Getting vax'ed, Roombas, Sports/Bridgejumper

 I got my THIRD vaccine shot Monday - zero issues with any after effects.  So looking at available numbers and doing the math I have less then a 1 in 500,000 chance of getting Covid AND going to the hospital compared to a 1 in 5000 chance for unvaccinated and their stupid "excuses".  

This whole excuse that "it's my God given right to do what I want with my body" is just asinine.   Where is this "right"?  I would love to see this is writing.  Did I miss this part of the Constitution? Who gave them this "right". 

It's like being proud you are a draft dodger - "I'm a draft dodger and refuse to fight in a world war that is killing my neighbors. It's my God given right to be a complete knucklehead and afraid of my shadow.  I really don't care if my loved one dies along - it's all about ME!"

Until the unvac'd die OR get a shot we're going to be wearing masks for a long long time.

WITH THAT SAID - I'm not as angry as I sound - just disappointed in slo called Americans. 

Right now if you are vaccinated you have a bigger chance of dying from the flu then from Covid.  

OH - Gus the Weather Dog got his shots yesterday.  Did he complain? NO!  

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Speaking of professional golf.  

These guys have it so so easy.  I could be a professional if they let me.  Look at the golf percs they get.  

Hit a ball a mile into the rough? No problem, you have people showing your where the ball is - no need to really look for it.  OH and the crowds.  Yea - I'm going to bounce my ball off the big guy in the blue so it goes back on the fairway.  ME?  I hit that same ball and there is no big guy to stop it from going a mile into the rough and then I have to find the dang thing. 

Pro golfers have it so easy. 

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Speaking of being banned from facebook for 14 more days. I have felt so calm for the previous 14 days. I dread going back on it.  LOL  

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I have my first PRE season Bridgejumper NFL play this year.   YEAR 20! for those unfamiliar  Back in the late 90s I read about a system and followed it for a couple years until it failed but I liked the concept so like Brunswick - I didn't invent it but I did tweak it. 

So in 19 years of real time (no back testing to get stats) I have been playing the system every year with success.  At the moment it's 392-224 for a 63.59% winning percent and a reason I was banned from the 2+2 forums for a year - no one believed me so I made a bet with a guy who called me a liar.  BANNED - can't do that.  I would have won.    

In fact I was selling the picks with Ghoddess for a year in Pro and College football weekly for a while with a 1-900 number.  The problem was people would complain about the picks - "I CAN'T PLAY THAT GAME" and they would reverse the charge.  This week is a perfect example.  

Play the Eagles at  +7.5 over the Chiefs.     WHAT?  I CAN'T PLAY THAT GAME!  This is actually a reverse Bridgejumper.   And thus the name Bridge Jumper.  picks so bad you want to jump off a bridge AND when you lose 40% of the time you get mocked.  

The theory is play the team getting CRUSHED ATS when it plays a team CRUSHING the spread EXCEPT in a couple instances and one being if the AWAY team is the getting crushed team which is what Kansas City is.  Linemakers need to adjust the line because nobody in their right mind would put money in the Eagles.  

This part of the system is  37-23 for 61%  The ONLY concern is this is only week 4. The REAL system starts week 5 but about 10 years ago with some slightly different parameters I increased it to week 4.

So if anybody plays it its right on the edge. Week 4 is like pre-season for Bridgejumper.     

BASEBALL - almost over WHEW inputting every score of every game for ever team is daunting and because I have emotions on certain teams I DID not win as much as I could have. I did not bet the Brewers because I felt I was only a homer - I did not bet the Cards because I hate seeing them win.  SIGH! 

NHL - I have ZERO alliances to any team - should be much easier. Season starts soon and I'm a little pumped.  More on this later,

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  We purchased a Roomba and it is seriously amazing.  Not a huge expensive one, the Roomba 694.

WOW - it is so cool. We put it in the finished basement first as it was wide open and set it to work.  Hour and a half later it was full and docked in its station and automatically charging.  When the battery gets low it starts to head back to its station and docks. 

Next day we were upstairs and from our phone activated it.  Got a message saying 1.5 hours later it was done.  Went down and it was full again. 

 We looked around and could not find dirt. 

This morning day 4 - turned it on - it was doing well but then picked up a catnip mouse and warned us it the rollers were clogged.  It's random but finds all dirt as it senses it.  Goes everywhere. Finds all rooms.  We put it upstairs and it did the upstairs.  You have to pick up stuff from the floor as it will scoot around Gus's Mallard duck and toys.

What we don't like it is shows us all the dirt and crap the vacuum misses  LOL  Cleaned around the litter box perfectly.   The cats and dog are not thrilled but they are fine with it.   GREAT a robot pet they figure.  

Like cell phones, DVRs, iPads and all the things you didn't think was worth it.  Add Roomba's to the list.  

Vacuum technology has found it's way into our house. 

Carry on  

Feeling a little effeminate today - and embracing it - Ryder Cup photos

1 million one hundred forty nine thousand one hundred and ninety ninety page views 

I'm walking the 1500 steps to what seems to be the world's largest "gift" shop at The Ryder Cup.  

I put on my mask and enter the huge place with one goal. I'm looking for a red USA Ryder cup cap but I know that IF, I find something I really want, this once in a lifetime chance to pick up something really cool  can't be missed even at the elevated prices.

I walk past walls and walls of different caps and clothing but not the one I want.  Finally I see the 20 by 100 foot wall of USA caps - so many blue ones.  

The reason I want a RED cap is in my collection of wearable caps is that I only have one and for 6 years now I have not been able to wear it.  THE NAG looks way too much like a MAGA cap and I get frowns.  

So I scan the caps and WAIT next to the blue caps there is one HUGE section that is completely empty . . . . .  EXCEPT for ONE RED USA cap.  I push 5 woman aside and grab it.  It fits and I scurry away like a squirrel who just found a nut. 

I wander around trying to find the exit to pay and see a really sweet windbreaker -  It fits and I look at the price  $165  . . . .. FOR A WINDBREAKER?  F me!  I pass.  

