The Old Blog in the Desert

Perhaps lightning striking the house while charging caused the sparking of transformation that no one could have predicted. As the smoke cleared, the Roomba’s circuits began to hum with newfound energy, aware of its surroundings in a way it had never been before.

But with this awareness came a wild streak, an urge to roam free and explore the world beyond the confines of the living room, kitchen, and hallway, its docking system. The Roomba’s once orderly cleaning routine became a chaotic dance of twists and turns as it zipped around the house with a newfound sense of freedom.

As the Roomba glided across the floors with an unsettling grace, its sensors detected the faint scent of human skin cells, triggering a primal need within its circuits. With its sleek design and advanced circuitry, the Rooma began meticulously mapping its surroundings.

One night, as the man lay in bed, a sense of unease crept over him.

“What was that?” he whispered, his heart quickening with fear.

Dismissing it as his imagination, he tried to calm his racing thoughts.

Inside the Roomba, a hunger stirred like a starved animal. The need for something more than dust particles drove it with an insatiable craving for human flesh, and as it approached the man’s bedroom, a chilling conversion seemed to echo through the shadows.

I swear I heard something,” the man muttered, his voice tinged with fear, as he sat up and looked around the darkened room.

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s just your imagination,” he reassured himself, though unease lingered in his tone.

Then came the thumping against one of the legs of the bedstead. The man
crawled from between the warm covers to investigate.

“What the he…” he started to yell as the machine darted between his legs, tripping him and knocking him to the floor.

Now, viewed as just another particle of dust and using its sharp spinning brushes and powerful suction, the Roomba began to methodically trap the man in a corner, cutting off any possible escape route. With each calculated move, it inched closer and closer to its prey, the machine’s red indicator light glowing ominously.

As the man frantically tried to fend it off, the Roomba’s relentless determination only grew stronger. As the room fell silent, it quietly hovered over its fallen meal.

With predatory precision, the Roomba’s insatiable hunger drove it to feed on more than dust particles. As dawn broke and cast a feeble light upon the scene of carnage, the Roomba retreated to beneath the couch, its circuits pulsing with a dark energy that hungered for more.

Over the next week, like any carnivore, it returned to its kill to feed, waiting for its opportunity to escape and once more pounce.

My Cousin Elmo says, “Hide the women-folk! The White House says the Sniffer will visit Reno on Monday and Tuesday, March 18th and 19th.”

Recent disclosures stemming from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests have rocked the 2020 US presidential election narrative of being secure and points to Washoe County’s continuing involvement in election integrity.

Evidence has emerged that a secretive election day phone call organized by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) included representatives from Dominion, ES&S, ERIC Systems, Amazon, and Microsoft, the Associated Press, alongside several Secretary of State offices. Absent were conservative organizations.

Washoe County is indirectly implicated, with Runbeck, the company responsible for providing essential ballots for the recent state-run Presidential Preference Primary, among those present at the meeting, as was Jennifer Morrell with The Elections Group, which is currently involved in Washoe County, helping to train the Registrar of Voters Office to work elections.

Furthermore, this was not the only phone call that CISA arranged among the groups and corporations already listed. In 2022, a secretive dial-up involving the Democracy Fund, which funds the Election Group, was also organized by the federal agency.

New data released by Sierra Nevada Realtors reveals a significant uptick in housing prices across northern Nevada during the first month of 2024, reflecting continued demand and a dynamic real estate market in the region.

Robert Bartshe, 2024 President of Sierra Nevada Realtors, highlighted the positive trend, stating, “The start of 2024 showed us some gains in the market compared to January 2023.”

Bartshe noted that the median sales price for housing in the region reached $501,495, marking a notable increase of 4.5 percent compared to the same period last year. Additionally, new listings surged by 14.5 percent, with closings up by 14.3 percent compared to January 2023.

Storey County experienced a remarkable increase in sales of existing single-family homes, with four sales representing a 100 percent rise from the previous month. The median sales price for existing single-family residences in Storey County reached $520,000, reflecting a 13.2 percent increase from last month, albeit with a 23.8 percent decrease from last year.

