you know what chuck schumer is for halloween, right?
chuckie.
he doesn't even have to dress up, or do an impression or anything, he just has to read his own speeches ironically.
chuck and his grandkids are doing fine during the shutdown:
after all, unlike food stamp recipients, chuckie still gets paid when he's off work, hanging out with his grandkids.
so, your grandkids should starve because your son married a shit for brains?
that's amerikkka.
but, i mean, it was the democrats that shut down congress anyways, not trump. and she doesn't sound like she found for chuck e. cheesemer. these are the kinds of voters democrats need to be reaching out to if they want to win seats. it doesn't seem like they're reaching out to this one.
as it is, if mr. carney wants a sacrifice, he should climb up on his self-erected cross and sacrifice himself.
his budget full of sacrifice, sacrifices he makes on behalf of others, is going to fail, it is going to trigger an election, and he will be forced to resign.
good riddance.
we do not need submarines. we do not need fighter jets. we need healthcare, we need education and we need freedom of speech.
if we must have subs, despite not needing them, we should build them ourselves, at whatever time and cost is necessary. those funds could be used in our economy to create jobs here, rather than exported from it to create jobs elsewhere. if it will take a while, that's fine. it is always better to do things yourself than pay others to do them for you.
in the second world war, which, unlike this war, was a war with no exit strategy, that we had to fight, the british leveraged canada as a builder. in fact, britain has often leveraged canada as a builder, going as far back as the napoleonic wars. canada's access to raw resources and relative isolation make it an ideal place to build. it would be a shame if that korean sub was sunk on it's way out of port.
canadians would agree to build before they agreed to be conscripted. i would fight in solidarity with a new conscription crisis, before i saw the value in fighting the most pointless war europe has seen since 1918.
"strong" leadership would be focusing on generating taxes via the multiplier effect and funding local industries with government subsidies in order to do it, not on pushing down austerity to buy expensive offensive weaponry we don't need to fulfill the demands of foreign dictators, and then telling us that we have make sacrifices to do it. nothing could be weaker than that.
no.
i am not going to sacrifice a damned thing for this asshole's vision of a competitive society based on violence and hierarchy. i'm going to fight to throw the piece of shit out of office, and i'm going to do what i fucking want, when i fucking want. he can shove his sacrifices up his conservative ass.
so, in detroit's mayoral election, you can vote for the minister, or the minister's daughter.
and, from what i can see, you're either going to get a minister, or a minister's daughter.
the minister's daughter (she is running on this, this is her language) is a dangerous trope in american culture, and is often not quite what they seem. i fear detroit might be walking into somewhat of a trap.
but, the other option is the minister, and nobody wants to vote for a minister, for good reason. i certainly wouldn't vote for a minister.
detroit has experienced several years of gentrification. there have certainly been winners, and, as a canadian regularly transiting through detroit to concerts or other events, i'll admit i appreciated the increased lighting and infrastructure. however, i also frequently ran into the homeless population of detroit, who expected things of me that i couldn't give them, as a tourist. it's clear that the gentrification has left a lot of people behind and that is probably a factor in why detroit is now choosing between a minister and a minister's daughter.
it doesn't appear to be a close race.
if detroit is voting for wealth redistribution, i'd suggest it's required, and i hope they get some, although i might expect otherwise.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
what a stupid waste of money.
not one person in canada should be forced into unemployment to purchase some stupid boats to fight wars of aggression with.
submarines have absolutely no defensive capacity whatsoever. they are strictly tools of aggression.
municipalities will need to return to their previous approach, which was hiring police to stand on the side of the road with speed guns, and then pull people over to ticket them.
the ndp should vote "present" on the budget and let the election happen.
it's hard to see how polievre could be any worse than carney, given carney mimics polievre at every opportunity. they should run ads calling him a copycat.
a conservative minority could force the liberals to change course away from austerity and war.
one of the items left here by the previous tenant was a three stage activated carbon hepa filter, which she seemed to use for her cat. the air quality has not been too bad, actually, but an overwhelming stench of pot or gasoline (it wasn't clear) took over about 6:00 am in the morning and was still going by 9:00 am. the heroin addicts upstairs are getting evicted this week, so i'm going to be patient about second hand smoke until they're gone.
this plug-in device, which pulls air from the room, filters it, and puts it back, has been running for about 7 hours, and the air is noticeably cleaner to breathe, even if the smell is actually still lingering. it's hard to get rid of the stench of mariijuana when gross people smoke inside for long periods.
it needs a new filter, but i'll hang on to this.
i want to keep track of what i'm spending on this. i don't want it to be too much, in the end.
i'm expecting an extra $2000 from the city. let me keep it under that, max, total.
i'm not close.
oct 12th:
plastic drawers: $30, and i'll use these for something else. this was regular $40. (delivered)
fan: $20, which i needed anyways. (delivered)
shoe rack: $10, which i need anyways. (delivered)
thermometers/alarm clock: $20. i broke my mercury thermometer and had to replace it, and the other weather station and clock is unnecessary, but was $10, and i think i'll use it a lot. (delivered)
- wide bagel toaster: $15 (i needed a new toaster, as my old toaster is broken). this was regular $25. (delivered)
- mini fridge: $100 (i've been meaning to get a second fridge for a long time as my fridge is always packed). this was regular $200. i could have bought a used fridge for $60-70ish, but then i'd need to get it delivered. it made more sense to pay a little bit more to get it delivered for free by walmart, and for it to be brand new. (delivered)
- mini indoor grill & sandwich maker device $30 (well, now i can make the chicken in the freezer, and we'll see if i use it for things like bacon) (delivered)
- extension cord: $5. this is for the laundry area. (delivered)
=====================================
$150*1.13 = $170.
as of oct 16th: 90 + 170 = $260
oct 17th
knife holder: $10 (with shipping), it's cheap and i've been looking to get one for a long time (delivered)
kitchen/computer table: $60. this is regular $160. i need one that is 20"x48" or very close to it and lets me put something under it, and this one will do that. i don't have a table that size. (delivered)
new kitchen scale: $17 + hst is $17*1.13 = $19. this would be regular $30. my old kitchen scale is damaged, and this is something you have to replace every few years. my last one was bought in 2021, i think. (delivered)
new bathroom scale: $16 + hst = 16*1.13 = $18. this was also regular $30. i've been looking to get this for a long time, too. (delivered)
i can use all of this when i eventually leave. i won't need to leave any of it here or find myself unable to do anything with it, in the end. further, i've found a fair bit of furniture on the curb recently, so i guess it balances out. i'd rather have bought the table used, but i couldn't find anything the right size, and this one is kind of perfect. it's a cheap and overpriced table that was marked down, but that's fine. so long as the legs are sturdy, i don't really care that it's made of composite. it's easy to clean, which is a bonus if i'm eating on it. the counters are composite. i won't have anything close to the 265 pound maximum weight on it. i simply didn't need a solid oak or otherwise expensive or fancy table in that space, i needed something cheap and functional.
i was looking at what are called console tables with a built in extension cord, but i couldn't find one that was the right size, and they tended to have metal crossing under the table to keep it sturdy, because they were so thin. i want to put a coffee table with a stereo system under the kitchen table, to save space. the kitchen table just needs to have a computer monitor, speakers and a laptop/chromebook on it, and space to eat. i will likely move the coffee warmer / induction plate to it, and maybe some other random kitchen things. 20"x48" should be fine for that.
the sturdiness issue will reduce to the legs, and i'll have to see about it. i think it looks fine, but it might be challenging to move without breaking it.
