Not in My Lifetime

Posted in Electric Automobiles, Gas vs Electric, Going Green by

The declaration has been made. It has been determinedgames. couple of short decades, maybe a tad more, cars made in the US will not have internal combustion engines. I would argue the point. In fact I have very vigorously. Can’t see how that will happen, but the more I argued the point the less people listened.

So, I have accepted the inevitable. In fact, I bought an electric car. For me, it is really working out well. Considering how little I drive, it is wonderful. About every 4th day, I plug it in and go quietly motoring right by all the gas stations, which brings me to the real object of this post, gas stations.

Can you foresee it, the gradual fading away of something that polkadoted our landscape since, oh, about 1905 or 1910, I guess. Some would have to remain for some gas powered vehicles: trucks, buses, police cars, ambulances, etc, etc, and so forth.

The proverbial gas station will fade, fade away. We can and will likely fight it. However, those ecologist do seem unstoppable.

This means the service station will need to change or go out of business. It makes me wonder what it will be like, though I’ll not ever see it in my lifetime. Oh, I will see a little change here and there. But just how things will be are decades away, maybe longer. To be sure, obstacles will be encountered. Problems will have to be solved.

The way I see it, the biggest problem is charge time. Mostly, it slows the long trip. Let’s say I want to go see the Grand Canyon. It’s around 1500 miles from here. If I have a car that has a 300 mile range, it means at least 5 stops to recharge, more likely 6. That does assume recharge stations are located at ideal spots along the way. Right now, that means each stop must be a minimum of 30 minutes. That does not count time waiting for a charging station. You see that family that left this area 2 minutes before me will get to that charging station before me. That means waiting 30 minutes for him to finish charging his car.

Now, let’s look at the converted recharge station. Instead of 10 pumps, it now has 10 rechargers. Instead of taking 5 minutes to refill a gas tank we’re looking at 30 minutes, six times longer to recharge the cars.

I guess we won’t have as much gas stations, but likely 5 or 6 times as many charging stations.

I suppose this problem might be somewhat resolved with a charging system that is a lot faster. That does, of course, leave those in the future with 2 more problems. Distribution of that much electricity without a big improvement to the grid. The second problem is generating that much electricity without making a bunch of greenhouse gasses.

Some People Just Can’t Think Beyond Their Nose

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As the official objective observer of Memphis, I can’t help but think those guys who live north of me can’t seem to go a day without shooting themselves in the foot.

The city government seems to intentionally be driving residents and businesses out of town with taxes and substandard schools. It would seem they are also getting help in their endeavor by the criminal element.

Surely some have already left. Others are standing ready as soon as they are ready and able.

Then, just today, I see a story about people breaking into cars in FedEx parking lots.

Please, please let me explain, warn and caution those who occupy homes north of me. If the Memphis city government and the criminals of Memphis succeed in combining their efforts at driving FedEx out of Memphis….

Stop. Please stop and think just what will happen when FedEx pulls up the anchor, some other location will greatly benefit. Memphis will have a huge problem. People will be wanting to leave by the thousands but the value of their houses will plummet.

That wonderful beautiful home you just bought will become an anchor holding you in place because, guess what. No one will buy that house at half what you paid for it.

Nearly thirty thousand Memphians will either have to leave or find some other way of making a living. Those thirty thousand spend a lot of their earnings in Memphis and the surrounding area. Apartments would be vacated decreasing rental revenues. Sales of many businesses will plumet. When you consider many of those businesses are already on the brink of shutting down already, it might be the final straw. That, in turn will cause more job losses.

Let’s not overlook the big thing concerning the city. Sales tax will drop. Real estate revenues will take a huge hit. Conceivably, the snowball effect just might be the thought no one wants to think. Yet, they better, lest it become a reality, not just a nightmare.

Consider, please? Memphis has roughly 500 thousand residents. I would guess no more than a third bring home a paycheck, many from city and county. You simply cannot cut out 30 thousand of those checks without rocking city and county governments bunches.

Actually, it would like send tremors out into Desoto and Crittendon Counties too. Many FedEx employees live in Mississippi and Arkansas.

Primenister Netanyahu

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For years I have been trying to get a message that to him that, while others might not like his methods, I do. In fact the world would be far better off if more of the world’s leaders were more like him, both in courage and ideology.