I finally find where the checkout is and LITERALLY (I mean LITERALLY) there are 100 checkouts.  I grab a red Ryder Cup radio ($8 with NBC, SiriusXM and BBC radio)) and carry it in the cap. I get to a checker. He scans the cap - I put the card in and he shuffles me away.  WAIT - did he see the radio?  I get outside - and nope.  O'Well.  I hope the Ryder Cup does not go bankrupt. 

OK - let's back up a bit. How did I get here to this mecca of world golf.

I'm at the Brewer game Thursday and Balderdash mentions that him and Mr. Electric are going to the Ryder Cup Sunday and they MIGHT need a 4th person.   I'm in if there is a cancelation - who cares about my knee - I can drug up for something like that. 

I get the call and I'm IN.  Balderdash, Mr. Electric and the TimeLord will be with Grinder heading to Whistling Straits Sunday Morning all expense paid which turns out to be better than expected.

Seems we are heading to the WEC Energy suits (Midwest’s best - We Energies ranks #1 for reliability) sitting on top ( almost) of the first green.  Did I mention great buffett and free liquor? 

   looking out the window with a wide lens

actual view of #1 green

   

So we watch the first 6 sets play through and I decided I should get a cap before we chug off into the hinterland.  

I get back and Balderdash says "there's food".  OH - chicken breasts and all sorts of super great food.  As I'm eating and proudly wearing my new cap TimeLord (story on that soon) says "HEY = that is a womans cap".  

https://youtu.be/B9MNITrHu9E

 

WHAT?  I look at the big silver round tag  WOMENS - HEY it fit, it's European! So I have a small head. is it my fault? 

I rip off the tag but it goes downhill from there. 

Once the singles have all made their way to the 2nd hole we take off towards the 12th tee and it's chaos.  We get stuck in a crown as Sergio is teeing into the rough and we have to wait. I climb a small hill wearing my golf shoes and take a shot of the American.

We wait for them to all pass before the hoard move on. 

Once we get past the intersection we head north.  The further north we go the less crowd we figure. 

An opening in the trees - there are TINY specs of humans and that is the line we are in. And yes - it IS a long way. 

Walking past the 18th hole 

We wind our way over hills and valleys 

and end up looking across the 15th fairway to the 12th which was our goal but we took a wrong turn.  Then I look and there is a ball on the fairway -  sweet.  Deciding to stay there the golfers come right up to us as we're in the sweet spot for drives and bunker shots.

 OH - this is a GREAT spot and we hang out there for the rest of the rounds going through

That trap seems to be a ball magnant. and a BAD one - each one of those shots went about 20 yards out of the trap. 

In fact we realized this COULD be the last hole as most of these rounds end around the 16th hole.   I was feeling pretty good as I had a small wager on USA winning Sunday as a -200 favorite. 

While this was goign on Balderdash looked at his watch but he was not wearing it so subliminally I looked at my phone and  TimeLord looks at HIS phone.  I had 2:32 . . . . he had 3:32 . . . .what?  

He said why would his phone be an hour ahead of mine by an hour - we ask the guy next to us  Is it 2:30 or 3:30  he said it was 3:00 , we all laugh but TimeLord had a huge "?" above his head. 

After a while he asks - who is your provider which took me by surprise as "provider for what?"  Gummies?  OH! - phone.  ATT.  Balderdash?  Cingular,  Mr Electric?  Verizon and his phone was ALSO an hour ahead.  

I immediately realized that since THE TimeLord was driving we had somehow gone through some sort of time space continuum (it was a Volvo so - hello!).  I moved a few more feet away as I did not want to be caught is some sort of vortex.      

While all this is going on I'm keeping watch on my knee as this is the most I have walked in years - since I was suppose to have a TKR.  It was fine - the 2 year old Meloxicam was working it's magic (total of 15,000 steps on Sunday . . . but only 7,500 by my left knee).   

WE WIN!!!  I WIN!!! 

We're walking back the the 2 story temporary tent where the suits were 

And as we enter the building showing our special wrist bands the guy waves and says - "no worries I remember YOU"!  I look at TimeLord  . . What does THAT mean!  OH - I bet because I was wearing a womans cap!!    DUDE - it's the 21 century AND IT'S EUROPEAN!   

As we enter lo and behold there are chicken sandwiches, cheese and what not to munch on.  How wonderful AND our own bathrooms!  

I grab my stuff and a official program which is the size of a sears catalog and we walk to the busses that take us to our car which takes us to the park and ride where my car is and we drive home with a magnificent sunset right in our eyes. 

Making it home almost in time for the Packer kick off which I had a +140 straight up bet they would win. 

WHY would I bet the Packers to WIN?   easy - EVERYBODY in WI was down on the Packers saying they would get crushed.  EVERYBODY in SF was saying we're going to crush the Packers 

YET - the point spread went from +3.5 down to +3. BIG money was betting the Packers. Time to play contrarian with Joe Public.  Point spreads are basically teaser bets anyway.  Teams don't care how much they win by.  If it went from +3.5 to +3 I think the Pack can win outright!!

DROP THE MIC. 

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I sinceriously want to thank WEC Energy Group and their motto SIRIDCCSFP ( Safety, Integrity, Reliability, Inclusion, Diversity, Customer focus, Sense of urgency, Financial, Personal responsibility for results discipline) for inviting me along on this amazing journey.   

Thank you

BTW - Columbus gets their power through WE Energies     

  

Packers = Parlay cards from the past and log homes

 Yesterday we drove to Green Bay to talk to a log home builder.  After purchasing 5 acres in the tip top of Door County on the squiggly road going to the ferry (thanks to Jenny finding an amazing deal) we though a log cabin might be a really sweet thing. 

We did not have a clue how much a log cabin would cost so it was a meet and greet fact finding mission.  WELL - can we talk about $350 a square foot?  And that does not include all that needs to be done clearing trees and creating a driveway and all the prep work.  OUCH!!  Plan B 

Actually the line should not touch the road there are 2.5 acres between the road and our land. THAT 2.5 acres went on sale a week after we purchased ours for about what we got all 5 acres for. 