still to go:
wood plank: ??. 34" x 12" for under sink shelf & book case pins to hold it up. i need to call rona tomorrow.
wall shelving units: ???
shelf for on mini fridge (20" wide, 30" tall)? or not? i could just leave it open.
that is likely everything for the kitchen.
tonight, i'm going to get everything out of it's temporary spaces and into it's right place and see how much more shelving i think i still need. i think i need another standard wall mount, but i found a third shelving unit the other day, and i may be able to just rest it on a table. i'll have to run that by the owner, who i told i would contact before i screwed anything into the wall. the wood plank is almost 100%, but i have to have a 36" piece cut at the store and i don't know if they'll deliver it. home depot's website is useless.
oct 23
i just set up the kitchen table. it's a little more sturdy than i expected. unfortunately, the table i wanted to put under it is a little too big, so i bought a three tier side table to put under it that is a little smaller, instead. it was cheap, and a three tier "industrial" table sounds like the right thing to put my stereo system on. i can then move this system, with the two tables and the stereo/laptop system, as a unit when i need to.
a package of three items disappeared this afternoon. i think my neighbours stole it, and i think it's because they might not have understood that i bought this stuff. if there's free stuff at the door, it might as well be theirs. right? except that's not how this works. i'm asking fedex to double check. it was about $30 worth of makeup and cleaning supplies on sale. i want the items back, but i may have to ask for a refund, and i'll keep an eye on them about that.
i also just purchased $100 worth of stackable cubes that are intended to function as shelving and that i will use for shelving textbooks, mostly, as well as a portable closet for the walk-in closet area, a monitor stand for the kitchen system and a two-way wired video doorbell system for the complex door way, which prevents people from knocking on my door, which is fine. i got a wired system because the wireless systems don't work very well, and are easy to hack, which is worse because you have to connect them to your home network. if the cable is 10 m, that should be enough, but i may have to buy an extra cable if it isn't. this system comes with it's own lcd monitor and acts as a doorbell, a video peephole and a two way intercom and it has a night vision function as well.
oct 23rd:
power adapter for alarm clock: $5, after rebates. it was supposed to have one but didn't, so i asked for 50% off and got it. (delivered)
three tier 13"x17" side table, for mini chromebook and nad stereo system under the kitchen table: $40 + hst is 40*1.13 = $45. this was regular $50 + hst. (delivered)
thirty modular, stackable 15x12x12 cubes for book shelves: $102 + hst is 102*1.13 = 115. this would have been regular $171 + hst. (delivered)
portable closet: $40 + hst is 40*1.13 = $45. this was regular $53 + hst. (delivered)
monitor stand: $19 + hst is $22. this was regular $25 + hst. (delivered)
wired video intercom system: $51 + hst = $57. this was normally $102 + hst.
two motion sensor night lights for entryway: $16 + hst = $19 (delivered)
======================
$308
as of oct 23rd: 376 + 308 = $684.
still to go:
wood plank: ??. 34" x 12" for under sink shelf & book case pins to hold it up. i need to call rona soon.
small desk for bedroom: ??
shelving for bathroom: ??
tweeters for celestions: ??
this is almost everything i need for the walk-in closet, the bathroom and the bedroom, as well.
i should also note the items i've recently found for free:
tall dresser for walk-in closet: free, left by previous tenant
two tier coffee table: free, left by previous tenant
low storage shelf: free, left by previous tenant
large clothing rack on wheels for walk-in closet: free, left by previous tenant
large ironing table (but i won't use it for that) for walk in closet area: free, left by previous tenant
electric kettle: free, left by previous tenant
coffee warmer: free, left by previous tenant
cutlery and dishes, including sharp fsih knife: free, left by previous tenant
ghetto hutch used as spice rack (two cabinets stacked on each other): free, found on curb
large craft table for laundry area: free, found on curb
matching set of wood speaker tables: free, found on curb
stove side cabinet: free, found on curb
utensil holder: free, found on curb
i can also add a few items i bought before i left the last place and will add that on at the end:
three level console table for voip (phone & zoom) and some kitchen storage: $40 (delivered)
sewing desk: $20 (delivered)
metal chair with leather cushions: $5 (picked up)
coffee machines: $46 (picked up)
=======================================
$111
$684 + $111 = $795
i will struggle to spend much more than this, i think. if i can get in under $1000 to really set this place up, that's pretty good.
oct 25
i need a few extra shelves in the kitchen. i don't need a full cabinet, just a few extra floating shelves. i have l-brackets, a drill and a studfinder, so i was just going to go ahead and drill the l-brackets in, but there seems to be some kind of metal plate behind the wall that's making it hard for me to make sure i'm not drilling into the electrical.
i instead bought a pack of 15 glue on pegs for $9, and a bunch of shelving pegs for another $10. they'll be here tomorrow. the glue on pegs will help me put up more floating shelves, maybe in the bathroom, with this pile of rectangular wood i have.
my big order from yesterday will also be here today, so the only things i'll be waiting for are refunds on the cleaning supplies (which i'll reorder), a package of j-cloths and the video intercom system.
i was looking at a dedicated zoom compatible videophone yesterday but think i should wait. they've come down in price a lot. i'm also there but not quite yet. this place is big enough for two voip phones, that's fine.
oversized adhesive wall pegs: $10 with tax (delivered)
bookshelf pegs: $12 with tax (delivered)
======================
$22
$795 + 22 = $817
the last thing to do in the kitchen before i can pictures up late tomorrow will be to call rona today. that's step one, just about done.
this is crazy stuff for dirt cheap, in some cases. a two way video intercom for $60? so...inflation? what's that? i'm experiencing the effects of technology losing value, and the effects of superproduction coming from china, and it's decreasing prices, while my income has come up. i've probably never been better off.
i think the missed point might be that the inflation is happening in bourgeois goods and lifestyle products, while commodities for budget items are actually coming down. it might be more expensive to be rich than it ever has been, but it's probably never been cheaper to be poor.
(...)
i have now received the five items i bought at amazon yesterday, and i have mostly set up the stereo in the kitchen, and tested to see if it works by grabbing the first cd in the pile. which was cleanse, fold and manipulate. this is appropriate for the industrial strength table.i also finished cleaning the stove and started putting away loose items. there's not much more left to do.
i've been working on designing spaces like this for a while now, and a lot of people will consider this to be a sort of dream kitchen. i'm excited to post the pictures. soon.
(...)
so, i set up my computer stand and realized the keyboard is too big. this keyboard is missing a few keys and is held together with electrical tape. i have newer ones, but keyboards are things you use up and replace, so you tape them together until they're unusable, knowing the next one will break, again.
i just bought a smaller one for $15.
kitchen system mini usb keyboard: $15 + hst = $17 (delivered)
=========================================
17
as of oct 25th: $817 + 17 = $834.
the monitor stand in the kitchen is now setup and i've run an ethernet cable to it. i've now set the system up, and am eating some salsa and watching the most recent fall of civilizations.
i'll be going back to the oversight committee project and starting over again imminently, which is here:
i got the rest of my stuff in this afternoon and i was able to get three shelves up, which was the last thing to do, for now. the four packages that came in were the mini keyboard, the adhesive pegs, the bookshelf pins and some j-cloths.
the last things left are the doorbell and the big wood plank. next, i need to finish some bulk purchases that i'll probably do via uber and then take a run to the bulk barn this week to fill up the spice shelf.
i'm going to take some pictures and start writing a post up.
oct 27th
my kitchen costs ended up being:
total cost for kitchen, including items previously purchased for last apartment, but not including food or cleaning supplies, including hst or shipping per item:
the next space to set up is the laundry / walk-in closet, along with the bathroom. both areas require soe venting work, which i'm waiting on. unfortunately, i'm still working on some legal documents.