I guess I could send a message to someone somewhere but I have never found a way to make sure the message would get through. In fact, in this current world, I suspect there are many who would make sure the message never got through.

I know the message would do him little good, but I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt. For that matter, maybe it wouldn’t hurt for a bunch more folks send him a reassurance now and again. I mean he knows he’s doing what’s right. But it does help to know there are a few who agree.

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The Definition of ‘Tips’

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During the short duration of the pandemic, it would seem the definition as well as the customs of ‘tips’ have changed. Don’t get me wrong. I do believe there are segments of our society who have and should receive tips. However, regardless, tips are not earned simply by being present. By past customs, tips were based on quality of service, not on the quality of the product. For instance, quality of food can not be effected significantly by a waitress.

As we exited the pandemic, it seems they had some success in changing that. Repeatedly, I have entered restaurants lately where tips are expected, regardless of the quality of service or even if there were services rendered. Even more, they want to collect tips before any service at all. How is it that I am supposed to base the tip on quality of service under such conditions, that is, unless I am somehow able to predict the future.

Maybe some ought to be aware that, before the pandemic, a 20% tip was pretty rare. It certainly was not the norm of the day. Nowadays, expectations start at 20% and go up and up. I have no idea how that happened. Many of us are not made of money. 20% tips just might mean a family of 4 or 5 will be eating at home, which will only reduce tip income even more. However, it certainly does not stop there.

My wife and I survive almost totally on Social Security and I am sure there are those who are worse off than we are. Should we be expected to pay 20%, or even 10% when we have to virtually beg for reasonable service. (In one case, we had to wait 30 minutes after getting out meal to get a knife and fork to eat it with. Is there maybe a reason that waitress not get any gratuity?) Should we tip at all when the only service rendered is nothing more than a beverage.

Then too, what about the family with sudden unexpected expenses. There may be medical and or hospital expenses. Just as a reminder, colleges cost can make a poor man out of almost any father. Regardless of the reason, are we going to expect the people with temporary setbacks to continue to tip at a rate of 20%.

Regardless, as I remember it, tips are not mandatory, at least not normally. Some restaurants have actually made the tip part of the bill. Incidentally, I never went to such a place nor will you ever find me in such a place, even should I suddenly become a millionaire. I still maintain that, no matter what, tips should never be mandatory. It does go contrary to my belief that a tip should be voluntary and dependent the quality of service.

I suspect those restaurants will not miss me. There do seem to be many who are willing and able to meet and exceed the new expectations. Just don’t include me amongst them. I would hope and guess that many others would take my stance. I would trust that no one would try to alter that.

And, yes I am cheap. To separate me from my money, you will have to earn it.

Fun, Fun, Fun, They Say

Posted in Gambling by

It’s what the casinos say. It’s what they say about the lotteries. That is what they promise on the news and ads paid for by the state lottos. Oddly, it even rates a full segment on the news, which does make me wonder, is it news or an ad?

My observation is, if it is fun, it’s not for long. Perhaps it’s seconds, minutes, not much more than a day at the most.

Personally, I would have more fun riding a lawn tractor. I wish I could afford one.

[Let’s Add a Title] (Oops) Our Castles, Our Castles, Our Homes

Posted in Advertising, Christian values, Crime, Deceit, Lawyers and Representation, Priorities by

Just finished watching the news, which was followed by an infomercial of hometitlelock.com. I would suspect that at any time of the day or night, I can find a station that is or soon will be advertising it or something similar.

I have no idea how much that advertising costs, but it has to be a bunch.

Do you know what that tells me? That tells me that protecting homes is a very profitable business. Otherwise, there is no way they could afford all that advertising.

So, I think we can safely say, thieves stealing homes are not the only ones who make their fortunes from the thievery. It would seem, the aforementioned corporation, the advertising companies as well as the radio and TV stations are likely making their bundles of wealth from it too.

We can stop all this, you know. We can change the laws and we can change the priorities of law enforcement. We need laws that make it much more difficult. That alone would cause a drop in stolen homes. However, if we zero in on and throw as many house stealers as we can and put the in prison, as well, the aforementioned corporation will no longer be able to afford all the advertising.

My personal opinion is, that is a good thing, though some will need to go looking for other means of earning money, maybe something of more purpose.

Government Paychecks

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I guess I was in high school when it first occurred to me about folks drawing paychecks directly from the government. Many more draw their pay indirectly from the government, such as working for companies deriving the majority of their income from the government.

