Elections as “Punctuated Equilibrium”

by

Seat backs and tray tables to their full upright and locked position?  You may wish to make one last run to the lavatory before we begin our descent into…um…

With the (militarist left) governor of Washington state already activating the National Guard – and reports that Oregon has done the same thing – see: Portland police gear up for potential election violence and National Guard on standby – along with Nevada – we can see how the (too far Left) is setting up to contest wins by anyone other than Commissariat selections.

On one hand, the election is Grand Kabuki – since we now know which media have been co-opted by Marxist and Globalists – who seem to be in a partnership to hold on to their old – BROKEN – ways. Instead of letting a new, more aware, smarter, and evolutionary way of Being emerge.

We’ve been “out here in the sticks” – waiting for Others to adopt “Downscaling” with less bling and more thinking for more than 20-years.  Sadly, the number of “bright adopters” (who can run numbers, assess trends, and see the only exit line into Future) is a finite number. Oh, and rather small.

Capt. Gooding – The Grown Up

A friend of some decades, retired (senior officer) military, will occasionally share his utter brilliance – both here and on Peoplenomics – under his pen names “Captain Midnight” or “Captain Gooding.”  Sound familiar?  It should:

“Father and I went down to camp,
Along with Captain Gooding,
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.”

Remember Yankee Doodle? Yep, he’s a 24 karat, “If he says it, you can take it to the bank,” kind of American. Who we should all thank for his service.

His perspective on where the Country is – and what comes after this Election tomorrow – stands head and shoulders above anything the corp-pimp media has offered yet. (And we’ve been looking, believe me!)

Ponder this and manage your Future accordingly:

“Whatever happens in the days and months ahead, it is clear we are at an inflection point in history. All my studies of change point to a fundamental order of punctuated equilibrium. Some might call that catastrophic, but I think that, while some punctuation points can be catastrophic, others are simply shorter periods of rapid, often seemingly chaotic, fundamental change.

Once that time period is over., things settle down again to a more stable, far less rapid new equilibrium.

An example I often cite is a river. Day to day, rivers change a bit, but not vastly. But randomly, along comes that 500 year flooding, and tha raging waters sweep away long established structures, sometimes whole islands, even carving whole new river channels, while blocking old channels and turning them into stagnant oxbow lakes. Then, those raging flood waters subside, and the land begins to adapt to a new normal, until, years later, the next massive flood comes along.
I think almost everyone can feel that we are in such times civizationally, and as near as I can tell, that is a global case.

In such times, those in power become powerless. It is not that their mechanisms of power are any lessened. In fact, they invariably seek to strengthen their grip and control. But the floodgates of the times sweep away police cars as easily as they move dumpsters.

Survival in such times means moving to higher ground and waiting out the flood. Nothing any mortal can do can stop the raging waters and the catastrophic changes the times will bring. The real questions will be what was preserved, what tools, talents, and teachings will survive the tempest to become the foundations upon which the new equilibrium will be rebuilt.

Faith, family, and faculties will shape, will define the new order. But though some have visions of how they wish the post-traumatic order to be, universe alone can foresee what will become.

Such times have come before, countless in humanity’s past. And we can be sure they will come again, for, like it or not, it is inherent in the natural order of things. And even so, we ourselves are living through just such times now. Where is the proverbial high ground for us to head to? I know not. I suspect that moderation in most things may be the best course of action, if for no other reason than it affords the widest choice of alternative courses. But truthfully, I have no idea what actions will prove wisest in the end.

We’ve been traveling across Eastern America for the last week. I’ve noticed that the oldest structures seem to be those fairly near rivers, but not on the highest grounds. Rather, they are generally walking distance to the river, but on solid high ground, well above the flood plain. But also not on the thin rocky grounds of the interior hills so much either. The rivers bring commerce. The river bottom soil is rich and fertile, and grows good crops. History, it would seem, approves of prudent moderation.

We’ll see how this all turns out, if we’re lucky and have chosen our high ground with a modicum of care. I suspect both factors will be needed!”

We would offer the additional comment that this Election outcome may not be decided tomorrow night; we have some scenarios where it could be a week – or longer – before the outcome is settled.  Partly because of counting, partly because of challenges, and partly because next Monday is Veteran’s Day and the Supreme Court will (likely) be closed, for it’s in the “federal office” category.

Forgive us the unusually long column today. We figured you’d want something a little more “grown up” to think about.  It’s been raining like hell for several months now and the odds of a “flood event” are high. To avoid being ground up in the wheels of history, we advise the privacy of rural high ground and patience while “the Children” work out their playground issues.

Advanced Reader Notes: I was always disappointed that the Jim Taylor and Watts Wacker book (circa 1997) “The 500-Year Delta: What Happens After What Comes Next” didn’t get stronger reviews. I was never able to find it in electronic media, but the book makes many of the same points about “punctuated equilibrium” made by Capt. Gooding. In many ways, there is a macro cyclicity to how the world operates, but with specific inflection points happening on a pseudo-random basis that are a bitch to predict with useful accuracy.

Scanning the Silliness

The Pollsters have it wrong.  Rather than polling of “state vote counts” it would likely be more useful to poll media outlets.  New York, for example, is solidly in the Harris camp, in part we think because the media is far left of center on average.  Texas is likely Trump’s. Media here will ask for straight answers.  Absent these, we’ll call it “word-salad” not a delusional variant of Waldorf.  Them apples are nuts, so to speak.

