Quote from: Oldandcreaky on July 29, 2024, 08:46:04 AMDoes you tumbler draw a lot of energy?

Not at all. At first when I added the third machine, my electric bill went up. I panicked, but it dropped the following month and is holding steady. I can pull the specs to see the total current draw. Two of the machines are 12 VDC so they run on power adapters. I have one machine that runs on AC, so it pulls more current and some of that energy is wasted in heat, but not overly so.

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on July 29, 2024, 08:46:04 AMLori, I do think, as Shakespeare nearly wrote, that something is rotten in Illinois. I hate that they took your home from you. You truly loved it, as evidenced by your improving it.

No doubt about the corruption there. When I was installing security systems, we got a job to install panic buttons in all the judges' chambers at the courthouse. I was paired up with an Electrician and he and I became good friends. He was Italian and gave me some tips on telling if someone was mob-connected or just a wannabe.

We had to go into the County Building Inspector's Office to get some blueprints. Before we walked in, he said to pay attention to everyone who works there. They were all Italians with the same last name! He told me later that they are all related. When a job opening becomes available, family gets the first call and they tend to skip the interview. 

My girlfriend and I had been living together for about five years. Her mother was diagnosed with ALS and her father was elderly, so we bought the house there to be close to them if they needed help. We planned to stay there indefinitely, did our own remodeling (slowly), and even got married in the Town Park. Yes, IL leaves a bad taste in my mouth. When I left, I never looked back. No regrets.

And yet, you are so loving and supportive at Susan's. I'm your fangirl.

Aw, shucks. (blushes) 

Dealing with security issues again (still). The car thieves returned again last night. Same MO, dressed all in black wearing ski masks. The Manager is having problems with the security cameras, so will have to call the service techs.

In the meantime, I am repositioning my Jeep so the dashcam covers the parking lot. I'll be matching their outfits wearing all black, minus the ski mask. It may take a few more days before they come back, but I'll be waiting. I don't plan to hurt them, but if I can intimidate them enough to make them need to change their underwear, it may help. If I get one in custody, I'll let the police handle it.

@Lori Dee
Dear Lori:
I most certainly agree with @Oldandcreaky 
Add me also to your list of fangirls !!!

Keep up the excellent work that you are doing on the Forum.  You are very
much appreciated.
HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on July 29, 2024, 04:15:35 PMAnd yet, you are so loving and supportive at Susan's. I'm your fangirl.

Quote from: Lori Dee on July 29, 2024, 04:38:27 PMAw, shucks. (blushes) 

Be careful Lori.  You could get hurt being watchful.

Admirable to be a crime watch person but it comes with risks.

Plus in many municipalities, prosecutors are very lenient and criminals are let out so easily and often with low or no bail bonding.

Back the Blue. Get more police in your community.  It is a job fewer people want as they are being disrespected by many, as are schoolteachers!   Can you imagine, many parents not helping their kid's schoolteachers much at all with their kid's learning?  Even if they have to work more than one job, they should be supportive of their teachers and not assume their kid is always the angel and diligent in the classrooms.  They must work together to help the kids.  Parents often put so little effort in helping their kids mature, to be responsible, to be accountable for their behavior, and that is reflected in the classrooms. 

Do not get black, blue, bruised, or otherwise injured.  Thieves often carry weapons too.

Hugs,

Chrissy

 

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on July 31, 2024, 04:09:21 PMBe careful Lori.  You could get hurt being watchful.

Admirable to be a crime watch person but it comes with risks.

Plus in many municipalities, prosecutors are very lenient and criminals are let out so easily and often with low or no bail bonding.

Back the Blue. Get more police in your community.  It is a job fewer people want as they are being disrespected by many, as are schoolteachers! 

Do not get black, blue, bruised, or otherwise injured.  Thieves often carry weapons too.

Hugs,

Chrissy

 

Thanks, Chrissy.

I will be careful. Our local police are now busy with the Sturgis Rally and Tourist season. So locals are left to fend for themselves mostly. They are busy handling crimes and can't sit idle in our parking lot. But I can. As a 15-year veteran, I spent a LOT of time on guard duty. I know what I can and cannot do.

