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The weekend is almost upon us. I sure as hades hope that the Bills can find a way to beat the Chiefs, I am beyond sick of the Chiefs, Kermit the Frog, and the lipstick-wearing skeleton up in the stands. Please Bills, just beat them. If the Bills win, I might just watch the Superb Owl. If it’s the Chiefs & Eagles (puke), I’ll be in my shop building a loft or something else more useful than watching that trash.
Speaking of trash, I’ll be attending my first ever NBA game in a couple weeks. We’re going out to Minny to take in the Wolves-Bucks game on the 12th, & I’m looking forward to it since it’ll be a new experience. We’ll be in town from the 11th to the 13th, so if any of you locals know of anything cool going on around the cities at that time, I’d love to hear about it. I mean, something besides dodging bullets.
Vikings News
HC Kevin O’Connell was named the PWFA Coach of the Year, per Vikings.com. Much deserved, IMO. He coaxed a lot more out of Sam Darnold and that team than anyone expected, it’s not really his fault that Sam turned back into a pumpkin. I’m excited to see what they do next season, hopefully we see some new interior O-linemen prior to the preseason.
Vikings.com looks at tight ends in their position group recap. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
NFL News
From NFL.com, finalists were announced for the NFL MVP and other 2024 season awards.
CBS Sports looks at the biggest concern for the final four playoff teams. Also, Robert Saleh is to return as the 49ers defensive coordinator. The 49ers defense will get better, while the Jets will still suck, those are my predictions.
Media Selection
I found this interesting, guys like Magic are weighing in on the NBA’s decline.
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https://twitter.com/hartgoat/status/1882571989904511339
They are probably all headed back for their winter vacations.
Works for me.
This is normal near any large US city on the border. When we were in El Paso, at the end of the workday we went by one of the crossings and it was backed up like this. A lot of Mexicans work in the US legally.
Update, water is all pumped out. I have the power cut back on, running to get heaters to put in there for the weekend. Luckily it’s going to be fairly warm this weekend, highs in the 20s.
Highs n the 20s is warm?
I guess it is all relative.
Plumper on the way?
Yes.
Yup, we’ll take 20s in January. The below 0 stuff that we’ve been having was getting old.
Sunday through Tuesday was brutal. I had -25 Tuesday morning in the valley I live in.
On my way to work on Tuesday my car showed 20 below and that was at 7:30. It was probably colder in my valley also, but I didn’t check. Yuck!
Not until Monday, I took over a couple heaters. Keep it warm over the weekend, I’ll have to stop by there a few times
Yeah, unfortunately. Highs in the 20s in January is downright balmy.
NFL dead season soon. Look for the clickbait with the word “proposal” in it and pass.
Will history repeat itself?
https://www.newsbreak.com/sporting-news-1608496/3775878381012-nfl-analyst-believes-the-minnesota-vikings-are-the-best-spot-for-future-hall-of-fame-quarterback
Unlikely.
I am definitely hoping it will not repeat itself.
Pete Carroll to the raiders. That’s quite the lineup of head coaches in the afc west. 3 out of the 4 have won superbowls, and harbaugh has been to one.
Cam Bynun on resigning with the Vikings.
“I’m praying I’m back here [in Minnesota]. Obviously, I’ve loved everything about my four years here, the community, even outside of the building in football, just every person I’ve been able to meet over the four years. But on top of that, being a Viking, there’s nothing better. So, I’m praying that it’ll work out.”
https://thevikingage.com/cam-bynum-reveals-wants-re-sign-minnesosta-vikings-2025
I think bynum and murphy will be the top priorities to get resigned.
Is Metellus a FA this year too?
Don’t think so, I believe he got a 3 year extension last year.
I’m trying to find a Fortnite garbage can, they’re hard to find.
Will this help?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326414104439
LOL, not quite, we want something that will hold garbage.