Divide and conquer is still the main playbook in this election: Harris and Trump woo Arab-American voters on eve of a US election too close to call.  We seem to recall the  Trump administration was very Israel friendly, the Biden-Harris crew pressured on Gaza and has been gentle on Iran.

Not on  the ballot, but implied: RFK Jr. says Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water which is echoed in Trump says he may move against some vaccinations and fluoride in water. But, as we have said before, there is no mechanism in government to remove candidates who promise one thing (before an election) and then do the exact opposite once in office.  We think the “salad shooter” would have a lot more to fear in a promise-versus performance audit.

Mainly, we’re concerned about “time to decision” this week (or next): US election 2024 results: When will we know who won?

Passings

Our sincerest condolences to family and friends of Quincy Jones who passed over the weekend. Quincy Jones Dead: Michael Jackson’s Music Producer Was 91.   Quincy may have been the most famous musician to graduate from Garfield High School in Seattle, although another – Jimi Hendrix – might have come close.  Then again, so might Ernestine Anderson…Sir-Mix-A-Lot and others.  A great write-up on Seattle Artists – in  The Garfield Messenger.

[Quincy had a younger brother (Lloyd) who I worked with in my early broadcast engineering days. Lloyd was chief engineer of KYAC – “the soul of the city”  (an AM daytimer on 1460 with a three tower array) before he went on to engineer at KOMO-TV.    The Jones family was (and is) exceptional people. And a simple word like condolences doesn’t even scratch the surface. It’s embarrassingly inadequate.]

And in Other News

Check your wallet: Medicare premiums, other costs, will change for retired Americans soon.

Who believes in (off-world) Aliens? Ranked: These Countries Believe in Aliens the Most. Spoiler: India leads, but then again, Vimanas are part of cultural history there.

“Lincoln, Lincoln,  we’ve been thinking”: Iran monitoring US aircraft carrier, destroyers in region. This as Iranian officials speak of Islamic Republic’s potential attack plans.

While Boeing is dialing back DEI silliness, how about Transgender Woman Suing A New York Hooters For Discrimination? Which may have something to do with Trump and Harris Transgender Policies Are Miles Apart but that’s just a guess.

Around the Ranch: Zipline Madness!

I’m coming down with it!  Started last month when my friend Chris Tyreman sent me an email:

“Took the family on a vacation a couple of weeks ago to the south of the province, to Cypress Hills.  The little red head living with us, is the main character in the video, as she is a contortionist with Circuses in the USA.”

Attached was a YouTube video of the young woman doing acrobatics on moving ziplines! (Takes a sec to get into it)

OK, enough is enough! I couldn’t stand it.  Got on Amazon this weekend to see if anyone was making “Zipline Kits.”  OMG – a ton of them!

You know me – “click and have” syndrome kicked in.  Later today, a 120-foot kit with a weight capacity of 450 pounds (this one) is due to show up. It was a 33% off deal…

I know – “Ure going on 76…do your really think it’s smart for you and your 81 YO wife, with two after-market hips, to be zip lining in the Outback?”

Hmm.  Smart, maybe not so much. But FUN, hell yeah.  To our way of thinking when you get done working (for a while) you can either watch bullshit reruns on the big screen and wait for The Reaper.  Or, you can get out have a hell of a lot of fun.  Lemme see….which one….um….

Turkeyfication

Our  consigliere (a real-life tax attorney, fellow pilot, extra class ham, etc.) will be coming down for Turkey Day – a kind of tradition around here.  In the past (being practicing lazyists) we have ordered the store-prepared family dinner from the local grocery store.

Not this year.  Ure’s got a chef hat at the ready and I ordered a countertop turkey roaster for $90 bucks.  It will handle a 30-pound turkey (we’re planning on 18-20, I will pick it up today). And best of all it has a defrost cycle which ought to take some of the guesswork out of cooking.

I ran the numbers a couple of times: Yes $90 bucks for something that will be used maybe a half dozen times a year sounds bourgeois, but the store-made meal was only a 12 pound turkey.  Hardly much leftovers and that was $90 bucks.n  The numbers work.

So the plan this year is to buy the roaster and buy (look for sales right around Turkey Day and slap a few in the freezer) and your cost-per-meal will come way down.  Especially since we will use the seal-a-meal to save gravy, stuffing, and we can sort the meat in advance.

Something to think about – and a lot more useful to be planning ahead for what comes after the election.  Other than “more getting old” which – with luck – will continue happening every day…

Oh, and if you find yourself a political refugee after the election, remember Canada has some great zip lining at Treeosix Adventure Parks in Saskatchewan. This Election has the potential to blunt the reality of Trudeau maybe not being so bad, at least in comparison to whnat America has, after all…

Write when you get rich,

George@Ure.net

89 thoughts on “Elections as “Punctuated Equilibrium””

    • just saw a great campaign sign this AM on my travels in SE Pennsyltucky – VOTE HARRI BALZ

      S was covered up, W was covered up and replaced with capital B.

      I think I go my Write In Candidate.. : )

        • THAT is a FXXXing live-long life aging well skill I learned in Tai Chi and Karate long ago!!

          I mostly have it in muscle memory now, as a fall begins (not that it happens much), I roll, I am as much of a ball as I can be.

          Not splayed out with everything breaking.

          It took a long time to learn.

        • Feet first into Tuck and Roll ?

