The Peckish Synapse

[Grumpy Bear]

You all know the difference between the foot a carpenter measures and the foot a machinist measures and the foot the National Bureau of Standards measures, right? The degree of precision required depends on the task at hand. The seller is good with anything within the short side of legal with a nod and a wink but the buyer want's exactitude.

The bean counters want exactitude. The Engineer wants it to work with enough cushion to cover the reasonably unknown and unforeseeable. The Consumer wants to never worry no matter how silly he is in using that product. Two of those three are going to be disappointed.

If I live in the bean counters world I'd never start my truck. When I live in the Engineers world I'm mindful of it's design limits and accommodate them if possible and look for ways to eliminate it's insufficiencies. Find the weak link and modify as required.

They guy in the Consumers world runs it be damned and lives with whatever consequences are met out. Then cries and whines "It shouldn't do that"! And he/she's right, it shouldn't but it does.

This pickup I own has a tow/haul rating but the OEM knows that 98% of all users will never put more than a bag of sand in the bed or ever put a hitch on it so the cooling system is designed such and even on very hot days it's not quite up to the scrutiny of the National Bureau of Standards types of performance. It's flat out of control in town on a steamy day but as a percentage of it's working life that is well withing the number of bends one can subject a coat hanger to without breaking. Consumer doesn't notice, bean counters are happy and the engineer looks away.

None of that means there isn't an issue that can and should be addressed. Most of the vehicles I've bought the last two decades have cooling limits I'd rather they didn't or lubrication issues that are shameful so I'm mindful, accommodating as much as possible and always looking for solutions to expand my operating window and lengthen my beloved machines life.

None of it has to be done if you don't mind the limit that places on you.

And there is the stumbling block. An Engineer writing to the consumer who sees only the consumers viewpoint. Are not interested in anything but that view point and would rather whine and cry "It shouldn't do that" than do something about it even if shown the "why, what and how" to to accomplish it. They would rather continue to bend the coat hanger, toss it before it breaks and look at coat hangers as indestructible.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2025 by Grumpy Bear

[Atlas]

The overlapping agreement of accountants, legal staff, engineers, and consumers, is that the powertrain in these trucks should last at least 5 years and 60,000 miles (or 100k, if you happen to own a diesel, in the case of GM fullsize trucks). Some parts are warranted for longer, and some less.

[customboss]

“Corn Sweat” talk about peckish synapse issues. 
 

Discuss. 
 

Weather Where corn sweat exacerbated heat, and where sultry conditions will spread Corn sweat, the exhalation of water vapor through leaves, and a heat dome made it feel like it was 128 degrees in the Plains. Now high heat and humidity is headed to the East. Today at 04:16 MT Storm clouds build near Platte City, Missouri. (Charlie Riedel/AP) By Ben Noll Sultry air over the central United States — fueled by a heat dome, corn sweat and tropical winds from warmer than average Atlantic Ocean temperatures — will spread eastward in the days ahead, bringing record temperatures to parts of the U.S. Over the past several days, dew points, a direct measure of humidity, were just a few degrees short of national records in the Corn Belt. The combination of heat and humidity exacerbated by corn fields caused heat index values to surge to 128 degrees in southern Missouri, 117 degrees in western Kentucky and 116 degrees in central Iowa this week. Now, that heat will spread into other states. On Thursday, the most oppressively hot conditions will be found in the Midwest and Great Lakes before surging Friday into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, where temperatures will near 100 degrees in some places. Dangerous and long-duration heat will settle in the Southeast and redevelop in the Corn Belt into next week — with heat indexes of up to 120 degrees possible. Over the next week, more than 180 temperature records will be challenged or broken, especially at night, as 100 million people are covered by heat alerts and a more humid than normal summer continues. Serious summer heat is expected over the next week, with an unusual multiday stretch of temperatures above 100 degrees from the Southeast to northern Florida. (Ben Noll/The Washington Post; data source: ECMWF) Maximum humidity in the Corn Belt Meteorologists use dew point thresholds to describe and communicate humidity; values above 75 degrees qualify as rainforest-like — or in this case, cornfield-like. The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes fully saturated with moisture, causing water vapor to condense into dew. Here are the highest dew point and heat index values observed in the Corn Belt from Monday to Wednesday, according to weather stations operated by the National Weather Service: Daryl Herzmann, who works in the department of agronomy at Iowa State University, cautioned that some weather stations could be “buried on all sides in corn,” reporting humidity levels that are representative of the corn field itself. Corn can release up to 4,000 gallons of water per acre into the lower atmosphere each day, a process known as evapotranspiration, contributing to extreme humidity and flooding rainfall. The 88-degree dew point observed in southern Missouri — where a heat index of 128 degrees occurred around midday Wednesday — was measured at an airport, where Herzmann noted there are stricter rules around clearing vegetation near weather instrumentation. In more populated places in Missouri, such as St. Louis and Kansas City, heat indexes reached 107 degrees. Where heat will go next Extreme heat and humidity aren’t going away for at least another week as a heat dome continues to blow in tropical air and corn keeps sweating. Here’s an overview of where dangerous heat will be into next week. There's a major-to-extreme risk for heat-related impacts across many states over the next week, with dangerous heat index values expected. (Ben Noll/The Washington Post; data source: NOAA) Thursday There’s a major risk for heat-related impacts from the Mid-South to the Great Lakes, including Memphis, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Numerous overnight temperature records are forecast to be approached or exceeded, meaning there will be little relief from heat at night. Friday High heat will move into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, where widespread temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s are expected — though afternoon thunderstorms will temper heat across the interior. A few locations could reach 100 degrees, such as in central New Jersey and around Philadelphia, Baltimore and D.C., though late-day downpours will probably keep most places just below the century mark. Saturday Though not quite as hot as Friday, it will be another sultry day in the Mid-Atlantic. The hottest weather will be found in Virginia and the Carolinas, where 100-degree temperatures are likely, including areas south of Richmond and near Charlotte. Heat index values may reach 110 degrees. Sunday Dangerous heat will expand and intensify in the Southeast, with triple-digit high temperatures and heat index values of up to 115 degrees stretching from Virginia to Georgia — leading to an extreme risk (Level 4 out of 4) for heat-related impacts, according to NOAA. Extreme humidity will return to the Corn Belt, sending heat index values toward 115 to 120 degrees in some places. Monday Exceptional humidity combined with high heat may cause widespread and dangerous heat index values of 110 to 120 degrees in the Southeast, Florida and the Corn Belt. Meteorologist Brad Panovich wrote that an unusual multiday stretch of 100-degree temperatures is likely in Charlotte — perhaps the longest on record there. More than 180 high-temperature records are forecast to be neared or broken in the next week. (Ben Noll/The Washington Post; data source: NOAA) When will the heat wane? There could be some relief next month. There are signs it may turn notably cooler in central and eastern states around the start of August. Below-average temperatures could reach as far south as the Southeast during the first week of next month, as an air mass from northern Greenland dives southward. This surge of cooler air shouldn’t be mistaken for the end of summer, as above-average heat and humidity will probably return during mid-August.