Awesome, this should’ve happened decades ago.
https://apple.news/Ap1B-wf58RIuL5iUO-EdvpA
I agree, but as usual, there are folks calling this a political stunt, and nothing more by Trump.
It will be awhile before this stuff comes out, and I fear when it does, it will be heavily redacted, despite trump expressing his desire for no redactions.
Didn’t he put a pretty short deadline on the JFK files and a little longer deadline on the RFK and MLK files?
60 days was what I heard.
I think it’s more like 15 for JFK and 45 on the other two, but I could be misremembering that.
‘The order gives officials just over two weeks (15 days) to give Trump a plan for “the full and complete release of records” on the JFK assassination. Additionally, officials have 45 days to present a plan on files relating to RFK and MLK Jr.’s assassinations.’
That’s what it was. So not necessarily released but a plan put forward. I’m sure the DEI bureaucrats will try to delay any way they can.
Of course they will, the CIA killed them.
Pete Carroll to the Raiders.
Only Cowgirls and *Aints left for coaches.
Under the annual audit for work.
Just poked my head out to breath.
Have a good weekend.
Audits suck. At least when our auditor comes in-house, the company pays for us to go out to lunch with them.
Just got a call from the city, water usage just spiked at an abandoned property of ours. Going to check it out, this could be a disaster.
Thankfully, it’s here in Bismarck.
Broken pipe?
Just the newcomers taking a shower. Give em a break.
Not in ND.
Remember -80 keeps the rift raft out.
Laughed the first time I was that billboard.
This is the same home where we had squatter problems.
I’m guessing so. The water meter usually has a plate on the bottom that will break if it freezes. My guess is that once I’m able to get in there, that’s what I’ll find.
Interesting that the city monitors spiked usage like that and then notifies the owner.
I assume that is due to the winter weather and possibility if damaged pipes because of freezing temps.
They never do anything like that in SoCal. Plus water is not that important there, unless it is keeping the Smelt healthy.
Billings does as well. My faucet in the backyard has a really slow drip if you don’t close it right and I’ll get an email that says there has been consistent usage for 2 or 3 days and an estimate of how many gallons have been used because of it. That leak is slow enough that it is less than a gallon over 3 days.
We have covers to put over outdoor faucets in case of freezing temps here, I assume the really cold places do as well.
We weak, lazy, ignorant SoCal types have a lot to learn.
Nah, you just use freeze proof faucets and make sure not to have a hose connected. I think the one I have trouble with is original from the 50s. I have a new one to replace it but I have to cut the copper pipe inside the ceiling in my basement and I just haven’t gotten around to it.
I know enough to not have a hose connected during the winter. SoCal High Desert gets cold enough occasionally for that to be ‘a thing’.
I don’t know if these faucets are ‘freeze proof’ or not, we just moved in during July. The house never had a owner occupy it before as it was an ‘investment’ by a guy in Vegas from being built until we bought it and moved in (about 10 years).
I figured the covers would ‘cover me’ in a ‘better safe than sorry’ type of way.
I would assume they are. You can take it apart to know for sure. Instead of a normal ball valve, it will have a post about 12-15 inches behind the valve handle and it actually closes at the end of that so the water is shut off inside the house. When you turn it off it should drain all the water in that 12 or so inches. That would kind of tell you as well. If you turn the faucet off and there seems to be a little delay then you should be good.
Thank you for the knowledge, will test it once it warms up again.
We only have one outdoor faucet here.
Any newer ones are easy to replace but mine is soldered in with no shut off valve since it’s from the 50s. Here’s a visual to picture how they work.
We turn the water off inside the house that goes to the outside faucet. Let the water drain out of the pipe and it’s golden.
yep this is exactly what i do as well. smart guy you are, VP
Boiler must’ve malfunctioned, water gushing out with a foot of water in the basement. Waiting for the power to get cut off so I can go down there and check it out.
A ‘malfunction’ causes water gushing?
Sounds more like something broke.
Of course I am just a weak, lazy, ignorant, SoCal type so I am probably wrong.
