Category Archives: Uncategorized

Don’t Need Reminders

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Seems every time I turn around, someone or something reminds about the fact that I will soon be ancient. I mean, when I was in my early teens that is how looked at people past 80.

One of the few TV shows I like is NCIS, eve the reruns. I was reminded it has been on for, would you believe, 18 years. Before that, there was JAG. Some reading this might not even remember JAG, the precursor show of NCIS.

It seems that all the regulars of NCIS have left the show. New characters have been rotated in and out on a semi regular basis. Ducky was the last to leave, obviously involuntarily. This, it itself reminds me that the first saw him as Illya Kuryakin in Man From Uncle (1964) can you believe a half a century ago.

Now NCIS will continue with all different actors. It does sort-of reminds us, how things keep changing, yet they remain the same. Just like the characters in the shows. The new ones step onto the set while others leave, for one reason or the other.

Sometimes, it seems unreal to me. Things happen and in my mind, I say, but this can’t be. Over time, I have learned, this is when it is most real. These seem to be the events that outlast time.

Cheerleaders

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I sit here and watch the CBS news, beats ABC a little, and as they speak of the judgements of Trump, I expect them to, at any moment to come out in cheerleeding outfits, megaphones and start going through cheeringleeding routines.

I can tell just how wonderful they feel with every new story of how difficult it will be for Trump to raise the money. (so much for the unbiased reporting)

Even so, they should remember, the final gavel has yet to fall. First, The Supreme Court does have a good sized gavel. In addition, the people, at the ballot box do have some say in the matter.

Finally, the Lord still has His final judgements in it all. There will be those who will wish they had it all to do over. They, with Satan, will be paying for the next few million years. Then they will realize, their days of pain and suffering are as long as when they started.

At that time, I think you will find the only cheering, if I may twist the word a little, will be taking place in Heaven and in the presence of the Lord Jesus, who already deserves all our thanks and worship. And, yes some cheering too.

A Triple

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Even before I was married I wanted a radar oven. I couldn’t afford one. Finally, I bought a 750 watt unit. Ever since, I have rarely been without one.

It is somewhat odd, though. I soon learned microwave effect. Always before, I put put something in the oven and walked away. I knew it would take awhile, so there was no since standing and waiting. Generally, I’d come back after 20 or 30 minutes and return.

Not so with the radar range. I stood right there, tapping my toe. Then, of course, I needed to check and heat the food for just a tad longer. Then, of course, tap my toe some more.

The last time I replaced a microwave, the old one was getting slow. I had a new one before I tossed the old one, as if one can truly toss a microwave.

My original reasoning for getting a cell phone was to make sure I could remain in contact with family and for emergencies. Okay. Isn’t that what we all told ourselves when the truth was that the things are really cool?

Today, in a real since, I spend about half my waking time with one in my hand. In fact I am writing this post on one whilst sitting in my recliner.

Push come to shove, I am sure I could live without it. I just don’t know how. I would go through serious withdrawal.

For the 3rd thing, I am having to think it over good. I used to think it would be hard to go without cable, but I am managing. Moreover, my phone has replaced my camera, recorder, and many aspects of my computer. For instance, just today, I started trying to think of Ben Carson’s name and the harder I tried to remember it, the more it escaped me. Kind of the result of aging. Gives me another reason to hold onto the cell phone. It sort of replaces my memory.

I don’t cook much any more, but I bought a new electric skillet and though I use it less than 1 or 2 times a week. It has really spoiled me. It has surprised me how much easier and faster I can make things. Oddly, it takes me longer to get out and plug it in than to scramble up some nice fluffy eggs. Never could do that before. Makes it very worthwhile hanging onto. Maybe it qualifies as the 3rd thing for me.

Daily writing prompt
What are three objects you couldn’t live without?
View all responses

At What Cost

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From time to time, I have had reason to seek a cost. Sometimes, honestly I realize I will never be able to afford the product. Other times, I realize the product might one day be within my reach.

The other day I asked the price of a med, knowing I can’t afford it, but I must. My life might very well depend on it. A so it was, yesterday, I bought 30 pills at just a little over 10 dollars a pill. It’s for a blood clot. At least for the short term, that will be added to my my monthly cost of drugs. It is already a lot despite Medicare and insurance.

So, hopefully, the little pills will permit me to survive, but at what price? The drugs had genuine empathy for me, but she did need to pay for the pills and make a little profit.

I keep seeing those commercials on TV, you know the ones about the implanted teeth. I don’t have the money, but I was a little curious. I went up one side of the internet and down the other and could not find one place where I could find a broad guess.

