Big Boy

The UP 4014 returning from Denver to Cheyenne this morning.

I’m a steam engine fan and usually position myself for a great view with a photogenic background. This week life got in the way.

Eight years ago the UP brought 4014 back from a museum in California. My very amateur video is it passing Tie Siding, WY in a snow storm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7MOBSIdPuU&ab_channel=FrankWhite

Later I was able to tour the Steam Shop in Cheyenne and see it dismantled and being restored. Since then I have missed very few opportunities to see it running.

https://wellseasonedfool.blogspot.com/search?q=UP+Steam+Shop

844 is still in Cheyenne and in operating condition. The Challenger has been given to another railroad museum. I saw its last run pulling the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus train. Sadly, that was the final circus train run.

Go Woke, Go Broke

 Back in the day selling cars, one pain was the visits by manufacturer reps. Worse was going to one of their meetings. In twenty+ years, only two would I have had on my crew and one, Peter Butterfield, was President of Kia at the time.

Painful to watch is this buffoon with his plan to destroy Ford.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUdHx2zX4Uo&ab_channel=Velocity

 I’m sure this plays well to the elites he runs around with and does wonders for his ego. What none of these jerks, with their focus group think mentalities is they don’t know their customers and what their customers really want.

 The great unwashed car consumers, in large numbers, don’t really like cars. They have them because they need them. What they want is a Ford Tempo of which I personally sold hundreds. The perfect, at the time, a no brainer car, it filled a very large niche.

 The inside was roomy enough for four people and was easy to enter and exit. Visibility was adequate. The four cylinder engine, basically one half of a 302 V-8, was stove bolt reliable and had adequate acceleration and an easy cruising speed. The car had a comfortable ride. Turn the key and it started. Shift into drive and away you went. With A/C, cruise, and a simple sound system, the down payment and monthly payment was within the reach of many people. For whatever reason, the two door models and the 5 speed manuals had a few problems but the four door automatics were nearly bullet proof.

 As a salesman, the gross profit on one was laughable but I loved selling them. A quick easy sale, they inflated my monthly numbers. At that Ford store, selling 20 cars a month put you into large bonuses.

 Ford replaced it with the Contour, a sexy European Ford. The Contour cost more, was cramped, and never as reliable. The mechanics loathed working on them.

Ford has made it clear they are committed to electric vehicles and plan to be 100% EV by 2035. Corporate suicide.

What has kept Ford alive through good times and bad times, especially bad times, are trucks. They seem determined to fuck that up, too. EcoBoost engines are crap, per my friends still in the business. Loading the trucks with excess electronic crap that is hard to use and doesn’t do a damn thing to help a truck do truck stuff, Ford is doing the dance of death.

I’m not commenting on their agriculture products as I don’t have a clear idea of what is happening.

The biggest mistake the corporate types make, IMO, is not recognizing who their customer is. It tain’t the family leaving the lot with a happy tag flapping in the breeze. The customer is the lending institution writing a check (ok, direct deposit) to the dealership. They are the buyer and the driver(s) buys it one month at a time.

To the few wokers who might read this, this curmudgeon Senior would like to bring this to your attention. The consumer always keeps the right to vote their wallet. When you try to force what the consumer doesn’t want, the cash flow that sustains you will dry up. Go woke, go broke.

Popular Sentiment.

As seen in my neighborhood.

As seen in the patch. 

Democrat affordable housing, soon to come.

Will Innovation Save Us?

 A Senior Citizen curmudgeon has a few words to say about our current society. You have been warned and may choose to move on.

Climate change warriors, along with their social change fellow traveler warriors, are determined to fundamentally change our world. Inspired by  their Messiah, the Lightbringer,  aka Barry Soetora , they are certain they know best and the rest of us are their inferiors.

Along this line of thought check out LL’s recent post.  https://www.virtualmirage.org/heroism/.

As these heroic (in their own minds) warriors work to force these changes upon us, their principal weapon is to destroy/deny what we lesser people depend upon. With no other choice someone will come up with green replacements. Innovation by necessity. Or, useless carbon critters will simply die off.