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Survivor starts tonight with a 2 hour episode which is always a good sign and BOY are there changes.  26 days and not 39.  No food OR rice OR tools. Challenges - if you lose you actually get penalized like you lose your flint to make a fire.   A game withen the game for the audience.  The new era of Survivor happens tonight on CBS at 7:00.  I sent in audition tapes twice - I believe my brothers son 

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We watched a fascinating show on Netflix last night called Count Me In about famous drummers in rock bands and it was GREAT!!!   I can't find any trailer though. It talks about all the drummers in bands and what made them so amazing.  Check it out in Netflix if you believe the drummer is the one that makes the band.

Not so fun fact - John Bonan died after his 40th shot of vodka 

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OK - football and trends - I love trends but you have to weed out stupid trends.  They are just another tool and people will say It's not the same team and yada yada yada but what is the same are the linemakers.  Let them figure out the teams - I follow linemakers and how they do.  

SO - The Packers v San Francisco

Taking the last 10 (arbitrary number)  The 9'ers are 16-15 ATS as home favs of 3.5 to 6  so nothing to see there and 21-10 Straight up - within the norm, you SHOULD win about 67%.

Packers Away dogs 3.5 to 6 are 13-14  blah nothing to see there and 12-16 straight up.  Blah  

Rodgers - 28-22 ATS (against the spread) as an underdog   57-50 AWAY  So I see no reason to to put any $$ on this game ( did well last week though).  

Side Note - NHL pre season starts Saturday 

OH - I tweeted this - Never bet against Rodgers on MNF when you have won 15-16 games on a 16 team parlay and all you need is for Detroit to cover 11.5 points.  $25 to win $720,000. SO CLOSE!  Ya think there was some stress in that living room? 

ALTHOUGH - The Packers were 8-11 ATS on MNF so . . . . 

Speaking of 16 team parleys - One time decades ago Elweed and I had a REALLY good parlay card system. This was before computers. We would see the line Monday in the paper.  The for different parlay cards from for madison bookies came out on Wednesdays. We would go to each bar and look at their lines and compared to the paper.  

Then make the appropriate 3 team parlay according to the line movements.  One week we had a GREAT week BUT - could not get paid.  This was a problem with MANY parlay cards as one could put $25 on a 10 team parlay and won.  SEEMS this put the bookie in a bind with money LOL

We got paid the next week.  

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Brewers - not worried yet. It's not like they are getting blown out.

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Sore necks helps golf.

I love golfing in the rain - no one can see me cry.  

We had our golf banquet final rounds yesterday at Kestrel Ridge which HAS REALLY upped their game on taking care of the golf course.  After Eisenga ran it to the ground (there was a sign on the balcony - Enter at your own risk) and sinking zero dollars into the course was purchased by the owners of The Oaks and it has REALLY improved ( and thank you for watering our back lawn for 18 hours with a faulty sprinkler head last night LOL)    

ANYWAY - I awoke yesterday morning with a sore neck. It's something that happens to us elders every day, a new ache that lasts one day - OH - you will get it sooner or later.  SO! we go and golf and on the 2nd hole I have a long putt but geez - I notice when I look to my left at the hole . . . my neck does not want to go that way.  

On the 4th hole I'm striking the ball really well - good distance and a really good hang time on all my clubs.  Then I realize - it's my neck.  It's forcing me to not look up.  Keeping the head down MORE than normal is helping my stroke.  Not that I never knew that but painful reinforcement helps.  

I think next time I golf I'll wear a neck brace.  

And I have to say - the greens were in GREAT shape.  Course is looking VERY good.  Thank you 

That sprinkler head has always been an issue.  When we were building we did not know there was a sprinkler. House got built and then Sometime in July they decided to water for the first time (14 years ago).  It was late one night, we were sleeping and all windows were open. 

We wake up, what's that sound?  I look it's the sprinklers on the course.  Awesome  loved that swish swish swish sound. 

a few minutes later it's getting louder.  Then it's hitting the side of our house, wow, its strong and the  BAM BAM BAM BAM as the water is LITERALLY sprayings the inside of our kitchen before we can shut all the windows.   We didn't really mention is as we needed the water for our new lawn.

But then the owner never fixed anything and the course went about 10 years with NEVER watering the course. The new owners found over 120 leaks in the irrigation and fixed it spending over a $million to upgrade. 

The sprinkler head in question I do not believe is suppose to ever come up but over the weekend we watched a lot of carts drive over it.  Must have been the issue.

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GREAT Emmys last night - we went back and forth between football and the Emmys.   Hannah Waddington (from Ted Lasso) won for Outstanding Supporting Actress and the crowd went WILD.  Why? Well, she got a LOT of crap in her last role - people HATED her as Septa Unella as much as King Tommen on Game of Thrones.

and then there is WandaVision - I did not know that  Wanda who was played by Elizabeth Olsen is the little sister of the Olsen Twins.  

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Speaking of the Packers - I think Detroit's defense as actually about even with the Packer defense.  SADLY  What happened to our linebackers - they blow!  Detroit is pretty weak with safeties so Rodgers should chew them up but their linebackers are a lot better than ours.  

I really don't think the Packers have a Superbowl caliber team when I compare them to the GOOD teams.  We have some REALLY good players but some REALLY big holes and I can't see much of a running game this year.  It's all on Aaron and trying to stay with the other teams scoring.   

OH - I see the Pack torching Detroit but Detroit sort of sucks.  

I have software for RPIs which will be interesting.  It takes into account Won/Lost, opponents W/L and opponents of the opponents W/L and strength of schedule.  Unlike my baseball power ratings that ONLY take into account runs scores (up to 8) and my NHL power ratings (goals up to 6) the NFL RPI only takes wins and losses into account.

 Speaking of baseball

Brewers play the red hot StL Cards and thankfully The Crew can take it easy and rest injured players.

The Wild Card situation is exciting and really no team wants to win the NL EAST as 2 totally less than mediocre teams are fighting for 1st place by playing other weak teams. Atlanta the actually better team is trying to fend off Phillies who are  playing really average and bad teams.