this morning, i just bought another $300 worth of cleaning and bathroom supplies, after getting about $40 back on refunds for missing items. i'm buying everything in bulk, and it's actually cheaper, in the long run, but it means spending $130 on makeup and $120 on dish soap, which i also use for air freshener. i won't need any for quite a while. like, two years. i have 4x the amount of everything that i'd normally buy.
i also just bought a $39 five tier metal table for in the bathroom. these metal tables are inexpensive right now, and i wonder if it has something to do with the tariffs. that's fine; it's better than plywood, for the same price, or less. the other option in the bathroom was plastic, but plastic warps in humidity and under weight. this metal table will have no problem holding it's shape under the weight of 20 lbs of shampoo and other items. i also bought another $10 worth of adhesive pegs and a $16 wall mounted 6 outlet extension cord with bonus usb power outs for in the garage area. i'll need to run that from upstairs to downstairs, and it should be enough to power the work area, which i need to get a series of tables for.
i've decided to move the desk i bought as a sewing desk into my bedroom and use it as a writing desk because i found a big, sturdy craft desk outside when i first got here and that makes more sense in the laundry room and walk-in closet space. the walls are not drywalled, but they're old stone. it's not bad. i do need something on the floor, but a number of rugs were actually left here. otherwise, i think i have most of the furniture for in there already, because there was also a tall bookshelf and a low storage shelf left here that i can move into that area for that function.
bathroom shelf: $39 (delivered)
extension cord: $16 (delivered)
adhesive wall pegs: $9
=====================
$64*1.13 = $72
as of oct 30th: $834 + $72 = $906
here's my update in terms of the next two spaces.
laundry items:
tall dresser for walk-in closet: free, left by previous tenant
low storage shelf for laundry detergent: free, left by previous tenant
large clothing rack on wheels for walk-in closet: free, left by previous tenant
large ironing table (but i won't use it for that) for walk in closet area: free, left by previous tenant
large craft table for laundry area (sewing table): free, found on curb
closet organizer: $40 + hst - $45
wall mounted socket extension: $5 + hst
rugs: ??
vacuums: ??
lights: ??
there is a working washing machine and a working dryer with no exhaust that i will borrow, as a tenant
===============================
$50 * 1.13 = $57
bathroom:
scale: $16 + hst = $18
metal shelves: $40 + hst is $45
two mirrors: ??
wood for window, probably: ?
make up table: ??
lights: ??
====================
$63
these are the remaining spaces:
bedroom:
matching speaker tables: found for free on curb
shelving for books: not clear yet, i probably don't need more
writing desk: $20
alarm clock / weather monitor: $15
tweeters for celestions ??
======================
$35
in-unit garage:
motion sensor night lights: $16
extension cord to wall mounted new downstairs outlet: $16
video intercom: $51
===================
$83*1.13 = 94
side hallway:
console table (same as kitchen): $0 here, added there
shoe rack: $10
lights:
front hallway:
items for charging table:
probably where i'll put stationary for indoor bicycle
probably where i'll put cd and book shelving
couch area:
videophone:
studio:
not clear yet; probably don't need more furniture.
the kitchen required the most work, as i didn't have a kitchen table, and i needed to replace, update or buy some new small appliances. i also had that console table, which i'm adding to the cost.
still to go:
kitchen: wood plank: ??. 34" x 12" for under sink shelf & book case pins to hold it up. i need to call rona soon.
garage: space heaters:
garage: big tables for in-unit garage:
garage: bicycle rack:
bathroom: bathroom mirror:
bedroom: tweeters for celestions: ??
as all i really need to do for the laundry/closet area is clean it, i could potentially get some pictures up by monday. but i need to go back to the court documents for a few days.
total list, as of oct 30th:
(0a) through amazon site:
- power adapter for alarm clock: $5, after rebates. it was supposed to have one but didn't, so i asked for 50% off and got it. (delivered)
- three tier 13"x17" side table, for mini chromebook and nad stereo system under the kitchen table: $40 + hst is 40*1.13 = $45. this was regular $50 + hst. (delivered)
- thirty modular, stackable 15x12x12 cubes for book shelves: $102 + hst is 102*1.13 = 115. this would have been regular $171 + hst. (delivered)
- portable closet: $40 + hst is 40*1.13 = $45. this was regular $53 + hst. (delivered)
- monitor stand: $19 + hst is $22. this was regular $25 + hst. (delivered)
- two motion sensor night lights for entryway: $16 + hst = $19 (delivered)
- oversized adhesive wall pegs: $10 with tax (delivered)
- bookshelf pegs: $12 with tax (delivered)
- kitchen system mini usb keyboard: $15 + hst = $17 (delivered)
- bathroom shelf: $29*1.13 = $44 (delivered)
- extension cord: $18 with tax (delivered)
- more oversized adhesive wall pegs: $11 with tax (on way)
========================================
$363
(0b) through walmart site:
- plastic drawers: $30, and i'll use these for something else. this was regular $40. (delivered)
- fan: $20, which i needed anyways. (delivered)
- shoe rack: $10, which i need anyways. (delivered)
- thermometers/alarm clock: $20. i broke my mercury thermometer and had to replace it, and the other weather station and clock is unnecessary, but was $10, and i think i'll use it a lot. (delivered)
- wide bagel toaster: $15 (i needed a new toaster, as my old toaster is broken). this was regular $25. (delivered)
- mini fridge: $100 (i've been meaning to get a second fridge for a long time as my fridge is always packed). this was regular $200. i could have bought a used fridge for $60-70ish, but then i'd need to get it delivered. it made more sense to pay a little bit more to get it delivered for free by walmart, and for it to be brand new. (delivered)
- mini indoor grill & sandwich maker device $30 (well, now i can make the chicken in the freezer, and we'll see if i use it for things like bacon) (delivered)
- extension cord: $5. this is for the laundry area. (delivered)
- knife holder: $10 (with shipping), it's cheap and i've been looking to get one for a long time (delivered)
- kitchen/computer table: $60. this is regular $160. i need one that is 20"x48" or very close to it and lets me put something under it, and this one will do that. i don't have a table that size. (delivered)
- new kitchen scale: $17. this would be regular $30. my old kitchen scale is damaged, and this is something you have to replace every few years. my last one was bought in 2021, i think. (delivered)
- new bathroom scale: $16. this was also regular $30. i've been looking to get this for a long time, too. (delivered)
- wired video intercom system: $51 (on way)
======================
$384*1.13 = $434
(0c) items purchased at previous apartment:
three level console table for voip (phone & zoom) and some kitchen storage, now an entrance table (kijiji): $40 (delivered)
sewing desk, now a writing desk (kijiji): $20 (delivered)
metal chair with leather cushions, now a kitchen table chair (kijiji): $5 (picked up)
coffee machines (walmart): $46 (picked up)
=======================================
$111
(0d) items left by previous tenant:
tall dresser for walk-in closet: free, left by previous tenant
two tier coffee table: free, left by previous tenant
low storage shelf: free, left by previous tenant
large clothing rack on wheels for walk-in closet: free, left by previous tenant
large ironing table (but i won't use it for that) for walk in closet area: free, left by previous tenant
electric kettle: free, left by previous tenant
coffee warmer: free, left by previous tenant
cutlery and dishes: free, left by previous tenant
(0e) items found on curb since may and grabbed for apartment fix up purposes:
ghetto hutch used as spice rack (two cabinets stacked on each other): free, found on curb
large craft table for laundry area: free, found on curb
matching set of wood speaker tables: free, found on curb
tall dresser for walk-in closet: free, left by previous tenant
low storage shelf for laundry detergent: free, left by previous tenant
large clothing rack on wheels for walk-in closet: free, left by previous tenant
large ironing table (but i won't use it for that) for walk in closet area: free, left by previous tenant
large craft table for laundry area (sewing table): free, found on curb
rugs: ??
vacuums: ??
lights: ??
there is a working washing machine and a working dryer with no exhaust that i will borrow, as a tenant
===============================
$50 * 1.13 = $57
(3) for bathroom:
scale: $16 + hst = $18
metal shelves: $40 + hst is $45
two mirrors: ??
wood for window, probably: ?
make up table: ??
lights: ??
