pretender is not in either of their leagues.

Walz Fumbles

Tim Walz, trying to be a guys guy, fumbles with his shotgun during what appears to be a staged pheasant hunt.  The clip is early inthis video, 

The shotgun in question is a Beretta A400, a thoroughly capable sporting shotgun.  I've never used one myself, being more of a Winchester, Remington, or Browning guy, but with a little familiarization, I'm sure I could do a better job than that.

Walz is a poser.  We've all known them, the guy who talks a good game, but when it's time to go downrange and get stuff done, he's a ghost. I'm not voting for that guy.

Well, That's Done

 It helps when you have a good crew and good equipment.  A little more than three hours, and we were rolling up extension cord and putting tools away.

Elder son got out the Go Pro and took some footage.  I'm betting that it shows up online in another week or so.  When it does, I'll let you know.  Using a mini-excavator to demolish a deck should be some good B-roll.

Now, on to other things.

After the Storm

 Catching my breath between chores, I'm watching the news, and I recall my little place on Bayou Derbonne in southern Natchitoches parish.  It was an old house when I bought it, but the fellow who built it knew the land and put it on a high spot.  We never got flooded out, but several times we were flooded in, surrounded by backwater that would build after a deluge of rain and not be able to run off.

We never got flooded during the storm.  It would take several days for the creeks, streams, bayous and rivers to become inundated and the water would start crossing the roads and bridges.  When we got flooded, it was always nice weather. Sunny days.

Some folks in Florida are experiencing that now.  Milton has passed, but the rivers , streams and bays are full.  The water can't get out, so it backs up. It is simply another challenge in this string of days that we call life.  This too will pass and life will start to get back to something close to normal.

Still Here

 We're still here, not ignoring y'all.  This week has been beset with challenges around mu little acre.  Things that take a little planning, a little prep, and a little work, before the project swings into full force.  I have to get a big piece of equipment into the back yard and things needed to happen before that time.  Stuff moved, stuff mowed, stuff chain sawed.

Tomorrow morning early, the crew and equipment will arrive. The work should be done in several hours and we can move forward.  Luckily, the weather is supposed to be wonderful.  No chance of heat stroke.

At my advanced age and state of decrepitude,, I like to tell people that I can still do a full days work, it just takes me most of the week to get it done.  Y'all have a blessed weekend.

Wednesday News

 Looking at t the morning news, we break it down into two categories.  1) Kamala can't hold a press conference or a prime-time interview.  She is just incapable.  or, 2) Nonstop Milton coverage.

I did find one interesting, heart-warming story about a fellow using a mule train to get supplies to cut-off people in North Carolina.  19th century technology still works, and the mules are getting a little exercise.

Pray for Florida, but don't forget to pray for North Carolina.

Cable Woes

 Around here, Optimum is our cable service provider.  They are indeed the only choice if you want cable TV.

Belle watches TV, keeps a set on in the bedroom all night.  It's white noise.  This morning at 1:00 a.m., the cable went out.  No biggie, just a distraction.  When I awoke this morning, I started going through all the diagnostics and resetting everything.  I got the tech guy on the phone and he went through his diagnostics.  After half an hour on the phone, I was told that my cable boxes went out and that I had to go to their store to get new ones.  So, I yanked out the boxes and went to the store.

When I got there, the place was slammed. Full of irate customers.  Turns out, they scrambled all the channels this morning at 1:00 and switched systems.  After an hour waiting in line, I finally got to the desk and got two new cable boxes that were exactly like the old cable boxes.  And a new channel guide sheet.  Belle's favorite channels have all changed spots and she is going to have to keep those sheets close for a bit until the memorizes her favorites.

So, my day is shot because Optimum thought it would be hilarious to screw with everyone's channel lineup.  They are cocksuckers, I tell you, cocksuckers.

Meme

 This is something that the political elite will call misinformation.  Dangerous, false, and it was certainly photoshopped.  That doesn't make it any less relevant.

We have another strong hurricane bearing down on Florida. Where is Kamala?  Where is Joe, where is Mayorkas?.

Milton

 we awake this morning to find that the tropical disturbance in the Gulf has been named Milton and is heading to Florida.  Here is the cone.

It is due to hit the west coast of Florida on Wednesday and this cone may change.  Keep the affected folks in your prayers.

Opening Day

 Today is the opening day for squirrel season in north-central Louisiana.  It's almost a holiday and everyone who wants to tramp through the woods are chasing those bushy-tailed tree rats.  Grandson Lucas went out today and got his first squirrel.  This a momentous occasion.

To make the day even cooler, he used a shotgun that has been in the family a long, long, time.  

That is his great-grandfather's shotgun.  A Remington Model 11 that has taught four generations of hunters how to stalk the squirrels.  It's in 20 gauge and has been lovingly maintained in the family for many decades.

Well done, Lucas.  The old man is smiling down on you today.

Remembering

 I've spent some time this evening watching citizen journalists reporting out of the disaster area that is western North Carolina, and my heart moans for those people.  My memory floods back to the twin disasters of Katrina and Rita that hit Louisiana like a 1-2 punch in 2005.

Eastern Louisiana reeled from Katrina, and two weeks later, Rita slammed into western Louisiana.  New Orleans was virtually destroyed and many small communities across the coast were lost in Rita.  Just when everything seemed out of control, the government sent in Lieutenant General Russel Honore and told him to fix the disfunction and bring relief to those hut the most.

Honore took charge.  His command style was results oriented.  He had no time for bureaucrats or delay.  Results were all that mattered.  He'd tell people things like "Don't get stuck on stupid." or "You're looking at a calendar.  I'm looking at my wristwatch."  LTG Honore got things done.

North Carolina needs someone like Russ Honore. Someone with mission orders to take charge, tighten up the bureaucrats and get relief flowing.  I note that North Carolina is home to several fairly prominent military billets.  Places with helicopters, field kitchens, field hospitals, worker bees, and the ability to rad a map. Those assets could go to work tomorrow if POTUS would simply put someone in charge.

Two Pulls

 Being a country boy, I've owned chainsaws my entire adult life and I truly hate the damned things.  Noisy, oily, and dangerous,  I have never been comfortable running a chainsaw.  My latest chainsaw was one I bought at the local power equipment store, and it's a good one.  Echo brand. I've had it for 10-ish years and it still starts on the second pull.

