Turntables / Covid / Acting President in hiding

 For her birthday I purchased DJ an all in one turntable and when we put on the very first album (literally MC) Tea for the Tillerman DJ had tears as the sounded was so warm and true.  It was a blast from the past. 

Everybody knows analog sounds better than digital.  It's like the difference from internet radio and actual radio.  Or K-Cup coffee and real coffee. SO MUCH difference.  I dropped Sirius Sat radio when they kept saying for extra money I could get CD quality sound.  So I spent the money and NO - it was not CD quality it totally sucks.   

Of course when I tried to cancel Sirius it took 2 hours and 6 phone calls because they kept hanging up on me.  Even when I went to a landline the call dropped . . . hmmmmmmm   It took my 6th called  . . .but I digress.  

SO - now I'm hoping I get a turntable for Christmas for the BIG system in the basement and just this morning I get a text from my former alderman buddy saying the guy formally named Cat Stevens has released,  NO!  re-recorded  and re-imagined to today's quality Tea for the Tillerman 2  on the 50th 

( O M G ) anniversary.   

It's slightly different "Pianos are replaced with guitars, drums are found in places that they did not used to be and electric instruments are used. " 

So - come on Christmas - - - - if I make it.

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Every day I create or add to a graph showing Covid.  What is worrying me is I have a 30 day estimate from the current trend and EVERY day that estimate gets worse. 

At the current rate 1,638 people will not make it to Christmas and 7,748 people will be hospitalized.  Meanwhile the Wisconsin GOP is complaining that the State is not doing enough to stop the virus and that there should NOT be a Democrat plan or a Republican plan. There should be one plan. 

WELL - What the fuck is the Republican plan?  Is it to wait for it to magically disappear?  No seriously what is THEIR plan?  They are the ones complaining all of a sudden.   Bring it on big boys! 

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DJ asked what Mar-la-go actually is and it's a resort that Trump owns that he won't go too because he is a sniveling little baby.    

Did you know that he received $17 million in insurance for damage to the "landscaping, roofing, walls, painting, leaks, artwork in the tapestries, tiles, Spanish tiles, the beach, the erosion", as he described.

HOWEVER - Anthony Senecal, Trump's former butler at the resort and later its "in-house historian", said some trees behind the resort had been flattened and some roof tiles were lost, but "That house has never been seriously damaged. I was there for all the hurricanes."

Yet ANOTHER con job that Republicans seem to love.  They voted for him because he is like them.  REALLY? 

Don't get me started on this con artist.  Him and his crime family will soon be in a state pen.  Yea - he can pardon all he wants but can't touch State convictions.  I've always said if I go to prison I hope it's the fed and not the state. 

Yea - he DID try to start a war last week by bombing Iran so America would let him rule for another 4 years. He was talked out of it in a VERY tense meeting I have read.  Yea - we need a war with Iran during a "peaceful transition". 

If he can't be a fascist dictator in America nobody can. 

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Skip over this next brag

In virtual golf I hit a hole in one.  BUT wait.  

So as you know I made The Tour in TGCtours a few weeks ago.  My first week I ended in 57th place out of about 150.  Then the second week I was 16th and feeling pretty darn cocky!  Last week the golf gods smite me (or is it smited me) and I missed the cut and ended 88th. 

This week at the moment after 2 rounds I'm 14th but the fun news was that the 3rd hardest hole, the 202 yard par 3 I hit the most boring hole in one ever.  No drama at all.  Hit it straight, and it rolled into the hole. boring!  BUT WAIT - I was looking at the stats for that hole. 

In 231 rounds there have been 16 birdies and a Hi1.  I've done both.  Birdy in the first round and a Hi1 in the second.  DROP THE MIC! 

Looking at the round 3 stats I'm wondering if we are playing from different tees, 67 rounds and 13 birdies! 

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camping - I guess light buckets are a thing.  Instead of a bright white light for your campsite you use these as a softer light

 Also - I posted this on a pop-up forum.  Put some sort of recognizable paint dab like and X or symbol on top of your pop up. If it ever gets stolen (which seems to happen a lot) it will be seen from the air.  

art fair artists do this on their trailers all the time. 

