Norms Bait and Tackle

Denver · October 14, 2026, 09:09:35 PM

A good Wednesday late afternoon greetings toall.

Every time I come in I have to relog in even thought I have selected stay logged in forever😳‼️

It has taken us a couple of days to recuperate after the grands left on Monday. Little by little we managed to get all of the laundry done. We sure had a wonderful time while they were here🥰

We did all recover from our dust storm experience....but hope to never find ourselves in that situation again. It was still storming on Sunday so we went to an aquarium and we all had a fun day together.

JACKIE.....thinking and saying prayers for you daily. Sure hope you are feeling better.

BARB, I can't tell you how much I wished I had a mask to put on when that dust storm hit. We had masks in the car for this very reason but we were unfortunately a LONG way from our car😢😢
It is snowing in the Rocky Mountains today. Our grandson and 3 friends are driving from Salt Lake City to Vail CO tonight where they will meet up with hid dad, Dr. Dave. The weather in Vail has been beautiful and it sure would have been nice if it had lasted a few more days. The guys are going to Boulder to watch their team; the Utah University play the University of Colorado play football on Saturday. Matt has many high school friends that go to CU.
There is nothing good to watch on our TV....it is all the political bashings constantly as we approach the midterm elections.....I am going to have a very difficult time voting as I know think of them all as being crooks etc🤪🤪🤪🤪

MARILYN, your explanation of VF is a good. As you say....it is generally not fatal, but it can be a stinker to get over it.

Time to fix a bite to eat. Have a wonderful evening and a good night if rest.

RAMMEL · October 14, 2026, 09:14:47 PM

Quote from: Denver on October 14, 2026, 09:09:35 PMEvery time I come in I have to relog in even thought I have selected stay logged in forever

There used to be two places on that Log In page that indicated Log in Forever. If that's still the case, try the other one.
Also - do you delete your "cookies"? If so, that might be the problem.

BarbStAubrey · October 17, 2026, 05:06:21 AM

We had a delightful afternoon yesterday - Katha drove us up to Lake Conroe - we took a road that circled the lower part of the lake and I was shocked how large it was - with the strong wind blowing out of the north (yes it got cold - shut off the AC but not cold enough to turn the heat on yet) anyhow, the wind was whipping up good size white caps on the lake - crossed it at 3 places since it is a meandering lake with actually 5 main bodies or branches or inlets - however the lake is described -

And surprise, surprise at least for Katha - we passed at least a half dozen new subdivision with nice, mostly 2 story homes but on decent size lots priced between 200K, one was up to 290K where the others all said up to 270K - we passed several lovely new schools and even a brand new firehouse - several strip shopping areas with of course new buildings all spick and span clean.

Katha was shocked in that she did not think there were any places left in America where you could build in a nice subdivision for less than 350K - of course the sad part is they come in and bulldoze down hundreds and hundreds of mostly pine but Oak and Maple trees since the areas had been thick forestland typical of East Texas.

With the cold breeze, seeing the lake all blue with white capped waves and the afternoon sun against miles of forest it was a lovely ride in the country like we took years and years ago most often on a Sunday afternoon rather than on a Friday afternoon - got home just before the 5: traffic was about to start - ordered Pizza and Salad for our supper and then had a surprise visit from Cody, my grandson and Katha's nephew, whom she had not seen a several years - it was a wonderful day...

Marilyne · October 18, 2026, 12:41:29 PM

Barb ~ What a wonderful weekend you've had with Katha: driving to Lake Conroe was a special treat. Good to know there are still houses for sale in a lovely area, for 200 to 300K. Something we havn't seen here in CA, for many long years. Now hard to find anything under a million, unless it's a small one bdrm condo.

Now I'm going to take a look at the Poetry discussion, and hope to see some new poems, since yesterday.

Denver · October 22, 2026, 11:36:14 AM

Good morning 🌞

Not much going on in my world to speak of. We got our flu and covid shots this week.

We have been having a few storms passing through which have proven to unfortunately be more damaging than the amount of moisture we are getting out of them😢 We have received very little rain at our home so no damage here, thankfully.

