Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Aliexpress is a Bargain

Here are my 11-11 orders check out the prices.  These are just everyday items.  The difference is waiting or anticipating instead of having to buy locally saves 80-90%.  10 inch iPhone cords for 81¢.  10 ft iPhone cord for $3.52.  Plastic micrometer less than a buck.  LED bulbs for my Maglite flashlights $2.87.  The savings in batteries alone justifies what looks like a high price.  Dremel accessories, x-acto knives, all for pennies.  Most will be stocking stuffers for the kids. 






271 comments:

1 – 200 of 271   Newer›   Newest»
Lawyerliz said...

What is 11 11?

Rob Dawg said...

11-11 is the Chinese equivalent of Black Friday. A day of deep discounts.

LBD said...

Great deals on nothing I would buy.

Lawyerliz said...

The thought of participating in Black Friday fills me with fear and repulsion. I have all that stuff, except I need a new
Sofa.

Lawyerliz said...

Very sadly, I feel like I'm one millionth or so guilty because T was elected by my fellow citizens, and now he is condoning murder so that we can sell things to them. None of us has a way to opt out of this. Maybe the House. . ? But I don't see how.

Lawyerliz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lawyerliz said...

The Saudis I mean.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Some facts the media avoids. He was not an American citizen, he was killed in Turkey leaving the responsibility to them. So what should our response be with no jurisdiction over the event? War toy sales canceled? Russia and France will gladly supply them. Break ties with one of the few friendly countries we have in an unstable part of the world? They play a big part in the world economy and would cost Americans a lot if they retaliate. Maybe we should just bomb them and really get things rolling. Some times we think to much of ourselves as the supreme ruler of the world. IMO T is making the right decision as painful as it is.

Lawyerliz said...

For him it doesn't matter. He wouldn't know a moral if bit him on the ass. For
Me it does. If doing the easy thing
Made it moral we'd all go to heaven. There would be no bad! Now I will guilty of not just my share, but your share too, because I have failed to convince you this is an evil thing. I don't want to bomb them. I just want to leave them alone to kill each other as they choose. Oil to be bought cash and carry. That's right we had no jurisdiction. No war toys. Big infrastructure push by the firms that that were gonna build the toys If the firms can do it. Looks like Cali and the entire coast needs infrastructure, not to speak of roads dams bridges, school buildings and repairs. War toys are a fatal male fascination. Something must be done about it.

Rob Dawg said...

I have no doubt Trump has been given assurances that the Crown Prince will be taken care of and the House of Saud would be grateful for an shred of cover while dealing with the matter.

LBD, did you look at the "stuff?" 5 foot long steel rulers. Tell me you can find one when you need it. LED flashlight bulbs. Cheaper than the batteries they save. Phne cords? We burn through them all the time. A consumable. Then a few hobby tools. Tiny drills, x-acto knives, dremel saw disks. Admit it, you are always looking for some of those. The 4x $3.50 32Gb Class 10 MicroSD chips are for the digital cameras at a great deal. Th only big dollar items are a car seat organizer for the Mercedes-Bunz and a router rounding pair for a project.

Mercedes-Bunz? That's a feel good story for later today.

LBD said...

Honestly no. I assume this is all straight from a Chinese vendor. I buy bigger things usually from Amazon some Ebay. At least some Americans get jobs selling Chinese stuff. I just bought a Strat knockoff, 20w amp, tuner, strap, picks, extra strings as a package real cheap. $129 shipped Waiting on a electric bass $64 shipped. The Strat needed a lot of work to get it easy to play and like sports equipment I can make any of them look bad even the expensive ones. LOL!

I assume the CanhardlyRolls is rolling again? Whats the story Gear Heads need to know. :)

LBD said...

LL,

"I just want to leave them alone to kill each other as they choose."

Isn't this what they did?

Rob Dawg said...

At 128k miles the MB R500 money pit is a bit tired. The mighty mighty Volvo V70 at 174k is just getting broken in. The power steering had a trivial leak that a can of treatment fixed for now. The explosion was the air suspension in the rear bursting. Big scary at 80mph. MB dealer wanted $1700 or more. Replacement part $80. repair time 15 minutes. Did it my self. 1 take off the wheel. 2 detach the pressure line 12mm. pull out the old bladder, put the new in place. No tools. 3 attach the pressure line. replace wheel. Scary easy. The only other issue is oil consumption. Haven't been enough miles but it does seem to be more than normal. It's a driveway insurance vehicle anyway.

Firemane said...

LBD,

Regarding Trump and the Saudis. I agree with the general concept that when it comes to foreign entanglements, there are often many, many layers of diplomatic complications where "practical" choices and "moral" choices are at loggerheads. In WWII, Churchill and FDR ignored or were in denial about actions taken by Stalin that were morally repugnant and indefensible -- way, way, way beyond the killing of a single reporter. But, once we became allies against Germany, (after Germany broke their alliance with Russia), we couldn't afford to take a moral stance on any of that.

Regardless of whether it is Bush, Obama or Trump in charge, dealings with countries like North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Syria, etc., (including 3rd party interactions), will always be messy.

And yes, with allies, all administrations tend to be more willing to forgive and forget.

The thing about the current situation that is unique, is that Trump stands to PERSONALLY profit directly from the Saudis. That factor turns a messy diplomatic situation (where some other admin. might simply condemn the action publically in the UN, but otherwise do nothing), and make it *look* like a payoff to a dictator in some banana republic.

LBD said...

They all profit, mostly hidden where as T is at least transparent. Regardless of his personal gain I think he is doing the right thing as it is. The Saudis, as T put it from the beginning they where "Stupid". If they had taken him back home had a mock trial for some thing and executed him there would not be the noise made as today. Morally I think the way they live is horrible but that is their part of the world.

