respublica

Update!

Honestly, this business of websites and computers insisting on downloading an update is beginning to drive me over the wall. It's not just one thing, it's pretty near everything. I'm at the point where I say, no, not now over and over. While I realize there are a few safety reasons for some updates, most are not. And, too many updates mess up things to the point where a commonly used website is unrecognizable.

And worse, more often than not the new updates demand a user name and password to continue using it. I don't know about everyone else but I have user names and passwords out the wazoo, some outdated. I have just about had it. This morning and yesterday morning my actual laptop wanted to be updated. I can't even imagine what that will be like when the update is complete. This morning the laptop will not take no for an answer and no matter what I do, in less than an hour it will do this on its own.

Horrifying news if you live in Florida

This is almost too much to even consider. "Invasive Pythons are Apparently Taking over South Florida."

"The invaders, which can grow to over 18 feet in length, were first brought to the U.S. as exotic pets in the 1970s, but have since spread into the wild and may now number in the tens of thousands. " I just cannot imagine how horrifying this is and will be.  There is no consensus on just how far the so-called “invasion front” could spread, but some studies have predicted that the Southeast Asian snakes could proliferate across Florida and even much of the southern United States. 

I'm glad someone finally said this

Elizabeth Lopatto writing in The Verge: "There is a new trend among websites where they want my email address before I’m allowed to read their free content. While I sympathize with the struggles of the media business, I am just going to point out something obvious: not reading is easier than reading — and way easier than logging in."

This kind of thing has been going on for a while but it's getting worse and worse. I'm at the point where if I can't read an article or story that someone went to some effort to write without having to join something or give my email and and of all things, another password. Quite honestly I won't do this and leave whatever website has asked. This is more than annoying and who is the better for it if most people just close that site and move on? Not the writer.

More insufferable modern advances

Every thing these days seems to be tinkered with to make it safer. Too often trying to figure out how to use the new item is a mystery. Too many safety features are put into even the most simple of things. For example, recently Dale needed a new one gallon gas can to use with his old milk truck. Why he needed this for that is a mystery to me. Now let me just say right here, I have been doing lawn work for decades, not just our own yard, but many yards as well as helping on the seminary grounds when we lived there.

So I am not a stranger to gas cans, but this new type is ridiculous. Neither of us can figure out how to enable the spout to actually pour out the gas. We aren't stupid, but this has us stumped and annoyed. The worst part is, I am guessing new environmental laws forbid selling the traditional cans. I have no plan to ever get rid of the 3 old type cans we have. Problem here is Dale needed a fresh can.

Here is what this darn thing looks like.

It's not as simple as taking the red cap off the white spout.

There are a couple of mysterious things which have to be done at the same time and there there is another button top which does what we don't know.

It looks as if we have to do two our things at once to get the gas flowing. Nuts to that. Dale has decided to unscrew the main black thing attached to the can, take out the whole thing and go buy a funnel

The worst commercials

I nominate Spectrum for allowing their ad agencies to create some of the most irritating commercials on the air. I'm convinced the Spectrum guy who keeps repeating Free Free Free, your next line is Free, must be the son of the ad agency or maybe the president of Spectrum.

Truly so annoying a commercial we've begun silencing the tv until this ad ends. Spectrum also has the second most irritating commercial as well. This one is the same guy but is shown as a college prof threatening a pop quiz. Same stuff, 29.99 and second line is free.

When Spectrum commercials come on we now grab the remote and silence the tv until they end.

Just awful and there is no end of these in sight.

Highway ladders are still a thing

A couple of years ago, KMOX radio traffic copter reporter, Rodger Brand noticed frequent ladders and mattresses along the highways. He decided it was time to start counting them up with the year's total in December. It turned out to be fairly large numbers of these things which could be a real danger to other drivers. By doing this he hoped drivers who hauled these items would pay attention to securing them safely.

Although he doesn't do this anymore that I can tell, I always keep this in mind when we are on the highway near trucks or cars with mattresses or ladders hooked up to their vehicles. We give them a wide berth.

So today I read this from a friend of ours: "Beware of unsecured ladders that fly off pick-up trucks as you’re driving on the highway. 3 Hours later, & 2 damaged tires, we’re headed home."

This comment brought me right back to Rodger Brand. And, yes, be watchful as you are driving near people with ladders or mattresses or couches or whatever attached to their cars or trucks.

 

 

Here we go again Highway 40

Back in, I think, 2007, MODOT closed a large stretch of Highway 40 (64) for construction and replacement of some bridges. This did not end until 2010. We lived in Clayton those years and travel was tiresome. We rejoiced with thousands of other drivers when this was completed. Now MoDOT is hoping to close Highway 40 from Kingshighway to Jefferson to repair or replace 13 bridges which cross the highway.

According to MoDOT the bridge roads are in bad repair and need replacing. Highway 40 is a major east west road through St Louis and shutting down that stretch is going to be 2007 all over again. I've had to head back east to Collinsville from Concordia Seminary several times recently, mostly during the afternoon rush hour and the streets entering the highway are packed. Closing those miles is going to make the surface streets a nightmare once again.

It's possible to make a way to I-44 to downtown and back, but it won't be easy.

Illinois is number 1

Sometimes being number one is not a good thing and this title for Illinois is in that category. "Three Illinois Cities Among the Worst For Bed Bugs!

The Three cities are Chicago, Champaign and Peoria. Chicago is number one overall. Not really something to brag about.

One ad too over the top

It seems to me that one very annoying commercial is showing up on every local and national station, every type of programming.

This ad has a very loud guy screaming that we can get Spectrum mobile for the amazing price of 29.99 a month. He says this over and over and louder and louder until I mute the TV.

29.99, 29.99 Yes, 29.99. And the first month FREE!  FREEEEE

I just heard this guy already this morning on the local news. He is too much for this early in the day.

Interesting price changes

I came across an interesting bit of price changing at Schnucks this week. For some time I've purchased a couple of Pinot Noir wines I like at Schnucks with costs ranging from 18.99, 16 something and maybe 19 something. But early this week when I shopped I saw that all of them were in the 24.99 range and was shocked that the price had gone up so much. Then Friday I went back and saw each of the wines had sale stickers which had the original price. So they raised price and then put them on sale at the old price. This just seemed weird and irritating.