RowdyRebel

Had a horse with an eye issue that had to go to the vet...and my boy just was as interested as can be in what the vet was doing. Perhaps he'll be a vet some day...

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4365343-Rep-Devin-Nunes-s-memo.html#document/p1

Just finished reading it. For something that was supposedly "top secret", it didn't contain anything I hadn't already been hearing for months. Don't see what the big deal is about it, myself...other than it being "official" and all instead of merely news reports from "right-wing" media outlets. The only people the contents of the memo might surprise are those who rely upon the fake news networks for their information.

Congrats on the retirement. Unfortunately, I can't see myself ever retiring...'cuz in order to REtire, I'd have to have worked hard enough to be tired in the first place. If I'm workin' hard, it's 'cuz I done screwed something up...and I try not to do that.

Sad, but true...

The old adage about "those who beat their guns into plows will plow for those who don't" comes to mind...

I think if I ever lost a leg, I'd get to modifying a shift lever...put a clutch lever similar to a motorcycle clutch on it so that I'd reach for the shifter, squeeze the clutch, shift the gear, and release. Shouldn't be too difficult, as clutch levers typically just clamp onto the handlebars...so just got to make the shift lever the same diameter and run the cable. A simple lever down by the clutch could alter the throw and type (push vs pull) to make it work...and the cable could be run through the same hole in the floor as the shifter itself. Nope...don't think it'd be too difficult to rig something up, just takes a little bit of desire to get the job done. On a side note, I've been riding in the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade for nearly 20 years, now, and there is a guy I've met a few times at the ride who has (well, at least he USED to have...probably traded it in for another one by now) a shiny red Ducati. Nice bike, and not modified in any way...which was impressive because the guy only had one leg. Luckily for him, it was the left leg (shift the gears) he still had. Interesting guy, and proof that if you love doing something enough, you'll not let some little old problem like a missing leg keep you from doing it.

Actually, there is only 1 political office limited to 8 years at the federal level...and even that has a loophole to allow 10 years in office.

An EMP would render most every newer piece of machinery a heap of scrap, anyway...and the older iron (pre-electronics) would only serve useful for as long as the fuel supply lasted. Nobody will be able to pump it from their tanks, no trucks to deliver, no refineries producing, and no rigs pumping. Even the pipelines would likely shut down without their computers monitoring and controlling the flow. 'Bout the only people who wouldn't be up a creek would be the Amish.

It was a chartered train carrying GOP congressmen...so if your wish were true, the dems would be the majority until such time as replacements could be appointed or special elections could be held. I'm hoping THAT isn't your desire! From what I read, it was a garbage truck that may have been stuck on the tracks...at least 1 dead from the truck. Nobody on the train received more than "minor" injuries.

Which is exactly why I quit worrying about obeying it. I'll do my own thing and not bother anybody else, and couldn't care less anymore about what "the law" says I should or shouldn't do. As long as I'm not infringing upon anybody else's rights, "the law" can kiss my ass.

Then, you'll go from scratching your head to kicking yourself in the @$$ because the gauge is probably the quickest, cheapest, and easiest thing to fix the problem...spent a bunch of time and money chasing a problem you only THOUGHT you were having. Bad enough when people lie to ya...don't need that crap from your machines, too.

Farm tractors have had GPS systems for years, helping to make straighter & tighter rows by taking over steering control across the fields, as well as variable population planters, which after mapping out soil types in the field, will automatically adjust for seed placement to optimize the number of plants per acre for the different soil types and drainage within the fields. Same with the sprayers applying fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides. Once a farmer has it all set up, all he needs to do is ride along and monitor things to make sure everything is working as it should.

Makes you wonder what the pencil-pushers were thinking.

Watched a commercial for a "plug-in hybrid" car on TV...guy pulls into his garage, walks over to the special cord hanging on the wall, and plugged it into the car. I wonder if he factored in the cost of an electrician coming out and wiring everything up into the cost of ownership...or if he's factoring the higher electric bill he's paying when he calculates how much it costs him to drive per mile. Sure, you pay $100/month less on gasoline...but it costs you $200/month more on your electric bill keeping that stupid thing charged up & ready to go.