We got our ballots filled out and turned in so hoping that will cut down on the telephone calls and texts‼️. I don't even want to turn on the TV as it is nothing but on going awful political ads. Wishing my life away by saying this.....let the next two weeks pass FAST and get this over‼️

BARB, what a nice time you had when Katha was visiting, and the special visit from Cody. We have always felt homes were more reasonable in Texas than many places. It is sad to see the trees all bulldozed tho, as you said. There are reasonable priced homes here in Arizona as well, but you do not get much property with it. Hence you fell you could jump from roof to roof😩😩
NOT ME OF COURSE😳😳😳

MARILYN, so many Californians have moved here to AZ and CO that they have driven up the cost of housing in both areas.....or so the BIG BOYS say🤪🤪🤪

Prayers continue for you JACKIE. I do hope you are home and doing better🙏

I wish you all a good day.

Vanilla-Jackie · October 22, 2026, 12:40:03 PM

Jenny, i am home and someone turned up to give me my flu jab but i said no to the covid as i am been back on anti-biotics and it is not advisable...

Denver · October 22, 2026, 10:49:26 PM

JACKIE, it was nice that someone came to you for the jab, but I understand why you declined it.
I am pleased to read you are home. I miss not being in contact with you more and knowing what all you are doing. Unfortunately, I think I well know WHAT you are doing, and it isn't very much, other than trying to stay out of the hospital😢. I often wonder if you hear from your sister or Vivienne? Take care.

Vanilla-Jackie · October 23, 2026, 01:57:33 AM

Jenny, yes from my half sister but not from my daughter, grandson nor seen my great-grandson, as they say, you can choose your friends but you cant choose your family, i shall say no more..Yes i am now basically housebound with District nurses, meals on wheels, home carer who i really get on with...

We are due heavy rain storms and strong gusty winds over our next two days..

BarbStAubrey · October 23, 2026, 06:38:16 AM

Ouch Jackie - when family members hold on to bad feelings it is painful even when it is in your best interest or only option. God Speed...

Yes Denver, there are places where land is more accessible with a lot of labor available which are the two most costly expenses to building a new subdivision of homes. Yep, I was a RE Broker for 40 years and saw over and over where demand is greatest often the supply is limited by those two factors. And yes, it was a great day driving north of us to Lake Conroe and then Cody visiting topped the day. Didn't get to several things that we were going to do during Katha's visit but then with non-stop gabbing our focus was not on tasks.

All that talking and we did it... no politics... our viewpoints are opposite each other so that we could each have easily thrown a dying duck fit upsetting ourselves for months if not years. There are a few things we agree on but, the better part of valor is not to bring up anything that smells or sounds like politics and we did it. But yes, you are so right Denver - just a couple of more weeks however, we could be assuming here that the vitriol will stop so the reporters will have to find something else to be outraged over - we shall see what we shall see - I'm not holding my breath.

And now Baseball is going to go through a turmoil immediately after the Worlds Series. Looks like owners and players are going to tear up the patch over instituting salary caps - with a real brawl in the makings it most likely will postpone Spring training on into a delayed season - if not one thing then another - no peace over the land...

RAMMEL · October 23, 2026, 09:31:57 AM

Quote from: BarbStAubrey on October 23, 2026, 06:38:16 AM.. our viewpoints are opposite each other

Sounds about like here. My son and I are on opposite ends of the stick.

As far as Baseball, and probably most sports, aren't they making enough already? I seem to remember going out to play ball just for the FUN of it.

BarbStAubrey · October 23, 2026, 02:14:55 PM

Ok opposite end Rick - with owners making 10 times what the high paid baseball players are making my heart is with the players on this one. Plus the owners have no loyalty to their players which ultimatly says they take the fans for granted and it is the fans that fill the coffers.

RAMMEL · October 23, 2026, 02:25:52 PM

A neighbor of mine (no longer with us) used to go to Mets Games on occasion, but he said he couldn't do it any more because the cost of everything.
He had bridge and road tolls, Parking, tickets, and the cost of hot dogs, and soda/beer. He was taking his wife and one son. Hot dogs and drinks are not cheap at the Stadiums

You have to know that if you doubled the Contract Prices of the players that the "viewing" prices would just go up. The owners wouldn't just eat it.

By "opposite end of the stick" I was thinking politically.

