D-League

[cordmaker]

This is a PSA for those of us who does not have a garage for our vehicles, raise your wipers up so they don't freeze and put a plastic bag around the mirrors. Some put pool noodles on their wipers also.

 

[BBUK]

September 1989 Hugo hit and I was working for a very large commercial insurance company, CIGNA P&C with HO in Philadelphia. They insured almost every commercial and residential insurance policy on St Croix. Including a huge refinery HESS Oil. The amount of damage was catastrophic to put it mildly. 100% of every structure on the island had some damage. 75% had their roof damaged and 50% were total losses.

The only thing that kept the Company from going bankrupt was the Re-Insurance policies, mostly Swiss banks and some Lloyds of London.

To handle such an incident the company had to bring in International Claims Adjusters from all over the world. I was on the International and Domestic Catastrophe team so I got the call. Men and women came from Europe, South America, South Korea, Australia, the South Pacific. You name it. They all had a different work ethic and culture.

When I arrived a small spot had been cleared at the St Croix airport to land planes. As we landed you could see small planes in trees, on the beaches, in the water and debris everywhere. Not a single leaf remained on any tree and not a single bird was on the island. Food was flown in for us to eat, it reminded me of war time rations you would get during WWII. We had daily flights to San Juan to pick up supplies.

But what happened after all of this was eye opening to me. The agent who wrote the business had an office in San Juan, PR and St Thomas, VI. He had cut deals with contractors and was getting a "Biden Kickback" on all estimates and repair costs. It totaled in the millions and was hidden away in secret accounts. Everything under the table and hidden in the repair estimates prepared by his contractors.

The rooms at the Buccaneer were billed to CIGNA but the most outlandish was the "open bar". Alcohol, all you could drink was available for the asking. It was party time from early evening to early in the AM, every night. And these international guys could drink and they did. Especially the Europeans . One German and another man from Ireland must have set records.

I was the ranking employee on the Cat Team from the States and knew all of the Big Brass at HO. I got a call one day from the Director asking me about a $900,000 bill he had received. it later grew to $975,000 I had no idea what he was talking about. He told me to meet with the management of the hotel and find out what was going on. When I sat down the hotel manager wanted me to sign for it and I refused. There was no way I was putting my signature on anything with the Buccaneer.

After things settled down, an investigation started, criminal charges were made and several people went to prison. This was a private company and government employee protection did not apply. They went to jail.

Sir, how horrible... I go back to the simplicity I try to live. All a man has is his word. I'd hate to be an embarrassment to my family. What could easily kill me would be someone to come up to me while my family was their and either cuss me for something I had done wrong or in some way cheated them. (Lies wouldn't hurt me.) Not touting at all but that is what drives how I live. My trust is in the Lord. I live simply by just doing what I say I will do. Nothing less...

I sure wish this country could get back to the basics. That is the only way this country will survive.... I knew many with the same philosophy. Now, not so much.... too much is made complicated on purpose...

I stepped down off it... Hopefully I will be able to type later.. Leaving for My Darlings doctor appointment...

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Update on the weather is 8° now with winds 30-40mph making the feel of -12°.

 

[AustinTXCat]

ATX do you ever sleep? Lol

If I camped out in this thread, outrage levels might go off the f*cking charts. We're talking stratospheric. True story.

 

[warrior-cat]

If I camped out in this thread, outrage levels might go off the f*cking charts. We're talking stratospheric. True story.

Then I would not need cannabis.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

I am watching the Armed Forces Bowl and it is 12° with 25 mph winds. Brutal but should be a fun game to watch. Who wants it more and who survives the brutal cold.

My dreams of a bowl game are 80° temperatures with swaying palm trees. Not a polar ice cap. LOL

 

[_Rooster]

Didn't know there was such a thing as a bomb cyclone:

Bomb Cyclone To Pack Snow, High Winds, Blizzard | Weather.com

The latest forecast and potential impacts for this major Winter Storm Elliott. - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com

weather.com

That low that formed the over gulf of Alaska came ashore through Californy causing the thunder snow sucked in some heavy cold stuff from canada . . . extend this to the Gulf of Mexico and it will . . . a continental scale storm event. Boom!

