Just in time for Halloween

Disney's imagineering series takes a look behind the scenes in the haunted mansion

https://youtu.be/CXLICqOYoh0?si=i4z3sxZlC4Rm_nda

And of course you can see my retrospective in it here:

Episode 70: The Haunted Mansion
https://youtu.be/2Esfyq-gxXc

China lights 12,000 desert mirrors…

China is tinkering with heliostats (mirrors used to collect solar energy) and think they've come up with an innovation, by using sand - rather than water - to get heated and provide the steam that can be used to provide energy. 

Many countries have been playing with this concept over the years, but while

They have found success, the biggest problems were the amount of water required made it costly, and of course there was the cost to build and maintain it. 

Arizona until recently had a similar sort of farm, but they announced it will be closing due to federal subsidies being withdrawn AND because the cost of more traditional solar has decreased to the point where its much more cost effective.

But, as always, I love to see innovation happening. 

https://www.ecoportal.net/en/china-12000-desert-mirrors-grid-solar/13536/

CEO writes hundreds of thank you notes to staff and still eats in the break room—which ‘always, for whatever reason, blows new employees away’

It's all fine and nice that he thanks employees and that he acts like a regular guy.  

But never forget that his compensation package was $4.92 million, which puts him at nearly 80x the salary of the best paid employees (the general managers). 

If you really wanted to be "one of the team," then how about only being 10x the salary and spreading the rest around to the staff?

Just saying. 

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/1-billion-ceo-writes-hundreds-090000101.html

Fact check much?

The first module of the ISS was launched in 1998. So ummmm. Yeah. 

To be fair, on a shuttle mission in 1985, Rodolfo Neri Vela requested tortillas travel aboard the *space shuttle*. 

And tortillas have been a staple in space ever since. But the headline is still wrong. 

On immigration

I have been tracking 4 items related to the "immigration crackdowns" that are happening. 

First is the simple notion that mobilizing troops is necessary for some reason.  And some will tell you its to try and legitimize attacks on democratic-leaning cities and states.  If they can provoke a response, then they can impose more (illegal) restrictions and further their cause.  But seeing the costumes - especially the frogs! - meeting troops is uplifting.  The pushback is, indeed, peaceful.  And dare I say, awesome.

Second, the troops that have been deployed (again, likely illegally) into some cities - particularly Oregon - are being denied access to some things, such as the use of restrooms and being served in restaurants, with the owners invoking the 3rd amendment.  This amendment is considered the least controversial of the amendments and rarely comes up.  But here we are, and I am all for it.

The Third Amendment (Amendment III) to the United States Constitution places restrictions on the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent, forbidding the practice in peacetime. The amendment was a response to the Quartering Acts passed by the Parliament of Great Britain during the buildup to the American Revolutionary War, which had allowed the British Army to lodge soldiers in public buildings.

Third is the way that immigrants are treated by ICE and related agencies.  The constitution calls for limits and delineates "cruel and unusual punishment" as expressly forbidden.  How is breaking in someone's door (without a warrant), using tear gas, dragging people out in whatever they happen to be wearing, and zip tying children anything other than cruel and unusual?

And finally, there is this nugget about Noem and how she appears to be mis-using funds with her hate mongering advertising. 

"This appears to be a flagrant violation of Sec. 715, which states 'No part of any funds appropriated in this or any other act shall be used by an agency of the executive to branch for the preparation, distribution or use of any film presentation designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress, except in presentation to the Congress itself,'" Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal wrote in the letter to DHS citing a section from the Anti-Lobbying Act. 

https://abc7news.com/post/democrats-want-investigation-secretary-homeland-security-kristi-noems-tsa-video-blamed-shutdown/18018313/#

And I know I said four, but I have a bonus item that isn't specifically about immigration.  You have Noem acting as the head of FEMA, and using the position to curry political favor.  She has implemented a "kiss the ring in order to get something" policy ... and as a primary example, there were funds allocated to the west coast of Florida to fix a pier ravished by a hurricane last year (ie, before T-rump took office). She would not release the funds .... until a large political donor who lives there called and asked for the money.

Good luck to any community that doesn't have a resident large donor, one who doesn't have her on speed dial.  

Exercising our rights!

This past weekend, we had another "No Kings" protest.  I wasn't able to attend one due to other commitments, but I sent my (ahem) thoughts and prayers along to friends who did go.  And they - as well as the press - tell us that it was an overwhelmingly positive experience.  From small towns to big cities, hundreds of thousands showed up to voice their displeasure with what's happening in our world.  And this dissatisfaction continues to grow, which is positive.

Of course, Speaker of the House (and a man noted for having a nose that is seriously brown) opted to call these peaceful protestors "terrorists" ... you know because the ability to express our 1st amendment rights doesn't rate in his book.

Pam Bondi (yet another sycophant) also had choice words about protestors using words like ":anti American" and talked of arrests and such.  Because nothing says "I'm helping uphold the constitution" like threatening citizens.

But this is how we defeat this sort of tyranny.  By exercising our inalienable rights.

The BS we get fed constantly.

There's this weird thing going on (among the many things). It's this idea that we should always live in fear. That the boogeyman will get us. 

I follow some of these people who talk about "ugly Americans" and the things they hear from some of those among us who travel outside the country. 

And I pay attention to the messaging we get sometimes here at home. 

The comments often focus on this notion of "personal protection" and not appreciating that other countries don't have an equivalent of the second amendment, and frankly don't feel the need to arm themselves. The locals in the countries mostly coexist and (with a few notable exceptions) feel safe and live their lives. Of course, there are occasions where things go wrong. But when they do, it garners a serious discussion and there is public outrage. Not simply thoughts and prayers, but an outpouring of emotion. Elected folks actively care about the people they represent and don't have to kowtow to a lobbying group that essentially promotes mass murder. It's weird, man. 

And then there's the messaging. If you watch the news, or use many of the social media platforms, you see a lot of the same mindset is prevalent. We talk about the right to open carry weapons of war (subtly as merely a means to intimidate) and there are fairly constant ads about how to protect yourself with your trusty gun. They often feature a person in a hoodie who looks threatening and there's an ominous tone. What is that?  Why is that?  The rest of the world doesn't seem to live in fear of literally anyone, yet here its a problem. 

And it extends into other things too.  We have ads that talk about how illegals are doing bad things! And we need to stop it! By rounding them up in the most ridiculous way possible. (Because you know, someone who maybe overstayed their visa but is making a go of it and even paying taxes is just a bad person, unlike the people who steal from others or commit mass murders). 

It's crazy when you stop and think about it.