Message Forum

Lance,

I saw that YouTube video with Gen. McInerney about 6 days ago, and thought it was newsworthy, but then I heard that Sidney Powell was made fun of, by many in the press, which didn't surprise me, but I decided to see if the McInerney story came to the forefront. It appears that it is being held down by most, and totally denounced by others. The story, about a server being recovered in Germany, with some CIA officials being killed, is also being quashed, so it's hard to know the truth. But in these very suspicious times, we don't know who to believe, do we? I KNOW not to believe what I hear on Mainstream Media, but then we also hear stories about who owns YouTube, so again, everything I hear and you hear or read, is difficult to decipher.

In what way are Kurt and I being naive? We have just stated what the Dems are pushing forward, as fast as they can, are we not? We may be getting ahead of our skiis, but what we were speaking of in previous posts, is coming down the pike, don't you agree? Whether it happens in the next few years, or whether it is held at bay for 7,8, 10 years is not too important. The point is, IT'S WHAT THE PROGRESSIVES DESIRE & it's coming.

Yes, the immediate problem of the foulness of the election is at hand, but you see what is happening, do you not? The huge wave of the cover-up and the force of THE MEDIA'S STORY, plus the "great ignoring and indignation" of the Dems who are shouting, "THe Republicans are subverting Democracy," is all that anyone of us anywhere is hearing, right? So what do you suggest Kurt and I do, to tell the world, "We're not buying it!" Do you have a solution? I'm sure when you speak of what you have read, just as you did in your post, you get people telling you, "Shut the front door!" That's what I get when I say basically the same thing.

I also heard about the KRACKEN being a platoon of Marines, from the McInerney story.

12/01/20 07:10 PM

#19551

During our 1968 football season, senior year, our journalism department planned on the State Journalism for high schools, meeting at SMU the middle week in October. I was taking journalism from Mrs. Wilma? Williams and went along with 100 or so other RHS'ers.

Late in the planning, Richard Nixon decided to attend this meeting and they arranged a rally at Moody Colesium. This was the 1968 Presidential campaignn, two-three weeks before the election.

Running that year were Nixon, Humphrey, Wallace, and I believe there was a groundswell of support around Eugene McCarthy, as well as the support that Robt Kennedy had had going before his assasnation in LA earlier that summer 68 had been a pretty historic year. Wallace shot, MrLK shot, RFK shot, the Chicago convention, LBJ declinning to run, (not sure, but the Tet was then?)

1968 was right up there with 2020, I am claiming at this time. A lot of boys/men also perished in SE Asia, as well.

Anyway, we all were mulling around the steps getting ready to go into our meeting, vis a vi, the Nixon rally.. I was with my good friend (later lifelong best friend,) Mike West, and he had a McCarthy button on his (lapel?) (I can't remember if we were in suits or what?)

As we went to the door to get in, two or three obvious Nixon security peope came up and grabbed Mike out of our little group and sort of manhandled him. I think Ms. Williams saw the commotion and came over and they agreed to let Mike into the Moody Col, High school meeting, if he discarded his McCarthy button. I think it was green and had a peace sign.

Wel lthe rally was typical with confetti, balloons dropping, Nixon shooting the peace/victory sign, and cheerleaders as well as a ton of red white and blue...

I was reminded of the story because there was an article on Facebook's Remember Dallas, about the Dallas Notes rag by Stoney Burns, and I remembered Poor Richardson's Almanac rag that we all read An underground newsletter written by Bill Parker's brother, or at least he was involved.

I consulted the Talon coppy from 10 18 1968 to find out if any mention of the Almanac. Google didn't help me on that at all.

I read three op ed's in that Talon. Bucky Grimes for Nixon, Silvi Taylor for George Wallace, and Humphrey's ed was by Tom Prentice..

These are my impressions of what happened. I think I'll call Mike tonight and rehash the events. Stay tuned.... this will be edited later.

Now I am confused. The article in the Talon about the Journalism forum states the Nixon attending the Journalism forum was March 11th. I am guessing the report in the Talon was wrong It must have been October 11th. Maybe it was March 11th and someone decided it was newsworth in the 10 18 1968 Talon. Hmmm...I'll have to do some more research.