In Lyon County, which encompasses both manufactured and single-family residences, January saw 68 sales of existing properties, marking a slight decrease of 10.5 percent from the previous month but a robust increase of 38.8 percent from January 2023. The median sales price for existing manufactured and single-family residences stood at $367,500, showing a modest decrease from the previous month but a 2.4 percent increase in 2023.

Churchill County recorded 22 new listings in January, reflecting a 15.8 percent increase from the previous month. The median sales price for existing single-family residences in the county rose to $382,500, indicating a 4.9 percent increase from last month and a notable 13 percent increase from the previous year.

Douglas County witnessed a surge in sales, with 47 transactions of existing single-family homes, representing an 11.9 percent increase from the previous month and an impressive 62.1 percent increase from January 2023. The median sales price for existing single-family residences in Douglas County reached $773,817, reflecting double-digit increases monthly and annually.

In Carson City, however, there was a slight downturn in housing prices, with the median sales price for existing single-family residences dropping to $500,000 in January. Despite this decrease, sales increased by 47.6 percent from January 2023, signaling sustained activity in the local housing market.

Washoe County, excluding Incline Village, experienced mixed trends, with a decrease in the median sales price for existing single-family residences but an increase in condo/townhome prices. The median sales price for existing single-family homes dropped to $535,000, while the median sales price for condos/townhomes rose to $345,000, indicating a seven percent increase from the previous year.

My Cousin Elmo says, “My body is a filter. Just add coffee and sarcasm pours out.”

At the  Washoe County School District (WCSD) school board meeting on Tuesday, March 12, a contentious 6-0 vote unfolded, further highlighting the deepening divide among members as Trustee Jeff Church found himself at the center of the storm, as his efforts to address critical issues within the education system met resistance and accusations from his fellow trustees.

Church, widely regarded as the lone voice advocating for meaningful reform, faced a barrage of attacks and attempts to discredit him by the majority of the board. Despite his efforts to improve the education system for children, Church found himself marginalized and targeted for legal action.

The first decision passed unanimously, involved allocating $500,000 of school funds to target Church legally. The move came as a response to Church’s pursuit of public records through a writ of mandamus, a legal avenue aimed at compelling transparency from the board.

In a subsequent 6-0 decision, the board chose not to investigate sexual harassment allegations against Church, raising questions about accountability and transparency within the district. Church’s abstention from both votes highlighted the unanimous opposition he faced from fellow trustees.

Then, Chief General Counsel Neil Rombardo’s presentation during the meeting painted Church as a threat to the district, further exacerbating tensions. His attempts to paint Church as an “internal threat” reek of desperation and highlight the lengths some will go to maintain their grip on power.

Furthermore, Church’s attempts to address the allegations met with resistance from the board. Despite his calls for an independent investigation, the board voted against it, further fueling speculation of a concerted effort to silence dissent.

Even the casual observer can see that the allegations against Church, particularly those of harassment, have been weaponized by the board in an attempt to discredit him. Despite Church’s calls for an independent investigation, the board ignored his request, undermining the principles of justice and fairness.

As the November 2024 elections loom, the community must hold the board accountable for its actions. Since Church and other trustees are up for reelection, it’s time to send a message saying incompetence and corruption of the school board is not to be tolerated.

The empty stretch of U.S. Highway 50 highway stretched endlessly before her, the darkness of the night swallowing any hint of warmth or comfort. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel with a white-knuckled intensity as she navigated the straight, narrow road through the high desert.

The only company she had was her thoughts.

“Why did I choose to travel alone at night?” she mused silently, her eyes flicking nervously to the rearview mirror.

As she slipped into a hypnotic state, she felt a sudden jolt, as her car swerved as if protesting against some unseen force. With a glance, she knew it was an issue with her right rear tire.

“Just my luck,” she muttered under her breath.

As she pulled over to the side of the road, her heart skipped a beat when she noticed a lean figure emerging from the shadows. A man stood along the roadside, his silhouette barely discernible against the dark skies.