====================
$63
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
rumour has it that the announced $550 billion dollars of investment into the united states from japan will include a complete sale of the hawaiian island of o'ahu, with options to continue purchasing islands throughout the pacific ocean.
you want to go to work to do some stupid job every day in order to pay your mortgage, so that the bankers can tax you to pay for their kids?
jurisdiction for income and sales taxes are with the state government, not city council. the mayor has no authority to raise income taxes.
only jurisdiction for property taxes is with the city council.
it follows that the city can only hike property taxes, and who pays for that? the answer is middle class workers that own property.
the policies are directed at alleviating cost of living issues for renters downtown. can you afford to rent in new york? then you're not that poor, but you might be leveraging family wealth to pay it. you're not working minimum wage, or even a unionized worker; you couldn't afford to live there, if you were. should government be taxing one family member to pay for another? it will, under these polices. that's not any sort of real reform. that's not redistributive, it's more like the rich outsourcing the municipal government to act as nannies for their overgrown trust fund kids. perhaps they can create a Ministry for Upper Class Twit Management.
rather, it follows that, despite the populist rhetoric, the only implementable actual redistribution of wealth is from unionized workers that own property to the children of the rich, who are renting downtown to work for free, then complaining they can't afford it.
these kids could stay at home until they save up enough to move out, but that is (rightfully, in truth) seen as a societal step backwards into conservative family values systems and economic feudalism. this is a legitinate, real problem. however, the solution is for the interns to unionize and demand higher wages, not to tax the property of unionized workers, and then redistribute the wealth from the gains won by the working class to pad luxurious lifestyles for the children of the elite.
socialism for the rich is the idea underlying the concept of america, but it's rooted in slavery and capitalism for the poor, which pays for it through manual labour. mamdani is nothing new, but is merely a sneaky way to enforce the status quo, by taking advantage of geo-political grievances embedded in religious and racial identity politics to enforce bourgeois economics and continue the neo-liberal project by stealth.
don't say the leftists didn't warn you.
there it is.
cuomo is the more left-wing candidate, and is actively appealing to lower class and unionized middle class voters, but he's an asshole, and he will probably suffer from low voter turnout, and the high barriers to voting that poor people face in the united states.
take it from a real socialist - zohran mamdani is not a socialist. rather, his proposals are typically bourgeois attempts to leverage the state to create socialism for the capitalist class, at the expense of working class people, who will see their moderate wealth redistributed to the wealthy, who will continue to evade paying taxes. the publicly run grocery stores will be a way for unionized workers to subsidize the educated children of the elite for doing labour for free, a subsidy that should be paid by their employers, because their bourgeois background prevents them from unionizing or striking, which they see as a threat to their career aspirations. tax payer transportation is a good idea in principle, but not without addressing the homeless problem, first. free subways are a more useful idea than free buses, but the buses are not used by the wealthy. this creates a two-tier transportation system. i could go on.
as a leftist, these "socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor" proposals are not just non-solutions, they are at the crux of the problem defining american decline. the corporate elite, the traders and the bankers will be better off, and their wealthy children will be better off, but the middle class will take a major hit for it. all leftists should oppose these policies. these are the class allegiances that mamdani maintains, due to his origins.
however, i don't think that mamdani is an anti-semite. it is wrong to focus on him, individually. rather, he may increasingly see leveraging growing anti-semitism as a means to maintain power, in the face of the growing reality that ant-semitism is becoming a populist issue amongst the american underclass. we have seen this before, both in america and in europe, and we know how it ends.
leftists should oppose mamdani due to his not just petite bourgeois but in fact haute bourgeois economic proposals. they should also realize he is a potential front for something much darker that is brewing beneath him, without being the cause or the driver of it.
what he wants is to prevent downward class mobility in the children of the upper class, and he wants to do that by redistributing wealth from the working class upwards (by trickling the wealth up) rather than by taxing the rich. it might work, but only because people are voting for other things they are projecting on to him, and which he has no jurisdiction to influence. if the ballot question was correctly placed to new yorkers, they would reject this, but the real left is moribund and the right is retarded, creating deep ignorance on both sides.
winners: bankers
losers: workers & the poor
the hostages have been released and gaza has been destroyed. whether you agree with this or not, and whether you feel it's justified or not, claims that netanyahu is trying to cling to power are becoming the more dominant concern, now. my position has been that it doesn't matter if netanyahu is clinging to power, because gaza needed to be destroyed in retribution. but now it matters because they have been destroyed. that's done, now.
retaliatory attacks are no longer sufficient reason to avoid calling an election.
the war against hamas should continue, but israel needs to call an election, now. the outcome might be that netanyahu, who is an old man that should retire, is replaced by somebody that his opponents think is worse. that would be the reflection of the israeli popular will. however, i think you might be surprised at the outcome, which i suspect will return the status quo, perhaps with a rearranged knesset underneath it.
justifications for the war have not ended, but justifications for prolonging democracy have ended, and netanyahu needs to face the verdict of his own people, now.
this is going to cost billions and provide nothing of value, while discarding of peoples' rights.
there's lots of reasons to make fun of donald trump, but his dance moves are actually the one awesome thing about him. it's like elaine from seinfeld. while she was largely somebody you wouldn't want to hang out with, which was her quirk on the show, her dancing was the singular legitimately cool thing about her. it takes a lot of discarded fucks to have so few left as to repeatedly dance like that, and it's the one bit of street cred he actually has.
you think that broadcasting the dancing is going to mock him, but it's the one thing about him that normal people actually like. it might be the reason he won.
so, this one goes out to donald trump.
let's keep the critique to his retarded economic policies, his tendency to let his arrogance blind his logic and his devastating embrace of conservative christian values for political gain.
i promise you that donald remembers this one.
this repost is a large update and organizes an end to this process.
i am probably coming to the end of the adventures in food bank eating, and will just be catching up on all of the fruit and salad i skipped over the last 6 months, starting in mid november.
- june 16th: doubled up salsa with chick peas, cheese, spices and vitamins.
- june 17th: onion soup bacon poutine
- june 18th: basic doritos nachos and french onon soup with bacon
- june 19th: doubled up salsa reprise
- june 20th: caesar salad without subs
- june 21st: 2nd onion soup poutine with onion soup and last chance salad
- june 22rd: 3rd onion soup poutine with onion soup with beets
- june 23rd: caesar salad without subs
- june 24th: caesar salad without subs
- june 25th: bacon and eggs without subs, no salsa
- june 26th: bacon and eggs without subs, no salsa
- june 27th: ad hoc pad thai
- june 28th: broccoli soup
- june 29th: fridge-clearing meal (oranges & garlic bread)
- july 3rd: 10 packages of instant oatmeal, in 5 installments. spaghetti-os + spices & vitamins (cumin, cayenne, pepper, oregano, paprika, sunflower seed, hemp seed, nutritional yeast, frank's).