For that, I give credit to my Dad, who said that there are several things that we must do for our small engines so that they run consistently.  1) Good, fresh fuel.  These days I run True Fuel in the chainsaw.  40:1, although the book calls for 50:1  That little bit of extra oil doesn't hurt a thing, and might actually help.  Then, when you're done, drain the fuel from the tank, and start the engine, letting it idle until if runs dry.  There may be a little fuel left in the lines, but not enough to gum things up.  And 3), give it a little cleaning before you put it away.

The chainsaw has been around for 10-ish years, gets run maybe twice a year, and still starts on the second pull. I changed the spark plug and filters maybe two years ago.

When this one gives up the ghost, I won't buy another gas-operated saw.  The electric ones are so much nicer, and probably better for my applications.  They still need bar oil, though.

Tropical Update

 In this, the first week of October, with nearly 60 days left in the hurricane season, we turn to the National Hurricane Center for their 7-day outlook.

That's not too terribly bad.  Two storms in the Atlantic, both predicted to be "fish" storms.  One cautionary area in the Gulf that bears watching.  I can live with that.  It is no time to be complacent, but I'll take good news when it comes our way.

1916

 Following the utter destruction that hurricane Helene left across the south, we're hearing moans about climate change.  Maybe the climate is changing, but if so, it's doing it awfully slowly.  History tells us of a similar flood near Asheville, NC in 1916.

It’s hard to believe the great Flood of 1916 that ravaged Western North Carolina took place over 100 years ago. The Flood still lives on in the hearts and minds of Asheville area citizens, and it is still known as ‘the flood to end all floods’. The Asheville Citizen, using a borrowed gasoline engine to run its presses, described the devastation caused by The Flood in its July 17, 1916, edition:“Exacting an unknown toll of death, with a property loss exceeding three million dollars, Asheville today is absolutely isolated from the outside world, is a city of darkness void of ordinary transportation facilities, and finds herself helpless in the grasp of the most terrible flood conditions ever known here.”

I say this not to minimize the human suffering in this present calamity, but to remind us that these things have happened before. 

My grandfather told stories of a big flood that happened in the 1920s and my parents remember the Red River flood of 1945.  Floods happen sometimes.  It's sad, but we write thigs down so that we can remember them.

Panoramic Sunroof

 I was watching a short on YouTube, an ad for a car, and one of the features was a "panoramic sunroof".

I admit that I have always been baffled about a sunroof in a car.  I've had vehicles with them in the past.  Belle's vehicle has one now, but it has never been used, except when they demonstrated it to her at the dealership.

Does anyone actually use a sunroof?  I've never seen the utility.  It adds complexity to the vehicle and puts a hole in the roof, which I've always thought was a bad idea.

Honestly, does anyone use a sunroof?

Reap The Whirlwind

 The big news today is that Iran has launched hundreds of missiles at Israel.

So far, the missiles seem to have done little real damage, kudos to the Israeli missile defense systems.

Biden has ordered the US military to assist Israel in the missile defense.

If I had to guess, I'd say that the airspace over Jordan is very busy.

Iran has called the thunder, I hope that they are ready to reap the whirlwind.

Strike

I see that the east-coast Longshoremen are on strike, and that is not a good sign for the supply chain.  America's economy these days is all about logistics, moving stuff from the manufacturer to the consumer, and that is supply chain.  If the docks aren't moving containers, the whole thing starts to slow down.

I understand that the sticking point is about automation. Machines moving stuff rather than people moving stuff. So, the question becomes, how long this temper-tantrum will last, and how much will it cost us.

I'm not anti-union, I'm anti-stupid, and I'm not convinced that this strike is the smart way to go about it.

Brighter

 After posting this morning, I went to our local electrical supplier, and asked about shop lighting. Specifically, high-bay LED lights. I know, I can order from Amazon, but I wanted to get my hands on one and take a look at it, spend some of my money with the local folks, and educate myself.

They sold me something by ASD Lighting (asd-lighting.com), their UHB5-PRO series.  $139.00 out the door. I installed a plug, got out a ladder, bung it from a purling, and asked Belle what she thought.    Of course, I had to move the ladder and re-hang the damned thing, but that's how things go in a well-run household.  I have to admit, she was right.

That brightens things up a bit.  The boys had been complaining that the gun cleaning table was a bit dim,   They won't be able to make that complaint now.

And, now that I've educted myself, I can go to Amazon and save a few bucks.

Tab Clearning

 Where to begin..

Kris Kristofferson died this weekend.  In his early days, Kristofferson was a soldier, a military aviator and a tabbed Ranger.  Also, a Rhodes scholar, who put all that aside to pursue a musical career.

Western North Carolina is reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Roads washed away, historic flooding, communications severed, it's an unmitigated disaster.  As a hurricane and flood survivor myself, my heart goes out to those people.  The one hard lesson to remember from these disasters is that when the wind quits howling, you may be on your own for three days.  It's a hard lesson, and many of the folks in the hollers and valleys may be without help for many more than three days.  Pray for them.

The Israelis are playing heads-up ball.  An Iranian cargo 747 was forced to divert back to Tehran after being told it would not be allowed to land in Beirut.  If Hezbollah can't get rockets, Hezbollah can't fire rockets. The Israelis have decapitated the leadership, disrupted communications, and are now attacking the logistics stream. They are preparing the battlespace and doing a masterful job.

Now, having read the morning news, I need to do something about the lighting in this shop.  I need to educate myself on something called "lumens".  I understand watts and candlepower, but no one measures lights by those terms today.

Dindu Strikes Again

 Termite points me to a story that happened in my hometown on Friday night.  It seems that a bunch of "Dindu Nuffin: types decided to have a hoot-out near a local restaurant.

According to APD, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. and is believed to have been a confrontation between rival groups.

Rival groups?  You mean local street gangs, don't you?  That's what everyone else thinks you man.

 APD stressed that the shooting was not a random act of violence and that patrons or employees at or around Texas Roadhouse were not in harm’s way.

It wasn't a random act of violence?  What was it?  Planned, Coordinated?  C'mon.

This saddens me. I grew up in Alexandria, but now live in the suburbs across the river.  Rival street gangs have made Alexandria almost unlivable.  I personally do not go into Alexandria unless I am forced to, and I don't go into Alexandria after dark.  Whatever I need will wait until tomorrow.

Friday Morning

 As the sun comes up along the Florida panhandle, lots of folks are getting a first hand view of the damage done during the darkness. Many in Georgia are just now learning what a tropical storm looks like.  Millions are without power, and millions more will be without power before the day is over.

