Politics and Weather; Neither Can be Avoided

 Tis’ a Privilege

Living in Colorado. Despite Californication, traffic, and miles of ugly two story houses on postage sized lots, the vistas remain. While hanging paper the other day, the air was crystal clear, the Front Range snow covered, the sun was shining, and just a few high cirrus clouds were over the mountains. Just looking at the mountains lifted my spirits.

A few days earlier an assignment took me 130 miles east in the high plains. There is much to see if you know to look and the land stretches seemingly forever.

 Perhaps these are, “stop and smell the roses”, moments?

 B.S. from our English Cousins

Once again, a study that pleases the ones funding it.

MORE EV Crap

 Immigration War

 Activism” meets reality when President Trump’s Executive Orders turns of the ‘free’ Federal money.

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Emperor Polis demonstrates his grasp of important issues.

Presidential Material

 TABOR

Colorado specific.

If you file taxes in Colorado, you must opt in to get your TABOR refund. Another sneaky (P)regressive money grabbing tactic.

 Along that line, Polis and fellow thieves are forecasting a budget shortfall while several agencies are sitting on previously allocated funds that have not been spent.

WSF gets racist

Big rig truck driving is a tough job. Truck companies have a tough time hiring drivers. Increasingly long haul truck drivers are immigrants with limited, or no, English. Articles like this one ignore that factor.

Reality

The only hint is one line.

Bowes noted that it’s only a half-joke that some of the drivers who don’t know the right procedures for mounting chains are seen on roadsides and chain stations in shorts and sandals in winter weather.

Also mentioned are understaffed State Patrol officers.

The same situation exists along I-80 in Wyoming compounded by low wages for snow plow drivers resulting in not enough snow plows.

OK, WSF, are you saying immigrants can’t drive trucks? No, immigrants aren’t trained, or prepared, for the loads and highways they are expected to traverse.

 I watch several YouTube channels involving tow companies working wrecks. Time after time the drivers have limited English.

 Disclaimer: Anyone who hired WSF to drive anything bigger than a one ton flatbed was foolish. One employer banned me from pulling trailers. A man should know his limitations. Sisty can fill you in on a box truck and low bridge in Casper.

Medical Care Rant

I’ve no major complaints about the medical care I’ve received. What I do complain about is just getting a @#$# appointment. For the patience impaired, such as myself, the endless, “Please listen to all the options………..”. Finally here the option I want and press the number. Now I hear again, “You have reached the …..Department. Please listen to the………… Aarg!

I begin to question whether I need the medical attention. Too often I just take two acetaminophen and say, “F**k it”.

Trust Fund Snots Keep on Keeping on

Colorado Politics

Disappointed?

What kind of blog post would you expect from a grumpy old man?

Consider the fate of the dog, Banner, who must endure living with me

 As always, YMMV

Anti-Government Rant

 Jackboot Thugs

Another story of the ATF doing a full scale raid on a couple’s home in the early hours and treating the man and wife like dangerous terrorists.  Why the heavy handed tactics when there was no need? 0800 go up and knock on the door. Second question, why wasn’t the county sheriff there? Two deputies in over their heads and likely not trained for that type of situation, would make me question why that sheriff needs to be reelected, if I were a voter in that county.

Hopefully the Trump administration will get this rouge agency under control.

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 It has happened before.

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And not just ATF

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But wait, there is more.

Slickers

Finally

Recent

Butter

Once again I’m seeing articles on how butter is bad and various “spreads” are healthier. Maybe, but something that is one molecule away from plastic isn’t something I want to ingest.

 Not all butter in the supermarket is the same. I try to find “first churned”, usually Amish, roll butter. Expensive, but my health is worth it.

Pardons

I’m not a lawyer and haven’t stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in years. That said, I think SloJo’s handlers have made a huge blunder. Those “pardoned” can no long take the 5^th, as I understand the way the system works. Slimy Milley didn’t just do it alone. He had aides, subordinates, who in the normal course of time will be promoted into higher position. They helped him, and they can be prosecuted. The head snake may escape but the pit of vipers can’t.

