I want a thread to just argue about a rock and whatever else is on your mind.

Grumpy Bear · January 23

12 hours ago, KARNUT said:

If you think the last three years is a blip. The way things are getting unstable around us with the lack of leadership. I hope there’s enough time with a new administration to straighten it out. A blip, I hope we survive this blip.

Was I unclear? There is an end. Just not one man is controlling. Dan 2:44 Luke 4:5,6

And you are on the money. It is getting worse. All over the earth. In every country. Under every government. In every way.

Matt. 24 Luke 21

Know what a windsock does, right? Points in the direction the wind is blowing. Politics and Religion both, by and large, are windsocks. No interest in what the Constitution or the Bible has to say. Only which way the political or religious winds are blowing. Messaging and decision making is easy to watch. Canidate says A and gets blow back, so his/her next message changes to C. Constantly putting a finger in the wind to check the direction. It's what his/her staff does. Ya just never know what their REAL feelings and ideas are or where those will lead.

God is not like this Isaiah 46:10 Heb 6:18 Numbers 23:19

Have a conversation with my father. He lived the 1930's. Tell him how bad the economy is. He lived the 1940's, an entire world at war. Tell him about how it is. Blip in time. On whole it is now much more intense than it has ever been and getting worse by the day. Step back from the trees and view the forest. As single events go.... this is mild. As a culmination of events go it is already pushed the needle past redline.

KARNUT · January 23

12 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Was I unclear? There is an end. Just not one man is controlling. Dan 2:44 Luke 4:5,6

And you are on the money. It is getting worse. All over the earth. In every country. Under every government. In every way.

Matt. 24 Luke 21

Know what a windsock does, right? Points in the direction the wind is blowing. Politics and Religion both, by and large, are windsocks. No interest in what the Constitution or the Bible has to say. Only which way the political or religious winds are blowing. Messaging and decision making is easy to watch. Canidate says A and gets blow back, so his/her next message changes to C. Constantly putting a finger in the wind to check the direction. It's what his/her staff does. Ya just never know what their REAL feelings and ideas are or where those will lead.

God is not like this Isaiah 46:10 Heb 6:18 Numbers 23:19

Have a conversation with my father. He lived the 1930's. Tell him how bad the economy is. He lived the 1940's, an entire world at war. Tell him about how it is. Blip in time. On whole it is now much more intense than it has ever been and getting worse by the day. Step back from the trees and view the forest. As single events go.... this is mild. As a culmination of events go it is already pushed the needle past redline.

What worries me some is the nukes. My point is things go in circles. When I was starting out bad policy affected me. I spent a lifetime getting insulated from the next bout. You pay attention you recognize it. The nukes getting into the wrong hands will break the circle. They don’t care, that’s the difference. As far as the depression. Being the oldest and my parents getting married young. And the same for me. My oldest daughter met my great grandparents. They weren’t wasteful. My oldest memory of my grandmothers car was a 55 Chevy. She kept it until she got her 65 Chevy. She was still driving it when I moved to Texas in 1979. It was her last car. I know frugal. My wife is an Army brat and is familiar with frugal.

Jettech1 · January 23

57 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

What worries me some is the nukes. My point is things go in circles. When I was starting out bad policy affected me. I spent a lifetime getting insulated from the next bout. You pay attention you recognize it. The nukes getting into the wrong hands will break the circle. They don’t care, that’s the difference. As far as the depression. Being the oldest and my parents getting married young. And the same for me. My oldest daughter met my great grandparents. They weren’t wasteful. My oldest memory of my grandmothers car was a 55 Chevy. She kept it until she got her 65 Chevy. She was still driving it when I moved to Texas in 1979. It was her last car. I know frugal. My wife is an Army brat and is familiar with frugal.

