Labor Day weekend…

What is Labor Day?

Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. The three-day weekend it falls on is called Labor Day Weekend.

Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor. “Labor Day” was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, which organized the first parade in New York City. In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the U.S. officially celebrated Labor Day.

It’s also the first week of school in many places, and also the opening of dove season in a lot of southern states… 🙂

However…

Despite the economy adding 187,000 jobs — slightly more than estimated — BLS said the number of unemployed Americans increased by 514,000 in August to a total of 6.4 million.

By those numbers, Americans and the workforce are worse off now than they were one year ago when the unemployment rate was 3.7 percent and there were 400,000 fewer unemployed Americans. 

In more bad news, the August jobs report saw BLS revise its data from June and July, saying there were actually 110,000 fewer jobs added than were reported in those months over the summer.  Bold is mine…

Full article, HERE.

And prices/inflation are going up MUCH faster than paychecks. Gas is over $4/gal in a lot of places, it’s hard to get out of the grocery store for less than $100 now, and ‘events’ of whatever type are quickly being priced out of the range of the average household.

Home prices are skyrocketing and the interest rates are now up around 7%, meaning many folks can’t afford to buy a house, especially people starting out, when the basic house average is now approaching $200,000!

Those of us that live on ‘fixed incomes’ are having to look at ways to tighten our belts, and vacations are pretty much right out the window now, and figuring out a way to keep the old car/truck going. New cars/trucks are priced out of range, and I don’t know of anyone in our group that has ANY interest in an EV, much less spending $1000 to have their houses rewired to be able to charge them effectively.

And I’m not even going to comment on the political BS going on… sigh…

Enjoy the weekend, if you can afford it, and let your friends/family know you care, even if you can’t go see them right now. A phone call never hurts, and many times it is appreciated!!!

No post today…

Had an appointment for cataract surgery, eyes dilated for way too long in the brightness and one helluva headache last night.

Go read the folks on the sidebar, maybe I’ll post later today.

Well, well, well…

What a ‘surprise’… NOT!

A coalition of 1,609 scientists from around the world have signed a declaration stating “there is no climate emergency” and that they “strongly oppose the harmful and unrealistic net-zero CO2 policy” being pushed across the globe. The declaration does not deny the harmful effect of greenhouse gasses, but instead challenges the hysteria brought about by the narrative of imminent doom.

The declaration, put together by the Global Climate Intelligence Group (CLINTEL), was made public this month and urges that “Climate science should be less political, while climate policies should be more scientific.”

Full article, HERE. Link to report abstract, HERE.

Sigh… A number of folks who actually ARE climatologists that I know and worked with have said since the early 2000s that there is no climate emergency and the data sets are flawed/corrupted and the models are skewed to ‘get’ the outcome the left wants.

Borepatch has followed/posted on this for years, and the post HERE from 2017 does a great job of ‘explaining’ it in understandable terms.

Of note, after the Dems/lefties said Maui was caused by globull warming, but the truth came out that HECO started the fires, you’ll note that none of them have responded… Much like the current hurricane hitting Florida ‘has never been seen’ (at least since 1899)…

Sigh, I’m gonna go take my BP meds and turn off the MSM.

 

YGTBSM…

Soooo…

Texas Guard folks took some initiative and did some proactive intelligence work…

When officers from the Texas National Guard showed up to their 7 a.m. meeting with federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, they didn’t arrive empty-handed.

Six military intelligence officials turned over a list of names at the February 2022 meeting. The Texans were part of an intelligence directorate supporting Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg Abbott’s state-run border mission. The officers, which included the group’s top two leaders, told federal agents they’d secretly infiltrated invite-only WhatsApp group chats filled with migrants and smugglers and wanted their help investigating the targets they’d identified, according to a sworn statement attached to a whistleblower complaint filed later that month.

Full article, HERE from Army Times.

Now you would ‘think’ they’d be getting cooperation, right?

Take your BP meds before you read the rest of the story!

Apparently they weren’t allowed to actually DO intelligence operations, since they were only ‘Guard’, not actually deployed overseas. A whistleblower apparently turned them in, so they’re all in trouble, AND were accused of using DOD assets and getting access to ‘classified’ FBI files they weren’t supposed to have.

Talk about tying their hands… Grrrr….

I’m SO glad I’m retired and out of that whole mess!

Wow…

You have to be an old fart to remember most of these, but…

Corbijn’s documentary begins in black and white, with shots of a mysterious middle-aged man with shaved thinning hair and wearing expensive, fashionable black eyeglasses while carrying what looks like a very heavy, very large package on his back stenciled HIPGNOSIS. We hear his footprints as he shuffles past a cemetery and enters a building’s hallway and sits down. After the door closes, Pink Floyd’s elegiac “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” fades in. He then wanders to the end of the hallway where the word HIPGNOSIS has been splashed on the wall, graffiti-style.

Full article, HERE, from PJ Media

Hipgnosis was THE art house in the 70s for album covers, and this documentary brought back a lot of memories of the days when I could still ‘hear’ music…

Sigh…

A little humor…

Astrology to start your week…

ASTROLOGY FOR SOUTHERNERS WHAT’S Y’ALL’S SIGN?

