Friday Afternoon Made Bail Links

by | Aug 21, 2020 | Daily Links | 318 comments

Thanks to SP jumping in late for me. I didn’t actually get arrested. It was worse. I had endless afternoon meetings about minutae that don’t need to be fixed in the initial scope of this project, and then got called to do a demo in front of a bunch of technical leadership on short notice. Which led to some interesting discussions demonstrating how much of a gap there is in very smart and experienced technical people understanding how *aaS works now.

Hey, does the air seem thin up here to you?

While I respect the concern of those of you who hear “Florida” and “genetically modified mosquitoes”, fuck mosquitoes.

Shocking few people here, Denver study finds more people probably died from not seeking care for heart attacks than COVID. (h/t Mexican sharpshooter)

Well, even if it doesn’t boost survival, Viagra can at least make colon cancer more fun for you partner.

About The Author

Brett L

Brett L

Brett set out to find America, the real America, the America of strip malls and serial killers, of butthole waxing and kelp smoothies, of cocaine and maggots. He sought it in the most American part of America—Florida: swamp gas and fever dreams, where love arrives on a rickety boat and leaves when it doesn't have the money for its fourth abortion. Oh, where has Brett gone? He’s drinking at the neck of America’s wang, chewing its foreskin and working its shaft. Brett is becoming legend. Brett can never die. Brett can never die. Brett is America, facedown in his own patriotic puke: the red his blood, the white his stomach lining, and the cold, cold blue his gas station slushie, spiked with coconut rum and tetracycline.

318 Comments

  1. UnCivilServant

    I didn’t actually get arrested

    Where’s the doubt button?

    • I'm Here To Help

      I questioned it as well.

      I’ve met Brett. I also checked the Hillsborough and Pasco mug shots. So I can confirm – he wasn’t in them. This time…

    • Don escaped Duopoly

      It’s Friday; celebrate either way, whether you made bail or Just Got Paid

  2. Count Potato

    “Which led to some interesting discussions demonstrating how much of a gap there is in very smart and experienced technical people understanding how *aaS works now.”

    It’s hard to find good cooks.

    • Not Adahn

      I thought that was what Grindr was for?

      • Brett L

        That’s for *aSs.

      • Rhywun

        Hardware as a Service.

      • UnCivilServant

        On-premises cloud services is a thing. They’ll manage the hardware.

        /deliberately missing the point.

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        Cisco announced yesterday that they’re chasing HPE into the HaaS abyss.

      • C. Anacreon

        That’s some helpful hardware, man.

    • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

      co-lo MLOps kubernetes with the cloud scalable solution in the hybrid on-prem software defined fabric under a high availability pay as you go wifi6 deployment.

      • UnCivilServant

        We need to maintain compatability with our half-billion, 40-year old COBOL and Fortran Mainframe Apps, along with at least fifty technologies that no longer exist in any other environment and whose manufacturers have all gone out of business or deny ever having made the stuff.

      • UnCivilServant

        Oh, not to mention every fad technology for those past forty years that was supposed to replace the mainframe apps, but merely added a new vital component that we can’t manage to replace.

        We expect user acceptance testing to take fifteen years.

      • Rhywun

        It’s not much better in real businesses.

      • Nephilium

        Timely (and correct) XKCD.

      • Rhywun

        lol

        He can be good sometimes

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        when he’s good, he’s good. When he’s self-righteous or an IFLS fanboi, he’s annoying.

        I stopped regularly following him years ago because the SNR had degraded.

      • Brett L

        “But how will we monitor the hardware?”

        “I dunno, but I’m pretty sure it involves a trip to a M$ datacenter based on their physical security of servers documentation”

        “Hmm.”

  3. UnCivilServant

    I found a sketch map of the Volkmund, Five Kingdoms, Quendaverus, and Palm Coast regions. It’s MSPaint quality artwork, but it’s still fairly close to my mental map. Except the east-west length of Quendaverus and the five kingdoms is shorter than it should be…

  4. Count Potato

    “A more serious incident involving an oxygen leak on the ISS happened in 2018, when a small crack was detected on the hull of a Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft. The crew had to scramble, covering the hole with a strip of tape as a stopgap measure, followed by an application of sealant.”

    Flex seal?

    • Brett L

      Flex seal seems dodgy to me. I like a good 2 component epoxy rated for the material.

      • Cancelled

        It was the Russians, sealant probably mean brown bread softened with vodka.

      • Chafed

        And some Polonium 90.

    • UnCivilServant

      Wait…. I had a character applying tape to a space suit helmet calling it “a sealant patch” as a joke. That’s actual procedure?

      • Sean

        Space duct tape.

      • UnCivilServant

        Funny you say that…

        “Check in, is anyone hurt?” Kyle said.

        “I’m leaking!” Donny cried. “There’s a crack in my helmet!”

        Almost too casually, Kyle slapped something on the faceplate of Donny’s helmet. When his hand moved away, I saw it was a strip of duct tape. “How’s your pressure now?”

        “It’s gone back to normal,” Donny said, sounding out of breath.

        “I don’t know how well that will hold, but it should do for now,” Kyle said.

      • Sean

        ?‍?

      • UnCivilServant

        I can’t tell what that is supposed to be.

        For context, that scene came out of “Dirge of Carcosa”, the last story in “Lucid Blue”.

      • Sean

        Supposed to be an astronaut. Didn’t work out well. *shrug*

      • Fatty Bolger

        Right click on it, and open it in another tab.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Dude. Not duct tape. 10017130 MPH tape. Don’t you even astronautics, bro?

      • TARDIS

        Speed Tape

      • Brett L

        I think Gentlemen, Be Seated has already dealt with the suboptimal procedure.

      • Mad Scientist

        Surprising absolutely no one.

      • Brett L

        Sorry, its a gimmick story by Heinlein. A guy uses his bottom to seal a leak.

      • C. Anacreon

        Like the little Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the dyke.

      • Not Adahn

        It’s only got to stand up to 1 atm of pressure.

        The temperature might be a bit nippy.

    • LCDR_Fish

      Can’t recall the title now, but there was Ray Bradbury story about a marooned astronaut who kept losing limbs due to meteorites and closing valves at his joints – before burning up in the atmosphere.

      “Look mom! A shooting star!”

  5. kinnath

    Viagra, Cialis may help boost colon cancer survival

    So, I got that going for me.

    • Walford

      I hardly believe that.

      • kinnath

        For whatever reason, I heard Bill Murray in my head when I read that headline.

