@shadow_queene That's always nice.

Yes, today is veterans day.

To all who served, we the people of CoSo thank you for your service to our democratic republic.

@BFBucky1 @feloneouscat

I grew up in California. Droughts are nothing new. I realize clmate change is happening, and more importantly, reliance on ground water and the elimination of wetland areas has depleted aquifers.

But I grew up in a dought that lasted more than 10 years, when dust-storms blotted out the Sun. We used to laugh at bridges over the Kern River with signs posted "No diving or jumping from bridge" when there was nothing but dirt and sand below.

@BFBucky1 @feloneouscat

Stop being silly. Lettuce is mostly grown along the coast where there is no drought at all. Lettuce needs a cooler climate than in the valley.

The map tells you a lot about what's being affected so far as agriculture and livestock go. Remember, less grass/alfalfa means more feed and more $$$ so you see livestock reductions.

Texas, for example, produces more cattle than any other state and is deeply affected. Worse, they are trying to reduce their latino cattlemen.

@BFBucky1 @feloneouscat

California dought is mostly over. The mid-West and Southwest are in a drought.

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

@BFBucky1 @feloneouscat

Relax a bit. None of them operate in a vacuum. Whatever is done will have a reaction. They are not unconstrained by consequences whether they like it or not.

They may overcome some guardrails within the Administration and be enabled by Congress, but there is more to the country and controlling the country than Washington.

@feloneouscat @BFBucky1

Florida does have some self-inflicted problems, but I don't think lettuce is one of them. Almost all lettuce (70%) is grown in California, and most of the rest is grown in temperate zones in Ariziona.

Florida Ag is Citrus, peppers, watermellons, and other crops that grow well in warmer humid conditions.

@BFBucky1 @feloneouscat

Yeah, Ukrainian grain prices have a big impact in Europe and Africa,. I realize we live in a global market (thankfully during the Winter months especially), but shipping costs put a lid on us usually not having an over-abundance of grain staples. But not in a drought.

@feloneouscat @FreedomATX @SaltyVeruca

I obviously loathe Trump's behavior. However, there are enough of the electorate who manage to drag themselves to the polls that just vote against the top of the ticket if they think things are headed the wrong direction in their personal lives. It isn't deep.

It's happening across the advance nations irrespective of political leanings: the party in charge at the top of the ticket are losing more elections.

@feloneouscat Some supply is still broken for other reasons.

Take Beef, for example. Droughts in cattle producing states have lead to reduced herd sizes. Beef isn't coming down. Same with lamb. Not happening. Chicken prices are reverting toward normal though.

Part of what we are seeing in the grocery store is climate related. Part of it is demand driven. Why would I lower prices if people are still buying the crap out of things?

@feloneouscat

Meh, people were saving to the point personal savings skyrocketed to levels I had not seen in my lifetime during the lockdowns.

When the lockdowns ended, all that pent-up demand was chasing fewer goods while supply chains were still crippled.

Look at what prices dropped and which did not because a lot of prices did reset somewhat. Were retail grocers, producers and suppliers hesitant to cut prices on many items? Yes, because people were still buying.

@SaltyVeruca @feloneouscat

rolling eyes. shaking head.

@feloneouscat They won't stop being silly. Sure, elevate somebody who lost an election to be a lame duck President to accomplish what exactly? A footnote in a history book?

It's like they want to play right into right-wing narratives or both-sides arguments.

@redenigma In Dearborn there was that (though egg prices are not fine, IMO--groceries in general, however, are still much higher).

The other problem in Dearborn was Gaza, and again an electorate which doesn't quite get how things work voted third party or not at all.

In Dearborn, where nearly half of the 110,000 residents are of Arab descent, Vice President Kamala Harris received over 2,500 fewer votes than Trump, who became the first Republican presidential candidate since former President George W. Bush in 2000 to win the city. Harris also lost neighboring Dearborn Heights to Trump, who in his previous term as president banned travel from several mostly-Muslim countries.

US House Update:

Looking at the results as they are coming in, Republicans will will most likely control the House. They will, however, have a slim majority and will not be able to afford many defections.

That's the best news I can give you in a brief update.

@dauphin87

My whole career has been about the internet, baackend systems, e-commerce.

Has it made the world better? It has been both a blessing and a curse.

@feloneouscat

People were pissed their grocery bills went up.

It's not deep. That's happening all over regardless of the political leanings of the party in power.

Everything else is marginal.

@nopuppet_007 Lot of problems with that list.

Better find better sources. That's poorly researched, would punish the innocent, and not accomplish the goals the list maker has stated.

@JV3MJD

I'm too old to give a shit about something I can't change, so all I can do is is pay attention as things happen and come up with a new plan.