I definitely agree with you on the nukes. Some of these countries developing them could care less about dropping one. N. Korea and Pakistan come to mind. I'm not too worried about Russia dropping a big one but it wouldn't surprise me if they touched off a small dirty nuke. I think the only thing keeping them from doing it is their proximity to the fall out due to the trade winds. Just my worthless opinion.

garagerog · January 23

Grumpy, I've got a couple of things for you to consider, and no, politics is not directly involved and if you don't agree with me that's fine too. On the milk and greed issue, there is as much and maybe more greed on Walmart's part than on the owners of the Marathon convenience store and the Dollar General store. In all likelihood at least the Marathon store was a franchise store owned by a small businessman, not sure if Dollar General has a franchise business model or not. Walmart buys in such huge quantities that they can basically set the price they will pay for many items and most certainly they are using that 1/2 gallon of milk as an extreme loss leader to get you in the store where they can whack you when you pick up that impulse item or two at the checkout register. Ok, so you drove the 20 mile round trip to save $3 so lets say it's a wash on your operating cost per mile vs. the $3 saved. But what about your time, what's that worth? I get it that sometimes we think we need to send a message, but unless you're in a small town dealing with a businessman that you personally know, your voice is just not heard in today's world. Ok, back to how much your time is worth or are there better uses for our time than trying to save a few dollars. Only you can answer if the time you spent on that drive to Walmart would have been better spent with your recuperating wife. Unless I'm looking to purchase what Wall Street calls a durable good or what most of us call a major purchase, I don't spend a lot of time trying to find the best price. If the price of a non-durable good that I desire bothers me that much, I either find a substitute or do without, with the exception of toilet paper, ha. Grumpy, brother, you've got to be nearly as old as I am, so please remember with every birthday your time becomes more valuable, which reminds me I'm due for another big raise real soon! I know, I know, I've refuted my own argument by taking the time to spew what some may consider drivel, who do I bill? lol

Grumpy Bear · January 23

10 minutes ago, garagerog said:

Grumpy, I've got a couple of things for you to consider, and no, politics is not directly involved and if you don't agree with me that's fine too. On the milk and greed issue, there is as much and maybe more greed on Walmart's part than on the owners of the Marathon convenience store and the Dollar General store. In all likelihood at least the Marathon store was a franchise store owned by a small businessman, not sure if Dollar General has a franchise business model or not. Walmart buys in such huge quantities that they can basically set the price they will pay for many items and most certainly they are using that 1/2 gallon of milk as an extreme loss leader to get you in the store where they can whack you when you pick up that impulse item or two at the checkout register. Ok, so you drove the 20 mile round trip to save $3 so lets say it's a wash on your operating cost per mile vs. the $3 saved. But what about your time, what's that worth? I get it that sometimes we think we need to send a message, but unless you're in a small town dealing with a businessman that you personally know, your voice is just not heard in today's world. Ok, back to how much your time is worth or are there better uses for our time than trying to save a few dollars. Only you can answer if the time you spent on that drive to Walmart would have been better spent with your recuperating wife. Unless I'm looking to purchase what Wall Street calls a durable good or what most of us call a major purchase, I don't spend a lot of time trying to find the best price. If the price of a non-durable good that I desire bothers me that much, I either find a substitute or do without, with the exception of toilet paper, ha. Grumpy, brother, you've got to be nearly as old as I am, so please remember with every birthday your time becomes more valuable, which reminds me I'm due for another big raise real soon! I know, I know, I've refuted my own argument by taking the time to spew what some may consider drivel, who do I bill? lol

First let me assure you Roger that I didn't make a dedicated trip ten miles out of my way to buy a single half gallon of milk. Dad would slap me silly. :crackup:

And I don't always buy the cheapest thing. It has to have some value. For example. Mom, when were kids, would buy Creamed Corn in a can. Cheapest stuff she could find. All cream and cob, not much corn so nobody ate it. Dad would buy Libby's at twice the price. Couldn't keep it in a bowl. Cheap isn't cheap in a trash can. You have to get some value for your money.

We buy grocery mostly from Walmart and use the pickup services. Closest is about 10 miles and a dog pound. Next is 15 miles and where we normally buy. Then we have one 25 miles away which is the newest, cleanest store. In between these three are Butera, Randal, Jewel, Hy-Vee, Safeway, Aldi and, and, and. Dotted among them dozens of "Convenience" stores. I'm not a coupon clipper and I don't make ten stops to get the lowest price on every item. But I try not to throw money down a rat hole either.

