Scattershots – 12jul21 (updated 18jul21)

George Rebane

Power outage on Hind Tit Road.  Unannounced, PG&E decided to turn off power at 1130pm last night, and then back on at 4am.  The transients did their predictable share of problems starting with no internet (the ATT modem did not reset properly) to our well pump controller deciding to shut off.  One required the usual interminable call through ATT’s phone system maze, and the second required a manual ministration at the well house to get our irrigation system back up.  Other electrical/electronic systems required their own pain-in-the-ass resets.  When PG&E deems us worthy of a heads-up before shutting off power, we can then turn off or unplug all the sensitive stuff to avoid the hassles as we turn on the generator and then back to line power.  Ahh, the benefits of living in God’s country.

Cubans are rioting in the streets.  Cuba and Venezuela are the proxy goals of the kind of America that Team Biden and his socialists are promoting here.  “Cuba promotes itself as a world-class healthcare powerhouse. But as the scabies epidemic shows, the decrepit hospital and outpatient network cannot even tend to run-of-the-mill illnesses, never mind Covid-19. Things are not much better in the Cuban colony of Venezuela, where the virus is spreading, many medical professionals have fled, and basic needs in hospitals, like reliable running water, are no longer met.”  I recall on these pages our lefties hailing Cuba’s healthcare as model of what nationalization can provide for its people.  Our problem is that no one can connect the dots between all those workers’ paradises and America.  Or worse, most of our electorate doesn’t even know the dots exist.  (more here)

[13jul21 update]  I have limited internet access after the power outage Sunday night.  Will advise when back to normal.  Now it’s time to scour the streets for an ATT truck and get the tech to come to the house.

[14jul21 update]  ‘California Fleeing’ is a well-documented essay by Joel Kotkin, Chapman University fellow and much-published analyst of all things California.  In it he presents oodles of data that overwhelms the head-in-sand denials that our state has a years-long and accelerating out migration problem.  “Some longtime Californians view the continued net outmigration from their state as a worrisome sign, but most others in the Golden State’s media, academic, and political establishment dismiss this demographic decline as a “myth.” The Sacramento Bee suggests that it largely represents the “hate” felt toward the state by conservatives eager to undermine California’s progressive model. Local media and think tanks generally concede the migration losses but comfort themselves with the thought that California continues to attract top-tier talent and will remain an irrepressible superpower that boasts innovation, creativity, and massive capital accumulation.  Reality reveals a different picture. …”  This piece was discovered and shared by one of RR’s astute readers and regular commenters – many thanks.  I repost here so it gets a more appropriate prominence in these pages.

Biden’s insane speech yesterday set a new record of being totally devoid of and detached from any semblance of reality.  The WSJ observed (here) that “the Democratic narrative on voting is becoming unglued.”  Example: The new Texas voter integrity law is the greatest threat to our republic since the Civil War.  The number of lies and ignorant citations of history in Bumblebrain’s narrative was simply jaw-dropping, and again demonstrated that he is too dumb to be evil, but his handlers are not.  Moreover, what equally astounds is that his handlers and the Democratic leadership are convinced that half the county is so ignorant as to lap up the crap out of Biden’s mouth without a second thought.  And dear reader, the strong possibility of that is the greatest ongoing tragedy in our beloved republic.

The Dems’ latest censorship initiative. This time their particulars are focused on “misinformation about vaccines” with the DNC exhorting to “engage fact-checkers more aggressively and work alongside phone companies to combat misinformation about vaccines shared via social media and private SMS messages” according to Politico.  (more here and here)  The Democrats' national censorship initiatives have now broadened to social media corporatists who deny the posting of data published by government agencies like the CDC and NIH when that does not fit the Democrat narrative.  Marxism on the march.

My internet has mysteriously returned through a modem that ATT diagnosed as being faulty.  Wonder of wonders.