Turkey can't handle any action and have not asked us for help and probably won't. May be a little more vocal threats and hand waving will satisfy the extremist, I don't know with the Hate Trump agenda if any thing will make them happy. We will see if by next Thursday they will be angry by something else and this will be forgotten. IMO

Rob Dawg said...

"Mercedes-Bunz" story.

This morning very early we folded down all the seats in the R500 and Mrs. Dawg hit the road. She stopped at the no kill animal shelter and loaded 21 bunnies. She needed to go north for work but went an extra hour to deliver these lucky bunnies to another NorCal agency that will get them adopted quickly.

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B7eM0R9tUDg/W_W3NYwFqMI/AAAAAAAALOw/m8PXjs9mJygTQ7svm_8jPzALTU_V4P4WACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3992.jpeg

How cute is that?

Lawyerliz said...

Look like?
It is.

Firemane said...

LBD,

Oh, this will definitely be forgotten.

As you correctly note, this is a squabble without an actual American involved.

I don't personally buy your "they all profit" cynicism. Limit that to just the Clintons, and the argument has a bit more heft, perhaps, there's at least a little smoke associated with the Clinton Foundation. But, I don't recall any hint of quid pro quo profiteering from Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, or the first Bush.

There were certainly rumblings about the Iraq war being about Cheney and Halliburton cashing in. Perhaps I'm simply not as jaded you ... yet.

TJandTheBear said...

EVERY administration has coddled the KSA despite their doing all manner of things, outrageous things, that we'd never stand for here in the US.

Foreign relations are a very tough call. We do business with a lot of people as a country that most of us would never do as individuals.

Rob Dawg said...

Foreign relations are about dealing with bad actors. House of Saud is a bad bunch and they know it and we know it. Diplomacy is the US giving them opportunity to change. They are running out of time and chances.

LBD said...

Trust me they all for many decades got back door money for favors done. Obummer, Clintons (who greedily did it right in front of our faces and got away with it) Bush 1&2 did, Even back in LBJ days they made out made money. You to will be jaded eventually.

Happy Turkey!

Lawyerliz said...

Don't think they will change. Hope I'm wrong. Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving day to all.

Lawyerliz said...

T v. ROBERTS, oh, my.
Looks like "his" judges are just judges, as they should be.

Lawyerliz said...

Ran out long ago.

LBD said...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Didn't O insult the SCOTUS at a State of the Union address once?

Lawyerliz said...

Don't remember. Could be.

LBD said...

Here is his comment,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiDiHX50zT4

I don't like him but do agree the SCOTUS decision was wrong. Take it a step further Unions should not have the power either.

So T is no different then many previous Presidents in this case.

TJandTheBear said...

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Specially thankful for the fire gods sparing the Dawg Haus!

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Best turkey I can remember. Left overs tomorrow. :)

Market isn't having a good holiday, Ouch!

Lawyerliz said...

Totally agree!

Lawyerliz said...

Gosh, Kali hasn't had an earthquake. If it does, has it become unliveable?

Lawyerliz said...

Signed up for a psychology course. Now I can dis T using official language.
Looks like there's gonna be another indictment.

LBD said...

So you can use medical terms for political liar. Don't stop with T.

Lawyerliz said...

Happy Day after thanks giving. My daughter is coming down for Christmas. Yay

dilbert dogbert said...

Liz,
Please leave now before it it too late!!!
"Gosh, Kali hasn't had an earthquake. If it does, has it become unliveable?"
It became unlivable back in the 1950's. Those who came after that should leave.
STAY AWAY!!!!

LBD said...

Good Morning!

I'm a Kali anchor baby from 1951! I don't want to go back. :)

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Frozen Turkey! Yesterday almost 50F, today 34F 2" of snow 20mph wind. Time to play indoors. :)

Lawyerliz said...

Lovely day today.

Except I lost my glasses.

Anonymous said...

Liz, I think it goes mudslides, then earthquakes.

--SM

Lawyerliz said...

Sorry for my error.

Firemane said...

I cooked a Turkey burger on Thanksgiving ... and a cinnamon swirl cake. Other than that, I spent most of the 4-day weekend learning new music and finishing up the piano score for the last song I wrote.



LBD said...

Good Evening!

Under the 2" of snow was the ice from the rain preceding it. Solar melt this week will take care of most of it.

Working hard on relearning the guitar. I don't think the B chord is going to happen fingers won't stretch the distance, luckily it is little used.

O saved the unions but for the manufactures to die another day. GM has been running for the doors ever since. T I don't think can save any of the three. Chrysler is gone as we speak.

How about that boarder all those simple bean pickers. Now Mexico doesn't want them either.

Lawyerliz said...

Cinnamon swirl. .
Aaaahhhh.

Lawyerliz said...

Mexico has plenty of stoop laborers, whose work is as honorable as anyones'.
GM is not dead elsewhere I understand . T should have made a contract, but trusted the rich. Hehehe.

Lawyerliz said...

The illegals are fleeing gang murders and such, which doesn't mean we should let the in.

Lawyerliz said...

Mexico is not so guilty, during and after the great recession a million more left than came.

Firemane said...

From what I understand, very few of the asylum seekers in the caravan are Mexican. They're seeking asylum because of the violence and risk to themselves and their children from countries further south. It's mostly Central Americans (El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala).

Mexico has its own issues with requests for asylum jumping from 2,000 in 2014 to 14,000 by 2017. In addition, Mexico deported 94,000 Central Americans in 2017 (20,000 MORE than the US deported), that were there illegally and NOT requesting asylum.

