Friday fizzles, Saturday drizzles & Sunday shizzles

Bits and pieces to wrap up the week.

• Sean Penn is giving interviews to explain that he's not to blame for the re-capture of El Chapo, and that it screwed up his PR message (whatever that was) re: The War on Drugs.
• Because everybody knows Sean Penn is a policy genius.
• My latest fixit project involves hacking a self-darkening welding helmet.  It's advertised as being 'solar' powered and recharging (I guess from the arc flash), but the fact is that the cartridge pack uses two CR2330 batteries soldered to the circuit.  I'm going to replace them with a modification using easy-to-replace AAA batteries, which will supply more mAh than the OEM coin cells.

(photo from internet)

• It's reported that the Los Angeles Playboy mansion is on the market, asking $200 million.  I'm guessing it'll be a cold day in hell when they get an offer anywhere north of half that.  Real estate people value the property in the $40-45 million range, and I don't think that the 'ambiance' and history of the place will add significant 'goodwill' value, even in Gomorrah-by-the-sea.  As in, "...and over here is where Dr. Huxtable gave a drink to [insert wannabe starlet's name here]..."

• Since the first of the year, I've fallen into a habit of watching reruns of Carson on Antenna TV 33.2.  One of this week's highlights was Robin Williams as guest...followed by Jonathan Winters, in a full union general's uniform.  At the end of the show, Johnny remarked "My only job tonight was to stay the hell out of the way."

• Much has been written about Carson favoring Letterman over Leno as replacement, but the other day I caught an episode (not Leno's first, frizzy haired appearance) where, from the guest chair, Leno really had Johnny laughing.
• I think the show Rules of Engagement ran for seven years, and I never watched it in its original run.  Now, because 21.1 airs two episodes a night, it's rare for me to see a fresh one.
• Oldest son was texting me quotes from Tommy Boy last night.
• For about the last year, I'd searched for my Jabra bluetooth headset.  A month ago I found it.  Now I don't know where the charger is.  Sheesh.
• I'm not a lottery addict, but will buy an occasional ticket.  I subscribe to the theory, espoused by the head of the Math Department at an elite Dallas private school, that your odds go up infinitely by buying the first ticket; but after that it's a linear equation.  So if I play, I only buy one ticket.  (Update: I matched ONE number last night.)
• Winning the Powerball would turn your life upside down, though, as last night's 20/20 noted.
• I've ended up with quite a few .45 ACP case headstamped TZZ 89.  I never gave them much thought, believing they were either Russian or Turkish.  They are neither - they are Israeli manufactured (IMI), and in their original loadings, said to be quite good.  Hopefully, they will be as good or better as reloaded by The Donald.

(web pic)

• Michael Moore is suing the governor of Michigan over the Flint municipal water supply situation.  Why?  Ostensibly it's because the officials who changed Flint's water supply were appointed by the governor, but in reality it's because Moore is a dolt and the governor is a Republican.  If we used Moore's logic and held the POTUS responsible for all of his appointees/sycophants/Czars' stupid actions, he'd be resting now with OBL.
• The global crude oil price drop, though a boon to consumers, has caused quite a bit of pain in the oil patch.  I'm wondering what effect it will have on the Islamic extremists (yes, they exist) who finance their terror ops from pirated petroleum.  I read an article this morning that says Daesh supplements its oil revenue with 'protection' money it extorts from people in the areas it controls.
• Many big thinkers have noted that societies/cultures without character and morals will quickly wither, even in the timeframe of a very few generations.  Think Roman Empire.  In my lifetime, we've always thought of the Saudis and others in the region as being ultra-rich (gold trimmed Bentleys & Gulfstreams, and crisp white robes).  But, apart from all their oil wealth, what do they know how to do?  If global oil continues to stay at current prices for an extended time, will citizens of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait et al have to get real jobs?
• I stopped at a store after church yesterday for a small armload of items, then before I headed for the checkout, realized I'd left my wallet on my desk at home (after paying a bill online), and was forced to pay en efectivo from my money clip.  I had to put a couple of items back.  Oh, the humanity!
• Son and former FIL and I went to Frontiers of Flight at Love Field Yesterday.  There were some displays from the Zeppelin heyday (in the early 20th century, not 1968-1979), and the 270 pound tube radio from the zeppelin Los Angeles.  It had vacuum tubes the size of eggplants.
• This is not the Ryan PT-22 that Han Solo crash landed:

I flew with the one on the left many times in his home-built biplane.

