Revised 1887 edition of Horace Ford's book The Theory and Practice of Archery.
Dr. Saxton Pope befriended Ishi who taught him how to make bows.
The book Ishi's Brain.
Monday, September 30, 2024
Cicada
Perhaps it was because I was small, but maybe they were really that much larger. Memory has them at around two inches. Their buzzing fascinated and early on became the marker of the arrival of summer.
As I sat on the veranda wondering in my deafness if they were still going on, I saw the carapace outlined against the sky.
Meaning to add it to my display case, lost the thought before I could act. When do we recognize dementia?
It was still there a few days later and Michelle retreived it. And she knew where to place it.
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Jemez Springs, New Mexico
It was last Oktober that I saw a landscape. Though I'm grateful for my sight, the urban wasteland does nothing for my soul.
This was taken yesterday. She's spending a week at Jemez Springs before going to Ghost Ranch for a month.
Birdsong
I remember driving past the Pueblo in '76, being awestruck by the beauty of the canyon and wishing we had the wherewithal to live there.
There were still a few hippies living at the hot springs then.
She tells me it's changed a little, but still soul-stirring. I don't 'spect I'll git there again.
She and I....
Daimler AG & Mercedes Benz eActros 600
Americans think electric vehicles are a plot; we're being left behind.
https://hub.mercedes-benz-trucks.com/int/en/trucks/eactros-600.html
The eActros 600 is Mercedes-Benz's flagship vehicle.
Though Freightliner's eCascadia does feature on their website, it's not given the great ballyhoo of eActros 600.
Martin Baum who has led Daimler AG since 1987, was, on Oktober 1st, succeeded by Karin Rådström.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Freightliner Trucks
Freightliner Trucks is an American semi truck manufacturer.[1] Founded in 1929 as the truck-manufacturing division of Consolidated Freightways (from which it derives its name), the company was established in 1942 as Freightliner Corporation.[2] Owned by Daimler AG from 1981 to 2021, Freightliner is now a part of Daimler Truck subsidiary Daimler Truck North America (along with Western Star, Detroit Diesel, and Thomas Built Buses).[3]
Freightliner produces a range of vans, medium-duty trucks, and heavy-duty trucks;[1] under its Freightliner Custom Chassis subsidiary, the company produces bare chassis and cutaway chassis for multiple types of vehicles. The company popularized the use of cabover (COE) semitractors, with the Freightliner Argosy later becoming the final example of the type sold in North America.
The company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon (the city of its founding); vehicles are currently manufactured in Cleveland, North Carolina, and Mount Holly, North Carolina, and Santiago Tianguistenco and Saltillo, Mexico.[4]
Legal controversy
As of December 2020, Freightliner is under a court order to improve safety, and was fined $30 million by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Adninistration) after an investigation found that Freightliner had failed to recall dozens of known safety defects in its vehicles.[5] In 2019 alone, Freightliner was forced to issue safety recalls 24 separate times by the NHTSA, and there have been over 100 recalls total on its flagship truck, the Cascadia. The judge found that Freightliner had no system in place to track faults, and ordered $5 million of the fine be applied to upgrading outdated paper-based systems and converting to recall software used by other automakers for decades.[6]
As of May 2021, Freightliner has at least three open investigations against it for electrical issues, including several fires.[7]
Several weeks after the fine was issued by the NHTSA, Freightliner CEO Roger Nielsen was replaced by John O'Leary, a senior executive from Mercedes Benz trucks, and former CFO of their parent company Daimler Trucks.[8]
--------------- END OF WIKI ARTICLE ---------------
Why would you buy one?
Maybe Trump'll do away with the NHTSA. That'll take care of that.
Daimler Truck AG, the holding company that owns Daimler Trucks North America, has their corporate offices in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany. Their company "about" page, says they employ over 100,00 people in over 40 locations around the world.
Daimler Truck's home page showcases their etrucks.
Here's a pie-chart that shows the distribution of the 823 million outstanding shares of Daimler AG as of August 9, 2024.
Freightliner, as mentioned in the Wiki article, is owned by Daimler Trucks North America, which is owned by Daimler Truck AG and is just one of their many brands.
I thought it interesting that the eCascadia on Freightliner's website gets almost no mention. Whereas on Daimler Trucks North America the top of their website features a video that includes images of a number of environmental issues and presents the company as concerned, forward-thinking and emphasizes they're leading the transition to autonomous driving.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Unauthorized Immigrants - Idaho
Original article from News From The States.
Report mentioned in article above describes Idaho’s unauthorized workforce and how their work, spending and taxes relate to Idaho’s economy.
The true story about why and how Haitian immigrants came to Springfield by The Springfield News-Sun - 20.Sept.24
Monday, September 23, 2024
Albuq - Inna Nut Shell
This review was posted two months ago (today is 23.Sept.24) on the Rio Grand Communty Farm reviews in Google Maps. My family and I arrived in 1976 and after all these years I'm posting this as an accurate depiction of the town.
