Daily Tech News 1 October 2025

Top Story

Amazon has announced its new Kindle Scribe and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft models. (Tech Crunch)

The Kindle Scribe costs $500, or $430 for a model without a light so you can't read it.

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft costs $630 and adds colour, though it doesn't say whether you can read that one or not.
Amazon also announced its new operating system, Vega OS. (9to5Google)

It's Android with the serial numbers filed off and the ability to sideload apps disabled.

Roll the antitrust lawsuits.

Tech News

Bioware developers are worried after EA's $55 million leveraged buyout. (WCCFTech)

Worried that they might lose their jobs if they keep producing garbage like Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Well, you can stop worrying. You're all losing your jobs.
CISA has published an alert over a bug in the Linux sudo command which... Holy crap. (Bleeping Computer)

Yeah, don't let anyone on your systems, ever.
We are UK of Borg. Your ass will be laminated. Resistance is futile. (Daily Express)

The UK threatened image hosting site Imgur over its (the UK's) latest insane "data protection" law.

Imgur immediately ceased to be available in the UK.

The UK continues to threaten Imgur and its parent company Medialab, even though neither is a UK company.

Because of course they do.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Ack.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 05:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 05:03 AM (aURVT)

2 Mornin' Pixy!

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 01, 2025 05:04 AM (O7YUW)

3 Absolute sniper this morning m. *laughs* Well done.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 01, 2025 05:04 AM (O7YUW)

4 Carrying over from the ONT:

I hope someone does a lot of "RIF" peanut butter jar memes today.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 01, 2025 05:05 AM (O7YUW)

5 Sio is the government kaput?

Posted by: rickb223 at October 01, 2025 05:06 AM (SKg6T)

6 Whew, no more looking at Chuck Shumer flipping a bird.

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 05:06 AM (aURVT)

7 *Schumer
like I care

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 05:06 AM (aURVT)

8 BOING!

m, I was about to type the same thing. Great morons think alike!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 01, 2025 05:07 AM (szXCY)

9 Yeah, Shucky Choomer's mug was getting old.

Posted by: JQ at October 01, 2025 05:11 AM (rdVOm)

10 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 01, 2025 05:12 AM (XQo4F)

11 I am not excited by this new Kindle Scribe, or the price of it. I've got a Kindle Paperwhite 10th generation that I've had for a while that (mostly) "just works".

Although over time, the updates they've pushed have made the Kindle Paperwhite (10) react slower when the cover is opened, and occasionally it loses its mind and thinks it has 512 megs of memory instead of the 32 gigs it really has, won't show any book's cover image, and won't let me open ANY book on the device. (Verified by looking deep in the settings at how much memory the device thought it had.)

In the last few times this happened, I factory resetted the device, re-logged it back into Amazon, and it was fine. The very last time I tried plugging it into the computer via the USB port and looking at the drive. As soon as I did that, the device went back to normal, because something in that process seemed to fix how it saw its own internal memory, and it was completely fine again.

Thank goodness, factory resetting, and losing all the books you had installed on the device is NOT amusing. Yeah, you can re-download them all again, but... ugh.

I suspect it's not just bugs either, but nudges. "Buy a new Kindle!" No.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 01, 2025 05:12 AM (O7YUW)

12 Psalm 66:1-20

Watching God work:

https://tinyurl.com/77jfdfc5

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 01, 2025 05:13 AM (Nx5jP)

13 I really like my old Kindle Fire-- will be sad when it finally goes kaput, but I doubt I'll replace it with a "color" display unit. Hope they continue selling Paperwhite or similar.

Posted by: JQ at October 01, 2025 05:14 AM (rdVOm)

14 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at October 01, 2025 05:14 AM (sAmhv)

15 G'morning, all!

I feel so....governmentless!

It's like freedom..

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 01, 2025 05:18 AM (a1415)

16 Oink!

I just picked up a Kindle Scribe 2024 version on closeout to use as an ebook reader. As much as I like having regular books, I'm at a point in life where I just don't want shelves laying around. The Kindle is a fairly good solution for this.

I don't like the standard size Kindle because the pages are too small. The Scribe, with its 10-in screen, gives you a page size approximating a normal book and that changes everything in terms of usability.

The note taking capability is remarkably good. It literally writes like paper which surprised me. With that said, the software is kind of clunky and using a device like this for note-taking is not for me, so I'll never use that feature.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 05:20 AM (aJQjq)

17 Alteria Pilgram, I really appreciated your "packing to move" post in yesterday's tech thread. I've never seen the process laid out so clearly and generously.

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 05:23 AM (aURVT)

18 The cat of blessed memory knocked my old Kindle Fire off the table and crack'd the screen.

It was just a few dollars more to buy a new one than order a new screen. Still less than $100.

Beauty is all my books are "in the cloud" and I was able to re-download them for free.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 01, 2025 05:24 AM (ZmEVT)

19 Welcome to the Schumer Shutdown!
(Hits snooze button)

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at October 01, 2025 05:24 AM (XQo4F)

20 here it is, for people who missed it:

100 The finality and logistics of such a major move clouds the mind at times. A few pro tips...

Use as many uniformly sized boxes as possible and make sure they are easy to carry - without a doubt you are going to move them more than a few times. For me, I found Home Depot has the best boxes. Stick to the small and mediums as much as possible.

Pack one box. That is all the further you think about. Start with the items you use infrequently. Then move on up the frequency chart until you are effectively urban camping. Uniformly sized boxes stack uniformly and makes living with them in an apartment much easier.

Pitch everything you can. This is tricky to balance. Keep in mind, where you are going will have its own vibe - honor that vibe, start fresh where appropriate.

To Do lists are you friend. They keep your brain from buzzing about how much work you have ahead.

And finally...Only think about packing one box and only one box at a time. No more. Once you get on a roll this rule gets loose.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 30, 2025 07:33 AM (aJQjq)

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 05:25 AM (aURVT)

21 Do I have to wait until 6AM to post so I can hide my clairvoyance?

Posted by: Minuteman at October 01, 2025 05:26 AM (47/pr)

22 Prayer for rest and quietness from the "Book of Common Prayer":

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we, being defended from fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quiet.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 01, 2025 05:26 AM (Nx5jP)

23 I feel so....governmentless!

It's like freedom..
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 01, 2025 05:18 AM (a1415)

I've already ripped the tags off my mattresses. It's anarchy!

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 05:28 AM (ExV1e)

24

Goodmorning, good people, from the Adirondacks, suddenly frosty around the edges. Our burning bush is fixin to ignite, looks like it's gonna be fully involved this year. I make certain it's trimmed properly, it IS impressive in size and shape when the thing displays well.

Meanwhile, may all effort from you result in maximal benefit always, to counterpoint the grievous heartburn suffered by the leftwit fungi plaguing us.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 01, 2025 05:29 AM (vFbHf)

25 So Frog and Margo have their first annual vet visit today. Yesterday was their one year anniversary of leaving their brother and sister and becoming a part of our home.

We still have time for the morning walk, get cleaned up, and then off to the Vet's office.

and with that, try to survive the day without a Federal government, and I will BBIAB

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 01, 2025 05:29 AM (a1415)

26 Why is Kindle a thing? How different is it from reading off of a $65 ONN tablet from Walmart?

Posted by: Minuteman at October 01, 2025 05:30 AM (47/pr)

27 Alteria Pilgram, I really appreciated your "packing to move" post in yesterday's tech thread. I've never seen the process laid out so clearly and generously. Posted by: m

Moving a household Is such a pain in the rear that you really have to attack it in small bites. The second part is you have to live with house of boxes for weeks before you actually take off with everything; that creates all kinds of complications in your life. The last thing I would add is start earlier than you think you need to start.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 05:31 AM (aJQjq)

28
Couldn't sleep for all the screams, explosions and fires after midnight.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 05:32 AM (tgvbd)

29 I don't have any Kindle and cant imagine why anyone would buy one. I have 2 android ereaders that read any format and also read audiobooks to me. But I never buy ebooks from Amazon .I don't like the idea that they can take them back if they decide you shouldn't be reading that book.

Posted by: Megthered at October 01, 2025 05:34 AM (kueL3)

30 Hey EA (Electronic Arts):

Westwood.
Bullfrog.

Some of us still remember. Enjoy being on the other side of the acquisition.

May the developers working there easily find work with other companies though, those guys don't deserve to have more suffering heaped on their heads.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 01, 2025 05:35 AM (O7YUW)

31 But I never buy ebooks from Amazon .I don't like the idea that they can take them back if they decide you shouldn't be reading that book.
Posted by: Megthered at October 01, 2025 05:34 AM (kueL3)

I have a small number of ebooks which are only available on Amazon. I prefer DRM-free epubs which I download, store on my network, and upload to my devices as needed.