Mike West did not answer his phone Back at ya later.

I was correct, the Talon date on the Nixon speech was wrong. It was not March 11th, it was October 11th. And, actually, when I googled Nixon speeches in Dallas, I came across a list of all the speeches Nixon ever gave, chronological and categorized.

The list of speeches Nixon gave goes all the way back to the late 1940's....I'm going to peruse a few.

12/01/20 07:34 PM

#19552

Janalu,

I like Tom Cotton. Harvard undergrad. Harvard law graduate. Captain in the infantry. Bronze Star. Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns (as was my brother).

My take on the election is that there was a very large number of fraudulent votes cast and illegally counted. I don't know whether there were enough to change the outcome, but I think the perpetrators should be prosecuted. Regardless, I think Trump would have won if he could have stipped bening a jerk for a few months.

Kurt,

I assume you are talking about a big box store. Don't know how close they would place them. There was a Gibson's on Arapaho near Custer and a K-Mart on Campbell near Central Expressway. If I were to guess, it ould have been a K-Mart, but I don't remember one. Seems like an awkward site. Could have come and gone after we left high school.

Steve,

You say Bay City is a "suburb of greater Houston"?? Hmmm. Let's see. The town square in Bay City is 79.8 miles from Houston City Hall. Carl's Corner is 56.6 miles from Dallas City Hall. So what does that make Carl's Corner? Or were you fudging by throwing in the word "greater"? I guess "Greater" Houston would include Old Ocean (population 50), Lane City (111), Pledger (44), and Danciger (314), all of which are between Houston and Bay City. And the population of Bay City in 1950 was just over 9,400, whereas Amarillo was over 74,000.

I'd say Martha has a right to call herself a small town girl. Now, I won't conjecture whether you can rightly call yourself a country boy, podnuh.

12/01/20 10:11 PM

#19553

Martha,

Mea Culpa. I guess I just couldn't picture a charming doll like you sitting around, waiting to watch the red light change.

David,

All the great memories of my childhood came from the fishing holes and hunting spots on the ranches and canyons outside of the town of Amarillo, not the cosmopolitan urban metropolis you describe. Now that I recall, Amarillo was also a center of fine dining at such five star establishments as Underwood's Barbecue, Myers Fried Chicken and the Pig Hip Drive Inn. Amarillo was the center of Pro Sports. We could watch Dory Funk, Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk wrestle at the TriState Fairgrounds Automobile Building. We could also drive 30 miles to the nearest college with a football stadium in Canyon to watch Duane Thomas or Mercury Morris run. I think the biggest sports deal I can remember is when Billy Welu came to town to bowl at the Western Bowl.

Bay City, I believe is the center for the rice growing industry in Texas, has a Celanese Chemical Plant, a Barge Canal constructed to link the IntraCoastal Waterway to the industry in town. It also has an Occidental Plant Facility and is home to the South Texas Nuclear Project. It also maintains a robust tourist industry linked to fishing and other activities in the Gulf. Sounds like a real backwater. I bet a lot more people work and play there than officially sleep there. You can eat seafood there, as opposed to beef or pork in my part of the world.

My town smells like manure, and Bay City smells like petrochemicals. I guess it is pick your poison! (kinda like the difference between shit and shinola)!

12/02/20 12:08 AM

#19554

Steve,

Thanks for your experienced offering of your grandson's liking the Legos. I can attest to that too, as my grandson plays with those sets for hours as well. He likes those and some magnetic block tiles--mostly triangles and squares, that he puts together to build many different buildings and objects. He's got scads of indoor toys, way too many actually, so that his Mom will gather many items into boxes, store them away for a while, then bring them back out at a later date. She cycles a great deal of things that way. She and her husband have couples friends, whose children are a little older, so they often bring hand-me-down toys over to Christie's house, to get them out of their own houses. Consequently, it's just too much dang stuff! We spoil our kids way too much nowadays, don't we?