 There are scores of  MIlleys sitting on a Presidential pardon.

 Are these subordinates going to quietly accept their fate? Or, will they take out the threat to them? Will our national murder rate have an upswing?

 “If no one talks, we all walk”.

EV Blues

Trump pledges to target the EV industry, while Coloradans widely embrace their clean new cars

Typical leftist journalism click bait headline. Because of big subsidies (i.e. sucking at the taxpayer’s tit) some people buy electric vehicles. The rest of us paying for those subsidies are less enthusiastic.

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My view? Go President, Trump, go!

Speaking of American Mainstream Maggots (h/t BZ)

Anonymous source, not authorized to speak publicly, says………….

Which likely means the anonymous source is the reporter’s imagination.

 He wants to be your next President

Such a good smoke and mirrors job he has done to Colorado, just imagine what he can do for the country!

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Choice Pallet

I’m falling behind on the competition for the best pallet next to the stove with no fuel. LL, among others, is way ahead.

 As always, YMMV

Wandering Thoughts from an Unfocused Mind

 

This is Embarrassing

 Fire Department

Electric Bill

Is anyone surprised that almost exactly ½ of my electric bill is for things other than electricity? That means every time I get an email from scumbag woke green power advocate Xcel telling me how to reduce my bill I get pissed.

This is an example of, instead of taxed to death, we are “fees” to death. Fee or tax, what does it matter? Hits my wallet exactly the same. Speaking of fees:

 At a morning news conference, members of the caucus announced a series of bills that Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, said would create an average annual savings of $4,500 per family if passed. The bills involve repeal of new fees and regulatory increases signed since 2019, rollback of regulations concerning homebuilding and new approaches to energy policy.

The announcement follows the December release of a study commissioned by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce that found Colorado is the sixth-most-regulated state and that 45% of its 170,000 rules are redundant or excessive compared to other states.

Has a snowball’s chance in hell passing, IMO.

Renewable Energy Aftermath

What a farce, these windmills. Petroleum fuel needed to construct them, petroleum lubricants in large quantities needed for their operation. Depending on the size, 60 to 700 gallons for a five mega-watt is needed for one generator.

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The areas strip mined for coat is reclaimed and the idea of covering these windmill parts in the pits before they are covered is sensible. An idea so sensible the federal government takes four years to approve the practice.

P.S. As I travel around these windmills I’ve yet to see an EV service truck.

Wolves

The stupidity continues. The area residents are getting wise. Flight tracking and map reading (state owned land) must irritate the mandarins.

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Friends of mine in Routt County raise, train, and sell Akbash guardian dogs.  Want to take odds on owners of these dogs being prosecuted when one of their dogs kills a wolf?

Now some feel good group is offering a $100,000 reward for the conviction of anyone killing a wolf.

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Secretary of State Jena Griswald (P) Colorado

Speculation is she intends to run for Governor. A recent comment about her from a polling firm says this:

SoS Jena Griswold (D) is thought to be interested, and is transparently ambitious, but also a somewhat polarizing progressive figure.”

 Adds Colorado Peak Politics:

No two words in polite English conversation describe Griswold better than “transparently ambitious,” yet we would throw in “ruthlessly” just for accuracy.

My guess is she will try for the United States Senate. I expect the incumbent saloon keeper won’t run again. She will lose, as Emperor Polis wants to be our next Senator.

Food Shortages

The Safeway I patronize frequently has noticeable shortages of eggs and dairy products. Not out, but seldom full shelves. Manufactured crap, yes. As an example, I put heavy cream in my coffee. No cholesterol. The cooler is seldom full. Next window over is “sweet creamer”. Reading the label you find a long list of ingredients but no dairy cream.

Pure Blood

Many of my neighbors in the apartment building are sick. Several are hospitalized. The common denominator seems to involve lungs and/or flu. Every one of them took the whole COVID regime shots.