Had some pictures taken...I don't think this kid knows how to take a bad picture. Looked right at home with the horses, too... No, we didn't set him up there all alone...momma kept a hand or two on him. He loves his big fuzzy dog, though...good ol' Dozer!

If he's still crying 20 years from now, I'll whoop his ass. Men don't cry. I'll let it slide for now 'cuz he's still an actual baby...but my tolerance for the crying is going to wane as he ages. Actually, he already cries less with me than my wife. If he starts getting fussy with me, I check his diaper, offer him a bottle, and if he's got a clean butt & he's not hungry, I'll hold him and try to burp him for a couple minutes...then I tell him "I don't like crybabies" and I put him in the swing or play pen and let him cry it out. When he shuts up, I pick him up again. He's learning. The wife, on the other hand, picks him up every time he starts to fuss and keeps trying to calm him. She won't set him down until he's quiet, and as soon as she does, he starts to fuss again. He's learning that, too. He's got us figured out...crybaby gets momma's attention. Quiet baby gets to play and snuggle on poppa's chest. I'll take quiet baby any day of the week. Then she wonders why I can make him laugh at pretty much anything, and she struggles to get him to smile. Much easier to get a giggle out of a calm baby than a screaming one. Don't get me wrong, she's a GREAT mother...don't think I could do this without her...it's just that she's extremely hands-on and worries about everything. I have more of a "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" attitude. He's going to hear me say "Toughen up, buttercup" a lot as he grows up, 'cuz I ain't raising no damn snowflake!

No, I don't really care much for prop comics. I'll laugh my ass off watching Gabriel Iglesias, though... Wife likes the dummies, though.

Kid already has the "sad face" down pat. Had him on my lap playing...he's all smiles, laughing and giggling just having a grand ol' time. Wife was getting ready to give him a bath, so I looked at him and said "Momma's gonna give you a BATH!" Took him all of 1/2 a second to go from all smiles to this: He still got the bath, though. Toughen up, buttercup. Gonna be a lot of things in this world you don't like, but ya gotta do 'em anyway.

EVERY torque converter has a stall speed. Under normal circumstances, you wouldn't notice the difference between a 1500 stall and a 3000 stall torque converter in your daily driving. The stall speed comes into play during hard acceleration or when pulling a heavy load...it is simply the point where the engine cannot and will not turn any faster without the wheels spinning. That advertised stall speed isn't even 100% accurate, because it'll vary depending upon a few variables such as engine size (less power = lower stall speed). If you have a trans brake and mash the throttle, it'll "stall" at your torque converter's stall speed...because the wheels can't turn, and the engine won't turn faster. You want to select a stall speed that makes the most of your power band. For example, if you hit peak HP at 2500 RPM, you don't want a 3000 stall converter because you're already on the back side of the power curve. However, if you're peaking at 5000 RPM, then that 3000 or 3500 stall converter makes sense.

Merry Merry & Happy Happy to all...I've had my hands a little full here lately myself.

...and that mirrors some of my concerns about ELD's and the back doors into my truck's ECM that they will open. Right now, there is no way in except for physically plugging in. The system I'd PREFER to use does not "connect"...it has a printer for a roadside inspection, and a USB key to transfer data to the office. However, the carrier is insisting upon PeopleNet and nobody is willing to put their money where their mouth is to back up their claims that it is "secure". I want a clause in the contract stating IF their system is hacked and my ECM is tampered with, the carrier will be responsible for ALL damages, repairs, and expenses incurred as a result. So far, they are unwilling to do so, which speaks volumes given the unlikeliness of me specifically being the target of a hacker.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/11/05/hero-neighbor-got-his-rifle-shot-at-texas-church-gunman.html Armed citizen stopped the attack. God Bless Texas!

..."safe work zones" for criminals? A month ago, a church in Nashville. Today, one in Texas and another outside a church in California. Between churches, schools, malls, and movie theaters, you'd think at SOME point common sense would win the day and we'd do away with the "gun free" zones. Criminals do not obey the law, and we see the result when good people are unable to defend against .