I guess technically the snow the steam plant produces is usually black in color, but it’s still kind of that unusual April snow, though it’s not sticking to the pavement in Delmar, and supposed to warm up but get very windy by afternoon.
Perfect weather for riding my bike to work, 🚲 actually the snow stopped a few minutes ago, though I’ll probably get somewhat wet riding in. Better make sure I have those other set of socks 🧦 in my office desk when I get to Assembly’s World Data Headquarters. A very unhappy looking Mourning Dove 🕊️ is peering in my window (what a pervert!), looking down on the rather white grass from the dusting of wet snow we got a few minutes ago. Honestly, I just don’t want to have to deal with the CDTA App now that my Navigator card 💳 is expired. Or the protestors at the Capitol. Wind is expected to be roaring by afternoon. 🌬️ If it’s too bad I can catch a bus home, but it’s usually not too bad in the hollow riding back.
Yesterday was a Monday and I was surprisingly tired 😫 all day at work, but I kept pushing on. Only one more majority district to update. 📂 The two supervisors were out, so I was managing everything besides my other normal responsibilities as director. I was asleep last night I don’t know around 7:30 PM as it was cold, 🛏️ and I was tired. Stopped at Hannaford on my bike ride home, got milk, and two impulse purchases – edmame and spinach. I do like edmame, I was told you’re not supposed to eat the shells, but I do as I like to maximize the fiber in my diet. But I also eat the skins on potatoes 🥔 and sometimes bananas 🍌. It helps move the crap through your pooper, 💩 and fills your stomach without a lot of calories. The world is built on manure. Stanton’s got their tanks of cow shit 🐮 rolling down past my parents house, as they prepare the fields for spring. I remember walking home, 🚶 ducking off the road and plugging my noise as they came rolling down the road, spewing diesel smoke and flakes of cow poop off tanker trucks.
It will be interesting to see how much gas prices go up today, ⛽ with the Trumpster threatening to blow up the bridges and power plants in Iran 🇮🇷 as part of his war criming scheme, that nobody seems to understand outside of the President’s form of public masterbastion. I guess it feels good and is groovy. I was too busy holding the multiple hats 🎩 at work yesterday to research and build truck caps, I think I will most likely go with an ARE Cap assuming that Ruth’s thinks I can take delivery before July. Kind of a bad time of year to get one built, as I’m sure it’s their busy time, but I couldn’t order one until I was 💯 percent sure of what truck I was going to get. The operators at work were asking when I would take the SuperDuty to work. See the first sentence of this paragraph, plus I want to keep it new as long as possible. Plus driving a SuperDuty in traffic doesn’t sound like much fun, as the 6.8L rumbles and slurps down fuel – it’s not Godzilla but it’s still an HD truck.
Higher gas prices and rising food costs are now a given following President Trump’s escalation with Iran. But if the administration moves to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges tonight, we must ask: how will Iran retaliate? While a conventional strike on U.S. soil is unlikely, a digital offensive against our “soft targets” is a much more credible threat.
The Vulnerability of Soft Targets
I am skeptical that Iran could successfully launch a drone or bomber against the continental United States. However, they could effectively engage in cyber-terrorism against secondary infrastructure—places where security is lax and monitoring software is outdated.
While most critical infrastructure is not directly connected to the internet, many systems maintain some level of connectivity for remote monitoring. Iranian hackers could exploit these links in water treatment facilities or small chemical plants to trigger equipment failure, mismanage processes, or incite public alarm.
The Strategy of Small-Scale Disruption
To be effective, cyber-terrorism doesn’t need to destroy a major power grid or cause mass casualties. It only needs to prove that a breach is possible. The most likely targets aren’t the high-security hubs, but the “forgotten” infrastructure:
Small, family-run chemical plants.
Rural water treatment facilities.
Aging, sub-100 megawatt coal-fired power plants.
In these environments, 9/11-era vigilance has faded. Security is often as weak as a “1234” password. By manipulating sensors or feeding false data to plant managers, hackers could trick operators into making catastrophic decisions that create dangerous conditions.
The Real Cost: Our Response
The true danger of Iranian cyber-attacks isn’t the physical damage; it is the cost of our own reaction. If Iran successfully “messes” with obscure systems, the ripple effects would be massive:
Economic Impact: Skyrocketing water rates and the cost of mandatory security upgrades.
Operational Strain: Temporary shutdowns of factories and utility plants.
Loss of Liberty: New restrictions on public access to lands, reservoirs, and power plant grounds.
We have only recently regained the public rights and transparency that were lost in the wake of September 11th. By targeting small-scale infrastructure, Iran could force the U.S. into a state of defensive overreaction—inflicting massive economic and social impact without firing a single shot on American soil.
“A vaguely worded warning from the Trump administration on Tuesday said that hackers backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had begun a series of cyberattacks on water and energy systems across the United States. But the warning, issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA, did not name specific facilities that had been struck or say whether any damage had been done. It said only that the attacks were focusing on equipment made by a major American producer of computer controllers.
The report was issued in conjunction with the F.B.I., the National Security Agency and the Energy Department, and said that the purpose of the Iranian-affiliated attacks was “to cause disruptive effects within the United States.” Most of the equipment targeted by the group, the report said, were “programmable logic controllers” made by Rockwell Automation, which turns out a widely used line of what are known as Allen-Bradley controllers.”
