Monthly Archives: May 2024

Malfunction Junction

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The above is an unofficial name given to the junction of interstates 55 and 240. The reason is quite simple, or should I say complex. If you enter the junction on 55, you must exit to remain on 55. If you enter on 240, you must exit to remain on 240.

No matter if you enter the junction from North, South, East or West, if you don’t take an off ramp, you will leave the junction on a different interstate than the one you entered on.

As I consider it, it does make me think. It sort of represents how the feds do things. More specifically, it represents how Old Joe does things.

Note, if you don’t believe me, just look it up on a map or Google Earth. It’s in the southern part of Memphis. It is also a good idea to keep in mind should you need to go through the interchange during your travels.

Incidentally, US 51 passes through the same area. However, southbound, there is only an off ramp from 240 to 51. Northbound, there is only an off ramp from 55 to 51. I discovered this the hard many decades ago. Eastbound or westbound, sorry, no way to get there without going somewhere else first.

Actors

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Let’s take a quick look at the requirements to be a successful actor.

They need not be smart. The writers provide all their dialog.

They need not determine what to wear. That’s taken care of by professional people in wardrobe.

They don’t need to know where to go or when. That is done by directors.

It helps to have a good memory, though not all parts require speaking. I must admit it does help to have a good strong voice and deliver lines so as they will be understood. Then too, that can be said of many professions.

Really, the only thing an actor need do is pretend to be what he’s not.

What in the world would make anyone think an actor is an expert at anything other than someone being a great pretender.

After saying that, let me say this. Some actors are smart. Some actors know very little. Worse, some actors don’t know how to use any intelligence they have. They simply have not one clue when to remain quiet and keep their trap shut.

Case in point. The one standing outside the NY court and pretending he actually knows something, other than to ask, “Are you talking to me?”

The Real Problems With EVs

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It’s not just how many charge stations there are, but what kind they are and how reliable are they. Where I am located, there is a wealth of charging stations for Teslas or Tesla compatible cars. For the type I need, not so much. I have looked at the maps showing charge stations, but I have found one common question, are they compatible.

So, I start out on my trip to Fort Smith say. A three hundred mile trip. That means, at least one stop to charge on the way, one charge after I get there and one charge on the way home. Okay. Fine. We can stop over to get a bite to eat while charging. That might work. I don’t know.

However, I get to that spot in Little Rock where they say there is a charge station. That gives me a fifty mile cushion which is fine. But when I get there, I find out the charge station is for Teslas. Now what do I do? Even more, are there any places in Little Rock where I can charge my car. I don’t know. I cannot find out for sure.

Maybe that means we only buy Teslas. Does that mean all other car manufacturer must just put the padlock on the door and close up shop. Remember, only electric cars in 20 or 30 miles.

I don’t know. I have had my Nissan for about six months now, and I have found it is difficult if not impossible to determine which chargers are compatible and which ones are not. Even if they are compatible, can I access the charger? I have heard that with an adapter, I can charge my car with a Tesla charger, but that has two problems. First their chords are too short. more over, if I could use a Tesla charger, as near as I can tell, it would only be a level two charger. I don’t know for sure, but I think that is a 5 or 6 hour charge time.

It’s beside the point. The real problem is that it seems no one wants to talk about it. I didn’t know anything about it until I started looking for charging stations. No one told me. I was told it was as simple as getting an adapter and plug it in. What if I am down to 10 percent and then I find out it doesn’t work?

I was told I can charge at home. It works. It really does. However, there are limits. At a 120 volts, it’s close to two days for a 10% to 80%. I can have a level 2 installed having 220. Only, finding someone to do it is not so easy. I haven’t had an estimate, but I know electricians do like to make a bunch of money. Moreover, I am not totally comfortable with the 120. I have to use an extension cord which gets a little warm.

The car is wonderful. I love it. I love driving it. I just wish I could feel comfortable driving farther than 80 miles from home.

I don’t know, but I would guess any charging stations will be along the interstates. So, I guess that means we who own electric cars will have to stay close to the interstates or carry gas powered generators. If it remains that way, the electric cars will fade, likely very fast. Now one will like a car that will not be able to carry them on a visit to Grandma’s.

Mostly, the government should post where and what kind of chargers are available. Those who hope to sell the vehicles should do what they can to make the same info available. My best guess. it would really be nice to have the chargers work with one car as well as another. Compatibility is one of the biggest problems in many industries. EVs are no exception. Can you imagine people buying gas powered cars if that can’t find gasoline?

Must Contain Chocolate

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I know. It is obvious. Nonetheless, some manufacturers make chocolate bars that are over half something else. I mean, a few nuts are okay but I’m not real keen on wafers, especially when when they are mostly air.

Let’s get down to basics, most of the time whenever I buy a chocolate bar, it has Hershey printed on it. Sometimes it has almonds in it, but usually it’s just chocolate, you know what I mean. Just almost pure calories.