I'm not renting the book, I'm buying it and I want possession of MY copy.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 05:38 AM (ExV1e)

32 Why is Kindle a thing? How different is it from reading off of a $65 ONN tablet from Walmart?
Posted by: Minuteman

The screens are radically different and much nicer for reading text for hours on end. Plus the battery life is measured in weeks instead of hours. I have a Kindle app on my phone and my laptop and in a pinch I use those for reading and they're okay but I strongly prefer the e-ink screens for this specific task. Depending on your needs and wants your mileage will vary of course.

https://is.gd/kKY2pA

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 05:38 AM (aJQjq)

33 Yay Shutdown !

Posted by: jsg at October 01, 2025 05:45 AM (VM+VC)

34 Imgur immediately ceased to be available in the UK. ... The UK continues to threaten Imgur and its parent company Medialab, even though neither is a UK company.

The UK's going full-speed ahead:

“We have been clear that exiting the UK does not allow an organisation to avoid responsibility for any prior infringement of data protection law, and our investigation remains ongoing.
“This update has been provided to give clarity on our investigation, and we will not be providing any further detail at this time.”

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 05:46 AM (aURVT)

35 You can really get the whole packing and moving sorted quickly by hiring someone to pack and move, then all you have to do is point and drink coffee, your pointing finger will get cramped, but you can power through that with some icy hot and more coffee.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at October 01, 2025 05:47 AM (XV/Pl)

36 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at October 01, 2025 05:48 AM (hoCmQ)

37 Good morning, dear people who know everything! Or at least more than I (low bar).

In the last couple weeks, my parents have suddenly been unable to call me. They live in a retirement community and it's been no problem until the past few weeks. When they dial my cell, they get an automated message saying the call can't be completed. Unfortunately I forgot to check this when I was last over there and now I am away again, so I don't know exactly the wording.

I have an iPhone 16, and so does my husband. They can call him, just not me. They don't have a problem with any other number, nor do I. I didn't accidentally block them. I looked this up and it's not an uncommon problem but I haven't seen a solution.

Any ideas? They are calling from a landline, if that matters.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 05:49 AM (3hxUr)

38 28 Couldn't sleep for all the screams, explosions and fires after midnight.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 05:32 AM (tgvbd)

Shades of Michael Jackson's Thriller all over the place.

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 05:50 AM (aURVT)

39 I usually check out books from my library and then then sync them to the Kindle device. That's a pretty great way for books you're only going to read once. For longer term things like the classics, you can get them for dirt cheap out of the Amazon store. I also get publications and PDFs; they're all right, but the challenge point is the formatting. As for the licensing versus ownership issue and the potential for censorship abuse, it hasn't been a problem and I'm not going to worry about until it is. It's convenience thing and they do a very good job at it plus I no longer have to maintain shelves of books I'll never read again.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 05:50 AM (aJQjq)

40 Couldn't sleep for all the screams, explosions and fires after midnight. Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

???

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 05:52 AM (aJQjq)

41 Where I live, I have to use the area code to connect to a phone in the same area code.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 01, 2025 05:52 AM (ZmEVT)

42 (I think he's referring to the government shutdown.)

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 05:53 AM (aURVT)

43 I had one of those junk removal crews come through last time we moved. I let them use my hand truck to help it go faster. The hand truck broke. They were mortified and promised they'd buy me a new one. I laughed and said "throw it on the truck, i hate that stupid flimsy thing and you just gave me one less thing to have to move!"

Posted by: Warai-otoko at October 01, 2025 05:54 AM (06Hmj)

44 You can really get the whole packing and moving sorted quickly by hiring someone to pack and move, then all you have to do is point and drink coffee, your pointing finger will get cramped, but you can power through that with some icy hot and more coffee.
Posted by: Thomas Bender

Totally agree. But it's expensive so we end up moving ourselves. I had a company relocate me what's, that was a great experience. The next time I move I think that's what I'm going to do, I'll just suck it up and pay whatever they charge.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 05:55 AM (aJQjq)

45 Why Mr. Roger's always wore a sweater o. His program:

https://tinyurl.com/yaa2e5uy

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 01, 2025 05:55 AM (PFs9e)

46 Evening and morning, Woden's Day People! And the other days of the week too, of course.

It's a new month, same as the old month around here. It is literally as if I'd never left. Linda fixed dinner for us last night, then fell asleep on the floor in front of the TV. The furry thugs are the same; my morning routine is the same; the weather is the ugly, sticky same. Only my memory of having escaped for a week remains.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 05:58 AM (omVj0)

47 How was your trip, Wolfus? Did you like Indiana?

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 05:59 AM (3hxUr)

48 Bluebell,
Lot of service providers for cell service now have automated anti spam call blocks. Possible that your parents number was flagged that way if some scamster was up spoofing their phone number for making scam phone calls. Some use random people's numbers to look like legitimate calls. Try looking up your parents number at anti spam websites like nomo robo to see if that might be true.

Landlines too, for better or worse, are also going away as telecom companies are letting them die by neglect. Wife wanted to keep ours but att service was so bad it would go out every time it rained, sometimes for weeks. We now use magic Jack with the ported number that uses our broadband connection. Mainly use cell phones but magic Jack gives option for 911 address call registry whereas cell phones can be iffy on that

Posted by: whig's phone at October 01, 2025 05:59 AM (WDjG6)

49 I'm on a path towards minimalism. Feels great to get rid of stuff.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at October 01, 2025 06:00 AM (XQo4F)

50 Anyway! I'm awake, for certain fluctuating * values of "awake," sipping coffee and trying to hunt down the motivation to go work out. Howz about you?

* I guess if I can type "fluctuating" at this hour, I AM awake.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:00 AM (omVj0)

51 Remember the failed Amazon Fire phone?

https://youtu.be/CfBsf8pcFZ0

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:00 AM (aJQjq)

52
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at October 01, 2025 06:01 AM (tljrc)

53 Rejoinder: Ek! Ek! Ek!

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at October 01, 2025 06:02 AM (WvZaB)

54 Repeat - because FenSpouse requested it - Hank Williams Sr -"Precious Lord, Take My Hand":

https://tinyurl.com/5buyhcr2

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 01, 2025 06:02 AM (PFs9e)

55 Thanks, Whig, that's a good idea, I'll check the spam registry. As for the landline, it's mandated and provided by the retirement community which is a good thing because they never got the hang of cell phones.

They are in independent living but there are further levels of care if needed so they want to be sure there is a reliable phone in each unit.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:03 AM (3hxUr)

56 Megthered,
Easy enough to jailbreak Kindles or even use regular computers with ebook reader open source software. What you can no longer do, as of a couple of months ago is download your own books to your own storage devices albeit still encrypted. Ways around that too.

Posted by: whig's phone at October 01, 2025 06:04 AM (WDjG6)

57 And nope, they are not flagged as spam. Which is good.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:05 AM (3hxUr)

58 How was your trip, Wolfus? Did you like Indiana?
Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025

***
Hello, Bluebell! Yes, I did, the corner of it I saw, anyway. Evansville is laid out in a grid for the most part, so it was easy to get around. Street surfaces were very good in some places, Swamp-lousy in others. People were unfailingly polite and nice; days became hot but started out cool. Owensboro, KY, across the Ohio river, seemed even better. The big red Buick performed like the champion it is -- it deserves a good bath and detailing today.

Energy, I gathered from two anecdotes, seems to be pretty expensive in Indiana, better in KY (gas was .50/gal. cheaper there).

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:06 AM (omVj0)

59 Very glad your trip was a succès, Wolfus. Do you have a next step planned yet?

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:07 AM (3hxUr)

60 Whoops, sorry for the accidental French. I'm typing in a car on my phone.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:09 AM (3hxUr)

61 @56/whig's phone: "Ways around that too."

Do tell? I used to download all my purchased books from Amazon so I had a local archive of them on my desktop in case Amazon ever decided to make one of my purchases "go away" like they ironically did with George Orwell's 1984 at one point. (Yes, seriously.) And if amazon ever "went away", there goes the whole library.

The download option's gone now, and I'm seriously annoyed at Amazon over pulling that stunt.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 01, 2025 06:09 AM (O7YUW)

62 Bluebell,
Mother is in dementia care so I am familiar with that setup. As my mother's condition got worse, she could no longer operate the phone. Fwiw, they make special phones now for dementia patients with pictures or even receive only phones. Mother could not call out having forgotten how so we tell her to go to the nurses station to have them call for her 24/7. We changed her phone to receive only (she has a pendant for immediate care) and the phone is old school design like the old wall phones during Ma Bell era.