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Recycled paper prices are rising as the need for more cardboard is rising dramatically. Last year cardboard was 5% of what was being recycled  now it's up to 30%.  The fibers in cardboard are longer and more durable.

The price for a mixed ton of paper went from ZERO a couple years ago to $30 a ton now. 
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Rising sea levels have a new unintended issue.  As sea levels rise so does ground water which is becoming an issue in Hawaii especially with infrastructure. 

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Births - there were about 45,000 less births in America between 2019 and 2018.  This year the experts are predicting there will be between 300,000 to 500,000 less babies born in America between 2020 and 2019 NOT from Covid but from the recession it has created. And this is a world wide thing. 

HOWEVER the earth has not been so clean in a century as air quality in the world loves covid. 

A poll of U.S. adults found that 53% say "money and effort should go to addressing social and economic problems such as drug addiction, homelessness and mental health" and 34% say "more money and effort should go to strengthening law enforcement."

have a great thursday

 

  

 

    

   

Queens Gambit and facemask one day sale

The first bit of news nobody cares about is my SOM team won the NL Championship and it's on to the World Series. Yelich has been the star in the 10 games played (4-0 sweep vs. Richmond and 4-2 series over Middlesex ).  Yelich as 3 doubles and 4 HRs, and 12 RBIs and put the dagger in in game 6 with a 3 run HR.  

We now play Lawrence in a strange World series as MY ballpark - Cincinnati is the "pitchers" park as the other team has Washington.  It's going to be a very high scoring Series. 

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 Lets see - what else. Having a bird feeder attracts a lot of pigeons and I think one is really fast.  A Belgian racing pigeon was just sold for $1.9 million as racing pigeons have become a large niche hobby it seems.  I believe the pigeon is half his speed (maybe a quarter) and I'm willing to part with him for only $250,000.  

anyone anyone? 

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Quebec, just like California has passed a "law"?  saying no gas powered vehicles can be sold after 2035 in the provence.  Only electric. They are investing $6.7 Billion in the next 5 years into electric cars and combating climate change. 

MEANWHILE the acting President in hiding has opened up pristine alaskan territory to gas and mining companies to the highest bidders just to give the finger to President elect Biden who will not be able to rescind the bids.  

As Howard Stern a former friend to the Acting President in hiding says  “For once do something good for the country, calm down your fucking loony hillbilly friends, and tell them you lost the election and you’re going to help the transition,”   

There is new bubble technology for oil tankers that shaves off 10% of the fuel used. The device, which is near the bow, generates a carpet of millimeter-sized air bubbles that lubricate the ship on it's outside.

Sounds good . . . we shall see the unintended coincidence in 10 years. 

OH - if you have not seen The Queens Gambit iob NETFLIX - WATCH IT!   It ts GREAT  Seriously!! 

Amazing acting - characters so real and every chess game is real.  The chess community LOVES it and you do not need to know chess. 

https://youtu.be/CDrieqwSdgI

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Illinois has canceled laying off 350 State employees as they are reaping the rewards of a boat load of money from legal cannabis.  

We visited (but did not inhale) the dispensary in Beloit.  Of the 30 cars in the parking lot I bet 25 were from Wisconsin. 

New Jersey legalized cannabis and White Castle Tweeted a congrats and reminded people they have 29 locations in NJ. 

Wisconsin is one of only 7 States now that have cannabis as totally illegal.  We are the backward state. 

A study found that sativa seed flour is a natural anti-obesity agent . . . at least in mice. So if you have a fat mouse make them some brownies out of sativa seed flour. 

BTW - there are two main families in cannabis.  Indica (In Da Couch) which makes you relaxed and Sativa which is called a "day time" weed as it sparks creativity and is more of a uplifter. 

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ON SALE - ONE DAY ONLY IT SEEMS  

My masks are only $7.50 today.    My pixel website  rod-melotte.pixels.com/     has many to choose from.  Pick a photo and page down to facemasks.  

  

and of course there is this one 

   Have a great Tuesday  

Best Potato Wedges ever !

