I'm sitting here wondering what the heck happened to my weekend and all the things I was supposed to get done that I never did, but I'm still getting Blogography done... because an all new Bullet Sunday starts... now...

   
• Melissa. Hurricanes are a way of life in the Caribbean. But there are hurricanes, and there are hurricanes. And it's looking very bad indeed for Jamaica. Right now it's looking like Hurricane Melissa is going to hit at a minimum Category 4... maybe even Category 5.

At the 3:29 and 5:40 there's a cat in the frame, and chickens at 5:51, and it fills me with despair for the animals that have no idea what's coming... and no way to prepare and stay safe.

   
• Papal Security! When you're raised Catholic, the Pope becomes a rather large figure in your life. But when I was young, I didn't know much about him other than he was the leader of The Church whom I should keep in my prayers. Then I left... or rather I was kicked out when I was asking too many questions during Sunday School... and that was the end of it. Except my grandmother remained Catholic, and so on my first trip to Rome in 2000, I decided to visit the Vatican museum and buy her a rosary souvenir because I was told they all got blessed by the Pope. It was there that I was first introduced to The Swiss Guard, which is a fascinating topic...

The thing that makes them so iconic is their hallmark colorful uniforms, which I think have got to be one of the most beautiful uniforms there's ever been. Despite being so bright, they don't cross the line into garish. Probably because of the way they're constructed. With the exception of the cuffs, the red accents are hidden in-between the panels of gold and blue, so they are only visible when a guard bends or moves. It' a very cool effect. It's commonly thought that Michelangelo designed the uniforms, but it's not true. They were designed hundreds of years later, long after he died, by Commandant Jules Repond in 1914. It's a fun urban legend though.

   
• WE PWNED! If you're not scared shitless for the future of this country as it's being taken over by corporations owned by the wealthy elite, you're not paying attention...

It's all by design. All of it. Our government is owned by these incredibly wealthy people who get regulations and laws changed to benefit them instead of the American people. You can see it everywhere if you just look around. We are beyond fucked.

   
• Classic! You can have my old-school 1990's Speed Queen Washer & Dryer that came with the condo I bought when you pry them from my cold, dead hands. I am forever indebted to my friend who told me I was crazy to get rid of them. Since I've already had to replace an oven that only lasted 5 years, I'm betting my microwave, refrigerator, and new freezer are not long for this world. And here's why...

There's a huge, huge opportunity for a company to start releasing old-school appliances that will actually last. I would happily go back to an oven with knobs and dials if it means I don't have to replace them so quick. Though it sounds like that might not even be possible given what's presented in that video.

   
• Package PingPong! A couple days ago I wrote about a package which was supposed to have been delivered this past Monday. It made it to Spokane, 3 hours away, but then kept going back and forth. Last I checked, it had made it to Spokane twice but then was headed back to Ohio. Again...

But then Friday night I checked again. Sure enough, it was back in Ohio. But when I checked this morning, all the previous back-and-forth had been erased. As if it never happened...

Apparently UPS has finally realized there's a problem, corrected it (I hope), and then made it look like nothing was amiss. And it gets worse... if the package is in Spokane, then it should be delivered to me on Monday. And that's what UPS says is going to happen. But they've said that previously. Before the mysterious "YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT!" correction, it was projected to arrive on Wednesday. Now it's two days earlier. I will be very interested to see what the package looks like when it (eventually) gets delivered. It's been through a lot.

   
• iBusted! I finally did a Google Search to try and find out why I'm having so many problems with the Apple iPhone keyboard lately. It seems as if it's constantly coming up with words that I'm not typing. And since I use the "swipe" method of typing, it's very, very noticeable. And the answer is nope! Not just me...

It's absolutely pathetic how fucking bad that Apple products are becoming. Between Apple Home, CarPlay, and Siri all being a pile of shit, the Apple "experience" is so far behind what others are doing as to be embarrassing. Forget about all the broken promises that were supposed to make Apple reign supreme by having "Apple Intelligence" make their products the best in existence... Apple can't even be assed to through money at the problems they can actually fix!