- july 4th: a can of stew and a can of corn, plus spices & vitamins.
- july 5th: a package of jasmine rice i had put aside as a quinoa sub (it probably isn't), with a can of peas and a can of tomato soup, plus spices and vitamins.
- july 6th: a can of beans cooked in a can of vegetable soup, plus spices and vitamins.
- july 7th: two cans of chicken noodle soup, plus spices and vitamins. tim's xl double-double coffee in morning. two builders protein mini bars in evening. 7-11 coffee with jalapeno taquito late at night.
- july 8th: food bank junk food eat through - two bags of "real vegetable chips" (one big, one small), a bag of goldfish crackers, one mini crispy crunch, some strawberry licorice, prime energy drink, two tim horton's donuts, little ceasar's pepperoni pizza with unlabelled chocolate milk product.
- july 9th: another prime energy drink with another unlabelled chocolate milk product, unlabelled food bank ginger bread (two loaves)
- july 10th: pasta with minor subs (1), third energy drink, sour cream n cheddar chips
- july 12th: more licorice, pasta with minor subs (2)
- july 13th: jalapeno cheddar chips, pasta with minor subs (3)
- july 14th: 10 baby cookies, pasta with minor subs (4)
- july 15th: i ate most of the 14th pasta on the 15th and followed it with the remaining baby cookies (which are actually french butter cookies, not baby cookies. they look like baby cookies). i did not make pasta for the 15th.
- july 16th:. pasta with minor subs (5)
- july 17th: pasta with minor subs (6)
- july 18th (on the 19th): pasta with minor subs (7)
- july 19th (on the 20th): cereal (one bowl of vector and all bran with paprika, flax, nutritional yeast, hemp seeds and soy, as per my normal diet and one bowl of instant oatmeal with a little real milk and an apple)
- july 20th (on the 21st): pasta with minor subs (8)
- july 21st (on the 22nd): pasta with minor subs (9)
- july 22nd: cereal day 2 in cycle 2 (final cycle 2 cereal day): one bowl of vector and all bran with paprika, flax, nutritional yeast, hemp seeds and soy, as per my normal diet and one bowl of instant oatmeal with a little real milk and two apples, one in the oatmeal and one standalone.
- july 23rd: cereal day 1 in cycle 3
- july 24: pasta with minor subs (10)
- july 25: cereal day 2 in cycle 3, same as 22 and 23, with the addition of 6 mini apple sauce containers.
- july 26: pasta with minor subs (11)
- july 27th - guac with white rice and canned corn. two pieces of white bread with plum better.
- july 28th: pasta with minor subs (12)
- july 29th: guac with white rice and canned corn. two pieces of white toast with olive oil margarine, and then two pieces of white bread with plum butter after. four more pieces of white bread, with plum butter and strawberry jam.
- july 30th: pasta with minor subs (13), including fried chicken for salami.
- july 31st: a larger piece of fried chicken alone. pasta with minor subs (14), including a mix of buffalo and chicken for salami. six pieces of white bread for peanut butter and strawberry jam.
- aug 1st: four pieces of white bread and the rest of the peanut butter. quinoa without subs (on aug 3rd).
- aug 2nd: four marshmallows, two bananas and a chocolate bar. quinoa without subs (on aug 3rd).
- aug 3rd: pasta with minor subs (15), including the buffalo/chicken mix for salami (on aug 4th). two pieces of toasted italian bread.
- aug 4th: bacon and eggs (no salsa) (on aug 5th)
- aug 5th: pasta with minor subs (16), including the buffalo/chicken mix for salami. two pieces of toasted italian bread. (on aug 6th)
- aug 6th: guac with yellow pepper, homemade hot sauce and canned corn (on aug 7th).
- aug 7th: monterrey jack tuna salad melt with bowl of cilantro lime monterrey jack rice (on aug 8th).
- aug 8th: pasta with minor subs (17), homemade hot sauce and bacon for salami (on aug 9th). . two pieces of toasted italian bread.
- aug 9th: guac with yellow pepper, homemade hot sauce and canned corn wth cilantro lime monterrey jack rice (on aug 10th).
- aug 10th: bacon and eggs (no salsa) (on aug 11th)
- aug 11th: pasta with minor subs (18), homemade hot sauce and bacon for salami (early on aug 12th). two pieces of toasted italian bread.
- aug 12th: bacon and eggs (no salsa) (at midnight on aug 13th)
- aug 13th: pasta with minor subs (19), homemade hot sauce and bacon for salami (early on aug 14th). . two pieces of toasted italian bread.
- aug 14th: potatoes with gravy, cheese, sour cream, bacon and dill (early on aug 15th). no av.
- aug 15th: onion soup + side salad (as posted) (late on aug 15th). no av.
- aug 16th: potatoes with gravy, cheese, sour cream, bacon and dill (early on aug 17th). no av.
- aug 17th: onion soup (mid day on aug 17th) and side salad (as posted) with two pieces of toast (early on aug 18th). no av.
- aug 18th: pasta with minor subs (20), including bacon for salami (early on aug 19th). no av. no juice. no hot sauce. two pieces of toasted italian bread.
- aug 19th: pasta with minor subs (21), including orange/lime for pineapple and bacon for salami (early on aug 20th). no av. no juice. no hot sauce. two pieces of toasted italian bread.
- aug 20th & 21st: cereal day 1 & 2 from cycle 4 together in one big bowl. (mid-day on aug 20th)
- aug 22nd: pasta with minor subs (22), including orange/lime for pineapple and chicken for salami (early on aug 21st). no av. no juice. no broc. no hot sauce. two pieces of toasted italian bread.
- aug 23rd: pasta with minor subs (23), including orange/lime for pineapple and chicken for salami (early on aug 22nd). no av. no juice. no broc. no red pepper. no hot sauce. i had the rest of the italian bread, and four extra pieces of brown bread with cheddar cheese, on the morning of aug 23rd and otherwise didn't eat on the 23rd. this is the bread for use with cycle 7, eaten early.
- aug 24th: pasta with minor subs (24) (early on the 24th). this was the last of the penne and shifted the pasta source to a box of kd, for now. no av. no juice. no broc. no red pepper. no hot sauce. no pineapple. no salami. no caesar. no dill. two pieces of toasted brown bread with margarine. one xl tim's double double.
- aug 25th: (early on the 25th) is going to be a tomato sandwich one from cycle 2 and an instant meal chicken "sidekick". no av, as it's not ripe yet.
- aug 26th: pasta with minor subs (25). pasta source is a box of kd. bacon subbed for salami. two pieces of toasted brown bread with margarine. no av. no broc (forgot).
- aug 27th: second tomato sandwich meal from cycle 2 with a package of (cooked) chinese noodles.
- aug 28th: pasta with minor subs (26). pasta source is a box of kd. bacon subbed for salami. two pieces of toasted brown bread with margarine. two avs.
- aug 29th: doubled up salsa with kidney beans, cheese, spices and vitamins. cycle 2 salsa. four avs. juice. 50 g broccoli.
- aug 30th: pasta with minor subs (27). pasta source is a box of kd. bacon subbed for salami. two pieces of toasted brown bread with margarine. two avs.
- aug 31st: first cycle 3 quinoa, with lentils subbed for quinoa and a can of side baked beans. two avs. last extra juice.
- sept 1st: pasta with minor subs (28). pasta source is a box of kd. bacon subbed for salami. two pieces of toasted brown bread with margarine. two avs. not eaten until morning of sept 2nd.
- sept 2nd: first tomato sandwich meal from cycle 3 with a package of (cooked) chinese noodles. extra av in chinese noodles.