It's a complex subject, with too many pat answers from both sides. But, as Liz notes, "requesting" asylum is legal (and has a legal process attached to it). GRANTING asylum is not a guarantee, (U.S. denies about 80% of Central American asylum request - while Mexico denies about 40%).

LBD said...

Good Morning!

GM has been on a path to move to the largest auto market with growth potential, China. Government $upport, no labor unions, OHSA, NHTSA, EPA. N. America is played out for them and running a union retirement biz that sells cars will not work.

GM has sold most of it's world wide brands and quit building as well. The Volt, Obummers car was to satisfy the him and never was a good platform. China wants electric cars on a big scale. Whay's not to like?

When you filter down the people who truly need asylum you have to ask why they did not seek it in the first country they came to. Answer for most is they don't want asylum. Why all the pregnant woman with no husband making the trip? Probably the fact that the father is here illegally already. Anchor baby cements the deal. Decades of uncontrolled boarder and proper process has come to this point thanks to congress.

LL these people take more real middle class jobs and will not do stoop labor. IMO.

Firemane said...

Despite your personal bias, LBD, Obama is not actually responsible for every bad choice, failure or ill in the world.:

From the Volt Wiki page:

The Chevrolet Volt concept car debuted at the January 2007 North American International Auto Show, becoming the first-ever series plug-in hybrid concept car shown by a major car manufacturer

*General Motors' then-Vice-Chairman Robert Lutz said the two-seater sports car being developed by Tesla, the Tesla Roadster (2008), and the rapid advancement of lithium-ion battery technology inspired him to push the carmaker to develop the Volt after the 2006 Detroit Auto Show,[31][32][33] overcoming internal opposition*

But, fine, blame the EV1 from the '90s on Obama, too.

Lawyerliz said...

But how do you know?

Lawyerliz said...

Great human migrations are stopped by violence are disease usually. Sometimes by mountains.

Lawyerliz said...

Or

LBD said...

the Volt was used to suck up to him and yes it was not built at his request.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXuqZcVB0Gk

LL, mechanics, autobody, construction, cooks, ect are not stoop labor and make lower muddle class or better wages.

EngineerJim said...

Why would Obama buy a Volt?
He could easily afford a Tesla.

Personally, I was thinking of buying a Volt, but it's just too small. I'm 6'3".
I would think the Volt would be too small for Obama also.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Not sure he would, can he drive now or does security issues not allow it. The point was to promote a technology as cutting edge that had been around for decades maybe with a bit of refinement. I am guessing the Bolt was a way bigger seller then the Volt. I don't get the point of a Pruis either. If the glass battery is worked out then there goes Tesla. IMO.

Firemane said...

The point of a Prius is 60 mpg - but utilizing only existing infrastructure.

Here's the true hilarity regarding "green" technology and the government.

The INITIAL push for "new" auto tech that was not so reliant on fossil fuels began in 1992, with the "Energy Policy Act of 1992". This is when the Feds first began offering incentives into multiple avenues for fuel efficiency. This included electric vehicles.

Note: In 1992, George Bush was President.

This was updated with the "Energy Policy Act of 2005"

Note: In 2005, George W. Bush was President.

The Prius was introduced to the US in 2000, about 6 months after the Honda Insight, the first hybrid available in America.

Prior to 2006, there was a $2,000 tax credit for hybrid buyers, which applied to all Hybrids.

That jumped to $3,400 in 2006, but was based on estimated fuel savings, so the individual credit was variable.

The irony here is that it was REPUBLICAN Administrations that have been the primary pushers for legislation to push Hybrids and other auto technologies. But, just like the Obama administration was very quiet about all the steps they did to reduce illegal immigration, increase deportations, etc., both Bushes quietly implemented these policies while avoiding publicity about it.

LBD said...

First, I am not a Republican. Second, Bush's are a compassionate conservatives or call them a a global socialist. Third, Brigss and Straton introduced a Hybrid in the 80's. I am sure many came before them as well. A simple welding generator and a battery bank is all it takes. Didn't Prius get tagged for a false 60 mpg rating? At the time it was revised to 48 mpg and not much if any better then a gas car. 2018 is rated at 53 which is probably better battery performance. Imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWvSwDXpy8M

So my point is the same nothing new and it was used to suck up to O as they where on track with tomorrows magic when GM failed.

Not against electric power I love my plug in chain saws, light, no death by pull start, melting gas components from ethanol.

dilbert dogbert said...

I bought a couple of cheap PTZ cameras to play with. They had the usual minimum users manual. I went searching for better instructions and found the cameras on Aliexpress for 4 bucks each!!! How can anyone compete with the Chinese???
I got one working and figured out how to use it via the hunt and peck method. Good picture so far. They only install via cellphone or ipad not PC. I downloaded a PC viewer now I have to figure out how to connect the camera to the PC.
Glad the fire season is over for a couple of months.
The wife went up to Squaw and did a couple of runs on crappy snow.

Firemane said...

Not saying you are a Republican.

Commenting on the generic misunderstanding and tagging of "cause" onto certain administrations simply due to what their party is "supposed" to be about.

In any case, the Prius I have at the moment *IS* getting over 60 mpg, though it officially gets 58(c)/53(h). That's for the entire 2 years I've owned it. I got 67 mpg in September this year. (perfect temperatures).

As for any Obama-Volt link. To me, that is ridiculous - akin to saying James Cameron was sucking up to a critic, simply because the critic happened to give Avatar a thumbs up.

The Volt was never economically viable. The Prius always has been.