[18jul21 update]  “We’re going to get it done!” shouts Schumer on a video as he escorts Bumblebrain with a vacant stare off camera.  The “it” is passage of a $3.5T vote buying bamboozle advertised by the Dems as the most significant and desperately needed stimulus since FDR’s New Deal.  Out of the other side of their mouths comes praise for a robustly recovering economy that then must be compared to a dysfunctional spending plan during the depth of the Great Depression over 80 years ago, one that also did NOTHING to bring the country’s economy back.  On the eve of WW2, after 8 years of Democrat nostrums, unemployment was still at 25% and the economy was on its ass, waiting for the war to kick industry back into gear.  Now we have a vibrant economy coming back from Covid, peace around the world, tolerable tax rates, …, and Team Biden wants to flush the economy down the toilet just so that the Dems can stay in power, no matter how poorly Americans will fare on Main Street.

Comments

[Barry Pruett]

The left’s silence about the Cuban regime speaks volumes.

[scenes]

"But as the scabies epidemic shows,..."

Any sentence that begins like that scarcely needs to be read. You just know that it's going to show the clumsiness of large-scale human organizations.

In terms of the Hind Tit Electric company, at least we're all pretty close to making permanent home-made power a practical thing, unless you're in the doesnt-buy-green-bananas age group (h/t to Lady Bird) for capital investments. Batteries vs. whole house A/C is still a bit of a sticking point.

For more fun in the Tales of the Too-Populous, check out the excitement in South Africa.

[Don Bessee]

Thanks creepy grampa joe, not only is he importing everyone, so is he doing this so they feel right at home? -

https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2021/07/12/former-imf-economist-americas-inflation-is-beginning-to-look-like-latin-american-country/

;-)

[scenes]

"The left’s silence about the Cuban regime speaks volumes."

To be fair, I think that Biden might have read something from his teleprompter about it.

Truth is, there's not much international news in US papers/news organizations. Trump outrage and White Supremacy fear still grabs eyeballs for surveillance marketing purposes.

I'd suggest hooking up with RT on your RSS feed as it's not very US-centric.

[Walt]

As for the power George, my money is on the Russian hackers. PG&E wasn't on Biden's do 🚫 blackmail list.

[Bill Tozer]

I feel your pain, Dr. Rebane. Not that I have all (or any) of the gismos you. possess, but the well went off and when it came back on 1400 hours later, I discovered my veggie garden drip system had several drip emitters all gummed up and no workie like it should. Randomly gummed up the works, and yes I had screens and filters and all. Darn it, I was out just there laying it out and testing it and making sure everything was fine tuned and humming along and had just completed it.....and flushed the pressure tank, almost drained the well dry, went inside and told myself the well will refill overnight.....and the power went out. Left (mistake) a value open that lead to the brand new drip system and it sucked all the micro sand right into my masterpiece. Drats! Foiled again.

You know what I say about timing.

The silver lining is they were kind enough to wait to about 8:30 pm on that 110-111 degree to throw the switch. Back on by 10:30 am when it’s already 93 degrees for another 110 plus days.

Bell Peppers are ready, already. Thai peppers starting to bust out all over, squash looking good but playing catch.....and the lettuce came out ahead. And you are complaining cause they waited til midnight to throw the switch??? And back on by 4:00 am? Well, count your blessings. You could make coffin in electric coffeemaker, I couldn’t. And had to go out to my car to charge cell phone. Our forefathers did not need internet and their forefathers never had electrify. Screw that. I want to light to come on when I hit the and flush toilets year round. I have become soft. I have dishonored my forefathers.

I was even thinking about renting a hotel. How soft is that?

[George Rebane]

BillT 155pm - So noted Mr Tozer, and with a bit of shame. Let the record show that blessings are being counted.

[Walt]

AHHhhhh. Cuba. What our Lefties held up high as a great showpiece for "we can be like Cuba. They have better health care than we do."
See what happens when OPM runs out? They have more respect for our flag than most LIBS. They know what the Stars and Stripes really stands for.

[Don Bessee]

A perfect opportunity to pin the socialist dems with their true labels -

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democratic-socialists-ignore-cuban-protesters-railing-against-communist-dictatorship

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

“Batteries vs. whole house A/C is still a bit of a sticking point.”—Scenes @ 12:57 pm
Tis true, tis true!

On these clear sunny days, one would have thunk solar would be working just fine and pumping out the juice.