PawPaw will lift those people up in prayer.  Storms happen. It is part of living in the South. When your roof blows off, or when flooding happens, it doesn't matter if it was a Cat 1 or a Cat 5.  You still need a roof, and the wind speed really doesn't matter.  I have friends in Florida and Georgia, and I'm worried about all of them.

In much more mundane news, PawPaw has chores to do, and I best get at them.  We're hosting out club's monthly match tomorrow There are only two matches left in our yearly series, and the points are tight.  We have the prize buckles in hand, and these folks are competing for them.  Anything can happen.

Thursday Thoughts

 It's a beautiful autumn day here in central Louisiana, but all eyes are on the storm heading to Florida.  Our best wishes and prayers go out to those who will be impacted by this storm.  It's a monster.

We have a bit of an issue here in Pineville, LA.  It seems our mayor, who is a first-termer, and won his office by a very narrow margin, has ben caught in a sex scandal and decided to resign.  It seems he was banging a gal who had some social media in the local area, and Oh, the angst and outrage are quite palpable.  Many of us are chuckling, and it is up to the city council to appoint an interim mayor to see the city through the rest of the term.

I don't live in the incorporated boundary, so I really don't have a dog in this hunt, but still, I enjoy a good comeuppance.  Would that it would happen to more sleaze-bags.

I think I'll make a pot of chili for lunch.  These cool temps require it.  Now, if you'll excuse me.

Hello, Helene

 We've been talking about it for a week, and now the winds have come together to give us Tropical Storm Helene. Soon to become Huricane Helene, she is threading the passage between Cuba and the Yucatan, set to enter the Gulf of Mexico.

It looks lie she is headed to the Big Bend in Florida, but even as the prediction looks more certain, it pays to keep an eye on these things.

Allocations

 I walked into my local hooch store this morning and asked the owner if he ever got allocated bourbon.  I've been shopping there for 20 years, and never thought to ask.

"Sure", says he. "Whaddya looking for?"

"I don't know." says I.  "Maybe a bottle of Blanton's."

Without a word, he walked into the back and got me a bottle of Blanton's.  When I asked what else he had hid back there, he motioned me back.

Weller Millennium, MSRP in the $7500.00 range.  He told me that it is already sold, someone is bringing the money this afternoon.  No problem, it's too damned rich for my blood.

And no, he doesn't have any Pappy for sale.  I'll put that bottle of Blanton's back and we'll crack it open for Christmas.  PawPaw doesn't collect whiskey.  PawPaw drinks whiskey.

Plausible

 We're watching a weird election, this train wreck of Kamala v Trump.

I was watching this clip, a segment from Gutfeld! where Tryrus makes a good point.  Skip forward to about the 5:30 mark.  "If Oprah can't save you, nobody can save you." Tryrus has also said that this election isn't going to be close.  Trump is going to take it in a stampede, and I hope Tyrus is right.

I don't know if anyone has been watching Joe, but he is slipping badly.  He forgot the name of the Indian Prime Minister, and he let Jill run a cabinet meeting. Joe's gone, and we all know it.  So, let's explore a plausible scenario.

We awaken the morning after the election and learn that Trump has been declared the winner.  Kamala's hopes for a presidency have almost been dashed, but she has one card left to play.  She calls an immediate cabinet meeting, invokes the 25th Amendment, and has Joe escorted from the building.  A Supreme Court justice shows up, administers the oath, and Kamala is the president, at least for a couple of months.  The first female president. Game, set, and match.

I pray that Tyrus is right. And, I think my scenario is plausible.

Amaryllidoideae

 The latin name above, for one of a family of lilies common in the South.  We call them by a variety of names, Spider lily, Johnny-Jump-Up, Pop-Up Lily, they are a harbinger of autumn.  Generally a red color, we have two varieties in the yard, a white along a privacy fence, and a red near an oak tree.

It's considered bad luck to mow then down.  They'll be in bloom only for another week and the I'll weed-eat around that tree the next time I mow.

Fallout

 It seems that the splodey devices worked better than many people might suspect.

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has ordered all members to stop using any type of communication devices after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon blew up in deadly attacks last week, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters.

They are back to having morning formation to put the word out. For ranges past shouting, they should probably lean semaphore.  Or, go back to landlines, which is also problematic.

In other news, the NOAA has not yet named that storm that is predicted to ravage the Gulf coast.  We're keeping an eye on it.

Autumn

 Today is the first day of Autumn, and temps here will be n the 90s with high humidity.

That storm we talked about on Friday seems to be firming up.  There is still a lot we don't know, but I've learned to trust this guy, because he tends to make conservative predictions.  This morning, he thinks it will be a hurricane, making landfall along the panhandle of Florida.

We'll have to wait and see.

 On the post below, a commenter noted:

I believe it was pagers and icom brand walkie talkie type radios. Not cell phones.

Yeah, those walkie-talkies were torching off too.  But I never said cell hones were exploding.  I only said that the word went out that cell phones might be next.

Have you ever heard of Psy-ops? Today, Hezbollah doesn't trust any communication device. You might recall that in 1996, Israel used an exploding cell phone to target an Hamas bomb maker.  As I recall, they bew his head off.

The commenter is correct, no cell phones were used in this attack.  But, if you were a Hezbollah member, would you trust any comms device today?

Splodey Pagers

Those devious Israelis.  I love them I do.

I heard about this last week while on vacation.  Evidently, on Tuesday, a butt load of pagers mysteriously exploded, creating havoc in the ranks of Hezbollah.  The terrorists were using pagers as communication devices, and the Israelis had a bunch manufactured with 

explosive charges that could be detonated on command.  

Now, the word is out that cell phones may also have been affected. That splashing sound you hear is thousands of cell phones across the Middle East being tossed into porta-potties.  When you depend on pagers and cell phones to communicate with your minions, and those devices start detonating, it causes comms problems in the ranks.

I don't know if the Israelis are responsible, but this was a high level logistics strike.  Lots of planning and coordination. Regardless of who done it,  you can bet that Achmed is re-thinking his communication system.

Catastrophe

Catching up on my email and other internet activities today, I'm finding some weather-weenies who think that there is a chance for a huge storm to blow  up in the Gulf, so I click over to NOAA and look at their 7-day graphic.

 According to NOAA, there is about a 40% chance of something developing in the next seven days.  But, the weather-weenies are convinced that we have catastrophe looming.  Okay, about a 40% chance.  In the next 10-12 days.  They might be right, or they might not.  I'll wait a week and then see.