          Usually its at the end of the Line when the accidents occur – too much speed coming into tree. Just like G’s jungle cousin George of the Jungle or as he is know around SF, Mr. Jungle -https://youtu.be/rgLxt_ca9Ps?si=gIdYKmJ4JWDbGhiG

        • Put zip-line on my property 1992. Eight-foot long hydro earth anchors @ each end of 360 feet. Strand vices at each end for tensioning line of 7-27 aircraft cable. Plus fold-over for crosby clamps. Oak block sandwiched over line @330 feet with four large bungie cord attached to nearby (15′) trees to stop high speed double roller. No entry stand-just walked off hill. local Maths teacher timed descent and calculated 58mph top speed before hitting stop block.
          All equipment was purchased from an Outward Bound specialist.
          So far, expert said only injuries were those caught in return line(No return line.) Buy a good comfortable harness

  3. If Trump is elected and something befalls him – a successful assassination or debilitating illness and Vance takes over – good luck with a Skull and Bones President in the Whitehouse ………

    • “If Trump is elected and something befalls him – a successful assassination or debilitating illness and Vance takes over –”

      The Godfather – Meeting of The Five Families

      Vito: (holding up his hand to interrupt Barzini) You talk about vengeance. Is vengeance gonna bring your son back to you? Or my boy to me? I forgot the vengeance of my son. But I have selfish reasons. My youngest son, was forced to leave this country, because of this Sollozzo business. And I have to make arrangements to bring him back here safely. Cleared all of these false charges. But I’m a superstitious man. And if some unlucky accident should befall him, if he should get shot in the head by a police officer, or if he, should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he’s struck by a bolt of lightning, then I’m going to blame some of the people in this room. And that I do not forgive. But, that aside, let me say that I swear, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace that we have made here today.

      • I don’t care enough to search it out, but I rather doubt it. A kid who was so poor he joined the military so he could have three hots and a cot, then went to school on the G.I. Bill and graduated summa cum in two years, thus allowing him to also go to Yale for two years on the G.I. Bill. He was at Yale for four years, earning his JD. He was a social outcast, hanging with a like class of financially and socially disadvantaged kids who didn’t fit in.

        I STRONGLY doubt anyone in S&B ever even spoke to him, let alone invited him to join, or even visit…

        • Just more left wing hate machine stuff…pay it no mind. I may have to leave a few BP pills in columns for you, though. Helps me get through a few posters…

        • Naw, the comments never elevate my BP past its nominal 106/63.

          I just sometimes get offended at lamerz who think they’re more clever than the average troll, simply because I haven’t called them out, and I get offended by the good-intentioned people they suck in. ‘Tis not my place, and anyway, I’m retired, so fuckem…

          I was canning and banning trolls 25 years ago, on a messageboard with over 140,000 members. These wannabees aren’t likely to show me anything I haven’t already seen, from much their betters.

          If they haven’t completely gone over to the dark side, I will sometimes try to educate. After the 3rd strike, I never read one of their posts again, even when it’s directed at me. Trolls are needy, narcissistic, and ego-driven. If they are not fed, they either grow up or move on to new pasture.

  4. Countertop roasting ?

    What the hell ? Dam George, I thought you were embracing the Dixie Way down there in Texas ? What the hell happened to You two ? countertop roasting ??

    Do you not have a metal step ladder ? A pulley and small chain to Lift and Lower Ure burd into big pot boiling OIL, out back the deck?
    Do you not inject tasty tasting spice mix under the burds skin prior to immersing in da boiling OIL ?

    Color me seriously confuzzeled and ready to revoke Ures’ Redneck qualification Card…like southern culture on the skids..https://youtu.be/DYoLGS6uzao?si=WQKIZYAx_zHwZt6a

    • Southern culture was – in my case – dashed on the pink neck of history by peanut allergies!
      Remember, peanuts? Once a healthfood and now franken food?
      Sometimes, when in Rome, you do pizza.
      And give out the bird

    • or california or wyoming. a republican vote in cali should count as much as a dem vote in wyoming. every state should allocate it electoral votes in proportion to the popular vote in that state. that’s how to make every vote in every state to be of electoral concern. no more winner take all. candidates will have to work to win every vote in every state.

      • Why? because you say so?
        See there’s the stuff – which you never read – that if libtards had their way the big pop drops would have all power ov er even the reasonable people who don’t put up with big city bullshit.

        We don’t burn ballot boxes out here in the woods No stuff, and you know the voting registrar…

        • my comment actually advocated for republicans as much as democrats, totally non partisan, but there you go again with the name. it seems you’re afraid to actually engage in constructive dialogue???

          no gu, it’s a national election. it shouldn’t come down to 10,000 votes in five swing states. republican votes in cali need to mean as much as a dem vote in alabama. the way things are now candidates get to skip over states (45 of them) that don’t “matter”. that’s not right for a 50 state election.

          or maybe you can explain why the 1,700,000 republicans in nevada who voted for trump in 2020 should have their votes ignored? or the 2,700,000 republican votes in michigan who voted for trump in 2020 shouldn’t count?

  7. Ya just had to mention PEANUT, didnt U ?

    Poor little guy.