 NOTE - we are already making reservations or looking into reserving sites for camping at a few places.  A good number of openings at sites during the week ( a bonus on being retired along with it's much cheaper). 

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As promised - the best potato wedges I have ever made.  

Ultra crispy on the outside and creaming on the inside.  I discovered this recipe when I stumbled across anything with smoke paprika in it  so I had to try it.   Just use this as a base and tweak to your own liking.

I will post whet WE did.

Take one Russet potato the kind you bake and cut it into quarters 

 

 

in a bowl mix the following

1/4 cup olive oil (could be less for 1 potato) 

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp smoked paprika 

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese (like Kraft) this ingredient is the key

then put the potatoes in a baggie and add the mixed ingredients - we let then soak for 15 minutes

Pre heat oven to 400 and put wedges onto a aluminum foil on a baking sheet

NOW - we let them cook for 35 minutes but since neither of us were REALLY hungry we turned off the oven and I bet we just let them sit for for almost an hour. 

Finally we said - maybe we should look at the potatoes and they looked and smelled awesome  

 DJ bit into one and said "OMG - these are amazing"  Crispy salty on the outside and creamy on the inside.   

The next batched we added a little more cheese.  

and there ya go.

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OH - look what we got in the mail yesterday a Pizza delivery thingy  

Why you ask?  Because a Bal Leveler fits perfectly in it and they get dirty and greasy so you don't want to store one where other things can get dirty!  

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Cheers 

Glamping next summer.

I was looking at some stats for the blog to see what post had the most page views - 13,700 views was the winner where a businessman in Columbus threatened me with slander (it's not slander if it's the truth it seems) . 

Millionaire's children on BadgerCare,/  Michael Eisenga's business no stranger to state investigations, / Wealthy divorced donor helped write controversial child-support bill dot dot dot was the main jist of the post. (I think I can add one more.) Former Columbus Mayor Charged with Bank Fraud. 

But that is all old news -   what struck me was 1.09 million pages read?  Seriously? That is pathetic on you guys!!   But thank you.  I've made OVER $200 with those million page views.

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SO - The old ShopKo and the little strip mall is being populated by Gates auto something or other. With that area now being developed by adults I have to think the empty Sentry will fill up at some point. 

HOWEVER - my big complain today is that Columbus is having free Covid testing  and we all know that the more tests the more Covid!  Without testing I'm pretty sure Columbus would have ZERO Covid infections!  

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DJ , Gus and I  took a little trip to Devils Lake to look at campsites.  OH - we PURCHASED a pop-up . . we just don't have it yet. You see if you want to buy a brand  new pop-up it's about a 5 month wait. 

Some people we know ordered theirs in early June - they JUST got it yesterday.  So we put money down a few weeks ago on a Rockwood 1910 ESP  and were told we would have it by spring.  

Not having a pop-up (pup) already there are many things we need to purchase that we do not have.  All the little things. It's like a tiny house.  You can buy one but you have to put things in it to make it livable.   

OH - we have lists and lists.  One thing we started searching for immediately was a Bal leveler.  VERY VERY short supply.  They have been on backorder at Home Depot for months. (It goes under one wheel and levels the camper left and right). 
 

We managed to find one on amazon - they had 13 and we ordered one and the next day they were down to 5.

My brother was confused when I asked him if Menards had them (he works part time in the plumbing section) and after 10 minutes of confusion he calls back and says "your iphone has a level on it".   ummmmmm

Bal is the name of the company that makes them.  ANYWAY

we were up at Mirror Lake yesterday and most campsites were closed but for one area with about 15 sites.  We drove past one of those Airliner Hard Side pop-ups and commented on it as "cool"  and drove on lookin at sites.  

Then when we got home I was Google Earth'd  the area and LOOK - same exact place

I went down to almost ground level - yup same one. 

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OK OK - I interrupt this blog for a funny thing that just happened.

NBC is on and the screen is split. On the left is the normal reporter guy and on the right is a guy at the WH and the question is asked about the intelligence not being able to give Biden a meeting. 

