Trump to ask Congress to make 15% ethanol-gas blend permanent

[berdie]

I just want a washing machine for my clothes with a knob to select a water temperature and a Start button, but in 2026 I can't get one that makes my clothes clean.

Try a Speed Queen. More expensive but gets the job done.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Ethanol also ruins small engine carburetors.... people use marine fuel which is free of ethanol for lawn mowers and such.

Trump should know better... i had long predicted he would "Go Arnold" in his second term (Schwarzenegger) and pivot to the left. Looks like i'm right.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I just want a washing machine for my clothes with a knob to select a water temperature and a Start button, but in 2026 I can't get one that makes my clothes clean.

We wash everything on "heavy duty" in cold water which is basically normal mode, make sure your machine has an aggetator. Speed queens are good but pricey and I'm not sure the later models haven't be enshittified. Check out youtube reviews for more info.

[Cyber Liberty]

I live in a smart house. I talk to my water heater. 

I think it's worrisome that it replies, and even more concerning to whom it replies.  "Master Luis has the thermostat on his water heater set too high!  Allow me to turn it down, Comrade..."  Meanwhile you are left to wonder why your showers got cold.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Try a Speed Queen. More expensive but gets the job done.

I was told that about 7 years ago so I purchased one.

After 4 visits by repairman, three to repair the same thermostat switch, I finally dumped it 4 years ago and went back to a Whirlpool which has been working fine.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I think it's worrisome that it replies, and even more concerning to whom it replies.  "Master Luis has the thermostat on his water heater set too high!  Allow me to turn it down, Comrade..."  Meanwhile you are left to wonder why your showers got cold.

My water heat was made in (I think) 1991 or so... still going strong. 

[Idiot]

My water heat was made in (I think) 1991 or so... still going strong. 

I hope you never change it out.  New ones last 5-10 at best.

[berdie]

I was told that about 7 years ago so I purchased one.

After 4 visits by repairman, three to repair the same thermostat switch, I finally dumped it 4 years ago and went back to a Whirlpool which has been working fine.

Actually Whirlpool was my first replacement choice when the ones I had finally died after 30 years. I couldn't find any that didn't have push buttons and a lot of electronic stuff I didn't want/need. That's when I made the switch. I've been happy so far.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I think it's worrisome that it replies, and even more concerning to whom it replies.  "Master Luis has the thermostat on his water heater set too high!  Allow me to turn it down, Comrade..."  Meanwhile you are left to wonder why your showers got cold.

I ask what setting it’s on and if we’re going away I tell it to go on vacation mode until xx date.

[Free Vulcan]

I just want a washing machine for my clothes with a knob to select a water temperature and a Start button, but in 2026 I can't get one that makes my clothes clean.

Also a tablespoon or so of sodium tripolyphosphate puts the phosphate back in and really helps.

https://www.amazon.com/Tripolyphosphate-Earthborn-Elements-Powerful-Resealable/dp/B07PKWSVVX/

And a Speed Queen never hurts either.

[Free Vulcan]

And on ethanol, living in the middle of Midwest farm country, I'm a definite no. Not because of engine wear or fouling or any of the other usual arguments.

It's because farmers are socialized enough, and a mandate will just make them more complacent, which is the last thing they need right now.

What we need in agriculture now is innovation, not complacency.

[roamer_1]

I agree. Think of the resources saved by driving my 20th century fleet. No screens, no snooper devices, and I can work on it myself.

Some of that's right, but some of it ain't - Mostly what you're complaining about is in your hand right now anyway. Mostly, the head unit (What you and I would call 'the radio') is mostly just a dumb monitor that interfaces with either Android Auto or Apple Carplay that already live natively on your phone. So it's your phone that's at issue, not the car interface.

You know that you and I think along the same lines in this - I like my Chevys from the 60s and 70s... Maybe right up to 85, and no further. But there are things that are unarguably better in modern rigs... And that head unit happens to be one of them - I'm a little jealous of that... That the car knows who you are, and automatically adjusts to your preferences is handy... And a larger screen for navigation is nice. And backup cams... Oh man!