I have bigger worries today, like what I'm going to eat for lunch.  My last meal was yesterday, gas station food in Arkansas.  I'll check with Belle and see what se is hungry for, then make the necessary preparations.

We're Back

 Belle has family in Missouri, and we drove up last Sunday to visit with them.  I was basically unplugged from the intertubes for five days.  It was a good visit.  We got caught up with the kids, and the grandkids, and the great-grandkids.

When we go to Missouri, we take a little bit of Louisiana with us.  Belle makes etouffee at some point, and the Missouri bunch doesn't get much etouffee.

Here the youngest of the clan gets a taste of etouffee from her grandpa, Dan.  She loved it and ate nearly as much as Belle ate.  Belle made a big etouffee and we fed a dozen people or more.  No leftovers, but some of the clan took home go-bowls for lunch the next day.

We drove home yesterday.  Twelve hours travel time.  It was good to sleep in my own bed last night.

Friday 13th

It's Friday 13th and there isn't much going on around here.  An old fried dropped by and we palavered for an hour. He's gone now, and I'm baking potatoes for our lunch.  Belle is at a beauty shop appointment, and when she gets back, I'm going to cook a couple of little ribeye steaks for our lunch.  

It's hard to complain when you have to make do with ribeye steak and potatoes.

I'm just about done watching the political process.  I am not undecided, and the basic insanity of this election cycle seems to be increasing toward crescendos.

Tomorrow, we pack for a trip up north, to Missouri to visit with family for a few days.  It will be a nice break.  This is small-town Missouri.  There is a little restaurant that will get a 2nd visit, and there is a cheese shop that we'll patronize.   How a gourmet cheese shop landed in Sweet Springs, MO is one of life's little mysteries.  Small town stuff.  

 

Wednesday 5pm Tropical Update: Hurricane Francine makes landfall as a Ca...

Francine made landfall this afternoon as a Cat 2 storm, down in Terrebonne parish.  This is the local news anchors down there reporting on the storm.

It is truly refreshing to hear people talk about this storm who know how to pronounce the place names.  Don't worry about PawPaw, as we're 200 miles northwest of the landfall, well out of the way of the problem.

General Warrants

 During my 37 years as a police officer, I asked for my fair share of search warrants.  Not a big deal, we all know the rules.  Most of my investigations were done prior to 1998, before the internet took over.  After 1998 I was a beat cop and I don't believe I asked for any warrants in this century.  That was a detective's job.

In the third decade of the 21st century, we have devices that our founding fathers could not have conceived in their wildest dreams.  We have cell phones and the ability to store lots of data that we might consider private.  There are some interesting cases winding through the courts that address this question.

I watch a YouTube channel, the Socialite Crime Club, where the moderators discuss crime and police work and all manner of things related to the digital age and how data is used to crack cases.  This weeks episode talks about a grisly murder, but toward the end of the episode they do a deep dive into data and warrants and the courts diverging opinions on what is good and proper.

The episode in an hour and a half, but if you want the discussion on the court, start about 54:30, or skip ahead even further to 57:00.  From the perspective of an old investigator, this was fascinating, talking about how our founding fathers crafted the 4th Amendment to protect us even today.

In short, if you are a private citizen who wishes to remain private, flush your cell phone down the nearest toilet.  If youare a cop who wants to break a cold case, learn all you can about Geo fences.  I did not know, for example, that when I take a photo, my phone turns on GPS to dry and locate the photo.  Likewise, your free flashlight app also keeps location data. The link above will take you to the video in question.  Be prepared to go down a deep rabbit hole.

Now, if you;ll excuse me, I have soup to stir, and a hurricane to track.

Hurricane Humor

 Seen on the Book of Face

Mais... dat's true.

Huge

 People who don't live near a hurricane area don't realize how big these systems are.  Check out this radar image I captured just a few minutes ago.

The center of circulation is down near the bottom left of the image.  My acre is easily 500 miles away, and we're getting rain right now that is associated with the system. These things are huge.

Right now, it's just rain.  No wind to speak of.  Francine is a disorganized mess.  If she gets her act together, she could be a real problem.  We hope that she stays a disorganized mess for as long as possible.

Belle and I are warm and dry with adequate supplies.  We'll be okay, but we won't be doing much except watching the weather for the next 48 hours.

Evaporation

 Watching Francine churn the Gulf reminds me of a story, from late in the past century.  Before I met Belle.  It was sometime around 1998 or 99.  In the little bar I frequented, there was a fellow, we'll call him Earl, who wasn't the brightest bulb on the tree, but he was a hard worker and dependable.

Earl had managed to get a job offshore as a roughneck, and he was excited about it.  Earl was excited, and a bit nervous, plumbing the patrons in the bar about what he should expect. There was a great deal of joshing and good natured banter, leading up to the day when Earl caught the crew boat.

Imagine my surprise when I came through the door two days later, and found Earl sitting at the bar.

"Earl," says I "What happened?  You quit?  Get fired?"

"No", says Earl.  "They had a sy-foon blow up, and they had to evaporate everybody off the rig."

I suspect that they are evaporating people off of rigs right now.

RIP

 Termite has just told me that Janes Earl Jones has passed away.

Damn.  Another one of my favorite actors gone.

TS Francine

 Checking with the National Hurricane Center at noon today, we find that the disturbance in the Gulf is now Tropical Storm Francine.  The track has shifted east a little bit, and it now looks like it will come ashore near Vermillion Bay in south central Louisiana as a hurricane.  Bad news for Acadiana and the Atchafalaya basin.

It may be prudent to run up to the store and get some gasoline for the generator.  If it comes across us, it will have degraded considerably, but we may be out of power for a few hours.

Potential Tropical Cyclone 6

 Meteorologist Kevin Sonnier does a great job with tropical cyclones.  His latest advisory on what the National Hurricane Center is calling PTC 6.

The National Hurricane Center has initiated advisories on PTC #6 in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. A general move to the northwest, followed by a northeast turn is expected within the next 72 hours. The National Hurricane Center is also going on the higher-end of the intensity spectrum, forecasting a category one hurricane at landfall late Wednesday.

 That magenta line goes really close to my acre.  We'll keep an eye on this thing for sure.  IT's a long time between now and Wednesday andd we'll learn nore as we get closer to landfall.

91L

 The weather-weenies are looking at something called 91L, a disturbance near the Yucatan peninsula. The model runs bring it over Louisiana.

This thing bears watching.  Not scared, just prepared.