My opinion is the US Auto Industry got really good at making, large, expensive cars in the '50s. And 70 years later, they remain good at making large, expensive cars. And that reality has zilch to do with whoever happens to be President.

dilbert dogbert said...

LBD
I gave up on gas a long time ago. Have a small Honda gen, extension cords and a quad. Have to yank to crank the Honda but the pull is easy. Still have the yank and crank chipper and rototiller. I would replace each with electric start if I could find one cheapo. Back in the day when I had a damaged back and a lawn to mow, I got an electric start mower. Then I married well and she had a electric mower.

Unknown said...

My mom can't create the sudden "jerk" motion to start a pull cord chainsaw, but she has one with a spring coil that allows her to pull a cord that winds the spring. It starts every time with 1 pull and she loves it.

LBD said...

I bought a 110v starter kit for my old snow blower but never used it since I bought my skid steer. I should drag it in the shed and tune it up for the hell of it. I have had garden and yard tractors for mowers before, all self start. Even my last mower was electric start. Dam I'm getting old or lazy! LOL!

Lawyerliz said...

We have the money to pay cash for a decent car. Hub picked one out after reading all the reports, we drove down and test drove the one he picked out. Yuck. The controls were too complicated and the passengers seat was very very uncomfortable. So the money just sits there.

LBD said...

As long as there is enough rust to weld patch panels on I am keeping my 1999 Silverado. Cars don't interest me and next will be another SUV for my wife, time from now. Repairs are usually cheaper then buying new.

Lawyerliz said...

I can be impressed by large diamonds, or beautiful houses, but cars? Bah, they just depreciate.

Lawyerliz said...

The Repubs acquired a pair. Apparently, murder for payment in the form of low oil prices is not acceptable after all. Late is better than never.

Lawyerliz said...

Repub break with T over murder. Yay, sorta.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Dems will forget all about it and a lot of other things when they take over the house.

Lawyerliz said...

Hope not.

Firemane said...

We've got divided government in an uber-partisan world.

The Dems will pass some legislation in the House. Some will be legitimate policy. Most will be window dressing that wouldn't really impact anything, but will be designed to force the opposition to vote against things the majority of Americans are for.

The Senate will not bother to take up the vast majority of it, so almost none of it will ever reach Trump's desk.

In those rare cases where something has enough political bite to create enough Republican defectors in the Senate, (meaning it has the support of the Senate Majority leader), I expect Trump will end up signing most of it anyway. The Senate will be the goal keeper, and Trump will gleefully take credit for *HIS* ability to negotiate non-partisan deals (while actually doing nothing). And like pretty much everything he has signed to date - it will be "the best ever".

I also expect when the next Recession hits (assuming it does before Nov. 2020), and unemployment begins to rise, Trump will be wielding the blame-thrower with every tweet, despite the Democrats being able to enact even less legislation than the (R) team did during the past two years.

Lawyerliz said...

T's tax lawyers raided. Deutsche bank who granted him loan when nobody else would---thru Justice Kennedy's son-- was raided. I assumed the son worked there.

Lawyerliz said...

That's assuming he is still there. I think they'll go after Ivanka. Will T kick her under the bus too?

Lawyerliz said...

The man condones murder Firemane. Murder.

LBD said...

I don't disagree with your view but need to remind everyone T was not a Republican pick. So he had a head wind to fight and that is partly why the Republicans did a poor job of getting his agenda done. They did some good but failed as usual on immigration, health care etc.

O taking credit for the good economy {LOL!} and will twist the GM and Ford march out of the country to T. Something O left them no choice when he bailed out the UAW.

Just sad watching America commit suicide.

Lawyerliz said...

Do you mind paying more for fruits and veggies picked by legals?

I don't.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

I have more of a problem with the word fresh. Most is not picked ripe and has no taste. After living in Central Kali as a kid buying from road side stands, Same in Hawaii and Colorado. I would rather buy canned fruit most of the time. Cost of fruit is very minimal in the big picture. I think it would push growers in to the reality of machine picking and packing. They seem to be the last to step up. Most everything can be machine picked as we have discuses before.

Needing bean pickers of the past compared to the amount in the country is insane. The Bracero program should have never stopped. IMO.

Lawyerliz said...

Why did it stop?

LBD said...

Mexico cancelled it in the 60's and we did nothing. Over the decades illegals came took better paying jobs with all year around stability creating the ability to bring their family in to the country. They have worked their way up the food chain in to many simple hard working jobs that Americans used to do and could make a middle class living with out a college degree. WE as a country have failed and many are brain washed in to open boarders. Sad

Lawyerliz said...

Seems like these are the kind of people we want here. Plus I don't think the took middle cl as ss jobs

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Snow! On the edge of a dumper with wind, 4-12". Skid steer chained and ready to go.

LL, I guess you never had the Kali adventure as I have. Saw what was happening along with other problems and left in 78. Then the kali invasion in to Colorado in the 90's left in early 2000. Just now my Colorado friends are screaming and some looking for a way out. Sadly I let them know it turned in to Calirado long ago. Experience repeated.

Are they needed? yes in some capacity but not the open boarder and support the government gives. Orderly boarder with a Ellis island style passage with green cars and no anchor babies, dual citizenship not allowed, etc. To late IMO.

LBD said...

Green cards.

Lawyerliz said...

Anchor babies would require a change in the constitution. I don't think this present lot can be trusted to mess around with the constitution. Or, most everything else.

My bathrooms are done, and the master is especially beautiful.

Lawyerliz said...

And it's border. A boarder is somebody who stays with you so maybe it is correct.

Lawyerliz said...

How about earning citizenship with 2 tours military service.
I note we interfered with Nicaraugua several things in the past to benefit us or our corporations.

