“I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this—who will count the votes, and how.” 

Doing sourdough again.

First loaf using a starter a good friend gave me.

• One cup whole wheat flour
• Three cups bread flour
• 1/2 cup bread flour
• Two cups warm water
• One cup active sourdough starter
• One teaspoon table salt

1. Mix 1+3 cups flour and water till a dough forms and then cover and rest for two hours to hydrate.
2. After it hydrates, mix in the starter and salt. Knead till the dough is sticky but holds shape in a ball.  Use the 1/2 cp extra bread flour to adjust the dough and flour the counter.  Once it begins to stiffen, put the dough ball into a deep greased bowl and cover.  Let it rest for 2 hours.
3. Knead the dough again till it stiffens.  Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
4. #3, again.
5. Do the final knead, and place the dough ball into a parchment lined Dutch oven. Put the lid on and let it rest a few more hours, or bedtime, whichever comes first.  Put the Dutch oven in the fridge and go to bed.
6. In the morning, put the Dutch oven in the oven. Set the oven on warm for maybe 10 minutes. Then shut the oven off and leave it alone for a few hours. Check it, and judge if it has risen enough. A slight touch of a buttered finger should have the dough soft and very fluffy.  Air bubbles on the surface are a great sign.
7. Once the dough has risen enough, set the Dutch oven on the counter and run the oven up to 475 degrees. Give it a good 30 minutes to really get heat soaked.  Put the Dutch oven back in the oven and set the timer for 30 minutes.  The Dutch oven will hold in moisture and encourage a crusty crust.
8. At 30 minutes, remove the lid and set the heat to 400 degrees. Set the timer for 30 minutes.
9. The loaf is done when tapping it gives a 'hollow' sound, or a thermometer shows 205 degrees internal temp.  I use the thermometer method. Note the temp is not critical.  Anything over 200 and less than 210 is good.
10. Remove the Dutch oven from the oven and carefully lift the loaf by the parchment. Place it on a rack and remove the parchment.  Don't burn yourself, it's all rocket hot.
11. Allow to cool at least two hours before slicing. It should be at room temperature, and that allows the starch structure to cure and avoids a 'mushy' crumb.  Flavor will be best after 8-10 hours.

An analogy..

A long time ago in a former lifetime, we picked up stakes and moved back to this part of the world. Having been away for some time, we just didn't know people like we used to.  That included who to do business with.  So, we asked family.  Who should we go to for insurance?  They told us about Xxxx and his Xxxxx Xxxx agency.  They had been using Xxxx for years and he was 'Honest and the best'.   Okay, we went with that thought and used him for all our insurance.

Fast forward two years, and that car insurance bill has been creeping up to levels where it impacted our lives.  Xxxx said "That's the way it is now. Everyone's policy is doing that".

I shopped it around, and ended up in the office of a rival agent to Xxxx.  Same company.  Same policies.  She looked at our insurance bill, whistled quietly, and wrote me an estimate that was almost $1000 a year less expensive with the exact same coverage.  I asked how that is possible.  She took the bill from Xxxx and highlighted a few things.  She said "These are bullshit.  He's stealing from you" Of course we went with the new agent and policy.

I called Xxxx and told him what I'd found out.  He said she was lying, and no way I'd get insurance at that price with this company.  I told him I already had a new policy with the exact same coverage for $XXX less.  He hung up on me.

At family dinner I related the story.  Universally they replied "No way Xxxx would do you like that!".  I showed them his bill and her bill, and the coverage.  They looked it and still said "No way, Xxxx is a straight up guy!" and refused to discuss it.

I looked at them and thought 'They would rather pay thousands extra to a thief than admit they bought the con and were wrong'.

THAT is exactly how I feel about politics today.

Prediction #Whatev

I suspect quite a few police, soldiers, federal agents, etc may be facing some internal questions and soul-deep decisions in the next few years.

My prediction:  The majority of them won't let quibbling little things like morals and integrity get in the way of their paycheck.

Think me wrong?  Are you aghast at such a notion? Well then, tell me who arrested the jews in Europe in the 30's and 40's?  Who enforced slavery in the 1800's US and UK?  Who violently crushed union miners in the US during the early 20th century?  Who raped Nanking? Who filled the mass graves in Greece in 1974?  Who burned down two city blocks in Philadelphia and killed 11 men, women, and children?  Who stopped people from rebuilding any of 15,000 homes that burned in the LA fires?  Who put deadly poison in alcoholic beverages to stop people from drinking?  Who condemned black men to death in order to 'study' venereal disease in secret?