Posted by: whig's phone at October 01, 2025 06:10 AM (WDjG6)

63 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at October 01, 2025 06:12 AM (xatjc)

64 Seems all the Generals were called together to lay down the laws
Tje War Department is back

Posted by: Skip at October 01, 2025 06:12 AM (xatjc)

65 @44

>>I'll just suck it up and pay whatever they charge.

It's expensive but totally necessary for a household above a certain size.

If you have a one bedroom apartment, you don't need a moving company, you have a sprawling home with multiple levels, then you most certainly need a moving company.

I'm basically where I'm going to die so my next move will be to The Undiscovered Country, and I'll be traveling light.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at October 01, 2025 06:13 AM (XV/Pl)

66 Whig, dialing 911 seems to be a thing for dementia patients. My father-in-law, God rest his soul, used to do the same. Luckily he lived in a very small town and my brother-in-law was in the same town and knew everyone, so the 911 folks would call my brother-in-law each time to see if there really was an emergency.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:13 AM (3hxUr)

67 Calibre ebook software also available as Linux program is the preferred way of handling Amazon ebooks that have the drm removed.

Posted by: whig's phone at October 01, 2025 06:14 AM (WDjG6)

68 Only my memory of having escaped for a week remains.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 05:58 AM (omVj0)

Maybe you just dreamed you went?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025 06:15 AM (uQesX)

69 I saw accidental French open for Indecipherable Scottish at the Bowery Ballroom in 82.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at October 01, 2025 06:15 AM (XV/Pl)

70 66 Whig, dialing 911 seems to be a thing for dementia patients. My father-in-law, God rest his soul, used to do the same. Luckily he lived in a very small town and my brother-in-law was in the same town and knew everyone, so the 911 folks would call my brother-in-law each time to see if there really was an emergency.
Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:13 AM (3hxUr)

That sounds like Mayberry-sized small-town!

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 06:15 AM (aURVT)

71 Very glad your trip was a succès, Wolfus. Do you have a next step planned yet?
Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025

***
No; and that is depressing. I can, of course, locate a furnished apartment in the area I want to go, put all my stuff in storage, and move temporarily. Or do what I did in '97, have it all loaded in a U-Haul and tow my car behind me, so I'll have my stuff. And can bring the cats; a furnished apartment will probably not allow pets. But . . . it seems like a mountain to climb. Yes, I know that like a term paper, it does not all have to be done at once. But it still seems daunting.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:15 AM (omVj0)

72 Seems all the Generals were called together to lay down the laws
Tje War Department is back
Posted by: Skip at October 01, 2025 06:12 AM (xatjc)

The left is calling for a military coup because Hegseth said that the military should be able to win wars.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:16 AM (ExV1e)

73 Landlines too, for better or worse, are also going away as telecom companies are letting them die by neglect. Wife wanted to keep ours but att service was so bad it would go out every time it rained, sometimes for weeks. We now use magic Jack with the ported number that uses our broadband connection. Mainly use cell phones but magic Jack gives option for 911 address call registry whereas cell phones can be iffy on that
Posted by: whig's phone at October 01, 2025 05:59 AM (WDjG6)

Haven't heard about that. Any info anywhere discussing that? I don't really like the idea of being dependent on cell only.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025 06:17 AM (uQesX)

74 Easy enough to jailbreak Kindles or even use regular computers with ebook reader open source software. What you can no longer do, as of a couple of months ago is download your own books to your own storage devices albeit still encrypted. Ways around that too. Posted by: whig's phone

Yep. DRM and licensing versus owning are perennial issues. Physical media made that a moot point for the most part, but we're in a whole different world these days with electronic books and streaming media. There are costs to owning the physical media just as there's cost to renting these things because that's what we're doing. I struck a balance with my music and video by maintaining my own electronic copies which I can through Plex access anywhere. I keep a library of books I highly value but for the rest of them they're gone just like my CDs and DVDs.

The flexibility and convenience of streaming media and ebooks are highly useful and I can't imagine not having them anymore. Being able to stream music in my car from Spotify is pretty great

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:17 AM (aJQjq)

75 Only my memory of having escaped for a week remains.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025
*
Maybe you just dreamed you went?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025

***
Nope; the proofs, the credit card bills, are starting to come in.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:17 AM (omVj0)

76 That sounds like Mayberry-sized small-town!
Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 06:15 AM (aURVT)
----------

You're not wrong. The barber's name was Rocco, right on the Main Street.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:17 AM (3hxUr)

77 Being able to stream music in my car from Spotify is pretty great
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:17 AM (aJQjq)

I have a USB drive loaded with songs from my library that I use in the car. No Spotify required. Can't do podcasts, though, if you're into those.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:19 AM (ExV1e)

78 *sigh* Work beckons, will check back later for the answer to the question I posed to whig's phone.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 01, 2025 06:20 AM (O7YUW)

79 Second coffee, and oddly, I do feel pretty good this morning. This is either a clue to go work out, or a clue to sit, take it easy, and enjoy it. The latter course is insidious, like Dr. Fu Manchu. It leads to still more laziness.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:20 AM (omVj0)

80 Calibre ebook software also available as Linux program is the preferred way of handling Amazon ebooks that have the drm removed. Posted by: whig's phone

Second that as a solution.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:20 AM (aJQjq)

81 41 Where I live, I have to use the area code to connect to a phone in the same area code.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 01, 2025 05:52 AM (ZmEVT)

They did this here awhile back.
Once a region is populated enough to have two or more area codes, basically any medium to large city these days with all the devices that need numbers, they’ll add a new area code.

bluebell, it might be that they need to add a 1 plus the area code to your number in their Contact list on the phone, so 1-999-867-5309, for example.

When you’re around your parents again, call their cell(s) from your phone, and see if it rings. If it does, check their Phone app in Recent Calls, and add your own number to the Contacts as a new Contact and delete the old entry for your number.

If that doesn’t work you might need to call their mobile wireless provider and see if they can help.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 06:21 AM (6ydKt)

82 Bluebell, that has resulted in some bad circumstances for spouses or family members when jacked up cops respond to 911 calls. Big lawsuit over such in Kentucky where an elderly man was literally thrown to the ground because his wife with dementia called 911 to tell them he shot her.

Also people with dementia can call at all hours because time means nothing at that point. Avoided those problems fortunately but mother literally is back mentally to her childhood where the old att wall phone is homey and familiar to her including the old annoying ring. We are thinking seriously about getting a Memory Board where messages etc can be sent to her sort of like texting. Board mounts on wall and uses internet connections to do its magic.

Posted by: whig's phone at October 01, 2025 06:22 AM (WDjG6)

83 Whig, dialing 911 seems to be a thing for dementia patients. My father-in-law, God rest his soul, used to do the same. Luckily he lived in a very small town and my brother-in-law was in the same town and knew everyone, so the 911 folks would call my brother-in-law each time to see if there really was an emergency.
Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:13 AM (3hxUr)

That sounds like Mayberry-sized small-town!
Posted by: m

"Sarah, this is Andy. Ignore dad. Again".

Posted by: rickb223 at October 01, 2025 06:23 AM (SKg6T)

84 I use the Kindle app on my phone, and abandoned my Kindle years ago. I sacrifice screen size but gain having only one device to remember not to leave on airplanes. And remember to charge.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 01, 2025 06:24 AM (Kb1IC)

85 I have a USB drive loaded with songs from my library that I use in the car. No Spotify required. Can't do podcasts, though, if you're into those.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

I used to do the USB thing but now it's strictly streaming either using Plex to access my music library at home or Spotify. In effect, my Plex solution is my USB drive. I get not wanting to get tied into a company like Spotify but the world's changed and I've sort of rolled with it and I'm good with it. Lots of solutions; we go with the ones that work for us.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:25 AM (aJQjq)

86 Second coffee, and oddly, I do feel pretty good this morning. This is either a clue to go work out, or a clue to sit, take it easy, and enjoy it. The latter course is insidious, like Dr. Fu Manchu. It leads to still more laziness.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:20 AM (omVj0)

Gotta keep at it. It's amazing how quickly the weight comes back if you skip the workout. (if you're work out is for weight loss) I suppose you could always say you're going to write instead, as long as you actually do it.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025 06:25 AM (uQesX)

87 My mom can't remember how to call 911, so my father is pretty safe.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 01, 2025 06:25 AM (Kb1IC)

88 Thanks, Speakingof. We've had to do the area code thing here for many years, so they are used to it. In fact, my husband, my parents, and I all have different area codes which are all local. They used to live one town over, now they are two towns over.

I get no missed calls notifications from them. My kids are going over there this weekend though and I'm going to have them try and make a recording of the exact message so I can go from there.

It's a real pain as I am their emergency contact and the only child on this coast. Luckily they can still reach my husband, but I still need this resolved.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:26 AM (3hxUr)

89 I felt a great Disturbance in the Workforce, as if Millions of Useless Federal Workers Cried out in Deranged Anger and then were Silenced.