LBD said...

LL, Born in America but speak English with an interpreter. Spell check hides a lot of my English language faults but not all LOL!

Proper immigration and green card workers would probably lower the anchor baby problem if it had been done properly decades ago.

Our forefathers where assholes and the trend is still with us. Comes from being strong. Wars have meanings good or bad. I don't buy the apologizes for how we got to this point. These people should revolt and build their own country like he have.

I believe they can legally get a fast track through military service. Nothing new been going on for a long time.

Lawyerliz said...

I dont thinks, but maybe.

LBD said...

Yes they can I first ran in to a Filipino in the Air force and was not an American citizen.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/eligibility-requirements/the-us-military-helps-naturlize-non-citizens.html

LBD said...

Good morning!

We got them! Electrify America charging stations at our WalMart. Charge you electric horse anytime you want. Now I have to watch and see how many show up.

Lawyerliz said...

Lizards and turtles are back.🐢🦎🐢🦎🐢

LBD said...

The big Snow here is about over and we didn't get near the amount predicted. Maybe 3" and the strong winds didn't last long either. Still enough to plow. :)

Lawyerliz said...

Home Depot is simply swarming with buyers.
Has a sign asking for more employees. School tuition a bennie.

Lawyerliz said...

We bought lots of lighrts lots
. Lots.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Bush I, RIP.


Don't worry lots of job cuts coming from GM, Ford lay off and the trickle down to remaing US suppliers will provide more employees.

Firemane said...

Bush 1 remains my personal choice for best President within my life time ('62 - present).

For me, his was the perfect combination of conservative (fiscally responsible) mindset, while retaining compassion for people from all backgrounds.

I believe his choice to raise taxes (in exchange for Paygo) was an example of his willingness to do what he felt was best for the country, even if it cost him politically. I still view the reduction in deficits under Clinton as largely a result of the Bush policies.

It's hard to remember a time when the most applauded (and at the time cited) lines from his 1990 State of the Union address was "The American people did not send us here to bicker."

LBD said...

He didn't get a second term to finish what he started but failed to take out Saddam was a bigger reason for me then taxes. Globalist failure instead of finishing what he started. Clinton ignored it and Bush II messed it up in the end.

Lawyerliz said...

I don't remember that but boy, is it true.That people want lots of stuff may be very understandable and necessary, such as roads and dams fire and hurricane prevention and carbon reduction, but they do not need to be convinced that these necessities are free. They aren't. People who want a new war plane should explain which dam is being cut or what taxes need to be raised to pay for it. Taxes should hit hardest in the top 80%.
But then I guess I live in lala land.
What I think will actually happen is
That little or none of the deficit will be paid down. As long as we are very productive, and interest is paid, things will go along fairly peacefully, and that could even be hundreds of years. But much attention should be paid to making sure the lowest third has an adequate share of goods and services and it should come from the top 2%. Otherwise they will logically and correctly cease to be interested in being more productive.
And they will cease to be interested in money, since it does nothing for then
Rant over.

Lawyerliz said...

A possibility is that resentments will increase until a French Resolutinary--ish sort of thing will happen, very bad for everyone.

LBD said...

France may be having one right now. Funny the news only glosses over it.

Lawyerliz said...

They showed a lot of fires and beating, but nothing much about why they were doing this.

LBD said...

What I heard from the MSM was the new cap and trade tax raised the diesel fuel prices which effected the very high cost of living to a breaking point. Plus the immigration choking the country and not assimilating.

Watch the EU coming apart from the crazy climate scare and the stupid open boarder policy.

dilbert dogbert said...

Some of you might enjoy this NWT story about internet shopping for Christians:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/27/style/what-is-inside-this-internet-rabbit-hole.html?mtrref=undefined&gwh=E3C5B61FEF1405535AC69630291F7193&gwt=pay

Firemane said...

Looks like NC may be working to catch up to Florida in election day embarrassment.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/03/politics/north-carolina-absentee-ballot-investigation-house-race/index.html

In North Carolina, a witness must sign an absentee ballot to confirm that the person who filled it out is who they claim to be. Normally, that witness is a family member or close friend, and it's rather unusual for a person to be witness on more than one or two or maybe three ballots. Well, it's unusual everywhere except for NC-09, it would seem. The 161 absentee ballots in question were "witnessed" by just a handful of people, one who signed off on 40 ballots, another who signed off on 30, and three more who signed off on at least 10. All of these people appear to be connected, and all of them (or nearly all of them) appear to know Leslie McCrae Dowless. Dowless is a Republican operative who just so happened to work on Harris' campaign, and who denies any wrongdoing. Of course, he also denied any wrongdoing when he was convicted of insurance fraud in the early 1990s after taking out a $163,000 policy on a dead man. So, you may not want to take his word for it, especially since one witness has already signed an affidavit that Dowless was set to receive a $40,000 bonus if Harris won.

=================

What gets my goat the most is that when the big Red push for voter IDs began, my immediate response was: "But, the need to be in person makes that type of fraud nearly impossible to have any significant impact in total voting. If there's anywhere fraud is plausible, it's going to be with absentee ballots, (which coincidentally, there have been NO systematic efforts to curb mail-in voter fraud)."

So, it appears at this point, that there likely was a systematic attempt to commit mail-in voter fraud ... in a race that is close enough where it is possible it made the difference in the outcome. Still too early to be certain -- but at the moment, it certainly smells bad.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Price doesn't matter as long as it is 80% off! What a deal!

LBD said...

What the Repubs are honest? LOL!

Firemane said...