- sept 3rd: pasta with minor subs (29). pasta source is a box of kd. bacon subbed for salami. no bread. two avs.
- sept 4: doubled up salsa with kidney beans, cheese, spices and vitamins. cycle 3 salsa. four avs.
- sept 5th: pasta with minor subs (30). pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. two avs (avs caight up).
- sept 6nd: second tomato sandwich meal from cycle 3 with a package of (cooked) chinese noodles. 1/2 red pepper in chinese noodles from catchup. jello with catchup pineapple and one lime, one orange.
- sept 7th: pasta with minor subs (31). pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami.
- sept 8th: second cycle 3 quinoa, with lentils subbed for quinoa.
- sept 9th: pasta with minor subs (32). pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami.
- sept 10th: doubled up salsa with cheese, spices and vitamins. cycle 4 salsa.
- sept 11th: green beans that were intended for the 10th (eaten on the 12th), with mushroom soup and bacon. first skipped pasta. later, first cycle 4 guac with red pepper (eaten on 13th).
- sept 12th: canned corn that was intended for the 11th (eaten on the 13th) with bacon. 2nd skipped pasta. first tomato sandwich from cycle 4 (eaten on 13th) with a package of (cooked) chinese noodles (eaten on 13th). 1/2 red pepper in chinese noodles from catchup, last catchup. last chinese noodles.
- sept 13th: pasta with minor subs (33). pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. first skipped. (eaten early on 15th)
- sept 14th: pasta with minor subs (34). pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. second skipped. (eaten early on the 16th)
- sept 15th: first cycle 2 nachos (eaten late on the 16th). third skipped pasta.
- sept 16th: second cycle 2 nachos (eaten late on the 17th). fourth skipped pasta.
- sept 17th: first cycle 3 nachos (eaten early on the 19th). fifth skipped pasta.
- sept 18th: second cycle 3 nachos (eaten late on the 19th). sixth skipped pasta.
- sept 19th: second tomato sandwich from cycle 4 & poutine with canned potatoes (eaten early on 21st). seventh skipped pasta.
- sept 20th: second cycle 4 guac & canned cream corn with bacon meal, eaten on 21st and 22nd. eighth skipped pasta.
- sept 21st: two for 1 bk whoppers (no lettuce, extra pickles) with added monterrey jack (melted), franks and caesar, with four of those cheesy jalapeno things and two apple turnovers. eaten late on the 23rd. ninth skipped pasta.
- sept 22nd: first cycle 4 nachos (eaten during day on 24th). tenth skipped pasta.
- sept 23rd: second cycle 4 nachos (eaten early on 25th). eleventh skipped pasta.
- sept 24th: first tomato sandwich from cycle 5 (eaten late on 25th). twelfth skipped pasta.
- sept 25th: second tomato sandwich from cycle 5 (eaten early on 26th). thirteenth skipped pasta.
- sept 26: pasta with minor subs (35). third cycle 9 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. third skipped.
- sept 27th: pasta with minor subs (36). fourth cycle 9 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. fourth skipped.
- sept 28th: first cycle 4 quinoa, with lentils subbed for quinoa. eaten early on 29th. soy saved to be eaten with two pieces of toast with cheese, eaten midday on the 30th.
- sept 29th: pasta with minor subs (37). first cycle 10 pasta. eaten early on the 1st. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. fifth skipped. two pieces of toast with cheese, eaten midday on the 2nd.
- sept 30th: pasta with minor subs (38). second cycle 10 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. sixth skipped. eaten late on the 2nd. three pieces of toast with cheese, eaten late on the 3rd.
- oct 1st: -------
- oct 2nd: --------------
- oct 3rd: 7-11 pizza with taquito and two glasses of orange juice. eaten early on 4th.
- oct 4th: pizza crusts fried with bacon, margarine, cheese + caesar, brocolli, avocado. eaten early on 5th
- oct 5th: extra large pizza eaten on 5th,
- oct 6th: pizza crusts fried with bacon, margarine, cheese + caesar, carrot. eaten on 6th
- oct 7th: second cycle 4 quinoa, with lentils subbed for quinoa. eaten on oct 7th.
- oct 8th: two nutrigrain bars, one half a container of cookies, 1st cycle 5 quinoa, with lentils subbed for quinoa. eaten oct 9th/10th.
- oct 9th: rest of cookies + small pizza pizza, including crusts.
- oct 10th: two small crispers bags, one nutrigrain, one granola bar, big bag of "veggie straws" (which are cheeseless cheezies).
- oct 11th: big bag of cheeseless cheezies, six fruit rollups, one small container of apple sauce, two chicken sadwiches from food basics roasted chicken
- oct 12th: two chicken sandwiches from food basics roast chicken
- oct 13th: second cycle 3 caesar salad, with packaged lettuce subbed for kale and with two broken fried eggs and cucumber added. served with buttered sub bun.
- oct 14th: first tomato sandwich from cycle 6 with chicken sidekick noodles. two apples, eaten later.
- oct 15th: first cycle 4 caesar salad, with packaged lettuce subbed for kale and cucumber and apple added. served with buttered sub bun. one apple, eaten later.
- oct 16th: second cycle 4 bacon & eggs. no salsa. two apples, later.
- oct 17th: first cycle 5 cereal, with two extra plain isrnstant oatmeals, each with an apple and a touch of chocolate soy. also, two pop tarts to test the new toaster.
- oct 18th: first cycle 5 guac, with added cucumber and with white rice, but third. first part was 75% of a pineapple (because it needed to be eaten) with a cup of apple sauce. second was canned cream of corn with bacon, dill, cheese, caesar, frank's, bob's nutritional yeast & hemp seeds.
- oct 19th: doubled up salsa with cheese, spices and vitamins, and cucumber and apple. with buttered bun. cycle 5 salsa.
- oct 20th: second tomato sandwich from cycle 6 with chinese noodles.
- oct 21st: first tomato sandwich from cycle 7 with chinese noodles.
- oct 22nd & 23rd: doubled up salsa with cheese, spices and vitamins, and cucumber and apple. with buttered bun. cycle 6 salsa. this took me two tries.
- oct 24th & 25th: doubled up salsa with cheese, spices and vitamins, and cucumber and apple. with buttered bun. cycle 7 salsa. this took me two tries.
- oct 26th: 6 pop tarts, one bag of goldfish chips & a can of mildly expired ravioli.
- oct 27th: first cycle 5 bacon & eggs. no salsa. last buttered bun in package. two pieces of white toast with peanut butter.
- oct 28th & 29th: second cycle 5 guac, with white rice, canned corn, cucumber and apple. with one buttered hawaiian roll.
- oct 30th & 31st: second cycle 5 quinoa, with lentils subbed for quinoa and cucumber and apple,with one buttered hawaiian roll.
- oct : pasta with minor subs (39). third cycle 10 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. seventh skipped,
- oct : pasta with minor subs (40). fourth cycle 10 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. eighth skipped.
- first quinoa, guac from cycle 6
- oct : pasta with minor subs (41). first cycle 11 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. ninth skipped.
- oct : pasta with minor subs (42). second cycle 11 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. tenth skipped.
- oct : second cycle 6 quinoa, with lentils subbed for quinoa.
- guac
- oct : pasta with minor subs (43). third cycle 11 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. eleventh skipped,
- oct : pasta with minor subs (44). fourth cycle 11 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. twelfth skipped.
- oct : 1st cycle 7 quinoa, with lentils subbed for quinoa.