Most of that is way better, and worth having... And can mostly be retrofitted onto older rigs. I was just fixin to pull the trigger on that before I tipped over.

It IS funny to me that modern mechanics are lost if they can't plug in a scanner... 

[roamer_1]

We wash everything on "heavy duty" in cold water which is basically normal mode, make sure your machine has an aggetator. Speed queens are good but pricey and I'm not sure the later models haven't be enshittified. Check out youtube reviews for more info.

Yeah - You have to step up into Speed Queen industrial units to get what I have in mine - Mechanical controls and heavy duty construction. Anything residential has become computerized and follows planned obsolescence, just like everybody else.  .

[roamer_1]

I live in a smart house. I talk to my water heater. 

I do not, and never will.  But I can invoke Google, like a demon out of the air, from several devices in my home. And thereby, can control one of my smart tvs by voice command. All that came in to comfort my family, now that I've lost my balance, and I'm tottering around.

I WOULD like door locks I can control likewise - again, for the sake of my disability -  and the ability to have Google turn on my front porch lights if I get home late... But that's about it. I will not surrender control of HVAC or anything else I can't shut off. That is unwise, I think.

[Bigun]

And on ethanol, living in the middle of Midwest farm country, I'm a definite no. Not because of engine wear or fouling or any of the other usual arguments.

It's because farmers are socialized enough, and a mandate will just make them more complacent, which is the last thing they need right now.

What we need in agriculture now is innovation, not complacency.

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I do not, and never will.  But I can invoke Google, like a demon out of the air, from several devices in my home. And thereby, can control one of my smart tvs by voice command. All that came in to comfort my family, now that I've lost my balance, and I'm tottering around.

I WOULD like door locks I can control likewise - again, for the sake of my disability -  and the ability to have Google turn on my front porch lights if I get home late... But that's about it. I will not surrender control of HVAC or anything else I can't shut off. That is unwise, I think.

We have a numbers only model, just type in the 4 digit code. No wifi, hacking etc. Deadbolt

[corbe]

   I'm happy with my GE AIO (washer/dryer).  Yes, it connects to WiFi and downloads firmware updates, occasionally.

[roamer_1]

We have a numbers only model, just type in the 4 digit code. No wifi, hacking etc. Deadbolt

I'd like doorbell, video, speaker/mic, and lock/unlock from phone or from Google Assistant. I'd also like proximity unlock feature so that certain phones in proximity can pass through. It's all complicated and pretty stupid, but it's all because I can't get there fast enough for most folks... Even if I put my lift chair in leap mode, it takes about a minute to rise up, and another minute for me to get up off it and take those first few steps... After that I am alright. I get on my buggy and chug on over to the door, but by then, it's tail lights. 

I say all that to make the case that it is a legit function for me... To answer the door by speaker, and allow passage would be grand. 

[Smokin Joe]

I just want a washing machine for my clothes with a knob to select a water temperature and a Start button, but in 2026 I can't get one that makes my clothes clean.

Find an older commercial top loader. Stainless tub. Huge capacity (but on many models you can set load size, water temp, and cycle. Even if you have to go through it (pump, gearbox, etc. It might end up cheaper than one of those 'gee whiz' front loading nightmares with board burnouts, ground up clothes, and nothing gets clean. We had a set of those and went back to the old style machine.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I'd like doorbell, video, speaker/mic, and lock/unlock from phone or from Google Assistant. I'd also like proximity unlock feature so that certain phones in proximity can pass through. It's all complicated and pretty stupid, but it's all because I can't get there fast enough for most folks... Even if I put my lift chair in leap mode, it takes about a minute to rise up, and another minute for me to get up off it and take those first few steps... After that I am alright. I get on my buggy and chug on over to the door, but by then, it's tail lights. 

I say all that to make the case that it is a legit function for me... To answer the door by speaker, and allow passage would be grand. 