Funny, LBD, but I put the Bush I restraint regarding Saddam in the plus column. When "W" went after him, me, my friends, and dozens of pundits and Middle East experts all predicted the same thing: Absent Saddam's secular (albeit ruthless) presence, the only possible outcome was going to be a religious civil war, and even less stability in the region.


Lawyerliz said...

The only people who conquered these people were the Mongols, and I don't want us to be Mongols.

Lawyerliz said...

Err, the stock mkt went WAAAAAY down
😱🤢👺💩

LBD said...

Good Morning!

The hope was that these people would grow up and embrace peace but it appears most can not handle it and seek religious insanity.

The Wall Street roller coaster really had a ride yesterday. Well you can't loose what you never had in your long term retirement accounts. :)

Lawyerliz said...

Just saw gas At 2:10.

Lawyerliz said...

59°, was 53.

LBD said...

Shocked gas in town $1.99. =:o

Lawyerliz said...

This is supposed to be bad. Why are low gas prices supposed to be bad?

LBD said...

Oil prices are down and the Saudis are going to cut production to raise them. It's bad for US producers but good for consumers. Winter consumption is lower also effecting prices as well.

Lawyerliz said...

Got an A in my American history class.

Lawyerliz said...

Dawg?

TJandTheBear said...

Already had the general sense that "this is it", i.e., the next recession was upon us. Finding new & interesting sources of confirmation recently.

Are you all ready?

Lawyerliz said...

I stubbornly think it's a dip.

Lawyerliz said...

Hub hanging up Saturnalia lights. Cuddle puss is cuddling and purring. it's cool outside and all's right with the world.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Scorching 25F today.

Market is correcting as reality is setting in China crap is going to cost more. Should have been dealt with long ago. T won't need a second term if he pulls all of this stuff off.

Lawyerliz said...

Except for the stock mkt.

Firemane said...

Random thoughts:

1) Recession is definitely near - and Trump will get blame - because the President (and his party) always get blamed for recessions, even though most have little to no control over these things.

2) IMO, Trump's election had ZERO to do with policy. This is why overnight the (R) team basically went from free market, globalists, taking advantage of low price labor abroad, (and thrilled to import as much of it as needed), to the Nationalist Protectionist Reich. Trump was correct that he can do anything, because his voters were voting for HIM - not his policies.

3) It is very odd living in Orwell's 1984 - knowing with certainty that regardless of whether Trump is here for 2 more years or (God forbid) 6 more - the instant he's gone, the Republican Party will immediately return to Globalist, Free Marketers without blinking.

4) It's both comforting and amusing and terrifying all at once that a man was elected to the highest political office on the planet for the sole reason he is NOT a politician. And the result is, he hasn't been able to accomplish ANYTHING that actually required political savvy. Yet, there are millions out there willing to accept the self-congratulatory praise he heaps on himself as evidence of accomplishment.

dilbert dogbert said...

Good Morning Liz!!!!

Lawyerliz said...

Morning what's the latest.

LBD said...

Trump had everything to do with policy and that is why politicians got kicked to the curb. America was sick of the globalist screw job we got. Battling politicians to get things done is a huge head wind.

Watching and laughing at Obummers lack of a business sense and wasn't smart enough to require all three to stay in the US for at least 20 years. GM and Ford are leaving the US to China and Mexico. More plant closings coming and then the final blow will be moving corporate offices out of the country. Fiat stole Chrysler and immediately set up corp offices in Europe and business office (for tax purposes) in London. They are already gone as they import more cars, parts and move production to Mexico. they also are on the edge of setting dodge free by changing the brand to Ram and Jeep will be spun off and the rest left to die. IMO.

Lawyerliz said...

Yep. Corporations never heard the word gratitude. I prefer 30 to 40 years. At least Ford didn't take our money.

Lawyerliz said...

My post disappeared.

Lawyerliz said...

Came back!

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Indirectly Ford did as vendors would have failed with out the bail out money. They would have not had many parts to build.

The flaw in people and unions is they think corps are owned by America in total. They are not and the auto biz has shown it's hand for years especially after the bail out. I really don't fault Barra for her moves as Ford has been more quiet about it but it is coming.

If we went to war with China where do we source war material instantly? Order it from China? Big problem IMO.

Firemane said...

Interesting that non-American companies don't seem to have the same issues with building in the USA.

In 2017 (Toyota production numbers for cars sold in the US)

Total U.S. Vehicle Production = 1,382,246

By comparison, Toyota built 601,716 vehicles in Canada and 140,646 vehicles in Mexico. Roughly 325,000 of the vehicles that Toyota sold in the U.S. in 2016 came from outside of North America. Here is the percentage breakdown of total U.S. vehicle sales by manufacturing location for Toyota:
Built in America 56%
Built in Canada 25%
Built in Mexico 6%
Built outside N.A. 13% (Mostly Lexus Models)


LBD said...

UNIONS!

The most American made car in the US is Honda. Parts and assembly, No legacy costs. GM BK had 3 retired for 1 worker that is why O had to bail out the union so GM Ford and Chrysler could pay the retirement and union wages leaving all three corps to die another day under the same cost.

If you had followed the BK the ridiculous baggage like work banks, time of for hunting, free legal services etc. It was painfully obvious as to why they could not continue. No comparison. IMO.

Lawyerliz said...

Hunting? Never even I heard of that.

LBD said...

Yes hunting and tons of ridiculous benefits and inability to modernize laying off employees. One man was interviewed was pissed he had been in the Chrysler job bank for five years and finally getting laid of due to the BK. He felt he was entitled so he could continue his volunteer work in the community.

Right now there is a big mess with the late UAW boss and millions of dollars in bribes with Chrysler. The money was taken out of the UAW training facility which is a country club for the elites.