Many will ask why it should make a difference. Others will suggest it is a good and honest way to make a living. I guess to some degree both are true. However, I like to consider it scaled down.

Consider, a town of 100. Would it be a good thing that 50 of them draw paychecks from the other 50? Is it a good thing that only 50 of them do productive work?

I am being extreme, of course in making my point. It just is that with the small numbers, it is easier to comprehend what happens when someone draws a government paycheck.

The fact is, big government is expensive. Extremely big government is extremely expensive.

I look around and what I see, is extremely big government. To some, it might not seem so but we must remember, every person deriving a paycheck from the government means more taxes. That is to say, the others of us must provide for them, food, shelter, and so forth.

Certainly, some things must be done by governments. Consider The Department of Education. It has 4400 employees and a budget of 68 billion. Why? How many of them stand in a classroom and teaches… or makes a measurable contribution. I truly suspect that if the entire department went away, hardly anyone would notice. Well the National Education Association to be sure. The two of them are joined at the hip.

The thing is, it doesn’t stop there. There is no telling how many people work in each state for some kind of education department. Let’s multiply that by 50 fifty and we’re talking a bunch of people.

Then each county and each major city has their education system. At this point we are likely talking a bunch of folks who make their living educating our children and none enters a classroom.

Actually The Department of Education is a relatively small department. At every level, city, county, state and federal governments we have, law enforcement, courts and lawyers, again multiplied by fifty.

As an aside, what physical product do the lobbyists produce? Oh. That’s right, none. They’re in essence a bunch of parasites making a fortune in bribery. Going back to our little 100 person community, just what purpose would they have there?

Yet, if we ask every government employee at every level to justify his job, they would all be ready with an answer. Well, almost all of them.

Romney’s Right for the Wrong Reason

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Romney made a statement that Old Joe should have pardoned President Trump long ago. He thinks that it is a distinction and everyone already knows he’s guilty.

The truth is, Biden is the initiator of all the persecutions and it has done nothing but helped Trump. Even more, Old Joe and all his minions are going to look really bad with all those figurative eggs over their faces if Trump remain un-convicted of all charges.

THAT will NOT go well for Old Joe in the upcoming election.

I don’t know how to say this

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Seems to me we had something of an agreement. Two bills were passed. One was for aid to Israel the other for aid to Ukraine. Now, just how is it that the one for Ukraine counts but the one for Israel doesn’t?

Can it be…can it there be a possibility that Old Joe ain’t so trustworthy? I mean the occupier of the Oval Office just, well, he reneged on his word.

Now, that just can’t be. I mean, that would involve a person taking the oath of office for President of the United States said or implied one thing and is doing another.

Now, I can’t speak for all citizens of this country but I consider it an embarrassment at all levels for the US and for the office that Old Joe is misrepresenting both to the nation and the world.

This is just so horrible; I just don’t know how I can properly say it.

The Experts

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I actually did have some college. I had 1 semester in electronics, in which I carried a B+ average. I really should have stuck it out but there was a lot going on back then an I ended up in the Marines. There were downsides, but the Marines did give me the equivalent of a 2 year degree in electronics. By the way, they did teach me a few other things too, such as how to shoot.

Going back to the college, I had a teacher that said a thing that really stuck with me. He said that an expert is someone who knows a whole lot about very little. His argument, of course, was that we should never zero in so much on learning one thing such that we remain ignorant in all others.

It is so true and, as I go through life, it only becomes clearer to me how true it is.

However, it is also true about turning things over to so-called experts, people who know a whole lot about so little. So I ask, are teachers experts? Have they become highly knowledgeable on teaching while not really knowing what they should teach and why.

I have seen teachers I could not understand. I have seen English teachers that sent notes to parents with subject verb disagreements. My son’s teacher accused him of losing a book later found in the teacher’s lounge. Now just what does all this teach our kids?

We have turned our government over to experts who know how to write laws without knowing what kind of laws are needed. Some of them have never run a business or even held down a real job. A great many of them don’t understand the basics, such as the law of supply and demand.

Some experts seem to think they know about gender changes when they never learned the difference between wrong and right.

As you can well imagine I can go on, but you get my point, or I hope you do. I suppose you might be one who wants to turn the world over to a bunch of people who have a great deal of knowledge on very little.