 

Ben Noll is a meteorologist passionate about explaining the why behind the weather, extreme events and climate trends. He has expertise in data analysis, supercomputer-driven graphics and forecasting weather worldwide.

WAPO 

[davester]

Ben should develop at least a marginal interest in paragraphs and how to use them effectively, if he is interested in getting people to read his stuff.

[PhilB]

6 hours ago, davester said:

Ben should develop at least a marginal interest in paragraphs and how to use them effectively, if he is interested in getting people to read his stuff.

I think it was the way it was copied from the original source site - The Washington Post.  I can't see the entire article because I don't have a subscription, but here is the link to it: 

https://t.co/MZzyyQjN8H

 

[diyer2]

[customboss]

8 hours ago, davester said:

Ben should develop at least a marginal interest in paragraphs and how to use them effectively, if he is interested in getting people to read his stuff.

I copied and pasted it. Sorry. 

[customboss]

2 hours ago, PhilB said:

I think it was the way it was copied from the original source site - The Washington Post.  I can't see the entire article because I don't have a subscription, but here is the link to it: 

https://t.co/MZzyyQjN8H

 

Why I copied and pasted it. 

[Grumpy Bear]

 

Willfulness 

 

I thought this constant hateful stirring of the pot might actually have something to do with me. It doesn't.

 

I belong to several groups and each has the same pattern with different people. In each group there is someone or a few someone's with a deep knowledge about one or a few topics who are there to be helpful and to be helped. And in each group of tens of thousands of participants there are a a handful of disruptors. 

 

When the helpful are isolated from the disruptors the disruptors turn on each other. Interesting that. 

 

Good to know. 

 

But something more happens. These disruptors pray on the strong in a frontal attack but the weak in an insidious and destructive way. They put doubt in minds. Doubts that paralyze action. Foster Indecision. And get people to deny evidence presented that sits right in front of their face.  

 

Pouring over dozens of threads on multiple sites I find much useful information. I also find a pattern of people that are reading the same things I am and missing the point, the conclusions and benefits of that information. 

 

These disruptors are WILFUL. The weak are WILFUL

 

"Willful" is the American English spelling, while "wilful" is the British English variant. Both terms mean intentionally bad or stubbornly determined to do what one wants, even if it's wrong

 

You can't change the mind of or even purposely inform the willful. But there are tens of thousands who read silently as I do many post gleaning nuggets of helpful truths. It remains worth the attempt.

 

The weakly willful will remain ignorant and suffer for it. The disruptively willful can not be silenced and will always be with us. It's just noise. 

 

Edited July 28, 2025 by Grumpy Bear

[Atlas]

Every dang post, man.

 

[jwhjr]

4 minutes ago, Atlas said:

Every dang post, man.

 

Yes it's exhausting.  

[jwhjr]

2 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

Willfulness 

 

I thought this constant hateful stirring of the pot might actually have something to do with me. It doesn't.

 

I belong to several groups and each has the same pattern with different people. In each group there is someone or a few someone's with a deep knowledge about one or a few topics who are there to be helpful and to be helped. And in each group of tens of thousands of participants there are a a handful of disruptors. 

