November
1 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Read Will Rogers column 88 years ago: November 1, 1931
A short move today, only 141 miles, that took a long time. I intentionally drove a lot of city streets just to see what the area was like after over 40 years. This is the first time that I have been on the westside of Phoenix where there were a few houses and lots of agriculture when I left in 1982. Now there are a lot of houses and a few patches of agriculture.
The route: AZ89, AZ93, US60, Litchfield Rd, Waddell Rd, 137th Av, Waddell Rd, Dysart Rd, Indian School Rd, 51st Av, AZ347, Maricopa Casa Grande Hwy, Cottonwood Rd, Mission Park Way, Florence Rd/AZ84 & Montgomery Rd.
The breakfast at Nick's Diner II was a different hash-n-eggs but very good plus a very large serving. The price was not all that high compared to the two breakfasts that I had recently in Congress and Wickenburg. The route that I show above includes a detour to Famous Footwear were I was able to order the New Balance shoes that I wanted, they will be delivered to the store and I can then pick them up there.
Everything worked out well so far today. The only other thing that I want to do is contact the mobile rv wash guy and set an appointment for Desperado to get a wash-n-wax.
This was the seventh book that I have read of The Nine Novels That Defined Steampunk as judged by Johnathan Greyshade. I liked all three of Moorcock's Bastable alternate history novels, with some sci-fi added, much like how Harry Turtledove writes. I don't know if I would like either of their sci-fi books.The Steel Tsar is a sci-fi/alternate history novel first published in 1981 by Granada. Being a sequel to Warlord of the Air (1971) and The Land Leviathan (1974), it is the final book of Moorcock's A Nomad of the Time Streams trilogy regarding the adventures of Captain Oswald Bastable and which has been seen as an early example of steampunk fiction. - Edited Wikipedia
2 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
A warmer morning walk with the low at 42, not even close to the forecast, but it felt much warmer than that. The weather guesser continue to forecast 'tourist' lows in the lower 50s range but I expect it to be colder. The high temperatures for the 10 day period to be in the 80s.
I made the wash-n-wax appointment for Desperado and will get that done next week.
This Park claims that any and all mail that I want delivered will come to the Park's address. I'm going to give them a try. I'll request a VA prescription refill which will go to my Sierra Vista UPS Store and I'll then have them forward to the Park address. I'll also place an order with Amazon and see what they manage to do. I have about a 50/50 chance of getting the Amazon order delivered but I can re-order using the Sierra Vista UPS Store address which has always worked.
What Mr. Snyder does not say in his post is the 128,000 jobs that were created had 274,000 added as an adjustment from the Birth/Death Model. Although his "based on certain assumptions that may or may not be reasonable" could cover that. Even if there need be a Birth/Death adjustment does anyone other than the BLS think that the adjustment for October 2019 is reasonable. It is 1,000 more than the adjustment made in October 2018 - coincidence or reasonable?
On Friday [1 November], the Labor Department announced that the U.S. economy added 128,000 jobs last month [October], and that definitely exceeded expectations. Of course the truth is that the U.S. economy didn’t actually add 128,000 jobs last month. That number is just a heavily manipulated estimate that is adjusted to smooth out “seasonal fluctuations”, and it will be revised multiple times in the future as more data becomes available. In other words, the government is giving us an educated guess about what they think might have happened, and it is based on certain assumptions that may or may not be reasonable. - We Just Got Some Good Economic News, Michael Snyder
This was a much easier read than the two economist that I have attempted to understand. Nomi does get a bit preachy at times but she does call them as she sees them. I'll be reading more of her books. This one was published in 2009 so it was current News to what she calls the Second Great Bank Depression.After months of various drafts and political infighting, Congress finally passed, and President Obama signed into law, a bill that was supposedly the biggest financial reform bill in decades. The big question is, do the supporters of this bill really believe it will change Wall Street? Or do they simply hope it'll be enough to placate us so the status quo can be validated? Nomi Prins assumes the latter, because they can't be that naive. In It Takes a Pillage, former Wall Street insider turned muckraking journalist Nomi Prins explains how we are building a new bubble with more leverage, bigger bonuses, rampant speculation and fraud, amid extended unemployment and personal financial decline. The cowering of Washington bureaucrats in the face of the power and influence exerted by the Big Banks threatens the economic well-being of us all. The scariest part is that, for all the trillions that have been spent or remain committed to the bloated stalwarts of Wall Street, our economic system is still in disarray. Average Americans continue to struggle while the banks are once again rolling in outsized profits and obscene bonuses. It Takes a Pillage is packed with the information you need to understand the financial crisis and what has followed, and to gain deeper insight into how to fight for real change. - Book promo at Amazon
3 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
I have a salmon fillet defrosting that will soon go in the Roaster. That is just about all I have planned to do today. There will be more reading while on the couch with Patches. There will be our afternoon walk but those are not planned they are a way of life.
This morning walk was done in very pleasant temperatures. The weather gurus got it right this morning. I hope the other mornings that they are forecasting prove to be as impeccable. The high temperature yesterday was nearly 90 which is too hot for November but again the forecast was close to getting it right. The next few days will also be warmer than what I think they should be then cooling with highs in the lower 80s for the remainder of the 10 day forecast. Chamber of Commerce weather for the snowbirds as well as for me.
A quote from a recommended read.