Deception

 Watching a YouTube video today I was reminded of a Supreme Crout case that basically says that the police can use deception in the furtherance of justice. This sounds odd, until you realize that undercover cops very existence depends on deception.

Once upon a time, I was able to take a class on fingerprinting.  As past of that class, we had to learn to lift prints off of various surfaces and process them on a latent card for later analysis.  As part of the class, I made a latent card of my own fingerprints.  That card found its way into my briefcase.

When interviewing a suspect, I might lay that card on the table and make no reference to it. It was just there, along with case notes and a tablet for notes.  Invariably, the suspect's eyes were drawn to it, and as long as the suspect said nothing, neither did I.  If he asked about it, I'd dismiss it.  They were, after all, my fingerprints.  But he didn't know that.

The suspect would look at the latent card, and I'd notice him looking at it, and I'd ask if had anything he wanted to tell me.  I made several cases with that card laying on the table.

At trial, or an evidentiary hearing, the attorney might ask if we had collected any fingerprints, and I would always answer "No".  Because we hadn't.

Was that a deceptive practice?  Only if he was stupid.

Immediate and Overwhelming

I'm still trying to sort out the mess at Apalachee High School in Georgia, but a few things reveal themselves.

The school had two resource officers assigned, and by all accounts, they did a magnificent job.  Yes, four people were killed, but the shooter wanted many more victims.  We will be studying this shooting for years, just as we study Uvalde, Parkland, and Columbine, and hopefully we will learn lessons from it.  One big take-away is that Apalachee already had officers on the ground. 

In an active shooting, every second counts. Within minutes the resource officers had located, identified and attacked, taking the shooter into custody and beginning the life-saving response.  Tragically, four people died, but it could have been much, much, worse.

I spent 16 years as a resource officer.  I don't know how many lives I saved, because it is impossible to know how many bed ideas were thwarted simply because I was there.  It's impossible to know.  I do know that resource officers take a psychological beating, because hanging out at a school is not exciting, it's not "real police work".  I do know that I once put a step-counter on my belt, and that I was covering about five miles a day on my beat.  Yes, I did investigations, yes, I made arrests,   The thing that I am nost proud of is that no one died during my tenure, and only two people were tragically injured.  One, the result of an accident, the other  the result of a grab-ass incident that got out of hand.  

The resource officers at Apalachee did a hell of a job.

Daddy Charged

 Fox News is reporting that the father of the Georgia school shooter has been arrested.

Colin Gray was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Investigators have yet to provide specific evidence related to the charges but have alleged that he knowingly allowed his son to possess a weapon. 

I'm still not ready to opine, but it seems that there were parenting issues in the house.   It will be interesting to see how this plays out. 

Shooting in Georgia

 I see that we have had a school shooting in Georgia today.  Four killed, several hospitalized many more traumatized.

I'm going to invoke the 72 hour rule.

In the meantime, I'll be praying for those affected.

That Reminds Me.

Twenty or so years ago, younger son was working at an historical site, Fort St. John Baptiste in Natchitoches, LA.  One of the ladies who worked there, we'll call her Miss Juanita, was of Creole heritage, predominantly Spanish.  She made tamales, using the old recipe where she would start with dry corn and lye to make her hominy.  It was quite a production, and the tamales were fantastic.

One day, Miss Juanita was out in the courtyard, with an open fire and a big pot, making hominy when her father stopped by to visit.  The old gentleman walked over to the pot, his daughter stirring it, and watched approvingly.

The old man stood there for a bit, then patted his daughter on the back.  "That looks good, Juanita, but you know, you can buy hominy in cans now."

That's the way the world is these days.  I did that post on block chili, simply as a blast from my past. That box of chili I posted isn't just exactly what I remembered, but it was close.  We make chili now in a variety of ways.  You can go easy and open a can of Hormel, or you can go old fashioned and slaughter a hog.  They both fill the belly.

Quiet

 It seems I'm not the only one who has noticed that the Atlantic basin has been quiet this year

The Atlantic has had no named storm formations since #Ernesto on August 12. The last time that the Atlantic had no named storm formations between August 13 - September 3 was in 1968. The remarkably quiet period for Atlantic #hurricane activity continues.

That's true.  The last named storm was Ernesto and that was several weeks ago.   

I remember the 2005 season plainly.  Katrina came ashore on August 29th, and Rita followed her on September 24th.  They are alphabetical you know, and there are a bunch of letters between K and R. That was a busy year.

A wise man once said that climate is what you expect, but weather is what you get.

It seems that we have a Hamas apologist in the comments section.  He disagrees with me that Hamas is s despicable.  

You were not there, you do not know that the Idf didn't kill them attempting their genocide on anything not bowing to the jews. You have no evidence except what Israel tells you.

Except that it is being generally reported that Hamas leadership has taken credit for the killings, and that Hamas has published orders telling its fighters to kill the hostages if the IDF gets too close.

The simple truth is that this horrible action would not be happening if Hamas had not launched their attack on October 7th.  They slaughtered civilians and killed innocent children.  They took hostages.  All in violation of international law.  Hamas is a criminal organization.  They deserve to be wiped from the earth and thrown on the ash heap of history.  Along with ISIS, the Taliban, and every other terrorist organization.

War Crimes

 During weekend frivolity, I missed it, but was reading the news this morning that Hamas has taken the art of war crime to a new level. Kill the hostages.

This is despicable. By extension, those mindless idiots marching around Georgetown University waving the Hamas flag are also despicable.  They have a perfect right to protest, and wave their hate-filled banners, but that makes them no less despicable.

Taking hostages is cowardly and atrocious.  Killing then when they no longer have value is evil beyond words, and anyone who supports that conduct is also evil.

Block Chili

 Belle and I were talking this morning over coffee and I asked about "block chili".  I used to see it as a kid in the grocery store.  It was wrapped in wax paper and was a hard, dehydrated block of chili.  Add water, heat and eat.  As I recalled, it was pretty good chili.

Belle commented that her daddy loved the stuff and bought it regularly.  But, shee continued, she saw it in the store last week.  They still make it.  She sent me to the grocers later and I asked the butcher about it.  Sure enough, it was in the shelf near the hot gods.

We cooked a bunch of sausage, bratwurst, and hamburgers yesterday and we were cleaning up leftovers, so I followed the label directions and heated it up while I heated the sausage.  We had good chili dogs for lunch, and the block chili was really nice..

Just in case anyone was wondering.