  6. LJW

    “Shocking few people here, Denver study finds more people probably died from not seeking care for heart attacks than COVID. (h/t Mexican sharpshooter)”

    More proof that the lockdown was a disaster. Unfortunately this will all be ignored and the deaths will be blamed on orange man.

    • Bill (Door) Baggins (a Skellington)

      Oh, I’m sure they still were marked as COVID related deaths, so mission accomplished.

      My great aunt passed a few weeks ago after having a stroke. The hospital wanted COVID on her death certificate until my uncle pitched a fit. She had never been tested, nor had she shown any COVID symptoms. Gotta push the agenda, though.

      • Count Potato

        Don’t they get money for each covid case?

      • Bill (Door) Baggins (a Skellington)

        That’s my understanding.

        She had a stroke at 11:00 am, was rushed to the ER and administered TKA, but was part of the something like 6% of people who respond negatively to it and passed at 1:00 am the next morning. My uncle was watching extra carefully for shenanigans.

      • Bill (Door) Baggins (a Skellington)

        Doh! That’s right. I should know that. Thanks for the correction.

        tPA, not TKA.

      • B.P.

        1. Sorry to hear that.

        2. One wonders how many laundered covid cases there are where no one pitched a fit. There was a case here in Colorado where a dude’s death was classified as a covid death and he had a blood alcohol content of .55.

      • Count Potato

        “he had a blood alcohol content of .55”

        respekt

      • I'm Here To Help

        There was a case here in Florida that one of the local stations reported on – case was listed as a COVID death, but the primary cause of death was gunshot to head.

        Guess they were so distraught about catching COVID they offed themselves? Or someone so afraid of catching the COVID they shot the carrier?

      • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

        I think it’s more about dollars than an agenda.

      • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

        At least at the hospital level.

      • C. Anacreon

        Yup. Medicare just announced an additional 20% payment for patients in the hospital with Covid diagnoses.

      • Rhywun

        darklol

        In case you thought this was ever going to end.

    • Count Potato

      “he said it’s more likely that people who were having heart attacks tried to brush them off to avoid going to the hospital. Without treatment, that would lead to damage in their hearts that would cause a cardiac arrest.

      No shit.

  7. Count Potato

    “In a statement denouncing the project, environmental group Friends of the Earth said: “The release of genetically engineered mosquitoes will needlessly put Floridians, the environment and endangered species at risk in the midst of a pandemic.””

    What does the pandemic have to do with it?

    • Brett L

      Competition for Federal bailout funds?

    • invisible finger

      Dog whistle for tv news?

    • Rhywun

      release of genetically engineered mosquitoes

      I’ve seen several film and television documentaries of this plan.

      • Cancelled

        Shh, don’t spoil it. This is how we get Kaiju!

      • C. Anacreon

        I’m just a kid who’s four

        Each day I grow some more

        I like exploring

        I’m Kaiju !

    • Chafed

      Ron Bailey would like a word.

    • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

      It’s just the latest tagline to put on any problem. How can you streamline the Post Office in the middle of a pandemic? Who needs 33 kinds of deodorant in the middle of a pandemic? Honey, how can you expect me to take out the trash in the middle of a pandemic?

  8. leon

    Sure, but we don’t know how many people are going to die from the complications of COVID 10 years from now! We need to shut down until that has been thouroughly studied.

    One thing that i have realized with COVID, is that people are very insulated from problems, and there is an expectation that shit won’t happen to you. Rather than saying “Well this is life now, best get back to work and deal with it”, society has demanded that everyone stay locked in and wait till Daddy Government fixes the problem.

    • Bill (Door) Baggins (a Skellington)

      Right? Not only do we have to cower in place, but we also have to make it so no one ever gets the big, bad ‘VID.

      I am firmly in the camp of “get me off of this rock.”

      • Cancelled

        The Galctic Empire has been adding regulations and agencies for over 4 Glactic years (about 1 billion earth years). You won’t like it.

      • Cancelled

        one of those regs is that you can only have one a in Galctic, but you are required to alternate placement.

      • Chafed

        That seems odd but regs are regs.

      • UnCivilServant

        You do realize that this polity has no holdings nor ability to enforce its regs?

      • Cancelled

        They field 40,000 legions of Bellator Iustitia Publica.

      • Cancelled

        It was implemented after Admiral Akbar banged the tranny.

      • Bill (Door) Baggins (a Skellington)

        Drat. I was looking for a Trade Federation stronghold, but it looks like they have suddenly gone silent.

  9. Count Potato

    “She and her colleagues focused on so-called “PDE5 inhibitors” –drugs that address impotence by regulating penile blood flow. “There are two reasons why we considered the anti-cancer possibility of these drugs,” Huang said.”

    Wang

    • Chafed

      Thank you for beating me (phrasing!) to it.

  10. Sean

    https://dailycaller.com/2020/08/21/democratic-mayor-sabrina-belcher-faked-kidnapping-conspiracy-false-police-report/

    Sabrina Belcher was arrested and charged with conspiracy and filing a false police report after police say she filmed herself being kidnapped, beaten up and robbed in a Facebook live video Tuesday, which she orchestrated, according to The State. Police say she did this to get “sympathy” ahead of the election.

    Ain’t no one gonna kidnap that.

    • mrfamous

      Joe Arpaio tried this once. Had undercover deputies hire some numbskill to buy some bomb parts and then arrested the poor schmuck for the assassination attempt. He continued to get re-elected after this came out during the guy’s trial.

    • PBRstreetgang

      15-20 years ago, a young woman was running for student government president at U.Va. Something like less than a week before the election she claimed she was attacked by a generic frat boy type who punched her and smashed her face into the side of her car (or something like that). The guy running against her immediately withdrew making her the President. Shockingly, no arrests were ever made.

  11. Rebel Scum

    ISS Crew Temporarily Confined to Russian Module as Engineers Hunt for Pesky Air Leak

    The situation is really deflating.

    • Walford

      H2-uh-Oh

  12. Count Potato

    So did Biden go live last night?

    • mexican sharpshooter

      I am holding out for the deep fake conspiracy.

      • Cancelled

        Nah, they just used Elizabeth Bathory’s patent remedy. They bathed him in the blood of 75 immigrant virgins.

      • mexican sharpshooter

        Will they need 100 for the debates?

      • Cancelled

        Doesn’t matter, while he was on his virgin blood high he deflowered the remaining stock.

    • Rhywun

      They say he did fine. I mean, the content was one lie after the next but he didn’t stroke out or anything.

      • R C Dean

        But was he live, or was that take 43?

        I’m sure the Official Story is he was live, but now to confirm?

      • Rhywun

        Well, he was holding up the front page of last Tuesday’s Washington Post so totally live.