Glad you got there ‘relatively’ quickly.
If the boiler malfunctioned, the heat stopped working. If the heat stopped working, the pipes froze.
So the leak is from broken/frozen pipes.
Glad I wasn’t that far off.
So it is a property you are managing? You own? No Tenants in residence I assume since they would have noticed ‘no heat’.
Not frozen pipes, most likely the plate in the water meter. It’s built to give when the water freezes, it helps avoid frozen pipes & boiler.. My guess is the boiler malfunctioned, automatic shut off made it stop working. Water meter froze, plate gave away, water gushing out. The water gushing out actually helps the basement from completely freezing. I’ll get the power cut off, get the water drained, and then get the power cut back on and add heaters. Get a plumber over there to fix the boiler, hopefully avoid any major catastrophe.
i’ve dealt with it before, this ain’t my first rodeo.
I’m guessing you don’t keep wifi active when these units are empty?
No, these are all foreclosures owned by the state. I contract with the state to take care of their properties.
That’s what I thought. If you still had wifi I was going to suggest these guys. They might still be handy in active rentals you manage.
https://us.govee.com/products/wireless-water-leak-detector?variant=41613921124537
I think I only have three homes where the water is still on.
I have to look into that. I manage 55 to 60 homes, I cover the entire western 2/3 of ND.
Everything from the Montana border to Jamestown. Quite a swath.
Nice. They’re handy. We use them at work, especially in a couple locations where we have toilets or sinks on the second floor above electronic stuff.
I’ve been thinking about something like this for my homestead. THANK YOU!!
Found this on Amazon for 43 bucks. 👍👍👍
Nice, I think 3 pack with the wifi controller deal $50 at their website.
We normally shut the water and power off, but this one had a boiler so we don’t do that.
Hot water boiler? Not a steam boiler…
I know steam boilers are some work to shut down and restart but are hot water boilers hard to shutdown and restart?
They’re a pain in the ass. Even if you do it correctly, they’ll probably be damaged. We’re much better off to keep the water, heat, and power on.
Yeah, that’s how steam boilers are. 🤦♂️
This one just went through the foreclosure process, I have an order to do the clean out on February 2 so that we can sell it.
The timing is too coincidental, I have a feeling it may be sabotage. I won’t know until I can get in there. If it looks like somebody did this intentionally, then I’ll have to call the police and file a report and all that stuff.
Yep. I think the former owner has some issues, I’m pretty sure that’s who let the squatters in. There were probably eight or nine people there the first time I checked the house.
I hope you’re packing when you check on some of these places.
Nice house, too.
Meth lab? 😬
Nope. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but the basement was flooded.
Sorry man. That sucks.
Get freezyface on it, he should have it fixed in a week or two.
On our way to Feldkirch, SIL and I are enjoying the trip, it’s fun!
SKOL, have an excellent Friday everybody! 🍻
you should dye that beard purple during the season…..
do it.
The purple beard would be so awesome!!
I have never heard of Feldkirch but I hope you have a great time!
Thanks! On our way to support our local hockey team at their away game in Feldkirch. Great trip so far, hope it’ll be crowned by a win.
I was invited by some MTV STUTTGART (basketball) fans to go to a playoff game in Berlin. I signed out a bunch of drums from the local Army band and we made a lot of noise at the game. Players said that they could hear us over the local fans. Stuttgart won the game and I got to visit Berlin for a couple of days. This was a few months prior to returning for my marathon. Good times.
I might think about it for next season…
Awesome, man! Have a great time!
Thanks mate!
I’m just starting to grow mine out, hopefully I’ll have something respectable within a month or so
My shit grows fast, I won’t take long
That must be rough on your toilet.
Beards are awesome, let it grow!
Hun, you look like a Hun.
💜
Awesome! Have fun!
SKOL!
This is a really good video.
i am planning on JJ McCarthy being my favorite Vikings player next year.