This is the real reason why half a million Syrians have died in an imperialist proxy war, and why many more Syrians continue to suffer under US-led sanctions and the deprivation of their nation’s valuable natural resources. Not because of humanitarianism, not because of democracy, not because of chemical weapons, not because of Iran, not because of Kurds, and not even really just because of oil, but because there’s a globe-spanning oligarchic empire to which Syria has refused to submit. Everything else is empty narrative. - US Needs To Occupy Syria Because Of Kurds Or Iran Or Chemical Weapons Or Oil Or Whatever, Caitlin Johnstone
4 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
I will not be doing much today. Will make up for it tomorrow when I have a lot, for me, of things to do. Today I'll continue my usual routine.
The high temperature was near 90 again yesterday with more of the same in the forecast for the next week then some cooling. This morning the low was slightly below 50 but only a very gentle breeze so did not feel very cold. The weather guessers insist that the low temperatures during the next 10 days will be in the mid 50s. I hope so.
Caitlin Johnstone has put up another good post. I have copied her opening.
The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum — even encourage the more critical and dissident views. That gives people the sense that there’s free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being reinforced by the limits put on the range of the debate.
~ Noam Chomsky
The plutocrat-owned narrative managers of the political/media class work constantly to shrink the Overton window, the spectrum of debate that is considered socially acceptable. They do this by framing more and more debates in terms of how the oligarchic empire should be sustained and supported, steering them away from debates about whether that empire should be permitted to exist at all. - The Incredible Shrinking Overton Window
5 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
We finished our walk a little after 6:30 and went to town. First stop was at the laundromat which took about an hour. Then a not so quick grocery gathering at Fry's. I shop a lot at Fry's and Safeway but no two stores are ever organized the same. By the time I leave here I'll know where all my usual items are but that will not help me at all in the next store.
The next stop was at the Wells Fargo ATM to get cash. The guy that will wash-n-wax Desperado will throw in a roof treatment as an extra if I pay cash. So I get the roof treated and he can not report what I pay him; a win win. Then about a block away was Mimi's Cafe where I got brisket hash and poached eggs for breakfast. The price was higher than I like but I expected that since it was a foo foo kind of place. The serving size was also rather small but the roasted potatoes were excellent.
Last stop of the day required a drive to Chandler, AZ. In all the time I lived in Phoenix I don't think I ever went to Chandler. Now you would not know that you were in a separate town/city it is all one big metroplex. My reason for going there was to get my broker to give me my online user ID. I lost it some months ago when I lost all my email contacts and the broker company will only help restore lost user IDs and Passwords if you have a telephone number on file or you call them. The number they have on file is no good and I was not going to try and fix the problem by calling.
The process was much easier in person but it still took a half hour. Then by the time I got back to the Park it was their lunch hour and so I had a 45 minute wait for a pilot. You can not park yourself here you must have a pilot.
6 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
I didn't see that the weather predictors had forecast that there was any chance of rain but we got some. The Weather Underground reporting station that I am relying upon claims that there was no rain but I woke up to the sound of it on Desperado's roof. Then when we went out for our walk it was cloudy with lightning far to the north and a few sprinkles. What rain we did get was only a trace so the weather guessers and Weather Underground are not wrong.
I sent a Secure Message to my VA Clinic Team Monday night and had a reply yesterday. I told them about my third psoriasis flare this year and that I had fainted with this last one. Suggested that it was due to a very slow heart rate and that maybe an EKG would be called for. Received the first reply that said - Yes, probably a good idea. Then very soon thereafter I received a second Message that gave me an appointment time and date.
I am feeling fine now and the flare has cleared up for the most part. I have been taking GoPo, a rosehip supplement, for the past couple of years with the hope that it would reduce the inflammation from psoriasis. It may have helped but with three flares this year I decided that I had given it a good trial and it was not helping. I'll now try some vitamin D and turmeric supplements that have had some success in mitigating the effects of psoriasis.
7 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
The only thing I have scheduled for today is get Desperado washed and waxed. I won't be doing it. I'll just stay inside and keep Patches company while the mobile wash crew does it. Patches is good with me staying with her I don't know what she would do if I left her alone and they were washing her home.
I'll also go to the Park office and see if UPS really did deliver my Amazon order last night at 7:30 as the tracking claims. The office was not open but the club house was so maybe the package is there or maybe not.
My shoes are scheduled to be delivered to Famous Footwear tomorrow. I'll go pick them up on Monday when I do a trip to town for groceries. They do not open until 10:00 so I either leave the Park later or I'll have a wait in town. Probably do the wait.
Another good book from Harry Turtledove. I now have only one more to read in the Series plus the stand alone Homeward Bound that was written as a closing to the Worldwar and Colonization Series.Upsetting the Balance is the third novel of the Worldwar tetralogy, as well as the third installment in the extended Worldwar Series that includes the Colonization trilogy and the novel Homeward Bound. In this book, now armed with nuclear weapons, the United States and Nazi Germany strike back at the invading aliens known as The Race. - Edited Wikipedia
8 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Read Will Rogers column 88 years ago: November 8, 1931
Desperado is looking good! The crew was about 30 minutes late but the owner did send me an email telling me they were running behind. He seems to know how to run his business and I'll be using his services again when I can.
I also found my package that had been delivered by UPS after the office was closed. I don't know how that works but I am glad that it did. Also have requested that a VA prescription package, received by my UPS Store, be forwarded to this address. They will be forwarding it using USPS. I saw evidence that the USPS is capable of delivering packages to the Park, I hope that they can do it with mine.
I have copied the closing paragraph from Mr. Kunstler's post which is another good read. However, I don't think the military brass will sign on. Former president Obama purged the higher military ranks the best that he could but he could not reach down into the next level and I certainly don't believe they will sign on to a coup. I think the Establishment is going to have to opt for assination, especially if president Trump get re-elected.