  13. KibbledKristen

    Just had an hour-long Town Hall on “Phase II” of going back to the goddamn office. Last work thing I did before logging off, so now I’m both sad and enraged on a Friday evening.

  14. prolefeed

    OT – At the suggestion of someone here, reading Hoffer’s “The True Believer”, and found a quote about the goals of The PermaMasking TM:

    “What ails the frustrated? … the consciousness of an irremediably blemished self … The revulsion from an unwanted self, and the impulse to forget it, MASK it, slough it off and lose it, produce both a readiness to sacrifice the self and a willingness to dissolve it …”

    And that’s why the political operatives imposing the masks will keep moving the fucking goalposts and making the masks permanent … they want us to all seem diseased and thus susceptible to being sacrificed for the benefit of the state.

    • Nephilium
  15. robc

    Re: covid and heart attacks. The seen and the unseen. Bastiat really should be mandatory high school reading.

    • invisible finger

      Yeah, for the teachers, administrators, and PTA.

      • Cancelled

        You can’t mandate the impossible anymore than the left can. The people you list can’t read.

  16. Brett L

    Also, it looks like the Cajun Navy may be playing a home game this time. Not that those of us on the Gulf side of the Wang are safe yet. But Sloopy may also want to get some PTSD treatment, ’cause he may be getting wet again. All you Gulf Coast Glibs stay safe and sound off if we can help.

    • mexican sharpshooter

      You mean Captain Sloopy?

      Suddenly I am picturing Ernest Borgnine with a 30” beard and his boat towing an enormous tOSU flag.

      • Gustave Lytton

        “Are you ready, kids?”

        “Aye aye, captain!…”

      • Swiss Servator

        Whoooooooo lives in a house near the Texas Sea?

        SpongeBob Sloopy Pants!

  17. Bill (Door) Baggins (a Skellington)

    OT – Hat tip to Straff for the idea for the updated handle.

  18. Hyperion

    Thanks for posting that link picture.

    My wife is dead set against moving to FL for the cheap real estate, because of guess what? Gators on the front porch, the back porch, the deck, the yard. She’s terrified of reptilian bitey things for some reason.

    I’d better not let her know about the sink holes and Florida men and women.

    • Brett L

      Pretty sure that was a Houston picture. But it could be Florida.

      • Hyperion

        My brother lives in Slocala, and he’s never mentioned gators to me. So I dunno. I’m not worried about gators, more worried about the heat and the AC bill.

    • Mad Scientist

      Tell her that Florida and gators are just like Denver and snow: the locals pretend like there’s a lot more of it than there really is to keep the non-locals away.

      • B.P.

        This guy gets it.

    • KibbledKristen

      My Ma made my dad leave Florida because of the hurricanes, not the gators.

      Can’t say I blamed her

    • robc

      At least 5 gators in my neighborhood that I can identify. Only 1 big one, its about a 5 footer. At 7, they will move them upstate.

    • Fatty Bolger

      It’s really nothing to worry about. I lived in Florida for nearly 30 years, and can count on two hands the number of times I had to kick a gator off the porch.

      • Cancelled

        Well you could if you still had both hands.

  19. KibbledKristen

    So I’ve started to realize that I don’t turn on the TV most days. I suppose I should cut the cable. My issue is that the cable company kind of screws you if you don’t bundle internet & TV.

    What are some decent, reliable internet options? Would a mobile hotspot (with unlimited data, obvs) be good for things like Amazon/Youtube streaming? Any other options? Is cable the best option, perhaps?

    • AlmightyJB

      Hotspot probably not the best bet if you do a lot of streaming. They’ll start throttling you after 15 GB usually. Cable is probably your best bet at this time.

      • Madhatter

        OTR is real unlimited mobile data, used by a lot of RVers. $80 a month.

    • Hyperion

      “What are some decent, reliable internet options? ”

      Anything that is not named Comcast and is fast.

      I’m just holding out hope that Elon gets Starlink going soon.

    • Brett L

      I use… Frontier? Only because FiOS is still 2 blocks away (keep pulling that cable, boys!). I think I paid $55 for 300M/s, because the $28 100M/s died when I had two kids trying to watch streaming while I was on Zoom calls.

    • Rhywun

      the cable company kind of screws you if you don’t bundle internet & TV

      Also if you’ve been a customer for a couple decades as opposed to a new customer.

      I won’t cut the cord until I can find another provider. Which is why I was pissed when I thought Fios was available here but it isn’t.

      • Fatty Bolger

        Yeah, switching cable companies every couple of years can save quite a bit of money. Assuming there are multiple in your area.

      • Gustave Lytton

        ^^^this

        Even threatening to quit and going to the retention department can often save $. Aka the SiriusXM business model.

    • Fatty Bolger

      Cable. But buy your own modem and use your own router so you don’t have to pay their outrageous rental fees or return equipment when you cancel.

    • Tundra

      I pay like $80 for just cable. They didn’t give us the same old ‘bundling’ bullshit.

      There are no real options for me. Thanks, Regulatory State and Fuckhead Municipal Government!

      • R C Dean

        Same here. I keep meaning to call in and re-up on a long-term contract. Would save me nearly half.

        There is a cable monopoly in my area, and all the non-hardwired versions have iffy speeds, service, or caps.

    • robc

      Reliable internet? You’re hilarious.

    • Mojeaux

      I have a hotspot with unlimited data from AT&T, BUT I think the unlimited data was grandfathered in from my original plan.

      Many years ago: me, with unlimited data and a Blackberry, learned how to tether — that wasn’t the fastest thing ever, but it worked

      Some years ago: upgraded from Blackberry to Samsung and suddenly wasn’t allowed to tether or it would negate my grandfathering

      A couple of years ago: somehow ended up with unlimited data AND a mobile hotspot

      If I were single and didn’t watch TV, that’s all I’d need. In fact, my Mom, who lives out in the middle of nowhere with no cable and is on DirectTV (I think?), who is on our AT&T plan along with her sisters, uses her phone as her internet connection, as do each of my aunts.

      Now, the downside of that is if you run out of battery and don’t have a backup charger.

    • gbob

      Dont bother with the mobile hot spot. I had an “unlimited” plan with the catch that they throttled down after a certain amount…that I would cross in the first week.

    • prolefeed

      Bbw.

    • Roland of Gilead

      Nope. Voluptuous physique.

      • C. Anacreon

        Nope. Voluminous physique.

    • Hyperion

      Before the day is over.

      If Deputy Dawg had any balls at all, he’d nail that fucker on federal charges. But he doesn’t, so yeah, he gets out and charges will be dropped.