Happy Solstice

Could this explain raindeer on the roof or gifts (food) down the chimney during severe solstice winter weather?

 

[AustinTXCat]

Currently 21°F without wind chill. Not as bad as Feb 2021 when temps hit 7°F here with no wind chill factored in. Still chilly.

Cuz on Nolin Lake called around 5 pm or so. He said cold front moving his way.

I need some ice cream.

 

[UK82]

This would be comical if it wasn't a real article.

Why Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Is Controversial

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has become one of the most beloved Christmas stories ever. But why did the special gain so much controversy?

www.cbr.com

 

[BBUK]

If I camped out in this thread, outrage levels might go off the f*cking charts. We're talking stratospheric. True story.

I have that affect on some...purely unintentional.........................(As far as you know...)

 

[cordmaker]

We are at 9 degrees and snowing heavily!!! Went from 45 at 5 to now!!!!

 

[Sawnee Cat]

We are at 9 degrees and snowing heavily!!! Went from 45 at 5 to now!!!!

I am watching the Armed Forces Bowl being played in Ft Worth, TX and it may be the coldest bowl game on record. It is about 10° and the wind is brisk. It has made kicking difficult especially in that cold. There is no snow.

Our weather here is 65° and it will be in the 60's all night. It feels cold to me.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Just announced, Armed Forces Bowl is the coldest bowl game ever played. Wind chill -1°. I am sorry but that is not fun to me but the winning team will probably love it.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

16 and snow, going down to 1 in the morning with wind chill around -15. I not going anywhere for a couple of days.

 

[BBUK]

I was up at 0530 this morning and it was raining hard. It is still raining. Sure glad it is not snow.... I am thankful... Good night...

 

[UK82]

16 and snow, going down to 1 in the morning with wind chill around -15. I not going anywhere for a couple of days.

Yeah I'm just going to sit back and read a book tomorrow. Already 11 degrees and 6 degrees below wind chill. Ground covered with snow. Going to get much worse.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

Police called after 'Cousin Eddie' holiday display spooks neighbor

Police in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, had a surprise when they responded to a call about a man exposing himself. It wasn't a man; rather, it was a "Cousin Eddie" mannequin.

www.foxnews.com

😂

 

[Girthang]

It's a nipple splittin 3° here in Lexington as I head back to my little holler. Had to check on some property, and it's a good thing I did. Had contractors replacing some stuff at one and I found 2 windows open. Can't imagine what the heating bill will be...

It's my fault, too. Not theirs. God was telling me I left em open but I forgot which ones I opened... Worth the drive up there to check, anyway. Stay warm, D-League! May the Father bless you with continuous power and ample heat!

 

[AustinTXCat]

Then I would not need cannabis.

Enjoyed some good stuff back in KY last month. Real good.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

All the work I did to make sure pipes wouldn’t freeze were for naught. Left water running and they still froze. Guess I missed something. -1 current temp.

 

[AustinTXCat]

Good morning from ATX. Currently 14°F and clear with no wind chill factor. Today's high may reach 31°F. New heater holds up well. Wind chill = around 1 or 2 °F.

I might walk over to a nearby homeless encampment at North Austin Event Center after first light to check on frozen bodies. Stay tuned.

Happy Friday, y'all.

 

[cordmaker]

Good morning, D getting ready to read Luke23. We are at -5, with the wind chill it's a minus 26, 4.35" of snow. Going to wait a while then try starting the cars

 

[Sawnee Cat]

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Good morning folks. Rainy and windy here. I’m content to watch it through the window. Going down from about 45f to 10f in a matter of hours. Outside chance - pretty slim -well get enough snow mixed in for a white Christmas but not counting on it.

While many of us slept the Bengals clinched a playoff berth with the Jets loss. For those of us who have lived through so many years of being eliminated by about Halloween this is nothing to take for granted.

Hope it’s a good day for all.

 

[BBUK]

Good morning all,

Get ready for a different day... Has to be, doesn't it? 😁

Yeah, working from home today. Had leave scheduled but canceled that....aren't you lucky...."may" make it my mission to increase the drug usage...