It’s not an overstatement to say that many of the figures behind this gigantic web of lies and deceit ought to answer charges up to and including treason. The question is whether Messers Barr & Durham have the cojones to cater the banquet of consequences that this huge cast of characters should be made to feast from. Another question is whether these desperate characters and the agencies they represent will go all the way now and attempt to enlist the military brass in an outright overthrow of the executive. There are already intimations of this. It would be answered by the kind of civil violence that has broken out in other parts of world where other Deep States have worn out their welcome — and their legitimacy. - How Far Will They Go?, James Howard Kunstler
9 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
I received an email that says my shoes have arrived at Famous Footwear in Casa Grande. I'll go to pick them up on Monday. So far my purchases have been delivered I wonder if it is just luck? I'll probably place one or two more online orders before I leave here, is that pressing my luck?
Nothing planned for today. The only thing different has been the routes that I have walked the past two mornings. Have been going west of the Park and walking along or through the alfalfa fields. Not so much through the fields but on the 'service' roads that are in the fields. Starting our walks a little bit later now since it is still very dark at our usual time. Walking in the Park in the dark is not a problem, out on the dirt roads in the fields requires a bit more light.
A very good customer review that says what I would, and more, about this book. It is a good historical fiction since you can not tell what is historical and what is fiction unless you are very knowledgeable about the 1929 Crash period. But as the reviewer says 'fiction requires a different type of writing'. Nomi has found her genre to be financial non-fiction.This, again, is a self published book. I think it's the best I've read so far. It's the story of a Russian immigrant girl who takes a job at a diner on Wall Street the summer of the great crash of 1929. She falls for one of her customers, who turns out to be one of the Morgans. The story is well told and zips along at a good pace. The characters are well drawn and interesting. The writing is straightforward and adequate, but it lacks the poetic quality of the best writing, which may be explained by the fact that Prins is a successful non-fiction writer on financial issues. Fiction requires a different type of writing. Not that the writing is bad, it's not, it's just that it lacks the lyrical quality of really good writing. My only question is whether or not the story is based on a real event. It uses real characters, so I would assume it is true, but I don't recall any hint of this is the books I've read on the house of Morgan. A note on this at the end of the book would have been welcome.
It is a known fact that the CIA director John Brennan orchestrated the Russiagate hoax, an act of sedition, and it is a known fact that FBI director Comey committed a felony by misleading the FISA Court, and it is a known fact that FBI official Peter Strzok and his FBI mistress were involved in a plot to prevent Trump’s election, and so on and on. Yet despite the publicly known information of their crimes, no indictments have come forth from the Justice Department.
Is Bill Barr sitting on the evidence and indictments until Trump is driven from office? We have to understand that the Republicans are as corrupt as the Democrats. Just as Democrats do, Republicans want the money and careers that service to the ruling interest groups provide. Draining the swamp means cutting interest group politics and money from the process that governs politics. As a number of scholars have researched and concluded, the American people have zero input. Both political parties want to keep it that way. Only Donald Trump Can Save American Democracy and Only with Our Support, Paul Craig Roberts
10 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
The plan for today. Do holding tank dumps, read and take it easy. The read is another Cornwell book in the Saxon Series.
This time I downloaded the book from the Cochise County Library directly to Kindle Fire. I didn't like the MOBI reader on Fire very much when I first started to read this book (the first one that I tried). But now after a couple of days I have adapted and it is as good as on Paperwhite.
Of all the readers I have like ReadEra the best.
Fred points out the absurdity of president Trump's offer to wage was on the drug cartel in Mexico. The United States has failed to win the drug war within this country so let's export it. That seems to be the only export the U. S. has any more; wars and selling military equipment to our 'allies'.
I suppose that by now everyone has heard of Trump’s offer to send the American military to “wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth,” which he asserts can be done “quickly and effectively. “
Trump phrased this as an offer to help, not a threat to invade, which is reassuring. AMLO, Mexico’s president, wisely declined the offer...
If AMLO were to invite the Americans into Mexico, he would be lynched. Few Americans are aware of how much the United States is hated in Latin America, and for that matter in most of the world. They don’t know of the long series of military interventions, brutal dictators imposed and supported, and economic rapine. Somoza, Pinochet, the Mexican-American War, detachment of Panama from Colombia, bombardment of Veracruz, Patton’s incursion–the list could go on for pages. The Mexican public would look upon American troops not as saviors but as invaders. Which they would be. - Let’s Invade Mexico!, Fred Reed
11 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Another trip to town with the breakfast stop at Golden 9 restaurant which I think is in Arizona City or maybe Eloy city limits. There I got something different from my usual fare; sausage patties and eggs with a hearty serving of hash browns.
After breakfast I then went to Fry's in Casa Grande where the layout of the items that I usually buy is better organized than in most stores. That does not mean that I knew where everything was but after I found what I was looking for it seemed organized.
Today being Veterans Day I did not know if my dentist here would be open or not. I went to the office to see and found them open. Was able to give them the CD to copy that had my most recent full mouth x rays and also make an appointment for next year. The 'plan' now is I will just come to Casa Grande for an overnight stay to get Desperado wash-n-waxed plus the dental appointment.
I was still about 45 minutes early before Famous Footwear was to open. No problem when you drive your house. I sat in the mall parking lot and got this post started, maybe even get it uploaded and available before I get my shoes.