I like to get him activity items for outdoors, since that is where I spent most of my time, growing up, and those are my favorite memories. I loved riding my bike, and I really liked swinging on swings, as well as playing sports an awful lot. Jumping rope was fun too, and roller skating! I also liked climbing trees and scaring my Mom half to death! She was always fussing at me, 'cause she thought I would break my neck! I liked climbing as high as possible....ha!

Another note: When you were posting to Martha about petrochemical smells, or ranching smells, I thought of Luling Texas, east of San Antonio, which has a sulphur smell quite often. There were times we used to drive through there on the way to Houston, and we would always notice the aroma, as we drove through. Sure glad we didn't live in that town. Shoo-wee!

12/02/20 07:19 AM

#19555

Steve and Janalu,

Bay City was misnamed. In fact, it was originally Bay Plain. It is 25 miles from Matagorda Bay, where the intercoastal waterway flows, and about 30 miles from the Gulf.

Bay City wasn't even selected as the site for the South Texas Nuclear Project until Martha had already graduated from College. Celanese was there, but there weren't any industrial smells. STNP was the reason for the swelling of population from 13,000 in 1970 to 17,000, where it remains today.

The area is a big producer of rice, and Martha's father owned a Massey-Ferguson farm implements dealership in the city.

Texas Gulf Sulfur established Newgulf, which is about 25 miles from Bay City. There was definitely a sulfur smell there.

A wonderful autobiogaphy that my mother gave me is My Own Story by the great financier Barnard Baruch. I still have it -- a 55 cent Penguin paperback. Baruch told of being a young man, pitching an idea to J. Pierpont Morgan to scope out the Matagorda County and Wharton County area for an investment in sulfur mining. Of course, Morgan was the absolute king of the American financial community. When Baruch returned from a long scouting trip to the area, he enthusiastically told Morgan that the investment in sulfur mining there was a good gamble. Morgan rose from behind his desk and dismissively pronounced, "I don't gamble." Baruch lamented that it was his one and only opportunity to work with the old man, although he later worked with J.P. Morgan (the company) on the project after the old man died.

12/02/20 07:39 AM

#19556

Kurt Fischer

Lowell:

Thanks for your insightful comments regarding my earlier entry. Kind of harsh.

My note was an attempt at moderation. Looking back at the last four years, a lot was written from a Democratic / Progressive side which indicated President Trump was seeking to be a dictator and running roughshod over all laws. Instead, he was constantly challenged in the courts and he was unable to pass significant legislation. Some of his objectives were enacted, but many were not. There were speed bumps built into our political system which kept this from happening. I see the same thing happening during the Biden administration, just as it has happened durign every administration.

Footnote: This is opinion, very similar to your's.

Take care.

12/02/20 09:33 AM

#19557

My hope is that Republicans will be every bit as receptive to Biden as Democrats were to Trump.

The comments from the left that Trump was trying to be a dictator are ridiculous. With respect to COVID-19, he elected to let state governments do what they thought best for their own states. Who were the dictators? Newsom, Cuomo, Murphy, Whitmer, DeBlasio, etc.

Did Trump try to push the envelope? Maybe. Who doesn't? How about the Obama administration trying to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to include abortion in their health care plan? Nine to zip in the Supreme Court. Now that's a refutation!

I'm not sure if there was enough fraud in the election to change the outcome, but everyone who participated in fraud should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Of course, I suspect that that won't be a high priority in Democrat jursidictions. Whaddaya think?

12/02/20 09:46 AM

#19558

David,

Your story reminds me of the article in Texas Monthly about B.K. (Belton Kleberg) Johnson one of the heirs to the King Ranch. His portion of the ranch was actually left to him and his siblings separately. He was a colorful character who had a knack for making money. Freeport McMoran had a landman who went to the Midland Library and investigated sulphur deposits found in West Texas. When B.K. heard about the young man bragging to his superiors that finding the new discoveries was easy, "I knew how to spell sulphur." he was said to have told them. They promptly bought up the sulphur deposits and began to plan mining operations. As they searched for water for the plants, they found that B K. Johnson owned the water rights around every one of the deposits When asked about it by Texas Monthly, B. K. said,"They knew how to spell sulphur, but I knew how to spell water."