Posted by: I am the Obi-Wan Mapes, the Jedi Housekeeper at October 01, 2025 06:26 AM (PiwSw)

90 I use the Kindle app on my phone, and abandoned my Kindle years ago. I sacrifice screen size but gain having only one device to remember not to leave on airplanes. And remember to charge.

Posted by: Huck Follywood

My eyes are 29 years old and I like the larger fonts I can get on a Kindle and still get a reasonable size page; hence my picking up the 10-in screen Kindle scribe for reading. The Kindle phone app is pretty dope though; use it myself.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:27 AM (aJQjq)

91 I get not wanting to get tied into a company like Spotify but the world's changed and I've sort of rolled with it and I'm good with it. Lots of solutions; we go with the ones that work for us.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:25 AM (aJQjq)

Part of it is that I'm old enough that most of what I listen to has already been recorded AND I already own a copy. No reason - for me - to pay someone to stream stuff to me when I already have it.

I agree with the different strokes thing.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:27 AM (ExV1e)

92 Hey, Wolfus, did you have a sense of melancholy when you informed your boss that you were retiring?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:28 AM (ExV1e)

93 I have a USB drive loaded with songs from my library that I use in the car. No Spotify required. Can't do podcasts, though, if you're into those.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025

***
I listen to the USB music playlist a lot as I drive around town. So for the trip, I brought CDs (yes! My car plays those). The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Timberline (whom you've probably never heard of), and two albums by a Denver folk group called Cottonwood. Once I'd run through those, I scanned across the FM band. Some country, some talk, some rap and "Today's Hits."

I highly, *highly* recommend Cottonwood, by the way. Not sure if their two CDs can be bought on Amazon. But they ranged from doing Cole Porter and Tracey Chapman's "Gimme One Reason" to original, witty, literate songs like "Waltz of the Wallflowers" and the hilarious "Neo-Nazi Samba." ("I met my love at the surplus store;/ We went to see Rambo Four . . . By the light of Stallone I had to teach her a lesson;/ She tried to touch my Smith & Wesson . . .")

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:28 AM (omVj0)

94 I wish we had Rush Limbaugh right now. He always had the greatest rants about how great it was when the federal government shutdown.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:28 AM (aJQjq)

95 Gotta keep at it. It's amazing how quickly the weight comes back if you skip the workout. (if you're work out is for weight loss)
---------------
Working out has many benefits, not least of which is you just feel better, but is weight loss one of them? I guess I always thought eating fewer calories is the only way to lose weight. Working out burns more calories, I get that, but still (and sadly), you gotta eat less.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 01, 2025 06:29 AM (Kb1IC)

96 I don't have any Kindle and cant imagine why anyone would buy one. I have 2 android ereaders that read any format and also read audiobooks to me. But I never buy ebooks from Amazon .I don't like the idea that they can take them back if they decide you shouldn't be reading that book.
Posted by: Megthered at October 01, 2025 05:34 AM (kueL3)

My first Kindle was a gift, so I paid nothing for it. I like to read wherever I go, so the thing was useful for duplicating books I already had in physical form, such as Foote's Civil War trilogy. I finally had to replace it about a year ago, after 10 good years of service.

I still use it to duplicate my own collection or to download for free anything I might only read once. As I said, it's useful during travel; I can carry a hundred books in the palm of my hand.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at October 01, 2025 06:30 AM (ufSfZ)

97 >>>the ability to sideload apps disabled.

So, a crappier iOS?

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at October 01, 2025 06:30 AM (i24o9)

98 Hey, Wolfus, did you have a sense of melancholy when you informed your boss that you were retiring?
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025

***
No. I had the sense I was dodging a bullet -- I would have had to organize a move of our entire offices this summer if I'd stayed -- and at the same time the sense I was stepping out into scary, brand-new territory. But no melancholy. Though if I'd still enjoyed my work, I could imagine that happening.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:31 AM (omVj0)

99 Working out has many benefits, not least of which is you just feel better, but is weight loss one of them? I guess I always thought eating fewer calories is the only way to lose weight. Working out burns more calories, I get that, but still (and sadly), you gotta eat less.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 01, 2025 06:29 AM (Kb1IC)

You need to do both. If I eat and work out, the weight stays the same. If I cut and work out, losses happen.

I don't have much else to do, so I keep doing it, bored or not. At least I have a tv in front of the elliptical so I have something to watch.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025 06:32 AM (uQesX)

100 100

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 06:32 AM (aURVT)

101 Will talk later. Two hours of work down, another hour to go before tea and toast.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at October 01, 2025 06:32 AM (ufSfZ)

102 No. I had the sense I was dodging a bullet -- I would have had to organize a move of our entire offices this summer if I'd stayed -- and at the same time the sense I was stepping out into scary, brand-new territory. But no melancholy. Though if I'd still enjoyed my work, I could imagine that happening.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:31 AM (omVj0)

I don't really enjoy my work any more but I'm giving notice in about 90 minutes and I find that I feel - sad, maybe, nervous. No reason, I'm good financially, I guess it's just because it's the end of a phase of my life.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:33 AM (ExV1e)

103 Part of it is that I'm old enough that most of what I listen to has already been recorded AND I already own a copy. No reason - for me - to pay someone to stream stuff to me when I already have it.

I agree with the different strokes thing.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

Totally agree with you. I was faced the same situation as I had an extensive CD collection. I solved that ripping all the CDs down to lossless files and then sorted out how to be able to run them through the stereo at home. That was not a trivial task to take on and complete but now that it's done I can't imagine going back to physical media. Toss in the Plex solution and I'm sitting pretty good. Something to think about.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:34 AM (aJQjq)

104 One good thing about kindles is saving on shelf space. My wife complains all the time about books piling up next to my (or on) my nightstand, but, you know..., I might want to reread one of them sometime.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 01, 2025 06:35 AM (TSiEx)

105 Re: e-readers, i recommend ReadEra on Android. Don't know if there is an iOS version.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at October 01, 2025 06:35 AM (i24o9)

106 Wow- retiring?

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 01, 2025 06:36 AM (TSiEx)

107 Wolfus, if you are looking at a furnished rental there are places that rent storage pods. They load them, store them and deliver/ unload when you are ready

Posted by: Ben Had at October 01, 2025 06:36 AM (kurEY)

108 We're sitting right here.

Posted by: Apple Carplay and Android Auto at October 01, 2025 06:36 AM (XQo4F)

109 I don't really enjoy my work any more but I'm giving notice in about 90 minutes and I find that I feel - sad, maybe, nervous. No reason, I'm good financially, I guess it's just because it's the end of a phase of my life.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:33 AM (ExV1e)
----------

Congratulations! I think you probably feel conflicted because there will be a change in your routine. Once you get a new routine, composed entirely of what you decide to do, I think you will enjoy it. I hope you have some fun things in mind.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:37 AM (3hxUr)

110 Cottonwood's Voted Most Poplar CD is available on Amazon! https://tinyurl.com/mucz6yrc

Their second album, Floating, seems only to be available through Amazon Music:

https://tinyurl.com/mr476v5u

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 01, 2025 06:37 AM (omVj0)

111 Wow- retiring?
Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 01, 2025 06:36 AM (TSiEx)

Is this aimed at me? Yeah, retiring. I'll have been 26 years at this company when I walk out the door but it's not the same place.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:38 AM (ExV1e)

112 Welcome to the Schumer Shutdown!
(Hits snooze button)
Posted by: Quarter Twenty

Oh, NO!!!!

Anyway...

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at October 01, 2025 06:38 AM (b294k)

113 Second that as a solution.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:20 AM (aJQjq)

Thirded.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at October 01, 2025 06:38 AM (i24o9)

114 So Stanky Janky is up to $88k in imbecile dollars on her GoFundMe. Unbelievable. The fact she has more than a few dollars underscores the fact you do not argue with democrats you defeat and publicly shame them at every opportunity. These people are absolute idiots.

Posted by: Gerg at October 01, 2025 06:40 AM (UvX2H)

115 I hope you have some fun things in mind.
Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:37 AM (3hxUr)

I've got a couple projects lined up. Convert all my household computers to Linux, go through and break down old computers to remove data so I can get rid of them, might consider the Plex thing... I've got a lot of DVDs and Bluerays. Travel - wife has always wanted to but our schedules never aligned so I'll be her chauffer.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:41 AM (ExV1e)

116 I don't really enjoy my work any more but I'm giving notice in about 90 minutes and I find that I feel - sad, maybe, nervous. No reason, I'm good financially, I guess it's just because it's the end of a phase of my life. Posted by: I used to have a different nic

And it's the beginning of the next phase of your life. In fact, it might just be the best phase of your life, especially if you've got money in the bank. Don't look back. Look forward. You just earned yourself a Mulligan ticket to Life. If I may give you a suggestion, give yourself a routine at the beginning; going from a regular structure to no structure has it's own certain excitement to it. If I may say it again, Don't get melancholy here, get excited.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:41 AM (aJQjq)

117 On the NY No Name Given CDL
1. They know where the ID was mailed to.
2. They know they date the ID was created.
3. They know who (DMV) was logged into the system.
4. They know the printer that printed the card.
5. They have a scan of the documents that were used to create the ID and DL.