    • Rhywun

      Marquise Love, 25, handed himself into police on Friday morning following a city-wide manhunt that lasted four days.

      Great job, boys!

      OFFS

      • commodious spittoon

        At least they didn’t shoot up a couple ladies delivering newspapers. Or shut down the entire city. We’re grading on a curve, right?

    • Cancelled

      That is not the etymology of that term, which predates enslavement of Africans by English speakers. We are being scolded by idiots.

      • Rhywun

        We are being scolded by idiots.

        That’s being charitable.

      • Viking1865

        In high school I was hauled up on charges of racism for making a joke about Roman slavery. Had a meeting with the teacher (who was speaking on behalf of black students…..all four of whom in the class I was good friends with going back to middle school and said nothing to me about the whole incident), the principal, and my dad. Who proceeded to roll his eyes and give a little mini lecture about the differences between Roman and American slavery, most importantly that Roman slavery was 100% color blind and thus it made no logical sense whatsoever to connect the two.

    • Grosspatzer

      Maybe we can have a democratic process to pick a new name. In the finest tradition of Boaty McBoatface, Freeloader will win in a landslide.

  20. Hyperion

    “Shocking few people here, Denver study finds more people probably died from not seeking care for heart attacks than COVID. (h/t Mexican sharpshooter)”

    Here is my shocked face.

    “Well, even if it doesn’t boost survival, Viagra can at least make colon cancer more fun for you partner.”

    It also lowers blood pressure and is the most popular prescription medication on the planet. Biden will ban it. That doesn’t mean he wont’t be eating it like candy himself and be saying ‘It’s not about that, Jill! It’s not about sniffing young girl’s hair that makes me not want to fuck you, this shit doesn’t work! Look at it, it’s just not working! We have to ban it!’.

  21. Count Potato

    “QAnon supporter, 30 is charged with DWI and assault for chasing two motorists she thought were pedophiles – including a mom with a young daughter in her truck

    A Texas woman with suspected ties to the notorious QAnon conspiracy theory has been arrested after allegedly chasing at least two vehicles and repeatedly ramming one of them because she believed there was a pedophile inside who had kidnapped a girl.

    While the arrest affidavit makes no mention of Fulbright’s alleged affiliation with QAnon, the website Right Wing Watch, which is run by the left-leaning non-profit advocacy group People For The American Way, claimed to have uncovered evidence linking her to the twisted, pro-Trump conspiracy theory.”

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8651451/Drunk-QAnon-supporter-30-chased-two-motorists-thought-pedophiles.html

    • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

      If QAnon wasn’t a popular target for the leftist media, this wouldn’t have even made the local news.

  22. Rhywun

    So Mr. Deblasio rolled out of bed this afternoon and had a brain fart about saving the city’s restaurant industry.

    Ha ha, just kidding.

    “Indoor dining, there’s not a plan right now,” de Blasio said on WNYC’s “The Brian Lehrer Show” Friday.

    Not everyone is on board.

    “If there’s no plan to reopen in the near term while the rest of the state is open indoors, what’s the plan to support New York City’s small businesses and workers while they’re shut? Where’s the rent relief? [Ed. LOL]” Rigie asked.

    Some 100 restaurants in Brooklyn and Staten Island are planning a class-action lawsuit to force the mayor and the governor to immediately reopen their eateries.

    About time.

    • Count Potato

      It’s retarded. NYC is obviously way past it’s peak.

      • Rhywun

        Yup. And all the numbers have been well below the targets that Cuomo pulled out of his ass for reopening – for weeks now.

      • Gadfly

        Gotta stall until the government can actually point to something it did that “fixed” the problem. If it looks like this thing just went away on its own then the government doesn’t look like it’s actually in control.

    • PBRstreetgang

      But election fraud is a myth.

      • Hyperion

        It can’t happen here. Well, OK, it happened, but it can’t happen in a national election! *democrats scurrying around trying to make it happen*

    • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

      It wouldn’t have happened if we had thrown billions at the Post Office.

    • Drake

      de Blasio is still Mayor for 2 more years, right? Still plenty of room for prices to drop.

      • Hyperion

        If you want to live in NYC and trust that shitbag commie to not confiscate your new property for social justice reasons.

    • Hyperion

      It seems to be driving non-city real estate upward at an accelerated pace. I think because people realize that people are getting desperate to get out of cities and find someplace still livable.

      Before the commie flu and the riots, there were lots of real estate around here in the countryside at decent prices, considering it’s MD. Now there are literally none.

      • l0b0t

        I’m in a desperate hunt for an affordable apartment in the outer boroughs. Prices have gone up over the past 2 weeks as people flee Manhattan. All the storage places are full. One bedrooms that were kinda sorta doable if I stuck to a draconian budget are now out of reach. I’m gonna end up living under an overpass.

      • Hyperion

        Or like in Baltimore City’s west side, you can move back into the city and buy an entire house for $5. Living there is another thing. I’d suggest living under a bridge outside the city would be better.

      • Rhywun

        Sucks.

        So I wonder if we’ve hit the threshold for rent decontrol yet. I believe the emergency legislation from 75 years ago set the vacancy rate at 5%. I’m sure Cuomo’s on the case.

      • Grumbletarian

        Maybe for a month or two, but by then then you’ll be able to afford a penthouse in Manhattan.

      • R C Dean

        Tucson’s residential inventory is at a very low point.

        There have been 4 vacant lots in our subdivision for 10 years. Three have been bought, and the houses are already going up on two. The fourth is borderline unbuildable.

        Don’t know where the buyers are from, yet, but somebody is sure moving here, and its not like our economy is red-hot, so its not for the jobs.

    • Don escaped Duopoly

      I’ve been bargain-hunting for months,

      but the markets can’t pick winners and losers if the Fed is going to do it for us

    • Gustave Lytton

      By investment opportunity, assume you mean in realty companies, apartment staging, or similar business that profit off the turnover?

    • Hyperion

      “LGBT activist J Mai, who demands people refer to Mai with the pronouns “they/them” and identifies as “Black-Vietnamese, transgender nonbinary/gender transcendent mermaid Queen-King currently living out their ever-evolving truths in Winston-Salem,” demanded Wednesday during the convention’s LGBTQ caucus meeting the party get behind the devolution of law and order.”

      I’m impressed, not even Glibs can come up with something that silly.

      • Chafed

        The Babylon Bee could take a lesson from they/them.

      • Bill (Door) Baggins (a Skellington)

        “Black-Vietnamese, transgender nonbinary/gender transcendent mermaid Queen-King.”

        False. No royalty recognized in America. NEXT!