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Good Friday Morning D

63° at this moment and it may end up being our high. Warnings are out for a hard freeze coming our way. We have partly cloudy skies and rain chances this morning are 39%. It will be sunny this afternoon as temperatures fall to near freezing. Overnight it may get down to 27° around 5:00 AM. If it stays below freezing for four hours I am in big trouble. I am going to take a chance and not cover the plants and the trees are too tall to worry about. I might lose that avocado and my tangerine tree may be in trouble too .

I can relate. Almost

 

[BBUK]

Good Friday Morning D

63° at this moment and it may end up being our high. Warnings are out for a hard freeze coming our way. We have partly cloudy skies and rain chances this morning are 39%. It will be sunny this afternoon as temperatures fall to near freezing. Overnight it may get down to 27° around 5:00 AM. If it stays below freezing for four hours I am in big trouble. I am going to take a chance and not cover the plants and the trees are too tall to worry about. I might lose that avocado and my tangerine tree may be in trouble too .

I can relate. Almost

Sure wish he had been actively on TV all these years...

 

[cordmaker]

I heard yesterday that Santa, to stay with all the things that are changing, has added a new category to his list for men, we now have naughty, nice and I'm trying!!!!

 

[warrior-cat]

Just announced, Armed Forces Bowl is the coldest bowl game ever played. Wind chill -1°. I am sorry but that is not fun to me but the winning team will probably love it.

I hope there is no grab assing in the huddle to keep warm. They would have to change the command from "Alright, let's huddle up!" to "Alright, Let's cuddle up!".

 

[warrior-cat]

Police called after 'Cousin Eddie' holiday display spooks neighbor

Police in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, had a surprise when they responded to a call about a man exposing himself. It wasn't a man; rather, it was a "Cousin Eddie" mannequin.

www.foxnews.com

😂

You serious Clark?

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

It is -5°F here and about an inch of snow.

 

[BBUK]

 

[warrior-cat]

Morning Legionnaires!

6° with 10-20mph winds. Wind chill factor -15°. Yesterday the winds hit 40-50mph all day and most of the night. HVAC struggled to keep us above 67° in the house so, I brought in 3 space heaters (oil radiator type) from the shop which helped. House was built in 2003 and the HVAC unit installed was made in the year 2000. It has been repaired a couple of times and the last time the repairman said it would be best to buy a new one if it goes out again. That's the plan. Probably do new windows too in the near future.

Couple of bowl games today:
Louisiana Ragun Caguns vs Houston Cougars at 2pm central
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Missouri Tigers at 5:30pm central
Go Tigers!

Has anyone ever noticed that the mascots for the division one schools in North Carolina are all kind of evil in name?

North Carolina Tar Heels (Pagan Ram)
Duke Blue Devils
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
North Carolina State Wolfpack (symbol looks werewolf like)

What's going on in that state?

 

[Sawnee Cat]

It is -5°F here and about an inch of snow.

Bert that is just plain cold. Lord have mercy

 

[UK_fan_41102]

Good morning D-League. It's currently a frigid 1° and cloudy here in Eastern Kentucky. This afternoon will see a high of 5° and winds of 15-25 mph.

Stay warm and have a great day.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

-3 now. As much as I want water I prefer to stay in for the moment and be warm.

 

[UK82]

Alexa says -7, local radio says -5 with a -26 wind chill. It's hard to tell how much snow we got with all the drifts but I'd say 2-3 inches. Winds currently at 19 mph. Our Christmas gathering for my wife's side of the family will be a challenge tomorrow night. Ice is my greatest concern with the elderly that'll be here. No way am I shoveling until it gets up to 5 degrees.

19,000 without power. Prayers sent for these poor souls.

 

[BBUK]

-3 now. As much as I want water I prefer to stay in for the moment and be warm.

You have to go out for water?

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

You have to go out for water?

On a well. Need to get under house to apply heat. -20 with wind chill 🥶

 

[BBUK]

Man,

Checked the temperature here. It is 40 outside, going down to 16 later in this day. 😬