I know there are variations, but I would not expect as much as they would like us to think. I’m sure, by now, it has become somewhat standard. Surely they have standard prices they give insurance companies.

Now me, especially after the new price to my meds, there is simply no way I could afford them. If my teeth get so bad, I’ll just have go without. It is something of an encouragement to brush and floss.

So, let’s assume you, a multi-millionaire, are the one who is going to have the full implant. Let’s say you meet people daily and you need to make a good impression.

You walk into the store and say, “How much for a full set of teeth?” I don’t think you will get an answer but a question. I don’t have any idea why it works that way, but it does seem to be a hard fast rule.

I got on the phone one day trying to get a price on something and a very nice woman answered and the first thing she said was ask for my address.

That prompted me to scratch my head. “You need my name and address before…”

I’m sure you get the idea. Sometimes, I need to know the price for planning. Sometimes, I need to know the price to see if I can afford or if I will need another approach.

Rich folks don’t need to ask or know prices. Maybe this is the way they make sure to keep the riff-raff out of their clientele. If so, it works.

I find myself a little confused as to how end this. Maybe it is because there is no end. On the other hand it just might be I’m no good at writing. I tried to solve that, really I did. Those editors want a bunch of money too.

Exodus 23:8

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The man wasn’t rich, but he had money. Anonymously, he purchased an organ for the church. Then, at the business meetings, he was likely to remind everyone. From time-to-time, he did remind the other members of the church the importance of his tithe to the church.

It is a strange thing that money does to people. I certainly agree with the man who said, I’m not greedy. All I need is enough to buy all I need and all I want. Certainly I don’t need a dollar more.

We like to think that bribery stops at the sanctuary walls. However, it is commonplace. I am sure most, if not all pastors who have been around for a while have seen similar stories to be true as is the story I explained above.

That lobbying goes both ways. The Catholics promised redemption for cash. There are many who think their 10% will gain them a place in paradise.

I don’t know how many times the Bible speaks of bribes and it is never in a good context. Just look it up in a concordance some day. Bribes distort the judgements of the judge. They blind the leaders and the almost always result in the poor being treated unjustly and badly.

It was what corrupted the leadership of the Jews in the day Jesus confronted the money changers. God has a very low regard of those that offer or accept the bribes.

We, as Americans, like to think we live in a society where bribes are rare and punished when they are found. But it’s not true. Indeed, it has become commonplace and institutionalized. We call those that bribe lobbyists. We call those that accept them congressmen. Regardless of what they are called, it is what they are.

Moreover, it is because of this bribery that we can’t close the border. Mostly the bribery takes place among the dems but there are a number of rinos that accept the bribes too, completely legally.

In this country, bribes commonly take place in law too. They speak of them as non-disclosure agreements. They are not only legal but very common. They are used to avoid the cost and public annoyance resulting from an attempt at blackmail.

The agreement quite simply is, I pay you…you agree to stop blackmailing me. It is a binding contract and both parties can be sued for breaking the contract.

Even more, the blackmailer emplicates him/herself. In essence it is an admission of guilt of blackmail.

Trump was being blackmailed, illegal whether he was guilty or not. Why aren’t those who blackmailed being charged. Why are these women being charged with breach of contract.

Most important, why are these women coming forward just now, knowing what will happen if they are found guilty of blackmail.

My guess. Most likely, one more bribe, offered by the dems in hopes of destroying Trump. Ironically, most of us are figuring it out and instead of trump’s numbers plummeting, they are rapidly going skyward.

As we in the south like to say, irregardless…bribes, taking and giving is wrong. God knows exactly how to deal with them. Lightning is but one of his many ways to deal with the gross sinner. Many of us have learned that first hand.

Little Problem in Communications

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If you have never seen the tire swing cartoon, might I suggest you take a few minutes to look at it. Simply search on tire swing cartoon and several copies of it will pop up.

So far, I have not found a person who didn’t laugh at it, maybe a few times. I can’t imagine a person not finding himself in agreement the concept behind the cartoon.

Regardless, all engineers need to have a copy of it nearby for frequent references. It is an excelent reminder that it is very easy to over design things. The tendency is to have all kinds of dials, knobs, button and lights. I can’t say how many buttons my microwave has. It makes me put my reading glasses on everytime I heat a frozen dinner.

Wait a minute. Those instructions on the frozen dinners are really small. I guess I already need 3x magnification before operating the appliance.

Regardless, I do need to keep my microwave instruction manual handy. Lots of buttons on that thing. Still, mostly, I just use a few of them. Some, I have yet to touch.

