Doug C

Heavy, non-stop rain and strong winds and still a few hours until hurricane winds. No loss of power yet in Land O'Lakes.

Hi Donna, Elizabeth and I are soon to leave for our oldest's house. It's north about 30 minutes and more inland, but the main reason is that their house is concrete! Less likely to have a 3 Little pigs scenario. Our youngest, 30, is going to also. The entire immediate family, us, daughters, grandchildren and son-in-law will be together. Plenty of food, water and camping gas for the stoves. Being a family of campers and backpackers pays off. The rain is just now constant, but not pouring. Wind has started to pick up. Tropical storm conditions for afternoon, so time to go. Hopefully, we don'

I'm also in Tampa. Everyone in Zone A had a mandatory evacuation at 2 PM today.

People are definitely more concerned than usual when a storm is coming. Since Tuesday 70s era lines at gas stations and empty shelves at stores. Usually, people rush out a couple days before projected landfall, not 5 or 6. It has to be Harvey being so fresh in memory. Schools closed today and tomorrow, so I'm (trying) to use the extra time to prepare more. Ha. My wife is in Cincy with our oldest and our grandson for his last of 4 summer trips to the Children's Hospital there. They arrive 8 PM Saturday, so I'm solo. I keep an eye on the storm. I wish it would hurry up and make that northern t

Thanks, Donna. Heading to Walmart tomorrow to add to our bottled water and canned goods supply. Also need some gas for the grill and the camping stoves. But if it stays a Cat. 5 and headed for Tampa, we're gone. I'm afraid our 1928 2 story bungalow wasn't made for these times.

A Mark Twain quote comes to mind.

Hell, the possibility of that could cause me join Twitter!

"You can't stop the Trump Train", indeed. Once that idiot gets rolling, he's off the fucking rails. Shit.

I've attended 35+ Wilco shows. The only song that I yearn for is Candyfloss. It was on the set list once, but wasn't played due to the curfew. I filed that knowledge under "Information that I didn't want".

I am not a metal fan, but thought some of you would find these brave women interesting. I might be showing my lack of knowledge, but that young lady can slap the bass! http://www.npr.org/2017/08/09/542238928/meet-voice-of-baceprot-the-all-girl-metal-band-making-waves-in-indonesia

Well put. I'll keep enjoying the music and remember the shows. Unfortunately, he left his wife a horrible, visceral, visual memory that she'll never forget. Must have been in a lot of pain indeed.

Tragic. What a truly horrible experience for his wife. To choose to end your life, especially violently, is sad, but choosing to do it in front of someone that loved you is... well, I don't know what it is. Fucking hell.

Sid, I owe you an apology. I have never been a fan of hyperbole and try to avoid using it. One of the reasons that I loathe the President is that he always speaks in hyperbole, and "hyperbolic" hyperbole, at that. I think that's why I reacted so out of proportion to the 3 year old thing. That was a "normal" use of hyperbole, but I'm so sensitized due to President Trump that I went off. Sorry, Sid.

Thanks for that. That is how it will be for his entire term. Republican leadership/Congress is so craven. Well, some are craven, but most are just opportunistic, partisan bastards. They are not patriots. The average Trump voter was conned. Some will realize it, most probably won't. The next 4 years, or however long he remains in office, will be entertaining, but it hasn't even been 4 weeks and I'm tired of this show and can't change the channel. Fuck me.

As I said in a different thread, we are a gathering of pedants. Also, I don't see a pic or a link for the sign.

^^^^ I understand your point, but regarding an entertainer's opinions and thoughts on political issues meaning as much to you as your 3 year old nephew, file that under hyperbolic bullshit. Even a stupid celebrity's command of the issues is better than a 3 year old's. Equating an adult's opinion on politics with a 3 year old's, simply because said adult is a celebrity, is foolish, and I doubt you would do it in practice. If you truly wanted other views/information on an issue at a specific time when you have no internet access, and the only people available were Jeff Tweedy and your 3 year old

Yep. World's full of idiots.

Interesting topic, Donna. I don't believe there is anything anyone could say to him that would make any difference. He is who he is. He is a billionaire douche bag with, except for using them, complete disdain for "the little people", but since he epitomizes the protagonists that Jason Isbell described in "Never Gonna Change", pissed off, peripheral route to persuasion, working people love him. He's never lived a life where people get their knees ripped with black-eyed pea shot, but "...there ain't much difference in the man I wanna be and the man I really am. We ain't never gonna change.",

^^ I think Chez has brought us a new activity. "Are we not men? We are pedants!"

We are a gathering of pedants, are we not?

Hahahahaha!!! Hilarious. That says volumes to thinking people. A cover band is playing a Presidential Inaugural Ball. Fake qualifications for office, fake news putting him in office and a fake band celebrating his election to office.

Ha ha! Exactly. Using what Russia officially says as a defense is absurd. As if Putin is going to answer, "Yes. I okayed a cyber-attack on the US presidential election to favor a Trump victory. I also approved gathering compromising information on both candidates".

I get worked up over his (most) every move because they are unbecoming of the president elect of the United States of America. If Obama had replied to individuals via Twitter, mocked a persons disability, etc., then you would have truly seen people worked up over someone's every move.

Thanks. The beginner package that we purchased comes with a tuner. Now you weigh in! Just joking. I appreciate your input. Thanks.