12 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
I got my new shoes and after only two walks they are almost as dirty as the old shoes. As with all new shoes I have a few different aches and pains. With the new shoes I now have a shoe heel that is not worn down at an angle on the outside edge so I'm walking differently and using a few different muscles.
Just slightly cooler this morning than yesterday but felt even cooler because there was a breeze. The high yesterday was near 90 again but the forecast is for today to be closer to 80. I hope the weather guessers get it right. The morning lows are to slip down into the 40s. So winter is moving in along with the snowbirds.
Fairness is not the way of historians although it should be their duty. At least historical fiction writers are honest.
There is more fiction in Sword Song than in the previous novels about Uhtred of Bebbanburg. If Æthelflaed ever was captured by the Vikings then the chroniclers were curiously silent about the incident, so that strand of the story is my invention. What is true is that Alfred’s eldest daughter did marry Æthelred of Mercia, and there is a good deal of evidence that the marriage was not made in heaven. I suspect I have been extremely unfair to the real Æthelred, but fairness is not the historical novelist’s first duty. - Sword Song, Historical Note, Bernard Cornwell
13 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
I did some cooking yesterday and have no plans to do much today. The hulled barley and oat groats that I cooked are now the base for chopped apricots and raisins, a little butter, some maple syrup and almond milk. The red beans that were cooked have green beans, olives, tomato and avocado added with some of my buttermilk dressing.
I have a daily parade of people passing in front of Desperado everyday. They are either walking their dogs, going to the club house or go to the showers and laundry. I have noticed this before but with so much traffic it brought it to my mind again.
Old geezers seem to have a dress code that I can not ascribe to and it amazes me that they do not know how silly they look. Older women on the other hand retain their dignity, for the most part, by dressing in ways that make them look the best they can in their 'golden years'.
This is book # four in the Saxon Series which continues the great story. The customer review that I have copied 'gets it'.It is a testament to Cornwell's craftsmanship that I enjoy hanging out with Uhtred. I know I should dislike him, he's vain, sullen, petty, often foolish, mostly brutal, and very occasionally, kind. And yet I am fond of him. I grimace when he falls for stupid tricks & when he is vicious without cause. I shake my head and smile when he tries to hide his real motivations from me with low cunning. Uhtred is a very clever, very flawed and very human creation.
So many writers of historical fiction feel the need to modernize their protagonists - all those perky girls who ride astride and hate embroidery, all the bleeding heart liberal heroes who fret over slavery and violence and all the other nasty period habits modern readers find unpalatable. Those sort of books might be populated by nicer folk, but they don't ring true. Uhtred feels like a real Saxon, and though I am fond of him - if I was on fire, he wouldn't piss on me to put it out - He'd probably throw another faggot on and warm his mead. - Edited Customer Review @ goodreads.com
14 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
I don't plan on doing anything out of my usual routine today. There is a lot of News to be assimilated and my new novel to be read.
I also need to think about the email that I received that told me that a 60th Year Reunion is being planned for my high school class. I went to the 50th and depending on when and where it is to be held I may go to the 60th. There have been a couple of others since the 50th that I was invited to attend but did not go.
In this quote Rutherfurd is writing about the King's law that prohibited the peasant use of the forest or kill the game there especially deer. The ancestral basis for the United States Forest Service 'laws' in effect today. Not much has changed, the peasant in the U. S. today still grumble, have become resentful, hold the government in contempt and do their level best to beat the system.
The forest smallholders did not live so badly. Were they grateful? Of course not. Godwin Pride, faced with this foreign interference, had done what people in such cir-cumstances have done through the ages. First he had raged; then grumbled; finally he had come to a resentful compromise laced with contempt. And then he had settled down, quietly and methodically, to beat the system. - The Forest, Edward Rutherfurd
We all need to ask ourselves why it is Trump who is under investigation and not Biden and Obama. We already know the reason. The American media is corrupt beyond the meaning of the word. The Democrats are the most corrupt political party on the face of the earth. And the military/security complex intends to deep-six Donald Trump for threatening their budget and power by normalizing relations with Russia.
If Trump goes down, America goes with him.
Most of the world will say, “Good Riddance.”
- The Latest False News on the Trump Impeachment, Paul Craig Roberts
Why is there no investigation of former president Obama and Trump's deficits? The national debt is now $23 Trillion with the two leading Democrat presidential contenders for 2020 proposing that it be doubled again within the next 10 years. President Trump is very silent with regard to the deficit, he simply keeps saying that everything is great while threatening the world with sanctions and/or more war. Ron Paul continues to speak out on the issue but no one cares least of all the peasants in these United States.
Even though the federal deficit is already over one trillion dollars (and growing), President Trump and Congress have no interest in cutting spending, especially in an election year. Should he win reelection, President Trump is unlikely to reverse course and champion fiscal restraint. Instead, he will likely take his victory as a sign that the people support big federal budgets and huge deficits. None of the leading Democratic candidates are even pretending to care about the deficit. Instead they are proposing increasing spending by trillions on new government programs. - Is The ‘Mother of all Bubbles’ About to Pop?, Ron Paul
15 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Read Will Rogers column 88 years ago: November 15, 1931
The highlight of my day so far has been receiving the mail forwarded from my UPS Store in Sierra Vista. The most important item in the forwarding was the VA prescription package. But there was also a big thick magazine/book about Medicare plus six identical letters from Humana wanting me to sign up with them for Medicare. Wells Fargo also sent me three letters wanting me to borrow some money. With the cost of forwarding being what it is this made for some very expensive junk mail.
