SkyeLight

It started in Texas, and it picked up a helluva lot of water in the Gulf.

I don’t have to go out until Tuesday (and I can cancel that if I absolutely have to, but I’d really prefer not to). The HOA will take care of the sidewalks, and I pre-paid the kid next door to dig my car out for me (my back got injured recently). I filled up my gas tank and got some cash out of the bank. I was already fine on food and didn’t bother shopping this week (I have several weeks worth of food in the house), but I’ll pick up a pizza before the storm starts.

Pulled out my deep weather winter gear (heavy duty jacket, gloves, mittens, those Canadian hats with the built-in ear muffs, yaktrax, etc). Stuck a bunch of audiobooks on my phone.

Double-checked that our heated mattress pads and electric blankets work, so we don’t have to worry about heating the whole house. Put towels across the bottom cracks of the doors in the rooms we’re not using. Made sure the utility room door is open - that’s not very well insulated and our pipes come in there. Opened the cabinet doors under the kitchen sink. Changed the furnace filter. Took a shower and did the laundry and dishes. Took the garbage and recycling out to the community bins. I’ve been putting out extra food for the birds and wildlife for a few days now, and I put out an extra serving this morning.

My main concern is losing power: with this being such a large storm, we won’t be able to borrow power crews from other areas, and I live in a smaller exurb area so we’re not high on the “restore power” list.

I’ve verified the location of my candles and matches (you can seal yourself in a room, bundle up and light a couple candles and stay surprisingly warm-ish), some large plates to prevent accidental candle fires, and rotated my fire extinguisher to make sure the powder’s still loose. Pulled two camping coolers out of the shed and stuck them by the back door in case I need to store food outside.

Charged up my power packs so I’ll still have my phone, and verified the location of my little solar-charger for camping in case I need it. Verified the location of my sterno and mini-propane stove. Retrieved my headlamps from storage and put in fresh batteries.

Filled up a few extra bottles of water and stored them in the fridge. Made sure I have the power company’s phone number and my account number stored in my phone so I can quickly report any power loss. (In smaller storms, my power company slightly prioritizes earlier reported outages, so quicker can be better.)

Brought out extra blankets and throws and placed them around the house. I have friends I can evacuate to if I need to, but I’d rather not drive in the weather - and I’m uncertain if they’ll still have power too. I’ve entered the phone numbers of the three nearest hotels into my phone, just in case.

You monster!!

No idea if it’s true or not but there was a rumor back in the day, that “natural flavors” was code for just a tiny bit of catnip essence.

In 2024, creative industries minister Chris Bryant admitted that Brexit had made touring in Europe “simply not economically viable” for many artists.

It’s an interesting look into older architecture, but I feel many architects today have higher priorities than making sure the house faces South and has thick walls - like getting the houses oriented along whatever street they put in and not having the house cost the same as a medieval castle. I think what’s most disappointing is that, in the end, the only “changes” the author even considers making are moving a desk and maybe planting a tree.

I appreciate the article, I’m just disappointed in the author.

Part 4.

All in the Family had seven direct or indirect spinoffs: Maude; Good Times (a Maude spinoff); The Jeffersons; Checking In (a Jeffersons spinoff); Archie Bunker’s Place; Gloria; and 704 Hauser.

GenX has never held any type of power, nor will they ever - not political, not economic, not financial. The Boomers were always like “Wait your turn”, but they never bothered turning anything over regardless of what we fought for, or how hard.

And now the Millennials have come up on the other side. And I’m just so tired of fighting to make things happen, or even just to try to preserve things, that that’s okay. I did what I could to make things better, and I’m happy for a less weary cohort to take over.

Truth in advertising: they renamed the Department from Defense to “Department of War”.

Perhaps the game Noodle is playing isn’t the same as the game you’re playing.

Ygritte is cosplaying as Loki this Halloween!

They can travel faster - but you would need one capable of making a 13 hour trans-oceanic flight, plus the crew. I think the time “saved” by a faster-flying plane would be offset by finding and fueling the plane, finding the crew and getting them to the airport? I don’t know, I’m not an aviation expert, I’ll just going on feelings here.

Wait, what? It’s like a 13 hour flight to Moscow, and it’s been less than 13 hours since the attack. How did the logistics on that work?

Has anyone told him that US Law Enforcement lacks authority outside the US? 'cause that seems kinda an important “detail” here.

When you’re paying over 50k to climb the mountain anyway, an additional 4k isn’t very much.

I like how the metal on the head is all smooth from people petting the little cat :)

Plur1bus. Saved you a click.

Where’s the “rest of the world” image from? I know it but I can’t remember and it’s really bugging me :(

I think it came out fantastic - well done!