One neighbor is militantly anti-vac. She and I seem to be the only ones in the building not afflicted. Lesson here?

 As always, YMMV

 

Garbage Time

 The Biden criminal enterprise and fellow travelers are doing their worst to cement their garbage policies ahead of #47. May we hope the next four years will see them prosecuted?

Merge, merge merge,

Mergers are in the automobile news.. Stellantist is shedding car companies world wide. Honda is picking up Nissan. Great news!

Toyota is picking up Subaru. I’ve mixed feelings about that.

Stellantist is a case of bean counters making manufacturing and engineering decisions with the immediate bottom line the only consideration. The result is unreliable vehicles with horrible repair costs.

Will Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram survive?  Some dealers are sitting on two years of unsold vehicles. The vehicle reliability and quality suck.

A YouTube channel worth watching is CarEdge. Good information. I wouldn’t pay a penny for their services. As someone who sold cars for decades, I loathe their advice.

“What is your bottom line out the door price?”

Come to the dealership, face to face, and find out. Otherwise, fuck off and stop wasting my time.

I was selling Fords when Henry II checked out and Petersen took over as President. He implemented, “Quality is Job One”. Two years later Ford made a greater quarterly profit than the rest of the industry combined. All those electronics gewgaws mean nothing if the car won’t start or breaks down on your way to work. Worse, when there are so many engine failures that your vehicle sits at the dealership for ninety days because no replacement engines are available.

More Wolves

Show my surprised face that the Colorado State Mandarins aren’t keeping their promises to local livestock growers. 

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Who might have guessed Federal Laws were broken? That calls for a full fledged FBI investigation. Might as well, they aren’t busy doing anything important.

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Now a group is trying to get an initiative on the 2026 ballot repealing the law that created wolf introduction. I wish them well but am not holding my breath.

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Oberrodenbach

LSP writes fondly of London while discussing cities he likes. I have a hazy fond memory of this German town.

During my tour of Germany (1964-1966) the Kennedy Half Dollars were issued. The Germans were huge Kennedy fans and would pay around 5 Marks for one. (The exchange ratio was around 3.80 DM to one US Dollar). My parents would send me rolls of 50 cent pieces and I would sell them to the Germans. That made for some nice pocket money and some interesting social interactions. One night a buddy and I stopped in this German town. The locals were holding a Sekt Fest (sparkling wine) to raise money for some cause. We were asked to buy drinks for the servers, local townspeople volunteers. My buddy, more fluent than I, determined the their goal was to raise 400 DM. We coughed up 300 DM, declared an open bar, and got all the volunteers and attendees  drunk after some of the locals, not to be outdone by GIs, opened their wallets. We, of course, stayed somewhat sober (of course, WSF). Our good fortune was  being E-5s  on a weekend pass. Somehow we were able to sign in before 0600 Monday morning.

 Sorry, LSP, lower standards, and all that. Might we suspect you weren’t always a model soldier?

Press on Regardless

 

A rally the Detroit area SCCA sponsors. The name always struck a chord with me as that is my approach to life, in general. However, recently while running some errands I skipped grocery shopping. 

“Self”, I told myself, “You are retired, have no pressing commitments, have ample food in the apartment, and can come back when there are fewer shoppers”.

Someday I might embrace being semi-retired. Old Air Force Sarge will be my role model.

Starting the New Year with peace of mind

Cackles wasn’t elected. My rent increase was less than my social security increase. The difference might buy a Happy Meal; not complaining. My next washout check from my paper hanging gig will let me zero out all credit cards. My sons are doing well and my grand kids all seem to be on a positive path. I’m breathing air and taking nourishment.

Los Angeles Fires

It shows a lack of character not to have sympathy for people who have lost everything. That’s me. For once the elites are hit by their own stupid policies instead of hard working families in the Sierras.