Since they were here last night, I do not expect them to show up again tonight. The suspects are teenagers and not armed. On the other hand, I am always armed. The dashcam on my Jeep is set to Parking Mode which means it will turn on if it detects motion and will record for ten minutes. Between that and the building security cameras, there will be plenty of video evidence that I acted to protect private property. Not only is South Dakota an open carry state, meaning there are no special regulations governing me being armed, but South Dakota is also a "Stand Your Ground" state.

"South Dakota has a 'stand your ground' provision, which means you are not obligated to retreat before using force if you believe it is necessary to protect yourself or others. South Dakota law also permits using force, including deadly force, in self-defense situations outside the home."

I do not expect a situation where any of that might come into play. Each time they have been seen here, they just run away when confronted. I will be cautious, with my safety in mind, but enough is enough. Someone needs to step up and let these punks know that we will not be victims.

If any law enforcement officer wishes to argue that with me, they are welcome to patrol the property with me. The reason we formed a Neighborhood Watch Group is because we know the police and sheriffs are very busy this time of year. We back the blue by filling in where they cannot. We have elderly and disabled residents here that need protection.

I hear what you are saying, Chrissy. I respect and am grateful for your concern. Thank you.

@Lori Dee
Dear Lori:
A lot of this crime by brazen criminals is perpetuated by many of the "soft of crime" prosectutors
that seem to provide incentive to the criminals because they are aware that they will probably be
out on cashless bail, never charged,  and never go to jail...
....according to what I read in the "news' this certainly seems to be true in some cities, states,
and jurisdictions.

I live in a very rural area about 2 miles from a very small town in Alaska, our biggest worry is
the dangerous wildlife, bears and wolves especially. 
I don't go hiking, fishing, or camping without my 2 friends, Smith and Wesson.

Be careful, be safe.
HUGS, Danielle  [Northern Star Girl]

Quote from: Northern Star Girl on July 31, 2024, 04:49:39 PMI live in a very rural area about 2 miles from a very small town in Alaska, our biggest worry is the
dangerous wildlife, bears and wolves especially. 
I don't go hiking, fishing, or camping without my 2 friends, Smith and Wesson.

Exactly. I believe Alaska is an open-carry state too, right? We only have the occasional bear sighting. Rangers believe they wander in from Wyoming, definitely not native. We do have wolves and mountain lions. Our biggest predator is the two-legged kind.

I agree that the courts are too lenient. Early release for "good behavior"? Should have thought about that before becoming a criminal. I think they should serve every minute of their sentence. Prosecutors make deals because it counts as a win on their record. There should never be any deals made. Let a jury decide if the crime warrants the sentence, or if the circumstances warrant a lesser crime.

Elect me Queen of the World and I will straighten this crap out on Day One!
It would probably take a week just to have my minions write down all the changes I make. 

I enjoy watching a movie while I eat dinner. I have about 600 movies in my collection.

Tonight's entertainment:

The Purge: Election Year

I think it might be appropriate.

I got some arrows for the compound bow my wife left me when she passed.  She was also short so the bow fits me really well.
While not for everyone, I think it makes an excellent home self defense weapon for anyone who is a natural at hitting targets.  If I can hit a tree at 100 ft I can certainly hit the center of mass at across the basement!  Closing distance in a typical New Engand basement is not like running across an empty field!  Especially when you control the lights!

That Moonstone is beautiful. Utterly beautiful.

That is very much the stuff I would like jewellery made from.

Quote from: Sephirah on August 01, 2024, 03:11:26 PMThat Moonstone is beautiful. Utterly beautiful.

That is very much the stuff I would like jewellery made from.

Thanks. I have a few stones that I really like that are not native. I will be looking for a good quality source in the future, maybe even this winter. When I get these pieces put up on my Etsy site, I plan to offer a discount code for members here. I may even recover my shipping costs and then donate the proceeds of member purchases to Susan's. I'm still working out the logistics of that since the site is wide open to non-members too. I might do the code through PM or something. I'll figure it out. 