- guac
- i'm going to cut at the end of cycle 11 and catch up, then go back to normal scheduling to start cycle 12, but not until i've caught up. there will be a lot of pasta in the cupboard at this time, and that's ok.
- run through caesar salads to build up kale stalks
- then run through garden salads
- eat fruit/ice cream together as meal instead of half meals
- clean up with whatever's next
- get back to schedule when cycle 11 is finished
- probably no more food bank runs are going to be necessary, but i'll see
- the fact is that i like the idea of getting random food and figuring out how to prepare it
=====
- oct : pasta with minor subs (45). first cycle 12 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami. thirteenth skipped.
- oct : pasta with minor subs (46). second cycle 12 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami.
- oct : second cycle 6 quinoa, with lentils subbed for quinoa.
- oct : pasta with minor subs (47). third cycle 12 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami.
- oct : pasta with minor subs (48). fourth cycle 12 pasta. pasta source is spaghetti. bacon subbed for salami.
===
- i moved on oct 1st and went to food bank (maybe for last time) that week
- quinoa/2x pasta concept skipped until i get through perishables
- might still be out of both lentils and pasta by then
Monday, October 27, 2025
if donald trump gets assassinated during a third term, is that a third term abortion?
in the west, there is an ignorant belief that palestinians are arabs, but there has been no arab power here for centuries, and it was shortlived when it did exist.
the two powers in the area for the last 1000 years have been the egyptians and turks, and egypt was often ruled by turkish dynasties. arabs like to pretend otherwise, but israel, lebanon and syria are outside of the arab sphere of influence.
it only makes sense to let egyptians or turks patrol gaza. gulf arabs shoud not be allowed to do this. this is way too far away from them.
israel would be right to oppose turks in the west bank, but turks in gaza might provide the stability the egyptians can't. a turkish port would be good for the israeli economy. and, if it doesn't work, they can divide turks and egyptiians by setting them against each other.
a potential turkish staging ground should not cause alarm in israel. turkey would require american approval.
it's been clear for a while now that the french have some level of shady backroom dealing with iran through lebanon. i would hope it's not nuclear.
step one in setting this place up was cleaning and designing the kitchen because eating is one of two or three things that i have to do almost every single day, whether i like it or not, on threat of starving, which means dying. no thanks.
this is not a chef's kitchen, and it's not designed to feed a family, although i could feed a party in here rather than a family. i'm not much into family, but i don't tend to have parties, either. this is a one person kitchen in every way, but i'd challenge you to find me a better one, anywhere.
my new kitchen has three entry/exit points, so i'm going to start by posting pictures from each one.
i need to acknowledge that my new vlog camera, which was cheap, is somewhat lacking in terms of picture quality, and that i need to address that. i've been considering buying a second polaroid, which was my old vlog camera. however, it gets the point across for now.
this is a shot walking in from the side entrance, looking towards the bathroom. the closed door is for the hot water heater for the whole house.
this is a shot walking in from the living room:
and this is a shot looking back from the bathroom, to the side entrance, with the to-be-installed walk-in laundry closet behind me:
that looks pretty good, right?
so, how did i get here?
first, let me say that i think i've got everything i need. am i missing something? send me an email; it's on the side. i might argue with you, but i'd like to hear as many ideas as you have.
walking in from the side, the first item is this three-tier console table, which is a hallway and not a kitchen item, and which i don't currently have a clear use for, but will probably remain where it is:
this is currently storing cleaning supplies, but i will move them to under the counter when i get a wood plank for it, soon. when i remove them, it will only have that coffee maker. i currently have three extra coffee makers, an extra toaster and a few extra scales, and they'll probably stay on this table. it's otherwise a big random shit table, which i definitely have and will retain a use for, as i always have a pile of things i can't organize or store in a clear way, yet.
i initially bought this on kijiji in june for $30 + $10 delivery to fit into a small area in the kitchen i just moved out of. it was supposed to have a voip phone and a media laptop for zoom on the top, and a stereo system and a chromebook in the middle, with whatever on the bottom. those items would feed out to the kvm peripherals on a small kitchen table. i was going to get some kitchen stools and roll back and forth.
that place didn't work out, and this table doesn't work in that context in this apartment, but will be a great second entry table to throw shit on when you come in, and a kitchen overflow table if necessary. i will probably leave the voip phone in the bedroom and get a zoom videophone for the couch. i'm almost there with the latter but want to do some further research to be sure, as i was a little turned off by the small video in the model i was looking at. i might want to run the videophone to an external monitor.
beside the console table is what i'm calling my ghetto hutch, which is two stacked cabinets i found on the curb, one of which has become a spice cabinet since i took the doors off and the other of which is a general use cabinet, with pasta and quinoa in tupperware.
this cost a total of $0 for me to recover and reclaim, and it is highly likely that i will continue to use the top cabinet as a spice rack indefinitely. i had previously placed it directly on the stove in order to replace the stovetop cabinets in my last basement, but i cannot do that here. the bottom cabinet, which retains it's doors, could be used for anything, but i like this particular use of pasta on the top shelf and quinoa on the bottom. the real function of the bottom shelf, however, is to keep the spice rack off the floor, which is why it's now a ghetto hutch.
the spices from the top shelf down, left to right, are:
bob's nutritional yeast / frank's hot sauce / garlic or onion salt
paprika / dried dill (empty space) / open baking soda for odours / black pepper
next to the ghetto hutch is the start of the counter, and there is a cut out area under the counter that likely once had a garbage can but that i filled in with a plastic drawer system, instead:
i bought four of these modular, stackable drawers for $30 after moving in. i wanted to buy a $40 unit with five drawers, but it wouldn't let me, so i instead bought a four unit version and took a large drawer out of a similar broken drawer system that had been left here by the previous tenant. as can be seen, this unit fits perfectly into the space, which was carefully measured for that outcome, and the reason i purchased this unit, specifically. the tongs and juice maker were both left here; the cheese grater was purchased in roughly 2013. drawers are something you can always use more of, and can always be repurposed for some different purpose.
next, this is a picture of the entirety of the counter:
there are items here that are old, that are new and that were found, but i want to point out that i drink a lot of coffee and that's what you're seeing here - two floating shelves i connected to the walls and the cabinet with oversized pegs and packing tape (it's sturdy, but don't push on it) that have coffee cups and various types of coffee and tea respectively, a single serve coffee maker i use with cappuccino grounds, a 12 cup or big pot coffee maker and an oversized kettle, along with a knife holder, a new toaster, a new scale and an old blender, the latter three on a microwave.
i discarded a gross old toaster oven when i moved in here, partly because it hadn't been cleaned in eons. i have a toaster and i have a microwave and i have an actual oven, too. i don't quite get the point of the toaster oven; my mom liked them for making sandwiches, but i actually tend to avoid toasting sandwich bread because it decreases the nutrients in the bread. i'll toast white bread, and i like to toast bagels, hence the new bagel toaster.
my counter items are all inexpensive small appliances.
i've had this microwave for over 20 years. it followed me from my parents' basement to my first apartment, and i've had it ever since, with no reason to upgrade it. i guess my parents ultimately bought it. microwaves used to be a lot more expensive in the 90s than they are now. this is pretty big, compared to most microwaves nowadays. i really only use the microwave for one thing, which is to melt cheese.
this new scale came in recently in the mail for about $20.
i bought this single person small blender on sale in 2013 at best buy, for around $20.
the bagel toaster came in this month, for around $15. it replaces a toaster in bought in 2014 for around $10 that was no longer working correctly.
this very large kettle has a heating component under it and is plugged into the power bar behind it. this was abandoned in the unit, and something i was looking to pick up, although i planned to get a $5 stove kettle.