It does remind me of my first radar oven, as it was called back then. It had a dial for the timer. One button for starting it and one button to open the door. We wore that thing out. Set the time and press start. Really simple.

Oh how I miss those days of simplicity. Certainly a couple of features would be nice, but I see no need for more than a dial and a few buttons. I see no need tolerating a blinking clock, which must be set every time the lights blink. I already have four othed clocks I must change at least twice a year.

I suppose those design engineers like trying to impress us customers… and the boss. However, I am much more impressed with ease of operation.

I do understand why people are so impressed with all the features and buttons, but while they are still pressing buttons my dinner would already be cooking. This is especially if they need to referance the instructions.

My little question: When is the last time those engineers really communicated with a customer. Wait a minute. Do they ever use the stuff they design? It does make me wonder.

Side note: The extra power is nice. That original radar oven had but 700 watts. It meant, sometimes I did do some toe tapping while I waited.

Let’s Build Things Right

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Just for grins, I thought about spelling right, write, which would be wrong. Because I have a horible time with spelling, especially homophones (used to be homonym in my youth). Ironically, rite, wright, right and write are especially easy to get wrong as they are a group of 4. Most are groups of 2 or 3. Naturally they all have similar spelling. The English language would suddenly become easier if they were all spelled the same. Much better if true for all homophones.

However, instead, someone way back when decided to complicate my spelling life and came up with 4 spellings, each with its own meaning(s).

Now why am I speaking of spelling when my intention is to speak on fridges and washers. Well, I guess there is oddly a similarity. I promise.

In 1972, a long time ago, before the age of personnal computers, I purchased a 14 cubic foot coldspot fridge that, as far as I know still works. About 2005, I made a mistake. I wanted a bigger, better fridge…with an ice dispenser. It barely outlasted its 1 yr warrentee. I had it repaired. It broke again.

I bought another. It lasted 2 years and broke. Anyone notice a pattern here? Is there something wrong that they they can’t build them right?

When our washer broke, we bought another. Now that was a bad idea. I should have had the other one repaired. It was just a belt. I don’t have any memory of the old one dancing around the kitchen during the spin cycle. Thought about figuring a way to nail the new thing to floor.

The problem was, it works just the way it is supposed to. I can’t expect them to fix it on warrantee. It is simply a design defect. They didn’t design it right.

Guess I’ll be forced to buy a front loader. All the top loaders seem to like to dance. It is the result of an effort to decrease water usage. Well, I guess I could go back to the old wash tubs. It is just the two of us. It isn’t that hard. Fortunately, I still have a good gas dryer. If it breaks, I will get it fixed. I really might not like a new one.

Now. As for the new fridges. They have 3 things wrong. The old ones used a grate on the back of the unit as a condenser. No moving parts and easy to get at. The old ones used simple mechanical timers, which were simple, realiable, inexpensive and easy to replace. Modern ones use computers, complex, expesive, difficult and nearly impossibie to get to. You’d think such parts would have an easy access panel.

Then there is the coup de grace. Instead of using a heating element for defrosting, they use lights, which must be replaced on a regular basis. With us, it was about yearly.

Now, here’s the connection I promised you between the spelling and engineering. In general, people do expect me, an amateur, to get it right, though, I must admit I am prone to mess up now and then. These characters, engineers go to college four years and they are paid a bunch to get it right. They don’t and they still get paid.

As a short word in the defense of the engineers. They are under a lot of pressure to go green. (you know, Environmental, Social, Governmental, ESG)

You see, just as they decided to make English more difficilt, they have also decided to make appliances more difficult.

Okay. It is a stretch, a big one. Stll you get my point.

Incidentally, I wonder if it ever comes up in board rooms that they can make more profit off units that they can advertise as computer controlled instead of the old mechanical ones.

Know Your Limit?

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An ad for a casino… doesn’t make any difference which one. They all make the same statement, “Know your limit.”

I don’t know if it is reqired by law or some organization but I guess it is the least any gambling organizatiom should do.

However, I don’t have a clue what good it does. I mean, just as the alcoholic, the sick gamber has no way to control his limit whethet he knows it or not. If he is issued one, he will fly right by it, continually making an exception for himself.

I guess it does clear their consciences after someone gambles away the last of their paycheck. By the way, it does happen far more than most people know.

Who Will be There?

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We know President Trump will be at the border. We know Old Joe will be there, finally. Then again, does Old Joe ever know where he is?

For sure, we know the the mass media will be there, really playing up Joe’s presence. On the other hand you know that Trump’s crowd will be there.

I just wonder how many of Joe’s lagitimate crowd will be in attendace.