Okra     Dec 22 – Jan 20

Although you appear crude, you are actually very slick on the inside. Okra have tremendous influence.  An older Okra can look back over his life and see the seeds of his influence everywhere. Stay away from Moon Pies

Chitlin     Jan 21 – Feb 19

Chitlins often come from humble backgrounds.  Many times they’re uncomfortable talking about just where they came from.  A chitlin, however, can make something of himself if he’s motivated and has plenty of seasoning.  When it comes to dealing with Chitlins, be very careful.  Chitlins can burn and then erupt like Vesuvius, and this can make for a really terrible mess.  Chitlins are best with Catfish and Okra. Remember that when marriage time rolls around. No, not with a Moon Pie.

Boll Weevil     Feb 20-Mar 20

You have an overwhelming curiosity.  You’re unsatisfied with the surface of things, and you feel the need to bore deep into the interior of everything. Needless to say, you are very intense and driven as if you had some inner hunger.  Nobody in their right mind is going to marry you, not even a Moon Pie, so don’t worry about it.

Moon Pie     Mar 21-April 20

You’re the type that spends a lot of time on the front porch.  It’s a cinch to recognize the physical appearance of Moon Pies. Big and round are the key words here.  You should marry anybody who you can get remotely interested in the idea.  It’s not going to be easy. This might be the year to think about aerobics.  Maybe not.

Possum    APR 21 – May 21

When confronted with life’s difficulties, possums have a marked tendency to withdraw and develop a don’t-bother-me-about-it-attitude.  Sometimes you become so withdrawn, people actually think you’re dead. This strategy is probably not psychologically healthy, but seems to work for you.  One day, however, it won’t work and you may find your problems actually running you over. No room in your life for Moon Pies.

Crawfish     May 22 – June 21

Crawfish is a water sign.  If you work in an office, you’re always hanging around the water cooler.  Crawfish prefer the beach to the mountains, the pool to the golf course, the bathtub to the living room. You tend to be not particularly attractive physically, but you have very very good heads.  Keep a distance from Moon Pies.

Collards     June 22-July 23

Collards have a genius for communication.  They love to get in the”melting pot” of life and share their essence with the essence of those around them.  Collards make good social workers, psychologists, and baseball managers.  As far as your personal life goes, if you are Collards, stay away from Moon Pies. It just won’t work. Save yourself a lot of heartache.

Catfish     July 24 – Aug 23

Catfish are traditionalists in matters of the heart, although one: Whiskers, may cause problems for loved ones.  You catfish are never easy people to understand.  You prefer the muddy bottoms to the clear surface of life. Above all else, Catfish should stay away from Moon Pies.

Grits     Aug 24 – Sept 23

Your highest aim is to be with others like yourself.  You like to huddle together with a big crowd of other Grits.  You love to travel, though so maybe you should think about joining a club.  Where do you like to go? Anywhere they have cheese or gravy or bacon or butter or eggs.  If you can go somewhere where they have all these things, that serves you well.

Boiled Peanuts     Sept 24 – Oct 23

You have a passionate desire to help your fellow man. Unfortunately, those who know you best-your friends and loved ones-may find that your personality is much too salty, and their criticism will probably affect you deeply because you are really much softer than you appear.   You should go right ahead and marry anybody you want to because in a certain way, yours is a charmed life.  On the road of life, you can be sure that people will always pull over and stop for you.

Butter Bean     October 24 – Nov 22

Always invite a Butter Bean because Butter Beans get along well with everybody.  You, as a Butter Bean, should be proud.  You’ve grown on the vine of life and you feel at home no matter what the setting.  You can sit next to anybody.  However, you too, shouldn’t have anything to do with Moon Pies.

Armadillo     Nov 23 – Dec 21

You have a tendency to develop a tough exterior, but you are actually quite gentle.  A good evening for you?  Old friends, a fire, some roots, fruit, worms and insects.  You are a throwback.  You’re not concerned with today’s fashions and  trends.  You’re not concerned with anything about today.  You’re really almost prehistoric in your interests and behavior patterns. You probably want to marry another Armadillo, but Possum is another somewhat kinky, mating possibility. Stay away from Moon Pies.

+++++++++++

Another Horoscope

Capricorn (December 22 – January 20)

You will write some office email soon that positively sparkles with comic irony.  You’ll be asked to knock it off.

Aquarius (January 21 – February 18)

Later this week you’ll feel much like Scarlet O’Hara did, when she said, “I’ll never be hungry again!”

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

You’ll become part of the Formal Attire Resurgence movement. Be wary of the Casualist Party though – there’s someone out there just dying to spit on your spats.

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Tomorrow when you wake up, you’ll make an unpleasant discovery. Sometime during the night, you’ll have been visited by the nostril hair fairy.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

You’re having trouble getting your elderly relatives to pay attention to you.  Have you tried talking with a Scandinavian accent and using a soap bubble machine?  That, and accordion music, always do the trick for me.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

It’s time for you to consider being kinder to your feet.  And stop taking them for granted!  For example, when’s the last time you sat down and had a nice friendly chat with them?  Do it today!