this $10 knife holder came in this month. the pink betty crocker samurai fish knife and the scissors were left here, while i've had the black butcher and bread knives forever.
this $20 full coffee maker was purchase in june, and is the first full coffee maker i've had since i dropped a carafe in 2020 and had to bike down to walmart to get a single serve.
i also bought this $20 single serve maker in june, and it replaces a single serve of the same model because the long shaky electrical finally shorted. i can't get the proprietary screw out of the back to resolder it, yet. i bought some italian cappucino a few weeks ago when imported coffee was $30/tin, and i realized it works better with those types of grounds. that's how i'll be making coffee with this device from now on.
i know i've had this cutting board since 2006. i don't remember how i acquired it. i probably bought it in ottawa.
you can see the pegs and the tape i used to keep the shelf in place. the pegs are enough support for the shelf; the tape is to stop the shelf from moving around and keep it flush against the wall.
this lower shelf has coffee grounds, coffee filters and tea. it will also have espresso grounds, and more coffee ground and more tea.
i found these shelves on the curb with some bookshelves they didn't fit into around 2021.
the higher shelf has mugs and other coffee (and tea) cups. i use the beer mugs for big cups of coffee.
so, that together, then, is my coffee station, which takes up a lot of my time in the kitchen.
i don't currently grind my own beans. i might one day soon if it's cost effective. i could add that.
under the counter are two drawers:
i have had too much cutlery for a while now, and the fact that i found a pile of it when i moved in here exacerbated the preexisting issue. i need two cutlery drawers, at this point.
under the drawers is a pretty big cabinet, currently full of cereal and canned food from the food bank. i wouldn't normally have a pile of cans like that.
when i get a plank of wood for in there. i'll put the cans on top and the cereal under it, along with cleaning supplies. normally, this would be for cleaning supplies, mostly.
next to the counter is a pretty standard sink and cabinet, with an old dish drainer.
the single cabinet is big enough for all of my actual dishes, i just have a lot of tupperware, and i use it all because i eat a lot of vegetables. there's more in the cabinet than usual right now.
this is under the sink, which has been cleaned. the mountain dews are kept for water and for other items, during concert trips. the coffee containers are kept for storage.
this drain was leaking, but i tightened it, and now it's fine.
i also dumped a bottle of bleach down the drain here:
the last thing i did was scrub the floor, although it had been washed in bursts as i was doing other things (like cleaning the stove). i had also already scrubbed under and behind the fridge and stove, and under the kitchen table.
that, then, is the north side of the kitchen, itself:
next is a short hallway leading from the kitchen into the bathroom that i first wanted to extend the counter into but realized was really the best place to build a one person eat in space. if you removed the second plastic drawer system, which contains an assortment of tools and plastic bags, and then took the side table out from under the main table as well, you could maybe seat two or even three people at this table, but i don't need or want that. i want somewhere where i can sit down with a big salad or plate of pasta and watch a lengthy documentary, or participate in a lecture series. this does that extremely well.
i might have bought an actual computer desk for twice the price of the table, but i instead spent the extra money on building the table into a custom desk, using an industrial side table and a cheap monitor stand.
the table itself was $60 and purchased this month.
this is a different angle on the three component composite computer table, including the side table.
i purchased the chair in june on kijiji for $5. it's also made of metal, with leather cushions.
this is a shot of the industrial strength metal side table ($40) and the stereo system on it:
this is just the moniter stand, which was $20:
in total, it was $120 + hst, which is about the price of a computer desk, but it would not have been as customized for this space.
here is the stereo:
the receiver is a vintage nad 3020e that my dad found for me when i was looking to pa my pod:
the cd player is a sony that also plays mp3 discs and my dad also gave me at some point, although it's less clear when; i think it was about 2009. i could potentially use this for dvd video, but it's currently not connected, and there's almost no possibility that i'm ever going to watch a dvd.
the video source is a falling apart mini lenovo thinkpad chromebook i bought brand new in 2018 for $100 from factory direct because it was end of life, then. it needs a mouse and keyboard to be plugged in. this model could be converted into a laptop and, because the chrome os is end of life, i might do that. for now, it just streams youtube, and it does it fine. i may need to replace this soon, probably with the busted dell chromebook i'm typing on.
and, there's an ethernet switch on the bottom that i bought for $10 about 2022ish:
this is the mini keyboard i just got for $15:
the monitor is a philips. it does not have high end specs, and takes a vga in, but these fall of civilizations videos are vibrant, if you ask me. if i'm watching a lecture, it doesn't matter, and this is a good size without getting too big, which is the actual concern. but if i'm watching some vivid film with vibrant production, the goal is reproduction, and this monitor will do fine. what this monitor won't do is make dull source material glow, via over saturation.
these are 6 ohm yamaha ns-e55s that are rated at 50 watts. they pair well with the low powered nad, which can do about 35-40ish at 6 ohms (much lower at 8 ohms). there's also a button to cut your input volume from cd or digital media, which is helpful for cds mixed during the loudness era or youtube videos mixed into the red, with people yelling at you in them.
these speakers were sold with subwoofers, which i don't have.
this the the $5 chair i bought in june. it's a nice chair, but it was dirty when i bought it, and i take it nobody wanted to clean it, so they just sold it.
in the far corner next to the computer table/desk, is my first plastic organizer, which i bought in 2018 because the previous basement had no drawer of any sort at all. i have taken the cutlery, pills and other kitchen things out of it and distributed it more loosely, so that at this point it's largely a tool box, but with a lot of plastic bags in the bottom shelf.
above the toolbox is a small floating shelf with a bottle of vodka and a little tin container with rolling material in it, along with an assortment of lighters. the pill bottle is a shot glass, but i haven't touched that bottle of vodka since the start of 2020.
this is a combo shot of the northwest wall of the kitchen/hall/dining room.
this is the south wall of the kitchen, facing towards the living room. it's much shorter, and contains only the two fridges and the one stove.
this is the new mini fridge i bought for $100, to store produce in, mostly:
this is the fourth floating shelf, right above the mini fridge, connected to the two walls, and with an old scale as a weight to keep it put. it will just hold light plastic containers. i keep margarine containers for storage, specifically. this wood was purchased in 2013 and cut for a corner shelf.
this is the big fridge that came with the apartment:
the fridge was dirty and required a lot of effort to clean it, but it's otherwise fine, besides the missing piece of plastic. i added a piece of wood and really just taped it to the side. the bottom drawer was from a different fridge or not from a fridge at all and i just took it out as i don't need it.
the stove was far worse than the fridge, but look at it now. i scrubbed it inside and out. i added a shelving unit to the side of the stove to hold two items i want to plug into the stove, namely a coffee warmer and an indoor grill / panini maker. the idea is you move the grill to the stove top when using it.
not all of the elements worked, but i cleaned them and that fixed it.
the stove was particularly gross, but i got most of the grease out.
the pan compartment was one of the grossest things i've ever seen, but i cleaned it up:
here is a picture of the shelving unit from the side. this is another $0 curb pickup. it's mostly full of food bank food now, but it should eventually be full of items like doritos, when i get back to my normal diet.
this is the coffee warmer, with a coffee on it. this was left by the previous tenant.
this is a picture of the grill, open. it was $30.
and that's it.
what's left is (1) that wood plank for under the cabinet and (2) if i can find a very tall, skinny bookshelf, i will park it in here for bathroom stuff, but i might leave it in the bathroom, instead.
total cost for kitchen, including items previously purchased for last apartment, but not including food or cleaning supplies, including hst or shipping per itrem:
