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Post by epaul on May 2, 2024 19:23:55 GMT -5
Now, is a "halt to the fighting" as a condition of freeing hostages the same as surrender? ... The state of the situation before Hamas attacked WAS ceasefire. Hamas needs to lose, not live to fight another day. With this I agree. Finish the job. Israel is already screwed in the "World Court". A cease fire or whatever won't gain them an ounce of forgiveness (or "likes"). Finish the job. A cease fire with Hamas left in place... with recruitment offices open and overflowing with the unfathomably bitter and consumed still standing...? Nope, not a good option for Israel. Not an option at all. Not now. Too late for anything else, finish the job. Crush Hamas. Then dump Netanyahu. And then, maybe, out of the rubble, the complete rubble, maybe something can be built. But to continue the continue on and on and on...? [edited not to escape responsibility but to protect our language: ruble => rubble]
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Post by epaul on May 2, 2024 13:42:23 GMT -5
I've heard (and googling seems to confirm it) that female red wing black birds flock (seasonally) by the thousands while males don't flock at all. They both (M&F) flock seasonally for migrations, but they don't flock together or at the same time. Once arrived in the Spring, they nest as a colony. A couple shotgun blasts into slough will send a cloud of blackbirds skyward, males and females, in large circling mass. (it isn't uncommon for migrating males to arrive ahead of the females to stake out their territories (and pick up their dirty socks and empty pizza boxes in case they get lucky).
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Post by epaul on May 2, 2024 8:45:10 GMT -5
Really, nothing else will do... Happy Birthday, Bob!
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Post by epaul on May 2, 2024 8:30:58 GMT -5
Dave doesn't mess around when it comes to women. Go big or go home!
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Post by epaul on May 1, 2024 20:50:08 GMT -5
While walking Casper, I was struck by inspiration. Get those "Cruiser Shocks" put on your new truck. With a flick of a switch you can drop the entire truck nearly a foot. Flick the switch the other way and it will shoot up a foot and over the snowbank you go. See a pretty girl? Flick another switch and the entire truck will begin bouncing up and down in joy and a couple rows of colored lights will start winking at her.
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Post by epaul on May 1, 2024 16:12:07 GMT -5
They are a little pricey, and not easy to get, but the best bet for traction is a portable gravity pump. When you need extra weight for traction, you just set the dial for whatever amount you want and the pump will suck the necessary amount of gravity out of the earth's core.
You don't want to forget to shut them off, however. as they will keep sucking gravity until they collapse the bed of your pickup and mess with the earth's rotation.
("pump" is a little misleading as they actually work by creating an illusion of mass and something else I can't begin to explain. So, just calling them a pump saves a lot of complicated explaining.)
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Post by epaul on May 1, 2024 13:13:53 GMT -5
4WD would be nice in Idaho. In AZ or similar, I wouldn't care (I would go 2WD and save the bucks). But Idaho has snow, ice, and mountains. Plus, every fall, there are all kinds of slippery potatoes on the road. 4WD would be real nice to have in Idaho.
The slightest winter hill can be an adventure in a pickup with 2WD. And icy roads? Uffda!
We did manage to survive with snow tires and a couple hundred pounds of sandbags in the bed, but the advent of 4WD was really nice advent in the north country.
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Post by epaul on May 1, 2024 11:49:31 GMT -5
Don't discount the Colorado et.al too quickly, at least without driving a few. Compared to a Colorado, driving an older Chevy Luv or Ford Ranger is like riding in a cramped, noisy tin can. $10-12 grand for a 2010 Colorado with "broken-in" miles isn't a bad deal. Non-crew cab pickups are a buyers' market (relatively speaking as most want a crew). And you can get a used Colorado with a smooth V6 instead of a noisy, under-powered little 4.
(you have a very reasonable chance of getting 200,000 plus miles on a well-cared for V6. A little turbo four? No way.)
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Post by epaul on May 1, 2024 9:28:48 GMT -5
Oh, and I got Wordle in one again!
(after my normal three starter words, which I don't count, as they are just starter words)
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Post by epaul on May 1, 2024 9:27:10 GMT -5
Morning.
Had a nice drizzly day yesterday and it sounds like more light rain coming tonight/tomorrow. Perfect!
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Post by epaul on May 1, 2024 9:14:21 GMT -5
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Post by epaul on Apr 30, 2024 19:20:03 GMT -5
Happy Birthday, Dan!
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Post by epaul on Apr 29, 2024 11:30:43 GMT -5
No musical. No circus. I have a nice empty day ahead. Other than the City Band concert tonight.
I just can't catch a break.
WOLVES WIN!
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Post by epaul on Apr 28, 2024 20:46:17 GMT -5
Happy Birthday, Steve!
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Post by epaul on Apr 28, 2024 20:38:32 GMT -5
Happy Birthday, Bob. Todd is just finishing up the installation of an "auto-steer" unit. Should be ready mid-week!
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Post by epaul on Apr 28, 2024 11:27:24 GMT -5
Two more shows. One and Five.
Circuses are an interesting deal. Out front, a glittering show. But backstage, it is all family. Once out of the show lights, the trapeze artist is relaxing with her husband the lion tamer while they have a hug and lunch with their children, who, if old enough, have their own chores of tidying up this or scooping the elephant that. Off in another spot the husband and wife team who have the shoot the arrow and pop the balloon while missing the spinning lady act are helping the motorcycle (electric) guy with his costume (also electric). Off in the corner, a couple clowns with their feet up and their wigs off are taking a deserved break from clowning.
A traveling family, whether by biology or choice, a close, extended family. A real family. The circus is home. Different but the same.
And from the Green Room, taking it all in while playing cards, mixing drinks, and telling stories of various adventures from this convention at that city or from that city at this convention, a bunch of Shriners and a small Shriner band.
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Post by epaul on Apr 27, 2024 22:42:46 GMT -5
I'm exhausted. Playing in a circus band, three shows a day, is a long day. Good crowds. The 11:00 and 3:00 show each had close to 5,000. The evening show tapered off some but was still close to 3,000. Circuses have gone pretty high-tech with sound and lighting. Some of acts were real pretty with house lights down and the performers lit up like LED Christmas trees flashing in the night. Trees on trapeze, wires, and summersaulting bikes.
Two more shows tomorrow.
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Post by epaul on Apr 26, 2024 10:53:23 GMT -5
That all sounds great, drlj. It feels good to see light at the end of the tunnel, doesn't it? As far as shoes, I picked up a pair of Sketchers slip on walking shoes because I'm not comfortable bending over yet. They truly do slip right on, hands-free, and they're quite comforable. Best ninety bucks I've spent in a long time. Nails look good, Todd. (umm, what else did they cut?)
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Post by epaul on Apr 26, 2024 8:50:17 GMT -5
The Shine Circus is in town. And that means the Shriner Band will be playing. And that means a certain trombonist who has been ordained an honorary Shriner for just these occasions will be playing his trombone ass off this weekend. Two performances today, three tomorrow, and two more on Sunday.
The Shriner's motto is "It's for the kids". I certainly hope so as it is certainly not for the money. Good thing I have wife with a salary. This trombone gigging is a lean operation.
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Post by epaul on Apr 26, 2024 8:45:18 GMT -5
Why do you cook rocks? (asking for Todd.) Cooking rock is slang for meth production. Watch "Breaking Bad" and learn something!
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