Author Archives: bfrhodes99

A Question With a Two Sided Reply

Posted in All That Jazz by
Daily writing prompt
What would your life be like without music?
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I suppose it was about a year ago. Maybe it was a little longer. My wife and I were sitting in a restaurant eating. She looked up at the speaker in the ceiling and said, “I can’t believe that she was actually paid to do that.”

I laughed. I knew exactly what her reference was. It would be very difficult to classify what it was as music. First, it was more noise than music. Second, it was repetitive. I guess that whoever wrote the lyrics was a person of few words.

It was truly one time I wish I had my noise canceling head phones. Even more, it did make me wonder about my wife’s remark. It made me wonder just how much the woman was paid to make that irritating noise. What’s worse, it was in a restaurant where people were eating, hopefully enjoying the food.

I do suppose it had one advantage. No one would linger; certainly not to listen to the music. Our table was available pretty quickly.

I guess a little over a decade ago we went to a Captain D’s, no longer there. The manager liked Elvis. I don’t. We went to the place three times before we figured it out. After that, we went elsewhere, even though my wife does like Elvis. However, even she was getting tired of hearing the same recordings repeatedly.

I think, in general, music during meals is supposed to be soothing. Nowadays, some folks don’t seem to think so. I mentioned that the reply does have 2 sides and there is a lot of music that I enjoy. It can be soothing, thoughtful, inspiring, and it can be just be simply something nice for listening.

Consider, On the Trail from the Grand Canyon Suite. I have hardly met a person who doesn’t like it the first time they hear it. The Overture of 1812 has sold Quaker Oats for years and is still played a lot, especially at fireworks displays. I could go through hundreds of songs that have been very enjoyable to me and so many others.

I was just in a place yesterday that played truly pleasant music over the loudspeakers and it did help me enjoy my meal. But now and then….

The Destruction of NY, NY

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden, Build the Wall!, Crazy Nuts, Kamala Harris by

It would seem that the mayor of NY, NY has decided that all those illegal aliens are destroying NY, NY. I ask, why should they be immune to the disaster on the border precipitated by the geriatric you helped elect. Why shouldn’t your city and state receive a small portion of those destroying the cities and states along the border.

You act as as if you don’t know what to do with them. I have a suggestion. I think you have a little island you can put them on. It is where legal emigrants of the past stayed for a while. Now let me see??? I think that Island was called… Ellis Island. There are still structures out there, I think. You can do a little remodeling, a little fixing up and you can keep them out there for a while. Why not? It was sort-a what it was made for.

At least you New Yorkers do have some facilities. Some of those little cities on the border had nothing but maybe one or two motels and nowhere near the food stuffs required to feed such an on-slot. And by the way, once Old Joe opened up the border, it was not long before there were more illegal aliens than residence in many of those small towns.

If it is a bad idea for NY, NY, then it is a catastrophe for the border towns. Don’t you think it is now time to admit, Old Joe really ain’t that good at making decisions. Isn’t it now a good idea to seen him to the old folks home. Maybe there, they will be able to understand some of his gibberish. Maybe that border czar, now let me see. What was her name. Oh, yes. I think it was Harris. Maybe she should have actually gone to the border and looked the see the problems her boss created.

But then, that is the way of the dems, isn’t it. They do like to ignore the problems they cause and pretend they don’t exist.

My Last Report on My EV

Posted in Electric Automobiles by

I don’t think it will accomplish anything if I continue to report on my Nissan beyond today. I am still pleased that I bought it but I do wish I could have afforded the model able to go 300 miles instead of 218. Even so, I don’t drive much. I generally recharge the car about every two weeks, now $45. I plan on getting a level two charger. With it, I doubt I will ever need to use a commercial charger again. The level two charger will completely charge the batteries in ten or twelve hours. More likely, I will only need to charge it a couple of hours a day with my driving habits. Even so, I will be limited to about 90 miles to, and 90 miles back should I want to go somewhere. That is where the extra mileage would have come in handy should I have been able to afford it.

By the way, you get more than just more battery with the more expensive model. You get a lot more bells and whistles too, including self-driving. Also, you get a price tag about ten grand more.