Lavender festival is the last festival I’m attending in Albuquerque after attending a few here. Consistent lack of basic planning and forethought between festival planners and city/sheriff makes events like this a nightmare to attend. Community streets should have been managed with traffic directors for neighborly politeness to people living and passing down Rio Grande. You need to offer shuttles and have people managing cars parking in an organized fashion in diagonals on streets. Or just pick a better spot in town with less congestion.
I thought we would be in lavender fields hence the inconvenient location- nope! Just soaps and lotions and random cut overpriced bundles brought in from elsewhere.
Saying “no street parking” on the website is a joke. In a town where everyone drives massive trucks and roads are small, how have event and city planners not come together on this?
Other detractions: call it like it is- a ticketed craft show of the same vendors that attend all craft shows and sell in all stores in ABQ. The educational part was not obvious or easy to navigate and frankly, if a medical emergency happened on site there weren’t enough responders/support staff and I don’t know how you’d even evacuate someone given the chaotic mess of traffic.
Lay down hay on the waking paths, put paper cups or biodegrading cups out at the water stations so people can drink water- just basic things that make a nice seeming idea stay in the nice zone instead of encroaching on a cruel layer of purgatory. Honestly it was a waste of time and money and unsafe and unfun. I’m sad to say that, but it’s just the truth.
Unfortunately this checks out as par for the course in ABQ because events seem to be run with profit interests in mind only, while avoiding basic safety or maintaining high community event standards. Total hell. You couldn’t pay me $100 to attend this again.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Trump's Legacy
Given my impotence, I've ignored politics. But it was impossible to ignore Shreve Stockton's mention in her book Meditations With Cows (pp. 143-148) of President Trump's gift to farmers in 2019 to compensate them for losses incurred when his tariff increases prompted China to buy their commodities from elsewhere.
(As a johnnie-come-lately, this post is no diff from any others; it's a means of keeping track.)
Here's what Rueter's had to say.
The above story inna nut shell...
After a series of tariff increases on Chinese imports, the government of China retaliated against U.S. exporters, as predicted by trade analysts outside of the administration. As a result, U.S. exports, particularly of agricultural goods, dropped significantly. “Losing the world’s most populous country as an export market has been a major blow to the [U.S.] agriculture industry,” reported the New York Times in August 2019. “Total American agricultural exports to China were $24 billion in 2014 and fell to $9.1 billion last year, according to the American Farm Bureau.” (the article with the quote disappeared from The Farm Bureau website on 22.Sept.24. This article states that China's latest retaliation covers nearly 90% of America's agricultural exports!!!) In 2018, U.S. farmers’ soybean exports to China declined by 75%, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Prompted by the above articles to look further into Trump's legacy, I found this article from The Pew Research Center that lists some items clearly. Below are the main points.
"Trump’s policy record included major changes at home and abroad. He achieved a string of long-sought conservative victories domestically, including the biggest corporate tax cuts on record, the elimination of scores of environmental regulations and a reshaping of the federal judiciary. In the international arena, he imposed tough new immigration restrictions, withdrew from several multilateral agreements, forged closer ties with Israel and launched a tit-for-tat trade dispute with China as part of a wider effort to address what he saw as glaring imbalances in America’s economic relationship with other countries."
Delving the archives, I read of the revolving door of his cabinet along with Mr. Tillerson's seeming disatisfaction.
Oct 4, 2017 - NBC News article about Rex Tillerson
Asked whether the president still has confidence in Tillerson, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Monday that he does.
Trump has already seen an unusually high level of turnover in his administration, with the departures of his national security adviser, deputy national security adviser, his chief of staff, press secretary, communications director — twice — his chief strategist, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the acting head of the Justice Department. Last Friday Trump accepted the resignation of Tom Price, the Health and Human Services secretary.
Slate's comment on "the Tillerson" name-calling.
When I was an officer in the U.S. military, I abstained from voting in national elections, one small way to keep the armed forces nonpartisan. Now, to uphold that same value and prevent the military from becoming a political tool, I believe that in November, everyone — civilians, service members, veterans, everyone — should vote for whoever has the best chance to keep Donald Trump out of office.
This is not a political statement. This is a strategic judgment based on fitness to lead — both to defend the United States and to protect the civilian-military balance that has enabled our nation to become the greatest in history.
Today’s U.S. military is the world’s most powerful weapon, and in the wrong hands it could become a potent political tool as well. This weapon must not be placed under an unfit commander in chief, as the former president showed himself to be during the previous administration and as he has vowed to be again if he regains power.
I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican, but an American who has fought in the forces that guard our country and our way of life, in the words of our military’s Code of Conduct. I fought in Iraq, earned two Bronze Stars and taught military strategy at West Point. My commitment to military values and nonpartisanship hasn’t changed since I rejoined civilian life. What’s changed is the choice presented in American politics. There really isn’t one, because one of the two major-party presidential candidates is clearly, demonstrably, irredeemably unfit to serve as commander in chief.
THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
Tracking turnover in the Trump administration by Kathryn Dunn Tempas
A Trump compatriot - Guo Wengui (see section: G News and GTV)
A former compatriot & friend of Guo's - Steve Bannon
Bannon's involvement with the We Build the Wall gofundme & Trump's pardon
Friday, September 20, 2024
Election Violence
Since gun sales are what's been shoring up our GNP for the past thirty years, I thought to look into surmisals about the possibility of violence after the election.
