Tyranny by What Definition

Tyranny

Amazing, how the intellectual left can demonize President Trump for doing his job.

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Nearly every point this smug intellectual makes applies to the Democrats, to Biden, and to the Lightbringer.

The Founders recognized the large population areas will dominate any democratic process to the detriment of rural populations. We are not a “Democratic Constitutional Republic”. We are a Constitutional Republic designed to protect minorities from the tyranny of majorities.

Do you need a current example of why this is necessary? Look no further than Alberta.

IMO, we have been increasingly under tyranny from the woke left and their fellow travelers. Now, thankfully, they are losing all the ground they illicitly gained, and they are having a hissy fit.

My sympathy is for those people, many I know, that are collateral damage. People who were simply finding work where they could. Now their jobs are being flushed.

Wolves

Is technology the answer?

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How long until scofflaws weaponizes the drones? Asking for a friend, of course. Possible consulting gig for LL?

(P)regressive meets karma

Democrat legislator is assaulted by third world immigrant.

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Let me be clear, I never want to see any female sexually assaulted. However, when a supporter of sanctuary bullshit finds herself in a situation far to many people experience, brought on by the policies  she has supported, I cannot help but smile.

I cannot find any verification the alleged perpetrator is here lawfully.

Eggs

Six weeks ago the egg section at Safeway was nearly empty. Now, some are reaching their pull date and are ½ price. Trump effect?

He is bragging gas is under $2.00 a gallon in some places. Not here. Perhaps we are saddled by the (P)regressive’s requirement for “summer formula”. Maybe not, Wyoming prices are about the same as ours.

As always, YMMV

It is For Your Own Good, Deplorable

 

                                                What passes for a Double Stack

Inflation as a World Dominance Tool

We in the USA are too overweight and consume far more than our ‘share’ of the world’s resources. So say academicians and the ultra wealthy supported by settled science (studies they funded) per WSF’s conspiracy theory.

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The solution involves inflation. While benefiting the Federal Reserve ponzi and enriching hedge fund operators, the goal is making food, and daily needs so expensive relative to incomes people will get thinner and consume less resources.

The elites will, of course, have a carve out. Someone needs to stay healthy and have time to oversee the bulk of humanity.

Disclaimer: None of this is original thinking on my part. 1984, Animal Farm, and other books do a better job.

Why does socialism have such an appeal to the college crowd? Part of nearly all curriculum includes reading Edward Bellamy’s “Looking Backwards”.

 If you have read this far without vomiting, thank you for your patience.

Colorado Politics

Despite outward appearances, I don’t think Colorado is deep blue. If it were, why are the (P)regressives hell  bent on shutting up any opposition?

Censors

Little help from the so called Republicans will be forthcoming. They so much love their circular firing squad; they don’t offer any coherent opposition. Jon Caldara, a person I admire, offers an explanation.

Caldara

We have two more years of Emperor Polis (unless he is our next Vice President). Just maybe enough Republicans will pull their heads out of their asses and put together a slate of candidates who are not bat shit crazy and turn Colorado pink, if not red.  I won’t be holding my breath.

Greater Idaho

Since most counties in Eastern Oregon have, by vote, said they want to leave Oregon, will that happen? Will Eastern Washington follow? Does Idaho even want them?

The Weld County, WY movement is dormant, for now. One of many problems is the question, why would Wyoming (population 500,000) want Weld County (population 300,000) with many residents who don’t share Wyoming values?

No Shit, Sherlock

A significant study reveals that plant-based ultra-processed foods are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, suggesting a need for dietary shifts towards less processed options.

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Explains Current Events?

Stay Alert

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil

walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

 

Big Boy

As frequent readers know I’m a big steam engine fan. The Union Pacific has announced an expanded 2024 tour to include the Midwest. 

4014

The logistics of these trips are staggering. All water  towers are long gone. Often the UP partners with local fire departments to fill the tender. Diesel locomotives are included, primarily for braking. Spare parts for the passenger car obsolete brakes are long gone.

 As always, YMMV

Kindness of Strangers - the Dog

 Dog Preparations

Easy prepping for Banner. Neighbors keep stopping by with dog treats. Blasted dog now has at least a two month supply. Last week, bringing a 40 lb bag of dog food past several neighbors gathered in the lobby, I had to stop and answer questions. Finally put an end to the interrogations by saving, “Banner can’t live by treats alone”.