All people willingly following orders, even enjoying it. All people who went home and slept just fine.

Metaphorically speaking, it was your brother, dad and your grandad. What makes you think people are any better now?

All that's left is the same question our ancestors, right up to Mom and Dad, faced. 'Where do *I* stand?  What will *I* accept? Do *I* have that line which shall not be crossed?'.

 James Allen in his 1903 book As a Man Thinketh. 

"Self-control is strength.  Right thought is mastery.   Calmness is power."

 The people have spoken, for a given value of both people and spoken.

In the spirit of true fellowship I would like to say I very much hope people get EXACTLY what they voted for.

Good and hard.

Every day I marvel at the how 'civilized' America has become. By civilized I mean the amount of being wronged today's American will put up with before reaching for a solution.

The last..

..Cord of wood for the season has been delivered.  I'll take my time stacking this one. That last one hurt a bit.

Disappointed...

I was hoping for a whiff of sanity from yesterdays election, but no.

I suppose I'm obliged to go someplace and riot now.   Can I have a pass for a few days?  There's work needs done and I have to pick up a friend from dropping her car off.  Maybe I can riot next Tuesday?  I'll check the family schedule.

Not worked up over the election and the ever more rapid slide to national destruction because hey, I'm old. I'm sorry my kids have to deal with what's coming. Then again, they had their own hands in bringing it on.

Once again the party of fail caved to the party of terrible ideas, so we all lose.

Worthless Prediction #1)  Musk accelerates the effort to put humans into space before the world burns, while at the same time hustling to shift his operations out of the US.

Worthless Prediction #2)  The self protection industry will now see Obama levels of sales.

Worthless Prediction #3)  Impeachment REEEEE 24/7. 

Firewood

 

Stacked about a cord of split oak today, and immediately ordered another (4th) cord.

Firewood boss man says they will probably run out before the months end.  I swear their pile was bigger than our house, garage, and driveway put together.

 

We made it this far...

How am I doing?  Well, I survived all these predicted TEOTWAWKI events. Tomorrow looks pretty good too.

**Failed Environmental and Climate Predictions**

*   **1967**: Predictions of a "dire famine" by 1975.

*   **1968**: Paul Ehrlich predicted "hundreds of millions will starve" in the 1970s–1980s and that "England will not exist in the year 2000."

*   **1969**: Claims that everyone would "disappear in a cloud of blue steam" by 1989.

*   **1970**: Predictions of a new ice age by 2000; America subject to water rationing by 1974 and food rationing by 1980.

*   **1972**: The Club of Rome "Limits to Growth" report predicted civilization collapse by the mid-21st century.

*   **1980s**: EPA and media forecasts that acid rain would turn North American lakes sterile and forests dead; Ehrlich claimed half of all species would be extinct by 2000.

*   **1988**: James Hansen forecasted regional drought in the 1990s; predictions that Washington DC would have 85 days over 90°F; Maldives would be underwater in 30 years; and rising seas would "obliterate" nations by 2000.

*   **2004–2008**: Forecasts that Britain would have a Siberian climate by 2020; the Arctic would be ice-free by 2013–2018; and the West Side Highway in NYC would be underwater by 2008.

*   **2019**: Statements by AOC and Greta Thunberg that the world would end in 12 years or five years respectively if climate change was not addressed; UNEP reported one million species face extinction.

**Nuclear War and Conflict Risks**

*   **1950**: Leo Szilard suggested a cobalt bomb could render the planet unlivable; 19% of Americans believed a world war would mean "an end to mankind."

*   **1982**: Brian Martin estimated a US–Soviet nuclear exchange could kill 400–450 million directly, plus hundreds of millions more from follow-up consequences.

*   **1983**: The Able Archer incident was identified as one of the most dangerous Cold War episodes, with Soviet forces fearing a masked nuclear attack.

*   **2008**: A Future of Humanity Institute survey estimated a 4% probability of extinction from warfare by 2100, with a 1% chance from nuclear warfare.

*   **2010s–2020s**: Studies on regional nuclear wars (e.g., India-Pakistan) predict global cooling of 1.8°C for 5–10 years, ozone depletion, and a "nuclear famine" threatening up to two billion people.

*   **2022**: Forecasting tournaments estimated a 4.7% chance nuclear weapons kill more than a tenth of humanity before 2100, and a 0.08% chance of extinction.

*   **2026**: A Lancet assessment identifies nuclear war and malicious AI use as major threats to humanity by 2100.

**Biological, Technological, and Other Existential Risks**

*   **1962**: Rachel Carson’s *Silent Spring* raised awareness of environmental catastrophe.