 

When the helpful are isolated from the disruptors the disruptors turn on each other. Interesting that. 

 

Good to know. 

 

But something more happens. These disruptors pray on the strong in a frontal attack but the weak in an insidious and destructive way. They put doubt in minds. Doubts that paralyze action. Foster Indecision. And get people to deny evidence presented that sits right in front of their face.  

 

Pouring over dozens of threads on multiple sites I find much useful information. I also find a pattern of people that are reading the same things I am and missing the point, the conclusions and benefits of that information. 

 

These disruptors are WILFUL. The weak are WILFUL

 

"Willful" is the American English spelling, while "wilful" is the British English variant. Both terms mean intentionally bad or stubbornly determined to do what one wants, even if it's wrong

 

You can't change the mind of or even purposely inform the willful. But there are tens of thousands who read silently as I do many post gleaning nuggets of helpful truths. It remains worth the attempt.

 

The weakly willful will remain ignorant and suffer for it. The disruptively willful can not be silenced and will always be with us. It's just noise. 

 

Oh, willfulness—the spice of any good internet group stew! Without it, how would we ever distinguish between the humble truth-seekers and the keyboard conquistadors, valiantly defending their right to be aggressively misinformed?

 

I must admit, I too once labored under the tragic delusion that the pot-stirring might be about me. Alas, it turns out I’m merely a spectator in the Colosseum of Comment Sections, where the willful gladiators swing their rhetorical swords at shadows. And lo! When the helpful ones take their ball and go home, the disruptors begin to eat their own! Shakespeare couldn’t have written a better farce.

 

And let us not forget the real pièce de résistance: the insidious undermining of the uncertain. A noble act, if your life’s goal is to paralyze progress and sow enough doubt to derail even the most basic of understandings. Who needs facts when you can just feel your way through misinformation?

 

Yes, these brave disruptors are not merely mistaken - they are WILFUL. A rare breed, possessed by the unwavering commitment to missing the point on purpose. The weak are willful. The strong are attacked. The threads are long. The conclusions are skipped like a Terms of Service agreement.

 

But don’t worry. Somewhere, in the silent majority, someone is scrolling and nodding quietly, harvesting morsels of truth like digital truffle pigs.

 

So carry on, O willful warriors of the web. The rest of us have noise-canceling headphones.

Edited July 28, 2025 by jwhjr

[customboss]

2 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

Willfulness 

 

I thought this constant hateful stirring of the pot might actually have something to do with me. It doesn't.

 

I belong to several groups and each has the same pattern with different people. In each group there is someone or a few someone's with a deep knowledge about one or a few topics who are there to be helpful and to be helped. And in each group of tens of thousands of participants there are a a handful of disruptors. 

 

When the helpful are isolated from the disruptors the disruptors turn on each other. Interesting that. 

 

Good to know. 

 

But something more happens. These disruptors pray on the strong in a frontal attack but the weak in an insidious and destructive way. They put doubt in minds. Doubts that paralyze action. Foster Indecision. And get people to deny evidence presented that sits right in front of their face.  

 

Pouring over dozens of threads on multiple sites I find much useful information. I also find a pattern of people that are reading the same things I am and missing the point, the conclusions and benefits of that information. 

 

These disruptors are WILFUL. The weak are WILFUL

 

"Willful" is the American English spelling, while "wilful" is the British English variant. Both terms mean intentionally bad or stubbornly determined to do what one wants, even if it's wrong

 

You can't change the mind of or even purposely inform the willful. But there are tens of thousands who read silently as I do many post gleaning nuggets of helpful truths. It remains worth the attempt.

 

The weakly willful will remain ignorant and suffer for it. The disruptively willful can not be silenced and will always be with us. It's just noise. 

 

Will is the "I" or intellect/brain.  Western thought is focused on the I. 

 

"ME" is your body in whole and allowing the intellect/brain to override the body, feelings, etc.   

 

Religion as Grumpy fully accepts is focusing on past and future but very little in PRESENT.   

 

Even science is just a language of the I. 

 

Until a person accepts that all we have is RIGHT NOW we don't really live fully.  I have been in tremendous pain for 45+ years and now that the old brain is slipping all I have is the present. 

 

Jesus lived in the present, at least the myth we have of his life. 

 

If your being isn't gonna be fantastic until you receive your " reward" after you die you are to be pitied. 

 

Grumpy you are the epitome of willful by your own definition.  

 

The ME is not a selfish ME but a complete human who has the balls to live life for others by being healthy enough to help others, not lecture them. 

 

Just sharing.  

 

 

[Donstar]

The part I enjoy about talking to people on forums like this is sharing without personal commitment.  I get to hear and learn from others and log off if I've had enough.  I see another thread on "Off Topic" is temporarily blocked because of personal spats between people who have never seen or heard the person(s) they are fighting.  I am fascinated learning about how and why others' beliefs or opinions differ from mine.  It's a no brainer that people with opposing beliefs to mine don't agree with my beliefs.  Maybe if I talk smack  to an online person s/he will adopt my beliefs....   Please be polite and respectful.  

[diyer2]

Why argue/debate? Everybody believe what you want because it's not going to change things. 

Edited July 31, 2025 by diyer2