We have that and a Ring doorbell, because otherwise we have no doorbell whatsoever. But the number pad is fine, and you can just tell someone the code if you trust them.

[Wingnut]

I live in a smart house. I talk to my water heater. 

Those water heaters are a lot like plankton,  they stick to themselves and don't bother anyone.  Except one time I was fiddling with the hot water out dial.  It didn't say anything but it let me know it was too hot when i screamed next time I took a shower.

So you're good Luis.

[roamer_1]

We have that and a Ring doorbell, because otherwise we have no doorbell whatsoever. But the number pad is fine, and you can just tell someone the code if you trust them.

If it was that easy, I'd just leave it the way it is, where important folks have keys, and as a rule, it's unlocked, and folks stick their head in and holler.

Now, I've always lived my life like that... But back then, there was always at least one very big dog in the house, and I was physically quick, and had a handgun on my body. It ain't like that no more. So, moderate security steps might be prudent. 

[Luis Gonzalez]

Those water heaters are a lot like plankton,  they stick to themselves and don't bother anyone.  Except one time I was fiddling with the hot water out dial.  It didn't say anything but it let me know it was too hot when i screamed next time I took a shower.

So you're good Luis.

lol!

I’m a tech freak. The more, the better.

[Cyber Liberty]

If it was that easy, I'd just leave it the way it is, where important folks have keys, and as a rule, it's unlocked, and folks stick their head in and holler.

Now, I've always lived my life like that... But back then, there was always at least one very big dog in the house, and I was physically quick, and had a handgun on my body. It ain't like that no more. So, moderate security steps might be prudent. 

I'm afraid that dam wild (and high-spirited) cat Sneaks is a poor substitute for a side-o-beef big Dawg....

[roamer_1]

I'm afraid that dam wild (and high-spirited) cat Sneaks is a poor substitute for a side-o-beef big Dawg....

Even a decent sized cow dog like Chewy... At least I knew they were coming. 

You need a cat, my sister said.
No, I said, I need a dog.

Three days later, there's a dam cat in my house. It's how it works.You don't mess with my sis when she's on a tear. 

But I'm trying to fix it... Gonna take another swing at getting another cow dog on the place this year, now that my condition has stabilized - Another mini-Ozzie (like Chewy) is on the board. Not in the pipe just yet, but he's on the board. 

Now the functional issue is what to do with that dam cat, who will pester the crap out of a dog, and try to scratch his eyes out. It's a whole dam thing. 

[Luis Gonzalez]

Even a decent sized cow dog like Chewy... At least I knew they were coming. 

You need a cat, my sister said.
No, I said, I need a dog.

Three days later, there's a dam cat in my house. It's how it works.You don't mess with my sis when she's on a tear. 

But I'm trying to fix it... Gonna take another swing at getting another cow dog on the place this year, now that my condition has stabilized - Another mini-Ozzie (like Chewy) is on the board. Not in the pipe just yet, but he's on the board. 

Now the functional issue is what to do with that dam cat, who will pester the crap out of a dog, and try to scratch his eyes out. It's a whole dam thing. 

The Pharaohs worshipped cats.

The Pharaohs are no more.

[bigheadfred]

We don't lock our front door.

[Cyber Liberty]

Even a decent sized cow dog like Chewy... At least I knew they were coming. 

You need a cat, my sister said.
No, I said, I need a dog.

Three days later, there's a dam cat in my house. It's how it works.You don't mess with my sis when she's on a tear. 

But I'm trying to fix it... Gonna take another swing at getting another cow dog on the place this year, now that my condition has stabilized - Another mini-Ozzie (like Chewy) is on the board. Not in the pipe just yet, but he's on the board. 

Now the functional issue is what to do with that dam cat, who will pester the crap out of a dog, and try to scratch his eyes out. It's a whole dam thing. 

Sneaks might get along with a dawg.  You never know.  Sometimes they need to scrap a bit to establish a pecking order....

