Good morning!!!!

[rswyan]

My electric bill did not have any surcharges, or bond debt repayment.

That’s great to hear ...

But it’s still early ... give it some time.

And most Texans that I know, ignore Texas monthly...except maybe all the debutants in Houston baby.

Are you trying to say something about the poster that originally quoted from one of its articles ?

Certainly wasn’t on my radar before that post ...

 

[check]

Just sorted through my junk email folder and found that Butte County is now offering CV19 vaccine to those 50 years and older. I'm signed up to get the Moderna vaccine next Tuesday, then a month later for the second dose. The email was received last night at about 5:30PM, but there was nothing on the local news broadcast about it. Which might explain why there were still appointment slots available...

Good for you RN! Here in Ontario, the Premier just announced that those 60+ can now get the AstraZeneca, and surprise surprise, I immediately jumped on the internet and got an appointment for tomorrow at a Pharmacy.

Looking, go to dynastypharmacy.ca and try register online. You too may score. (Just have to drive to Toronto is all.)

 

[ronjhall]

Poured first cup of coffee. 18° with clear skies this morning. Heading to 56° with sunny skies. Got shopping done. Went outside to do some cleanup of yard yesterday. Cool northeast wind sent be back in house. Going to work on that today. After it warms up.
Wish everyone would put a stop to the "MY OPINION IS BETTER THAN YOURS" post. That's not what the Good Morning thread should be about.

Everyone stay healthy and safe.

Good Morning All.

 

[RoyJackson]

2021-03-21, 0543

15 right now...high in the low 50's today..
Chores: Dump run and replace the sediment filter in the basement. No outdoor work planned...

 

[RedNeckGeek]

This is a pretty awesome article. Amazing that the gov't forwarded nearly a billion to Moderna to kick it in high gear.

From the article:.......Makes me wonder if they'll pay the tax payers back anything???

When I registered for my vaccine appointments, they collected my healthcare insurance policy info. That would lead me to believe they'll get reimbursed by the insurance company, not Uncle Sam. "They" in this case is the county, who is providing the vaccination service. Two Presidents have said that the vaccination would be free, but apparently, that's not the case for those that have health insurance. Which by law, is everyone, right?

This is another instance where the government says one thing, and something different happens. The first being the stimulus letters that come a long time after the fact, leading to much confusion among us poor taxpayers.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I am not adverse to "alternative" energy, but no one has yet shown me how it can provide power 24/7/365.

I'll give you an example. The dam here at Lake Oroville generates electricity with turbines. That's green energy. At night, when electricity rates are low, water is pumped from the Thermolito Forebay, which is below the dam, back up to the reservoir, which is above the dam. Then the next day, when electrical rates are higher, the same water is used to run the turbines again. That's using the grid as a sort of battery, which is not exactly green, but it is cost effective.

Now alter that power cycle just a bit, substituting massive solar arrays for the grid, pumping during the day using the solar generated energy, and running the turbines in the dam at night. That would be a 100% green energy system. There are only two problems with it. The first is that hydroelectric installations are being decommissioned in California and other states because of the negative environmental impacts of the dams and the high cost of maintenance. The second is the "not in my backyard" attitude toward the solar arrays, which makes it difficult to locate them close to where the power will be consumed.

 

[wngsprd]

When I registered for my vaccine appointments, they collected my healthcare insurance policy info. That would lead me to believe they'll get reimbursed by the insurance company, not Uncle Sam. "They" in this case is the county, who is providing the vaccination service. Two Presidents have said that the vaccination would be free, but apparently, that's not the case for those that have health insurance. Which by law, is everyone, right?

This is another instance where the government says one thing, and something different happens. The first being the stimulus letters that come a long time after the fact, leading to much confusion among us poor taxpayers.

I think the govt prepaid for vaccines last year so that they could be manufactured simultaneously with the testing, to speed up the process...so vaccines free from govt...but the providers (nurses, pharmacies, etc. ) get reimbursed for administering the jab...I looked it up and AARP says: $16.94 for the first dose and $28.39 for the second.