    Homegamerz – a terrible LESSON should be learned NOW about this FU situation in NY state -https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=583200&post_id=151082617&utm_source=post-email-title&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1kk4yd&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo5NDk5ODAzNywicG9zdF9pZCI6MTUxMDgyNjE3LCJpYXQiOjE3MzA2Mzk1NTQsImV4cCI6MTczMzIzMTU1NCwiaXNzIjoicHViLTU4MzIwMCIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.IImNQQtsVJD1KVHpMzUpmBYRSpmNZ9ndIKWB7mkJm90

    • Peanut hurts no one, gets unalived. – Bidens’ dog, Commander, bit Secret Service personnel in at least 24 incidents, records show. Still alive.

      I have a hard time rationalizing that.

        • Left wing electioneering at its worst. If you had bothered to read:

          A Trump Media spokesperson said the company uses “two individual workers” in Mexico. “Presenting the fact that [Trump Media] works with precisely two specialist contractors in Mexico as some sort of sensational scandal is just the latest in a long line of defamatory conspiracy theories invented by the serial fabricators at ProPublica,” the spokesperson said.

          Lemme see: TWO workers in a specialized area of coding. Mighnt even be foreign nationals living in Mexico on the beach while they code… Um…you crazy ore just trolling again?

        • marco rubio says trump proudly outsources jobs to mexico and china
          https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/rubio-campaign-press-release-donald-trump-proudly-outsources-jobs-china-mexico-other

          trump bibles made in china
          https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/thousands-of-trump-bibles-were-printed-in-china-as-he-campaigned-against-trade-practices

          trump pays more income taxes in china than in the US. with those taxes actually going to support the chicom government.
          https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2020/10/21/report-trump-paid-nearly-200000-in-taxes-to-china/

          spin away and name call GU

        • 1 two jobs they couldn’t get done in usa. Two – no more bullshit for today.
          2, EVerything is made in China – didn’t you dems honco the off-sho and go?
          3. Trump follows the rules where he plays. Harris will impose china taxes here in good time. You’re jumpin the jinping

          Do you? Do you have to be a partisan lefty prick on a grown ups site even on election day?
          flag down on the field

        • well we know trump said he’d increase chinese tariffs to 60%-100%. maybe you can post something about the harris china taxes you mentioned. we know the effect that trump’s tariffs would have on americans’ finances.

          jeesh, gu. i posted three links with no opinion by me at all. based on your defense of “ray” the other day you can’t even assume that i agree with the links i posted. then you talk about “libtards” and call me a “lefty prick” while claiming the armor of an adult site. yeah, sure GU, sure very mature.

        • Really, untruth? You’re still cluttering up the Internet?

          Your links are garbage, your sources are worthless, and I already debunked that stupid “Trump – China tax” link once.

          I assume based on your inane posts you are unaware that China has tariffs on tens of thousands of American products, and that the members of the EU also have tariffs on many thousands of American products.

          That means you are probably similarly unaware that the United States government was funded solely via tolls, tariffs, and sin-tax until Pierpont Morgan and his minions first laid the foundation for (in 1905), then implemented the Income Tax, and the Federal Reserve Bank (in 1913) while Congress was on recess.

          You should go read a book — I suggest the Encyclopedia Britannica, since it will be less-biased and more accurate than the materials you seem prone to stumble across. Once you’ve done so, you might be able to make a cogent comment or express a thought or opinion based on logic, rather than someone else’s blind emotion.

          ==========

          “jeesh, gu. i posted three links with no opinion by me at all. based on your defense of “ray” the other day you can’t even assume that i agree with the links i posted.”

          You’re right. He can’t assume that you agree with the links you posted. However, if you don’t, you have just admitted you are nothing more than a worthless troll, both narcissistic and insignificant, and unworthy of attention from anyone, here or elsewhere.

          Now, I will ask:

          Do you agree with the links you posted?

        • Oh, come on HELL NO
          But Ray, look, even though he’s a wrong headed lefty doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a voice.
          That’s the nature of free speech.
          Which his kind want to do away…

        • @George Ure

          “But Ray, look, even though he’s a wrong headed lefty doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a voice.
          That’s the nature of free speech.”

          Of course he does.

          Just remember:

          ‘Free speech’ guarantees that a person has the Right to speak freely on any subject.

          It does not guarantee them an audience.

  8. “The Pollsters have it wrong.”

    I polled the people I know who say they vote. I don’t really know if they vote and only go by their word. There are websites where any of us can look up family/friends/neighbors to review their voting record to find out if they really did vote but I don’t verify.

    All of them indicated they don’t do political polls.

    Voting is secret and we don’t know who people pick or why.

    I skimmed the “Medicare premiums…” article.

    Many folks talk about socialism. From the article, “New Medicare law caps prescription drug costs”. Someone voted for drug caps. Why wouldn’t that same someone vote for the candidate who promises hamburger cost caps or potato chip caps? The real poll is people voting for free even when they say they’re against free.

    • hamburgers and chips are much freer markets with few barriers to entry, unlike big pharma, utilities, railroads and airlines.

    • I watched the TV morning news today looking to see how bad the poll riots are. No poll riots. The Tammany Hall days are long gone.

      There was a blurb about the texts/calls/and also hand written notes being received. Everyone interviewed complained about the texts/calls and most said they’re ignored. Some folks thought the hand written notes were a deception and while others a novelty.