BarbStAubrey · October 23, 2026, 02:31:22 PM

Ah so... hmm that is a thought, entrance fee goes up - however, there has been no cap on baseball player's salaries ever and so would the fee really go up??? Seems to me the price of a ticket to Pro Basketball or Football continue to rise and both those sports do have caps on player's salaries.

patricia19 · October 23, 2026, 02:58:02 PM

Barb and Rick, very interesting conversation.

RAMMEL · October 23, 2026, 08:12:54 PM

I think everybody just wants a little more ------ and...........

IMHO, I think they will soon price themselves out of a job.

BarbStAubrey · October 30, 2026, 04:28:01 PM

Been awhile since we posted here - found something that brings back a memory from just after WWII.

My oldest cousin had met an English Sailor during the early days of the war, who was on leave in American - they corresponded and sure enough within months as I recall she traveled to Canada where they could get married with the least red tape and be closest to his ship so they could use as much as possible of his short leave. Then she moved to England for the duration of the war where they had 3 of their 6 children. At war's end she returned first, with the infant she was nursing and the next youngest, who if I remember was 2 years old and then many months later Ken and the oldest little Girl, who had just turned 5, came since they had to do the quota thing and all the documents since neither were citizens where as Florence being a citizen and children under the age of 2 were able to come with a citizen mom.

All that came to me as I was writing anyhow, the story I really want to share is in less than a week, on Nov. 5 is the day of the turning of Devil's Stone that Florence shared the story during her many visits with mom as they had their coffee or tea at our kitchen table. I was still in High School and came in to join them as I came through the backdoor after school.

Well here, going on 80 years later the story was included in the subscription I have to "Elissa from Our Merry Folk" - surprise, surprise - the story is...

In the village square of Shebbear, Devon lies this enormous stone and every year on the evening of Nov. 5 the village gather, carrying torches and lanterns. First, for hundreds of years the 6 bells of St. Michael's Church ring out as a warning to malevolent spirits to keep their distance and then led by the village vicar, a group of men using crowbars turn this enormous boulder over.

The legend is if the stone is turned good fortune will smile upon Shebbear for another year however, if the stone remains unmoved for 2 years in a row misfortune will follow and with it the devil himself will haunt the village. Apparently this became a crisis during the war with all the able bodied men fighting and so a group of old men and the strongest women did the turning.

Evidently this custom reaches back in time with the locals connecting it to the time of the Anglo-Saxons who gathered there to pay their annual taxes. However, Geologists explain the great boulder was left behind by a retreating glacier long ago.

Added to the story - The nearby Devil's Stone Inn has tales of ghostly hauntings and St. Michael's Church stands as a place of worship since Anglo-Saxon times and on a nearby hilltop there is another association with Saint Michael.

I remember when Florence was telling the story, in my mind I thought the folks in Shebbear just needed to extend Halloween but now, reading about this tradition after all these years I can see that every area has their cherished traditions and with so much change happening in the world and the youth, who seem to pooh pooh so many of the old ways it is nice to hear of any tradition being held onto.

MarsGal · November 03, 2026, 06:55:50 AM

I don't think I can be surprised by these greedy SOBs (sorry, can't find a polite word for this) anymore. https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/article/sam-altman-thinks-its-quite-terrible-for-your-pc-to-be-using-memory-that-ai-companies-need-so-badly-165143650.html I am near speechless at this point.

phyllis · November 03, 2026, 09:35:10 AM

Ignore him and all the disturbing voices, MG. Turn them off, turn on some quiet music, listen and watch the sounds of autumn. It will restore your soul.

BarbStAubrey · November 03, 2026, 12:07:49 PM

MarsGal it is just getting worse and worse with the news being full of opinions - it makes it difficult as elders when our communications with others is more limited - not like we are daily going to the office or any job where we not only had the company of but the opinions of most often fairly like minded people. However even at the office there were alternate opinions however with a few the same as our own we could think if not call them jerks.