The rest of my day will hopefully be just as exciting. I'll be reading my latest novel while on the couch. Probably do some web surfing and we will do our afternoon walk. The new shoes, New Balance 706, are now filthy but feel as good as or better than the Keen shoes did when they were new. Much more expensive that the Keens that I have bought the past few times but that is because they are American made. I can only hope that they give me longer service.
These events [mass shootings] quite often appear to unveil in similar ways: There are shots fired, followed by eyewitness accounts of more than one shooter. Then, the YouTube videos of those reporting on multiple attackers will be scrubbed from the internet.
Within hours, the murderers will be reported to be extremely troubled, if not insane, and likely on psychotropic drugs, as several people claim they all “saw it coming”, or, in some instances, saying they were completely surprised that the person they knew could massacre so many.
Additionally, prophetic postings placed prior on social media by the shooter will be revealed – but most always after it’s too late. And, typically, of course, an AR-type rifle, or semi-automatic handgun will have been used and most often with larger-capacity magazines. And, quite often, a manifesto of some sort is discovered.
Then, finally, like the sun rising after a long dark night, the political establishment will loudly crow like over-caffeinated roosters about “doing something” so “it never happens again”.
Every time. -Personal Politics, Public Impeachment, Persuasion and Post-Apocalyptic Planning, Doug “Uncola” Lynn
16 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
The one other piece of mail that was forwarded to me was a notice from the VA that I should make an appointment for an annual eye exam. I'ii try to do that online but if that fails I get it done when I am there for an appointment on 2 December.
That is about all that I have to do today that is not the usual routine. Mostly cloudy this morning and felt somewhat cooler although the low was above what we had the past couple of days. The weather experts are forecast a chance of four days of rain starting next Tuesday. That will most likely be revised daily during the next few days.
As Trump approves of the attempted coup against Venezuela’s Maduro and the successful coup against Bolivia’s Morales, how can he complain about the CIA/DNC ongoing coup against him? Live by the sword and die by the sword. - Bolivia Proves that Latin America Cannot Exit the American Empire, Paul Craig Roberts
The Bolivia coup is a great backdrop to a book that I have just downloaded and started to read off and on along with the novel that I am also reading. It just so happens that Evo Morales and Hugo Chavez were kindred souls.
"On Saturday, April 18, 2009 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez publicly handed President Obama a copy of Eduardo Galeano's seminal left-leaning tome [Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent] on the foreign exploitation of Latin America. By Monday, April 20, the book — first published in 1971 — had skyrocketed to #2 on Amazon.com's bestseller list. It seems as though the Venezuelan leader, a shrewd showman, knew that his gift would draw attention not just to the book itself, but to the dramatic tale told within." - From Time
17 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
This was shopping day. First stop was at the Big House Café where I got their Tamale-n-Eggs Plate with home fries and beans. It was good but not as good as what I get at the Trail Rider in Eagar when in Springerville. I stopped at the Big House some years ago and found it hard to find parking. It was later in the day than when I was there today and I found a good parking spot but noticed that they were taking names for a waiting list by the time I left. Don't know if I'll try them again or not.
The grocery gathering was reasonably easy to do. I then got a tank full of gas for Desperado on the way out of Fry's. That was all there was to do for my shopping excursion and I headed back to the Park. I think there have been some co-op meetings ongoing these past few days. I see a lot of people walking past my space on their way to the club house and they are wearing their Escapee badges. There was a time when I considered getting a lease space at one or another of the Escapee Parks but fortunately that thought passed. I month is about all I want now and even that was too long at North Ranch.
Perhaps a Mexican drug cartel did not kill the Mormons in Mexico? Perhaps president Trumps was trying to use the killings for political purposes? Perhaps The Establishment was trying to gin up another war, this time closer to the U.S.? Read what Fred Reed has to say.
Other Stuff : The Mormonicide in Mexico
The story of the cartels killing the LeBarón Mormon family did not make sense to me, or to many others here. The narcos do not kill without a reason. The reasons may be deplorable, such as eliminating unfriendly politicians, but there is a reason. They specifically avoid killing Americans, first because they have no reason, and second because it brings highly unwelcome attention, such as American threats to send the military. The narcos are evil. They are not stupid. For what it’s worth, news-aware people here have serious doubts as to who did it for what reasons, paid for by whom. - Source
18 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
More of the same here. The News is more of the same as well. The Lame Stream Media is doing everything they can to make impeachment the focus but the collapsing economy can be hidden for only so long. Why are the Democrats so intent on impeachment that they have very little chance of a conviction? Why are they not attacking president Trump's global sanctions and trade war? Why are they supporting Forever Wars when they know that is not a vote getter?
It is early but I'm already starting to think about moving on to Quail Ridge again. Not that I am excited about another winter in Cochise county but want to get the VA appointments taken care of and get started on the interior redo of Desperado.
This excerpt is the post closing by Paul Craig Roberts. He asks a lot more questions in the post that I would also like to know the answers.
Trump first let his National Security Advisor, General Flynn, the only sensible appointment Trump ever made, be falsely prosecuted by Mueller. Gen. Flynn, the former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, was framed in broad daylight while President Trump stood there sucking his thumb.The word went out everywhere in Republican circles: DO NOT Compromise Yourself By Standing By President Trump. He will not rescue you from false prosecution.
Manafort and Stone are Trumps’ latest victims. Note that the only victims are Republicans. No Democrat victims.
Barr’s indictments of the perpetrators of the Russiagate hoax are still missing.