Boondoggle Green Wet Dreams

5280: You’ve studied rail, in all its forms, for most of your adult life. Do you see benefits of high-speed rail in a place like Colorado?

Randal O’Toole: None, really. The benefit is to political egos. That’s it. These are ego projects

Long article Colorado Front Range specific.

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Right now Metro Denver light rail is losing money. The only passenger train that breaks even is the weekend Denver-Winter Park Ski Train. The only year around long term financial success is the Pikes Peak Cog Railroad.

Stirring the pot – a favorite pastime

We of the anti (P)regressive political spectrum are derided by the (P)regressives for our resistance to their agenda. The Supreme Court’s Bruen 2^nd Amendment decision has the (P)regressives feverishly passing firearm laws that even a non lawyer can see are unconstitutional, all in defiance of the Supreme Court, all the while screaming, “We won’t comply”.

Am I alone in seeing the irony?

Why yes, I’ve always been a malcontent

The A.I.T. Engineer Company we survived circa 1963 had a permanent party SP 4 who enjoyed messing with us trainees. He was among his other duties the Mail Clerk. Towards the end of the cycle we received our orders for our next destination. Said clerk, at Revile, made a speech about how we were to inform all our contacts of our new address. He emphasized he didn’t want to be forwarding our mail; his time was too important!

In the classified ads in some tattered magazine being passed around was an advertisement. For $2.00, they would get your name on 10,000 mailing lists. Two years later I was still getting junk mail forwarded from Ft Leonard Wood. Did I share my idea with others in my platoon? Does a bear………..

Another memory of that time were trainees designated acting NCOs. They wore a blue arm band with chevrons and had to be treated by the rest of us like they were real NCOs. Some let their egos get out of hand, forgetting once the cycle was over they went back to being privates. That was payback time. Were the permanent personnel going to take issue? Hell no! Just ship the malcontents out and let their next duty station deal with them. Army tradition.

In my time in the Green Machine, the only branch to approach engineers in mean, nasty, fuck you behavior were the cannon cockers.

Colorado Wolves

Long article in the Steamboat Springs, CO newspaper reporting a leap year day meeting.

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What caught my attention was Patrick Stanko’s name mentioned several times. That was no surprise. He comes from a long line of community leaders. His parents are some of my oldest friends.

“I have heard it all 100 times,” said Jackson County rancher Dave Gittleson after the meeting.

I doubt many minds were changed at that meeting! I was impressed by what I found to be a news article with no apparent agenda other than reporting the facts.

Related, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife have an ongoing and growing problem with mountain lions. Trust fund snot’s values vs reality when Fluffy disappears from their backyard. Long article here.

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$20 Happy Meal soon?

Jon Caldera examines the restaurant business in Denver. Soon,  Colofornia will share more wallet paMORE

Product Endorsement

A friend gave me this to try out. While not a miracle or a cure, it does ease my joint pains. One complaint. Getting the cap off was a bitch.

President Election

Nailed it.

As always, YMMV

ADDENDUM

My computer skills are lacking. Try these links.

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Back to Being Pissed Off - Blog to Follow

 

Cheerful Story, for a Change

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Clue

Someone may own a dog.

A sliver of sunshine? Electricity.

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The City of Greeley is purple (Teachers College, aka UNC) and the county seat of Weld County which went 73% for Trump. From the internet.

Colorado has the eighth- largest natural gas reserves in the United States. Colorado has the eighth-largest natural gas reserves of any state, accounting for almost 4% of the U.S. total. It is also the eighth-largest natural gas-producing state in the nation.

Weld County, north of Denver, was the leading county for natural gas production, accounting for nearly half of the state's natural gas production in 2019. 

Will the City Council step up? Footnote. 17,000 wells exist in Weld County. Goggle Earth 40°22’49.76”  104°20’22.57”

Not Good? Electricity

Now we have another green boondoggle in the works, a huge solar energy project.