12/02/20 10:38 AM

#19559

Janalu,

Predictably, you know my suggestion for an outside toy. The kid needs a fishing pole and reel and somebody to take him. You can start by visiting the Texas Freshwater Fish Hatchery in Athens. They have a fishing pond full of catfish and an aquarium and fish hatchery on site. It is a great day trip or weekend getaway.

12/02/20 10:57 AM

#19560

Wayne Gary

Janalu,

Juping on Steve's suggestion. You can go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife web page and see where they are stocking city ponds with rainbow trout and take them fishing in their local area.

tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/management/stocking/trout_stocking.phtml?utm_campaign=troutstocking&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

(note there is not "WWW")

12/02/20 11:21 AM

#19561

This was sent to me by a friend, but I don't know where it originated.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

-- Edmund Burke

WHAT IS GASLIGHTING?

The term originates in the systematic psychological manipulation of a victim by her husband in Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 stage play Gas Light, and the film adaptations released in 1940 and 1944. In the story, the husband attempts to convince his wife and others that she is insane by manipulating small elements of their environment and insisting that she is mistaken, remembering things incorrectly, or delusional when she points out these changes. The play's title alludes to how the abusive husband slowly dims the gas lights in their home, while pretending nothing has changed, in an effort to make his wife doubt her own perceptions. The wife repeatedly asks her husband to confirm her perceptions about the dimming lights, but in defiance of reality, he keeps insisting that the lights are the same and instead it is she who is going insane.

Today we are living in a perpetual state of gaslighting. The reality that we are being told by the media is at complete odds with what we are seeing with our own two eyes. And when we question the false reality that we are being presented, or we claim that what we see is that actual reality, we are vilified as racist or bigots or just plain crazy. You’re not racist. You’re not crazy. You’re being gaslighted.

New York State has twice as many deaths from Covid-19 than any other state, and New York has accounted for one fifth of all Covid-19 deaths, but we are told that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has handled the pandemic better than any other governor. But if we support policies of Governors whose states had only a fraction of the infections and deaths as New York, we’re called anti-science and want people to die. So, we ask ourselves, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

We see mobs of people looting stores, smashing windows, setting cars on fire and burning down buildings, but we are told that these demonstrations are peaceful protests And when we call this destruction of our cities, riots, we are called racists. So, we ask ourselves, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

We see the major problem destroying many inner-cities is crime; murder, gang violence, drug dealing, drive-by shootings, armed robbery, but we are told that it is not crime, but the police that are the problem in the inner-cities. We are told we must defund the police and remove law enforcement from crime-riddled cities to make them safer But if we advocate for more policing in cities overrun by crime, we are accused of being white supremacists and racists. So, we ask ourselves, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

The United States of America accepts more immigrants than any other country in the world. The vast majority of the immigrants are “people of color”, and these immigrants are enjoying freedom and economic opportunity not available to them in their country of origin, but we are told that the United States is the most racist and oppressive country on the planet, and if we disagree, we are called racist and xenophobic. So, we ask ourselves, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

Capitalist countries are the most prosperous countries in the world. The standard of living is the highest in capitalist countries. We see more poor people move up the economic ladder to the middle and even the wealthy class through their effort and ability in capitalist countries than any other economic system in the world, but we are told capitalism is an oppressive system designed to keep people down. So, we ask ourselves, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

Communist countries killed over 100 million people in the 20th century. Communist countries strip their citizens of basic human rights, dictate every aspect of their lives, treat their citizens as slaves, and drive their economies into the ground, but we are told that Communism is the fairest, most equitable, freest, and most prosperous economic system in the world. So, we ask ourselves, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

The most egregious example of gaslighting is the concept of “white fragility”. You spend your life trying to be a good person, trying to treat people fairly and with respect. You disavow racism and bigotry in all its forms. You judge people solely on the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. You don’t discriminate based on race or ethnicity. But you are told you are a racist, not because of something you did or said, but solely because of the color of your skin. You know instinctively that charging someone with racism because of their skin color is itself racist. You know that you are not racist, so you defend yourself and your character, but you are told that your defense of yourself is proof of your racism. So, we ask ourselves, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

Gaslighting has become one of the most pervasive and destructive tactics in American politics. It is the exact opposite of what our political system was meant to be. It deals in lies and psychological coercion, and not the truth and intellectual discourse. If you ever ask yourself if you’re crazy, you are not. Crazy people aren’t sane enough to ask themselves if they’re crazy. So, trust yourself, believe what’s in your heart. Trust your eyes over what you are told. Never listen to the people who tell you that you are crazy, because you are not, you’re being gaslighted.

