Well Seasoned Fool: Making Political Hay (and byproduct)

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Making Political Hay (and byproduct)

Aurora, CO

Perhaps the national and international coverage has been needlessly inflammatory? Another view. Still, sunshine is a wonderful disinfectant.

Snark. The Laramie, WY County Sheriff continues to poke the Denver metro bear. Confused? Cheyenne is the county seat of Laramie County. Laramie is the county seat of Albany County. There is no Cheyenne County.

Voting

The 2024 voting guide arrived today. 109 pages. One is sent to every registered voter households in Colorado. How many voters will read it and how many voters will simply throw it in the trash?

I didn’t see any in the trash here at this old foggy/foggyette mansion.

Pensions

Public employee pensions are a mess across the country. Mismanagement in all forms is the reason. Bailout for this fund will amount to about $3,100 per voting age Colorado resident.

Isn’t it time to recognize pension funds are a cookie jar for hedge funds?

Value Judgement

Kindasorta challenge was made on another format regarding my possible expertise in buying/selling automobiles. In past years several small import pickups passed through the WSF fleet. Among them were three Mitsubishi Mighty Maxes, three Ford Couriers/Mazdas, a Chevy LUV (Isuzu) and a Datsun(Nissan).

Why not Toyota, you ask? Aren’t Toyotas superior? Yes, Toyotas are better. All of the trucks mentioned are about 80-90% as good as a Toyota. All were purchased for around 50% of the going price of a Toyota. Everyone is different with different motivation. Personally, I never gave, or give now, a rat’s ass about anyone judging me by what I drive. I do care about value for my money.

There are rare exception about what others think. Westbound, I-90 on Snoqualmie Pass the Washington State Patrol was doing a snow tire/traction device check on all vehicles. As I pulled up in a 4x4 Mighty Max with studded snow tires and Colorado plates, they just waved me through.

As a “road warrior” driving 400+ miles some days, I had two Lincoln Towncars. The second went over 250,000 miles with routine maintenance.

Quiet, comfortable, stable and a trunk worthy of a small pickup, they fitted my needs. The “Lincoln” name didn’t mean anything to me. The reliability and functionality did.

To be clear, I had my moments in my youth. Example, a 1958 Fiat Abarth Zagato (double bubble roof) in Italian Racing Red soaked up a lot of disposable income. Part of soaking up disposable income was keeping it running and more was spent on young ladies who were attracted to the Abarth. Sort of an forerunner to, “It’s Banner and Frank”.

Celebrity Endorsements

Do they have much influence?

Gold King Mine

The debacle that keeps on giving. At the time of this debacle, the EPA had 1,000 lawyers on staff and one, only one, mining engineer. Aside note, our esteemed junior Senator trained as a mining engineer but went on to open a craft beer brewery and saloon.

Accountability for the disaster? Don’t be silly.

GMC?Ford 10 speed disaster

Ford and General Motors jointly developed a 10 speed automatic for heavy duty truck use. It has been a huge problem for many operators with the worst issue the transmission will downshift to second gear while at highway speeds. There are several other, less dramatic, problems. One aftermarket fix is now available.

Neither General Motors, Ford, or Ram will build you a heavy duty pickup with a manual transmission.

Got a Lemon? Make Lemonaide

Made me Laugh

When current events keep harshing your mellow, a good non political, non woke, cartoon refreshes.

Emperor Polis + Wolves

He is term limited and his husband a radical environmentalists. Seems he is hiding his interference. Seems others see his interference and are calling him out.

Sisty

Friday was the annual Salud Family Health picnic. Among others, my sister was recognized for her thirty + (volunteer/unpaid) service to the organization and her many years on the board of directors.

I’m one proud brother, humbled by what she has accomplished.

Banner is a good boy – when he wants to be

He enjoys roaming the hillside in back of our complex. I enjoy letting him do his business where I don’t need to pick it up; him being a two bagger. Recently he has decided to ignore me once free of the leash. He indulges in eating grass (which he then pukes in the apartment from time to time). He isn’t eating grass because he lacks anything. He eats grass because he is a glutton.

I became so irritated I finally read the instructions for the remote training collar that has been gathering dust for months. Now he wants to be a good boy.

A neighbor doesn’t like me and isn’t shy. She once said to me, “I like Banner. I don’t like you!” Recently she inquired if the training collar transmitter affects my pacemaker. When I replied it didn’t she said, “That is too bad”.

As always, YMMV