I’m reminded of a California transplant, years ago, who was in a ditch off a snow covered road in her new Jeep Wagoneer. We drove her Jeep back on the road with no problems after we read and implemented the 4WD instructions on the dash placard.

My devout  hope is those now homeless LA residents don’t relocate in Colorado.

As always, YMMV

 

Another Trip Around the Sun. Happy New Year, Gaia

 

Wishing many the best for the New Year. Wishing my enemies a not so good New Year.

Not So Blue Colorado

Colorado has 64 counties. In this past election cycle the Democrats made a big push to elect Democrat County Commissioners. They failed.

The announcement:

The Colorado Democratic Party is proud to launch the Colorado County Comeback, a strategic initiative designed to take the fight to elect community-minded folks to battleground county-level district seats.

This project will prioritize targeted investments into counties and candidates, comprehensive campaign planning, rigorous training, and robust staff support for dynamic campaigns led by both incumbents and challengers. Ten applicants will be awarded with the initial grants, with more grant opportunities possible later in the year.

 

“It’s time to end the supermajority of far-right Republican commissioners in Colorado,” the state party’s website reads, noting that only 34 percent of county commissioners in Colorado are Democrats. “The next frontier of Colorado Politics is local. By focusing on local races, we’ll cultivate grassroots success that can translate into significant victories at the congressional and statewide levels.”

The result:

·      2024 ELECTION, DOUGLAS COUNTY, EL PASO COUNTY, EXCLUSIVES, GARFIELD COUNTY, POLITICS, PUEBLO COUNTY, SHERRIE PEIF, UNCATEGORIZED

Colorado Democrats targeted county commissions in November; they ended up losing ground

DENVER — The more high profile outcomes of the November election includes Republicans flipping enough seats in the Colorado House of Representatives to cancel ruling Democrats’ supermajority. There was also Congressional District 8, where GOP candidates flipped both the US House and state board of education seats to the red column. Perhaps equally significant, though lesser known, is the Democrats’ targeted effort to flip county commissioner seats around the state, where after all the votes were counted they actually ended up losing ground.

While the Front Range white suburban moms, university enclaves, and mountain town trust fund snots have kept Colorado blue, the rest of the state is red. Not only red, but deep red.

 Deportations

One of Colorado’s best minds is Jon Caldara. He mixes clarity with humor and a deep knowledge of, “how things work”. Worth the read IMO.

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Perhaps the smug residents of Aspen haave learned they are not as insulated as they thought from the consequences of their liberalism.

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How I Became “Frank-the-tank”

1986 while working for the Sound organization (multi brands/stores car and truck sales) worked an offsite sale involving six different Sound stores. We salesmen were clustered around the entrances with a lot of jostling for position.

 One salesman, Jeff Johnson, tried to push me out of position. I pushed back and soon we were fighting. I got a shoulder under his armpit and leg swept him. He went on his ass and then jumped up. Don Chalmers, one of the store owners, got between us. Brave man, he was all of 5’6” and 140 lbs. Jeff glared at me then said, “Damn, you are a tank”.

 Jeff was a shot putter and football player at the University of Idaho. He made the 1980 Olympic team that Jimmy kept from attending the Moscow Olympics.

The picture was taken several years after the encounter. We became friends of sorts with both being in the car biz in the years after.

 I’m just over 6’. If I had a neck I would be 6’2”. At the time of the encounter I was about 220 lbs. At 16, I was wearing a size 52 jacket. Years of bucking hay bales at 8,000+ altitude gave me upper body size and strength. Had the fight continued, I probably would have lost; Jeff could pick up the back of a Harley.

New Orleans

Rather than pontificating about this attack, I refer you to Aaron Cohen.

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I find him to be somewhat over the top. I do think he knows what he talks about. I like he offers solutions. Sadly, the people who can implement his suggestions lack the will. Perhaps that will change under Trump.

Senator Kennedy makes a promise.

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 He will likely have a strong backer.

 As always, YMMV