  9. Yes Sir, Mr Ure,
    “Seat backs and tray tables to their full upright and locked position? ”

    ‘House Judiciary GOP Exposes Kamala Harris’s Open-Borders Alliance with United Nations Bureaucrats: $81.7 Million in U.S. Taxpayer Funds Spent to Facilitate Direct Flights for Illegal Aliens into America’
    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/house-judiciary-gop-exposes-kamala-harriss-open-borders/

    well the memes write themselves from Dougies lips?
    ““Kamala did what Kamala always does. She put her head down and went to work.” – Doug Emhoff

    One of the greatest unintentional admissions of all time ”
    https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1853190866200109088

    Waste Management,,, I’ll vote for the guy in the Orange vest

    • Dougie has said some far more enlightening things regarding the assyrian jew masquerading as african american dot head. “When kamala walks through the door [of the white house] at end of day there is a mezuzah attached to that door”
      Who do/did assyrians worship ? why ashur/baal of course.
      This is big reason why they are all over transgenderism, its a satanic thing.
      Above referenced entity is on the tapes.. with young children. Can you guess why leo de cap is such a big supporter – ougth see his pics at diddy’s.. all oiled up with the big boys.
      Dre’s squezze ? there ALL gay . So Bey is translated in turkish as gentleman,boy,sir,adult male..hmmm

      turns out ALL kammi celeb supporters have one thing in common..diddy.
      -https://rumble.com/v5lmn95-fbi-seize-diddy-blackmail-tapes-featuring-kamala-harris-and-j.lo.html

      foulchi trailer for viewing pleasure as we await the final battle to begin.. for the HUman Souls of the planet Earth.

      -https://benjaminfulford.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-truth-about-Dr.-Fauci-in-a-documentary-called-%E2%80%98Thank-you-Dr.-Fauci.-.mp4

  10. It was great seeing Chris and his family. Thanks for the video. His son used to put videos of his rock museum on Facebook but had to stop. Very nice family.

  11. (“You know me – “click and have” syndrome kicked in. Later today, a 120-foot kit with a weight capacity of 450 pounds (this one) is due to show up. It was a 33% off deal…
    I know – “Ure going on 76…do your really think it’s smart for you and your 81 YO wife, with two after-market hips, to be zip lining in the Outback?”)

    well.. I made French toast sticks.. 1/2 cup of pancake mix 1/4 cup sugar 1 cup of milk and 4 eggs.. mix dip the bread and put it in your French toast stick maker..or cut the bread in thirds and fry..

    https://www.amazon.com/Deni-French-Toast-Stick-Maker/dp/B005PP2K0S

    the great grand daughters are here for a day this next weekend..

    the grandkids.. well the little ten year old friend of my grandson.was so excited about my grandsons cardboard chaos projects.. she wants a chair..since I was going to show mini me how to make a doll house it changed to A chair..

    https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/544f06e4e4b0f68882774d4f/1534963780637-COCY4WRQPJQUUSJWPERJ/IMG_0443.jpg?format=2500w

    since I have the template for that chair I was trying to figure out a way to do that chair simply where the kids don’t have to use any power tools..
    then the kids came out with the rakes..hey oak is oak leaves are still oak.. I make a cookie cutter form from the template coat it with plastic seal then poor mans fiberglass.. I have a permanent form and the kids can build it from scratch put the leaf mache and wax paper on top.. rolling pin it out and let it dry..sand it down paint it since its oak they could even stain it.. I will see if the wife still has toilet paper tubes ..that would make the spacers..
    now its raining.. so instead of leaves..I can run to the cabinet shop and get a bag of dust..they toss that scrap away..
    only three molds have to be made.. and the kids all get a chair..now to wait for payday to get the form material..
    I will need them to make 48 chair seat 8 sides 8 cross bars..
    and the kids know that what is one persons trash is another’s treasure. Xmas project is set..

  12. I remember the video above linked in a comment a few weeks ago. I found it fascinating, though the repetitive “music” was a bit much. The gymnast girl was fascinating, upbeat, authentic and honest. As far as ziplining goes – I’ve considered it for here and may well do it in my “spare” time. but one thing to consider is self-rescue if for some reason you get hung up between nodes – especially if it’s more than a few feet above the ground. Our various habitats are relatively remote, and nobody would hear you scream. Cellphones are dicey and could get dropped or just not work. As Ure a couple, presumably you have a second functional human on the ground. Carrying a length of rope and some kind of descender would seem prudent.

    https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Professional/Descenders

    I can just imagine G2’s thoughts when he reads this column!

      • One of our neighbors has built a zip line (presumably for his grandkids) using a 10′ deer stand to reach the top end. The line drops to maybe 7′ above ground at the low end.

        Of course the zip line access point also serves as grandpa’s Bambi ambush site.

    • (“I can just imagine G2’s thoughts when he reads this column!”)

      psychic…. Oh Sh@t dads going for the Darwin award top nomination this year…..
      hey lookie see what I can do weee…

      https://www.amazon.com/Darwin-Awards-Evolution-Action/dp/0452283442

      this reminds me of my wife ramping with the grand kids.. bad mistake really bad..my first indicator was when I was working in the yard and she said honey look at me camping with the kids..lol

  13. If I had a place to put it.. then I would make myself one to..lol
    A bag of kitty litter some glue water ..I did consider using junk mail..since people are tightening up the your pre approved junk mail is flying into the box..

  14. Hats off to Captain Gooding! Humans are creatures of the natural world and of the dynamic forces the good Captain discusses. We are, at our base level, pack animals with an evolving level of consciousness (intelligence is too generous a word). We tend not to do so well on our own, instead depending upon one or more communities for support, socialization, guidance and leadership.