‘As California Exports Blackouts To Nearby States, Will Texas Avoid The Same Fate?’
California’s wild hourly swings in mandated renewable power generation have wrecked the economics of generating reliable electricity in other Western states

https://thefederalist.com/2021/07/12/as-california-exports-blackouts-to-nearby-states-will-texas-avoid-the-same-fate/

In related news...opps, power went out. To be continued. Just kidding, but it could have just gone out again. Is this the year that California takes its last nuclear plans off line, or is that in 2023? Something to look forward to.

[Don Bessee]

The real problem with the socialist dems -

Texas Democrat lawmaker torched for fawning over individual 'sacrifice' for fleeing the state on private jet

https://www.foxnews.com/media/texas-state-lawmaker-torched-for-fawning-over-individual-sacrifice-of-lawmakers-who-fled-state

;-)

[Don Bessee]

We have a winner of the being the most shot victim in chi town who 'might' have been targeted -

A police report says the 31-year-old local rapper, whose real name was Londre Sylvester, had just been released on electronic monitoring when he was fatally shot across the street from the Cook County Jail around 8:50 p.m. Saturday in what authorities believe to be a targeted attack, Fox 32 reported.

Sylvester was left suffering from as many as 64 bullet wounds to his head and other areas of the body, the Chicago Tribune reported. He was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/chicago-weekend-gun-violence-rapper-ambushed

;-)

[Barry Pruett]

That’s why they call it Chiraq. No green zone.

[Bill Tozer]

Dr. Rebane.

FYI re CA Fleeing. I can’t get back into the article, from the Sandbox link or your link. CJ magazine says they are having a problem with missing ‘l am not a bot’ box, working on it, check back later, sorry..... thus no log in or sign up to read the article. I was working just fine yesterday.......

[Scott O]

Bill 10:34 - Worked this morning earlier for me. Just tried the link and still functional 11:40 Rocky (hat tip to the late J Prine) Mountain Time.

[George Rebane]

BillT 1034am - Just tried it from the above post, and the link works just fine. Perchance you have pissed off the gods that reign in the Land of URL.

[Don Bessee]

For the dems are evil file -

"You're suspended in Minnesota," the officer says after returning to Thompson’s car.

The state legislator shakes his head no, prompting the officer to say, "That's what the computer says. If it's wrong, you'll have to deal with DVS [the Department of Vehicle Services]."

Thompson has reportedly never held a Minnesota license, according to documents reviewed by local outlets, and the officer cited him for driving with a suspended Wisconsin license.

His license was suspended in 2019 for failure to pay child support in Ramsey County Minn., outlet WCCO reported.

Thompson then asks in the video why he was pulled over, which the officer said was due to his car having "No front plate, and the way you took off from the light back there."

"I'm too old to run from the police, man," Thompson says. "You profiled me because you looked me dead in the face and I got a ticket for driving while Black. You pulled me over because you saw a Black face in this car, brother. There's no way in hell I'm taking off with you behind me. ... You looked in this car and busted a U-turn and got behind my car, and that's the reason - "

https://www.foxnews.com/us/bodycam-footage-minnesota-state-rep-racial-profiling

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

Dr. Rebane @ 10:34 am

‘ Perchance you have pissed off the gods that reign in the Land of URL.’

Well, they will just have to stand in line and take a number....there is a lot of pissed of gods ahead of them. Besides, I have been locked out of better and worse places than CJ. :)

Darn I hate witnesses. Should have never posted moi 10:34 am. Kind of like almost cutting off your finger showing a group of young bright minds how to open a bottle with a sword.
“Son, how did it go tonight. Have a good time?”
“Dad, you won’t believe what happened!!” 👏

To err is human, to forgive is devine.

In other totally unrelated news and way off topic...the gods are pissed off now.

‘George Floyd Mural Blown Apart By Lightning Strike, Officials Say’

https://www.dailywire.com/news/george-floyd-mural-blown-apart-by-lightning-strike-officials-say

[scenes]

DonB@11:39AM

Just a typical news story in the internet age. Trivial traffic stop becomes controversy, maybe we'll see a few churches or businesses burn down.

I have a mixed view on it, based on not much seeing as how I wasn't physically present.