It’s just the stuff that really tests my self control.

Daily writing prompt
Describe your dream chocolate bar.
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Is It Okay to Be a Little Bit Jealous?

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I am not a car race fan but, whilst looking for news, I happened to note an electric car race. Just had to look at it a while. As the cars negotiated the circuit, the camera caught an image of a bunch of boats moored nearby.

There were 2 things I noticed. The boats were huge. Likely many were over 200 feet, I’m sure. Also, there were so many in there, I simply couldn’t figure any way they could get them in or out.

One more thing I noticed, the race was taking place in Monoco, though that was of little importance to me at the time. Still, just why was it that so many yachts parked there. Were their owners there or for that matter even in the same hemisphere. Some folks who have boats like to display them for the sake of pride. Their pride, my jealousy.

I cannot imagine what it cost to tie one of those boats up for just one day. Yet, they, most of them, have no reason for their boats to be there.

It doesn’t stop there. Just to own and operate a monster like that cost in excess of a million a year. Of course, if the owner wants to take a tour around the world, you’ll need to add diesel cost to that.

I take in all that and I think of the tenth Commandment. I can’t help it. I must ask, is it okay for me to be just a little jealous.

Maybe, while one of these owners is off doing something else somewhere else, why can’t he let me take a 1 hour cruise. That way, I would be able to say I was on a 100 foot boat for one hour. Where was I going? Does it matter?

Maybe what I need to do is make sure I get stranded in a rowboat in the path of one of those monsters. Aren’t they required to rescue me. Then, I could have a ride on the boat, right.

They could take me to the nearest land and I would be sure to thank them very much. I would certainly make sure to complement them on how nice the boat looks. I think I would also be obligated to tell them how big and impressive their yacht is. I mean they were nice enough to rescue me. I wouldn’t even care that my rowboat was in splinters after the slight collision.

Oh, well. Who wants to go to sea where there is nothing but water to see anyway.

So here I am. Just a little jealous. Yet may I take this time to remind one and all of the story Jesus told of Lazarus and the rich man. For a time Lazarus did suffer. However, in the end, it was the rich man who begged for mercy.

I am certainly not saying every man with a super yacht is going to spend eternity in Hell. However, those who don’t accept Jesus as their savior, will be in the same boat, figuratively as the rich man in the story.

Now. I wonder. Does anyone out there know someone who knows someone? I’d settle for something about 75 feet.

Incidentally, I checked. There are about 5000 yachts of 100 feet or more. I suppose they just have to have them. And, by themselves, they just might cause the seas to rise, at least an inch or two.

Driving

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If I could I’d get about a 35 ft motor home and just start driving. It is something I wanted to do since my early 20s. Can’t see it ever happening now. As I mentioned afore, we’re living off Social Security.

Well, if folks start buying my books it stands a small chance of happening. Then again, as I said, can’t see that happening.

Daily writing prompt
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
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Old Joe Really Does Have a Brain

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Some say Old Joe has no brain. He can’t think anymore. Actually, he does have one that used to be really good. He just wore it out think up all those lies he’s told. Then too, as you well know, he’s having a really hard time of it now keeping all those lies straight. He should have taken notes.

I really shouldn’t say things like that, even if it is true. Why shouldn’t I when you consider the whoppers he’s told about Trump, quite intentionally.

Can’t Remember the Title, Sorry

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Seems like it was about a horse named named Dog Patch, though that makes no sense. Maybe it was the name of the place. Then it was so long ago, maybe I’m just confusing it with Lil Abner. At any rate. I was about 8 and it was a about a race horse. Though I read it many times, I just can’t remember much about it. Just how the horse was transported into town for the big race, and of course he wins it by a nose.

Maybe someone else read it and can remind me of the name. Now that it was brought up, I’d sort of like to read it again.

Daily writing prompt
Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?
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Not Me!

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You might ask, “Who will pay for the forgiving of the student loans?” My reply, at least for the most part, Not me! I’m living off Social Security and a little savings. The last 4 years, I have not spent so much as one dollar on income tax. Naturally, there are other taxes I pay, as in the grocery store and restaurants, but I really don’t think that will pay for many of the books, let alone tuitions.

Moreover, I am not long for this world. Another few months and I’ll be 77. For those who don’t know, that means the Lord will call me home most any minute. I have already lived a lot longer than I thought I would. These words are those of a man who had a quadruple by-pass.

So, who will pay? Well, let’s look at the facts. It has added billions to the national debt. Who has any idea of how many millions that will add to the interest on the national debt. Now let me see. It just might be all those college grads who pay for it, when they are in their 50s and 60s and are pulling in their million dollar pay checks. Given the rate of inflation, when they reach their 50s they will start looking at a cost of living of right around a million a year to just to scrape by.