It never fails to amaze me just how jaw-droppingly beautiful the world around us can be. Especially geologically. How can you not feel utterly moved when you find things you've posted, Lori? How can you not be utterly enraptured by the sheer, wordless appreciation of the world we live on?

Keep your diamond rings. Our planet has a grasp of beauty that goes way beyond.

Quote from: Sephirah on August 01, 2024, 03:43:29 PMIt never fails to amaze me just how jaw-droppingly beautiful the world around us can be. Especially geologically. How can you not feel utterly moved when you find things you've posted, Lori? How can you not be utterly enraptured by the sheer, wordless appreciation of the world we live on?

Keep your diamond rings. Our planet has a grasp of beauty that goes way beyond.

Exactly. I had found an interesting rock I thought might contain gold, so I broke it in half and viewed it under my stereoscope. At 40x magnification, I found tiny red and green crystals that were smaller than a pinhead but so gorgeous. I thought about that. That rock was formed millions of years ago, then I found it and smacked it with a hammer. I am the only human ever to see those beautiful crystals inside. They were put there for me to discover. How amazing and special is that?

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 01, 2024, 04:51:00 PMExactly. I had found an interesting rock I thought might contain gold, so I broke it in half and viewed it under my stereoscope. At 40x magnification, I found tiny red and green crystals that were smaller than a pinhead but so gorgeous. I thought about that. That rock was formed millions of years ago, then I found it and smacked it with a hammer. I am the only human ever to see those beautiful crystals inside. They were put there for me to discover. How amazing and special is that?

It's extremely special. The art of the world rivals the art of any person alive or dead. It's something I feel not enough people really have an appreciation for. Nature... in all its grandeur, makes us feel often very small. For good reason. In the vast blizzard of the universe, we are but one snowflake.

It takes a certain way of seeing the world to appreciate the sheer beauty in all things. You have this, Lori. It's something I wish more people shared. Maybe then the world might be... better. <3

Wow, a lot covered in your blog Lori. 

I agree that you are a loving person with a wonderful heart and a beautiful smile. 

Post a sign on the car "The owner is watching you and she has a rifle aimed at you right now."  That should be a good enough deterrent.  Leave a roll of toilet paper for them.

Sp many stones can be so amazing and their colors can carry such depth and complexities. "40x magnification, I found tiny red and green crystals" too bad you can't photograph that.

 

Quote from: Emma1017 on August 01, 2024, 05:21:15 PMWow, a lot covered in your blog Lori. 

I agree that you are a loving person with a wonderful heart and a beautiful smile. 

Post a sign on the car "The owner is watching you and she has a rifle aimed at you right now."  That should be a good enough deterrent.  Leave a roll of toilet paper for them.

Sp many stones can be so amazing and their colors can carry such depth and complexities. "40x magnification, I found tiny red and green crystals" too bad you can't photograph that.

 

Thank you!

I actually considered a sign like that! A friend of mine had a custom conversion van. On the driver's window was a small sticker that said: "If you value your life as much as I value this van, do not ->-bleeped-<- with it!"

I do have an adapter on my scope so I can take pictures! Now, I'll have to see if I can find that rock again. I only have a couple million or so. But thanks for the idea. I'll post another photo album of just stereoscope pics.

Quote from: Emma1017 on August 01, 2024, 05:21:15 PMWow, a lot covered in your blog Lori. 

I agree that you are a loving person with a wonderful heart and a beautiful smile. 

Post a sign on the car "The owner is watching you and she has a rifle aimed at you right now."  That should be a good enough deterrent.  Leave a roll of toilet paper for them.

Sp many stones can be so amazing and their colors can carry such depth and complexities. "40x magnification, I found tiny red and green crystals" too bad you can't photograph that.

 

Emma,

You assume these criminals can read.  If they spent more time learning, they might be able to read or read better than they do.  Likely they are habitual absentee students at their schools.


Chrissy