The one on the right took his first flight at six months on my lap in an Aeronca 7AC "Champ"

• Luke Skywalker and a California assemblywoman are working on legislation to protect consumers from fake autographs & memorabilia.  Hey, idiots consumers, how about not buying that crap?  Know any Franklin Mint, Beanie Baby, or Yu-Gi-Oh millionaires out there?
• I have just a few autographed items, but I don't attach financial significance to them: A Bill Jordan autographed copy of  No Second Place Winner (for those who've forgotten, Jordan persuaded S&W to produce K-frame .357 Magnums, i.e. Model 19 & 66, and with Elmer Keith - who himself pushed S&W to create the .44 Magnum - developed the .41 Remington Magnum).  Col. Jordan signed it for me after an installation dinner (ca. 1972-1973?) when my Dad was president of the local gun club.  I also have album/CD covers signed and inscribed from Peter Frampton and Jimmy Webb, in my presence, and CD covers that a good friend of mine had Don Henley and Michael Martin Murphey inscribe to me (I have an original Blue Sky Night Thunder LP (Wildfire, Carolina in the Pines) that I may take to his Kessler Theater show in March).

(internet photo)

• News outlets last week ran some fluff that someone wanted Michelle Obama to run for President. You gotta be *kidding* me.  Zero accomplishments, and married to the least qualified President in memory.  Yeah, that'll play.
• At least HRC in 2008 could point to having been elected as Senator in Nueva York (before she proved to be a complete disaster as Secretary of State).
• With the dropping temps this weekend, I'm glad I took a bike ride Friday.  The sun felt good on my face, and I wasn't as out-of-shape as I'd feared, despite not riding in nearly three months.
• The other night, I caught an original (I think) episode of the ABC sitcom with Tim Allen, with Jay Leno making an appearance as a mechanic who'd washed out as a stand-up comic.  It was kinda fun to watch Leno and Allen as they nudged the fourth wall in their dialogue. 

In memory of Ed Rasimus

New & Improved - Now With More Emoluments

Snippets from my email inbox:

...glad to announce that intercontinental company SHIP 307 ltd is looking for a postulants for the a part time employment

• Nah, I think if I were a postulant, I'd be looking at Perkins or Brite.

We have an oofer of convenient payment with flexible timetable. All needful instructions provided by our side on a gratuitous basis.

• In business, as in dating, I try to steer clear of oofers.  And I loathe automatic gratuities.

...seeking a high skilled employees...

• Just one(s)?  And does that mean you don't do pee tests?

Ability of fast answer company calls and emails. Strong communication skills

• Would that include using grammar, syntax and punctuation?  

Emolument : $2 500 once a month + bonuses.

• Is that the same as a paycheck? With that much emoluments for only part time work, imagine how soft my skin would be.

If you are interested regarding this opportunity please send you Resume

• [Paraphrasing Lionel Twain] Could you please use the correct pronouns?

Maybe I should study this list...

Here's an article called The 8 guys that women avoid.  Perhaps I can find some insights.

The synopsis is here:

8. The misogynist - no
7. Self-righteous guy - not so much
6. The arguer - not so much, er, I mean, what do you think?
5. The cheap guy - I haven't asked a chick to go dutch, but yeah, I'm frugal...
4. Boorish guy - no
3. Arrogant guy - not so much, confident in some areas
2. Predictable guy - maybe, but I prefer the term balanced
1. Needy guy - no

At least there wasn't an entire category titled 'The Donald'.

Note to Ammon Bundy

This might be the time.



If there's an opportunity to walk away with some level of immunity, take it.

For a protest to achieve its desired PR result, you've got to be able to present your issue in a way that resonates positively with a majority of the public.

In the Oregon situation, this doesn't seem to be the case.

Ranching is a volatile industry, dependent on several variables (rainfall; feed, fertilizer and fuel costs; disease, predation, and consumer demand).  Historically, generations of ranchers have mitigated the cost of feeding their livestock by grazing their herds on open, or public, lands.  The subject of  grazing lands and range wars has fueled many western movies.

Today, though, relatively few Americans have much understanding or appreciation for the ranching way of life.  Many of the commenters on news articles speak of ranchers as being recipients of agricultural welfare if their livestock graze on public lands.  While there is some basis for this interpretation, it should also be recognized that - in the main - ranchers are grazing their livestock on lands that have traditionally been open for the opportunity, and have subsequently been acquired by the US Government and had grazing fees imposed or increased.  The view that ranchers should compete with each other for purchasing grazing property is probably fair enough, but when they are competing with the United States Treasury, the playing field is a bit uneven, and it becomes a bitter, or even toxic, pill.

Nonetheless, unless all of the major media outlets start running marathon wall-to-wall Louis L'Amour or Zane Grey telecasts, there's likely little resonance with the public regarding Mr. Bundy and his compadres, and even the locals are not enamored of the protest.  He would do well to negotiate for as much immunity as he can and walk away peacefully, and deal with the rest in a court of law later.  For its part, the government would also do well to offer reasonable immunities, even though some will get their noses out of joint about perceptions of 'white privilege' or whatnot.  But far better to take some lumps than to end up with a Ruby Ridge or Mt. Carmel redux.