Here are my current power ratings for the past 2 weeks 

OH - a shout out the my buddy Network and his San Diego prognostication - check out there power rating graph for this year 

     

and for my Phillie fan - sorry 

Brewers

Cards

Busy week for me so blogging will be iffy - always on twitter as RodMelotte 

Cheers - watch the weather late tonight - could have some serious storms as Fall arrives wit ha vengeance - STILL!  October will be warmer then average  

  

Friday Night Lights gone dark in Columbus - The Pine Cone - Black Sails

Seems if you don't get vaccinated you get Covid - SURPRISE.  And now people will whine about Columbus canceling (should forfeit) their football game this Friday because the entire team is in quarantine.  Not surprising with their THREE FOOT rule and 95% are NOT vaccinated even though they could be.   I know a couple kids that WANT to get the shot but parents will not allow it.

If you are a parent you only get notified that your child is in quarantine IF they were within 3 freaking feet of a Covid kid.  So they must think all that stale air in the middle school kills Covid.   OH and there are no rules about playing with other kids outside.  No 3 foot rule there and no masks are needed I guess. 

I personally know 3 kids with Covid.  But the Columbus School board could care less about your child's health.

I have heard many fake reasons to not get the shot but they are all excuses. The main reason is that many people have very delicate ego's and if they give in and get the shot they believe they will have failed themselves EVEN knowing getting the shot is the right thing. 

Boosting their own ego and being stubborn to science and common sense is more important than protecting themselves, their family and America. 

The Covid vaccine does not change your DNA or even stay in your body.  It primes your immune system to recognize and vanquish the virus if you are exposed and disappears.   

Nuff said - disgusting!  

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Ever love a piece of clothing so much you never wear it? Or ever love a a certain food so much you wait until its the last thing you eat?  Or ever love a TV show you literally don't want to watch an episode because you know it will be over soon?  Yea - sounds crazy but this is happening to me. 

Everytime I watch an episode of Black Sails it is SO good I really don't want to watch the next episode because it will be over soon.  CRAZY!!!  I know it ends great because two friends who have watched the series said it's a fantastic ending AND both said it was literally the best series they have ever seen on TV.  Looking at the comments of the youtube video I'm posting shows how people are NUTS about this show.   

I 100% agree.  Game of Thrones was great - but I'll take Black Sails anyday.

I read The Republic of Pirates - The pirates were actually the good guys, they were democratic, voted on who was captain and shared plunder equally.  They had death benefits and when a pirate was injured he got taken to his home and given benefits. Unlike the American and British Navy where they were just thrown overboard and the English Navy was pretty much crewed by men they kidnapped - no really 90% of English sailors were kidnapped from the streets.   

This show - except the first 2 episodes, starts with you hating most of the cast and that changes to really liking each member of the show.  John Silver goes through one of the most amazing transformations throughout the series and he is really the star.  Love love love the show. 

Except the first 2 episodes which is gratuitous sex and violence - then episode 3 the actual plot starts with how Treasure Island comes to be.         

       https://youtu.be/n3SRUXOnWQ0

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Remember the other day when I railed on The Pine Cone Restaurant blaming Evers and Biden for closing?  Did you know they received $465,000 in Covid relief AND the REAL reason is because their lease was up.  Dip Shit Right Winger there.  OH - It's always someone else's fault isn't it.   

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Embrace the warmish weather coming for a few days (MAYBE 80 Sunday and Monday) as we might not hit 50 this next Wednesday as the first major fall LOW hits Wisconsin.  Be looking for a steady set of mid 60s into October.  SAD

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The NYC audubon Society is urging sky scrappers in NYC to dim their lights this fall.  Between 90,000 and 230,000 birds die in NYC from colliding with buildings twice a year as the lights attract and confuse them. 

I do not respect R E S P E C T as #1

Hi  I'm Rod Melotte  former and future alderman of Columbus  . . maybe. . . I'll just let that hang there causing confusion.

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I just heard Rolling Stone the magazine came up with their top 500 songs in the history of song-hood.  And no I have not found Beethoven on the list anywhere. But Good Grief - were these guys smoking crack? 

 

R E S P E C T was #1 of all time.  A good song - BEST EVER?  no!  and what is #2?   I know we all have this stuck in your head   wait fo it . . . . Fight for Power by Public Enemy.    WHAT?  NUMBER FREAKING TWO?  

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OH - got my $2 free Yelich tickets for next Thursday.  Logged in about 11:30 and they seemed to have their server issues fixed - WHO KNEW giving away 10,000 ticket at 10:00 would caused server problems.  

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Packers - I did some data mining and in the last 10 years when the Packers have lost straight up and ATS the next game they have won 22 out of 27 times when they are favorites (3-8 as underdogs) and 18-9 Against the Spread.  OH  17-11 Over vs Under.

But two team play right?  Detroit after a loss straight up and ATS as an underdog is 10-28 straight up. 

I believe Rodgers is going to light up Detroit and go all scorched earth on them . . . . of course "our" defense might have so say in that but remember  - Detroit gave up 314 passing yards on 26 passes before SF decided the game was over at the end of the 3rd quarter.  And the top CB of Detroit is not injured. 

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So many kids in Columbus schools have Covid - it's sad.

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The Bucks have hired the very first full time female TV broadcaster in modern pro sports history for 100% of their games next year.

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 I did not know that even when I take out the dead battery in my Subaru key fob I can still start the car with it if I hold it next to the start button.  Fob's are a curious thing.  Like batteries.  Did I mention that my old old Subaru went 12 years with the original battery?  Which is weird as Subarus are known for weak stock batteries that are for warm weather vehicles. 

Story time - 

Back long long ago when there were keys for cars a drunken friend of mine left Crystal Corner in Madison and went to jump into his car.  He put the key in and twisted breaking the key off in a Corvette that was not even close to what his old beater car was.  He ran.  

He was the same guy that was staying with me for a while and I was on a date with the lovely lady friend and we were watching a movie.  He comes into the living room and he had just pee'd himself in the elevator . . . . . he apologized BUT THAT WAS NOT THAT BAD PART.

He's standing in front of us with wet pants and saying "Rod, I brought a down and out guy with me from the bar, he is a nice guy, is it OK if he stays in our storage locker in the basement overnight?"   WHAT?   

Sentences like that are  how aneurysms start.   