[Luis Gonzalez]

I'd like doorbell, video, speaker/mic, and lock/unlock from phone or from Google Assistant. I'd also like proximity unlock feature so that certain phones in proximity can pass through. It's all complicated and pretty stupid, but it's all because I can't get there fast enough for most folks... Even if I put my lift chair in leap mode, it takes about a minute to rise up, and another minute for me to get up off it and take those first few steps... After that I am alright. I get on my buggy and chug on over to the door, but by then, it's tail lights. 

I say all that to make the case that it is a legit function for me... To answer the door by speaker, and allow passage would be grand. 

This is overkill, but - to be fair - I hired and fired a lot of people over the years, so I wanted to KNOW who was outside at 3 AM. I installed motion lights and dual daylight/infrared cameras all around, PLUS the doorbell with the microphone.

If you contact a security company they will provide the equipment for both ring bell with video and door lock plus talk to whoever is bothering you, PLUS a Bluetooth door lock. All from your phone.

I also purchased blue tooth light bulbs that turn on and off remotely and change colors, and play music.

[Wingnut]

lol!

I’m a tech freak. The more, the better.

Now that you are 70 you think you're a renaissance man!   LOL

Well you go guy! 

[roamer_1]

The Pharaohs worshipped cats.

The Pharaohs are no more.

I know, right?

All I know is I have to put my dam butter dish away every_single_dam night.
It's turned into a condition. I wake up in a sweat in the middle of the night, wondering if I put the butter away... Have to get up and check on it, or I won't get any more sleep.

You train a dog... But a cat trains you. 

[roamer_1]

This is overkill, but - to be fair - I hired and fired a lot of people over the years, so I wanted to KNOW who was outside at 3 AM. I installed motion lights and dual daylight/infrared cameras all around, PLUS the doorbell with the microphone.

If you contact a security company they will provide the equipment for both ring bell with video and door lock plus talk to whoever is bothering you, PLUS a Bluetooth door lock. All from your phone.

I also purchased blue tooth light bulbs that turn on and off remotely and change colors, and play music.

Yeah... No security company... I ain't got that kind of money anymore. So it will all be DIY, with my son handling anything off the ground.  But I am tech-savvy, and so is he. I mean, I am a coder and computer tech, and he works on Big Iron as a network admin and director... We can do this.

I am in the Google-sphere. Everything is operating by 'Hey Giggles', and I will probably stick with that. It is harder than it ought to be, btw... You really get roped into going one direction or another, and it gets dang hard to change direction. 

Crazy buys on Amazon right now on TVs and the like... But I don't want Fire, or even Roku. Not letting Alexa in the house, no way. One AI on the place is enough.

[Cyber Liberty]

Yeah... No security company... I ain't got that kind of money anymore. So it will all be DIY, with my son handling anything off the ground.  But I am tech-savvy, and so is he. I mean, I am a coder and computer tech, and he works on Big Iron as a network admin and director... We can do this.

I am in the Google-sphere. Everything is operating by 'Hey Giggles', and I will probably stick with that. It is harder than it ought to be, btw... You really get roped into going one direction or another, and it gets dang hard to change direction. 

Crazy buys on Amazon right now on TVs and the like... But I don't want Fire, or even Roku. Not letting Alexa in the house, no way. One AI on the place is enough.

That reminds me, I need to get a new Kindle since Amazon EOLed my Fire last month.  I'm putting it off for as long as I can....

[bigheadfred]

That reminds me, I need to get a new Kindle since Amazon EOLed my Fire last month.  I'm putting it off for as long as I can....

The prices are getting high.

[roamer_1]

We don't lock our front door.

Me neither. I used to lock up at night, once the dogs were in... But I have had a couple occasions where EMT/Nurse folks have had to enter, and I can't afford em kicking in the door... So now it stays unlocked. That prolly ain't good, especially with no dog around here.

So a fancy front door lock is kinda the answer to that. I can lock and unlock that from my chair with Google. If folks show up, I can see who it is, talk to them by speakerphone, and let them in, all from my chair. That's pretty handy.