Why should they believe otherwise? While growing up they have always received what they wanted/demanded. The sacrifices of previous generations to create the world they inherited are rarely acknowledged and their values are those installed by teachers (those that can work, those who cannot teach).

Reality? That is for lesser mortals.

Mix in the all too common human failings (avarice, jealousy, degeneracy, etc) and you have a perfect shit storm coming.

Do I take any satisfaction in their fate when this whole weakened system collapses? No, because my sons and grandchildren will be harmed.

 

Climate Change

Sitting in a waiting room, bored,  I picked up a TIME magazine. There was an article on oceans I thought might be interesting. Probably the first time I’ve looked at a TIME in years.

First paragraph the author said”….., climate change, which we have caused”. I didn’t read any further.

The relationship between Gaia’s trip around the Sun, and the Sun’s activity, has more to do with climate change than any human activity.

https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2948/milankovitch-orbital-cycles-and-their-role-in-earths-climate/

Yah, but. Notice the sidebar, …..last hundred years. Science be damned, must keep selling the narrative.

In the past 100 years approximately 500 above water volcanoes have erupted. What impact on the climate is the result?

Volcanoes under water are common with little known as to how many or their intensity. What is their impact on the oceans?

Pollution? Look to China, India, and lesser Asian and African players.

To me all of this climate change bullshit is political.

Solutions? I have none I care to commit to print.

As always, YMMV

Bitch, Moan, Complain

Alas, poor pitiful me.

Last week the A/C Compressor clutch on my car went south. Original equipment, it only had 193,000 miles on it. You would think it would have lasted longer.

I use a mechanic who works out of his house. He needs the money and I’m cheap. That, and every shop in town, worth using, is booked solid for weeks. A new compressor installed but won’t engage – some electrical problem. Yesterday the mechanic went step by step diagnosing the problem. The conclusion is the dash control is toast. He will look in the salvage yards this week. The dealership just laughs when you say your car is a 1995.

The next few days are going to be a challenge with this current heat wave (quit laughing, Texans).

Banner won’t suffer. He gets to spend the day at Sisty’s air conditioned house when he isn’t in his air conditioned apartment. 

Sometimes Government Agencies Don't Lie

 

Too Much Doom and Gloom

With all the negativity flowing around us, and the justified concerns about food supplies, personal security and rampant stagflation I try to enjoy what the moment brings.

In my building at least ten people carry treats with them to give Banner. He eagerly accepts them and much hilarity ensues.

 Down the hall, Kate keeps a dog treat station we must pass on the way to the elevator. The header picture is across the hall from our door. Abuela Esther keeps treats in that container and leaves the occasional morsel for Banner to find.

Further down the hall is Tom, Mr. Sneaky Treater. An amputee, he hides treats in the hall for Banner to find. When I challenge him, he claims total innocence. 

Crossing the lobby sometimes takes ten minutes. Often, comments are made about poor Banner forced to live with a grumpy old man.

All of this lightens the spirits of everyone.

I won the dog lottery with this beast.

Minor Miracle

Praise the Lord

While not especially religious I am a believer and yesterday driving home from helping my son move I took time to thank the Creator for the good people he has put on this Earth.

Some background. I have a son with Asperger Syndrome. I attribute his condition to multiple inoculations as a toddler. His older brother is autistic.

This son has had a turbulent life but has, in the past ten years, overcome many setbacks and problems. He has been living in a rented room for four years in a house six doors down from a notorious motorcycle gang clubhouse. He was able to find a nice apartment to lease. He spent two months meticulously planning the move which was to occur this past Saturday. The movers, All My Sons Movers, didn’t show up on time.

I worked Saturday and, due to the heat, left Banner with Sisty. I was there when my son called in despair. Sisty, a remarkable and formidable person, came up with Plan Z. At 1700 on a Saturday she was able to secure a rental truck for Sunday after 1100.

Sisty, with her huge heart, provides a home for several good people who have stumbled and are turning their lives around. She treats them as her “children” and they are family.

Sunday I was at my son’s when the movers arrived. After surveying the job, they got in their truck and left. They didn’t even have the courtesy to speak to my son. They just drove away.