They know exactly who is doing this and at what office and at which workstation.

Posted by: rhennigantx at October 01, 2025 06:41 AM (gbOdA)

118 Good morning, everyone. So the wife and I are out in Maine and hiking various parks. Odds are good that today is going to be spent driving to the next destination instead of doing that.

Posted by: NR Pax at October 01, 2025 06:41 AM (kjgXA)

119 I get no missed calls notifications from them. My kids are going over there this weekend though and I'm going to have them try and make a recording of the exact message so I can go from there.

It's a real pain as I am their emergency contact and the only child on this coast. Luckily they can still reach my husband, but I still need this resolved.
Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:26 AM (3hxUr)

That is strange.
We were having that problem awhile back trying to call my brother’s cell, couldn’t connect for a few months. But I don’t recall getting a message other than “This number cannot be reached at this time” blah blah,

It worked itself out after awhile by itself as far as I recall.

If it’s not even showing up in your Recents when they call your phone, then the problem is definitely on their end, or their mobile provider’s end.

Even if you have your phone set to Silent ring for unknown phone numbers, good for spam/scam calls, the number will show up in Recents.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 06:42 AM (6ydKt)

120 Different nic, it sounds like your retirement will be off to a good start! I bet once you give notice you will feel like a burden has lifted.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:45 AM (sHtAc)

121 Nic. Trash day Eve. Get back to me when you figure out why it's important.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:46 AM (aJQjq)

122 Good morning!

Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 01, 2025 06:47 AM (u82oZ)

123 Speakingof, it's their landline that's having the trouble. Thank you for all the suggestions though, to you and everyone else.

I think if my kids can get a recording of the message my parents get when trying to call me, it will help me find a solution. I just figured I would pick the collective Big Moron Brains while I had the chance.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:48 AM (sHtAc)

124 Different nic, it sounds like your retirement will be off to a good start! I bet once you give notice you will feel like a burden has lifted.
Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:45 AM (sHtAc)

I think it's just the uncertainty. My youngest is still in school and my wife hasn't gone on Medicare yet so I've got to cover all three of us on insurance. I'll use COBRA initially, but it's so expensive. I've got the money so that's not an issue but the not knowing.

Wife tells me that I worry too much. I tell her that she never has to worry BECAUSE I worry too much.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:48 AM (ExV1e)

125 SpeakingOf, bluebell's parents are calling from a landline.

37 Good morning, dear people who know everything! Or at least more than I (low bar).

In the last couple weeks, my parents have suddenly been unable to call me. They live in a retirement community and it's been no problem until the past few weeks. When they dial my cell, they get an automated message saying the call can't be completed. Unfortunately I forgot to check this when I was last over there and now I am away again, so I don't know exactly the wording.

I have an iPhone 16, and so does my husband. They can call him, just not me. They don't have a problem with any other number, nor do I. I didn't accidentally block them. I looked this up and it's not an uncommon problem but I haven't seen a solution.

Any ideas? They are calling from a landline, if that matters.
Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 05:49 AM (3hxUr)

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 06:48 AM (aURVT)

126 They know exactly who is doing this and at what office and at which workstation.
Posted by: rhennigantx at October 01, 2025 06:41 AM (gbOdA)

I’m trying to imagine the look on a black lady’s face at the DMV, they are almost all black ladies here in SC, if I told her “No Name Given” to get a DL.

I’d get the “Are you crazy, white boy?” look, which she’d follow up with; “You better break out that birth certificate, sir, or our business is done here.”

Somebody definitely got paid off in NY to get that through the computer.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 06:49 AM (6ydKt)

127
Still alive! Chuckie Cheeze can suck it!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at October 01, 2025 06:50 AM (xG4kz)

128 Nic. Trash day Eve. Get back to me when you figure out why it's important.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:46 AM (aJQjq)

Wife has been retired for a bit over 3 years now. She's always asking me what day it is.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:50 AM (ExV1e)

129 Off to the HEB. Back in a bit.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:50 AM (ExV1e)

130 Local media...Starvation in the street and homes, bring out the dead. The US government has shut down because Trump refuses to listen to Chucky, oh the humanity of it all.

Posted by: Colin at October 01, 2025 06:52 AM (wlQdF)

131 Oh, a landline.

This is what I get for trying to read at 6 a.m.

Hopefully bluebell’s kids can get it figured out quicker than I can.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 06:52 AM (6ydKt)

132 bluebell, any chance they have transposed a number?

Posted by: Ben Had at October 01, 2025 06:52 AM (kurEY)

133 mornin yall. Yesterday I reported on an 12 foot alligator captured by hoodrats in a McDonalds parking lot. Well, today the local "news" site has an article saying the reason might have been climate change. Never mind there have been gators in the rivers and swamps around here since forever.

Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 06:53 AM (vFG9F)

134 Wife tells me that I worry too much. I tell her that she never has to worry BECAUSE I worry too much.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:48 AM (ExV1e)
---------

Being able to retire with no money worries is a beautiful gift you have given yourself. I'm sure you went over everything thoroughly before you made this decision. It will take a little time to get used to the change, but I bet you will grow to love it.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:53 AM (sHtAc)

135 Trip to Abilene, Kansas with gold-digger #3 went better than expected.

I guess I should call her The Deaconess, rather than a gold-digger now.

I managed her (expected to me) disparagement of Trump. She can not find one thing that Trump has done that made a good difference in her life. Posting with the Horde has given me powers of argument.

She was open to my note that we, as private citizens in Kansas, can not do much. Why should we argue over something that we could not change. And I gave her data a month ago on inflation. She has not clicked the link to Shadow Stats.

Her politics can still be a minefield. Slow and steady will win the race.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 01, 2025 06:54 AM (u82oZ)

136 bluebell, any chance they have transposed a number?
Posted by: Ben Had at October 01, 2025 06:52 AM (kurEY)
-------

I did think of that, but it happens every time no matter which one calls and it would seem to be too much of a coincidence. I've had this number forever.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:55 AM (sHtAc)

137 One long-term side project I took on when I retired was to get a complete inventory of everything I own and set up a system for managing it. This caused me to get rid of many superfluous things in my life and hone in on what I value to keep around. I've also did it because it's an important part of my estate planning.

It took me a number of runs at this project to sort out how I wanted to do it but once I got going it just fell into a routine. I think the total time I spent on it was something like 12 months.

About 5 years into having an inventory. I can say it's one of the best things I ever did. If I buy something I have a system to add it in and when I get rid of things they go away. Probably the best thing it did Is it brought a significant amount of concrete clarity.

The other important thing was I nailed down how I track my expenses, and financial planning to a very high degree. That project took me about 5 years to perfect.

Those two together have provided me a very simple way to live because I've abstracted out all the complexity. It took a lot of work but maintaining it is Is minutes per week now.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:55 AM (aJQjq)

138 I miss my landline. Verizon does malicious compliance maintenance on it so people drop it. I think, by law, landline remains. Apparently doing basic maintenance to keep it viable isn't required.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at October 01, 2025 06:56 AM (sAmhv)

139 “Working out” is deceptive. A large spoonful of peanut butter would take a couple hours of moderate exercise to burn off. A gram scale and a little detective work on the Nutrition Facts labels shows not very many calories are necessary to maintain.

This of course is the crux of the problem. Food tastes good, and it is fun to eat. And as we age we don’t need as many calories. 1500 calories daily may be too many for sedentary folks.

Posted by: Common Tater at October 01, 2025 06:57 AM (iW48I)

140 I am planning a move within 5 years and I anticipate it will take 5 years to move. We should be completely moved by 2035.

Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 06:59 AM (vFG9F)

141 I miss my landline. Verizon does malicious compliance maintenance on it so people drop it. I think, by law, landline remains. Apparently doing basic maintenance to keep it viable isn't required.
Posted by: Puddleglum

Landlines, printed books, physical media... Our entire world has disappeared into fiddly phones, ebooks, and streaming media. Is nothing real anymore? I just completed a poem that riffs on these ideas and a key central idea is can I get a rotary phone as a metaphor for how our lives have changed and how I can't call any of the back.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:59 AM (aJQjq)

142 whig's phone

AT&T's landline service was awful. Customer service in a North Korean prison would be better. After not maintaining my landline, I let it go.