And Doro (My niece and house cleaner) can pass right on in if she has her phone on her - Proximity settings let the door unlock if certain phones are within range... That means the door is unlocked all the time for me and my folks... For mobile nurses and house calls from medical too...

All that is pretty handy, and will fix a whole mess of problems.

[Smokin Joe]

We don't lock our front door.

Me, neither, but "Peaches" is awesome security.

[roamer_1]

Sneaks might get along with a dawg.  You never know.  Sometimes they need to scrap a bit to establish a pecking order....

Nope. Sneaks is a murder machine. He will try to kill the dog, I guarantee. Now, if it were a husky, that cat would be poo after the first assault. Problem fixed, and that's on him. But I don't need a blind cow dog very much - and that is predictably how that would go... 

[roamer_1]

That reminds me, I need to get a new Kindle since Amazon EOLed my Fire last month.  I'm putting it off for as long as I can....

I'm tellin ya - Get a cheap Droid tablet, and load kindle on that. Then you can use it for 'Other Than Kindle'... There's a whole butt-ton of apps for Droid. If it won't run Firefox or Chrome, I don't want it.

[Bigun]

We don't lock our front door.

I have never locked a door in my life at home.  I do have a couple of big dogs that let us hang around.

[Cyber Liberty]

I'm tellin ya - Get a cheap Droid tablet, and load kindle on that. Then you can use it for 'Other Than Kindle'... There's a whole butt-ton of apps for Droid. If it won't run Firefox or Chrome, I don't want it.

I have a Droid phone but it's getting old too, like me.  But I  think I'll  look see what cheep tablets are out there....

[roamer_1]

I have a Droid phone but it's getting old too, like me.  But I  think I'll  look see what cheep tablets are out there....

I have a 9" Lenovo that has made it a good, long way... Paid 100 bucks for it years and years ago, and I have pounded the thing. Everywhere I go, it's in my go bag. And I use the thing daily, though the majority of my electronic use is still on the laptop - Still, every time I am in the kitchen or in the bedroom, I am using the tablet.

HOWEVER - It might be worth looking at Samsung - I have a Samsung phone and watch, and the interoperability between the two is something I would explore in adding the tablet - For instance, I could check battery on all three from my watch, where the Lenovo doesn't show.

So I think my next one (which will be soon) will be a Samsung - Though probably a refurb to keep the price down.

[Cyber Liberty]

I have a 9" Lenovo that has made it a good, long way... Paid 100 bucks for it years and years ago, and I have pounded the thing. Everywhere I go, it's in my go bag. And I use the thing daily, though the majority of my electronic use is still on the laptop - Still, every time I am in the kitchen or in the bedroom, I am using the tablet.

HOWEVER - It might be worth looking at Samsung - I have a Samsung phone and watch, and the interoperability between the two is something I would explore in adding the tablet - For instance, I could check battery on all three from my watch, where the Lenovo doesn't show.

So I think my next one (which will be soon) will be a Samsung - Though probably a refurb to keep the price down.

I assume there are WiFi only versions?  Not interested in adding more devices to my cell phone carrier....where's a good place to start looking?  Walmart?

[roamer_1]

I assume there are WiFi only versions?  Not interested in adding more devices to my cell phone carrier....where's a good place to start looking?  Walmart?

Yeah - Mostly they're WIFI... LTE (cell ready) versions are pretty spendy. Though even my Lenovo can be LTE ready - Most Droids are anymore. I could call up Mint Mobile and have em send me a chip, and for another 10 bucks a month it could be cell ready.

I don't need all that.

Where to start.... I would say Amazon. Winnow returns for the size you want and look at the brands. Most of the brands in the cheap seats are ones you'll recognize. Don't buy Chinesium. No cheap off-brand POS... and look at the comments and stars.

That's what I do. Then I get it down to a few choices, visit their websites for more in-depth info... Then I ask around - Friends, Family.... Heck I have even posted here and got some good feedback.