Questions Answered

 In the post below, Sport Pilot asks:

How much flame cutting did your M-66 have above its forcing cone

Hardly any.  Back in the day, flame cutting was a bugaboo that we talked about a lot.  It was generally accepted that the 125 grain loads were responsible for most of the flame cutting.  I carried the Federal 125 grain load for duty, but shot very little of it.  

My favorite, go-to load was a reload of mine that featured a .38 Special case, anyone's primer, a hard cast 158 grain semi-wadcutter and 4.3 grains of Unique.  That has always been my go-to .38 Special load.  It has accounted for dozens, if not hundreds of rabbits, armadillos, skunks, and raccoons.  That load probably counted for 99% of the bullets down the barrel.

When younger son sent the revolver off to be reworked, Smith and Wesson sent it to their Performance Center.  As far as I know, they were not concerned with the minimal flame cutting.  If they considered it dangerous, the gun would have been scrapped.

Next up, DreW458 asks:

Do you know the hardness of those RanchDog bullets?

Nope.  The cast recipe for them was 10 lbs of my wheelweight metal, with 1 lb of scrap linotype.  As soon as the sprue was sut, they were dropped into a bucket of water by my feet.  Then, they were dipped in liquid alox, run through a .358 sizer, and re-dipped in alox. I have no clue what the hardness was.  If I ever measured it, I'd have to look in my notes.

Younger son has that mold now, along with my Model 66 and m Marlin 1894C.  That Marlin had a 16" barrel, and I think that a 20: tube would detract from the handiness.

Oddly Enough

 That post last week about my old Model 66 that is starting a new life, led me to remanence a bit.  Back in 2010, I was a member of the High Road forum, where we talked a lot about firearms related stuff.  A bunch of us started playing with heavy bullet loads in the .357 magnum, and one of the members, who called himself Ranch Dog designed a bullet for the group.  It was a 180 grain wide-flat-nose bullet with Leen tumble lube grooves.  I talk about it here, and you can click over to read the post.

That load featured Hodgdon's L'il Gun powder.  I won't give you the recipe, because you need to do your own load work-up, but it was stiff.  And, L'il Gun has probably changed a bit over the years, so if I decided to use it, I'd have to do my own work-up.

I recall that when I did the initial load work, I had to seat that bullet a little deeper than the SAAMI specs, and the gun I used to finalize the seating depth was that Model 66.  That load would just barely fit into the cylinder of the 66 and required a heavy crimp to keep the bullets in the cylinder from backing out under recoil.  That load gave me 1200 fps from the 66 and was flirting with 1600 fps from my Marlin 1894C.

On a subsequent range trip, I took my Model 28-2 to see how they would chrony from the 6" barrel.  To my complete surprise, that cartridge would extend past the end of the cylinder and tie the gun up with the bullet hitting the forcing cone.  I was a bit surprised as the Model 66 is built on a medium frame and the 28 is built on the larger N frame, but the evidence was clear.  The Model 66 would feed and fire a longer OAL than the Model 28

I always thought that was odd.

It's Labor Day.  Y'all go have some fun.

Lifetimes

 A good revolver should last your lifetime and be passed along to heirs.

I started police work in 1980.  About 1984 I got a good deal on a used SW Model 66 and strapped it on.  IN the 80s the Model 66 was considered the ne plus ultra of police handguns, surpassed only by the Colt Python.  Everyone carried them.  The city cops, the parish deputies, the state troopers.  Everyone carried a Model 66.  I carried mine until about 2004, when the sheriff I worked for made everyone go to a brand new semiauto, the SW M&P.  

That old Model 66 had multiple thousands of rounds through it.  Not only as a duty pistol, but as a woods-cruising gun, and a test bed for reloads.  There is literally no telling how many thousands of rounds whet down the tube of that old gun.

Last year my younger son (a Glock guy, through and through) was visiting.  He's a cop in New Mexico.  He told me that he was in line for a slot at the Firearms Instructor school and needed to buy a K frame or L frame revolver.  I went to the back of the house, got my old 66 out, and handed it to him.  I told him that the revolver had "push-off", a symptom of a worn revolver.  This occurs when you can cock the hammer to full cock, then push it off with thump pressure ont he hammer spur.  He said that he would have it looked at.

Later, he called me and told me that he had sent the revolver to Smith and Wesson for a complete action rebuild.  It went through the custom shop, where the craftsmen rebuilt it.  They told him, in a phone call, that the revolver had left their factory in 1973 and was definitely in need of a tune up.  Not abused, just well used.

His next call, a couple of weeks later, was to ask how I carried it when I was plain-clothed.  I told him to buy a good pancake holster and don't look back.  He sent me some pictures today.

I have to admit, the old gal looks pretty good.  New grips, good internals, and a nice leather holster.  Who knows, in another 40 years she might get passed down again and make another trip to the Custom Shop.

Dehydration

 Went to my primary care doc this morning and gave labs, then came back this afternoon for a checkup.

My doc likes bourbon, is a member of bourbon club, and we've talked about whiskey.  I think that life is too short to drink bad whiskey, and I'm trying to expand his horizons just a bit.  So, this afternoon, I took a bottle of Redbreast 12 Irish whiskey.  As we were wrapping up the medical portion of the interview, I asked I were the last patient of the day.

"No," he replied, "I have one more to see before the day is over.

"That's too bad," says I.  I took out the whiskey bottle and put it on the table. "But, if you go get a specimen cup, I'll pour you a dram to sample later."

He left to get a specimen cup, returning promptly.  "What is that?"

"Redbreast 12" I uncorked the bottle and handed it to him.  "This is what Jameson aspires to be."

He took the bottle and poured a generous dram into the specimen cup, then nosed it. "Oooh, that's nice."

Doc and I walked out of the exam room to the counter where his staff works, and he put the specimen bottle on the counter beside his laptop. One of his staff was charting on the other side of the counter.  She looked up, saw the specimen cup and exclaimed, "He's dehydrated."

The doc and I laughed.  We told the assembled staff that it was 12-year-old Irish urine and was not to be sent to the lab.  Doc would be taking it home later for special analysis.

Politics

 Earlier this week, I saw video of former president Trump laying a wreath at Arlington to honor those service members killed under Biden's watch.  It seemed to be a respectful and dignified wreath-laying ceremony.  Some are claiming that Trump should not have paid homage to our fallen, and that the ceremony was simply crass politics.

Horsefeathers.