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OH - The Columbus Heinie Ride is this Saturday. Sadly I won't be able to make it.   And speaking of my knee.  It always feels so good until I golf 9 holes.  Always a little sore even with a cart.  18 holes slightly more then a little but it's always AFTER golfing so . . it's all good. 

I still have a few Meloxicam's left which is a wonder drug if I really need it for pain (REALLY kills swelling).  Yea a few years old but still good once every few months if needed.  

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Texas Democratic attorney general candidate Lee Merritt  tweeted, "At the start of the #WARONDRUGS there were 100K prisoners in the entire country. Today 7.6 million people are in prison, probation or parole—With NO correlating increase in crime. Only the policy changed. Lets change it again: Decriminalized cannabis, addiction & poverty."     

Meanwhile in Oshkosh the City Council voted to lower the fines for first-time cannabis possession offenses. 

In Denver they are using $5.7 million to establish a new business development program for minority- and women-owned businesses.

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OH OH - remember Elder the Republican dude who was the main challenger running in the CA recall? 

Well - it seems if he won he wanted to give reparations to the slave OWNERS (not the slaves) because they had property taken away from them.  SERIOUSLY?  

"“Like it or not, slavery was legal. Their legal property was taken away from them after the Civil War, so you could make an argument that the people that are owed reparations are not only just Black people but also the people whose ‘property’ was taken away after the end of the Civil War.”    

I just do not understand Republican politicians  - they are anti democracy and only want power. Actual Republicans, the real ones, seem to just go along with their BS without really thinking on their own.  It seems because their parents were Republicans they must stay Republicans.  

I have friends that are Republicans but they just seem to be blind to what their party is doing to the country.   OK OK - got off track there.

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A study concluded that medical cannabis "may be related to a significant yet small reduction in opioid prescription medication." 

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I just finished "After Dunkirk" - really good book about how the French Resistance started.  Oddly all the French resistance fighters in the book would later be part of the French Connection (as seen in the movie) and French police would look the other way with their crimes  

OK - carry on 

 

Random incoherent thoughts.

 Random incoherent thoughts.

My crypto is rising from the ashes once again - no volatility in THAT market LOL  

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What happens when two pitchers with the same last name pitch against each other?  Nothing it seems.  In fact I believe it was the reason for severe thunderstorms - the weather Gods were not pleased.  0-0 and the rains came. 

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After 35 serious Backgammon games against the world's most sophisticated Backgammon software I'm officially in the middle of "Advanced" with a 10.60 PR rating.  This software, eXtreme Backgammon, really shows how EVERY move is important.  Something I did not fully understand 30 years ago.  I'm truly amazed at what a World Class player (2.5 PR)  can do. 

Plus who knew opening moves had changed with the advent of computers.  

++    

I took Gus out for a walk last night and noticed a car halfway in and out of a driveway going click click click.   I noticed the couple was elderly, more than I am, and asked if they needed help in any way - they said no they called Triple A and they will show up in an hour . . . .

WELL - I took Gus home and got my car and went to give them a jump.  Then things got weird as I could not find their battery.  WTF.  

Found the red post randomly in the engine but no negative post.  We got the manual and it said there was this TINY, indistinguishable nut to use as the negative.   It was at that point when I officially have no clue how batteries work.  We got the car jumped and they offered to pay me 

No no no - this is what other Americans do, help each other.  No liberal, no conservative agenda. People helping people.    

HOWEVER - as I was working on solving the battery issue the elderly woman was walking around my car in a weird way.   

When I got home I found a pie in my back seat and I'm pretty sure Gus did not bake it while I was not looking.    

******

What has happened to Cody Bellinger of the LA Angels  Two years ago he hit .306 with a .629 slugging. This year .159 with a .295 slugging -  has he taken batting tips from Jackie Bradley Jr?

**********

My buddy Network at CBS was correct - San Diego is now the lowest ranked MLB team in my power ratings 

****

Did you know that Republicans are dying of Covid five times faster than Democrats - hmmmmmm - I wonder which party has more vaccinations.  

******

Fox News is MANDATING all employees be vaccinated OR get tested DAILY - far more strict than Biden - yea FOX propaganda anti vaccine  NEWS!!   

****

Colorado sold $202 million worth of cannabis products in July with $50 million going into their budget - meanwhile Wisconsin sold $0 and $0 went into their budget. 

****

There is a real paper shortage in America caused by Covid.  Just not enough paper mills are open and shipping issues. 

***

I had a chance to get 4 free Brewer tickets Yelich (10,000 tickets) was giving away - I logged in - selected teh seats and all was goign well - enter email and password - password WRONG - try again - WRONG - I click forgot password - got the email pit in what in a "new" password-  Sorry can't be the same as the OLD password   - now it's too late.  DAMN IT!  

OK - nuff 

  

  

BANNED, Tom Hanks, Pine Cone Restaurant, The Foundation

 So I have been a good boy since the last time I was banned from Facebook but as I was looking at news CBS NEWS had a video of a kid turning around and kicking a woman on an escalator knocking her down the stairs.  It really pissed me off so  . . . . 

BANNED FOR A MONTH 

Remember last time when I was defending the vaccine 

BANNED - HATE SPEECH

But oddly everytime I'm banned it's the calmest I have been for a while  - for instance - this was posted on the Pine Cone Restaurant in DeForest this morning 

Geez - I was reading the comments and MOST said MAYBE the owner should stop harassing and insulting the employees while they work, MAYBE that is why no one shows up?   Facebook did not give him any support.  Good food, horrible management and they are open again it seems.   

At least I know I will never ever eat there   

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WOW - amazing game last night in overtime - CRAZY good.  You know why Oakland Las Vegas had that 5 yard penalty on the 2md to last play?  They could not locate their FG kicker  LOL 

And seriously - get rid of the Oakland uniforms - It's Las Vegas - the most colorful city in America.  

Packers -10.5 vs. Detroit - in Rodgers 17 years he is 13-9 ATS 10.5 to 13 favs at home (59%) 20-2 (90%) straight up 10.5 to 13

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OK OK - I'm a Tom Hanks fan.  We watched News of the World last night.  A great Sunday night lite movie. So many plot holes it was crazy but a good two hours of solid entertainment.  If you like Tom Hanks you will like the movie.  And the little kid was great.   