I'm 70. Could live another 30 years, could be I die before I finish typing this. My time is no more or no less valuable than at any other point in my life. When I was young Hy-Vee said my time was worth 90 cents an hour. My father made $8 a week when I was born and a shack to live in. Was his time less valuable than mine? Before retirement my time was valued at almost $40 an hour. My heartbeat was the same, my dreams the same. I'm now retired. What is its value? SS, minus taxes and insurance? My task today is the same as it was when I was 16 and left home. Love God and your neighbor. Take care of yourself and those you love. What's the value of that?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

It's a full-time job. One that makes me happier than money, position, power, fame. All of which are vanity, a striving after the wind. (Quoting Soloman)

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

What worries me some is the nukes.

I don't worry about that. Ecclesiastes 1:4 KJV One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.

It's a promise. When I worry about such things, I remind myself the greatest power in the universe has this. He has a purpose and a plan to carry it out. My worry says I don't trust him.

customboss · January 23

20 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

And another thing....

I stop at the Marathon a few days ago to pick up a half gallon of whole milk. $4.80! I look at the owner and say, "Your not that convenient." and leave.

Next stop the Dollar General store. $3.90!!

Now it's a 10-mile trip to Walmart. Yep, $1.69 like it's been for a decade now.

Question. What part of this is some political party or elected officials' fault? How, exactly are they the cause for a $3 spread over 10 miles in the cost of a half-gallon of milk? How is it their fault people BUY the highest price thing they can find and then whine their choice is someone else's fault. You have a point when you don't have a choice but....ya do.

I spent part of my life living in dirt floor basements, abandon Model A garages and my car when I had one. Rode old Brit tossed in the dump motorcycles instead of cars to work. Took a few meals from the compactor at the Hy-Vee store where I caught shifts and drank Kool-Aid without sugar and white bread out of the nickel a loaf day-old cart. Walked to do nothing, pay nothing jobs, three of them at a time, and ya know who I never even considered as being at fault? Anyone but myself. Didn't blame a politician. Didn't blame my parents. Didn't blame 'the system'. Didn't blame the church or God or my lack of friends and don't care family. No Calvery coming to the rescue. Buckel up Buttercup. Bootstrap time. I didn't blame them then. I don't give them credit now. And I've rebuilt from ground zero multiple times. Finished alright. But if you think you one election away from Navara.......

WORD

Grumpy Bear · January 24

Bi, by, buy, bye

No wonder people don't like to learn English

Silverado4x4 · January 24

There are lot of things that piss me off but one is people don't clean the top of their vehicle off after it snows and a huge chunk of frozen snow fly's off and smacks your windshield, I always try to stay back when I see this but sometimes you can't.

diyer2 · January 31

SCARY

https://i.imgur.com/iJEDEgL.mp4

customboss · January 31

3 hours ago, diyer2 said:

SCARY

https://i.imgur.com/iJEDEgL.mp4

That looks like my drive back from VA hospital and we stopped for a few after surgery, not good with opioids! Glad I had the go pro and you couldn't hear my wife screaming.

Spoiler

customboss · January 31

3 hours ago, diyer2 said:

SCARY

https://i.imgur.com/iJEDEgL.mp4

Its an Oldsmobile Alero so its tough....

diyer2 · January 31

On 1/17/2024 at 8:11 AM, diyer2 said:

Sad news yesterday. Our friend who has been fighting cancer had decided no more treatments. The last round of kemo was her last, just to hard to take. Diagnosed 5 years ago with breast cancer.

She now has morphine available, hospice now involved also.

I haven't seen her in quite some time, to hard for me.

Jettech1 · January 31

On 1/24/2024 at 1:02 PM, Silverado4x4 said:

There are lot of things that piss me off but one is people don't clean the top of their vehicle off after it snows and a huge chunk of frozen snow fly's off and smacks your windshield, I always try to stay back when I see this but sometimes you can't.

From my experience, tractor trailers are the worst when it comes to that!

Jettech1 · January 31

2 hours ago, diyer2 said:

She now has morphine available, hospice now involved also.

I haven't seen her in quite some time, to hard for me.

Heart breaking for sure. I really am sorry sir! I've lost a lot of family members in my life as a lot of us have, especially the older we get. It's never easy. Hang in there please.

diyer2 · February 6

There were 15 children in my moms family, 4 in my dad's family. I believe one is left. Went to many funerals, now I don't do funerals. I'll remember people my way.