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Vladimir

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Posts posted by Vladimir

  1. On 6/30/2022 at 9:00 AM, Chalkie said:

    If someone is living in an RV they aren't homeless then are they? I'm sure others will have their opinion or info but we haven't encountered homeless anywhere in our travels in the places we camp. Have we seen homeless along the way in our travels? You bet. Out experience is that the homeless are mostly found in urban areas as that's where the services such as "soup" kitchens, shelters against the elements, etc. are found. 

    I am surprised at the increase in homeless in the area that I frequent.  Those area's pretty much off-the-grid.   

    That said.  There are two types of homeless folks.  Those down on their luck and those mentally ill.

    The mentally ill folks are really the problem as many of them have a tendency to violence.  That is a difficult situation to deal with. 

    I had one person confront me about my generator running for one minute to microwave my breakfast, it was running at 8:00 in the morning!!  I told him him the rules, and since I personally knew the state employee managing the area, he was welcome to drive the mile or two to the house and get a clarification on the rules.

    Next year, same area, different person.  "I drove seven hours from Seattle and I don't like off-leash dogs".  Fine, except off-leash dogs are LEGAL in this area.  Was the dog bothering you??  No, but he was off-leash.

    People down on their luck are usually pretty nice and there but for the grace of God, we could be in the same shoes.  I packed a steak dinner, complete with potatoes, salad and a good bottle of wine and gave to a camper, with the excuse I needed to get rid of the food before I got home.

    I don't mind helping the homeless campers.

    Funny story, dealing with the mentally ill campers.  We were bird hunting in a remote area.  When we heard from a campsite about 50 yards away cries for help from a woman that her partner was attacking here.  There were two of us that had both worked for the Forest Service, and a tech guy.  The tech guy said we should intervene.

    We both said, it doesn't sound that serious.  And then things got quiet.

    About a half hour later, it was the GUY screaming that he was being attacked by her and she was sitting on him.  We still did nothing.

    An hour later they packed up and left.

    The down on their luck homeless deserve our support and help.  The mentally ill, are more difficult to deal with and really should be confronted only by trained individuals.

    More of both on our public lands.  I think many people have found out that boondocking is free.

  2. On 6/26/2022 at 6:28 PM, Payroll Person said:

     

    .................................one other thought, Windows long ago did away with the stand alone version. All versions have network and multi user ability, which for a time, caused issues. There is certainly more overhead this causes, but the issues have been resolved. 

    thanks for the smile.

    Now that I am not working anymore I really don't need ANYTHING that doesn't meet my needs.  

    I have a 10,000 dollar astronomy camera.  That is what it cost new.  I paid $500 for it twenty years after its introduction.  Works fine.  Likewise, so does my Lightroom Six version.  And a whole host of other OLD software.

    I get the security part. 

    I have dedicated Windows 7 laptops for astronomy, photography, writing, and a couple more for specialized other uses like reading reference CD's ROM publications.  I avoid connecting to the internet with these machines.

    For internet surfing I use a Apple IPAD.  Never had a security issue with it.

     

  3. I have noticed that the plug-in hybrids don't talk about battery range.  

    I would buy a plug-in hybrid if it meets my test:

    125 miles,  8000 feet of elevation gain at zero degrees and 4-wd capability for the price of a RAV4 or Honda Passport.

    What I would like to see is a EV with a small gasoline or diesel engine.   The small fossil fuel engine would run the vehicle on speed in rural areas.  The batteries used for urban driving and accelerating.

  4. 4 hours ago, durangodon said:

     

    So, not to contradict anyone in the above posts, just curious, what all have you found lacking in Win10 that you feel like Win7 was superior?  Do you have older programs what it won't run?  Are you unable to perform some tasks that were present in Win7 but not in Win10.

    Really hate the interface in Windows 10.  It has lots of useless information and MicroSoft wants to push more of it onto the desktop.  I will stay with my IPAD for apps and widgets. 

     Is there a way to go back to a Windows 7 interface??

    Almost all the legacy programs for astronomy have run into issues with Windows 10.  It takes a long time to track down drivers and other issues.  Much simpler to stay with the system that works.  I am getting old and time is precious and get mad every time I spend a day or so FIXING things on the computer. 

     

     

  5. Yep, just upgraded from Windows 2000 to Windows 7.

    Well, that was for the observatory computers.  I did have a brief stop at Windows XP, but since most of my computers were running Windows 7 I went ahead and upgraded them to Windows 7.

    I have ONE computer running Windows 10.   What a awful system!!!   I thought I might upgrade all my computers to 10, but forget it.

    As much as I hate doing business with Chinese companies, my next computer might be an Apple. 