The guy on the right looks down at his phone and utters loudly  SHIT!  FUCK!   as his phone with notes dies!!   LOL  

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SO - camping or is it glamping with a pup.  ANYWAY - Gus (also a pup)  is not so sure about camping because we had OUTSIDE fire!   is fire OUTSIDE safe?  He's only seen fire INSIDE a house - not outside. Seems dangerous.

I wonder how long in advance we need to make reservations on campsites.      

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SS Edmund Fitzgerald. 45 years ago today

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OH on FB - I made a nice comment on a thread that had ALL LIVES MATTER on it and one reply was 

Rod Melotte I’m sure someone had to explain how racist you are, I’m not surprised at all. How’s it feel to think your communist party won? How you going to feel when law and order comes raining down? Do you really think Joe Biden got away with cheating? I would love to see your face when you finally figure it out God bless America, God bless the Constitution, long live this great Republic Trump2020 because he already won

  

Ya just gotta love some Trump supporters.

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TOMORROW - the BEST Potato Wedges ever made!!  Stay Tuned. 

 

The International Nightmare is over

 SO - I've been holding off as there was some sort of local election going on that people were interested in - something about restoring democracy and all that . And now it feels like a dictator has been vanquished.  

My gut feeling is Trump will go to Mar-La-Go at Christmas and never go back to Washington AND never concede.

But here is the funny part and I honestly thought this was some joke but  . . no it's not. 

Trump has brought in his "A" team of lawyers headed by his #1 best lawyer Rudy Giuliani whose job it is to change the results of the election.

SO - what did this team of geniuses do?  The FIRST thing was get a big presser to tell America the election was a fraud.  SO! they booked a big even outside the Four Seasons . . . . . . . LANDSCAPING company.  OOPS   It was supposed to be the For Seasons Hotel. 

This is where the fight for Dictatorship starts 

No seriously it was.  I saw this press conference live and was wondering about the beams in the background - was it new constructions?  It looked like a deplorable place to have a press conference , , and I was right! 

So it seems everybody had to walk through the building to get to the back parking lot.

BUT WAIT - next door is an adult bookstore WITH VIEWING BOOTHS!   

YUP - Trump has his #1 crack team on the job! 

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I just found this funny from Rick Steves the worlds #1 travel writer.  

Wisconsin is now one of only 7 States in America where Cannabis is totally illegal. Thank you Wisconsin and it's do nothing but obstruct  GOP.  The biggest dopes in America.  Johnson who is STILL looking under the rugs for dirt on Hunter Biden and Grothman who has literally done nothing for the last 2 years. 

And then Fitz who complains that our government is not doing enough to stop Covid in WI and then blocks everything to help stop  Covid.   OK OK - sorry got off track. 

Five more States legalized cannabis and if you look at the markets today - Well - cannabis stocks are all way way up.  This past week most cannabis stocks are up about 40%.  CGC is up 41.4% 

Not a surprised as Democrats are MUCH better with the stock market then Republicans.  In fact since 1900 the average annual return for a Democratic President is 7% while Republicans are 3%. 

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In my baseball Strat-o-matic  - I swept Richmond in 4 games with a total score of 30-11 but it was not that close.  Verlander was going for 2 shout outs but after 17 and 2/3 total inning he ran out of juice. Gave up 2 home runs and walked 2 guys - had to take him out. Still won 8-4.

Golf?  I came in 16th place in virtual golf on TGCTours so I seem to be getting better . . . or learning that, just like poker - you win by NOT losing.  Stay away from bogies and let the birdies just happen. 

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After today we go back to average weather of 45 degree highs - I believe we broke a record for warmest low temp this morning. 

Otherwise - just buying things for camping next year and obsessing over everything pop-up-camper.  We don't want to buy EVERYTHING at once next year when we get the pup. 

BUT - if anyone has suggestions for websites or best places to camp and so forth . .I'm all ears . . I tell ya - DJ has become a book expert on pups. BUT - where to go is always the question.  Next summer will be interesting.  

 Nuff for today - I had to relearn how to type.

OH - Bridgejumper has had an off year so far.  Covid - injuries and just weirdness in the NFL I have to think.  3-4 so far.  

Cheers