Sophocles said: "What people believe prevails over the truth."

And that's what the media are trying to exploit.

If you have read this far let me say one thing. I did not write the above and I am not sure who the author is.

I sent this to you because you are hopefully smart enough to understand what is being done to you on a daily basis from many directions. I do not care about your political party affiliation. Just think through what you are being told. Don't listen with a deaf ear, or see with a blind eye. Question everything -- even things from people who you think you can trust. Question why you are being told whatever, by whoever. Question their motives. Question who benefits. Question if there is a hidden agenda behind the propaganda. Then do your own research, and use some of your own critical thinking skills to get to the truth. Listen with your heart AND with your mind.

Sadly, 95% of the masses don't even know that they are being gaslighted. At least now you do.

If this makes sense to you, then forward to your friends who you think might "get it".

12/02/20 12:20 PM

#19562

Kurt Fischer

Lance (aka Lowell in my small world):

My apologies to both for switching your names. I still think your response was rather harsh, particularly when I invited a thoughtful response. Oh well...

12/02/20 01:58 PM

#19563

David, Tommy, just like anything else, "gaslightin" works both ways.

You've been told the Jim Crow era is over, Voting Rights laws and Civil Rights laws have been passed. Persons of color are actually in a majority at our public schools. racial equality has been reached. Nope, you've been gaslighted.

The election was a fraud. Votes were counted and switched by machines. Persons were allowed to vote who were dead. The counting of the votes was not open for all to see. Late vote mail ins corrupted the process. We told you this election was going to be fraudulent. I guess you believe this stuff cause it's been repeated so much and so often. Nope, you've been gaslighted.

More?

12/02/20 08:57 PM

#19564

Steve and Wayne,

The fishing gear is definitely a favorite for Preston. He's been several times with his Dad to fishing holes near where they live, and enjoys trying his hand at the sport, as well as just playing with the water and throwing rocks. He's been out in Charles' boat several times, learning some new maneuvers, observing the guys in the boat, and again, sticking his hands in the water, or looking at the fish in the live well. I think he will have more and more interest as he gets older, but already likes the whole idea of being an included buddy with the guys and getting the hang-of-it.

We've been to that hatchery in Athens before, but not with Preston yet. I'm sure he would like to go with Charles and his Dad, the next time a trip is planned up that way.

Right now he has a small rod that has a button on it to push while casting. It's for beginners and was used by our daughter when she was little. He really likes it at the moment, throwing lures and getting caught up in the brush, but always ready to try again and again.

I think his Dad took him not long ago to a lakeside where they used live bait. I imagine he was fascinated with the bait more than the fish, knowing his curiosity, but it won't be long before he'll be willing to get up early on Saturday mornings, to head out with some gear and sandwiches, if others will go with him to help him learn.......and there will be no problem with that!

Very good idea, Wayne, to check with TX P&W to find out about the areas that are being stocked! I'll tell his Dad about that.

He also likes going with Granddad to Bass Pro nearby, to see their aquarium too. Plus, he enjoys seeing all the taxidermy specimens they have there. It's kinda like visiting a zoo!

12/03/20 12:59 AM

#19565

Lance,

i just listened to a program on YouTube that gave excellent answers as to where we stand at the moment, concerning our chances of having anything come of the current election situation, as Republicans see it unfolding.

What I listened to was The Eric Metaxas Radio Show, as he was interviewing Charlie Kirk. The particular video title was: Charlie Kirk Is In The Election Fight & Has Updates From Each State.

The video was the best explanation I've heard yet, and even mentioned the raid at the CIA office in Germany, where the Kracken platoon of Marines supposedly secured a Dominion server, according to Lt. Gen. McInerney, which all news media outlets are saying is untrue. (Gina Haspel may have been involved.)