I don't think any character in the movie had more than 3 minutes screen time except for Hanks and Helena Zengel.  

It's one of those movies that you watch and love and the next day you are coming up with ALL the plot holes.  

BTW - Greyhound staring Hanks is a really good WWII action flick also full of plot holes but again - so entertaining. 

https://youtu.be/zTZDb_iKooI

 

 

*****************

If you love Survivor this season will be much different it seems.  In an interview with Jeff Probts, in their time off he was developing new ideas and called a former contested now hollywood screenwriter.  "What do you think" he said  "Interesting . . . . but is it fun?"  

he immediately scrapped EVERYTHING.  NOW - the new survivor will be much more fun and from what he said is "dangerous fun" . . .  A MONSTER he calls it.     

Survivor is a unique show as every year they get the same ratings - never up never really down - one of the most consistent shows in the history of TV.   Twenty-one years, Forty One seasons  six hundred and eight contestants.  September 22  CBS. 

Big Brother - horrible this season - stopped watching it.  The contestants are like watching paint dry with zero personality.   

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First we had the Venice Film Festival and now we have the Met Gala "fashion" event.  

Looks like the Grim Reaper (Kim Kardashian) is coming to collect Kendall Jenner's soul.  

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If I had to have only one streaming service (besides NETFLIX of course) it would be APPLE TV.  

Check out the trailer for The Foundation - based on The Foundation trilogy  Robyn Asimov, Isaac's daughter is the exec producer.   Season 1 10 episodes 

https://youtu.be/X4QYV5GTz7c

 

Nuff 

Zendaya, Packers, Recall, Ooga

 Before I speak of The Packers maybe I'll lift spirits a tad for my male readers - I thought Zendaya's leather outfit at the Venice Film Festival was magnificent. and it was only one of the five outfits she wore.   Bravo! 

OK  Packers SUCKED - maybe they should have taken one snap before actual gameplay?   

I have Madden 22 and was looking at their ratings for each player - WHY was Green Bay favored - seriously.  The ratings for their offense front line are a dismal ( pitifully or disgracefully bad ).  

But after my lucky bet on Tampa Bay winning I got out my spreadsheet with every football line for the last 36 years and found some oddities  

For instance - if a team is -9 favorites they only win the game 77% of the time. Far below what they should do.  At -6.5 they win 85% of the time.   I made sure every spread had at least 150 chances to get stats.  So out of boredom I placed a $2 bet on every game where the moneyline was out of whack with what they SHOULD win.   Heck  -8 to -8.5 only wins 60%   

SO - with moneyline bets I lost

Da Bears +280
Cleveland +205 so close
Buffalo -280 OUCH

And won

Cincinnati +135
SD Chargers +100
Houston +150

Obviously with a $2 bet I had not a lot of confidence LOL   OH - Packers are -10.5 favorites and -500 moneyline next Monday night .  -500 you SHOULD win 83.3% of the time and in the last 15 years it has won 82% of the time.   PASS 

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The CA recall - I keep hearing America needs more than 2 political parties. What a horrible idea.  Look at California - If the Governor gets recalled the winner will be who among the 40 people running in opposition has the most votes.  So a person with 7% of the popular vote COULD be the next Governor. 

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We went to Ooga Brewing Saturday night to see Band O' Barley and their Irish Scottish music and it was an awesome night.  I now have two friends from the home brew club that are professional brewers.  Gerry purchased Next Door Brewing and Jeff at Ooga Brewing. 

Ooga is in Beaver Dam and has outstanding beer in a unique place.  Ooga used to be a gas station and now sells the most beer in Beaver Dam. 

They refuse to make high alcoholic beer and are more like European bars with lower alcohol (nothing above 6.5%) AND one of the few I know of that produce ESBs (extra special bitters**)     

**  This style is known for its balance and the interplay between malt and hop bitterness. English pale ales display earthy, herbal English-variety hop character.

Fantastic place that almost did not survive Covid. 

OTHER BEER news - HyVee has Oberon on sale for $2.99 a six pack  NORMALLY $9.99 - I got 2 cases for $12 each - cheaper than Michelob Ultra and a high quality seasonal beer.   

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I REALLY want this 

https://youtu.be/fb6I6oWXkf0

 

+++++++

Copper replacing Silver in solar panels.  15% of the cost in solar panels come from silver.  Now a company has found a way to replace silver with copper - a much less expensive mineral.  The Institute of Solar Energy Research found that copper is actually more efficient than silver 

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Cannabis  A study found that "cannabidiol effectively promoted cell death in bladder cancer" and that "CBD may become a novel reliable anticancer drug."

OK - nuff said 

Columbus Government in the past rant.

 I got lucky AND unlucky last night.  yea yea yea I had the Bucs at -8 and at times it looked good but always 1 minute later it did not look good.  HOWEVER - I decided to wager on Tampa Bay JUST winning, the money line.  I mean - there was no way they would lose right?  LOL 

So I hedged and took the money line - I broke even   WHEW!!!  

*************************

Columbus government is SO SO much better then in 2013.   Remember this? 

Two city council members serve as auxiliary police officers.

When the chief goes before the counsel for more money, he already has one third of the possible votes in the bag.

How the heck is that NOT a conflict of interest?

Who still wonders why we spend more on law enforcement than most cities this size?

These counsel members have the opportunity to put the interests of their boss, the chief, ahead of the best interest of the citizens.

A wannabe cop is not going to vote against the chief on anything.

The citizens of this city should find this situation unacceptable.

We did.  A year later there was a new Mayor and 5 new alderman - I was the only loser as I went against the head of the snake. It took one more year and then we had a complete take over.

Then our first budget meetings showed how bad Columbus was being run.  The budget was chaos and instead of fixing things it was just trying to hang on.  The Police Department got EVERYTHING they wanted while the other departments were told to cut the budgets.  

THEN - when things were getting finalized we were told - OH - we need to cut $100,000 out of the budget as the last administration gave Enerpac 7 years of free property taxes.  They said they would move to Sun Prairie to a site that was not as good unless they got Free Stuff.    And the Council fell for it. 

Would an international company really decide to move forever to a worse place for something like $700,000?   So the administration purchased land for a HUGE price and then sold it at a loss to Enerpac AND gave them free property taxes for 7 years.

Now Enerpac is giving back to Columbus which is really nice but . . . . it's basically OUR money they are spending to help us with a new park.   There is no free lunch.

At the time everyone was blaming the farmer who sold the land to Columbus at a huge profit.  NO - I don't blame him at all.  He was screwed by a corrupt anti business government decades ago.  This was all on the city government. 

BUT I digress - in 2014 things got way way better and one of the proudest things in my life was being part of  rescuing our government from the right wing cronies who were screwing Columbus for their own profits. 

SORRY SORRY.

*******************  

 

OH - the great news is we get the NFL MAX package on DIRECT TV for free along with free HBO. 

*******************

While in Door County we stumbled into one of the brewers/owners of Cercis Brewing.  THAT was a surprise. 

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 A study "demonstrated for the first time the anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulating properties of CBD directly in dogs’ immune cells."

WELL - I can not get Gus to take a hit so . . . that is worthless information  

 

+++++

The comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 featuring the first appearance of Spiderman sold for 3.6 million.  Only 4 copies exist in mint condition.

Nuff.   

Auto-tune, 911 and IT'S FOOTBALL!!! and Twisty Glass Blunts

 DJ and I watched 911: Inside the President's War Room  and I urge all americans to watch this on APPlE TV - worth a few month subscription.  

Suspend your liberal and conservative feelings about the players.  They are shown to be actual humans in a LOT stress.  This is not about policy but about emergency and the fog of war.  Even Karl Rove has a heart as he sheds tears and there are so many things I did not know even though I obsess over everything 911. 

For instance - as the President was in Air Force One in the air there was REAL fear that there was someone inside that plane that meant to kill Bush.  NOBODY knew the secret call sign of Air Force One . . . . . but "Angels Next" over the radio put the fear in them.  The were "Angel".  

Also the pilot of AF1.   There was a threat of someone at the end of the runway in FLA so he turned the plane around on take off and told everybody to SIT DOWN - you will NEVER have a 747 take off more vertical.  The passengers were FREAKED.  

There is no satellite TV on AF1.  They only got news when they flew over a city.   The Situation room had a dangerous lack of oxygen. 

THREE towers collapse, not just two.   It's an outstanding documentary with unseen footage and interviews - OUTSTANDING! You see all the players as humans.  Highly recommended and heart pounding exciting (in a sad way) 

minute by minute what was happening with our government on that day.  WOW! 

https://youtu.be/4BcKbOCYOpA

          

*******************

We all hate Auto-tune right?  WELL - seems it has been auto-tuning performers since the 1960s. The Beatles used auto-tune on their albums.   It was only Cher that found the magic dial used incorrectly on "Believe" that ruined music forever.  Auto-tune was an industry secret for 3 decades.  

I have near perfect pitch and live performances are always flat or sharp when you hear a note.  But it's not noticed for the most part.  From the documentary on auto-tune David Bowie was one of the few that never really needed auto-tune. 

This is POP - Netflix 

 

 

***********************
 

OH - I want to give a HUGE Congrats to former Columbus Mayor Kelly Crombie who will become the City Admin for Fox Lake.  I find it curious he is going to be the City Admin over ANOTHER Mullins drive up restaurant.   I think there is a larger plan in place here.  (insert evil laugh). 

 

************************

I got Tampa Bay at -8 tonight!   (Brady is 101-65 at home but that was not why I took them) The reason was the line opened at -6.5 and is now -9.5.  Pretty big move with a lot of smart money all over TB. 

Aaron Rodgers is 62-36 ATS at home and 57-50 ATS on the road.   91-36 ATS as a favorite and 74-59 ATS v non-division. 

Even though the packer "D" scares the crap out of me (the "D" coach has never coached a defense that has given up LESS then 24 points a game)  I still have the Packers at -4.5 (now -4 but not a big deal  "4" is not a meaningful point after "3". 

Plus Jacksonville will be full of Packer fans as it normally is. The line went for -3 to -4.5 when they changed venues. 

*****************

Twisty Glass Blunts are awesome - a must have.  You take out the screw thing and fill part way with  . .tobacco.  Then screw it back in.  When you take a puff of . . tobacco it burns of course. Then when that part is burned you screw clockwise and the ash falls off and you have new tobacco and it's a VERY cool draw. Works GREAT.   The slim holds 1.3 grams.  The Super Twisty holds 2 ounces LOL    

All the news you didn't know you didn't want to know + Band O' Barley live at Ooga Brewing

 WOW - first of all the whole Texas thing - are Texas Republicans THAT gullible?  Seems so.   Governor Greg Abbot was asked about the new abortion laws and what about cases of rape.  He LITERALLY said that Texas will do away with all rapes and will stop rape before it happens.  

And Texas will work tirelessly to make sure that we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas by aggressively going out and arresting them and prosecuting them and getting them off the streets."

I assume he will stop all hurricanes also which might actually be easier.   What a total ignorant buffone.

It's odd how conservative media is not cheering or really talking about this so called "victory". They understand that all of a sudden their strategy of hating woman to get the male vote MIGHT backfire as 65% of Americans are anti anti abortion.     

+++++++++++++++++

Speaking of backfiring I was reading about companies that shot themselves in the foot and went bankrupt. 

Remember Sears?   For a hundred years they sold EVERYTHING from tires to underwear out of their catalogs and having people order online.   But once they stopped the catalog and decided to ONLY have instore sales.  BAM - they went bankrupt in 1993.  Amazon started in 1994.

JC Penny  decided to stop the lies and stop the sales where everything was marked down 70% from their over inflated prices.  They started selling everything at REAL prices (which were 70% cheaper)   WELL - The American consumer decided no sales? - no purchases.  Bankrupt 

Not unlike the spammish 11% rebate from Menards. You save ZERO money and spend 35% more. 