    Yeah, I know try Linux....I did and so far it is a no go for my "non-science" computer.

  6. 16 minutes ago, agesilaus said:

    Cody will be inundated.

    Cody does not have that many campground  or 4 that I know of plus that state park on the road to the north entrance. I do recall signs for one or two campgrounds on the YNP road nearer the North entrance

    Make your reservations now

    It's a long long drive from Cody to the geyser basins, several hours each way plus slowdowns for the massive traffic flow. Wow Google maps says 137 miles and 4 and a half hours, can that be right? Via US 14 passing by Fishing Bridge

    If that's true you better have reservations at the Yellowstone Lodge or other in park hotels. Is Fishing Bridge open?

    Last time I did that drive was towing a small Casita.  That seems about right.  Ended up camped on the Madison River at a BLM boat launch.  It gets slow once you get into the park.

  7. I never want to be in law enforcement.

    I once got a warning for driving slow on Memorial Day weekend.  The officer mentioned that their emphasis patrol for that weekend were SLOW DRIVERS!!!  On Memorial Day weekend!!!!

    I wrote a scathing, four page letter to the Washington State Patrol telling them that I believed in the old Washington State Patrol that believed SPEED KILLS.

    Got a phone call from the commander for the Highway Patrol district asking how the officer handled the incident.

    I told him he was great.  He was professional.  I understood why he made the decision he did.  I disagreed with it, but had no issue with the officer.  

    IT WAS THE POLICY that I didn't like.

    He wasn't ready for that answer and I quickly became his best friend.

    What a job!!!

    Your suppose to enforce the law and then when somebody complains the supervisor asks the person TICKETED, how did you like getting your ticket!!!  

  8. 2 hours ago, Chalkie said:

    Thanks! I remember that now that you jogged my memory. We used to live in Colorado Springs so it didn't get near the news coverage but I do remember everyone wondering why he didn't take the runaway ramp.

    Because he was a 23 year old that was not grown up.

    My question is.....why all the 23 year olds that are protecting our country, flying jet planes and handling nuclear weapons, etc. show pretty good judgement.  And the average 23 year old, outside the military, is a total loser??

    What is the military doing right, and what are we as a society doing wrong??

  9. I currently tow a Casita with a one-ton diesel truck.  Going through California with their 55 MPH speed limit for trailers and semi's is a PIB.

    However, it does allow auto traffic to flow better and safer.  Even Montana has a 65 MPH limit on semi's.

    Reminds me, of all the discussions about truck/trailer combinations and the comments about can I tow with a half-ton truck.  You can tow, but can you stop it??  See previous post on stopping a semi.

    I would put in a "towing lane" on the Interstates....stay in this lane, go 60 mph don't exit for a 100 miles.

  10. The trial was this spring.  The incident was a couple of years ago.  

    Made national news, not sure how many people he killed.  I will do a search and see if I can find it.

    ....found it

    https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/30/us/colorado-rogel-aguilera-mederos-sentence-commuted/index.html

    https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/crime/affidavit-driver-involved-in-deadly-i-70-crash-was-driving-erratically-going-more-than-80-mph

  11. 13 hours ago, sandsys said:

    When I was a kid we used to play the alphabet game on trips. Illinois had signs saying "cars towing trailers restricted to truck speeds". I don't know if they still do. It was a mandated difference in speeds for various types of vehicles, though.

    Linda

    California has 55 mph for RV's, semi's, and anybody with more than three axels.

    Oregon, is also 55 mph, for semi's.

    Washington is 60 mph for semi's.

    Here is the complete list:  https://www.topmarkfunding.com/speed-limits-for-semi-trucks-in-the-united-states/

    Not sure if the same speed limit applies to RV's in some of those states.

    As people in Colorado found out a semi or RV doing 80 mph is a dangerous weapon.

     

  12. 2 hours ago, Ray,IN said:

    That might come to pass if the white house decides to return to the fuel saving measures of 45 years ago.

    Not the White House without new legislation.....the authority is back to the states.  In most states, that is the Governor, and he/she can do it just with their signature.

    It also reduces CO2.  The Europeans are dropping their speed limits for that reason.  

  13. 1 hour ago, Ray,IN said:

    I've always gotten better fuel mileage driving state and US highways. It seems driving 45-50MPH, my MH gets almost 2 MPG better than driving 65-70 MPH on interstates; so all those folks who are irritated by others driving less than the speed limit are just going to have to adjust or pass me.

    Just get a large bumper sticker for the back window in your motorhome.

    Save the Planet.....Drive 55 MPH.

    Now when they pass you they will feel guilty.