This was their desired outcome. Now, no one can call the house on my new number.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 01, 2025 07:00 AM (u82oZ)

143
I'll use COBRA initially, but it's so expensive. I've got the money so that's not an issue but the not knowing.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:48 AM

Have you checked the cost for your COBRA payment? It's probably a lot more expensive than you imagine.

Back in '09 (pre obamacare) my COBRA payment was $390 / month for top of the line, "cadillac plan" insurance

Today, I'm paying $2,035 / mo for the bare minimum, high deductible craptastic insurance.

Posted by: AltonJackson at October 01, 2025 07:00 AM (tljrc)

144 134 Wife tells me that I worry too much. I tell her that she never has to worry BECAUSE I worry too much.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 06:48 AM (ExV1e)
---------

Being able to retire with no money worries is a beautiful gift you have given yourself. I'm sure you went over everything thoroughly before you made this decision. It will take a little time to get used to the change, but I bet you will grow to love it.
Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 06:53 AM (sHtAc)

I imagine if you’ve been doing the same routine for 26 years it feels like you’re doing something majorly wrong when that changes. It’s discombobulating (always slip ‘discombobulating’ into a sentence when you can, it’s a great word).

I’m going through something similar at the moment in this house alone now.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:00 AM (6ydKt)

145 AltonJackson, please email me. I have a question.

Posted by: Ben Had at October 01, 2025 07:02 AM (kurEY)

146 {{{Ben Had}}}
🎼 ♭ 5/4 ♫♫ ♫♫ Good morning! ♬♬ ♩ ♪

Getting closer to a hug. ** Sigh **

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 01, 2025 07:02 AM (u82oZ)

147
will do, Ben Had

Posted by: AltonJackson at October 01, 2025 07:04 AM (tljrc)

148 Hello, Salty my dear.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 07:04 AM (sHtAc)

149 NaCly, dearest. Two weeks + a little. Epic!

Posted by: Ben Had at October 01, 2025 07:04 AM (kurEY)

150 "A group of former national park superintendents is calling on the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors in case of a government shutdown."

“We don’t leave museums open without curators, or airports without air traffic controllers, and we should not leave our national parks open without NPS employees,” said Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, one of the groups that organized the letter."

FORMER superintendents. You know who else was a FORMER superintendent?

Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 07:05 AM (vFG9F)

151 Morning all. I think today will be an exceptionally silly day, with people in high places saying ridiculous things.

Posted by: Don Black at October 01, 2025 07:06 AM (AOsQT)

152 We had an actual landline for years.
But a lightning strike close to the house in 2017 blew out every line and appliance in the house, the only electronic that survived was a plasma TV that still works to this day.

AT&T came out for several hours but could never get the line working again. We had to plug the phone base directly into the router using VOIP, connected to several other wireless phones.

It works, but I’m cancelling it soon.
I don’t need to pay $60 a month for a phone I don’t need,

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:07 AM (6ydKt)

153 bluebell

I still use my secular blessing of "May your traffic lights turn green on your way home."

I get just as positive response when I'm in the Little Apple, Manhattan, Kansas as I did around Route 7. It makes people smile.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 01, 2025 07:07 AM (u82oZ)

154 uh-oh

150 "A group of former national park superintendents is calling on the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors in case of a government shutdown."
Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 07:05 AM (vFG9F)

118 So the wife and I are out in Maine and hiking various parks.
Posted by: NR Pax at October 01, 2025 06:41 AM (kjgXA)

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 07:08 AM (aURVT)

155 Well Salty, you know I have a lot of traffic lights to deal with, so I always appreciate that blessing!

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 07:09 AM (sHtAc)

156 This of course is the crux of the problem. Food tastes good, and it is fun to eat. And as we age we don’t need as many calories. 1500 calories daily may be too many for sedentary folks.
Posted by: Common Tater at October 01, 2025 06:57 AM (iW48I)

I'm not working, but not all that sedentary, either. What's also deceptive is "Calories burned" screens on work out equipment. No, you didn't just burn 300 cal on your twenty minute treadmill saunter. People think they just got rid of that sandwich and soda they had for lunch by a short "walk."

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025 07:10 AM (uQesX)

157 You can't go hiking without superintendents. What, are you nuts?

Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 07:10 AM (vFG9F)

158 So I guess the Grand Canyon is closed.

Posted by: Don Black at October 01, 2025 07:11 AM (AOsQT)

159 bluebell

There is a path to NotSoThoreau's place in western Kansas where I go over 120 miles without a traffic light. Pretty common out here.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 01, 2025 07:11 AM (u82oZ)

160 Wow Salty. I only get that on I-95, lol.

Posted by: bluebell at October 01, 2025 07:12 AM (sHtAc)

161 158 So I guess the Grand Canyon is closed.
Posted by: Don Black at October 01, 2025 07:11 AM (AOsQT)

And Mount Rushmore. Where they're sculpting a likeness of PDT into the granite.

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 07:13 AM (aURVT)

162 bluebell

We do have I-70 nearby, but my route is much more scenic. And I can go 20 minutes before I see another car. Life is good.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 01, 2025 07:14 AM (u82oZ)

163 Morning everyone, thx Pixy.
I feel like the airman on the radio from Maine in. WarGames . The "nukes" hit and the general says "son are you still there?"
The young airman says "yeah, YEAH , I'm still here".
The shutdown hasn't killed us . Still have to have an echocardiogram this AM

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 01, 2025 07:14 AM (A2I8b)

164 Those two together have provided me a very simple way to live because I've abstracted out all the complexity. It took a lot of work but maintaining it is Is minutes per week now.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 01, 2025 06:55 AM (aJQjq)

I live cheap as shit and owe nobody nothing. It's pretty easy.

Posted by: From about That Time at October 01, 2025 07:15 AM (n4GiU)

165 Worried that they might lose their jobs if they keep producing garbage like Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

From inside the industry (but not at EA) the "concern" is that the Saudis may actively prevent them from making everything into gay race communism like Veilguard. For the Millennials in the industry, especially the women, injecting that BS into games is explicitly why they're here.

Posted by: Ian S. at October 01, 2025 07:16 AM (AIhUY)

166 Good morning, everyone. So the wife and I are out in Maine and hiking various parks. Odds are good that today is going to be spent driving to the next destination instead of doing that.
Posted by: NR Pax at October 01, 2025 06:41 AM (kjgXA)

If you find yourself in York, it's a treat to see the Wiggly Bridge. It's a miniature suspension bridge that, as its name states, wiggles as you walk over it. It doesn't really connect anything or go anywhere; it's just a cute thing to see and you can play Godzilla as you go over it.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at October 01, 2025 07:16 AM (ufSfZ)

167 It’s not well known, but they shutoff the waterfalls during a government shutdown. Sunsets too. Birds stop chirping, crickets are silent, and the mournful wailing of the coyote absent from the prairie. Sad!

Posted by: Common Tater at October 01, 2025 07:16 AM (o/qTI)

168 Being operated on today to remove something from my leg.
Hope Medicare still works.

Posted by: From about That Time at October 01, 2025 07:17 AM (n4GiU)

169 Lots of whining from leftys in the military. Naveed Shah, a veteran and activist who served as an enlisted public affairs specialist, had this to say about yesterday's meeting:

“Certainly, addressing the troops could be useful or beneficial, but to call 800-plus generals and senior enlisted advisers from around the world into this room just before a government shutdown? It’s not just bad optics or strategy,” Shah said. “A bad cold could have threatened our entire chain of command.”

Don't tell the Chinese!

Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 07:17 AM (vFG9F)

170 "A group of former national park superintendents is calling on the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors in case of a government shutdown."

As I recall, that's not actually necessary but Obama did it during a shutdown in order to try an actually make the shutdown affect normal people.

Posted by: Ian S. at October 01, 2025 07:18 AM (AIhUY)

171
Went out to the kennel to let the dogs out. Nothing but bodies and desolation everywhere.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 07:18 AM (tgvbd)

172 There is a path to NotSoThoreau's place in western Kansas where I go over 120 miles without a traffic light. Pretty common out here.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 01, 2025 07:11 AM (u82oZ)

I can’t go a mile without hitting a traffic light around here. Only the interstate and some old roads in the country provide that luxury, even then you’ll get to a town soon enough,

Going 120 miles without one is nice, but it must feel desolate in between them.

I’d be worried about running out of gas at some point.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:20 AM (6ydKt)

173
People think they just got rid of that sandwich and soda they had for lunch by a short "walk."
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025 07:10 AM (uQesX)

________

Wait, I didn't?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 07:20 AM (tgvbd)

174 Since retirement is the topic of discussion - I have given notice that my last day is February 11, 2026. I haven't liked my job for years, even if it is only 2 days a week and a few hours every third Saturday. I want to relax and spend my time writing and reading.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at October 01, 2025 07:20 AM (ufSfZ)

175 As I recall, that's not actually necessary but Obama did it during a shutdown in order to try an actually make the shutdown affect normal people.
Posted by: Ian S.