Me too, kid’s gonna light it up.
Same
Excellent strategery
I am planning on JJ getting hurt again or sucking…that way I can’t be disappointed.
This it the way that long time Viking Fans cope.
Until he throws an interception, then you’ll hate him.
The driver is indicted for the accident that killed Khyree
https://www.kare11.com/article/sports/nfl/vikings/update-vikings-rookie-khyree-jackson-crash/89-f83d034f-51d7-4253-b630-c2b3a54d640d
I wrote a poem about the Vikings season based on Casey At Bat. Why? I don’t know. I thought it might be amusing. Now I have to bring my car in for a recall repair and take the wife out for breakfast…
…
The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Vikes in ‘24,
The team went 7-10, and Kirk Cousins was shown the door,
“It’s a blessing,” some said. “Kirk makes way too much money,”
“He’s immobile, and checkdown is his modus operandi.”
“But look at his yards and TDs,” others would disagree,
“Surely, that is worth 50 percent of the team’s salary!”
“Who cares we can’t afford offensive and defensive lines?”
“With Kirk and a thirty-five-mil receiver, we’ll be fine!”
But left, Kirk did, and the Vikes shifted into rebuild mode,
A season to shed salary, and get on a better road,
They just needed a stopgap quarterback to see them through,
Then the reins went to McCarthy — their bright, draft-pick jewel.
Alas, McCarthy wrecked his knee, in preseason action,
That meant Sam Darnold went from temp, to the main attraction,
Would the pressure be too much for a proven first-round bust?
“Most likely,” fans lamented. “The season’s a total loss…”
But in game one, the Vikes slayed the Giants — hip, hip hooray!
And crushed San Fran in game two — in a most decisive way,
Everyone was impressed the way Sam Darnold flung the ball,
Plus, Flores’s defense played like a ramparted purple wall.
The Texans, Packers, Jets then fell in rapid succession,
The five-oh Vikes thus began Super Bowl aspirations,
The pundits slapped their tables, and the analysists argued,
Fans painted faces, and Wilfs beamed over team value.
A heady time, with a chance to control the division,
The Vikes faced the Lions, to establish their dominion,
They arrived with swagger, prowess and confidence sublime,
Scoreboard disagreed and read — “31 to 29.”
Surely, the Vikings would get back on track against the Rams,
They were only two and four and backed by disgruntled fans,
Plus, Vikes had Justin Jefferson, making lots of moola,
Yet, loss two came from thirty-five-times-cheaper Nacua…
The Vikings refused to go gently into that dark night,
They rallied around each other and rallied up to fight,
They rattled off an impressive streak of eight victories,
And stood to make the entire league bend upon its knee.
Next up, the rival Packers — division in the balance,
The Vikings won the game, with all the grit of Jack Palance,
They entered the locker room and showered with pink champagne,
They shouted from the rooftops, “Soon, all will glory in our name!”
The showdown was then set, a rematch against the Lions,
Winner gets homefield advantage and championship buy-ins,
“We got this!” the Vikes declared. “We believe!” the fans agreed.
When the smoke cleared — “31 to 9,” the scoreboard decreed.
“No matter,” the team shook it off. “We’re still fourteen and three.”
“A record like that guarantees a wild-card victory!”
“We’re ready for the Rams this time! We’ll take the Lions next!”
“Yes!” cried the fans. “It’s our year! We will beat that Vikings hex!”
Tickets, merchandise and hope were bought in great quantities,
Countless cheers crossed 10,000 lakes in volumetric eddies,
Vikings players confidently traveled to Arizona,
They smiled, waved and presented confident personas.
The game begins! Kickoff flies through the air! And here we go!
Believe the Vikes will deliver! It’s destiny, you know!
Fifty years of frustration are about to be erased!
Fifty years of ruined dreams about to be displaced!
Certainly, our offensive line will not give up nine sacks!
Certainly, Sam Darnold will not have a panic attack!