 

[wngsprd]

Frosty 31 going to a sunny 55.

Ron, great Ronshot of that red-belly.

Hopefully things will dry out some today. Need to get back in the woods with the tractor and chainsaw.

Roasted coffee yesterday and did some cleanup. Yardwork today. Some patches of grass are calling out "mow me" but I'm gonna make them be patient. Still have pruning and firewood splitting to do.

 

[Eric Salop]

Good morning, weather is again staying kind to the new-born lambs, it was 10C/50F at 8am and should be rain free again for most of the day.

For example, Fly ash is considered a "green material" and is used in concrete to slow curing and improve hardness and it's cheaper than cement and replaces some of the cement needed

Cinders, it was used on all the roads in the winter.

Fly ash/cinders is the long term "Cinderella" of the building trade.

The generic term for them is "pozzolans", something I knew nothing of until a friend told me about their uses as building additives when I started to learn about lime mortar while restoring our house. Pozzolans were in use thousands of years ago in the form of volcano ash, then were mostly forgotten about, only to be rediscovered in the 16th century, falling out of fashion again after a few hundred years, then made a comeback in more recent times. Maybe not as interesting and uplifting as the Moderna story, though if you have a few minutes with nothing better to do Pozzolan

Wish everyone would put a stop to the "MY OPINION IS BETTER THAN YOURS" post. That's not what the Good Morning thread should be about.

Thanks Ron

 

[lostcreekranch]

When I registered for my vaccine appointments, they collected my healthcare insurance policy info. That would lead me to believe they'll get reimbursed by the insurance company, not Uncle Sam. "They" in this case is the county, who is providing the vaccination service. Two Presidents have said that the vaccination would be free, but apparently, that's not the case for those that have health insurance. Which by law, is everyone, right?

This is another instance where the government says one thing, and something different happens. The first being the stimulus letters that come a long time after the fact, leading to much confusion among us poor taxpayers.

Neither wife nor I .. were asked anything about insurance here .. before or after our vaccinations.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Neither wife nor I .. were asked anything about insurance here .. before or after our vaccinations.

The registration system we're using here is California specific, so it doesn't surprise me at all that it would try to reach into whatever pocket it can get to.

 

[daugen]

good morning all. Should be a very nice day today, sunny going up to around 60.
Had a nice dinner out last night, in a smaller Italian restaurant with only 8 tables all double spaced from each other.
All staff and owner wore masks as we did entering and leaving
Food was just ok, red sauce was a little sweet for me, I like a more acidic taste.
Will have leftover veal parm for dinner tonight.

Most of my seeds are starting to pop up, fun to watch. I'll try to take some pics later.

Ron, nice woodpecker pic, looks like he's after a bug there

Too bad we can't find a use for leftover uranium pellets like we can fly ash...
RNG, interesting comment about hydroelectric power. What is the big environmental impact other than flooding the valley?

Once discussions here border on contentious, it's time for them to stop. Doesn't make any difference who is right if you annoy everyone else.
Not like I haven't done it...

have a great weekend.

 

[Buppies]

The formed we filled out asked numerous questions about health but when I answered the first question they all went dark so all they know is I have Medicare

27 high low 50s today. We have a huge stick party coming up but not today work gets in the way

Prayers for all our Country

 

[daugen]

work gets in the way
make roads and hay while the sun shines.
Hope you get to kick your feet up and relax later

 

[toppop52]

Interesting take - here's the link to the whole article:

Texas’s Independence Didn’t Cause the Power Crisis

If you're a fan of the author's writing (Loren Steffy) here's a link to some of his other work for Texas Monthly:

ARTICLES BY LOREN STEFFY

I found this one to be of some interest, in terms of understanding what might be yet to come:

Despite Losing Power for Days, Texans Will Pay Higher Power Bills—Perhaps for Decades to Come

From that particular article:



Kinda sounds in line with what Don reported about his own power provider's situation ... and what I was saying earlier:

It's currently unclear what the ultimate financial fallout will be for Texas energy providers and consequently, Texas consumers.