I have gotten quite an education about charging the batteries. To top it off, Nissan is going to the Tesla charger standards next year. That will make it far easier to find somewhere to charge the car. I can use a Tesla charger but only as a level two charger. That means, if I go into Berger King (Which has Tesla chargers) while I charge the car, in the hour it takes me to eat a Whopper, the batteries will take on about 2 days charge for me. This would, of course work out well for me if I go to Berger King every other day for lunch.

Actually, that is very unkind and is a false representation. When I put the car on a fast charger, it will take a full charge in less than an hour. Most times, I get the full charge after getting down to 30%, so the charge takes right around 40 minutes. That is faster than the Tesla, if I have my facts straight.

I have noticed that I have changed my attitude in driving. I do drive a little less, not much. I also keep a keen eye on the charge level. When driving my gas car, sometimes I let that meter just almost hit empty. I don’t like that charge status geting much below 30%. I’m getting too old to walk that much and it is difficult getting a charge to a car 8 or 9 miles away from a charging station.

A thought that occurred to me was that they might like the idea of an after market option of small sixty or seventy pound battery packs that could be carried in the trunk. The two small battery packs would be used when the main batteries run low.

I don’t know all the ins and outs. I am sure there would be problems to overcome. It just is that I would not be nearly so afeared of running out of electricity if I had some reserve, especially if I could recharge the smaller ones separately.

Another thing I learned about the batteries is that it is better not to fully charge them. They last longer if you only charge them to 80%. That kind of limits me. It means I must operate the car between 30% and 80%. That means I need to visit the charger more frequently.

Well, I have a 7 year maintenance contract as well as the warranty. I figure the car is going to outlast me. So I compromise. I turn the charger off at 90% or there about. I still get 2 weeks off a charge and that’s fine.

Of course, if I had plans on living another 15 years, I might pull the plug a little sooner. I have no idea what it will cost to replace 60+ KWs of batteries, but I am not anxious to find out.

One more word about chargers. Not all chargers are public. If you plan on doing some serious driving, you will need to sign up with someone. Then all you need do when running low is find one of their chargers. You then identify yourself and plug in. You’ll likely have about an hour or so wait so you might plan accordingly.

Finally, one more thing about mileage. It varies. In the summer, you’ll use the air conditioning. In the winter, the heat. My car uses a heat exchanger so I get instant heat in the winter. Regardless of how your car keeps you warm or cool, it will cost you a few miles. Obviously, in nice weather, you’ll enjoy your best mileage.

As far as I am concerned, I think the advantages make up for any problems. If you don’t know what I mean, just test drive an electric car for ten miles, especially the Nissan Ariya. You will never again be satisfied with that gas car again.

The Mysterious Ray Epps

Posted in Abuse of Power, Awkward Situation, Biden, Bribes, Christian values, Crazy Nuts, Deceit, Elections, Fantasy, January 6, Lawyers and Representation, Liz Cheney, Pelosi, Psaki, Social Media, Socialists by

Well. He’s surfaced. Apparently he has been charged by information, whatever that means. As near as I can tell, he will never spend a day in prison, or jail.

Just try, just try to tell me this does not smell of rotten eggs.

The man was recorded instigating the whole thing. Now he’s going to walk?

My guess is that, if he was not officially on the government payroll, he was likely slipped a few dozen C-notes to wave those folks in. I really don’t know nor do I care if it was from the government or from the dems. I mean, it is right on the video, waving people into the Capitol. By the way, at the least, he ought to be required to tell us what he whispered into that policeman’s ear.

Let’s file this one under, “JUST NOT RIGHT,” ’cause it’s not.

Look in the Mirror

Posted in Abuse of Power, Controllers, Elections, Politcal Opinion, Unions by

Those of you in the auto unions want to know the source of all you problems and woes. You just might want to look in the mirror for a big part of them. Had you all not voted for Old Joe, he would not be in the Oval Office. The oil spigots would still be on and lots more folks would be buying cars.

Also, you are now in a new labor competition. While those coming up through the border don’t effect you directly, they do compete with those who do compete with you. If some were not put out of jobs by the illegal aliens, they would not be seeking jobs making cars.

Mostly though, it is that EV idea. I’ve been checking around. Dealers expect to sell a lot of electric cars in 2024. For those unaware, electric motors are far less complex than a gasoline engine. Batteries are less complex that automatic transmissions. Besides, because of Old Joe, it looks like the batteries will be outsourced to China. Those jobs will be done by our number one enemy, the inventors of the China virus and the ones who publicly say they want to be the #1 economy in the world.

To be sure there are those with whom you share the guilt, but it is simple. Without a doubt, those in the unions really shot themselves in the foot this time. (Maybe I should say leg.)

Oh. And by the way. All those folks flowing into this country from all points south, about 8 or 9 million by last count, they will be looking for jobs in a neighborhood near you. You were warned. Not my fault. It’s yours. It is exactly what happens when you hand the reins to the power hungry controllers. I didn’t give them that power. Don’t look at me. Look in the mirror.

Across State Lines

Posted in Being woke, Cheating, Elections, FOC, Lawyers and Representation, Liberals, Mistakes, TV Advertisements by

I normally do not like it when Memphis tries to run things down here. So I normally try to keep my nose out of their affairs. I mean, if they want to turn the criminals lose to run free on their streets, it’s really none of my business, other than when they start coming down over the state line.

Ages ago, when they were trying to put casinos here in Desoto County, there was a lot of money spent by those up in Memphis to tell us how great it would be to have the casinos. The only money we had to fight back was from a few churches and a few private citizens. Really. What business do those businesses up in Memphis have to tell us what is good for us.

I don’t like political moneys crossing state lines. I know. It’s legal. It just isn’t right for someone from NY, NY trying to tell us how to run our states. On the other hand we have no right trying to tell them how to run theirs. It just is that they have more money and they are more willing to release it to make sure they get the representatives here that they prefer. As I said, just not right

To be sure, I openly ridicule those of other states when they do or say things that affect me. For instance, when they cry out for help from us because of their poor planning. As I said, they are the ones with the money. Why should they come after the money from the other states, especially those who have much less than they do.

Now, Memphis stands on the precipice of another election. Guess what. It looks to me that they are about to make another mistake. It appears they are going to chose a mayor that is in favor of the status quo and pass on a man who will put the criminals behind bars. That means the crime will only get worse and it will overflow into our neighborhoods down south of the state line.

My guess, it’s not just me who is not minding my business. My guess is that there is a lot of money coming south from democrat states to insure that law and order remains nothing more than a TV show. Of course I can’t prove it, nor would I want to try. It’s something that looks pretty obvious to me once you look at the campaigns. I just can’t imagine a person who wants to continue to let criminals roam the streets, has the true good interest of Memphis at heart. My guess is that “across state line” finances are involved. A whole lot of it.

The Big Why for Presley

Posted in Being woke, Christian values, Crazy Nuts, Elections, Important things, Lawyers and Representation, Politally Correct, Socialists by

Brandon Presley, Democrat candidate for Mississippi governor, keeps airing ads that he is not in favor of many Democrat ideas. Great! Then WHY, WHY isn’t he Republican?

My suggestion as long as he’s a dem, then he’s a dem and he has associated himself with dem idealism. If he wants to claim Republican ideas, maybe he should bail out of the dem party… as many others have.

My guess, he is a dem with dem ideas. He’s just too ashamed to admit it. I mean really, boys saying they are girls. Only the dems would come up with an idea like that. If he doesn’t agree with dems, why hasn’t he distanced himself from it long ago.

The Telegraphed Message

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden, Bribes, Important things, Iran by

Old Joe just made a horrible error. He telegraphed the message world wide that American hostages are now worth a billion dollars each. That was a terrible mistake that has put all Americans, world wide in danger. The bad guys will do a lot to get the billion dollars, I assure you. That puts even people within the country in danger.

The way that the problem should have been dealt with is simple. First, announce that it is assumed that all the hostages are dead. The only thing that will change that is if they are returned safely. Second, announce that if they are not returned safely within five days, there will be retaliation. If we find out that they were killed after the the retaliation, we will retaliate again.