Certainly, our defense will not give up twenty-yard plays!
Certainly, their exotic looks will give Stafford delays!
Certainly, O’Connell’s Kumbaya-style will prove true!
Certainly, Kwesi’s draft picks will contribute now anew!
Certainly, Justin Jefferson will have more than fifty yards!
Certainly, the Rams loss will be immortalized by bards!
Oh, somewhere in this favored land, the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children grin,
But there is no joy in Minnesota — the Vikings blew it again.
Awesome job.
Nicely done.
Brilliant.
Love this
I had to. 😋
Good morning, SKOL!
FTP!
GF, I know you’re not an NBA fan, but live games are a ton of fun. We’ve been lucky to know people in high places and got to have my sons entire 6th grade basketball team join us in a luxury box for his birthday, many years ago.
awesome, good to know! I’ve never been to one, so I’m looking forward to it, something new. It’ll be a fun trip, plus my son is excited to get out of school for a few days.
My son and I got free tickets once, that were three rows from the top. Even that game was fun, maybe more fun, because that is where the “real” fans sit.
We’re sitting up high, I’m not paying $300 to sit in the second tier.
I think those games are a lot of fun in person. It has been a few years but Target Center is still a good venue.
I never watch on TV until late into the playoffs.
One of those sports where there are so many games that each individual game is less important than any random NFL game.
Not to mention that basketball is boring and stupid.
My favorite non NFL sport to watch was the NHL until the North Stars left.
I really do not watch many sports on tv now. NFL, and if I feel like taking a nap, I will watch golf.
Only a couple of week to the Daytona 500. I’m hoping to do a bunch of ice fishing the next few weekends. We finally got enough of a cold spell to have some decent ice.
NASCAR sucks, more boring than golf imo.
Used to watch more. Restrictor plate racing (Dega, Daytona) i like. Drivers don’t like much, creates pack racing. I guess i wouldn’t either if driving 200+ with a guy a foot off bumper.
I liked Rockingham and Darlington the most, but they are gone now. Bristol and the road courses are fun and to watch.
Some of those mile and a half tracks bore me. Been to 1 race, Chicago. Didn’t like.
The new package did better on the mile and a halfs. Not a fan of how it raced on the short tracks and the suspension breaks too easily. Light bump to the wall with the rear of the car can take a car out for the race now. They have figured out and are now allowed to change them on the fly now, but definitely something they should address.
I’ve heard that about Chicago and Kansas raceways.
Chicago was a street course in 2024.
Rockingham is back this year (might be just Xfinity and trucks) and Darlington is in April
I will have to watch for those, those were the best races, and now with no one being to familiar with them it should get interesting.
Thinking of restrictor plates, you should check out the Atlanta race. They redid the track a couple of years ago. It’s still a mile and a half but they banked it like Daytona.
I used to like NASCAR until they went to the race to the chase. And now they have the segments, which I find dumb.
I don’t watch as much as I used to but I still enjoy it. I don’t mind the new playoff.
Not to play it.
It has gotten that way to watch it and attend games.
I grew up playing it and it is sad to see it’s decline due to woke BS, rules being seldom enforced, players acting like punks, etc, etc.
Hopefully your sons favorite player actually plays that night. That’s the problem with the NBA, load management is what they call it.
The T’wolves usually do not rest their players. Ant has the same mentality as MJ, the people are here to see me play, so I’m going to play.
Yeah, I was referring more to the away team. Ants a stud, fun to watch. He’ll definitely be playing.
Speaking about the wolves, the KAT trade not looking to great for us. I know it was a money thing, but man, it would’ve been interesting seeing what this team was capable of doing if they would’ve kept the band together for a couple of more seasons.
Yeah the name that cannot be pronounced from the Bucks does take time off now and then.
1st
Skol
FTP
FTL
FT*
Rec for being first!
Skol
FTP
FTL
FT*
Rec for Rec-ing all of the points, especially FTP.