*   **1986**: Eric Drexler proposed the "grey goo" scenario of self-replicating nanobots consuming all biological matter, though he later walked back the extreme plausibility.

*   **2016**: Global Challenges Foundation identified nuclear war, pandemics, and catastrophic climate change as significant ongoing risks, with emerging tech risks growing.

*   **2021**: IPCC reports warned Earth could hit the 1.5°C warming threshold within 20 years; "code red for humanity" warnings were issued.

*   **2026**: Recent assessments highlight a "polycrisis" where climate change, nuclear weapons, AI, and ecological collapse interact. Threats include air pollution, antimicrobial resistance, and engineered pandemics, with nuclear conflict and AI malicious use cited as top existential dangers.

Snerk..

Bzzz...Bzzz...Bzzz...

(Unknown number) I tap the phone icon.

"WHAT?" (2..3..4.. just long enough for the call-zombie to hit the talk button).

"TOO STUPID TO TALK ON A FUCKING PHONE! NO WONDER YOU GOT A SHIT LIFE!"

(Hang up, block the number)

I've been doing this for a few years now. The mid-term election is tomorrow and I haven't gotten a political call yet.

Yes, this a real poster from the 10-28 rally in Atlanta....

 You had ONE job....

 Read this.

Whiskey smoker

 

A good friend sent me this 'thing' as a gift. He faithfully supports my bad habits with all his heart, good man that he is.

Whiskey smoker-- cocktail smoker-- whatev.  It puts smoke on the water.

I've never really tried smoking a glass of whiskey.  I get the Drama and Gravitas and all that, but I'm more down to earth than that. Just give me decent whiskey in a fairly clean glass and I'll call it good.

Things like this are luxury to me. Like having a fancy cigar lighter, or a clean truck. Putting on the Ritz, as it were.

Let's break it down in images and video....

Nicely packaged.  The USB-c chargeable unit fits snugly, 
along with the wood chips and cute cocaine spoon.

Good selection of various wood chips. Enough to experiment a bit.
Oak with Scotch and Apple with Cognac?

To use, charge the widget.  Then give the bottom a light twist and 
the unit will split in two. The tiny burner screen will drop into
your hand, and should have a non-flammable thingy under it. 
Check to be sure, and then put the thingy and the screen
back in the hole.  Spoon on some wood chips of choice. Put the base back on.
TaBoom!  Ready to use!

And-- a video of the smoker in use.

My thoughts on this gadget.   Pretty darn cool. We immediately smoked a few glasses of the good stuff for ourselves, and even Herself who disdains smoked anything thought it was good.  So far we've tried oak with Basil Haydon Bourbon, but tonight might be an apple over Scotch kind of night.  Either way, It's just a push of a button away.

Something that occurs.  Who says it's just for whiskey and cocktails?  Why can't it do wings in a mason jar?  Oh yeah-- we will be 'sperimentin for sure.

Note:  This one on Amazon 'looks' like mine, except the name on the box. Reasonable price and good ratings too.

Dearest Grok: How much does government add to the average cost of a new home?

About $131,734, or 26.4% of the average new single-family home price. 

(<https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2026/06/regulatory-costs-jump-40-in-five-years-add-131734-to-new-home-prices>)

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2026 study (based on surveys of builders and developers, applied to the January 2026 average new-home sales price of $499,500 from U.S. Census data), government regulations at the federal, state, and local levels account for this amount. This is up more than 40% from the 2021 estimate of about $93,870 and roughly double the 2011 figure of $65,224.[](<https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2026/06/regulatory-costs-jump-40-in-five-years-add-131734-to-new-home-prices>)

### Breakdown

- **Land development phase**: ~$46,795 (9.4% of the home price). This includes zoning approval costs, hard compliance costs (fees and required studies), land dedicated to government/public use or left unbuilt, design standards (e.g., setbacks) beyond ordinary requirements, labor rules, and delays.

- **Construction phase** (after the finished lot is purchased): ~$84,939 (17.0% of the home price). This includes permit/inspection/hook-up fees, architectural design standards beyond ordinary, OSHA and other labor compliance, pure costs of regulatory delays, and especially changes to building codes.[]

### Largest individual categories (approximate averages across all homes)

- Changes to building codes over the past 10 years: $40,288 (8.1%) — the single biggest item.

- Fees paid by the builder after lot purchase (permits, inspections, hook-ups, etc.): $20,154 (4.0%).

- Architectural design standards beyond the ordinary (construction): $16,117 (3.2%).