    It is the last area that Siggy Freud’s nephew, Edward Bernays focused on in his monster work ‘Propaganda,’ later renamed ‘Public Relations’ after Hitler’s chief propagandist, Joseph Goebbels, adopted and implemented Bernays’ core concepts hook, line and sinker into Nazi party doctrine.

    In ‘Propaganda/Public Relations,’ Bernays explains his take on how human society best functions, which sheds some light on how the ‘powers that be’ influence the influencers and, whenever necessary, intentionally precipitate organized chaos. Some Bernays quotes:

    “The promise of the democratic doctrine was that universal literacy would educate the common man so they could control their environment. However, the minority then discovered a way to influence the majority.”

    “The voice of the people expresses the mind of the people, and that mind is made up for it by the group leaders in whom it believes and by those persons who understand the manipulation of public opinion.”

    “Human desires are the steam which makes the social machine work. Only by understanding them can the propagandist control that vast, loose-jointed mechanism which is modern society.”

    So while independent human thought is encouraged in our tekkie world, those thoughts are policed and herded into groups, factions and nations by one or more restricted access ‘steering committees.’ We are all society’s children playing by their rules.

    “The young man knows the rules. The old man knows the exceptions.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

  16. Being a longtime Washington state resident I can speak for the paranoia we/I feel when we talk about Gov Inxxxxxlee. No matter what he does now will be a lose-lose for us. If he didn’t call in the guard, those with PTSD regarding the “Chop” and hordes of antifa that terrorize the streets. We are on the lookout now for pallets of bricks tucked away in alleys near banks and other businesses. We board up windows against the reckless and highly paid punks. And now we pray for the non-Dems to win.
    We will see if the Guard is left toothless to act as they had been in the past.

    Prayer it is!

    • I don’t expect the response to the election to be anything like 2020, at least now.

      Those people won’t want to be out in the cold and rain, so I expect much smaller numbers of “antifas” working in ways that aren’t as visible, but much more violent.

  17. I have a jar of penny’s.
    – A thick glass, light green gallon jar that used to hold pickles. It sits on a little wooden stand next to my trade desk. I haven’t put anything in it for many years., as it is filled to the very top. Sitting around it are two glass canning jars – also filled to the top with penny’s.
    I didn’t purposely set out to ‘collect’ them., I just dropped my penny’s into them – at first because rolling them up and taking them to the bank was a hassle – then it became a habit. I haven’t touched the gallon jar in over eighteen years and honestly can not remember when I started using it.., been a while though. The two quart canning jars are about six to seven years since I last dropped a few coins in. The lowest common denomination now goes to “The Mrs” – she rolls them up and takes them to her friend at the bank.
    I am not sure what to do with them. I should, at the very least, go through the gallon jar – but sitting around for hours and hours reading with a magnifying glass and sorting..? I am already bored and butt-sore just thinking about it. But it is an old enough stash that there could be a nice collectible, or two in there somewhere., possibly.., maybe…, Just looking through the glass I can see a couple of wheat-backs and one steel penny.
    With the dark days of Winter fast approaching – maybe I’ll work up the courage and patience a bit and take over the kitchen table for a couple of weeks.
    I wonder…, how many pots of tea is that going to take ?

    • Do yourself a favor and buy a Scan-O-Matic coin viewer.

      https://www.ebay.com/itm/186748673486

      (Not that one. $125 is stupid money.)

      I have had one since I was 6 years old. When I grew up and moved out of the house, I left Mom’s where it was and bought one for myself.

      You can view a roll of pennies (both sides) in about 90 seconds, unless you are looking for numismatic oddities.

      Should you decide to buy one, replace the light bulb immediately, with an LED. When you run the thing for long enough, the included bulb will melt, first the top of the unit between the feed tube and the lens, then the slide. When looking for one, you can tell immediately if it has been heat-damaged because the plastic next to the feed tube will granularize, then begin to sink. TBH I probably used Mom’s for a thousand hours over a dozen years and didn’t destroy it. I probably used my first one for 1500-1600 hours before I DID destroy it… YMMV, but why wreck something if’fn you don’t have to?

      BTW, ALL U.S. pennies struck before 1982 (except for the 1943 steel cents and the 1944 & ’45 “shellcase cents”) are bronze, and worth more than face value. Pennies struck after 1982 are zinc. 1982 pennies are both, which makes both the bronze and zinc pennies of that year, numismatically-valuable, even though the BotM struck a billion of ’em. After a few hundred, you’ll be able to tell the difference between a bronze and zinc penny “on the fly,” either by the weight or the sound they make when dropped on a stone or glass surface.

      You’re probably not going to find a 1909-S VDB or a 1914-D, and if you find a bronze 1943 or steel 1944 you can probably retire, all over again. It’s still worth doing, and “wheat pennies” are worth a dime apiece to any flea marketeer…

      BTW, mine is a 5-gal glass water cooler jug…

      • Ray is SO old school. A $150 many megapixel coin microscope that will drive 4k (some do 8, i think now) into a big screen hdmi – that’s what you need D’Lynn…

        • Nein, nein,nein – BCN be considered old school.

          Something about the copper tarnish and silver tarnish you pick up on Ure fingers when viewing individual Coins wit a Loupe.
          I dont look at anything younger than 77 in Pennies and 64 in Silver coins.
          Once the Penny collection is complete, need 1909 S VDB – then I will start the granddaddy of all – The Morgan Silver Dollar collection..gonna need about 70% of the strikes, as I only have a couple Morgans. Finished Peace dollars bout 2 years ago thru bulk junk silver purchases – never offer Morgans as junk silver.. Can not believe the prices the Peace dollars are going for nowadays, can only imagine how high will need to jump for some of the scarcer dates…

      • Thanks to Captain Midnight for the words of wisdom. In my personal life, I’ve found myself heavily asserting such middle ground thinking to my teen son. He seems to be this raging whirlwind of chaotic thoughts of late. It’s proven difficult to see results, but time to time, he says he’s listening to me and often urges caution to other teens around him. I guess he just can’t bring himself to admit mom CAN be right, sometimes, lol. We live in interesting times when the pendulum is swinging way to far both directions. I hope I’ve done well enough by my kids to get them through it sanely.

    • Only save the 1981 and earlier ones… solid copper. In 1982 they went to copper-coated zinc. This is electrolytic and when wet they rot quickly. You can see the discoloration spots beginning.

  18. “New York, for example, is solidly in the Harris camp, in part we think because the media is far left of center on average. Texas is likely Trump’s. Media here will ask for straight answers. ”

    No.

    The media in Austin, Houston, and Dallas is as Leftist as NYC or LA.

    If you look at a political map, you’ll notice the vast majority of CONUS is conservative, with a very few Leftist enclaves scattered about the map. Leftists OWN the population centers (even in Texas, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska) and they maintain their ownership by making endless promises which are either never beneficial or never kept, and blame for their failure is always passed to some other person, entity, or occurrence, thus enabling them to use the same, unproductive promises over and over. The sad part is the utterly insane low-information or low-intelligence residents of these areas, who invariably believe the falsehoods and bullshit, and vote over and over for the same politicians to fix the same problems, that’ve plagued them for, in some cities, over 100 years…

  19. “Harris and Trump woo Arab-American voters on eve of a US election too close to call. We seem to recall the Trump administration was very Israel friendly, the Biden-Harris crew pressured on Gaza and has been gentle on Iran.”

    That is true, mister statistician.

    Where Trump has it all over the current Administration’s spactions (spastic actions) is the Trump Administration was fair, but more-importantly, both consistent and anti-war. They know DJT is not going to blow up an aspirin factory and if he offs a terrorist leader, it will be because they deserve it. Biden (Obama-III) has been all over the map, feeding both sides, spanking both sides, with no clear rime nor reason “why” or “when.”

  20. We had about an inch of rain last week, another 1/2″ overnight, and probably a substantial amount coming this afternoon.
    With the hay rolled and carted off, and the grass cut low and just recovering from months of drought, my property’s burn potential is greatly diminished. This is just in time for civil unrest. I haven’t seen any piles of tinder at intervals beside the county roads like I saw in 2020.
    Tornado chances are medium high this afternoon. The line of thunderstorms will be coming through later this afternoon. It’s always something.

  21. Thanks to Captain Midnight for the words of wisdom. In my personal life, I’ve found myself heavily asserting such middle ground thinking to my teen son. He seems to be this raging whirlwind of chaotic thoughts of late. It’s proven difficult to see results, but time to time, he says he’s listening to me and often urges caution to other teens around him. I guess he just can’t bring himself to admit mom CAN be right, sometimes, lol. We live in interesting times when the pendulum is swinging way to far both directions. I hope I’ve done well enough by my kids to get them through it sanely.

  22. The first test flight of a hypersonic commercial airliner is set to take place. Going from New York to London in under a hour and climbing to 110,000 feet, which is more than twice the cruising altitude of standard passenger jets and traveling at Mach 5 – which is approximately 3,700 MPH.
    The company behind this marvel is called “Venus Aerospace” – out of Houston Texas., was founded by a brother and sister team – and is privately held – no stock available.
    It is interesting that one of it’s biggest investors is Airbus.., not GE.., not Boeing.., but a foreign plane maker. They employ less than a hundred and 92 of them have a Phd . [ They did not list the test pilots., steely eyed missile men with ice water in their veins is what I wanted to see/read.]

  23. “So the plan this year is to buy the roaster and buy (look for sales right around Turkey Day and slap a few in the freezer) and your cost-per-meal will come way down.”

    You can’t fool us. You’re starting a commercial SST assembly line, aren’t you!

      • Lol lol lol…
        Gotta have the pie with that turkey … and the cranberry sauce..
        jenny-o use to sell a turkey roast and gravy..we lived it. when covid hit they quit making it..
        to bad to..

        • Sure sounds delish….burd injected with all kinds of processed shit..YUM!
          As a Turkey purest, have banned factory burds, heritage burds is the way to go if youse gonna Go.
          On the other hand is the wild Tom Turkey who stopped my pickemup truck in middle of road yesterday. Honk the horn at him ? Nein ! That just encourages them to peck at the truck. You know I had honk horn at him.
          Then I started to do my Turkey gobble and nerk-nerk calls – Jake comes strutting around to driver side door..blue bumpy skin head and neck, big long thick Beard. As soon as he started around to drivers side door, I started slowly rolling forward, sped up and got by, Jake went after car waiting and watching my scene going other way. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the “Turkey Games” as I drove past their waiting vehicles…

          * Wild Turkey Recipe – https://www.wildturkeybourbon.com/products/wild-turkey-101/

          Otherwise youse gonna want a whole package of Bacon to cover Ure wild burd in oven while cooking – wild turkeys be a lil dry without..

