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Thu, Dec 11, 2025

6:54pm EST

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What Is Sum1 Up To Today?

by Jim

Rated: 13+ · Book · Travel · #1779685

Being Retired now, I thought that it was time for a new name to this Blog

Talk about perks, my career had one of the best I can think of! I traveled in the course of business, delivering classes for my employer. I was a Senior Training Specialist for Motorola Solutions, and taught classes on a wide variety of subjects centered around 2-way radio communications. I knew that when the time arrived that I would retire, and I have. I've always said that if you can't stand the heat in the kitchen, get out! I can't handle the heat anymore. I was qualified to deliver approximately 32 different classes, but about half of those were 'Legacy' classes, and were not in demand anymore. My students were technicians, those who maintained, programmed, calibrated, and repaired large 2-way radio systems. Some of these systems are statewide, and use TCP-IP networking to allow sites to communicate with others. Some are small, traditional type radio sites. The size doesn't matter, in each case the systems must be kept operational at all times, since many of them are Public Safety Systems. So I traveled, sometimes frequently, 3-4 weeks in a row.... where have I been?

Some of the places I've been (I can't list them all here, the list would be too long) are pretty interesting.

1. Hawaii - Four times, Oahu, Maui (twice), and the Big Island
2. BangkokThailand, twice
3. Frankfurt Germany, twice
4. Algiers, Algeria
5. Melbourne Australia
6. Bismarck North Dakota, Summer & Winter
7. Los Angeles, Too many times to count
8. Washington DC, Too many times to count
9. Seattle three or four times
10. Texas, all over the state
11. Florida, all over the state
12. New Mexico, HOME! Several times

A signature for exclusive use for members with Honorable Mentions in the 2019 Quill Awards

Best Cultural And Regional Honorable Mention

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

JACE

about 9 hours ago
In response to "Seeing My Oncologist"

I'm very glad to hear your good report, Jim. You are indeed a lucky man.

My next scans aren't until April (that's every six months). I worry that's a long time between any definitive checks. But I feel great ... so I'm going with that.

Take care, my friend.

Soldier_Mike

about 20 hours ago
In response to "Seeing My Oncologist"

And we are all so glad for you, that things are going so well.

Winter Wonderin' Wanderin'

Dec 9, 2025 at 1:15pm
In response to "Traiff's, Tariff's, Alcohol Tariff's?"

Well said/explained jaynglebells. Canadians do not need the sale of American liquor to support charities.

JACE

Dec 9, 2025 at 10:02am
In response to "Traiff's, Tariff's, Alcohol Tariff's?"

Oh, and Jim

, I think it just takes the poison a bit longer to work.

JACE

Dec 9, 2025 at 10:00am
In response to "Traiff's, Tariff's, Alcohol Tariff's?"

Jayngle Bells

- thanks for the explanation from the Canadian view. I've wondered about that. Frankly, I believe the manner in which Trump went about tariffs was deplorable, and has in turn hurt US businesses, farmers and consumers. It's incumbent upon a country's leaders to take care of their country, which is not what's happening here in some respects.

As S🤦‍♂️

says when the US finally pulls its head out of its collective a**, the markets we used to enjoy will not be available. I'm not an economist, but you don't need a business degree to see tariffs aren't the way to prosperity.

S🤦‍♂️

Dec 9, 2025 at 1:22am
In response to "Traiff's, Tariff's, Alcohol Tariff's?"

Of course, if it's USian beer, then what's the problem? It's like making love in a canoe, after all...

Sorry.

Our country had issues with beef being taxed to unaffordability, so we just found a few new markets. And when the US backs off, they may find Australian beef is no longer available. After all, we do not take US beef (except for pet food). The US is building a rod for its own back.

I have gained a few US friends over the years and my publishing career is based around the USA, but when I can't get Christmas presents from my friends in the USA because of taxes on everything being sent to Australia that is not a card or envelope, then it feels like the USA does not want the world to play with it anymore. Isolationism might be a fine principle, but in the modern world, how practical is it?

Jayngle Bells

Dec 8, 2025 at 8:35pm
In response to "Traiff's, Tariff's, Alcohol Tariff's?"

Thanks for sharing that, Jim. Just to clarify: Canadian provinces didn’t pull U.S. alcohol because we’re “mad at America,” and it isn’t a permanent blanket ban. It was part of a coordinated response during the tariff dispute between our governments.