Though there's a fair amount, I chose to note the opinions in this article in the July 31, 2024 Harvard Gazette.
The article references a panel discussion (link is to Youtube) convened by the Ash Center for Governance and Innovation and moderated by Erica Chenowith, academic dean for faculty engagement and the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Sarah Birch, professor of political science at King’s College, London, studies violence in emerging democracies, primarily in Africa. Author of Electoral Violence, Corruption, and Political Order, her research suggests that "when it {violence} does happen it is not orchestrated by political elites."
Chenoweth noted an “overwhelming majority of Americans … categorically reject using violence to achieve domestic political ends under basically any circumstance,” citing poll numbers in the high 80 percent range.
A recent poll, found that 10 percent of participants said “use of force is justified to prevent Donald Trump from becoming president,” and seven percent supported the use of force “to restore Trump to the presidency.”
(In case it doesn't occur to you, that means 90% were against using force to prevent Trump from becoming president and 93% opposed the use of force to restore him to the presidency. Regardless, the majority are opposed to violence.)
Most threats, the panelists agreed, are simply designed to intimidate.
Hardy Merriman, president of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict concurred, "In general, there are lots of people who threaten and never enact political violence, and there are some people who enact political violence and never threaten."
This makes sense, he explained: "If you were serious, why would you tip people off with threats?”
Monday, September 16, 2024
My Brush With The Law
Years ago, after I complained to the city about a neighbor's dog that barked from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Phoebe started getting nails and screws in her tires.
Michelle insisted they were getting picked up off the streets, but when I moved her a couple of miles away they stopped.
When I returned last October I put her in storage until her registration renewal became due and she had to pass emissions. Afterward, it being time to begin restoring her interior, I returned her to her "safe place."
I enjoy driving her and would usually get out every few days, but a bout of the bedriddens kept me in for several weeks.
As I learned in the hearing, after she was red-tagged as an abandoned vehicle the new employee at The City didn't know to send a notice of the intent to tow. I was oblivious until I received the letter of impoundment. The bill was $502.53.
Today the contract Hearing Officer heard my appeal. The City lost their case when they admitted they hadn't sent the notice of the tagging. But in the interests of my edification the Hearing Officer proceeded.
There were two other participants: a City employee whose concern was that inoperable vehicles -- as Phoebe had been deemed -- not continue to be an eyesore; the other was one of two police officers involved.
I was transfixed by the proceedings as each participant laid out their claims. The officer determined Phoebe inoperable based on a missing piece of plastic "dashboard" that covered the underside of the steering column.
A thorough review of the law disclosed that an inoperable and/or abandoned vehicle could be towed from anywhere, including private property.
The Hearing Officer asked for further clarification. Delving deeper, we learned that a vehicle with "missing parts" could be towed from private property. Meant to enable The City to deal with vehicles left up on blocks or worse, The City attorney admitted it was unlikely Phoebe would get yanked from the carport for a bit of missing underdash plastic...but they could.
In order to reimburse me, The City has to have a copy of the bill for the towing and impoundment. In an effort to make sure things didn't drag on forever, The City attorney asked the Hearing Officer to impose a deadline of 30 days for receipt of the bill.
Though confident of my ability to meet the deadline, I felt a bit affronted by this request and asked the Hearing Officer if he could require The City to reimburse me within 30 days of receipt of the bill.
I think everyone recognized the disengenuity behind my query (the quivering of the tip end of my tail was a giveaway) and my attempt at stifling a grin may have been noticed, but the Hearing Officer adjusted himself in his chair and leaning forward into his camera said, "I'm a contract Hearing Officer and I get paid when I get paid. I'm afraid you'll have to do the same." whereupon he settled back with a look of closure and said we could all go.
To get my last word, I apologized to everyone for taking their time. I nearly laughed aloud as each in turn, including The City administrator who opened the ZOOM meeting, also apologized. No one wants to be accused of being rude!
Monday, September 9, 2024
Peter & Christine Scott & Sarco
There're alot of articles about this couple who're pursuing self-deliverance via the Sarco. I chose this one as it has fewer ads.
This article describes the Sarco and how it works.
Spain authorized euthanasia in 2021.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
The Man With The Violin
A childrens' story based on an experiment.
In 2007, renowned violinist, Joshua Bell played for 40 minutes at a Metro stop in Washington D.C. Of the thousands who went by, 7 stopped to listen. And though a number of children entreated their attendants, none would even pause.
Joshua had this to say...
Stop and hear the music experiment
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Poli-tick
13.Sept.24
After Anon commented, I looked up Kennedy. In the Wiki article it mentions one of his & Trump's major supporters is Timothy Mellon. Wiki estimates Timothy's worth at 14.1B. His Wiki page describes some of his political donations.
One can only assume similar dollar amounts are flying around the other candidates. With that kind of money, it's hard to imagine ANY of them care about us little people...the fodder for the machine.
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