  14. 4 hours ago, bruce t said:

     

    ...................Question - Why is it that fuel prices go up over night when it suits but come down way slower when it doesn't suit? Just maybe there is some profiteering going on.

    Human nature. 

    The subject is covered in most beginning economics classes.  It works for all products being sold.

    It is just that gas prices, since they MUST be posted are so visible and people pay attention since they buy it frequently.

    If you did the same thing with eggs, milk, or any product for sale you will find the same price behavior.

  15. On 11/16/2021 at 12:00 PM, Kirk W said:

    It has been decades since I have been a field forester.

    But a few years ago, I needed to run some property lines so looked up the current offset between magnetic and true north.

    I was shocked at how much I needed to adjust my compasses.  I went through my entire stash and adjusted them all!!!  A guy could get LOST these days by having the improper offset!!!

  16. On 5/30/2022 at 10:37 AM, Chalkie said:

    We are in a park called Big Oaks and it lives up to the name. We have the antenna as close to the road as possible but there is still some obstruction on the east side. You can load the Starlink app on your phone and use it to determine your obstructions, no account required. 

    If your at all interested in StarLink, do as Chalkie suggests.....download the app.

    I did find the app to be PESSIMISTIC.  Got way better signal than promised.

    If you can "borrow" a dish within your "cell" area....do that and see what you get.

  17. 2 hours ago, DanZemke said:

     

    ...............So I am an Elon booster, but not an acolyte.  I don't own any Tesla stock, any Tesla products, nor do I expect to in the next few years...............

     

    Thanks....I learned a new word today.  I had to look it up!!

    From Bob Dylan...

    "Don’t follow leaders
    Watch the parkin’ meters"

    Don't forget the leaders control the parkin' meters.


     

     

  18. China definitely doesn't like StarLink.

    Every dictatorship doesn't like StarLink.  It is small enough to smuggle into any country and difficult to block.  

    I guess we might see if "the truth will set you free".

    Voice of America had a great impact on the cold war.  Think about that becoming a two way conversation.

  19. On 5/24/2022 at 6:22 AM, Second Chance said:

    I read this on the Starlink web site yesterday... makes it no better than our current VZW unlimited (grandfathered) mobile hotspot in terms of service - and the hotspot is easier to set up.

    Rob

    As a amateur astronomer, not a fan of low orbit satellites. 

    However, I do have StarLink.  

    It is EASIER to set up than a VZW unlimited mobile hotspot. 

    Verizon simply doesn't work at my cabin, most of the lakes I fish, nor my hunting spots.

    Plus quite frankly, doing business with Verizon is like doing business with the mob, you always lose.   I wish Musk would buy a cellular company.

  20. My point was that the tax code was designed to financially benefit specific industries and people.  Decisions that seem crazy from an economic sense, make perfect sense when you incorporate the tax code.

    Don't know much about Medicare and the tax code.  Maybe somebody with a background in health care can comment.

    But when payments from Medicare are MUCH LESS than the billing, that indicates something else is going on than just straight economic decisions.

    And as I mentioned, those providers refusing to take Medicare payments which are primarily small rural hospitals is interesting.

  21. My observation has been, when things don't make sense at first glance it just means your NOT an accountant!!

    Or a tax advisor, there are a LOT of things in this country that do NOT make any sense, until you have a good understanding of the tax code.

    All the economics I took on decision making stressed interest rates, growth rates, costs, revenues and EVERY ONCE in awhile the professor would say and there is the tax code.  

    Years later, I realized that IF you rub a magic lantern and the gennie pops out and says "Your choice, you can understand the background in all fields OR you can understand the tax code"

    Chose the TAX CODE, you will be rich WAY beyond your means in a relatively short time.

  22. 3 hours ago, Kirk W said:

    It is interesting to me that to date I have heard nothing of anyone attempting to compete with Starlink? That makes me wonder if it is showing a profit yet? With SpaceX a privately held company it is difficult to know. To date there don't seem to be any efforts to compete with them for business. It has been fun to watch!

    There are lots of companies and governments ready to compete with StarLink. 

    The estimates are that is a few short years there maybe close to 200,000 of the satellites in low earth orbit.  And that is just the companies mentioned above, plus DOD and I am sure other governments.

    The American Astronomical Union is working real hard to minimize the impact on earth based astronomy, but more important there is the issue of tracking all those satellites for earth launches.  Hitting one of those will definitely ruin your days if your on the rocket ship heading into space.  

    My guess, is there is going to have to be some sort of international agreement on where these satellites can orbit so that launch windows can protected.

    Musk might have won the race, by being first and then everybody else gets slowed up by international governmental regulation and we know how long those take!!!

     

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