I think you would like to hear this broadcast on YouTube.

At the end of this video, Charlie quoted a verse from Proverbs, which essentially stated that this mass deviousness is evil and The Almighty will not let it stand, but will take action.

12/03/20 06:14 AM

#19566

https://www.statesman.com/news/20201202/austin-mayor-stressed-residents-lsquoneed-to-stay-homersquo-he-was-vacationing-in-cabo-at-time

I see that Mayor Adler of Austin created a video on November 9 telling people that they should stay home. Turns out, he made the video from Mexico.

12/03/20 09:20 AM

#19567

Walter Williams, conservative commentator passed away yesterday.

Rest In Peace

12/03/20 11:11 AM

#19568

Bob Davidson

Steve -- I am a huge fan of Walter Williams. I always enjoyed his columns, whether I agreed with him or not, and he was my second favorite guest host for Rush, after that Mark Styne that Tommy has never heard of. Professor Williams had a wonderful combination of a brilliant mind, likeable personality, wit, and personal modesty mixed with absolute conviction that is very rare, indeed.

12/03/20 12:22 PM

#19569

Kurt Fischer

I read an interesting article regarding the difficulties faced with transitioning to Electric Vehicles over the next years. While we hear politicians establish objectives to convert by 2030 or thereabouts, it appears practical matters could get in the way.

Although this article referenced a number of issues, the one which seemed most difficult to overcome is obtaining the minerals required for the batteries for new cars. A study quoted in the article indicated that for the UK to convert all of its vehicles to electric by 2050 (note the extended transition period), it would require the entire world's production of neodymium, three quarters of the world's lithium production, and at least half of the world's copper production based on 2018 production levels. If we tried to apply this to the US, which has approximately nine times the vehicles as the UK, it would require 18 times the world's current cobalt production, nine times the global neodymium production, seven times the global lithium production and four times the world's copper production.

The way I read the above stats is that it would either be impossible to mine all of the minerals required for EV car batteries to achieve a transition by 2050 or it would require us to severely impact the environment by signficantly increasing our mining activities.

Seems like this will result in using gasoline powered cars for quite a long time.

For Lance: Footnote: Real Clear Energy: Five Reasons Why Internal Combustion Engines are Here to Stay.

12/03/20 12:33 PM

#19570

Bob Davidson

Lowell and anyone else knowledgeable about such things:

My vehicle insurer (Allstate) wants me to install "drivewise" on my cell phone for a supposed break on my insurance rates. My agent assures me that I want this because it will determine that I am a safe driver and cut my rates. Before I do so, I am naturally suspicious that Allstate will determine that I speed (I drive on the flipping I-10 twice a day back and forth to work and go with traffic speed, which is, of course, way over the speed limit when it is moving) or drive in heavy traffic (every day through downtown at both rush hours) and high accident areas, or other bs. I'm mostly a sedate old man, haven't had an accident in ages, got two bullshit tickets I took driver's ed to get rid of in the past ten years -- none in the 30 years before that, but I drive like a Houstonian who wants to stay alive.

Do you think this is something that makes sense?

12/03/20 01:39 PM

#19571

Progressive and soon to follow Safeco started marketing auto use tracking software about 6-8 years ago. As an agent for Progressive, I received a ton of marketing. They even have been basing agent compensation amounts to a degree. They desparately wanted to get as many on board as possible.

Believe or not, auto insurance carriers want to be the lowest price so they can write the most business. Progressive's model is to make a 4% underwriting profit and keep costs of everything they do under 80%. lThere are two sides to their model, throutgh independent agents and direct or online. Two different sets of loss runs profitability. You can easily look up how Progressive performs financially. The post their financials on a monthly basis. I use Yahoo finance and look up PGR

Initially, so that I could learn the "snapshot" program of Progressive, I signed up my wife's car on a policy. In those days it was a usb port installed device that went under your wheel dash (area where they connect the read out programs when checking the car's software)

That product was a device they mailed you (deposit of 50.00 if you didn't return it.)