. There's a lot of overreaction by black folks, especially the more prominent people (nearly always through elected government positions). It has to eat at you to think that every interaction with the greater world is prejudiced against you, but there's little I can do about it.

. Interestingly, African-Americans are much more likely to be speeders. Large scale studies have been done. Insurance companies would love to use this in their models but you can just imagine the uproar. http://inspire.stat.ucla.edu/unit_04/racial.pdf

. Traffic stops like that are chickenshit fishing expeditions. No doubt police profile like mad, do a pullover due to YOUR WINDOWS ARE TOO TINTED, bring the drug dog, somebody goes to jail like as not for a trivial amount of narcotics. The government is too much in everyone's business.

. It's crazy that Live PD was forced off the air. It was a great lesson in how many horrendous perps there are out there and how many ridiculously BS stops are made. Lesson 2 is that scarcely anyone can pass a field sobriety test.

[Scott O]

scenes 12:52 - "Traffic stops like that are chickenshit fishing expeditions."
As a multi-decade swing shift worker who drove home late at night through at least 6 different law enforcement precincts, I can verify that.
The difference for me was carrying a valid CA DL and not actually having broken any laws.
Oh yeah - maintaining a calm and respectful (not kiss-ass) demeanor goes a hell of a long way. And keep your mitts on the steering wheel.
The first month I actually lived in Nevada County, I was pulled over by a NC Sheriff deputy just as I turned from 49 and headed up No Bloomfield Rd.
First words out of his lips - "Where you goin'?"
I could have gone all Constitutional on his ass by informing him it was none of his bees wax, but I allowed that I was going home after a long day at the office.
I have had (and surely will in the future) many 'interactions' with johnny law.
And yes, I was pulled over in eastern Colorado for having no front plates.
Musta been he seen my pale white face.
The fact is - (and I saw this coming) as blacks enter the mainstream USA they thought "The White Bus Driver" skit was true.
That Whitey can just do anything they like and the cops don't care.
I've been put into the back of the patrol car for just doing my job but some stuff happened nearby just before I arrived on the scene so I was suspect.
Remember back in the 60's when the saying was - "You've never experienced being black"?
They forgot it works both ways - "and you've never been white".
The law clearly states that he had to have a front license plate. If you talk to law enforcement, they'll tell you that if one law is being broken, there's a good chance a lot more are being broken.
Now - there's the time I was pulled over in Auburn for not having BOTH rear license plate illumination lights on...
Talk about C.S.!

[Bill Tozer]

R/E update-The Dems’ latest censorship initiative.

'One of the Worst Narratives for Us’: Facebook Execs Feared Trump Win

https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/free-speech/dan-gainor/2021/07/14/one-worst-narratives-us-facebook-execs-feared-trump-win

[Walt]

George doesn't care to be reminded of opening bottles with swards.

[George Rebane]

Walt 303pm - That's why God invented the Kevlar glove ;-)

[Walt]

Sorry George,, I couldn't help it.

[Walt]

Truth gets a warning label....
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/07/14/twitter-slapped-kevin-mccarthy-with-sensitive-content-label-after-exposing-inflation-under-biden/

[Scott O]

Walt 3:25 - Those idiots are too stupid to realize that when intelligent folks see a lefty warning label it means the message is probably true.

[The Estonian Fox]

from the BBC today, about the 'troubles' - but in S. Africa this time.

["In some other Durban neighbourhoods there have been violent confrontations, with large numbers of looters managing to raid shops and some homes before armed residents opened fire, forcing them to retreat. Some were shot.

Local leaders from both communities stepped in to negotiate a "no looting; no shooting" agreement, hoping that this will prevent a further escalation of conflict and help restore stability in a country shaken by the unrest."

There are also fears of fuel shortages - something most South Africans have never experienced in their lives. "At my petrol station, only one pump is open. There are long queues. I have half a tank of petrol left," John added.]

Evidently, some S. African citizens have guns, and use them to protect themselves when the police are nowhere to be found. It has taken only several days to go from 'normal', to 'fend for yourself in small tribes' (i.e. neighborhoods). Hint to French & other European nations - let your citizens acquire guns for the soon-to-come Islamic Wars.