Called Sisty. She picked up the truck at 1100 with two of her “children” and drove the 50 minutes to Commerce City arriving around 1300. By 1700 all of my son’s belongings were in his new apartment 18 miles away. I might add the temperature was 100°.

Praise the lord for such good people who will drop what they are doing and help a fellow human!

Saturday was to be a great day for my son. Instead, he once again had to rely on his father.

Father is grateful for family and good people. Father is also grateful to see his son in a decent place instead of living in a house with crazy people in a dangerous neighborhood.

Temporary Permits

Back in the day when you bought a car a 4x6 inch temporary permit was taped somewhere in the rear light (window). They were hard to read especially with dark tint. The state changed to a license plate sized plastic wrapped temporary to be affixed to the license plate location. The expiration date is clearly visible from some distance away.

The old car salesman in me always notices them. I’m amused by how many are expired, some two months or more. Yesterday I saw a car with one so old the plastic had separated and was flapping in the wind. Do you think that might attract police attention?

Corvettes

I’ve never owned one nor wanted one. I don’t fit as a start. Still the concept and styling I find appealing. This new mid engine Corvette is, to me, ugly. Especially from the rear, it is “Butt Ugly”. If I were to spend big bucks on a sports car, it would be a Morgan Aero Super Sport.

Sad Fact of Life

At a nearby Senior Housing place this morning there was an all too common sight. It happens where I live often.

Gratitude

I’m grateful at age 77 (soon to be 78) I’m still able to work and persevere. I’m grateful for my health and especially for my family. Rather than complain about all the shit life brings us, I prefer to remember the words I learned from Jackie Cooper, “Winners do what losers won’t”. I’m no champion but I’m damn sure no loser.

How About a Laugh, For a Change?

Banner this morning. Lucky me, he lets me sleep here at night but wants a freshly made bed in the morning.

Is this dog spoiled, or well cared for?

Motherhood Rant

I’ve mentioned my part time employment as, legally, a collection agent. Specifically, I hand deliver a letter on behalf of the mortgage company and file a report with photographs.

One recent assignment left me disgusted. A single mother with a filthy house (as seen through the open door from the porch), lawn full of weeds not maintained, and clutter everywhere. A surly teenage male came to the door then very rudely called out to his mother. She came to the door and started a “poor little me” well practiced spiel.

Why she has allowed that worthless son to grow up in this fashion baffles me. He should be keeping that yard and that house looking good instead of sponging off his mother.

I know many strong women who haven’t let life’s events and lousy choices in men keep them from living a productive life and raising decent children. My respect for them runs deep as does my loathing of quitters and whiners.

My assignments range from million dollar trophy homes to single wide wobblies in the boonies.  A common sight is expensive toys and vehicles (most likely leased) on the premises. I stay emotionally detached, for the most part, but on occasions my hard heart is touched. “Oxygen in use” sign is one trigger.

My visit is, to the mortgagee, stressful. I’ve long ago lost any need to “Lord it Over” anyone so my time on their porch is as brief and impersonal as I can make it.  Other than the occasional crazy, it works for me.

The economy? Every month my assignments increase. Most now involve refinancing offers. I anticipate most of those refinanced homes will be seeing a visit from me in six months or so.

Independence Day

Attended a community cookout here in our 90+ senior apartments. Good food and good conversation. Disappointed that only my apartment displayed a flag, I decided to send a message with my attire.

A few got the message.

Not This Year

Three years ago at Walden, CO. Named for the nearby mountain range, The Never Summer Rodeo.

Tis a privilege to live in Colorado.

Unwanted Notoriety

This is a local breakfast and lunch place owned by a Greek family. You will find three, maybe four generations at work with young grandchildren bussing the tables. The husband cooks and the wife runs the dining room. She has a long memory.

We occasionally have Sunday brunch there. Several years ago I tripped over that pictured step and went flat face forward on the floor. Every time I eat there, including this morning, she reminds me to, “Watch your step”.

 What to do? I simply thank her and watch my step since I will never live down that one misstep.