  24. Will Rogers, referring to big and incompetent government, once said, “Thank God we don’t get all the government we pay for.” He then referred to mid-1930s Germany by commenting how bad it was when folks DID get all the government they paid for. It’s a lot more than just some sharp uniforms and a little marching around and hollering.

    Maybe a little stupid bloated incompetence isn’t so bad.

    Maybe super-effective, super-efficient government is not such a good idea.

    It’s when it gains arbitrary and fickle power over us that things go badly.

    A long as You have It, things are all right. When It has You is when it becomes dangerous.

  25. Stolen from another forum:
    “A loan at a bank can take 30 years to pay off. If you rob a bank, you’re out in 10 years. Follow me for more financial advice.”

  26. Folks,
    Move over, Mr. Rogers! Today was the Professional (holi)Day of railway workers in the Ukraine. The Presidential Telegram channel rolled video introduced by a childrens’ model locomotive pulling rolling stock in a conference centre display. An affable President Zelensky attended under military aparatchiks’ observation while surrounded with happy children pursuing games of science. After this hive of activity, a worried President Zelensky was pictured with military chiefs in his office with lights out save one imploring factories to churn out more drones. The three men present were armed with at least 24 new, sharpened pencils as well as multiple folders of paper documents before them. There were no laptops or electronic devices visible toiling for their promised efficiencies.

    Speaking of efficiencies, foreign nationals and stateless persons may wish to consult the Ukraine Ministry of Defense website. Formerly restricted to applying solely at enlisted rank, the Ukraine fighting frontline now has opportunity for foreigners to apply straight into the officer ranks! Eligible military personnel can access their Army+ app online training via links on the MoD site to Google Play and Apple.

    Meanwhile in America, the official White House schedule reminisced that the President spent Saturday and Sunday at home in Delaware. A return to the White House on Monday was at a civilized hour of 12:15 pm followed by the Daily Briefing an hour later. Perhaps the day after tomorrow will be different.

  27. It is coming up on “Election blackout” time for me. After 2020, I probably won’t eschew political news completely, but I guarantee y’all, setting the volume on “1” for the next couple weeks will lower your blood pressure significantly.

    With that said, Following is my pre-erection blitz.

    Try not to suffer from any prejerkulation…

  29. BREAKING: Libertarian Party of New Hampshire endorses Donald Trump for president.

    Their reasons:

    1. Promised to free Ross Ulbricht.
    2. Started no new wars, a first in over three decades.
    3. Pledged to end the importation of anti-liberty migrants.
    4. Indicated he will appoint Elon Musk, Ron Paul, and Vivek Ramaswamy to shrink the federal government.
    5. Received endorsements from the greatest libertarians in America, including Thomas Massie.
    6. Committed to ending the Department of Education.
    7. Endorsed Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.
    8. Flirted with ending the income tax entirely.

    https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1853625839360893059

  30. Late-mailed Cobb Ballots Due on Election Day, Ga. Supreme Court Rules

    Cobb County (GA) voters who received absentee ballots late may not have their vote counted if they do not return them before polls close on Tuesday. In a Monday ruling, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned Cobb Superior Court Senior Judge Robert Flournoy’s ruling which extended the absentee ballot deadline for roughly 3,000 Cobb voters.

    The plaintiffs, represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Georgia…

    https://www.mdjonline.com/elections/update-late-mailed-cobb-ballots-due-on-election-day-ga-supreme-court-rules/article_d11b3a4a-9ad0-11ef-859a-7b22a6e830a2.html

  33. “Whatever happens in the days and months ahead, it is clear we are at an inflection point in history. All my studies of change point to a fundamental order of punctuated equilibrium.”

    Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)

    The heavens declare the glory of the Bomb, and the firmament showeth His handiwork.

    His sound has gone out unto all the land. And his light unto the end of the world.

    Praise Him. Praise Him. My strength and my redeemer.

    Glory be to the Bomb and to the holy fallout as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

    Amen Amen Amen Amen

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDQEJ06QoRs

  34. Vanilla – think the finest of the Flavors – https://youtu.be/snZcn3Qt1xI?si=ZbvFEmipCLcs2EBq

    Brain ticking yet?

    Where will the BCN be next week – Yucatan, of course. I have a new, much longed for Training Program to visit, look around and congratulate the planners.
    – “Vanilla Training for Women and Girls in Western and Southern Belize”
    Project seeks to empower 30 Women by Teaching them how to Grow and Harvest Vanilla. Establishing a Propagation Nursery at Bella Vista govt. school – my local school (govt.)!

    Say – you aren’t feeling an urge for a plate of chickity china chinese chicken, are You -https://youtu.be/yd4XaLwXpLQ?si=pFWRcl7FWdokcSuC

    My apologies Loob, ancient chinese secret = chickity china chinses chicken..otherwise I would post the recipe for youse..

    • Two of my Pompona Vanilla vines are doing fine, The crippled stem with a single root that I buried has at least stopped withering and is looking green. Six months will tell if it sprouts. Meanwhile my purchased Tahitian Vanilla Longifolia beans are about finished in their year-long bath of Everclear. Time to sweeten with dark Karo and reduce the alcohol content to 10% (trade secret alchemy). And then bottle for Xmas gifts to the bakers.

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