They would give you 10% off your rate to sign up and up to 40% off your rate if you were valued as "safeest."

It was always beeping and buzzing and it un nerved my wife so we gave up.

However, now, everyone has a smart phone app that rates you.

Basically it's mileage, cornering, stopping and starting, high traffic area use, and speeding. A big thing is it measures "distracted" driving...so, don't use your phone while you drive.

I rep for Mercury and Progressive (and a few others.) The Mercury smart phone app is on my phone, my wife's and my son's. It is quiet and unobtrusive.

I get 10% off and it will rate me down (but not up) based on my usage. You can stop it at any time, but lose the discount.

Right now my score is 87. I can look up the different ratings of how the app scores me.

One thing I did notice after I signed up. I was competitive to being safer to get the score up. I am guessing that's a good thing.

My son recently moved out and as required, we put him on his own policy. He has only had the app a week or so. His score right now is 79. But, I only just called it to his attention to look at it and the rating factors on the app. I am betting he will pay better attention, just as a competitive thing.

One thing. If you ride as a pssenger or in a golf cart, or on an Uber trip, you need to disable it, or it will gather that driver's stats.

My present levels on my Mercury auto phone app

Distraction 86

speeding 81

braking 87

acceleration 93

cornering 100

overall 86

I dont know what discount level that gets me. It takes 90 days and we just put it on 11 24 2020.

EDIT Bob, as an attorney, do you think having yourself "rated" and NOT improving your driving habits might make you more legally liable? I wonder...Next will be a suit where the discovery finds a smart phone app was part of the perp's driving insurance exsposure.

PSS Bob, do you know Carl Selesky? I do and golf socialize with him a bit

12/03/20 02:26 PM

#19572

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Lowell,

We considered the insurance tracking app and device several years ago and decided to decline it. After the onset of the pandemic, our insurer gave us some money back, because we rarely drove anywhere, in fact, hardly anyone drove anywhere so I think the refund was statewide. We have Farmers. I have one thing to say about the insurance app and other devices that track you: Big brother is indeed watching, taking data and now giving out grades and scores. I do see some bad drivers everyday. I wonder if they have the app...humm somehow I doubt it. I have not had a ticket since 1974. I got it for running a red light at an intersection under construction with no left arrow. It was either run the light or spend the rest of the day waiting for the traffic to die down long enough so I could turn. The light had just turned from yellow to red. I have never had a speeding ticket. Danny has had one ticket for speeding in the last 20 years. No accidents either, except for the person who hit my mothers car in the Walmart parking lot, their fault, they paid. I doubt the device would benefit me, except to irritate me and make me paranoid. Personal privacy is almost a thing of the past. It is so easy to track you via your cell phone, even without the insurance app. You almost have to be an expert tech to set the cell phone to not track your every move. If you want a better rate, shop every year. If your record is clean, you should get a better rate.

All this and there is a big fuss about masks, social distance and personal freedoms being compromised or taken away. We lie down and play nice when it comes to resturant rules. No shoes, no shirt, no service. But a mask in a grocery store!!! Heaven forbid! We dutifuly fasten our seat belts and take sobriety tests. We take drug tests to accept jobs and bare our souls for background checks to volunteer to read to kids in elementary schools. But wear a simple mask to protect others from a deadly disease...no way. It seems public health takes a back seat to most everything. Personal freedoms. Really??

12/03/20 02:39 PM

#19573

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

I saw today that the famous football coach, Lou Holtz was awarded the Medal of Freedom, by Trump. As I understand it, he was a great coach and teacher. The Presidental Medal of Freedom. Wow. I had to look up the award to fully understand why a football coach qualifies for this honor:

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors". The Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal are the highest civilian awards of the United States. The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform. It was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, superseding the Medal of Freedom that was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to honor civilian service during World War II.

It nice this guy got this award. Cultural significance or private endeavor.

It seems to me in these perilous times it would have been appropriate to bestow this honor on a doctor, nurse or first responder. This award would honor their sacrifice, and hard work. It would inspire others as their work continues to support the public interest and general welfare of our nation. I did not realize football outweighed that. My mistake.

12/03/20 03:49 PM

#19574