      • Gustave Lytton

        Check your egalitarian privilege!

      • Bill (Door) Baggins (a Skellington)

        ?

    • Hyperion

      “Youth Activist: We Want The ‘Destruction Of Capitalism’”

      Sure you do. Until your new iPhone won’t work and mommie can’t turn your internet back on because there’s no power to make it work. Then you revert into the screaming undisciplined toddler that you are.

      • Mad Scientist

        You know what communists used before candles?

        Electricity.

      • Hyperion

        Moving us forward!

    • Hyperion

      “‘Squad Member’ Ayanna Pressley Celebrates Courage Of Portland Rioters Destroying City”

      Totally oblivious to the fact that the government you want to destroy is the only thing protecting your heroes from complete and utter destruction by pissed off citizens.

      • R C Dean

        I wonder, if there was a Purge day in Portland, how many antifa would be left to restart the protests.

  23. The Late P Brooks

    My wife is dead set against moving to FL for the cheap real estate, because of guess what? Gators on the front porch, the back porch, the deck, the yard. She’s terrified of reptilian bitey things for some reason.

    Tell her she won’t have to worry about porch pirates stealing her Amazon boxes.

    • Hyperion

      True that. If I tell her that, she’ll probably start shopping for a jeweled collar for Fido there.

  24. Nephilium

    As there is still demand (started as a lark when the shutdowns were only going to be for a couple of weeks):

    Virtual Happy Hour for tonight. I’ll kick it off at 20:00 Eastern.

    I need to go support a local brewery and a local burger place now.

    • KibbledKristen

      Danke schon

    • Tulip

      Thank you

    • Mojeaux

      Thanks, Neph. I’ll try to show up this time.

    • l0b0t

      Thank you Neph.

    • Grosspatzer

      Muchas gracias

  25. B.P.

    Re: Goodyear. It sounds like the HR shitheads who greenlighted the wearing of BLM stuff at the plant counted BLM as not political. Here’s another:

    https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2020/08/17/as-students-go-back-to-school-some-teachers-trying-to-use-masks-to-send-ideological-messages/

    ““This does not violate any staff dress code, but we never anticipated staff having to wear masks in our dress code,” [school district bureaucrat] said. “And while some view this as a political issue, some view this as a civil rights/equity/social justice issue.” Myers said she had not received any complaints about the Black Lives Matter mask, but said there is someone wearing a Blue Lives Matters facial covering that she had received complaints about.”

    Your talking points are political and divisive. Mine are common sense morality.

    The entire social justice movement has been Trojan horsed as simply being nice and tolerant.

  26. SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

    The housing market is insanely hot right now.

    I feel vindicated in selling and renting for a while.

    The median price of a home sold in July rose 8.5% annually to $304,100.

    That’s nuts! The median home price to median household income ratio likes to be around 3.5

    With median household income around $60k last I checked, we’re looking at a ratio of 5 and climbing. Last time it neared 5? ’06-07 timeframe.

    Methinks there’s gonna be some deals to be had in the next year to 18 months.

      • Chafed

        Very interesting. On the one hand, supply is way down probably due to Covid and mortgage rates are as low as they have ever been. On the other hand, foreclosure moratoriums are expiring in different places at the same time unemployment is high. I suspect we are going to see some reversion to the mean in the near future. In other words, I think you are right trashy.

    • Ted S.

      Scammers trawl through legal records, as today for the first time we got junk mail from some home-buying business addressed to the trust in Dad’s name.

      Dad put the house in a trust about five years ago after Mom died, since he could never convince Mom to do it while she was still of sound mind. Apparently the house is now safe from government clawbacks should Dad need to go into a nursing home.

    • Fatty Bolger

      Probably temporary, fueled by low interest rate and a lack of sellers due to COVID nonsense.

      • Drake

        Houses selling almost immediately around here to people looking to get farther away from cities but still be able to commute in when necessary.

      • Hyperion

        ^this^

        Properties outside the city here are virtually all gone.

      • Drake

        I bet there a lot of people like us who have assumed for years that we’d take a loss when we sold. Now we are looking to time this rush correctly.

      • Grosspatzer

        #metoo

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        The second link was from 2018 commenting on the increase in the ratio. It has only grown since then.

    • Drake

      Heh. I have a punch list of stuff to do before we think about putting ours on the market. I’m waiting a few weeks for it to cool off before tackling a major garage cleaning.

      • Hyperion

        Sold mine last year. My real fear it that prices outside of big cities will start skyrocketing because of the mad rush to flee those places. I think it’s already starting to happen.

      • Drake

        I think the out suburbs will do very well. Real rural areas probably don’t change much.

      • Hyperion

        I don’t think so. The rural places within driving distances are the ones starting to disappear.

        People are not going to feel safe even in the suburbs if this shit continues. And if they assume the democrats are going to win, they probably want out desperately. I know I do. I’ll move out even if it means losing my job. Losing a job is better than the fate that awaits suburb dwellers.

      • Drake

        By “real” rural I meant outside any reasonable commuting distance. I could theoretically commute to NYC although it would be 1.5 hours of suck each way by bus, train, or car.

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        My dad finally finished his punch list last month, and had a full asking, all cash offer the same day he listed along with a backup offer.

      • Drake

        Nice

    • Fourscore

      I learned 2.5, a man (always a single earner) making $100 a week could afford a 12.5 K chateau. That would put you in a 2 BR/1B house in a subdivision at the time. My, my, times have changed. In 1975, my 4BR/2B new all brick was 28.9 K, my income was about 14K

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        I tend to agree with the 2.5x, but I’m more risk averse than the average Joe.

        That said, $150k (2.5x60k) isn’t getting you much these days in most cities.

  27. mexican sharpshooter

    Depends on the market. A lot of people have left CA for years for other states and if they pass that new tax bill more will likely move.

    • mexican sharpshooter

      Meant as a reply to Fatty.

  28. The Late P Brooks

    Much heroic

    A top U.S. health regulator who will help decide the fate of a coronavirus vaccine has vowed to resign if the Trump administration approves a vaccine before it is shown to be safe and effective, Reuters has learned.

    Peter Marks, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, made the statement in response to concerns raised on a conference call late last week of government officials, pharmaceutical executives and academics who serve on a vaccine working group organized by the National Institutes of Health, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

    When contacted by Reuters, Marks confirmed the account.

    Scientists, public health officials and lawmakers are worried that the Trump administration will pressure the FDA to authorize a Covid-19 vaccine in advance of the November presidential election, even if data from clinical trials do not support its widespread use.

    Marks told Reuters he has not faced any political pressure and that the FDA would be guided by science alone. Should that change, “I could not stand by and see something that was unsafe or ineffective that was being put through,” Marks said.

    “You have to decide where your red line is, and that’s my red line,” he said. “I would feel obligated (to resign) because in doing so, I would indicate to the American public that there’s something wrong.”

    I have nothing to support my claims, but I will make this substanceless vow to signal my disdain for President Cartoon Villain.

    • Rhywun

      Well, other mind-readers have declared that Donald will weaponize the post office before November and that he will refuse to leave office when Joe wins. I mean it’s not like this is rocket science.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      Sounds like he’s afraid Trump will OK the Russian vaccine for early release. If it’s voluntary I’ve got zero problems with that.

    • mexican sharpshooter

      So you plan to do your job as is understood by journos?

      …what do you want a medal?

  29. The Late P Brooks

    The real estate market is hot out here. I’m trying to get my place ready. Mostly trying to clear away fifteen years’ worth of accumulated junk.

    Speaking of which- Anybody here have experience with shipping container freight? As in, I’m thinking really hard about getting a 20′ shipping container and cramming it full of my stuff. But- what’s the deal on having somebody come pick it up and transport it 250 – 300 miles?

    • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

      My dad is doing the same exercise, but he found the price to be unpalatable. Granted, he’s pretty cheap.

      Pods isn’t too bad if you can fit in 8x8x16. I’m not sure how the price compares with a one off freight container, though.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      PODS

    • Drake

      Last time I moved on the cheap I rented a U-Haul and hired a couple of Mexicans hanging out in front of Home Depot to load it.

    • KSuellington

      You’re outside Bozeman? What’re you gonna ask may I ask?

  30. Mad Scientist

    250 – 300 miles

    That’s, what, the next town down the road?

  31. Derpetologist

    suggested music: Looney Tunes theme song

    https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-dnc-anti-americanism-radicalism

    ***
    Carlson then introduced J Mai, a graduate assistant at Wake Forest University’s LGBT Center whose biography describes them as a “Black Vietnamese transgender non-binary gender-transcendent mermaid queenking currently living out their ever-evolving truths in Winston-Salem.”

    “Why can’t folks imagine a world without the cops, why can’t folks imagine a world without prisons, why can’t people expand their imaginations to include community care, to include an abolitionist future?” Mai said in the clip. “I’m talking about for real-for real abolition, not just the watered-down DNC version of abolition. We’re talking about abolishing the police, we’re talking about abolishing ICE, we’re talking about abolishing prisons.”
    ***

    Authentic Frontier Gibberish

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Don’t lump Gabby Hayes in with that nutjob!

    • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

      “Why can’t folks imagine a world without the cops, why can’t folks imagine a world without prisons

      Because I’ve had somebody break into my car and steal my stuff before. Had I given half a shit about the stuff, I had 3 options available to me. 1) track the fucker down and exact revenge; 2) report the theft to the cops and let them track the fucker down; 3) ignore the violation and continue as if it didn’t happen.

      A handful of missing shirts is worth pursuing path 3, but anything more violating than that quickly eliminates path 3 from consideration.

      • Mad Scientist

        I don’t see #2 as an option no matter what your stuff is worth. The cops will A) take a report, and B) do absolutely nothing else. All they’re good for is having some paperwork to show your insurance company.

    • Cancelled

      I’m leaning toward the idea that human beings are incapable of self governance. I think the base idea is sound, but my theory is running into one problem. Obviously we need to be ruled, but I can’t seem to find a ruler that lacks the basic flaws of stupidity, insanity and malice.

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        The Jews had the same problem.

        Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at pRamah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. uNow appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, vfor they have not rejected you, wbut they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them xand show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

        Samuel’s Warning Against Kings

        10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, y“These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: zhe will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some ato plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 bHe will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men1 and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, cbut the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

        The Lord Grants Israel’s Request

        19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 dthat we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, e“Obey their voice and make them a king.”

      • Derpetologist

        You went Full Hobbesian. You never go Full Hobbesian.

        “Obviously we need to be ruled, but I can’t seem to find a ruler that lacks the basic flaws of stupidity, insanity and malice.”

        And so religion was invented. Fun fact – religion comes from the Latin word for restraint.

        On a more serious note, the only way a society can survive from one generation to the next is through a shared moral code. This is the main flaw in multiculturalism.

    • Rhywun

      LOL at this linked story:

      Biden campaign distances itself from former Women’s March leader Sarsour after DNC appearance

      It only took how many years for the Democrats to learn how to pretend they aren’t anti-Jewish?

      Anyway I look forward to Sarsour causing more mischief in my neighborhood – she lives around here.

      • Derpetologist

        Fun fact – sarsour means cockroach in Arabic. She says so herself: https://twitter.com/lsarsour/status/12319983351?lang=en

        Arabic family names are often descriptive. Someone named cockroach would get that name by being a tough survivor.

      • Rhywun

        How befitting. #MAGA

        *snort*

  32. Derpetologist

    https://www.npr.org/2020/08/21/904502053/biden-promises-light-after-trump-s-darkness-7-takeaways-from-the-dnc

    ***
    He delivered a sober and urgent speech directly to the American people with a clarity of message, one of light versus dark. Biden, a devout Irish Catholic, seemingly channeled years of homilies about good versus evil, right versus wrong. If he wins, it will be a speech for the ages.

    “Here and now, I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst,” he said. “I will be an ally of the light, not the darkness.”
    ***

    Man, if Biden leads the forces of light, how do I sign up to be an Orc?

    SARUMAN WANTS YOU!

    • Drake

      Racist!!!!

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      And once we win, well, you know what we do with Orcs.
      *wink wink nudge nudge*

    • Derpetologist

      Orc recruiting commercial

      [cheezy 80s music]

      [montage of marching, fighting]

      “[voice over]

      ***
      TRAVEL. PLUNDER. SLAUGHTER. THERE ARE OVER 200 WAYS TO BE AN ORC IN TODAY’S HORDE. YOU’LL BE OURS SOONER OR LATER, SO WHY NOT JOIN TODAY?

      Ash nazg durbatulûk,
      ash nazg gimbatul,
      Ash nazg thrakatulûk
      agh burzum-ishi krimpatul!

      ***

    • Viking1865

      I’m old enough to remember when the Democrats sounded the dangerous of reductive, “us vs them”, black and white formulations of political differences.

      • Derpetologist

        Ah, yes. It was a semi-mythical age shrouded in the mists of time.

        I think it was about 2002.

        “You’re either with us or against us.”