Now our community is more limited plus the news seems to be for the sole purpose of creating chaos and disagreement. There is no way we are going to hush these opinionated voices. None of us has the power to make the news into something that fulfills us plus, all the behavior that seemed reasonable that showed respect much less kindness is hidden although, practiced among everyday people - News is hell-bent showing us anything that damages trust, so that trusting what we knew and each other becomes a constant struggle - it is as if the public media is showing every instance where there is disagreement possible and normal behavior is ignored replaced by chaos.

We all have our thoughts and opinions - the news was always like the kid running and shouting letting everyone know there is an accident or fire or whatever - you either got on your bike or strapped on your roller skates or just ran racing like crazy to the event or... like many, their work kept them away but did not stop the chatter about the event even though no one had any real information. Those who ran toward the event could only watch and chatter among themselves, each sharing their own perspective - not wanting to acknowledge, even to themselves, they could do nothing to make a difference because the event was beyond their capability to make a difference - however, my memory of those who often sat on the porch or in the yard or by a window showing little interest in knowing about the event never asking for information when everyone came back - they were always calming those who had observed event, urging them to take a sip of water - I'm thinking that is what Phyllis in her wisdom and limited physical ability is doing for you.

I'm becoming more at peace after realizing and acknowledging in my head, we cannot change anyone and cannot control the world around us no matter how many suggest that is possible - it takes more power than any one of us have to 'make' others behave much less see things as we would like them to - being outraged is only falling into the emotional trap that is based on, how or why are people saying and acting this way as if we can do anything about it.

Looking at what and who makes the news these days, most of them are narcissists and so I've downloaded a couple of books to better understand narcissism which may prepare me better however, it is not going to make those who are competing for attention change and even most reporters are or have become narcissistic for the drive for ratings as they try to outdo each other making public the stories that will create the most emotional response that will bring and keep followers.

This particular story is about one guys paranoia with a new way to retrieve information and to know the world - like the use of fire - it can provide heat that means comfort and more foods become more pleasant and safer to eat but, it can also be damaging as fire spreads beyond the firepit and destroys in addition, children can fall in and adults can burn themselves. Also, fire was used as a weapon of war. So too with AI -

The world is quickly changing and if you are a narcissistic person needing attention and to be top dog then, having an opinion that goes public is a goal and to become a public figure you have to be more outrageous then the ordinary and so, with that kind of realization we can get back to the simple things that offer a calm satisfying day, recognizing our thoughts are all we really can control so the question becomes, why give attention to what we cannot control...

Haha just thought - you could in your head create a fantasy story using this guy and his opinions as either one of the villains or a spokesman for a villain leader - and also, I know, I can't seem to share my thoughts in less than a 1000 words - sending you a hug...

Marilyne · November 03, 2026, 01:48:54 PM

Barb, Phyllis, MarsGal - I'm in total agreement with what you have to say here, as well as in other discussions. People have gone mean and crazy over this election! Lying, cheating, insulting and blantantly pulling illegal stunts, to get their candidates elected. Only eight or so hours left.
We will stay up tonight for results, as we do for every election. I wish we could start over tomorrow with a clean slate, but I'm afraid it might be too late?

patricia19 · November 03, 2026, 04:31:02 PM

It's actually basic. Newspapers, television, radio, and other outlets are businesses looking to make a profit. They will print what sells.

MarsGal · November 03, 2026, 06:04:56 PM

That didn't sound like an opinion to me. It sound like a rich AI tech brats' want list. Whether he get it or not remains to be seen. Keep in mind, he is talking about unused space on your computer or unused space on any company's computers/servers. For example, at the moment my computer has about 800gb of storage space available. More than I need, but I'll be darn if I will give anyone free use of that space. Actually, it sounds a lot like distributed systems with a twist now that I think of it. Distributed systems are common, but not at the scale this guy is talking about it. Michael might have a better idea of what this guy is up to since he is the tech guy. More investigation is in order.

