Administrivia

Sometime last month, the hit-meter rolled past 7,000,000.

We are frankly astonished each time it rolls over another million views, and more so at the increasing frequency each time that happens. And somewhat humbled.

We thank ALL of our readers, every one of our fellow bloggers who link us, and the 99.8% of our commentariat who bring something useful to the table.

You folks are the main reason we do this, since this blog brings us a steady $0/yr since ever, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Sincere thanks, and best wishes to you all.

Your Hopeium Broker Called: Sell Short

Read my last comments to the previous post.
There ain't nothin' to be cheerful about, unless you' re where the Kung Flu isn't.
And even if a merciful Deity or blind chance in a random universe hasn't got COVID kicking your @$$ personally, the fact that it's beating the big cities like a rented mule is going to have consequences for you too, unless you're totally self-sufficient, grow everything you eat, and wipe your bottom with tree bark.

The other 99.9% of you should fasten your seatbelts tighter: it's going to be a bumpy rest of the YEAR. Perhaps longer.

Just Wondering...

So, you let your Gilligans drive the bus on dealing with Kung Flu.
How's that working out for ya?

FL ICUs are at 98% capacity statewide.
TX has exploded. So has AZ, and 17 other states.
CA gov. Gabbin' Nuisance re-closed 30+ counties yesterday, all because of the morons that think wearing a mask is the Mark Of The Beast, and washing your hands is communism.

So, just wondering, how is everyone enjoying that footlong $#!^ sandwich all y'all are eating, just like we dun tole ya would happen?

We're now going to be dealing with this until New Years' at minimum, and probably more like next Easter.
Or, you could try wearing a mask, and washing your hands.
Dealer's choice.

Suture selves.

Fixin' To Hope To Start To Commence...

One more day chained to my oar, after which I should be able to begin blasting and shoveling the debris, in order to get down to installing the NIB Whizbang Blogmaster 2020 v3.0, accompanied by the obligatory large blue cloud of £@#$×÷+₩£!?×& symbology floating out to sea somewhere between Pt. Concepcion and the Channel Islands.*

If Bill Gates et al wanted to make an even bigger pile of money, they'd invent a desktop computer which worked better whenever the owner cracked it sharply with a stout Louisville Slugger right on top of the tower, and provide suitable sound effects and blinking lights for the effort.

Just saying.




*(My father, like Jean Shepherd's, worked in profanity the way some artists work in oils or watercolors. I have surpassed the old SOB, given proper motivation. Dealing with a new computer system is motivation above and beyond that bar.)

Ol' Remus

We note via comments here that Ol' Remus, of The Woodpile Report, may have passed away from a recently diagnosed cancer.

We have no way to confirm this news, hope it isn't so, and if that be the case, regret the error.
Whether it be true or no, we remain saddened at the ongoing silence of his blog.

He seemed to us - and, we suspect, to many others - a delightful and well-informed gentleman, sophisticated yet down-home sensible, who kindly took notice of this blog in its relative infancy, and found our offerings notable enough to link to and/or feature there, on many occasions.

Words cannot express our thanks for his attentions, but we hold back nothing in stating that anytime our own brain droppings online merited inclusion on his weekly page, we felt like a kid who had hit a home run or brought home a report card of As.

Whatever the cause of his absence online, we feel ourselves, and the rest of the world, to be much the poorer for the silence left in its stead, and are second to none in our regard for the wisdom formerly free by the week at his site.

And our only solace, if he has indeed left this earth, is the hope of an afterlife, where an online acquaintance might be continued someday, face to face, and where he and his recently departed wife are even now reunited.

Working On It...Sorta

Read my comment at the end of the previous post. I'd have cut and pasted it, but the pride of 2013 technology that is this back-from-the-grave zombie tablet doesn't do that.

I've got the week off, so among the eleventy things I have to do this week, getting this pig back up on skates is rising to the middle of my list.

Take care of yourselves, and be well.

Technical Difficulties

Ye Olde Hard Drive has chosen today to commit irretrievably seppuku. Expect light posting while we catch up on our reading, shop for a replacement, and learn (at gunpoint ) a new gorram operating system and browser. Like we needed this nonsense in our life (or bank account) just now. We apologize for the lack of free ice cream.

Oh, and lest we forget: $#!^!!