At the time:

1. The U.S. was openly discussing treating Canada as an extension of America (specifically calling us the 51st state), despite Canada being a sovereign country and part of the Commonwealth.
2. Some of those statements explicitly framed pressuring us to submit to the USA in economic terms (via “economic force”).
3. Then the U.S. imposed significant tariffs on targeted Canadian industries in order to damage our economy.
4. Retaliation in trade is standard practice. I’m surprised so many were surprised we responded by doing similar targeted responses. And, as a Canadian, we are sorry it came to this. That said, we are Canadian, and expect our government to respond as necessary to trade disputes.
5. Not much has changed in the grand scheme of things since this all started.

Please understand I’m saying this from a political angle only. Many of my real-life friends are American, and we get along fine. But given the trade tensions, it was expected that Canada would respond in a way that hit U.S. exports where it mattered. Pulling U.S. beer, wine, and spirits wasn’t random. It targeted industries tied to specific states, which placed pressure upward through governors and trade representatives.

I’m also not surprised this didn’t get much coverage in U.S. news. From Canada’s perspective it was a national policy issue; from the U.S. perspective, it may not have registered as a major domestic story.

I do want to gently push back on the question, “Why can’t they donate like this all the time instead of when they’re mad at America?” Liquor sales, in both countries, are a for-profit supply chain. Charitable sales aren’t the normal business model on either side of the border. That said, Canadians and Canadian businesses donate to charity regularly. This situation was just unusual in reason, scale, and timing. I know some folks think we’re full socialists up here, but we’re not. We’re capitalists with a few extra regulations and some reasonable social safety nets (but certainly not perfect, either).

As for the “expiring” alcohol, Bob is right, and Canadians know it’s not that the liquor becomes unsafe. Products with 40%+ alcohol content are shelf-stable for many years if stored properly. The issue is quality, not safety, since eventually the taste profile can degrade, which means it no longer meets retail standards. That kind of write-off happens all the time; we just don’t normally see it at this volume.

Your home liquor stash is fine. Mine is too, including the bottle of Jack Daniels I bought right before it disappeared from shelves.

I did a whole thing on tariffs in general when this first started. It’s here: "That's Not a Tariff. That's Not How Tariffs Work."

3 Like

Waltz Invictus

Dec 8, 2025 at 8:05pm
In response to "Traiff's, Tariff's, Alcohol Tariff's?"

Some liquor doesn't effectively expire, except insofar as, eventually, everything expires. Others may change in flavor in a way that's unpleasant or unintended by the manufacturer. It's mostly fermented beverages that have a shorter shelf life.

1 Like

SantaBee

Dec 6, 2025 at 6:30pm
In response to "A Not So Pleasant Surprise"

I prefer cash myself. It's hard because even when you are careful - BAM! I always go inside to pay at the pump. I don't trust any of the gas pump stations. Glad your bank denied the charges!! Stay safe out there. Ppl and Gangsta's want your money!!

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 6, 2025 at 3:54pm
In response to "A Not So Pleasant Surprise"

I did have an issue when I was in Thailand in January. I prefer using cash but it's nigh on impossible to travel without a card.

December 6, 2025 at 12:53pm

#1103076

A Not So Pleasant Surprise

A Not So Pleasant Surprise

Yesterday I thought I'd lie down to nap. As usual, I lay there for maybe 30 minutes. When I checked my phone later, I found that my bank's Fraud & Protection group had called me SIX times! Oh Lordy.

I immediately called them and learned that my bank card had been compromised once again. It all started when I filled my van at a Quik-n-EZ. When I inserted my card at the first pump, the display said, "Chip Card Cannot Be Read. Pay Inside". I was on the outside line, far from the cashier, instead of walking there, I moved the van to a different pump. This one operated just fine. And that's when things started.

The next charge, or attempted charge, was for $74, at the same location. They also tried to sign me up for an account on some website. My bank declined both of those charges. Lucky me. I ended up visiting the bank and getting a new card. Except now I need to make sure that the 3-4 'auto-pays' have the correct card listed. I know the auto-pay thing is so convenient, but there are times where I wish I paid everything with cash. It's so much safer! Once you have an internet presence, you give up your privacy, and as far as money goes, you are not safe! Thank God my bank is pretty diligent about their Fraud detection.

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