He really was a POS wasn't he.

Posted by: Tuna at October 01, 2025 07:20 AM (lJ0H4)

176 >>>Went out to the kennel to let the dogs out. Nothing but bodies and desolation everywhere.

Dog bodies or people bodies?

Posted by: one hour sober at October 01, 2025 07:20 AM (Y1sOo)

177 That's a steep price for a Kindle. I would suggest an iPad and then install the Kindle app and Libby app. Libby allows you to download library books through Amazon using the Kindle app. My new iPad purchased after the unfortunate drowning accident of my old one was $299. The added benefit is you have a book reader and a mini laptop. I take my iPad when we travel instead of my laptop and it's convenient to double task while reading in bed, read and comment at the HQ.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at October 01, 2025 07:23 AM (2NHgQ)

178 Since retirement is the topic of discussion - I have given notice that my last day is February 11, 2026.

Well congratulations MP4!

Posted by: Tuna at October 01, 2025 07:23 AM (lJ0H4)

179 I'm sitting right here.

Posted by: Google Voice at October 01, 2025 07:23 AM (XQo4F)

180
Dog bodies or people bodies?
Posted by: one hour sober at October 01, 2025 07:20 AM (Y1sOo)

________

Corpses all over the back 40. Vultures starting to pick at them. Small fires still flickering. In the distance, sporadic gunfire. The government shutdown takes hold.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 07:24 AM (tgvbd)

181 Morning. We survived the great shutdown of '25! Woo hoo!

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at October 01, 2025 07:25 AM (tT6L1)

182 180 Corpses all over the back 40. Vultures starting to pick at them. Small fires still flickering. In the distance, sporadic gunfire. The government shutdown takes hold.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 07:24 AM (tgvbd)

Choppers overhead.

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 07:25 AM (aURVT)

183 168 Being operated on today to remove something from my leg.
Hope Medicare still works.
Posted by: From about That Time at October 01, 2025 07:17 AM (n4GiU)

Good luck!

Maybe your co-pays will get lost in the shuffle and you won’t owe a dime.

Could be that’s asking for too much.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:25 AM (6ydKt)

184 Corpses all over the back 40. Vultures starting to pick at them. Small fires still flickering. In the distance, sporadic gunfire. The government shutdown takes hold.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

Apocalypse now.

Posted by: Tuna at October 01, 2025 07:26 AM (lJ0H4)

185 Help! I’ve been laid off and I am afraid my golden parachute is not enough to keep me in wine, woman and hot tubs for the remainder of my days! What shall I do?

Posted by: Federal Layabout, Moocher and Grifter at October 01, 2025 07:27 AM (M7GNj)

186 Corpses all over the back 40. Vultures starting to pick at them. Small fires still flickering. In the distance, sporadic gunfire. The government shutdown takes hold.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 07:24 AM (tgvbd)
--------------

You didn't answer the important question: Was lens flare involved?

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at October 01, 2025 07:27 AM (tT6L1)

187 Corpses all over the back 40. Vultures starting to pick at them. Small fires still flickering. In the distance, sporadic gunfire. The government shutdown takes hold.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 07:24 AM (tgvbd)

The wolves. Oh, the wolves.

Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 07:27 AM (aURVT)

188 If you reduce calories to at or below your metabolic rate, that counts as a “workout” as far as your metabolism is concerned. It is very, very simple to lose weight. It is not easy. Fat burning doesn’t occur unless and until carbohydrate stores are exhausted. Eating excess calories and then going for a walk is complicating things.

Posted by: Common Tater at October 01, 2025 07:27 AM (o/qTI)

189 @141 Well you have come a long way. I remember when your metaphor was "retiring to Montrose."

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at October 01, 2025 07:28 AM (zdLoL)

190 NaCly Dog,
Wife wanted to keep landline for 911 address registry. Cell phones can be spotty at times for that. So Magic Jack does that over VOIP. 5 yrs for 99 bucks plus annual local 911 fees if you want that.

Posted by: whig's phone at October 01, 2025 07:29 AM (WDjG6)

191 blake good morning. See you soon

Posted by: Ben Had at October 01, 2025 07:29 AM (kurEY)

192 Morning, Ben! I'll see you soon and raise you a big hug!

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at October 01, 2025 07:30 AM (tT6L1)

193 Have you checked the cost for your COBRA payment? It's probably a lot more expensive than you imagine.

I haven't gotten the numbers from the company as that would have been tipping my hand. I am aware that it's going to be grossly expensive but using it means that youngest child won't have to switch until they start their post-graduation employment early next year and wife won't have to switch until Medicare. She's crazy fussy about change and the extra money is worth the peace of not hearing complaints.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 07:30 AM (ExV1e)

194 175 As I recall, that's not actually necessary but Obama did it during a shutdown in order to try an actually make the shutdown affect normal people.
Posted by: Ian S.

He really was a POS wasn't he.
Posted by: Tuna at October 01, 2025 07:20 AM (lJ0H4)

That’s was when Obama had the Park Rangers doing more work than they’d done in years by making them put up barriers around public parks just so the people would get the message.

It cost them more to do that than if they’d just sent the rangers home and let people wander around doing their own thing without guidance or instruction.

That very concept is dangerous to a leftist.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:30 AM (6ydKt)

195 This ain't no Mud Club or CBGB's
I ain't got time for that now

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 01, 2025 07:30 AM (A2I8b)

196 If you reduce calories to at or below your metabolic rate, that counts as a “workout” as far as your metabolism is concerned. It is very, very simple to lose weight. It is not easy. Fat burning doesn’t occur unless and until carbohydrate stores are exhausted. Eating excess calories and then going for a walk is complicating things.
Posted by: Common Tater at October 01, 2025 07:27 AM (o/qTI)

"Fat burning" isn't real anyway. A fat cell, once created never leaves your body except by mechanical removal. That's why people are surprised weight comes back quickly. Fat cells shrink, they never go away and are ready to refill with excess cals.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025 07:31 AM (uQesX)

197 blake, I'll call that hug and raise you one more!

Posted by: Ben Had at October 01, 2025 07:31 AM (kurEY)

198 >He really was a POS wasn't he.

Posted by: Tuna
---

still is
lifetime appointment

Posted by: Don Black at October 01, 2025 07:33 AM (AOsQT)

199 Going 120 miles without one is nice, but it must feel desolate in between them.

I’d be worried about running out of gas at some point.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:20 AM (6ydKt)

Once, for fun and exploration (looking up obscure Anasazi ruins) I drove from Southern New Mexico to the 4 corners area on nothing but dirt roads. About 200 miles I think.

Posted by: Tom Servo at October 01, 2025 07:33 AM (WZaJc)

200 Since retirement is the topic of discussion - I have given notice that my last day is February 11, 2026. I haven't liked my job for years, even if it is only 2 days a week and a few hours every third Saturday. I want to relax and spend my time writing and reading.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at October 01, 2025 07:20 AM (ufSfZ)

Congrats. Seems like we're all leaving corporate America high and dry.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 07:33 AM (ExV1e)

201 “Certainly, addressing the troops could be useful or beneficial, but to call 800-plus generals and senior enlisted advisers from around the world into this room just before a government shutdown? It’s not just bad optics or strategy,” Shah said. “A bad cold could have threatened our entire chain of command.”

Don't tell the Chinese!

Posted by: fd

That patent stupidity exhibited by that PAO type is why the US military is in trouble. The war fighting principle is that when one leader goes down, another beneath them steps up to the plate and that is the job of those top leaders to ensure that their subordinates are ready, willing, and able to take over their job.

The bureaucratic mindset, by comparison, is that the top leaders keep the rank and file divided and dangle promotions to their favorite subordinate ass kissers by controlling the process. So you get the lackey and empire building mentality that is the opposite of a warrior mindset.

Posted by: whig at October 01, 2025 07:33 AM (WDjG6)

202 Well, it's October first. Guess it's time to start watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" for the next 31 days....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025 07:34 AM (uQesX)

203 Government shutdown has never happen before! People with short memories or very young don't know that its happened before. Somehow the trains kept running, airplanes kept flying and the stores stayed open, how can it be? I do remember the national parks being closed though. No SS checks, they love to throw out that thing just to scare seniors. No mail, also. Most of the local news is that free food for the poor will stop, so they say.

Posted by: Colin at October 01, 2025 07:34 AM (wlQdF)

204 Wait, pixy was able to put up the tech thread even though the world ended at midnight?

What is this witchery!?