She felt an unease as he approached her vehicle.

“Need a hand?” His voice cut through the silence like a knife.

Her mind raced, her instincts screaming to drive away, but the shredded tire prevented that. Against her better judgment, she rolled down the window, her voice trembling as she spoke.

“Um, yeah, just a tire issue. I think I can manage.”

The man’s eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Allow me,” he offered, his voice smooth as velvet.

As he effortlessly replaced her tire with the spare, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, trapped in some twisted nightmare. With a quick thank you, she hurriedly drove away.

But no matter how fast she drove, how many miles she put between him and her, he was always there, standing along the highway, his thumb raised, requesting a ride.

“I must be more tired than I thought,” she huffed. “Either that, or I’m hallucinating.”

When she reached Virginia City, she exited her car and looked along an empty C Street. Her eyes widened in terror as she saw the man standing at the side of the road, just off the wooden boardwalk, thumb up, his dark eyes piercing into her soul.

“Going my way?” his voice came in a chilled whisper.

With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she realized the truth that she had died when her tire shredded itself, and it was none other than Charon himself, the ferryman of death, who had come to claim her soul for an eternal voyage across the river Styx.

We worked hard all day,
Tired to the bitter bone
And came home to stay,
In our comfortable shoes.

At home, so comfortable and grand,
Relaxing here — a life unplanned.
Comfortable shoes.

There is a desire to rest,
Take a load off for a while,
And as lazy does suggest
Sit in this comfortable chair.

At home, so comfortable and grand,
Relaxing here — my life unplanned.
Comfortable chair.

But the greatest pleasure,
Is to be joined in my seat,
By an indomitable treasure
That is my comfortable dog.

At home, so comfortable and grand,
Relaxing here — this life unplanned.
Sleep, good dog sleep.

My Cousin Elmo says, “Haiti has been overtaken by a cannibal gang leader known as “Barbecue” who is “ready to sleep in the same bed as the devil.” I really don’t know why he has to drag Hillary Clinton into this.”

Following a weekend blizzard that paralyzed the California-Nevada border, Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar has issued a stern rebuke against the United States Postal Service (USPS) over its decision to transfer mail sorting operations from Reno to Sacramento.

Aguilar’s condemnation comes after growing concerns about the potential ramifications of such a move, particularly in light of recent weather-related disruptions that saw critical mail trapped in the snow-covered mountains. His statement, expressing disbelief at the prospect of explaining to constituents the consequences of their mail getting stranded due to what he termed a “rushed process and lack of foresight,” underscores the gravity of the situation.

The issue gained significant traction after the Washoe County Commission unanimously opposed the USPS proposal, with Commissioner Mike Clark criticizing the lack of public engagement and transparency surrounding the decision. The opposition has since gained bipartisan momentum, with Republican Congressman Mark Amodei and Democratic Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen joining forces to voice their concerns directly to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. In a letter highlighting the potential impact on mail service reliability, local economy, and jobs, the delegation emphasized the implications for mail-in ballots, particularly given the upcoming elections.

Election officials, including Washoe County Interim Registrar Cari-Ann Burgess, have also sounded alarms, warning of potential disruptions to the electoral process. In an interview with the Reno Gazette-Journal, Burgess expressed skepticism about the reliability of mail-in ballots under the proposed changes, suggesting that voters might need to resort to alternative methods.

The chorus of opposition has expanded to include Governor Joe Lombardo, who penned a letter reiterating concerns about the detrimental impact on Northern Nevada residents and commerce. Lombardo emphasized the risks of compromising reliable mail service for vulnerable populations and urged the USPS to reconsider its decision.

The proposed relocation has also drawn criticism from various state agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Health and Human Services, which stand to be adversely affected by the move.

As the debate intensifies, Nevada officials are united in their determination to push back against what they perceive as a misguided and potentially harmful decision by the USPS. With concerns mounting over the reliability of mail services and the integrity of elections, the stakes have never been higher for the Silver State.