Delarage
Delarage's JournalMarilyn Manson--Lunchbox
I love the take-the-bully down message 
And Madonna Wayne Gacy and Twiggy look cool AF in the video.
Going to Denver (again)
Well, work is taking me to Denver again (arriving on 6/20 at 1:45). Conference starts the next day. On Friday, I have already planned to see Widespread Panic at Red Rocks--super-stoked about that! Except we leave crack-of-dawn on Saturday, so probably will sleep on plane back to Philly.
My conference is in the Denver Tech Center, which is about 40 minutes from downtown by light rail (I think). Bummed that I'm not downtown this time and that I won't have time to get to Rocky Mountain National Park. But any recommendations of natural beauty that I could take in from mid-afternoon on on the 20th?
I managed a quick trip to Golden the last time I was there (in February) and got back to conference on time after breakfast at the Golden Diner.
From what I've heard, the DTC area is kind of boring and I want to get away ASAP while I have some free time after arrival.
Any suggestions welcome!!!!
Florida to help protect the US border against the workers it needs.
Republicans need to get serious about immigration reform; instead of illegally hiring people (including children) and paying them a pittance--no complaints for fear of getting caught--they should be happy that people want to come to the US and work. The shortage of workers / the people trying to come to work could not be a more obvious solution to multiple problems. They need work and we need workers. Hmmm..........
Another beach business in Rehoboth (The Royal Treat) is closing--partly due to the family aging out of the business and partly due to a lack of workers. Somehow I never managed to get there, but it apparently was good. It's a shame. A lot of the seasonal beach places in Delaware hire teens from abroad to work (a lot seem to be from eastern Europe).
Recent shooting at mall in Delaware
A 17-year old and his two younger accomplices had some kind of argument at the food court at the Christiana Mall in Delaware. The 17-year-old shooter shot several people (no deaths, fortunately) but there was pandemonium at the mall. I know several people who were there when it happened. Our local newspaper interviewed some folks that were there, including 13-year-old Penny and her younger siblings. I'm afraid the article may be for subscribers only, but I'll link anyway. But some of their thoughts really struck me:
“I always knew a shock like this would happen to me," 7-year-old Andy told his oldest sister, "but I thought it would be at school."
[link:https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/04/10/christiana-mall-shooting-wilmington-delaware-children-recount-escape/70097139007/|
Update on my HVAC plans
So...there are all these rebates & credits (local, state, and federal) aimed at encouraging people to electrify (to get away from fossil fuel use in homes--and eventually the system will provide cleaner energy; I'd prefer being off the grid entirely, but that's another topic).
My scenario is that I rent out a townhouse (my sister and I inherited from our mother) to a low-income man and his dog.
So I thought Delaware was ready to roll and made a previous post about that. Turns out, only part of the program is up and running. The tax credits at the end of the year are ready (because they have time) and the equipment criteria for that are ready. Other parts are not ready--still being worked out and fought over in state offices--but "may" apply retroactively.
My tenant's AC is leaking and the system is 16 years old, inefficient by modern standards, and it's bad for the earth to re-charge if you know it's leaking. Also, it's very expensive/not worth it to try to find leak. Multiple techs have told me that it's usually in a non-fixable spot. And if you do fix one leak, another one pops up.
I went ahead and signed up for whatever rebates I could get in order to get a heat pump (Bosch) and a heat pump water heater (he has the necessary space for it). Hoping that the HEERA rebates will, in fact, be retroactively applied (since renters can also use them). Still coming in around 9K when all is said and done---not too bad for new high-efficiency HVAC and water heaters with 10 year warranties.
I'm attaching the HEERA information for low to moderate income people (as well as a search tool to see if you're low to moderate income).
]https://assets.ctfassets.net/v4qx5q5o44nj/7LiHS6hhVKaIdph8bdVV8b/fbac70d0d6e74ce7a467ad526d47af29/HEEHRA_factsheet.pdf
[link:https://ami-lookup-tool.fanniemae.com/amilookuptool/|
Joe Biden and I
Just got estimates for new HVAC equipment from the same local company... one that works with Energize Delaware a lot. The guy who came for me had just come from the President's house.
I have an AC unit (central air) and a natural gas furnace. The AC unit leaks and has been patched together the last couple years. I figured I'd look into new equipment with the new rebates (thanks to President Biden). Leaning towards a Bosch heat pump with a natural gas backup. Also leaning towards replacing gas water heater with a heat pump water heater. The rebates on the water heater are AMAZING. It will end up being cheaper than some crap off the shelf at Home Depot!
Delaware Little League Coach Suspended over anti-trans Tweets
Just suspended as of now....but definitely hurtful comments. I hope he is fired or quits.
[link:https://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/newark-national-little-league-suspends-coach-over-anti-transgender-comments/article_380fdd3d-b1b0-5e2c-baf4-d6d2f1b36134.html?utm_source=newarkpostonline.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Ftop-five%2F%3Fj%26-dc%3D1681466419&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline|
Eek--may need free account to read, but here is the gist:
The Twitter account – which was deleted Thursday night – was open to the public and used the Newark National logo as its profile picture. The account was a mix of Poppiti's musings on sports and right-wing politics, but most of the comments in question came in response to posts by celebrities and news outlets.
If you have a car, how old is it?
A discussion about Christmas car commercials prompted a great discussion that got me thinking (and proud!) about my vehicles:
1997 Corolla (395,000 miles)
2000 Ford Ranger (90 k miles)
I generally do the oil changes and tune-up on the Corolla myself, since it's pretty open and easy to work on. Cheap parts, gets about 34 MPG on average. I change the oil on the Ranger (although the oil filter is insanely difficult to reach and makes me cuss in my driveway) but it's a V6 and is too hard to tune-up myself (so I have a kid I know who is into cars do it for me). It gets horrible mileage but is useful for home/yard projects (and moving stuff) and is a good back up. I bought the Corolla off Craigslist when it had about 150,000 miles on it (for $3000) and, unbeknownst to me, got myself one of the most reliable versions of the Corolla ever made....although it has succumbed to the piston ring issue that is common for that engine and now drinks some oil. The kid who works on cars says it will last another 400K miles if I let him put new rings on it. Not sure, though, since the car's worth about $500. But I am thinking about it 
Arrived in Denver!
What a beautiful city! 50° today, feels like almost 60°. Going to a Denver Nuggets game tonight after my training, looking to squeeze in a tour company trip to the Rockies/Red Rocks. Might be doable!
And huge bonus: there is a great Armenian restaurant here I am going to try to get to. Along with the Denver biscuit company. Love the mountains & bright blue skies! Delaware is all gray and blah during the winter.
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Wilmington, DE
Home country: United States
Member since: 2001
Number of posts: 2,186