Quick definition of distributed systems. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-networks/what-is-a-distributed-system/

RAMMEL · November 03, 2026, 06:08:21 PM

So frequently I read my "Nextdoor" site for what is to me entertaining. So frequently the discussion is about HIGH Gas & Electric costs. The "Delivery"part of the Bill being much higher than the "Cost" part. They blame the Utility Company, but not their Political Rep's mandating programs that the Utility must do, but not funding those Programs, and not allowing new pipe lines to be put in. So many of the posters think the Utility Company should be doing these things at no cost. They have NO idea what's involved in running a Company. An example of things that no doubt affects us locally, in a large City is the cost of digging up streets/sidewalks to replace ageing pipes. IMHO, it's much more expensive than out yonder where there is just a paved, or oiled, street - with no sidewalk.
I'd better stop, or I'll get myself in a mood.

patricia19 · November 03, 2026, 06:09:07 PM

We knew this and we're not alone.

https://www.thealgorithmicbridge.com/p/how-america-turned-against-ai-according

BarbStAubrey · November 03, 2026, 09:07:18 PM

Agree - here in Montgomery County we are having aging water pipes replaced and our water bill has gone sky high, one month a bill that for me during the hottest of summer runs $160 or $170 was last January over $400. I'm sure covering the cost of replacing the pipes - some complain but, like you say Rick it is the younger in the community that is doing the complaining and somehow they have no clue about basic economics or running a company - their heads seem to be so centered in tech that like the young man in MarsGal's post, they only think of their ability to provide data and speed, leaving many of us at a loss how to stop, at least temporarily, their continuing fiddling and changing however, it is this generation that has no appreciation for costs regardless community, business or home and personal - They are also the generation that decided that homes have become too expensive and will not, in my estimation, do what it takes to save a down payment - tired of listening to it all and yet, that is all we hear on every media outlet, that and politics.

I was getting worn out till I remembered what I learned all those years attending Al-anon meetings knowing I cannot change them and all I can control is my thoughts and what I can affect around me.

As to this tech guru, he either can convince the powers that be toward his ideas which so far has not happened or his ideas spark another way to add what Ai needs. Since he does not sound like he has the big buck backing required to make what he thinks should be happen he is hoping to influence those who could make his idea a reality - Splashing it all over public media rather than making his ideas a talking point to the creative heads with more companies than those in Korea appears desperate - from what Musk says, sounds like one vote down and others appear to have no commitment - my guess is they do not see taking manpower from their other projects to put on this one without a more assured profit margin. So far what is free wins. And yes, they need more available memory however, that may be the next breakthrough rather than taking it from home computers.

Marilyne · Reply #25135 - Re: Norms Bait and Tackle

Hi all:
Today starts the third week here, of daytime temps in the 70's. Always bland through Oct and into November. Our rainy season/Winter weather, starts around the First of December, and lasts for a month, and January always shows early signs of Spring.

Barb, no bugs here like you have to contend with . We have some, but they stay outside, except for those little black ants that invade the kitchen. Oh yes, always the termite invasion in Spring!

I'm so glad the election is over! Happy with some of the results, but mostly unhappy because it didn't solve the intense hatred between the two parties. The huge divide in this Country will continue on into the future I fear.

Denver · Reply #25136 - Re: Norms Bait and Tackle

HELLO from Arizona where the nice weather has me outdoors more than hiding away inside on my IPad with the A/C running full blast.

I come in here occasionally and start reading all the wonderful posts from you all, that I enjoy so much. I write a few words here and there and then something happens....when I come back.....poof, my post is gone. Seems I never have much of anything to really share....and yet I enjoy SO MUCH what you all share😍

Thankfully the midterm elections are over and we can now watch the tube without all of those horrible ads. No more texts and the cell has stopped ringing🤣🤣🤣

Halloween came and went.....it was raining here so there was a LOT of complaining about the poor littles were unable to trick or treat😳😳😳. I hardly remember a Halloween that it was not freezing cold and or snowing.....never kept us from going out and having fun‼️ Always sad that we had to coverup and no one could see what we were.....and then there were those awful masks that you could hardly see out if and got wet from your breath.....

MARILYN, I bought new fruit for the fruit bowl on my counter top......I have this year round....the invasion of fruit flies was AWFUL ‼️ We hope we got them out of here before they laid their eggs....only time will tell🤪🤪
Have a good day ALL 🍁

MarsGal · Reply #25137 - Re: Norms Bait and Tackle

Jenny, that is why I generally refrain from buying bananas in the warm months. Several weeks back I bought a bunch and the darn things attracted some tiny needle shaped flies. I have no idea what they are. They showed up, briefly, last year too.

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