GM white collar buy outs are after those with a degree older then 10 years or code for dump before retirement cost. IMO

Ask yourself why the UAW can't rally employee support to unionize the foreign builders.

Lawyerliz said...

Mkt down 510 or about.

Lawyerliz said...

Need an increase in minimum wage so all biz affected the same.

dilbert dogbert said...

Hi Lizzie!!!
Got the 3 cheap Chinese pan tilt and zoom cameras to work. I am getting fluent in understanding Chinese translated into murikan!!
Will use them to keep track of the horses.
Did a short ride to check trail conditions. We had lots of rain so was expecting lots of mud. Nope. Trails are in good condition.
We rode our bikes on our usual loop to Northside School. Kids have such amazing energy. It is a wonder the teachers can keep them quiet in the classroom.

TJandTheBear said...

This "dip" will be one for the ages. :-)

Lawyerliz said...

But consumer confidence up.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Cool 7F this morning.

Pretty good dip to say the least. =:0

Lawyerliz said...

I long for the broccoli icon.

Lawyerliz said...

I don't understAnd why anyone agrees to work for T.
It's a lovely 75° out now.

LBD said...

Start with Ego fed making it up the ladder. Second maybe they think they can handle him. If they came up through the political system probably not.

Broccoli is out Kale is in. Bacon still works for me. :)

Lawyerliz said...

Kale is not food. It's not even a pretty garnish on a plate.
They can't handle him. Kelly looks like he was ridden hard and put Away wet. Cohen looks like he lost his last friend, and will never have another. Course, he prolly never had one.
If I were Melania, I'd do my best to make myself fat and ugly, so he'd get rid of me.

Lawyerliz said...

The tasteless red trees didn't do it, nor that ugly jacket.

Lawyerliz said...

He is looking worse and worse.

Lawyerliz said...

Maybe the green bows and white angels at the top.

Lawyerliz said...

Good morning.
Has Dawg abandoned us?

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Warm up above freezing today along with sunshine! :)

France is still rioting even after diesel tax repeal. Mish has a nice piece on their problems. They just hit the top taxed country in the world.

https://moneymaven.io/mishtalk/economics/4th-weekend-of-french-riots-trump-blames-climate-change-others-blame-facebook-IfdQBuKM7UWkZk4BkeSE_Q/

Lawyerliz said...

Frank, the hub just gave a wonderful speech to the UUs. On CNN global warming.

LBD said...

CNN is responsible for global warming? LOL! Ducks and runs

Lawyerliz said...

As well you should; curse spell check.

Lawyerliz said...

Ayers turned down the Chief of Staff job!!!
Smart man.

Teeheeteehee.🦃🦉🌹🐞

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Heat wave 40's F maybe today!

Too young and he wants to have a family life which you won't get in that job.

France investigating Russia for the riots. LOL!

Lawyerliz said...

LOL me too. Dow down another 417.

LBD said...

OK DOW enough is enough.

All the time everyone is focused on Russia while China steals the show.

Lawyerliz said...

You think it's really the Russias? I can believe it, but it seems too much.

LBD said...

No China has us by the beans. How many Russian products do you buy. Putin is an old school communist trying to take back what they had. China has invaded with everyday products we need. Of course Russia tries to intervene as the rest of the major powers do.

Lawyerliz said...

Does it Russiamake any thing I'd want to buy. Some Chinese stuff is crappy.

LBD said...

Apparently Americans don't make anything we want to buy.

Lawyerliz said...

Hehe.

I think

Lawyerliz said...

Omg, it is 47°!!!

LBD said...

it's 26f and like golf low score wins!

dilbert dogbert said...

LBD
The wife bought a Tesla3 and loves it.
Lizzie
I got a couple of cheap Chinese dash cams and a couple of cheap Chinese pan tilt and zoom cameras. Work great so far.

Lawyerliz said...

I am wearing a fuzzy bathrobe from China. I don't think is was cheap. I admit It is warm.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Warm up continues!

DD
Happy she likes it let us know how it works out.

Both cheap back up cameras I bought came from China lasted about a year. They make some good stuff and some junk. I am going to work out using my I Pad wireless for the cameras as well as GPS music etc. Got the idea from Tata's Nano instead of internal electronics, most I don't want.

Labeling of old good brands kill me. Went to a Pendleton store and $150 for a flannel shirt made in Mexico. Maybe a bit heavier cloth, most everything they had was China with big name prices. Not much of anything is Yankee made anymore and if it claims to be the components are probably imported. :(

Lawyerliz said...

They shouldnt be allowed to use the same brand name as the previous item

Unknown said...

I miss good blue jeans.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

What Chimerica product are you giving this Christmas?

Lawyerliz said...

Books, booze, that home eeg, dinners out.

Lawyerliz said...

Maybe I'll send some fruit. They grow it here.

Firemane said...

Survived the NC blizzard of 2018. Missed two days of work.

Though I didn't lose power, I did lose heat. This was doubly annoying, since I had them service my heating unit two months ago at the first cold snap. So, I had to use my fireplace for 3 days. Luckily, my stepson (cough, pyro) had left a ready-to-light set up in the fireplace before he left 5 years ago. He also left a stack of firewood under a tarp at the same time, which I had not touched until this week. The one plus is when they finally did come fix it on Tuesday, it was fully covered under warranty.




Firemane said...

Looks like Mr. Market is starting to price in the next recession.

I'm expecting a mild GDP recession. Something that will look more like the 2001 recession than the financial collapse we had in 2008/2009.

What will it look like?