   
• ERROR! ERROR! I watch a lot of YouTube videos. It's pretty much the only thing I do watch any more since streaming companies have lost their damn mind with their pricing. Last night a video came up about a horrible software error in a radiation treatment machine which killed people. Twice the city where tragedy happened was Yakima, Washington... a city not too far from me. It was a fascinating watch, but grated on me because they kept mispronouncing "Yakima"...

In the video, he says "yaw-KEEmah" but it's actually "YAKihmah." Now, when it comes to Native American words, nobody is going to get it perfect if they've never heard it before (and even then it's not guaranteed). And then there's the added complexity of non-Natives changing the pronunciation so that it's more comfortable for them to say. But in any event, there's a way that locals say it and, given how this is most certainly available somewhere on the internet with an easy Google search, it's strange that the narrator for a video wouldn't take a minute to make sure their pronunciation is accurate. Or at least in the ballpark. Oh well. Just another case of my being picky, I suppose.

   
And now I guess I'll load my dishwasher so I can feel like I accomplished something before Monday rolls around.

There have been a few heart-attack-inducing moments over the years when it comes to my cats.

The one which haunts me most is from 2017 when Jake escaped from the catio. The contractor who attached the roof used screws which were too short. It was made worse because I was flying out for work the next day. What if he had gotten out then?

So imagine my absolute terror when I looked out the window this week and saw that Jenny was looking at me from outside the catio.

Except it wasn't actually Jenny.

From the front, she (or more likely "he" since most orange cats are males) looked exactly like Jenny. It was a Jenny clone. From the side it's a little different story. Jenny has a whirl pattern and longer legs. Though the tail markings are the same...

I mean, just look at those gams...

And speaking of Jenny...

Early in the week, I decided to be a little late for work because Jenny had jumped on the bed for me to pet her, but twisted around to sit on my hand!

Apparently she was very comfortable, because she laid down and eventually fell asleep...

When I came home, Jenny didn't sleep on my hand while I was working on the couch, she instead rolled into the crack between the couch cushions and passed out...

Cats can sleep anywhere. But that doesn't mean they don't try and find the most comfortable place to sleep.

And now, this.

I saw this video of a cat bringing a mouse to get fried up, then being disappointed when it's removed...

I tried to find the original so I could use the video which originated it instead of somebody who stole it. Instead I found loads... loads... of AI slop videos which hasve been made. So now I'm questioning whether or not the one above is even real.

Last night I went out to dinner with some friends that just got back from Vegas.

Back before pandemic, they went almost every year. But now they say they’re probably never going back.

Every drink they had was watered down. There was no meal they enjoyed, even at the expensive restaurants, because the quality of the food has taken a dive and the portions are much smaller. Slot machines don’t pay out. And there are extra charges, mandatory fees, and additional taxes on absolutely everything.

My friend’s wife said that it was impossible to enjoy their vacation because she spent the entire time counting the outrageous amount of money they were spending on a mediocre vacation.

As somebody who went on work trips to Vegas a few times a year for a decade, this is strange for me to contemplate. People flocked to Vegas to roll like a millionaire on a modest budget. Without that, what’s the appeal? Unless things seriously change soon, I wonder how Las Vegas can survive.

In other news...

Today I had my annual eye exam. The first since my cataract lens replacement. I have 20/15 vision. Which means I'm seeing better than I probably ever have in my life, since my eyesight was less than good even as a kid. Now I want to have another surgery. I'm going to try and trade up to 20/10 with X-ray vision next time.

A shame I need readers, but even there I'm told I only really need 1.25× instead of the 1.5× I've been using.

Such a nice surprise to have good news about my eyes for a change.

There was once a man who was being chased by a ferocious tiger across a field. At the edge of the field there was a cliff. In order to escape the jaws of the tiger, the man caught hold of a vine and swung himself over the edge of the cliff. Dangling down, he saw, to his dismay, there were more tigers on the ground below him! And, furthermore, two little mice were gnawing on the vine to which he clung. He knew that at any moment he would fall to certain death. That's when he noticed a wild strawberry growing on the cliff wall. Clutching the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other and put it in his mouth.

