Something Random

[Gödel]

We've got something brewing in the Gulf again. Right after last week they were telling us we should be in the clear, relatively speaking, for big storms this year. This one, which will be called Arthur if it gets named, formed over land. Fun.

Yes, looks like Arthur is heading straight NE on the Texas Gulf Coast, then right through Louisiana and into Mississippi:

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Lord help those poor people.

We've had major weather disasters in significant areas of the country; perhaps El Niño will cut back on the Eastern U. S. hurricane season, while probably shifting the weather calamities elsewhere.

 

[Mercutio]

My tires were purchased at Costco, which does indeed cover replacement from road hazards. It's a pro-rated coverage, so I do have to pay something like $650 to get replacements, but that's better than $1600 for a new set.
I've always paid for high-mileage tires, but since my car uses an odd size, my options for getting anything have diminished considerably in the era of everyone owning a Truckasaurus.
Supposedly, I get my car back today. Severe weather across the midwest has hampered shipping.

It's prudent that we all start making more preparation for extreme weather. I think it's only going to get worse.

 

[Mercutio]

I never thought I'd see the day that I'd jump at a chance to spend $40 on a 250GB SD card, but here we are.

 

[Gödel]

Happy 5ᵗʰ of July

And happy royal wedding :​

From NYTimes:​

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It’s a love story​

What better way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday than with our own royal wedding? Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tied the knot at Madison Square Garden last night, amid a constellation of stars from the worlds of music, sports and Hollywood. Swift’s brother, Austin, served as “man of honor” and Jason Kelce, the groom’s brother, as best man. Adam Sandler officiated.​

Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid were among the approximately 1,000 guests. Selena Gomez, Reese Witherspoon and Dakota Johnson were there, as were Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke, Mariska Hargitay and Jason Sudeikis; Ed Sheeran, Sombr, the Chicks and Benson Boone. Here’s a longer guest list.​

Crowds of Swifties braved the sweltering Manhattan heat to stand along the metal barricades outside the arena.​

"Ain't that America" — John "Cougar" Mellencamp

 

[sedrosken]

Nothing more US-american than celebrity marriages and blowing off your fingers with pretty explosives while you eat your weight in various meats.

I stayed home and played a video game. Been getting pretty into Project Diablo 2, got a Vengeance Paladin build going. Very squishy in Hell, I need to watch where I'm going and check mods on unique packs before I run blindly in and get oneshot.

 

[Mercutio]

I just barely know the name Taylor Swift and nothing about the other person.

On the other hand, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is apparently (literally) brain dead but on life support just to fuck up the midterms. Just like he fucked over Obama getting to nominate Merrick Garland as a supreme court justice. They don't want Kentucky's current governor to nominate his replacement. McConnell's grave is one where I'd gleefully leave a shit.

While I'm at it, I've had a new pair of glasses in customs in Lexington, Kentucky since the end of May. It's about to be six weeks. UPS sends me an email about it every day. They're glasses. They're declared as glasses. They're in a glasses-sized package that was flown from Hong Kong. This too is probably Kentucky's fault somehow as well.

 

[Gödel]

I've had a new pair of glasses in customs in Lexington, Kentucky since the end of May. . . . This too is probably Kentucky's fault somehow as well.

WTF? I'm boycotting Kentucky – bourbon in particular, as well as the many other liquors they sell. I've switched to Canadian whisky.

 

[Mercutio]

There are many other fine spirits. Have you considered Malört?

 

[sedrosken]

It's sad because Kentucky is a beautiful state and I grew up there and wouldn't trade it for anything, but they make some awfully questionable decisions up there.

I say. From Florida.

 

[Gödel]

There are many other fine spirits. Have you considered Malört?

I'll have to check into that one. Currently, I'm particularly fond of a nice Mescal.

 

[Mercutio]

I'll have to check into that one. Currently, I'm particularly fond of a nice Mescal. View attachment 1888

My partner is a huge fan of it. Most people say it is the most disgusting spirit bar none. The kindest description I've heard is that it tastes "herbaceous."

The company that makes it is also the only distributor for it, so if you find someplace that carries it, it's because they very deliberately sought it out and keep it on hand. Last time we were in New Orleans, my partner drank what she's pretty sure was the city's entire supply over the course of a four day trip.

 

[Gödel]

Searching for Malört seemed to agree with "disgusting". Luckily, Virginia ABC stores don't carry it.

 

[Mercutio]

My partner genuinely loves it. She's otherwise a Tequila snob.
She's also started drinking beer since she moved to Florida. That's the one that actually disgusts me.

I got to talk to a guy today who was the primary representative of a class action suit that went all the way to the US Supreme Court, questioning whether or not people should be paid for the time they spend putting on safety equipment as part of normal work activities. Dude retired from the Steel Mill and he's now a community organizer. Sanders v US Steel Corporation, 2014. I thought he was making it up at first, but sure enough, most of the court basically agreed in fact but could not agree in legal principle. It's a small thing, but of course that adds up over a dangerous career. Even the United Steelworkers itself was against the case; bargaining away that potentially paid time was important to other contract concessions once the suit was filed and its lack of support was cited among the reason the case went to US Steel.

We got talking about activism and the process of advocacy. It was a very educational conversation from a single person who saw massive levers of corporate and political power move against him as an individual.