I read the whole article and it had no impact on the relevant part I posted.

I’m also familiar with his career and I didn’t have to furiously google it to try and upstage anyone. Just adding context.

 

[Popgadget]

Good morning
It’s 31 and gong to 55 with clear skies and calm wind.

Yesterday kept me busy most of the day. It started with noticing that the heat pump for the shop was a block of ice. I set the thermostat to run the propane heat in the meantime. Later went back and jumped the AC to run in concert with the propane heat in order to defrost the condenser. Turned out that the temp sensor fell off the coil, so it wasn’t going into defrost mode.

While that was thawing out, I looked at why the Davis weather station wasn’t measuring rain. It appears that the reed switch that is triggered by the tipping cups is bad. The good news is that the rain reported by the Tempest agrees with all of the nearby stations that I could find on Weather Underground. I’ll probably fix the Davis, which is funny because my rationale for buying the Tempest was that it had no moving parts, and the Davis was getting old and would likely need repair soon. It makes no sense to have two collocated weather stations, but I am a compulsive fixer.

As I was putting the ladder away I got a frantic call from the restaurant that the front door fell off. Its a standard glass and tube commercial door, the bearing in the bottom hinge was seized, and wore/broke the casting that holds it. It was windy and in the 30’s, so not a great time to have no door. I sent the owner out for the part, while I removed the broken casting from the door, and the seized bearing from the frame. The cordless angle grinder with a cut off wheel saved the day. As soon as he got back with the part, the door was ready to go on.

I’m waiting for my mechanical contractor buddy to pick me up, I’m going to help with an install this morning.

Hopefully get back to speaker building later on today.

I can’t imagine how I ever found the time to work every day!

Glad that I don’t have to chase vaccination appointment any more.

 

[toppop52]

I'm looking for Bilbo and Frodo...or even Pippen. Did you wear your Gandolf hat over there?



My electric bill did not have any surcharges, or bond debt repayment. And most Texans that I know, ignore Texas monthly...except maybe all the debutants in Houston baby.

Nothing like a good song to put things and people into perspective.

 

[Thomas]

19F clear sky 50 for high.

Outside chores done E muffin time.
Last evening walking towards the house Mrs. tap on the window kept pointing at me I slowly turn around about 15' young deer was following me,we chatted good 15 mins. deer turn around headed back to feed...looks like I got new friend this year.

Plans for today...trip to town for propane critter food,if not icy pick up more limbs branches,might take slow country dirt road ride enjoy smooth cigar late day.

Enjoy the day all

Hellooooo first day of spring.

 

[Thomas]

We have a huge stick party coming up but not today work gets in the way

......................
"stick party" would that be cleaning up limbs branches????

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Good Morning!!!! 42F @ 4:30AM. Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. High around 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
It's coming down in buckets right now, just started a few minutes ago. From the looks of the radar map, we might pick up a couple tenths from this storm.

Thanks for the Costco link, Bill. The Michelin doc was not accurate for the Vanagon, which uses 18", 19", and 21" blades. The Ford takes a pair of 20". I replace 'em in the fall after they've baked all summer, but I'll stock up now at that great price.

That fly ash is dangerous stuff, Eric. There was a huge spill in '08 here in the US, the clean up of which cost 30 people their lives. Not sure how happy I'd be using concrete/mortar with fly ash in it.

Good to read that more of us are getting access to the vaccine, James. It's only taken the better part of a year...

Speaking of electric bills, the California Public Utilitys Commission just approved rate increases for Pacific Gas and Electric to help pay for transmission line upgrades and, wait for it, the cost of law suites filed as a result of the wildfires caused by those same transmission lines.

Got four more pallets put together yesterday; guess I know how I'll be spending the rest of the weekend. Rain came in half way through and I had to move inside the garage for the last two. Pretty cramped, so got some extra exercise.

The sun came out just as I was finishing up, and since it was about four o'clock, I gave myself the rest of the day off. Sat sipping a beer, soaking up a few rays.

The buzzards were enjoying the sunshine after their earlier shower...

Hope everyone has a great weekend!