Week in review

• I'm glad to see 2015 gone.
• Was in Mesquite on December 31 at a Harbor Freight and heard, over the store's PA, the following songs: Longfellow Serenade (Neil Diamond), In the Still of the Night (The Five Satins), Higher and Higher (Rita Coolidge).  I thought I was in a time warp, until I heard an announcement that it was Mesquite Schools Radio.
• Am considering getting the HF hobby flux-core wire welder. Out of the box, it apparently sucks, but with 2-3 mods to convert it to DC (rectifier/capacitor/choke), it will supposedly make pretty welds.  At under $90 at the store, plus about $25 at Tanner Electronics for the hacks, it's not bad.
• On New Year's Eve, I went to bed by 10:00.  I'm old enough to know that the new year arrives with - or without - my participation.
• Made chili on NYD, and used black-eyed peas in it.  One of my best batches ever. I also made my first pot of coffee in about 6 months (haven't sworn off the stuff, but have been on more of a hot tea kick, only drinking coffee occasionally at church, from the QT or at the folks' house).
• Yesterday, I checked Kohl's to see if there were any good sales.  I may have to go back to check out  a very stylish Savile Row double-breasted overcoat, if it's still there, sort of a darker version of the one Bogey wore in Casablanca.
• Last night I remembered to tune in to broadcast channel 33 for the Carson (Johnny, not Ben) show.  Johnny's guests were: The ubiquitous (and kinda hot back in the day) Joan Embery, Fffoster Brrroooks, and Victor Buono, plus a lady author.  This was from the old, 90 minute format show. Good times.  I'm looking forward to episodes with Jimmy Stewart, Berle, Hope, Rickles, Newhart, Gobel, Winters, and lots of others. (Update:  Looks like I won't be disappointed, as tonight features Carnac, Hope, Rickles, Michael Landon, and Freddie Prinze.)
• Not including the online application and aptitude test, I am four steps into the hiring process for a new job. Tomorrow I'm supposed to pick up a package for a physical exam (step 5).

Actually, there is Hope

The guest pastor this past weekend used the phrase 'hopelessly human', which reminded me - as I'm sure it would've reminded you - of this 1977 Kansas song:



The pastor's message was that, at least since Genesis 3 (in the Bible, not the Collins/Rutherford/Banks band), we are 'hopelessly human', in that we can't be anything but.  Nonetheless, our situation - thanks to the Advent and the Redemption - is not without hope.  We may inhabit a sin-filled world, but we are not necessarily condemned to be of it, if we choose wisely.

Though the song is not overtly Christian, its composer Kerry Livgren did subsequently convert to Christianity, and has remained active in his faith, a more recent project being Cantata: The Resurrection of Lazarus.

From the mailbag...

Sure, I swiped that from Paul Harvey.

• Apparently my name is causing quite the stir in the former USSR, as I continue to get fan mail from lovely Russian ladies, wishing to make my acquaintance.
• Why, just this morning, lovely Aleksandra sent the following:

Cheer, my friend. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! My name is Aleksandra. I like your profile strongly. Now I shall tell you a few details about myself. I’m 28 y.o. I am blonde girl with green eyes. I live in N.Novgorod in Russian Federation. Now, some information about my interests. I like reading, chat with my friends, walking and ect.. I adore watch TV and cook various delicious stuff. I love sports and fitness. I work as an accountant. It’s rather boring but I enjoy my job. I’m looking for a man who wishes to have meaningful relationships. I don’t need any flirt and I believe that you don’t need it, too. If you want to go on our talk, write to me. Goodbye. Aleksandra.

• She sounds like a good catch, and I like her sense of irony "If you want to go on our talk, write to me."  Plus, how can you not be enthralled by a girl who likes walking, and adore watch TV and cook delicious stuff?
• But alas, I already have over, like, $1000 in airfare invested (on the advice of my friend Paul, the stockbroker), to get Irena or Yenchna (wait, that was a character from Neil Simon's Fools) to the United States for happiness relationship.
• I guess my stable's just full of gift horses - this morning I deleted an email promising me another $10.5 million.
• Hey, with all the other millions about to roll in, I just don't think my mailbox - or the vault at my bank - is big enough to hold all those riches.
• In addition, a geology firm, Rock Hard, has also been sending a few emails.
• ED Solutions - What's that, continuing education?
• And finally, Mr. Peter informs me that he has a $2.5 Visa gift card waiting for me (money that I apparently misplaced in Africa, of all places).
• Maybe he should do some co-branded marketing with the geology firm instead...
• Good day!