Well, if you just look at U3, back in 2001, after 3 months at 3.9, U3 jumped to 4.2, and would continue rising (peaking at 6.3) in June of 2003. That's actually 30 months of rising unemployment. But, very, very slowly. Oddly enough, while the 2008 crisis was much more stark and the numbers much worse, the time-frame was eerily similar. The U3 bottomed at 4.4 in May of 2007, and would climb 10.0 in October of 2009. That's 29 months. It would hang around at 9.9 until April of 2010, before starting to recover.

The lesson here? Recessions are measured by GDP, which changes MUCH more quickly than employment trends. GDP will go positive long before job losses from a downturn are recouped.

Based on BOTH the minor 2001 and major 2007 recessions, once the job market starts bleeding, we can expect 2.5 years of bad jobs numbers before the number of unemployed starts dropping.

The one mitigating factor I see this time is we are currently *IN* the peak 4 years for boomer retirement. So, as in 2009, there's going to be a major pull-forward in retirements, meaning those people drop out of the labor pool, so U3 won't rise as much or as fast. Unlike 2009, the demographics actually turn by 2021, which is when the boomer peak actually ends, and the annual retirements begin to ease. So, the recovery has a chance at "looking" more robust than either the dot-com recession or the Great Recession.





LBD said...

Good Morning!

It is always good to have some kind of back up heat in your case a small electric heater. Even a hair dryer puts out 1500-1800 watts of heat. When our furnace went out last year I had them and even portable propane heaters as well.

LBD said...

Biden/Cortez 2020!

Lawyerliz said...

Excellent Choice, but I prefer Warren.
Good morning me Hardies.

Lawyerliz said...



Hearties
She needs a bit more seasoning. You do realize she is very very liberal!

LBD said...

It's a joke team. Biden and old white guy and a not to smart bar tender. Greatest gaff team in history. I don't see anyone I like at this point.

Warren shot herself in the foot with the Indian blood deal and I think she is to far left for me.

Lawyerliz said...

Oh, dumb me took you seriously.

Lawyerliz said...

We might get a tornado this afternoon.

Lawyerliz said...

HAS dawg abandoned us?

Lawyerliz said...

Or evening.

LBD said...

From freezing to maybe 50F in a couple of days. The Ice and snow from the storm a few weeks ago is still here in the shade. In the sun it is showing signs of melting.

You can't have a tornado you have Hurricanes!

Lawyerliz said...

Unfair, isnt it. We didn't have any this time. They are relatively wimpy.

Lawyerliz said...

Out saturnalia shopping.

LBD said...

Good Evening!

Early Christmas present a new all in one computer. No tower to get in the way. Everything works great but need a cable and switch box to fed sound into the guitar amp. Fun!

Lawyerliz said...

Good afternoon. I was forced to sit through a lecture on astrology and numerology. Finally, I took out my hearing aids. Ahhh, harmony restored.

Lawyerliz said...

Dawhg

LBD said...

Good Afternoon!

I could have use that a few times. Reminds me when we were racing and testing one evening when a father and son roaming the pits saw me get out of the race car. Took my helmet off and remove my ear plugs when the boy asked me what they where for. I answered they where hearing aids for my wife. The dad broke out in laughter. Needless to say my wife was not amused when I told her.

Anonymous said...

Dawg Gone!

Lawyerliz said...

We went out for our 52 wedding anniversary.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Congratulations!

Working on 48 over here.

Dawg must be on vaca again.

dilbert dogbert said...

Congrats Lizzie!!!!

Lawyerliz said...

Good morning. Russia hack USA even more than we thought. Of course T had nothing to do with it.

Lawyerliz said...

Hacked. Didn't work very well in the midterms.

LBD said...

Good Morning!

Russians doing what Russians do. If Hillary won and they hacked for her that's OK? No investigations needed.

Clintons for jail 2020!

Lawyerliz said...

No, it is not ok. Fie upon you for suggesting it.
Let's discuss something more interesting. Will the govt shut down?

Lawyerliz said...

Will the Dow go down 500 points a day until they run out of numbers? Will housing prices
drop until foreclosures start up again?

Will the Spanish flu return again? Will abused grown up children loot the Vatican? Will a strong earthquake hit Kali and knock all the freeways down?

Lawyerliz said...

Will anybody notice if the govt shuts down except the people who want to visit nation shrines and can't? Will the end of the T era be succeeded by an era of formal politeness, with fat men not wearing shorts at nice restaurants but slacks that fit well? Will the custom of pretty young girls wearing torn up Jean's vanish with said jeans appearing only in the ugly section of costume museums.

Finally will ladies feel they must wear hats on even slightly formal occasions?

LBD said...

Yes the government will shut down and I support it to get the wall going and support a controlled border. Congress on both sides are play the way their money backers want. It is no longer a R or D thing. it's all about bought and paid for.

Markets are finding out how far over bought to reality value. Where that is I haven't a clue but tech has been pie in the sky for way to long. IMO.

I am more concerned with the Boy Scouts BK and social changes then the Vatican.

I think ladies should wear glove when working on hot race cars. ;)

Bowling today! My average is going crazy since I figured out I needed a different ball for shooting spares. :)

Lawyerliz said...

I was never in the boy scouts. I don't think there ever was a girl eagle scout, although there are girl eagles who supply eggs.
I think there is no hope for the Vatican. Obviously they have no clue of how to help people to improve morally in the slightest way.

Lawyerliz said...

Also I went to Catholic school where they had the odd idea that learning doctrine would cause us to be more devoted to Catholicism. It was quite the reverse. They gave us no actual examples of giving to the local poor or helping real people with problems They did beg incessantly for money for the missions. I wonder how much got there.

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