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at October 01, 2025 07:34 AM (tT6L1)

205 You're on, Ben Had!

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at October 01, 2025 07:35 AM (tT6L1)

206 If someone can sudo on your machine... they already have the power to do everything they want. I don't see what a bug can do differently.

/reads/

Oh... well, that's not good.

Posted by: GWB at October 01, 2025 07:35 AM (Dvcu+)

207 Will a government shutdown delay the Morning Report?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 01, 2025 07:37 AM (IBQGV)

208 You're on, Ben Had!
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at October 01, 2025 07:35 AM (tT6L1)

Klieg lights shine, orchestra plays, spotlight hits the stage.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 01, 2025 07:37 AM (uQesX)

209 Once, for fun and exploration (looking up obscure Anasazi ruins) I drove from Southern New Mexico to the 4 corners area on nothing but dirt roads. About 200 miles I think.
Posted by: Tom Servo at October 01, 2025 07:33 AM (WZaJc)

I’d like to visit there.

I’ve never seen the desert in person.
Closest I’ve gotten is East Texas, which is definitely not desert, or a beach.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:37 AM (6ydKt)

210 Will a government shutdown delay the Morning Report?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 01, 2025 07:37 AM (IBQGV)

Seems like it already has.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 07:37 AM (ExV1e)

211 " So you get the lackey and empire building mentality that is the opposite of a warrior mindset.
Posted by: whig"

They have to protect their phony baloney jobs.

Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 07:37 AM (vFG9F)

212 150 "A group of FORMER national park superintendents is calling on the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors in case of a government shutdown."
Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 07:05 AM (vFG9F)

Fuck them in the ass particularly. The proper answer to a shutdown is to send all the employees home and put a sign out front saying “no ones one’s on duty, y’all are on your own. It’s your park, try to show some respect.”

Posted by: Tom Servo at October 01, 2025 07:38 AM (WZaJc)

213 187 Corpses all over the back 40. Vultures starting to pick at them. Small fires still flickering. In the distance, sporadic gunfire. The government shutdown takes hold.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 07:24 AM

The wolves. Oh, the wolves.
Posted by: m at October 01, 2025 07:27

No traffic signals. Every intersection is four way stop anarchy.
Grocery stores looted.
Gas stations cash only.

Posted by: Welcome to the Schumer Shutdown at October 01, 2025 07:38 AM (XQo4F)

214 I would like to complain about my hierarchy . They want me to do ethics training which is required of everybody. They want to be sure I am not sexually harassing my congregants . I am not about to sexually harass them and never have .This is so much bs from the corporation like hierarchy.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 01, 2025 07:38 AM (iWbgM)

215 I’ve never seen the desert in person.
Closest I’ve gotten is East Texas, which is definitely not desert, or a beach.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:37 AM (6ydKt)

If you're up for another four days of driving you could head out to west Texas.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 07:38 AM (ExV1e)

216 Actually, on that highway, there are a lot of little towns with a gas station. I don't't worry as I have a 30 gallon gas tank and fill it before trips. I just never worry about getting stranded, as there is traffic, just sparse. And since it's a farming community, chances are good that anyone that stops to help could fix it.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at October 01, 2025 07:39 AM (kUxzU)

217 "I’ve never seen the desert in person.
Closest I’ve gotten is East Texas, which is definitely not desert, or a beach.
Posted by: SpeakingOf"

When they were little, we took our boys out west (Well, Austin) for a wedding and #2 son was very disappointed at the lack of cacti.

Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 07:39 AM (vFG9F)

218 If you're up for another four days of driving you could head out to west Texas.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 07:38 AM (ExV1e)

Is Speaking Of looking for a Mexican girl?

Posted by: Marty Robbins at October 01, 2025 07:40 AM (uQesX)

219 I’ve never seen the desert in person.
Closest I’ve gotten is East Texas, which is definitely not desert, or a beach.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:37 AM (6ydKt)

Ha, nope definitely not desert. The desert, especially the Sonoran Desert in Az, has a unique beauty that is all its own.

Posted by: Tom Servo at October 01, 2025 07:40 AM (WZaJc)

220 They have to protect their phony baloney jobs.

Harrumph! Harrumph!

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at October 01, 2025 07:41 AM (ufSfZ)

221 thank you Alteria! hoping to use your advice soon

and good morning and

rabbit rabbit

Posted by: Black Orchid at October 01, 2025 07:41 AM (FHttA)

222 168 Being operated on today to remove something from my leg.
Hope Medicare still works.
Posted by: From about That Time

Medicare and Social Security are mandatory programs which sets their spending on autopilot. Exempt from annual appropriations process and Social Security is the one fiscal program that cannot be changed by reconciliation process (which bypasses the filibuster).

That is why Trump could not eliminate taxes on Social Security earnings directly but had to bump up tax deductions for it.

FWIW, "Section 310 of the Budget Act provides for three types of reconciliation instructions for each budget resolution: to change revenues, to change spending, and to change the amount of the debt limit. The Senate Parliamentarian has advised that no more than one reconciliation bill can include provisions in response to each type of instruction, such that a single budget resolution could generate a maximum of three reconciliation bills: one each containing only revenue provisions, only spending provisions, or only a change in the statutory debt limit."

Posted by: whig at October 01, 2025 07:41 AM (WDjG6)

223 I lived in the Mojave desert for a year. That was enough.

Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 07:41 AM (vFG9F)

224 The Statue Of Liberty ist kaput!

Posted by: Don Black at October 01, 2025 07:41 AM (AOsQT)

225
el JJ es nood

Posted by: AltonJackson at October 01, 2025 07:41 AM (tljrc)

226 it would be easy to get volunteers to staff the national parks. they already rely heavily on unpaid volunteers for a lot of things

I'd be happy to head out to Valley Forge every day! pick me!

Posted by: Black Orchid at October 01, 2025 07:42 AM (FHttA)

227 I lived in the Mojave desert for a year. That was enough.
Posted by: fd at October 01, 2025 07:41 AM (vFG9F)
------------------

Well, I can understand that. You should have lived in the Mohave desert. Much nice.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at October 01, 2025 07:42 AM (tT6L1)

228 214 I would like to complain about my hierarchy . They want me to do ethics training which is required of everybody. They want to be sure I am not sexually harassing my congregants . I am not about to sexually harass them and never have .This is so much bs from the corporation like hierarchy.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke
=======
A lot of those requirement are from insurers for liability. And even if the corporate body is self insured, they usually farm out management to an insurance company for policy management and enforcement.

Posted by: whig at October 01, 2025 07:43 AM (WDjG6)

229 Ha, nope definitely not desert. The desert, especially the Sonoran Desert in Az, has a unique beauty that is all its own.
Posted by: Tom Servo
-------
True.

Posted by: whig at October 01, 2025 07:43 AM (WDjG6)

230 "Fat burning" isn't real anyway.
——-

How much do you weigh? That sounds like some lefty dissembling going on here.

It is true adipocytes don’t go away. So what?

That doesn’t the extra 80 pounds of fat won’t burn off if calories are reduced. Again this is not complicated. That doesn’t make it easy, but there is nothing complex about this.

Posted by: Common Tater at October 01, 2025 07:44 AM (o/qTI)

231 If you're up for another four days of driving you could head out to west Texas.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 01, 2025 07:38 AM (ExV1e)

It took about 16 hours straight interstate driving to make it to East Texas, and that was only to a little town close to Tyler.

But I suppose once you get past Austin it’s like a whole new world.

I’d like to go by Marfa, Texas and see the Cadillac art installations if it’s still there. That’s one thing on the list at least. That’s just one place I can think of to go to, but I’d like to go all the way to Arizona and Nevada.

California doesn’t interest me as much as it used to.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 01, 2025 07:45 AM (6ydKt)

232
I would like to complain about my hierarchy . They want me to do ethics training which is required of everybody. They want to be sure I am not sexually harassing my congregants

_________

The AKC made all judges approved to do Junior Showmanship take a course like that. A not small number resigned their license to judge JS.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 07:45 AM (tgvbd)

233 They have to protect their phony baloney jobs.
Posted by: fd
======
Administratium undermines the purpose for the organization in the first place. And it starts building up cruft right when the organization begins and the first careerists are employed that immediately do what they can to be barnacles to slow progress.

Posted by: whig at October 01, 2025 07:45 AM (WDjG6)

234 Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 01, 2025 07:45 AM (tgvbd)

Wow; You wouldn't think they would requirement for judges in dog shows.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 01, 2025 08:19 AM (lQ+/f)

235 Posted by: whig at October 01, 2025 07:43 AM (WDjG6

Thanks. That's a good point.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 01, 2025 08:20 AM (lQ+/f)

Processing 0.04, elapsed 0.0445 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0108 seconds, 243 records returned.
Page size 144 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.