When I began the search for my new SuperDuty, “Old Smokey,” remote start wasn’t a deal-breaker. I’d always viewed it as a bit of a 1980s gimmick—a luxury for those who simply couldn’t brave a cold seat in the winter. However, after discovering that I can fire up the engine via the Ford App or the key fob, my perspective has shifted. What I once considered frivolous has quickly become a feature I find indispensable.
The utility of remote start extends far beyond simple climate control. One of the most practical applications is at camp. There is a specific peace of mind that comes with being able to reset a low-voltage condition from your sleeping bag or camp chair. When the camp power and lights cut out due to an undervoltage shift, I no longer have to climb into the cab to turn a physical key—risking a lockout in the process. A quick button press from the fob starts the engine, clears the alert, and lets me get back to enjoying the outdoors.
Beyond the campsite, remote start serves as a vital tool for mechanical longevity. Whether the truck has been sitting for a week at home or I’m just walking back from a quick errand, giving the oil a few minutes to circulate before the engine under load is invaluable. It’s better for the hardware to avoid a sluggish, bone-cold start, and the fuel consumption for a few minutes of idling is negligible—especially since Old Smokey isn’t a daily commuter.
Of course, the comfort factor is hard to ignore. Whether I’m pre-cooling the cab in the summer heat or melting ice off the windshield in the winter without picking up a scraper, the convenience is undeniable. Ford has also addressed the security concerns of the past; because the truck cannot be shifted into gear without the key in the ignition and turned to “on,” the risk of theft is virtually nonexistent.
Much like the power locks that I now take for granted, remote start has transitioned from a “nice-to-have” luxury to a core part of my routine. It isn’t just about avoiding a cold seat; it’s about better engine care, camp-site convenience, and a smoother driving experience. Old Smokey might be a rugged truck, but there’s no reason not to appreciate the sophisticated tech that keeps it running—and its owner comfortable.
The April wind is roaring loud, A restless, blustery, gray-sky shroud. It isn’t winter’s biting tooth, But lacks the warmth of springtime’s youth. The woods are silver, stark, and lean, With just the faintest pulse of green.
The SuperDuty stays at home, The bus can keep grinding it’s way downtown. I’d rather feel the gears engage And turn the season’s messy page. To pedal through the morning hush, And brave the wind’s unruly rush.
Down where the Normans Kill carves deep, The gorge begins to wake from sleep. Though hills are muted, washed in gray, The air feels fresh and leads the way. A bit of grit, a bit of chill— But man, it’s good to be riding still.
I am a little on the fence but I think I’ll ride in. While I put fares onto my phone to use on the bus now that my card is expired, I think I’d rather ride and burn some calories from Easter dinner and it’s not that cold, being it’s the second week of April.
Driving Old Smokey yesterday was nice, 🛻 those SuperDuties drive really nice. I also took Big Red out for a little drive around the yard, just to see if he would start up and run, started up with no issue. People are asking again when I plan to sell, it’s a matter of first getting a truck cap and my gear moved over. I plan to order the cap this weekend, after studying my options this week. 📶 Pulled the CB Radio, seems like it will mount easily with the bolts on the center dashboard counsole with no issues, and it doesn’t block my vision much. Still need to figure out the upfitter switch wiring, where to run the antenna wire, and order a CB antenna mount that will fit SuperDuty and also an ampflied PA speaker to mount under the hoot when I install the antenna.
Pay week this week, which is good 😀 because it’s been an expensive past few weeks. And the cap is another major expense, but after that it should be fairly small for a while. Not planning to drive Old Smokey much until I get a cap and head out camping, both due to gas prices ⛽ and to keep it new as long as possible. Honestly I’m not expected to get the cap until May or June but I’ll have to order and pay for it next weekend. Going to be cold and maybe snow 🌨️ showers to start out the week, but very spring like by Friday. 🌸 Going to hike or ride in the Pine Bush next weekend when I go to Ruth’s to order the cap and also do some thrifting for work clothes. Got to be frugal somewhere. 👚
It was nice visiting the family for Easter. 🐰 Mom got me a smokey the bear 🐻 stuffed animal to stick in the back glass on my truck. He’s cute. Ham for dinner. It was fun driving the big truck, it rides so nicely on the open road. Gas milage wasn’t great with the hills, but I’m sure it would be better on the open highway. It is a big block. I guess it doesn’t matter, I got the truck to drive recreationally, it wouldn’t be a great commuter vehicle regardless. The remote start from anywhere in the world from my phone is fantastic, especially as I leave it parked so much and want to give the engine time to circulate fluids before driving. Nice to step into a car that is already warmed up and outputing heat or air conditioning. The key chain also has remote start, which is good for when I’m in the woods without cell service 📱 or if Ford decides to discontinue the Ford Pass app or starts to charge for it. I doubt they will, as long as 5G cell service remains avaliable, as they get a lot of valuable information on customers and how they use their products for marketing purposes – and selling repairs at dealerships. But you know time marches on, the OnStar on my Chevy Silverado even if they service had been paid up would have stopped working several years ago when 3G cell service went away.
Back to work on this Monday morning. 🏢 Should otherwise be a pretty ordinary week, keep plugging away at the database update, 💾 and all the usual crap that happens around that office, including enjoying all that flavored coffee ☕ as it was only a one cup day in the office. Listening to more of Ezra Klein’s Abundance audio book on Libby, as I ride in. 🚌 Al’so need to call CDTA World Headquarters and have them move the $16.50 on my now expired CDTA Navigator Card 💳 to the phone app, but I also plan to get another card, as in many ways they are far more convenient to use, and aren’t likely to fail like the phone app, but the phone app will work fine for now until I can get another card. Next weekend should very spring like!
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