He never before realized how sweet a strawberry could taste.

—Zen Buddhist parable

   
As our world continues to continue its descent into madness and ruin, don't forget to look around and find those simple pleasures which still make life worth living.

They're everywhere.

It's gotten to the point where I seriously wonder if modern science deniers think that things like satellite television and mobile phones are powered by magic. At the rate they want to completely dismiss all scientific evidence when it comes to keeping humanity in good health, why wouldn't they think that Jesus allows them to make calls and access the internet from the smart phone in their pocket?

Thankfully, there's still pro-science advocates out there doing The Lord's work...

This is what we need more of. Though the odds of it getting through to people who have been brainwashed seems unlikely. But if the bullshit is not confronted early and often, it just makes it spread even further.

Like trying to use Ivermectin to cure COVID.

I ordered something that was shipped from Kentucky. It made it to a hub three hours from me... then got shipped to Ohio... then ended up in Illinois... and now is estimated to arrive on October 29th? It was due TWO DAYS AGO!

I swear, these automated package routing centers for all the big carriers make a shit-ton of mistakes, and once something goes wrong they just continue to make mistakes for some reason. Humans are out of the picture, so if there's a mark on the barcode (or whatever) you're fucked. Totally and completely fucked.

This is not the first time this has happened. It happened in July where a package coming across the country from Florida ended up in CONNECTICUT before being rerouted to CALIFORNIA. At that point it sat for two days until somebody bothered to take a look and get it rerouted to me. And of course UPS doesn't give a single fuck.

But of course the cost to ship packages just keeps going up and up, so you're paying more for shittier service, which sounds right on-point for where things are headed.

I have been an unapologetic fan of fast food for forever. I used to travel a lot for work. Despite the fantasy that work travel is a non-stop vacation, it's actually a tough life to have. You still have a day of work, but you don't get to go home at the end of the day. And since you're too tired to go out and do fun stuff in whatever city you're in, you only have the energy to go back to your hotel and crash.

Hence my love at fast food. I can run through a drive-through after work on my way back to my home away from home, then crash.

I'm pretty sure you can see where this is going.

Fast food now is barely food. And it's so expensive that you might as well go to a real restaurant with table service. That's what I've been doing.

And if you want to watch an interesting video about the downfall of fast food, here you go...

Not that going to a real restaurant is a guarantee of a great experience. Now more than ever, it's not. And here's why...

More and more I'm happier just cooking at home. Sure it's a pain in the ass, and groceries are insanely expensive, but at least it's quality I can count on.

That's about all that's left.

It seems as though my weekend is ending just as it began, which makes me want to crawl under the covers and cry for a bit. But I won't abandon you in your hour of need... because here's an all new Bullet Sunday starting... now...

   
• Cozy! It's pouring rain outside tonight. YouTube knows this somehow, so it recommended this lovely video. It's wonderful and charming from start to finish. They're Turkish, but there's English subtitles. Not that it matters... this is the very definition of "cozy" and the only way I'd want to do camping...

And this one is amazing. They decorate their campsite for Christmas. And I don't mean decorate a little bit...

Welp. Guess I know what I'll be doing obsessively for the next week. Watching RambleSoul.

   
• Polissya! That video lead me to a Ukranian guy building natural shelters and foraging for food in the forests of Polissya. His builds are very impressive. Like this one, where he creates an underground bunker...

Unlike so many videos that use primitive construction, you see nearly the entire process (albeit sped up) so you know that he built everything himself.

   
• Must-See TV! HOLY CRAP! THE ENGLISH TEACHER GOT A SECOND SEASON?!??

I haven't seen this advertised anywhere. Ran across it by dumb luck on my news feed because somebody mentioned it.

   
• Tig! Need a laugh? I'm a huge fan of Tig Notaro and have been finding her early specials available on YouTube...