Does Donald Trump only fight for himself? If so, we will see if he can by himself save himself.
Is Trump unable to fight because his own team belongs to the deep state? - Impotent Republicans Are a Joke—the Democrats Don’t Take Republicans Seriously
19 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Cloudy this morning and much warmer than yesterday although the forecast is for the high temperature to be cooler. There is also an 80% chance of rain today, tonight and tomorrow with the daily highs dropping down into the 60s. I'll be whining about it being cold.
I don't have much planned for these days that may include rain. There are holding tanks to be dumped this morning and it looks like I'll be able to do that before there is any rain.
A good time to be on the couch with Patches. Maybe finish one of the books that I have been reading, the one on Paperwhite will probably be the first one. The one on the Kindle Fire is 784 pages in paperback and I'm now about 600 pages into it. The other book on Kindle Fire is just an on and off read that may take me weeks to finish.
20 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
The rain started in the early afternoon yesterday. Raining at our usual afternoon walk time so I ate 'linner' and it then looked like it had stopped. We did less than a half mile and it started again, got wet before reaching Desperado. This morning it was not raining when we went out but started getting sprinkles within 10 minutes. That became a light rain and we got damp before getting back inside.
The weather Underground station that I am using has reported almost 1" of rain so far with more to come all day today. The chance of rain is then forecast to decrease during the night with only a 50% chance tomorrow. We will be trying to do our walks but they will be in the Park. The roads that we have been walking are going to be a sea of mud. Probably can't walk on those routes again until after the weekend.
I wrote about discontinuing GoPo that I had been taking. It is sold as an anti inflammatory which I hoped would reduce/eliminate psoriasis flares. Now taking a tumeric supplement that has the same claims along with a vitamin D supplement that is also touted to improve psoriasis of the skin and arthritic. Ginger is also suggested and I bought some ginger tea bags this past shopping trip. Even if the tea does not add to the anti inflammatory fight it is a pleasant drink in the afternoon after my daily intake of coffee in the morning.
21 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
The Weather Underground website is screwed up again. No historical data for the reporting station that I have been using. From what I can see at the National Weather Service I think there was another 0.25" of rain in the early hours this morning, enough to wake me. We stayed in the Park where there was a lot of standing water but no mud. The unpaved roads have to be a mess, it only takes very little rain here to do that.
Finished the book that I had on Paperwhite and have downloaded a replacement. The long novel on Kindle Fire is still some days from completion. I'll be reading more of it today plus a little of the other book that I have on Fire. That is about all that is on the agenda. We will do an afternoon walk, weather permitting, but is will be on paved roads.
Trade deal - Forget about it!
President Trump's art of the deal: "The beatings will continue until morale improves."
Trump says China would have to make a deal he likes and threatens to raise tariffs further if no trade deal is reached with Beijing. - Tweet @ Reuters
Few Chinese believe that China and the US can reach a deal soon. Given current poor China policy of the US, people tend to believe the significance of a trade deal, if reached, will be limited. China wants a deal but is prepared for the worst-case scenario, a prolonged trade war. - Tweet @ HuXijin_GT (Editor of the Global Times, unofficial spokesman for Communist China). I added the bold.
The Mysterious Island was published in 1874. The original edition, published by Hetzel, contains a number of illustrations by Jules Férat. The novel is a crossover sequel to Verne's famous Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and In Search of the Castaways, though its themes are vastly different from those books. An early draft of the novel, initially rejected by Verne's publisher and wholly reconceived before publication, was titled Shipwrecked Family: Marooned with Uncle Robinson, seen as indicating the influence of the novels Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson. Verne developed a similar theme in his later novel, Godfrey Morgan. - Edited Wikipedia
22 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Read Will Rogers column 88 years ago: November 22, 1931
We got more rain yesterday but it waited until after sundown allowing us to do our afternoon walk. We did an out and back on a road that runs west from the Park that is paved for a half mile. The dirt portion is hard packed and by the time we did our walk it was mostly dry. Probably will try that again today and tomorrow. The storm appears to be over after leaving 1.50" of rain which is a lot for this country. Good for wild flowers next spring.
I have some hulled barley and oat groats on the stove this morning. That will be just about all that I will be doing today that might be considered constructive. Everything else that I might do will be routine.
23 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Went into town again this morning. Took the long route getting there and stopped at the Golden 9 restaurant. Got their daily special which today was an omelet with lots of spinach, green chile, onion and swiss cheese. It was huge and came with a lot of good hash browns. Service was slow with only one waitress when I got there, two more showed up about the time I was leaving.
Went to Fry's for groceries which was done reasonably quickly with only a couple backtracks to find items. Then to the Park and done for the day. A few scattered clouds this morning with a 10% chance of more rain tonight and tomorrow. A little warmer today and tomorrow but then slowly getting colder with the expected highs to be in the upper 50s by next Friday and the lows to be in the upper 30s. I'll then be moving into low 50s with the lows at or below freezing. Not a very smart move but you do what you need to do.
Jeffrey Epstein’s death was simply the result of a very, very, very long series of unfortunate coincidences.
“I can understand people who immediately, whose minds went to sort of the worst-case scenario because it was a perfect storm of screw-ups,” Barr told AP on Thursday.