- Land dedicated to government or left unbuilt: $13,593 (2.7%).

- Compliance hard costs/fees and studies (development): $10,755 (2.2%).

- Design/land standards beyond ordinary (development): $10,583 (2.1%).

- Zoning approval costs: $7,007 (1.4%).

- Smaller amounts for OSHA/labor rules and pure delay costs.[]

These are national averages derived from builder/developer surveys. Actual amounts vary significantly by location—higher in high-regulation, high-growth, or coastal areas (especially due to impact fees, stricter codes, and zoning) and lower in less-regulated regions. The figures capture direct and indirect costs passed through to buyers (including financing costs from delays) but do not fully include broader effects like zoning-driven land scarcity, material tariffs, or occupational licensing limits on labor supply, which some analyses suggest make the total regulatory impact even larger.[]

NAHB notes that not all regulation is unnecessary (e.g., basic safety codes provide value), but the cumulative burden—particularly rising code changes and fees—has grown faster than incomes and contributes to housing affordability challenges.

Things and stuff, staying busy with the little stuff that needs doing.

 

Sweet onions were on sale at the grocery store, so here are five pounds of onions in the dehydrator.

When done drying there, I will toast them in the oven till starting to brown a little, and then a spin in the processor till they are dehydrated onion chunks.

We now have two shelves full of dried goodness in marked mason jars.  Many many lots of herbs, dried legumes and several kinds of rice. Dried onion, tomato powder and bits, zucchini, mirepoix, and peppers. Two different kinds of oatmeal.  Dried cranberries and blueberries, and working on candied orange and lemon.

This and a full pantry means we are ready for kicked up meals all Winter :-)

Here we have a family pack of chicken breasts vacuum packed and soon joining the others in the freezer.  

Packed with kosher salt, fresh black pepper, and half a fresh lemon in each package.

Sous Vide at 140 degrees for 2-3 hours in the Instant Pot, and we get the moistest and most flavorful BSBs we've ever eaten.  No mess, no fuss, and no rush to meet a dinner deadline.

How does three gallons of Cranberry juice concentrate for less than $10 sound?

Half gallon mason jars. One 12 ounce (76 cents) bag of whole cranberries in each.  Add 1/2 cup sugar if desired. Fill with boiling water.  Put the lid on, grab with a wash cloth, and hand-tumble till the sugar is dissolved.  Top off the hot water as needed.

Put it away for a few months (Christmas!) and it's done.  Really strong pure cranberry juice.  We cut it 50/50 with water, but vodka is certainly a good choice :-)

Speaking of stocking the pantry....

Painful day. Cleaning out a pantry.  Anything I canned that's more than a year or so gone, or it's obvious no one wants... in the bin. Also any out-of-date anything else that needs to go,

Yes, I tossed the jars as well.  Look, I have a goodly supply and they are cheap and plentiful. In addition I am lazy, or perhaps at my physical limits and must choose the battles carefully.

Now to wash the roughly 4 dishwasher loads of canning jars I still have, and pack them to stay clean instead of tossing them on a shelf. 

From now on I'll only can what we use on a regular basis, what I personally want, or anything intended as gifts.

Why focus on the pantry all of a sudden?  It needs done regularly, but besides that-- every story I  read lately about the Tribe sharing their post-election plans reminds me we may need it sooner rather than later.

Department of War Fortress initiative.

How long is your home and family good for if it goes pear shaped?

Here, I think 60 days or so before meds are a concern.  Other than that, 3 to 6 months before it gets tetchy.  Once I drop, make that a week or two.  Not much chance of the horse learning to sing.

I'm not supposed to take Ibuprofen too often....

 

Two cords of mostly Oak.  Roughly 3.5 tons, racked, stacked, and packed.  I'll probably add another cord in a week or two.  I mean, it took me more than a month to move and stack this much.

Three cords of seasoned split oak delivered = $675.

ONE tank of heating oil at $6.00 a gallon = $1300, and we'd burn three tanks in a winter.

Flying cars?

I think people are quite tunnel vision on 'Flying Car'. Allow me to explain what I thought when I saw it.

Remove the driveline. Batteries, motors, wheels, suspension, steering... every last component. Beef up the body and wrap it around the bottom. Enough to survive ballistic impacts. 

Expand the hyper-compressed air storage a LOT. Double the # of attitude and propulsion nozzles. 

Add in a few manipulator arms and a vacuum welding arm. Add hard points to attach cargo and components. Install a smart computer to aid the pilot. 

What do we have? The construction sled that will power all near-earth engineering projects for decades to come.

RAH would have approved.