It appears that Pres. Reagan was wrong - it doesn't take one generation to lose freedom, just a few weeks.

Hat tip to S. Africans for modifying the Ferguson Mo. motto- "hands up don't loot, or shoot."

[Don Bessee]

The ministry of truth and their lackeys' -

Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger blasts site for left-wing bias: ‘The word for it is propaganda’

https://www.foxnews.com/media/wikipedia-co-founder-larry-sanger-propaganda

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

Cuba and BLM: Communism marches on while its impoverished subjects demonstrate against Marxism.

'BLM shows its true colors in statement praising Cuba'

https://nypost.com/2021/07/15/blm-shows-its-true-colors-in-statement-praising-cuba/

[Bill Tozer]

The E Fox:

‘Why Violence and Looting Have Exploded Across South Africa’

https://quillette.com/2021/07/16/why-violence-and-looting-has-exploded-across-south-africa/

[Bill Tozer]

‘Cuban Artist Slams BLM: ‘All Black Lives Matter, Except Cuban Black Lives’

During a Monday speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) — a Cuban-American — pointed out that the Cuban government is the source of the nation’s suffering: “Why aren’t fishermen and farmers in Cuba allowed to fish or grow things and sell to people? It’s not the embargo that keeps them from doing that. It’s the regime. Why can’t Cubans own a small business? Why can’t a Cuban do in Cuba what they can do in Miami, what they can do in Washington, what they do in countries all over the world?”

“The extortionist ring known as the Black Lives Matter organization took a break today from shaking down corporations for millions & buying themselves mansions to share their support for the Communist regime,” Rubio later said on Twitter in response to Black Lives Matter’s statement.

“It’s no surprise that the Marxists of BLM are defending a murderous communist regime,” added Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR).

Days after Black Lives Matter’s release, Fox News unearthed an earlier post of the group eulogizing deceased dictator Fidel Castro: “We are feeling many things as we awaken to a world without Fidel Castro. There is an overwhelming sense of loss, complicated by fear and anxiety. Although no leader is without their flaws, we must push back against the rhetoric of the right and come to the defense of El Comandante.”

“From Fidel, we know that revolution is sparked by an idea, by radical imaginings, which sometimes take root first among just a few dozen people coming together in the mountains,” they continued. “As Fidel ascends to the realm of the ancestors, we summon his guidance, strength, and power as we recommit ourselves to the struggle for universal freedom. Fidel Vive!”

https://www.dailywire.com/news/cuban-artist-slams-blm-all-black-lives-matter-except-cuban-black-lives

[The Estonian Fox]

BT @ 4:22PM

The report you referenced is a little more dire than I thought. RSA riots seem to be in the east, not country-wide, so far. After 27 years of African rule, it ain't looking good for the ANC.

[Bill Tozer]

Safe Spaces or Free Speech? Intellectual Freedom and the Modern Campus

https://www.nas.org/blogs/article/safe_spaces_or_free_speech_intellectual_freedom_and_the_modern_campus

[Bill Tozer]

re July 18 update
“On the eve of WW2, after 8 years of Democrat nostrums, unemployment was still at 25% and the economy was on its ass, waiting for the war to kick industry back into gear. Now we have a vibrant economy coming back from Covid, peace around the world, tolerable tax rates, …, and Team Biden wants to flush the economy down the toilet...”

The old joke is when the Native Americans ran the place, women did all the work and there were no taxes. Then the White Man came along and tried to improve on that.

[Bill Tozer]

‘Surprise: MSNBC Host Flip-Flops On Cuban Sanctions Now That Biden Supports Them’

https://www.dailywire.com/news/surprise-msnbc-host-flip-flops-on-cuban-sanctions-now-that-biden-supports-them

[Bill Tozer]

re: Dem Speech Censorship

‘Speech Suppression is Habit-Forming’

http://jewishworldreview.com/michael/barone072321.php3

[Bill Tozer]

Better Red Than Taxed
As government revenues rebound, GOP-led states are cutting taxes while Democratic states ponder increases.

https://www.city-journal.org/a-new-era-of-state-tax-competition