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The local residents oppose the project for two main reasons. Who gets the output? That question isn’t being answered. Suspicious minds are saying Boulder County. Second reason is the physical location. See the above coordinates for sites already chopped up. Not disturbing unspoiled land plus good access roads are already in place makes more sense and there are very few homes in that area.

Shaving

My beard is tough and my skin thin. Blood thinner medication doesn’t help. I’ve been using this for a few weeks and it is the best product, for me, that I have ever used. I buy it locally. Amazon shows it but not in stock.

“Settled Science” debunked

This is, IMO, the way science should work.

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Oh no! Is the Gravy Train running dry? 

Once again, Boulder.

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Science benefiting Bill Gates?

Who has been buying up farmland? The ‘elites’ and China.

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What this report doesn’t mention is the aquifers are being depleted. Prediction: When the water is gone the ‘investors’ will move on and leave a desert behind them.

Inflation

The last time I bought one of these it was under $2. This one, $5, after rounding up for a charity donation (.09).

Dining out? There is this little tidbit.

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Nothing is immune. Our little group supports the VFW Sunday breakfast whose profits benefit disabled veterans. During the Xiden disaster, the price has gone up $2.

Recently my buddy Santa Claus and I had breakfast at a cafe serving the stockyards. They serve a huge breakfast but I dropped $40 with a tip.

Shucks, Just a Land Mine

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The land was a ranch owned by Frank and Pauline Byers. They were given a month to vacate, in August. They waited ten years to be paid for their land.

Another day, another disaster

I wish. With our current crop of office holders, both state and federal, it is another day, many disasters.

As always, YMMV

Life, Day to Day

Sporadic blogging is caused by a mundane life. Other bloggers bring more interesting reading that prompts more critical thinking than what gets posted on this blog. Banner agrees.

Climate Change

Climate change is the result of the fusion furnace our rocky planet orbits. The idea we puny humans can change that is ludicrous. What we humans do is foul our nest. Efforts to prevent or mitigate that should be something most of us support.

That doesn’t stop the control freaks from their ongoing efforts, big and small, to tell us how to live. Danes are now the culprit,

https://scitechdaily.com/pulses-the-climate-friendly-super-food-that-you-probably-havent-even-heard-of/

There’s a growing awareness that meat consumption is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and reducing it is crucial for a sustainable future.

Nearly every “scientific” article will have some similar blurb. “growing awareness” isn’t the same as “fact”. Opinion, maybe knowledgeable opinion, is still opinion.

Meat consumption?  Almost any animal is, or has been, consumed by predators as long as there has been life on this planet. I doubt the total number of animals has changed appreciably in eons. So, farm animals are to blame? Just in North America, the number of cattle today is probably less than the number of bison two hundred years ago. Bison are cattle.

Arrogance

100 years ago from our local rag.

• At a lawyers’ club meeting in a local restaurant, the lawyers agreed they should discuss issues among themselves. Said one attorney: “The herd instinct is a sign of weakness and not strength. It is very noticeable among physical laborers and other trades of small intelligence.”

Has anything changed?

Kindness and Giving Back

This happened sometime ago in our community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BF6BUry_C0&ab_channel=WonderWorld

The man who made the purchase explained that he was adopted, has a good life, and wants to pay back. 

Balloons

This has already shown up in other blogs.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/02/pentagon-balloons-surveillance-midwest

The Chinese are well known for stealing our technology. Are the recent events Chinese actions? Something else going on? You may draw your own conclusions. For me, I smell a distraction or some type of PSYOP.

Fuck Cancer

We received news this week one of our two surviving aunts is Stage 4 and in hospice. All that will be done will be pain mitigation.

She is the youngest of twelve siblings, eleven who lived to adulthood. Both her parents and five siblings have died from cancer.

RANT: Billions have been spent, and billions more will be spent, worldwide looking for causes and cures. Why haven’t more effective treatments, let alone cures, been found? It is an industry!  Anything out of “mainstream dogma” is crushed and proponents derided.  Yes, my absolute cynicism is on display.

Inflation

Many say inflation is a form of taxation, or acts like a tax.

https://www.aei.org/op-eds/the-inflation-tax-is-not-only-real-its-massive/

I see it as a dastardly tool by the political class to raise taxes without being openly accountable.