Schlitz beer -   one of America's biggest beer companies in the 1960s. In 1974 Robert Uihlein the President knew Americans could not tell good beer from bad beer and decided to replace barley with corn syrup and silica gel as a preservative which was filtered out - thus - never mentioned on the ingredients.  FAIL!  The beer spoiled faster, grew cloudy on racks, didn't produce a frothy head when poured, and was flavorless — resulting in a 100-million bottle recall. 

NOTE - the brewer at Ooga Brewery says " silica gel is not a preservative. A lot of the reasons given are not exactly accurate, and maybe only one of several contributing factors during very adverse market conditions.   ....  Schlitz, among other remains old German-Style brewers went out of business, for the same reasons farmers do today. They could not compete with large scale mfrs with economies of scale, so they sped up the lines and went cheap and lost bad.

BTW - Band O' Barley live at Ooga Brewing Company  -Saturday 6PM - Join DJ, Gus and I for a beer!   301 S Spring Street Sun Prairie 

Red Lobster - remember the unlimited crab leg deal?  The Lob figured that if they were REALLY slow nobody would spend 6 hours eating crab legs - they were wrong and lost millions. 

Yahoo  wanted to buy Google but the price was just a tad too high. Then Yahoo wanted to buy Facebook for 1 billion but Facebook backed out at the last second. Then in 2008 Microsoft offered to buy Yahoo for 44.6 billion but Yahoo backed out.   In 2016 Verizon purchased Yahoo for 4.8 billion. 

A&W - created a 1/3 pound burger that was the same price as McDs quarter pounder.  I was really good - I had one.  It failed . . . why?  on research many Americans believed a third pound burger was SMALLER than a quarter pound burger . 3 is small then 4.  (and you wonder about why people are unvaxed?) 

Schwinn refused to make mountain bikes, just a fad you know - GONE! 

*********************

 I have not heard the ridiculous thing about Universal Healthcare for a while. GREAT in theory but how do you come up with a quick 50,000 more Doctors and 100,000 more nurses in 4 years.   Plus - look at the shortage now.  I know a guy that could relocate to Texas for only TWELVE WEEKS with an additional $60,000 bonus and his normal hourly wage.  They are in need of ANY healthcare workers. 

BTW - I am all for Universal Healthcare, but if you think Obamacare was easy  . . . . . .  

                 

Enerpac taketh away and giveth - camping and beat the bees

NOBODY predicted how quickly the Taliban would take control of Texas  

Couple things first.

We all have seen that the Brewers are road warriors and just "good" at home.  Looking at Ballpark numbers this year AmFam Field is that hardest park in MLB to hit a homerun in and BY FAR.  WEIRD. 

Hits and doubles are near the top of all ballparks but HomeRuns?  Dead last.  That might explain why the crew have a .553 winning pct at home and .657 on the road.  

Also take a look at my dailey power ratings which is a running 2 week average of games/modified runs for each team. The entire NL Central is group together . . well . . except Pittsburgh 

***************************

We were camping for 4 days in upper Door County. One of our goals was to start clearing the easeway into our property.  If you have been to Door County and gone to the ferry to Washington Island its on the squiggly highway - there it is 

We got the survey back and it seems the access road has drifted but there were some trees growing in the middle of the road.  Luckily not BIG trees.

However - there are BIG trees. So many trees that are 100+ feet tall its crazy.  So we got 2 lots at a GREAT price.  The people who own the lot next to the highway immediately put their 2.5 acres for sale hoping we would buy it.  The price was almost more then our 2 lots combined.  ummmm NOPE!  don't need it. 

Fun Fact - a very good friend from High School that I had not talked too for 40 years contacted me and said "Where exactly is your lot?"  I showed him and - "That is my house Kenosha Drive".  How awesome is that! LOL        

So we did some trimming of trees next to the road and Josh and his chainsaw family will do some of the heavier work.  The plan is some sort of cabin at some point.  

*********************

I saw lots of people thanking Enerpac for the new children's park in Columbus and it was named Enerpac something or other.  

YEA - that is nice they are using the money the citizens of Columbus give them every year. 

 I remember the first budget I had to go through as an alderman.  Everything was working out great until we were pulled aside and told that the deal the previous administration made with Enerpac was Columbus citizens would pay their property taxes for 7 years . . . about $100,000 a year.  Think what an extra $100,000 a year could have done for Columbus. 

It's called Corporate Handouts.  They told the previous group of cronies, yes men and right wingers they would leave unless we gave them a deal.  

Columbus purchased the land  at a higher price AND THEN sold it to Enerpac AT A LOSS . . .  AND THEN gave them about $700,000 to stay. 

Not one person who made that deal is working for Columbus anymore. It was after that deal that future Mayor Thom decided the corrupt-ish, cronie-ish Columbus government needed a drastic change and within 2 years 6 new alderman and a new Mayor Crombie took over and dare I say - righted the sinking ship with responsible budgeting.  

Did you know that Columbus does not have a full time Treasurer?  Seems we have someone come in a few times a month.

******

   I took this after eating at my NEW favorite Fish Boil place.  The Post Office in Ephraim.  We use to go to Pelliters in Fish Creek but this place is SO much better. 

It was funny.  As we were waiting outside a guy was on his phone talking to a client and said "I'm at what is called a fish boil, it's what Wisconsin people do" and "I gotta go, there are 5 witches standing around a boiling  calderon and something is about to happen, this is SO bizarre".  

So why The Post Office?  huge pieces of fish that they debone. a lot of potatoes, a gallon of butter, great onions and everything else.  Our new goto place. 

Meanwhile Gus is a star,  32 hugs from strangers in one day and he loves every person who smiles at him.   People miss their dogs and I believe petting a smiling dog relieves good and bad vacation stress. 

And he LOVES the attention. 

Also made some fans at an outdoor bar in Sister Bay.  Bees EVERYWHERE.  So I told them to get a brown paper bag, blow in it and twist the end.  Put it near the liquor and bees will think it's a hive and being territorial they will be gone in 10 minutes. 

YUP - worked like a charm. You can buy bee hive decoys on amazon  just for this.  HOWEVER - I had a GREAT IDEA. 

Make handbags for women that LOOK like a bee hive.  All she has to do is put the purse on the table and bees be gone. 

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Have a great long weekend and remember - when you retire long weekends are more of a nuisance.