        -Juh Ogre Dub Yah Booch, legendary warlord of the First Age of Man

      • Gadfly

        So you’re telling us you’re not a Gen Z person?

        Do we even have any Gen Z-ers (born 1997+) on this site?

      • Derpetologist

        There are no libertarian women Gen-Zers!

      • Derpetologist

        damn, wanted a strikethrough

        women

    • Gadfly

      Biden, a devout Irish Catholic

      Yes, so devout. Excepting all the ways he strays from his church’s teachings. And the ways he has promised to punish his own coreligionists for following said teachings. But other than all the ways in which he is anti-Catholic, he’s totally a devout Catholic.

    • Rhywun

      Biden, a devout Irish Catholic

      LOL Democrats have proven time and again not to give a shit about this fiction; I dunno why they keep pushing it.

      • Derpetologist

        “A lie told enough time eventually becomes the truth.”

        Obama was scandal free.

        Marijuana is a gateway drug.

        Schools are underfunded.

        WW2 got us out of the depression.

        You’re more likely to shoot yourself with a gun than an intruder.

        America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles.

        Unions created the middle class.

    • Fourscore

      Is he running in CA? They will need him more than ever soon.

  33. Mad Scientist

    Speaking of which- Anybody here have experience with shipping container freight? As in, I’m thinking really hard about getting a 20′ shipping container and cramming it full of my stuff. But- what’s the deal on having somebody come pick it up and transport it 250 – 300 miles?

    How about buying a 20 or 24 foot cargo trailer, towing it to the new place, then selling the trailer? They’re not expensive new. I’m sure you can find a used one for under $3000. And after you put 300 miles on it, it’ll be worth pretty much exactly what you paid for it.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      “under $3000.” Really?
      /Yusef ponders…..

      • Mojeaux

        Craigslist is your friend for shipping containers.

      • Cancelled

        I think Chinese migrant smugglers are probably your friend for shipping containers

    • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

      They obviously realize that their institution is, virtually, burning to the ground and everyone is running for the exits.

      ☝️☝️

    • B.P.

      I’m sure the kid will be suspended from school for going viral over this. And when a kid is suspended from school in a virtual learning environment, I guess that just means he closes his laptop.

  34. Stinky Wizzleteats

    An excellent channel for any of the others here that find the Italian mob interesting:

    https://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelFranzese

    He throws out the Jesus Jesus occasionally but he made his bones skimming a shitload of taxes off gasoline sold in the Northeast. He tells a good story, I’ll give him that.

    • Derpetologist

      I read about that. Basically, the mob would open up a bunch of gas stations, keep the tax money, and then fold up and skip town before the taxes were due. A simple and effective dodge.

      Really, the IRS should hire the mafia as consultants to write the tax code, to be sort of like white hat hackers.

  35. LCDR_Fish

    One for the road. Need gordilocks and his rig -https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/armored-vehicle-abandoned-along-interstate-80-still-in-nebraska/article_270a80de-2d32-5866-b118-9c5cbd30f923.html

  36. The Late P Brooks

    You’re outside Bozeman? What’re you gonna ask may I ask?

    Outside of Livingston, axially. ~25 mi from Boz.

    All I can get. I think I could force myself to take 350k for my twenty acre plot. I think I might be able to get more, from the right buyer.

    • Fourscore

      Where is the plan to go? Have you made that decision or work takes you? Hope you do well on the sale.

    • KSuellington

      How is the internet connection there? Does it always cause misthreading?

      Seriously, I could have a possible interest. Everyday here they are trying their best to make the move. If schools are still closed in another six weeks or so Im gonna start the process of selling myself. If you would want to sell without an agent you could send me some pics and descriptions to my ProtonMail account.
      Vilcakid

  37. The Late P Brooks

    I might be crazy, too.

  38. The Late P Brooks

    I don’t think PODS is around here.

  39. The Late P Brooks

    I’m sure you can find a used one for under $3000. A

    Not around here. For some reason, trailers new or used are pretty dadgum pricey. I saw one on Craigslist the other day for 7k, and it’s probably long gone. I have considered that option. I wouldn’t mind having a shipping container to put my fab shop in, though.

    • Fourscore

      I rented a 40 ft trailer one time to move a business, the new location wasn’t ready so it was parked in the secure lot of the transfer company for a couple of months, then had it delivered and we kept it another 2 weeks or so. I can’t remember how much we paid but seems like it was reasonable. Then a call and they came and picked it up. Only moved a short distance, 5 miles or so.

  40. The Late P Brooks

    Where is the plan to go? Have you made that decision or work takes you? Hope you do well on the sale.

    I’m looking around eastern Idaho (on line)- somewhere in the Idaho Falls – Pocatello area. I hope so, too.

    • Bill (Door) Baggins (a Skellington)

      Pocatello is about an hour north of me in Northern Utah. There are some pretty areas around there (Lava Hot Springs, Grace, etc.).

  41. The Late P Brooks

    Unions created the middle class.

    *grinds teeth*

    Yeah, when exactly did “middle class” get morphed into “union wage ap”?

  42. The Late P Brooks

    apE

    “union wage ape”

  43. Derpetologist

    Too early for GlibFit remarks? Whatever, I’m going for it.

    I did 2 feats of strength this week. I walked around with 98 pounds on my back and 9 (medicine ball) in my arms (simulate holding an M16). One day, I did that for 17 minutes and the next day I did it for 25. My goal is to do it for 60 minutes.

    The standard for Marine officer school is to carry 110 pounds 3 miles in 1 hour I think. Seems like a good goal to aim for.

    I was booze free for more than 5 days. On beer #3 now.

    • Gustave Lytton

      Max out neo-APFT for 17-21 year old bracket?

      • Derpetologist

        No, the gyms are closed again and I want a quick, intense workout.

        And it’s the ACFT (ARMY! COMBAT! FITNESS! TEST!) now.

        A good fitness test shouldn’t take more than an hour or require special equipment. If it were up to me, I’d have pass/fail model of:

        -run 2 miles in 20 minutes or less
        -pick up and fireman carry someone about the same weight as you (+/- 10 lbs) for 50 yards
        -high crawl 100 yards, no time limit

      • Gustave Lytton

        12 miles timed ruck march, and it’s a dealtest.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Pass/fail on the timed part. No stupid points crap.

      • Derpetologist

        That’s currently a requirement for air assault school and the expert infantry badge.

        If the basic philosophy is the Army is that every soldier should be able to function as infantry should the need arise, then the standard should be no higher than what is required of the infantry.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Ok, fine. No rehydration IVs for drinking the night before and mandatory track mark inspection.