Observing the way our economy is heading, it seems like we are in a slot canyon, thunderstorms are nearby, and the roar of rushing water can be heard up the canyon. Where do we run, what wall can we climb, and how do we take our loved ones to safety?

Damned if I know.

Weather

We have had a few nice days with highs in the 40°s. Winter isn’t over and there will be more trips over icy roads. Snowpack in the mountains is far above average. Spring runoff may be a problem in some places but reservoirs should fill more than past years.

Delinquent Mortgages

The assignments keep rolling in with some from lenders new to my assignments. I’m seeing more in the $850,000+ range then in past years. As an aside, those people are often nasty. I always start civilly and politely but if they want to be assholes then they have just found the mother lode.

Recent exchange. “Don’t you ever come back here”.

Response. “When you show up as an assignment, I will be back! Don’t want me here; pay your mortgage”.

That only happens a time or two each month. I rather enjoy it. These people are accustomed to intimidating others and are not prepared for push back. Once, I had one debtor insist I delete the pictures I had taken.

These people are truly shortsighted. I submit a report on every call and attitude is always a part of the report. I assume somewhere the lender’s staff reads the report which may influence how they proceed with the debtor.

Geezer Goggles

My partial collection of slip over glasses. I’ve used them for years. Now the eye doctor says I don’t need glasses for driving. Decisions, decisions! Do I keep using these or buy  Ray-Bans (or cheaper knockoffs)?

As always, YMMV.

    

Inflation

On the third Sunday each month the local V.F.W. serves breakfast. Profits go to help disabled vets. Cost?  $9.00. A year ago it was $7.00.

Now I’m not complaining about the price. The point being inflation hurts people who are poor and/or disabled disproportionately.

My reason for having breakfast there is simply to do something for disabled vets. Sunday breakfast at nearly any restaurant in this fair town will take a big chunk out of a $20 bill. I can afford it.

We usually have a group at the V.F.W. and enjoy the company as much as the food.

Coming up to the mid terms there is talk of social security payments going up 8.2%. Whoopy! Isn’t the real inflation rate over 20%?

Inflation

Inflation hits everyone in ways big and small. Banner has powerful jaws that allow him to break bones and eat the toughest rawhide. He is selective in what chew toys he likes.

After a year of experimenting, I’ve settled on this product. It takes him months to destroy one and his vet likes the condition of Banner’s teeth and gums.

Bottom line? In two years the prices has gone up from $14 to $21.

At this rate I may need to start a GoFundMe for Banner chew toys.

Inflation and the Ukraine

Suspicious mind. Nothing original here – just some thoughts.

 Most of my life from grade school on, Soviet Russia was this country’s bogeyman. Maybe for good reason, maybe not. Example. Around 1952-1953 there were volunteers scanning the sky in shifts assuming they could spot and report Russian bombers.

 The (P)regressives have let their ambitions overload their asses. CRT has pissed off a bunch of mothers who might otherwise favor liberal causes.  Now we have inflation kicking everyone’s ass and voters of every stripe must deal with it with every grocery store visit and gasoline purchase.  This isn’t just affecting “dirt” people.

 Something I’m involved with weekly.

 https://www.corelogic.com/intelligence/approximately-one-million-homeowners-remain-at-least-six-months-behind-on-payments/

 Not a scientific measurement but I see the monthly “stroke” on the papers I deliver increasing $300-$500 a month or more. How is that going to budget?

 Is it the (P)regressive game plan to tap into residual Cold War fears and “unite” the country with a war? Is that farfetched? Do they think that will save their ass in the midterm elections outside of the areas where they control the polls.

 Honest elections? Yeah,sure.

 On a personal level, what happens between Russia and the Ukraine isn’t my concern. Two corrupt governments kicking each other doesn’t bother me. Do I have empathy for the ordinary citizens getting hammered? Of course. Is there anything I can do about it?

 For damned sure I don’t want to see our service members getting involved with this mess, especially given the incompetents who will be running the shitshow.

 As always, YMMV

They Can't Connect the Dots

 

Several seniors gathered together in our common room were moaning about soaring prices. When I introduced the theme things were much better under President Trump, several brainwashed Democrats jumped (verbally) on me. Game on!

I held up one example, the price of a 32 oz “Family Size” bag of shredded cheese that last year was $4.99 and last week was $7.99.