I didn't see Demented Joe or Cacklin' Kamala honoring our fallen.  Nor did I see Command Sergeant Major Master Sergeant Walz laying any wreaths.

One member of the Old Guard defended President Trump.

The veteran, Lucas O’Hara, said on social media that he worked at Arlington for three years during his time in the military, and he lauded Trump's composure at the event. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is facing criticism following reports that cemetery staff warned them not to take photographs at the Monday event.

"I have witnessed over 75 wreath laying ceremonies performed by politicians and conducted 524 funerals in this cemetery during the time I served in the Presidential Honor Guard for three years. What I got to witness yesterday was the most respectful and solemn ceremony I have seen," O'Hara wrote. 

What the Harris campaign, along with its surrogates and sycophants' are distressed about is that they didn't think to lay a wreath   If the sitting president or vice president does it, it's good television.  If Trump does it, it's pure crass politics.  Their hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Later

 I'll tell you all about it later, but today I've been enmeshed in a bureaucratic snafu.  When everything comes to fruition, I'll tell you all about it, but mum's the word until we get it sorted out.  It's a good story and deserves telling.  It all started in 1984, when life was simple and I had life figured out. Times have changed since then.

I had a boss once who had a needlepoint hanging behind his desk.  "Never Let The Bureaucrat Win".  That's where we are right now.  I'm grinning right now at the absurdity of the whole situation, but they are about to piss me off.  If need be, I'll write a letter to my congress-critter.

Monday Tidbits

 Have y'all heard about those two astronauts stranded on the space station?  They were supposed to be up there for a week, but some sort of problem reared its head and they are stuck up there.

Two NASA astronauts have been stranded on the International Space Station for 56 days12345. They were originally supposed to return after a week, but their return has been delayed due to equipment problems with the Boeing spacecraft they rode to orbit.

If it was me up there, I'd be well and truly pissed.  I heard someone say today that they might not get them home until February.

 

Memories

 Belle cooked a quick lunch last week, using a frozen meal.  It was good, but I couldn't put my finger on it, till it suddenly came flooding back to me.  1973, Fort Knox, KY,   We had just come out of the field, and the chow hall served a hot supper.  Salisbury steaks, mashed potatoes, sweet corn.  It's amazing how memories work.

I normally drink Evan Willians in my afternoon cocktails. On Saturday, for reasons I can't explain, I picked up a bottle of old No7.  Jack Daniels flagship hooch.  I poured myself a Jack and COke, and the memories came flooding back.  Totally different taste.  

I wish I knew what vodka they were using in the Fort Dix bar in 198.  That was a TDY to remember.

Batteries

 For the longest, I resisted battery-driven tools.  However, over the past couple of years, I have to admit that the technology has gotten better, and that battery powered tools seem to be okay.  

Year before last, my gasoline powered string trimmer went kaput.  Last year, I didn't do any string trimming at all.  I got as close as I could with a push mower, and said the hell with it.  But, this year I has some spots in the yard that were starting to look a little ratty, and decided to get another string trimmer.

Over the past several years, I have acquired a couple of battery driven tools, the black-and-yellow brand.  Specifically, a drill and a nut driver.  They work just fine.  I decided that when I bought another string trimmer, it would be nice to have it work on the same battery that my drills use.  Yesterday, I was at the local lumber yard and saw such a device.  It came with a 5 amp hour battery and was the right colors.

It seems to work good.  I don't have to worry about mixing gas, or chokes or carbs, or any of that.  Plug in a battery and get after it.  I wouldn't use it for a commercial application, but for around the house, it seems to be fine.  I have another battery to add to the collection, and they all interchange.

A while back, this brand went from an 18 volt system to a 20 volt system.  If you have the old 18 volt motors, there is an adapter that will let you use the new 20 volt batteries.  Or, you can go to Vanon batteries and buy their knock-off.  My sons use Vanon batteries and seem to like them. You can get them either from the factory, or go through Amazon.  Either way.

Pry Bar

I got out the pry bar earlier this week to help demolish a deck.  Later on, during a break, I pondered how long I had owned that pry bar.

It was the spring of 1974  my (now departed) wife and I were in an apartment in the college ghetto in Natchitoches and she wanted some renovation.  I went to DeBlieux' Hardware on Front Street and bought a small pry bar.

Fifty years later, that pry bar is still serving me well.  Oh, and about that first wife.  She didn't die.  She just departed.  Last I heard, se was doing well, living in northern Arkansas

Mommas and Daddys

Grandson Lucas wants a dirt bike.  His mother gave grudging permission, with conditions.  First, he has to earn it.  Second, there will be safety gear involved.  Helmets, chest protectors, etc.

Lucas and his dad came up with a scheme to rebuild a derelict lawn mower so that Luke could learn basic wrenching and earn the money to buy a dirt bike.  It's a Skag frame with a rebuilt 25 horse Kohler engine.  It should be a capable machine when finished.

Belle and I were talking about the difference between Mommas and Daddys.  We agree that no Momma ever told her adolescent son, "Boy, what you need is a dirt bike."  No momma ever said those words.

Ya gotta let them grow and make mistakes.  Will Lucas come into my shop one day, limping, maybe wearing a cast?  It's a possibility.  I hope he doesn't hurt himself, but sometimes you just have to gas on it.

Monday Tidbits

 We got a little rain today, on and off.  Our last rainfall was July 26th, so we appreciate it.  Cooler temps, and moisture on the ground.  It's a good thing.

I'm disassembling a deck I built 20 years ago to complement the pool.  It's become an eyesore and Belle ha been not-so-gently hinting that it needs to go away.  The problem is that I can't get any equipment into my back yard, so any demolition has to be accomplished one board at a time.  It's going out the same way it came in. One board at a time. This morning I made good progress.

It's like the old question: How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.  That deck is kind of like that elephant. One bite at a time.

Today is Orville Wright's birthday.

Weekend Weather

 Hot is the prevailing word.  Very hot.  Triple digit hot.

The weather-weenies tell us that we have a chance for a thunderstorm, but it won't cool us off much.  I started a project this morning, and quit today's work before 9:00.  I'll continue in this vein for the next week, starting early and being inside when the temps get unbearable.  I'm retired and don't need to be n a hur

Roadwork Update

 At the end of the workday, this is what we are left with.  It looks like they have done some base work, filled holes, compacted, and widened it a couple of inches.  It's better today than it was yesterday.

I suspect that they are going to put a layer of asphalt down, but whether they work on Saturday is a matter of claim.  We'll see tomorrow morning.  Still, it's better now than it was yesterday.