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

This might be a good time to decide what you want to be when you actually do grow up.  I’m guessing that you’d be best off as either a yodeling oceanographer, or possibly a bovine pathologist.

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Today will be especially trying, and if you’re not careful, you could end up in a pretty grumpy frame of mind.  Take precautions! Wear your E.T. underwear.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

This might be a good time to refer to your roommate as “Watson” and say things like “The game’s afoot!”.  Eventually, you’ll be able to reconstruct an entire evening’s events from a spilled drop of raspberry vinaigrette.

Libra (September 22 – October 22)

You’re about to spend a considerable amount of time with someone who personifies “dour”.  The kind of person who never once clapped for Tinkerbell, even as a child.  Just ignore them, if you can. If you can’t ignore them, pretend they are a duck.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

You’ve got to learn to slow down.  You’re driving yourself and everyone around you crazy.  Just pretend that your life is a Prince Valiant comic strip.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

Due to forces beyond comprehension, you will begin talking with a Texas accent.  Eventually, you’ll come out with audio tapes to teach this to others, which you will call “Bubba-Bonics”.

Y’all have a good week, ya hear?

Sigh…

Security, lack thereof, one each…

Marco De Vincenzi, a researcher at the Istituto di Informatica e Telematica (IIT) in Pisa, Italy, is trying to bring attention to this issue. He and his colleagues led a discussion on EV security and privacy vulnerabilities at the 2023 IEEE 97th Vehicular Technology Conference. The results of their presentation are highlighted in a subsequent conference paper.

De Vincenzi notes that when people plug their EVs into charging stations, it’s not just power flowing through those cables. “These charging stations handle all sorts of data, from how you pay to your exact location,” he explains. “But here’s the kicker: The rules to keep this info secure? They’re like a door with no lock.”

Full article, HERE from IEEE Spectrum.

It is things like this that just set my teeth on edge, because this is NOT the first time hacking of ECUs has been brought up!

If I remember correctly, the whole hacking issue was identified well over ten years ago, and discussed in a number of different online car forums and it’s STILL going on!

I guess once the hackers start causing wrecks/killing people they ‘might’ decide to look at it…

GRRRR…

 

A little humor…

If you grew up in the sixties and seventies…

You ‘might’ have indulged, maybe…

And sworn to NEVER EVER do that again…

(Not that ‘I’ know anything about that.)

What are we now???

Are we still a constitutional republic or not???

Lawfare is being practiced at an alarming rate to shut down dissent, opposition views, and any ‘facts’ that don’t fit the agendas…

The definition of lawfare-

Lawfare is the use of legal systems and institutions to damage or delegitimize an opponent, or to deter individual’s usage of their legal rights.

This is playing out at the highest levels right now, but there is NOTHING that is stopping those who don’t like us from taking this down to our level.

What happened to the Constitution and Bill of Rights? Do they still exist for us peons?

And of course ‘we’ are now the bad guys…

Fifty years ago, far-left movements posed the biggest domestic terrorism threat to the United States, with some environmental, communist and animal rights groups taking credit for bombings, arson and vandalism at businesses and federal buildings across the country.

Full article HERE from the Early Bird.

I’m not sure anymore… sigh…

At least in Russia, you know what you get if you’re on the wrong side- DEAD!

Your comments/thoughts appreciated.

TBT…

Aviation version…

There are things you just DON’T expect to see at little country airports…

These were spotted at Lampasas Airport in central Texas! Navions in the wild!!!

Two of these are being worked on, one getting a new engine, and one (the far one) being restored.

Thanks to Dot, it appears that Navion Customs has departed California for free America and settled in Texas!

And a little aviation humor…

  • Airspeed: Speed of an airplane. Deduct 25% when listening to a Navy pilot.
  • Bank: The folks who hold the lien on most pilots’ cars.
  • Cone of Confusion: An area about the size of New Jersey, located near the final approach beacon at an airport.
  • Crab: The squadron Ops Officer.
  • Dead Reckoning: You reckon correctly, or you are.
  • Engine Failure: A condition which occurs when all fuel tanks mysteriously become filled with air.
  • Firewall: Section of the aircraft specially designed to let heat and smoke enter the cockpit.
  • Glide Distance: Half the distance from the airplane to the nearest emergency landing field.
  • Hydroplane: An airplane designed to land on a 20,000 foot long wet runway.
  • IFR: A method of flying by needle and ripcord.
  • Lean Mixture: Nonalcoholic beer
  • Nanosecond: Time delay built into the stall warning system.
  • Parasitic Drag: A pilot who bums a ride and complains about the service.
  • Range: Usually about 30 miles beyond the point where all fuel tanks fill with air.
  • Rich Mixture: What you order at the other guy’s promotion party.
  • Roger: Used when you’re not sure what else to say.
  • Service Ceiling: Altitude at which cabin crews can serve drinks.
  • Spoilers: The Federal Aviation Administration.
  • Stall – Technique used to explain to the bank why you car payment is late.
Posted in TBT