“Oh, it isn’t President Biden’s fault; all our problems are caused by COVID!”

Yeah, keep believing that, sheeple.

Most of the residents of this 90 unit senior apartment building are on fixed incomes; their suffering going forward will become acute. Many rely on the Weld County Food Bank now for most of their needs.

Going forward I’m going to avoid these kinds of conversations. Few, if any, minds will be changed (including mine!). Rather, facts will only increase their distress.

My Dad was a proponent of the Belly Flapping Principal. Nothing will change a person’s attitude quicker than a flapping belly (hunger).

Going forward with the (P)regressives calling the shots, I forecast many converts to my Dad’s philosophy.

As always, YMMV

We're Getting Hosed, Yet Again

Being a to the bone cheapskate, I’m diligent about checking prices, ingredients, country of origin and weights. I’m noticing prices on all kinds of things going up, and none going down.

Examples.

Bag of cat food, brand I usually purchase, went up a dollar from last month.

Simple faucet defuser, a two bit item, $3.28 at Lowes.

Basic oil change, with a coupon, $19.95++ Last year I could get it done for $9.95.

Air filter for my vehicles, for years $2 - $4, now $9.00++

Replacement windshield washer nozzles, cheap ass plastic, $14.00++

Quart 10-40 oil, $2 to $5

Size and brand of shoe I always buy, up $15 in six months.

Decent, not crap, duct tape $5 a roll.

Disc brake replacement pads, from around $6 to $15 in a year.

Even the junk yards, excuse me, recycle yards are getting high. Pulled two exterior mirrors off a wrecked Contour and paid $20 each for them. Also paid a $2 admission fee just to walk on the place.

Try not to buy “Made in China” but sometimes that is all you can find. All Chinese stuff seems to taken a huge jump.

Food? Packages that were 16 oz are now 12 - 14 oz, and a higher price. Stuff on the very top or bottom of the islands used to be much cheaper. Still is less, but not by much.

It is inflation, which, to me, is another form of taxation. Some is supply and demand, but most is brought about by monetary policies. We are paying off all that toxic debt for the banksters. Your opinion may differ.

Watch Your Wallet

Here comes another hit on your wallet. The, smarter than the rest of us, folks at the Environmental Protection Agency will soon require less sulfur in gasoline. They say is should add less than a penny per gallon to the cost. Others have a different opinion. Some information here.

http://news.yahoo.com/epa-taking-aim-auto-emissions-sulfur-gas-071021486--finance.htmlhttp://

Some like the new rules.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130330/AUTO01/303300317/1148/rss25

What could possibly go wrong? Well, consider low sulfur diesel. The EPA mandated it.

http://epa.gov/oecaerth/civil/caa/ultralow-sulfurdieselfuel.htmlhttp://

Brought us in line with Europe. Seems the Europeans were willing to pay a higher price than the refiners were getting in the United States. Lots of empty tankers departing our shores. Winner!

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/01/how-did-america-become-a-net-fuel-exporter-thank-the-epa/250857/http://

Except that diesel went up a buck a gallon. 70-80 % of what we consume gets hauled by trucks, mainly diesel powered, that get around six miles per gallon.

http://www.trucking.org/Newsroom/Pages/TrucksareEssential.aspxhttp://

Wonder why your living costs are rising?

Probably won’t happen that the new low sulfur gasoline will be sold to Europe, supply and demand - that irksome reality of the market place, and our domestic prices won’t rise to European levels. Naw, that can’t happen.

Now I don’t think this is some grand conspiracy to further weaken our country and send us on the way to serfdom. No, I think it is a bunch of stuttering clusterfuck bureaucrats living in an alternative reality with no damn accountability for their actions. Your mileage may vary.

On another note, a warning  from France, of all places,  that will be coming, sooner or later, to our land of 401k and IRAs.

http://mondediplo.com/2013/04/01nicosia

Inflation

Haven't bought duck tape for a long time but needed some. Went to Lowes. Decent, brand name, tape from $6.00 a roll! Walked around looking at common stuff, glues, roof patch, paint, etc. All much higher than six months ago.

Given most of this stuff is imported, I suspect the price hike reflects the weak dollar.