But I would get the phone pounded out first. If you go off and buy a Droid tablet, and then get an apple phone you'll be frustrated.

[Cyber Liberty]

Yeah - Mostly they're WIFI... LTE (cell ready) versions are pretty spendy. Though even my Lenovo can be LTE ready - Most Droids are anymore. I could call up Mint Mobile and have em send me a chip, and for another 10 bucks a month it could be cell ready.

I don't need all that.

Where to start.... I would say Amazon. Winnow returns for the size you want and look at the brands. Most of the brands in the cheap seats are ones you'll recognize. Don't buy Chinesium. No cheap off-brand POS... and look at the comments and stars.

That's what I do. Then I get it down to a few choices, visit their websites for more in-depth info... Then I ask around - Friends, Family.... Heck I have even posted here and got some good feedback.

But I would get the phone pounded out first. If you go off and buy a Droid tablet, and then get an apple phone you'll be frustrated.

It'll be a droid.  I don't like iPhones.  Let me have just one OS that I already understand!  I've already started poking around Walmart.  I like the idea of a Droid because I can download Kindle and access my existing library.

[Cyber Liberty]

Ever heard of brand "Mentume?"

[roamer_1]

It'll be a droid.  I don't like iPhones.  Let me have just one OS that I already understand!  I've already started poking around Walmart.  I like the idea of a Droid because I can download Kindle and access my existing library.

I have been pretty happy with this Samsung A50 5G - I think the new version is an A53 5G ... It's a nice lower-upper end phone with a good cam and a nice form - a little smaller than an S series, But I like that - It fits in a t-shirt pocket.

And let's be honest for a minute.... If the monitor is THAT small, an half an inch either way ain't no nevermind - I am gonna need my cheaters to see the dam thing either way.

But then, I have been a Samsung guy all the way along. Had a Motorola for a quick second when I broke one... That lasted a week, till I could get a new Samsung here... Had a Pixel for a few days... Went back to Samsung. 

[roamer_1]

Ever heard of brand "Mentume?"

Nope. No idea.

[Bigun]

I have been pretty happy with this Samsung A50 5G - I think the new version is an A53 5G ... It's a nice lower-upper end phone with a good cam and a nice form - a little smaller than an S series, But I like that - It fits in a t-shirt pocket.

And let's be honest for a minute.... If the monitor is THAT small, an half an inch either way ain't no nevermind - I am gonna need my cheaters to see the dam thing either way.

But then, I have been a Samsung guy all the way along. Had a Motorola for a quick second when I broke one... That lasted a week, till I could get a new Samsung here... Had a Pixel for a few days... Went back to Samsung. 

I've had really good luck with Motorola phones. Been using them for years with no complaints.

[Cyber Liberty]

I have been pretty happy with this Samsung A50 5G - I think the new version is an A53 5G ... It's a nice lower-upper end phone with a good cam and a nice form - a little smaller than an S series, But I like that - It fits in a t-shirt pocket.

And let's be honest for a minute.... If the monitor is THAT small, an half an inch either way ain't no nevermind - I am gonna need my cheaters to see the dam thing either way.

But then, I have been a Samsung guy all the way along. Had a Motorola for a quick second when I broke one... That lasted a week, till I could get a new Samsung here... Had a Pixel for a few days... Went back to Samsung. 

The Fire I've been using the past 10 years is an 8", so all the new ones are bigger, 10.5'" and thinner.  Much more powerful than the Fire that had very poor app support.  Will narrow my search to Samsung, I've been happy with my cell phone....

[Bigun]

The Fire I've been using the past 10 years is an 8", so all the new ones are bigger, 10.5'" and thinner.  Much more powerful than the Fire that had very poor app support.  Will narrow my search to Samsung, I've been happy with my cell phone....

I had a Samsung tablet that was/is a tank! Gave it to my nephew after years of my own use. I gave up on Kindles a long time ago.