This perfect storm of unlucky oopsies include Epstein being taken off suicide watch not long after a previous suicide attempt and shortly before his successful suicide, suggestions that the first attempt may have actually been an assault via attempted strangulation inflicted by someone else, two security guards simultaneously falling asleep on the job when they were supposed to be checking on Epstein, one of those guards not even being an actual security guard, security footage of two cameras outside Epstein’s cell being unusable due to a mysterious technical glitch, at least eight Bureau of Prisons officials knowing Epstein wasn’t meant to be left alone in his cell and leaving him alone in his cell anyway, Epstein’s cellmate being transferred out of their shared space the day before Epstein’s death, Epstein signing a will two days before his death, unexplained injuries on Epstein’s wrists and shoulder reported by his family after the autopsy, and a forensic expert who examined Epstein’s body claiming that his injuries were more consistent with homicide than suicide. - Barr Ends All Conspiracy Theories Forever By Saying Epstein Died Via A Series Of Coincidences, Caitlin Johnstone
In spite of what US Attorney General William Barr said I still do not think Jeffery Epstein killed himself and now think that Mr. Barr is under The Establishment's control.
24 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Today will be more of the same. I did get confirmation that I now have a second appointment at the VA in December. I sent a Secure Message asking for an appointment with the Eye Clinic after receiving a reminder card in my forwarded mail. Never received a reply and the VA website is 'temporarily' (not anytime I checked for a week) not showing appointments. Sent a second Secure Message and after some confusion I now have the appointment.
The low temperature this morning was 45 which did not feel very cold while we were doing our walk. However, it is very slow in warming up, still below 50 at 8:00 and felt cold in Desperado. Wave 6 time. There is more rain in the forecast for next Thursday and Friday which is not good. My walking routes are still somewhat muddy and more rain will not help.
I might finish the long novel that I have been reading on the Kindle Fire today. If not today then tomorrow.
The data from the most recent Politico/Morning Consult tracking poll mirror my thinking; "Stop talking about issues that matter to you, not to me".
The second factor is the view among Independents that impeachment reflects the agenda of the political establishment and the media. Regardless of what they think about Trump’s behavior, Independents see impeachment as a continuation of the partisan bickering and media excess that began even before his inauguration. By massive margins, Independents say that the impeachment issue is “more important to politicians than it is to me" (62% to 22%) and “more important to the media than it is to me” (61% to 23%). It is hard to read this as anything but a warning to the Democratic leadership and candidates: Stop talking about issues that matter to you, not to me. Impeachment proceedings are viewed as bread and circuses for the anti-Trump crowd in Washington and the media—or, as Stanford political science professor Morris Fiorina described it to me, “entertainment and confirmation.” That’s a dangerous perception as Democrats approach one of the most consequential and fraught elections of our times. - Source
25 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
We did an afternoon walk on one of my three routes that are all on dirt roads yesterday. There were muddy places but not too bad, it was only where a vehicle had driven, if I stayed out of the tire tracks I was on dry ground. I say dry ground but that was only at the very surface just scratch the ground and it was wet below.
I will try a second route this afternoon. The third route has a lot of traffic on it and I saw that it was a muddy mess when I went to town. I will try to walk it tomorrow but plan on finding a detour around the mud if it is still bad.
This is another generational historical fiction book in the style of Michner. It is lengthy which matches Michner's style as well. I have three more of his books on my To Read list, good historical fiction.
The Forest is the natural companion to Sarum. From the time of the Norman Conquest to the present day, the New Forest, which lies just south-east of Sarum on England's southern coast, has remained an almost mystical place, famous for its deer, ancient oaks, thatched cottages and forest ponies. It has also been known for smuggling, the building of great sailing ships, and witchcraft. With their local customs little changed since medieval times, the Forest people - represented in the story by the Albions, the Tottons, the Prides, Puckles and Furzeys - have roots that go back to time immemorial. - From Edward Rutherfurd website.I had a difficult time transferring my brokerage account from NV to AZ but was finally able to satisfy Scottrade with a 'residence' address. This was in August 2016. TD Ameritrade then bought Scottrade in September 2017 which was seamless although early this year I lost the user name and could not access the online account. I got that fixed soon after arriving here because Ameritrade had an office in Chandler and that was probably as close to an office as I was going to get. I now read that Charles Schwab is buying TD Ameritrade. Who knows what complications that is going to cause me.
26 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
The only thing that I did different yesterday was I socialized. I saw my neighbor walking her cat a few days ago and saw her doing so again yesterday. It is uncommon to see a cat walk well on a leash but Sportster does. Sportster owns judyhowardpublishing.com where you can find out about Sportster and Judy. We had a good visit with only a little RV talk.
Our walk of route two went well yesterday afternoon but there was more mud that the first route. If we get the rain in the forecast then neither of those routes will be walkable without getting into mud. I know that route three is worse than number two so I have changed my mind about trying it this afternoon.
In this post by Paul Craig Roberts he expresses the same thinking as myself. The AG is either part of or under the thumb of The Establishment.
That Epstein did not kill himself is completely obvious, so when AG William Barr covers up Epstein’s murder, this is an indication that he will cover up the military/security complex/DNC/presstitute coup against President Trump.
From what I know of Washington, I am certain that Washington, the cesspool of the world, will never rat on itself. - Washington, the Cesspool of the World, Will Never Rat on Itself
27 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
I found a couple out and back dirt road routes that are parallel to the paved road but are now dry. They are better than the alfalfa field roads for my early morning walks which have me in the dark for the first half of the walk. I don't know what condition they will be in if we get rain.
I'll be starting my month end house cleaning today, the plan being to finish it tomorrow. That will include holding tank dumps plus adding water. Doing that a little early because I need to go to town and get groceries and do laundry. I also need part of a day to get the Will Rogers weekly articles prepared for another month. Not a lot to do but I do not want to do it all on the same day.
