Can someone explain to me

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In a calm, rational manner why the Donks are using the Clemson school colors to designate their two different debate platforms?

A huge swathe of the population has been referring to the 24 person monstrosity that IS the Donk POTUS primary race as a clown car for weeks now. To “paint” it in orange and purple really only amplifies the comparison.

Purple I can sort of understand. The combination of red and blue could be seen as an attempt to appeal to a broad range of voters. But orange? Red and yellow? If it was just Elizabeth Warren and Daniel Inouya on the stage I could maybe understand but he’s not running. Only because he died back in 2012.

Why not a scarlet and a gray? Or even a maize and blue? Crimson and cream? (note: maybe too close to cream and clear?) Perhaps Wisconsin Red and White, as a a reminder of the state’s existence.

Seriously though I’d LOVE an answer. With link to primary source material of course.

To whoever broke into my car last weekend.

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I needed to clean the glovebox and console anyway. You helped. But whathehell were you looking for? You left behind U S currency. You left behind paperwork that would’ve permitted you to transfer ownership of the vehicle. You left behind a $50 gift card to Speedway. Not much else of value in the passenger compartment but did you even LOOK in the trunk? While I have a problem with thievery in general I have a BIGGER problem with stupidity

I’ve got the music (back) in me

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With apologies to the Kiki Dee Band.

A few months back I had a laptop accident. Ended up with a completely unrecoverable hard drive. That was bad. What was WORSE was that like a noob I hadn’t backed up my music. Docs and other stuff? Sure. But not my music. Over 3,500 tunes. Seven and a half days worth. Seventy playlists. Gone.

And so it was that a few weeks back I stumbled upon that which I THOUGHT might exist but couldn’t be sure. “The laptop before last.” And what to my wondering eyes should appear but my music. Four years untouched so some recent additions not included. And the playlists were “untweeked” but recoverable.

And so it is that my music has returned. My rideshare passengers are happy. After months of no comment on whatever radio station was playing in the background (usually classic rock, occasionally jazz) I’m getting 2-3 kudos every day on the eclectic mix. This makes me happy. Tips are up too. That makes me happy as well.

And it’s all been backed up to a reliable recoverable source.

Whew.

Conversations with Beth

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I know she’s been binging A Discovery of Witches and Outlander. For those not in the know the latter is the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743 Scotland. I watched most of the first season and then abandoned it. Ex-wife not interested and too much bodice ripper for me.

She enters my room and asks “So, do you follow sci-fi or time travel?”

Yes that’s an odd question. Follow? It’s leading. I’ve been reading sci-fi since I was 8 and have always been fascinated by time travel but I KNOW that “yes” is the wrong answer here. See above.

Me: (without looking up from my work) “No.”

Her: “Well maybe you can explain this to me …” She then goes into a 2-3 minute detailed spoiler filled exposition of the most recent episode she’s seen and asks me to explain to her how it can work. Remember, my answer to her first question was “no.”

Me: “I can’t.” I COULD. I just preferred NOT to. And while she prattled on about her confusion regarding a very basic literary treatment of time travel I grabbed my bug-out bag and quietly departed.

The “terrorists” win … THIS round

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A post from a few months back was recently used in an attempt at life disruption. I have since removed it … but.

Considered terminating my writing. Realized that solves nothing and is problematic in itself. So I’ll continue to give those who like to harm me a little ammunition from time to time.

In other news – adding Lyft to the portfolio has been awesome. This summer will be a lot saner than the last two were.

Because they can

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I’m so old I can remember when the Donk Party was all about getting the gubment out of our bedrooms. Now they’re charging back in. I occasionally list a spare bedroom in my house on AirBNB. The City of Columbus has decided it needs a little bakshish. So they’ve notified me that I need to purchase a license and undergo inspections in order to let someone sleep in my bedroom. If I don’t comply, they’ll have me deplatformed. Here’s the kicker: The residence is not IN Columbus. Not subject to their jurisdiction. So I’m spending the morning dealing with someone whose first (and quite possibly second) language is NOT English trying to untangle this mess.

We are all becoming California.

Winding down

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The seniors are gone. They’ve BEEN gone for most of the month but now they’re no longer required to attend so their checked-out attitude is no longer permeating the building. The Freshman are relieved. They’ve survived (for the most part) their first year in the Big Building and move on to the anonymity of Sophomoredom. The Sophomores move into the Juniors shoes with visions of Seniority dancing in their heads. The Juniors are beginning to face the gravity of being seniors. Nobody above looking down. The gaping maw of adult-hood just down that looming corridor of “lasts.”

Side hustle

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Finally got approved by Lyft last week (after two YEARS!) First ride? Cancelled. Airbnb is going nicely. About to make that great summer leap into full time driving. So here’s the answer to the most obnoxious question I get asked. “How do you like working for Uber?” Answer: I don’t work for Uber. I work for my passenger. I am NOT an employee. I (occasionally) have time and capital (a car.) My passengers have a need to get from Point A to Point B. They can walk, buy a car, call a cab, take a bus …. or they can “summon” me. And for a few bucks (MUCH less than most of those other options) I’ll take them, promptly, comfortably and safely, to Point B. The dollars with which they part are worth less to them than being at Point B in a comfortable, safe, timely manner are. Their dollars are worth more to me than is my time and the wear and tear on my car. So we make a voluntary exchange and both of us are happier than we were. And THAT is the beauty of capitalism.