      • Derpetologist

        “No rehydration IVs for drinking the night before”

        It was very amusing to see how much Pedialyte is on display at the stores here at Campy Swampy. For some reason, it is always right next to the booze aisle. There must be hordes of kids with diarrhea hiding in the woods or something, the poor dears.

    • Fourscore

      Back in the day I could have done the booze free a lot easier than the other two, Same thing today

      • Derpetologist

        1! 2! 3! 4!

        SHOOT! MOVE! COMMUNICATE! KILL!

        AND IF THEY DON’T DIE, YOU GOTTA RELOAD AND SHOOT ‘EM AGAIN!

        – first cadence I heard at basic

  44. Gustave Lytton

    If I remember correctly, one of the Glibs was working on their CCNP or CCIE Data Center?

    If so, have a follow on question(s) about how the new exams are for that track specifically. Wasn’t planning to, but channel partner manager is getting end of the year renewal crazy and is looking for fresh meat to get certified. DCs aren’t really my thing but if it’s not too bad, the online class would be paid.

    • J. Frank Parnell

      Yeah, that was me. Still studying, haven’t taken the exam yet.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Ah, ok, thanks. 310-600 Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure is the one the channel guy wants for their specialist tick box. Can’t find anything really to add to it other than the outline on Cisco’s website.

      • J. Frank Parnell

        I actually took the old version of that test last fall because it seemed like something I could pass without too much extra studying and would count towards the CCNP once they changed the tests. Not sure how much it’s changed, though.

  45. The Late P Brooks

    I’m old enough to remember when the Democrats sounded the dangerous of reductive, “us vs them”, black and white formulations of political differences.

    I’m old enough to remember the “Question Authority” Democrats. Haven’t seen any of them around, lately.

    • Derpetologist

      Because they have authority now.

  46. The Late P Brooks

    If you would want to sell without an agent you could send me some pics and descriptions to my ProtonMail account.

    Interested, I am.

    • KSuellington

      Cool. You never know. I am very strongly considering getting the hell out of Dodge before the true shitstorm starts here. My house still is holding value, for how long I do not know. I put up with a lot and have a successful biz here and my only family in this country. But I’m about at the end of my rope. I’d have to start right over from scratch.

      I did buy a Willys that Doom had linked here years back, so you never do know.

      Vilcakid

      When you get a chance. And good luck on finding a new place. We just drove through the area you’re considering on our way and back from Montana a few weeks back. Also very nice.

  47. The Late P Brooks

    Craigslist is your friend for shipping containers.

    My concern is with the cost and process of having it picked up and relocated after it’s full. It seems as if it would be “no big deal” but…

  48. B.P.

    Say, whatever happened to that story about the noose in the NASCAR driver’s garage? Or the one about the masked neo-Nazi (or Boogaloo or whatever the hell they’re called) in Minneapolis with the umbrella who sparked days of rioting by smashing windows? Those two stories were all anyone could talk about for a hot minute. I assume there was nothing to them because they seem to have been memory-holed.

    • kinnath

      Very pretty.

    • Spudalicious

      Bastard sword? Or Roman?

  49. The Late P Brooks

    How about buying a 20 or 24 foot cargo trailer, towing it to the new place, then selling the trailer? They’re not expensive new.

    Do I have to pick it up in Long Beach to get that price? That’s nuts.

  50. Mad Scientist

    Do I have to pick it up in Long Beach to get that price? That’s nuts.

    Looks like you could make a pretty penny importing cargo trailers to Montana.

  51. The Late P Brooks

    Looks like you could make a pretty penny importing cargo trailers to Montana.

    They’d want $1.35 per mile to ship it to me. That would probably double the cost. And I sure as hell am not going to go fetch it.

  52. Nephilium

    When driving around today I saw lots of signs up. There were quite a few places with dueling neighbors. Best signs I saw:

    No Creepy Joe Biden (hand written in multicolored markers on posterboard attached to their mailbox)
    Biden – He won’t inject bleach into you
    Former Democrat (several of these in yards for houses next to each other)

  53. Gustave Lytton

    https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2020/08/oregon-schools-wont-reopen-until-state-sees-substantial-coronavirus-decline-governor-says.html

    “There have been law enforcement officials, there have been elected officials, that have been lackadaisical in complying with public safety protocols,” Brown said.

    I can only assume Gov Kunt is talking about the riots and criminality going on in Portland and the vow by the DA to not prosecute numerous crimes. A DA that the Gov herself appointed.

    http://stoptheabuse-recallkatebrown.org/

  54. Mad Scientist

    They’d want $1.35 per mile to ship it to me. That would probably double the cost. And I sure as hell am not going to go fetch it.

    OK, I have an alternate suggestion. Buy a 40′ shipping container. I have no clue what it costs to move it, but once you have it at your new place, you can dig a big hole and….

  55. The Late P Brooks

    I’d rather stand it on end and have a Rapunzel tower.

  56. DEG

    NASA and its international partners first noticed the air leak in September 2019. The ISS naturally loses some air over time, but the current rate of leakage is slightly above normal, and it has been that way for the better part of a year. Nothing alarming, but clearly something mission controllers would like to remedy.

    It must be Lil Rona.

    The aim is to reduce the number of mosquitoes that carry diseases like dengue or the Zika virus.

    They’ll carry Lil Rona instead. Gotta keep the scam going.

  57. Derpetologist

    random thought today – zebras must be really confusing for racists

    satire idea

    Black Lives Matter Splits Over Zebra Question

    • Derpetologist

      I can’t help but wonder that if some king had tried to shut down churches or pubs during the Black Death, how would the peasants have reacted? I suspect it would have involved heavy petroleum distillates and plumage.

    • Sean

      GF and I are planning to dine out at our new favorite restaurant this weekend.

      I hope they can make it through these reduced capacity times.

      • DEG

        Same here.

        A friend of mine has a restaurant in PA. He’s limping along with take-out and outdoor dining. Indoor dining restrictions basically eliminate 90% of his indoor seating. He has a bar area near a grill. Due to Leper Length restrictions, he can’t use the bar area. Most of his tables are off limits because of the capacity restrictions combined with Leper Length restrictions. Combine this with he doesn’t want to be the mask police, and he hasn’t opened up inside yet. I hope he survives.

        Here in NH, I had dinner tonight at a place in Nashua. The bar area was only half full as bar customers still have to spread out. I know the management at the place was worried about what happens in the Fall when they lose the outdoor area. I found out about the change after I got home. I plan to stop by tomorrow night and see what they say.

        Hopefully your place can make it through these times too.

      • Sean

        Hopefully they’ll all make it.