The low was 37 this morning but I was dressed for it, maybe overdressed. The forcast for tomorrow morning is for it to be much warmer, back into the 50s. But there is also a chance of rain today, tonight and Friday. The chances are less than what the experts thought a few days ago but I hope we don't get any.
Under NATO, we are now committed to go to war for 28 nations. And the interventionists who took us into Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen want U.S. war guarantees extended to other nations even closer to Russia.
One day, one of these war guarantees is going to be called upon, and we may find that the American people were unaware of that commitment, and are unwilling to honor it, especially if the consequence is a major war with a nuclear power. - Is Macron Right? Is NATO, 70, Brain Dead?, Patrick J. Buchanan
28 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
It looked like there was a good chance that we would get rained on this morning. Didn't happen and the experts only give it a 20% chance during the day but 100% chance tonight and 90% chance tomorrow. If they are right then I'll probably be going to town in the rain and we may nor get to do our usual walks tomorrow.
I'll be outside doing the holding tank dumps today so it will be good that there is no rain. I don't like to be out and about on Black Friday but there probably will not be a crowd at the laundry and Fry's shouldn't be packed with crazed shoppers. It is only the rain that is going to make it a poor day to be going to town.
This was written as science fiction in 1975. However, the fantasy of 1984 has become a reality, what is to say that Medicare For All does not become a Eugenics Control Law at some future date. I'll have more to say about Bladerunner books, not movies.
The Health Control laws, passed almost twenty years before, were perfectly explicit. All forms of legal health care were provided in the government-operated Hospitals, Emergency Rooms and Outpatient Clinics, and only those patients who could qualify under the Eugenics Control laws were eligible for health care at all. The whole vast underworld of black-market medicine, of which bladerunners like Billy were such an integral part, had grown up in the wake of those Eugenics Control laws, bringing totally illegal health care services to the multitudes of people who could not—or would not —qualify for health care on a legal basis. - The Bladerunner (1975), Alan E. Nourse
29 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Read Will Rogers column 88 years ago: November 29, 1931
It was raining in the early hours and still raining when it was time for us to go do our walk. It slacked off some so we went out for a potty walk. I even cut that short when I stepped into a puddle that was over the top of my shoes and into my socks. I had an umbrella but Patches got wet.
I then had a deep puddle in front of Desperado's basement compartment where I had to store the electric cord after disconnecting from the pedestal. By then the rain had turned into a drizzle so the drive into town was done with only periodic wipers. At the laundry we did a couple turns around the strip mall until it began to rain again. So far the storm has dumped 0.75" and it looks like we will get some more. It is expected to clear this afternoon.
When laundry was finished it was time to get groceries at Fry's while the crowd, if there was to be one, had not gathered yet. That went well with no waiting at the checkout. Last stop was at Cook E Jar restaurant where I got their Southwest Hash (made with pulled pork) and eggs. Very good. I did have to wade through about 3" of water to get to and from where I parked but it was worth it.
This is the eighth book in The Nine Novels That Defined Steampunk as claimed by Johnathan Greyshade. I did not like it as much as the first book I read by Jeter that was also on Greyshade's. It is certainly different and the first of a Dower trilogy which I think I'll read. I did some web browsing and found that Jeter has also written some sequels to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (the book that was adapted to Bladerunner the movie). I'll read that book first then Jeter's sequels.
Infernal Devices: A Mad Victorian Fantasy was originally published in 1987, not to be confused with Philip Reeve’s or Cassandra Clare’s later works by the same name. Jeter’s Infernal Devices is one of the funniest steampunk books ever written. The central character, George Dower is a hapless English “every man” character comparable to Arthur Dent in Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. All sorts of absurd things happen to Mr. Dower until the madcap plot is tied together with an elaborate dig about Victorian sexual repression. This was the first novel in the genre to heavily feature clockwork technology but there are elements of pure fantasy as well. - Edited from The Nine Novels That Defined Steampunk, Johnathan Greyshade
30 November
RoVers Roost
Casa Grande, AZ
Today is the 10th anniversary of THE PEREGRINATING GRAYBEARD.
There have been some changes along the way but the daily content has remained very much the same. A 'dear diary' kind of writing that has no 'theme' other than a place to keep track of my travel from camp to camp and what books I have read. Then add some random thoughts on what is reported as News and that is what you see.
I'll be doing Will Rogers weekly article preparation today. Will settle my electric bill late this afternoon and will be ready to leave early tomorrow morning.
The novel The Bladerunner (also published as The Blade Runner) is a 1974 science fiction novel by Alan E. Nourse, about underground medical services and smuggling. It was the source for the name, but no major plot elements, of the 1982 film Blade Runner, adapted from the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, though elements of the Nourse novel recur in a pair of 2002 films also largely adapted from Dick's work, Impostor and Minority Report.Plot
The novel's protagonist is Billy Gimp, a man with a club foot who runs "blades" for Doc (Doctor John Long) as part of an illegal black market for medical services. The setting is a society where free, comprehensive medical treatment is available for anyone so long as they qualify for treatment under the Eugenics Laws. Preconditions for medical care include sterilization, and no legitimate medical care is available for anyone who does not qualify or does not wish to undergo the sterilization procedure (including children over the age of five). These conditions have created illegal medical services in which bladerunners supply black market medical supplies for underground practitioners, who generally go out at night to see patients and perform surgery. As an epidemic breaks out among the underclass, Billy must save his city from the plague. - Wikipedia