I am not saying that it will get our hostages back, though it very well might. The main thing is that it would announce that the wages for kidnapping Americans is quick and deadly retaliation. I can pretty much guarantee the kidnapping will stop.

It’s not What You Save

Posted in Advertising by
Daily writing prompt
Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.
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Many times when I was a young lad, I would read an add about how much the savings would be to buy this that or the other thing. Finally, I was told, it’s not what you save, but what you pay.

There is a corollary to that. The more savings they advertise, the more the expensive the product. For instance if they advertise a $1000 savings on a diamond ring, the cost is likely more than the ring they advertise a savings of $100.

In other words, if I were to buy both, chances are that I would pay much more for ring that I’d save the thousand on. Naturally, if you want the more expensive ring, it is up to you. But know that will be paying more.

As I pick up a circular and I see the advertisement of a $50 savings, it makes me wonder how much it was marked up before the ad. And, of course, my assumption is that the more the savings the more it was marked up.

Regardless, the bottom line, as the businessmen like to say, it is the price. How much am I going to have to pay to change the ownership of the product. Everything else is simply a distraction.

Very frequently, I find I cannot afford the savings. Other times, it’s just more than I want to pay. Finally, sometimes, I know of other places that sell the same product for less, in which case, the savings is really not a savings at all.

A General Sort of Reply

Posted in Food by
Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite types of foods?
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I did think this one over for a while and came to the conclusion that I can only answer in generalities. Mostly, I do not like most fancy food. If someone else is paying the bill, I still would not order lobster and steak. I rarely order steak. Mostly I prefer the simple foods. A hamburger or chili-dog will make me happy. I will be happy with chicken or turkey, especially with dressing.

This subject does remind me of an instant about 4 years ago. I was in a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at the buffet. As I plopped a large helping of mashed potatoes on my plate, I spoke to myself, “I could make a whole meal out of mashed potatoes and gravy.”

Some woman behind me was obviously eavesdropping on the little conversation I was having with myself because she spoke enthusiastically, “So could I.”

Of course, no matter what, everyone knows gravy does make everything taste better. However, I never tasted any chicken gravy better than the at chicken restaurant at Knott’s Berry Farm. It is but one of many things I left in California I wish I could have brought with me.

When I was stationed for a while in Japan, I discovered I like fried rice. I didn’t know that before. it is something of a torture now. My wife flat does not like it so I seldom get a chance to eat it now. When I do get a chance, I overdo it and then I am uncomfortable for a while.

There is a restaurant in Southaven that generally has Turkey and dressing just before and a little after the holidays. Almost every time I go in there I complain to the management that it is not year-round. I don’t understand it. All they do is laugh at me.

I must admit that I like most pork based food, bacon, sausage, ham, etc. I don’t know why, but here lately I don’t eat much of it anymore. Generally, when I eat breakfast out, I do order sausage but I can’t remember having any other pork products for a while.

I am not a fan of hot food. You put just a little pepper in something and I’d just as soon not have anything to do with it. Oddly, I do like Mexican food… Americanized as I explain to most waiters in Mexican restaurants. They smile and seem to know exactly what I mean, even in the restaurants that advertise genuine Mexican food.

Actually, I like a lot of McDonald’s food, especially for breakfast. It just is I’m tired of being ignored. I do like Big Macs but I do not like waiting 15 minutes for them. Oddly, I really like their cheeseburgers, but they seem to have little or no regard for the customers that want to come in and sit at a table.

The question also reminds me of when the Israelites ate manna in the wilderness and became tired of it and started complaining. The first time I heard the story, I told myself, I would never have complained about it. As I get older I realize I spoke without thinking. I suspect I would have been as bad or worse than the rest. It does seem to be a human tendency.

At any rate, regardless of what we eat, we do need to remember it is all provided by God and we need to thank Him for it. Also, it certainly doesn’t hurt to thank those in the restaurants who make our food. I try to and it generally surprises them. They don’t expect it. I can’t help but think it does make them feel a little better. Oddly, it makes me feel better too.