Roadwork

 The road in front of the house is raggedy, no doubt about it.  When we moved her 20 years ago, it was a quaint country lane.  Years later, with white flight and folks moving to the outskirts, there are subdivisions and houses in places that I never imagined.  Our quaint country lane has become a traffic artery, and the road has sufferered.

But, the powers that be are doing something about it.  I'm not sure what they are doing, but there are tax dollars being spent.

Looks to me like they are spreading soil cement prior to an overlay.  This is a good thing, and hopefully the road will be better for it.  Belle has a doctors appointment in a couple of hours, and I hope that she is able to leave the house.  We shall se.

Buckles

 Cowboys like buckles.  The gaudier the better.  This year the club voted to make our Top Gun series to be trophied in buckles. They paid extra in the club fees to make the buckles a reality.

This morning, I went over to Molly's Custom Buckles and designed some buckles for the club. The process was not as daunting as I expected, and Belle likes the design.  I gave them the club credit card information, and in a few days I'll get the artwork back for approval before it goes to the production floor.

I once heard a rodeo producer say, "It's amazing what a cowboy will do for a $4 buckle."  Well, they ain't $4 anymore.

Lasers - Aircraft

 Don't point a laser at an airplane.  It's considered in very poor taste.

SHREVEPORT, La. (KPEL News) - A Shreveport woman is in serious trouble after shining laser pointers at two aircraft, which is a major federal crime.

April Nicole Poitras, 45, of Shreveport, entered a guilty plea in federal court to multiple charges and faces up to 5 years in prison and up to a quarter million dollars in fines.

Seriously, just don't do that.  Lasing an eyeball can cause serious long term issues.

Ernesto

 It seems that we have a storm in the Atlantic that the NOAA has nemed Ernesto.  The tracks show that it isn't coming to Louisiana, nor to the mainland US.

Some of the islands are going to get wet, but this thing will mainly be a fish storm.

Great Ideas

 A good idea is a good idea, and should be adopted, regardless of which side of the political aisle comes up with it.  Bad ideas, conversely, should be mocked and discarded.

President Trump has a good idea several weeks ago at a function in Nevada. He proposes to make tips to service and hospitality workers exempt from taxation.  He calls it No Tax On Tips. This idea has been enthusiastically applauded, to the point where our sitting Vice President adopted it this weekend at a campaign rally. Kamala Harris should be commended for getting on board with a good idea, even if it were conceived by her opponent.  It's a good idea that the country can get behind.

I'm sure that the idea would take some sort of Congressional approval to be implemented,  Kamala Harris is, constitutionally, the President of the Senate.  She could introduce legislation today to remove the tax on tips.  It's a great idea, why not today?

When Kamala tells us that she will do something as soon as she takes office, we should remind her that she is already in office.  Do it now.

Insurance

 Like most Americans, I pay a mortgage note on my little acre.  The bank requires that I maintain homeowners insurance. They roll the insurance and taxes into an escrow account.  We pay them a monthly note, they pay the insurance and taxes from the escrow account.  It is all standard practice.

I live in Louisiana, a truly backwards state in many respects.  We have hurricanes, which damage houses.  That is reflected in our homeowners insurance.  After Katrina, Rita,  and more recently Ida in 2021, a number of companies declined to do business in Louisiana.  Those that remained, jacked their rates. 

 Finding affordable homeowners insurance in Louisiana became a challenge.  Everyone's rates went up, including PawPaws.  As a result, our mortgage note increased.

I just got back from the bank, and we think we have this mess straightened out.  We hoe so.  Insurnace is one thing that I do not want to worry about.

Memes

 Two memes I saw today.

Heh

Quiet Skies

 Evidently, the TSA has a watch list that is called Quirt Skies. Until this week, I hadn't heard of it, but it became news.  According to a Google search, Quiet Skies is:

The TSA's "Quiet Skies" initiative started in 2010 and was expanded just last March. The program, as first reported by the Boston Globe, identifies travelers, including American citizens, who could pose a threat, but may not have been accused of a crime and are not on the no-fly list.

So, some bureaucrat at TSA decides that you might be a problem and puts you on the list.  How very Stassi-like.  As it turns out, they put Tulsi Gabbard on the damned list.  For no apparent reason. 

Every time I get around TSA critters, I get a case of the screaming red-ass.  I do not understand why the large aviation carriers continue to allow those people to harass their customers.  TSA screening in airports is probably the worst decision of the 21st century.

Drought

 It looks like we are in the August dry season.  According to the weather folks, our last measurable rainfall was July 26th.  There is a chance of rain next week, but we'll have to wait and see about that.  That is good for the hay farmers.  July was fairly wet for us here in central Louisiana, and now it's dry.  Two weeks doesn't make a drought, but it is a pretty good start.

I mowed this morning, and the grass isn't "crunchy" yet, but that will come soon.  The temps are supposed to me in the mid 90s today, with the heat index in the 100s.  I'm fairly sure that I'm going to stay indoors the rest of the day.

RJ45 Connectors

 I broke an RJ45 connector today, those little things on the ends of Cat 5 cable.  It's not critical, so it can wait a few days.  But, I did some Googling around, and educated myself on replacing them.  Seems rather straight-forward.

So, I went to Amazon, ordered the crimping tool and some pass-thru connectors.  They came as a kit, and this seems to be a skill that should be in my tool kit.  There seems to be two main protocols for the color scheme in wiring these connectors.  I'll have to pay attention to that.  It seems that scheme B is the most common, but I'll look at the broken connector to see which protocol the last guy used.

These cables rum my range, connecting timers, lights and displays. I probably have a couple of thousand feet of Cat5 in the shop.

Who?

 I see that Kamala picked Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate.  

He claims to be a retired Army Sergeant Major, and while I generally have a lot of respect for the rank,  folks who served with him say that he bailed on his battalion, retiring early rather than deploying with them to Iraq.

He was the governor who let Minneapolis burn during the George Floyd debacle.

He was the governor who set up snitch lines to report neighbors during the pandemic.

He seems to be more "left" than Kamala.

Grady Judd

 Ya gotta love Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, Florida.

This one short encapsulates his understanding of law enforcement.

"You point a dead deputy's gun at the SWAT team, you're going to get shot a lot."

Debbie

 Pray for Florida, and Georgia, and The Carolinas.  Pray especially for those folks who moved sourh after the pandemic and don't know about hurricanes.

There are a lot of folks in a bind this morning.