It's amazing how her comedy was so fully formed from those early days. Her latest special from last year, Hello Again, was just as hilarious as ever, and can be seen on Amazon Prime Video.

   
• Logic! Here's my latest thrilling adventure with insurance...

PHARMACIST: Your insurance will only pay for 1/2 a tablet per day. We'll need to have your doctor re-write the prescription or you'll have to pay the cost or you can take it up with your insurance.
   
ME: Okay, I guess I'll pay for it.
   
MEDICATION INSTRUCTIONS: DO NOT BREAK THE TABLETS. THEY MUST BE TAKEN WHOLE.

I wrote to my insurance and asked exactly how I was supposed to take a half-pill for a pill that can't be broken. They wrote back and essentially said "Oops!" and decided they would pay 50%. Which is better than nothing, for which I'm grateful. But it's just beyond bizarre how insurance works. Or doesn't.

   
• Mitch! I'm not even going to pretend to give a shit about a man who spent his entire political career not giving a crap about the people he represents. As recently as JUNE he said that "Americans will get over Medicaid cuts." And it's like, gee, Mitch... not everybody has spent their entire adult life fucking over the country for cash, so they're going to need to rely on the Medicaid that their taxes paid for after retirement...

Good Lord is McConnell a gaping asshole.

   
And on that note, it's time for me to try and get some sleep.

Jake is so not bothered by most anything. Especially when it comes to the litter box. I have one downstairs in the hall closet and another upstairs in my bathroom. I can't tell you how many times I've been in the bathroom and Jake will come in and do his business without giving it another thought.

Jenny couldn't be more different.

She is bothered by just about everything. Especially when it comes to using the litter box.

I woke up early in the morning, stumbled to the bathroom, turned on the light... and... bedlam.

Jenny was in the litter box and went tearing out of it. Since I was in the doorway, she ran to the shower. I felt bad for disturbing her and got out of the doorway so she could run out. Which she did at top speed. Fortunately, she didn't stay mad at me long. An hour later and she was waking me up to be petted and have her feet held (don't worry, I wash my hands after because I know where those feet have been). But she wouldn't look at me...

Or she was bothered by the light out the window that was keeping her awake. Maybe that.

A couple weeks ago I ran down stairs while Jake was in the Litter-Robot (which is near the bottom the the stairs). Didn't phase him a bit. But afterwards, he did climb up on the cat tree and stare at me, like he was saying "What was that about? I WAS ON THE TOILET!"...

Though he did take the time to cover his waste first. That's something.

I have been ignoring the recycling that I keep in a bag on the back of the front door all week. After work I went to put a soda can in it and a bunch of stuff precariously stacked there fell on the floor. So I figured it must be time to take it out to the bin. On the way back inside, I saw a small fuzzy spider on the door. I was going to relocate him to a shrub, but decided it was the perfect Halloween decoration and left him there.

I have been feeling rough all week, eating mostly saltines and 7-Up. Which is fun for a day or two, but grinds on you eventually. But tonight I felt well enough to have something more substantial.

Sounds like a job for my bomb-ass tater salad!

Which was delicious.

Except my Instant Pot needs to be cleaned.

Not a big deal for the actual pot inside because that just goes into the dishwasher... but the lid is such a pain. Not necessarily the inside, because a brush with soapy water will fix that. It's the outside that's such a pain. So many nooks and crannies...

I swear, I'd rather throw my Instant Pot Duo Crisp in the dumpster and buy a new one than grab a rag and try to get it sparkly clean.

At which point I was like "Wait a minute. This lid is design for moisture, high heat, and pressure. Why CAN'T I put it in the dishwasher?"

So I Googled that shit and, sure enough, if you remve the sealing ring and the pressure relief valve cover!

To think I was this close to throwing out my Instant Pot.

If you don't hear from me after the next time I make my bomb-ass tater salad, it's because the lid got ruined in the dishwasher and exploded... killing me instantly.

Or I forgot to put the sealing ring back in.