?This is how the war against the machines begins?:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/ AVvXsEjWqK3Ac7LcwhoPWhl6Oq2HiQzqdjpDBVlZFUVRAIRzc2ruKDJD99zr8aoRWGoZ2FUpbPTRuMfYsTD2VBglaNIRr4ID6CUfgblxVrREs0HlMykD5XbGDvpOqoIn6mZh60cvOTuGw_roups7wzd32RdumToZxAWDSPcNi_Jh1PBRroGQaTPmw7VTPr0273c/s550/Meme%20-%20roomba%20Cheetoh.png
From:
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2025/12/memes-that-made-me- laugh-291.html
Lynn
On 12/22/2025 5:17 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
?This is how the war against the machines begins?:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/
AVvXsEjWqK3Ac7LcwhoPWhl6Oq2HiQzqdjpDBVlZFUVRAIRzc2ruKDJD99zr8aoRWGoZ2FUpbPTRuMfYsTD2VBglaNIRr4ID6CUfgblxVrREs0HlMykD5XbGDvpOqoIn6mZh60cvOTuGw_roups7wzd32RdumToZxAWDSPcNi_Jh1PBRroGQaTPmw7VTPr0273c/s550/Meme%20-%20roomba%20Cheetoh.png
From:
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2025/12/memes-that-made-me-
laugh-291.html
Lynn
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy. ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck a
lot more than one robot vacuum maker?
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/20/roomba-bankruptcy-robot-vacuum-maker.html
?Product quality was one of the advantages for the Roomba in a flood
of less expensive knock-offs, but that didn?t save it from the
corporate bankruptcy its maker iRobot announced earlier this week. And
cheap Chinese competition was not the only factor in its failure. An attempted 2022 acquisition of iRobot by Amazon, thwarted by regulators,
and the changing dynamics around mergers and acquisitions, represent an ongoing concern for struggling tech companies that in the past have
turned to M&A as not just an exit ramp, but savior.?
?The company, which Amazon agreed to pay $1.7 billion to acquire in
August 2022, reported in a court filing last Sunday that it had between
$100 million-$500 million in assets and liabilities, and owed roughly
$100 million to its largest creditor, Shenzhen Picea Robotics Co., the contract manufacturer, located in China and Vietnam, which now owns it.
In all, Reuters reported the company has $190 million in debt.?
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line.
Lynn
On 2025-12-24 01:48:00 +0000, Lynn McGuire said:
On 12/22/2025 5:17 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
ƒ??This is how the war against the machines beginsƒ??:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/
AVvXsEjWqK3Ac7LcwhoPWhl6Oq2HiQzqdjpDBVlZFUVRAIRzc2ruKDJD99zr8aoRWGoZ2FUpbPTRuMfYsTD2VBglaNIRr4ID6CUfgblxVrREs0HlMykD5XbGDvpOqoIn6mZh60cvOTuGw_roups7wzd32RdumToZxAWDSPcNi_Jh1PBRroGQaTPmw7VTPr0273c/s550/Meme%20-%20roomba%20Cheetoh.png
From:
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2025/12/memes-that-made-me-
laugh-291.html
Lynn
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy.ÿ ƒ??Roombaƒ??s bankruptcy may wreck
a lot more than one robot vacuum makerƒ??
ÿ https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/20/roomba-bankruptcy-robot-vacuum-
maker.html
ƒ??Product quality was one of the advantages for the Roomba in a flood
of less expensive knock-offs, but that didnƒ??t save it from the
corporate bankruptcy its maker iRobot announced earlier this week. And
cheap Chinese competition was not the only factor in its failure. An
attempted 2022 acquisition of iRobot by Amazon, thwarted by
regulators, and the changing dynamics around mergers and acquisitions,
represent an ongoing concern for struggling tech companies that in the
past have turned to M&A as not just an exit ramp, but savior.ƒ??
ƒ??The company, which Amazon agreed to pay $1.7 billion to acquire in
August 2022, reported in a court filing last Sunday that it had
between $100 million-$500 million in assets and liabilities, and owed
roughly $100 million to its largest creditor, Shenzhen Picea Robotics
Co., the contract manufacturer, located in China and Vietnam, which
now owns it. In all, Reuters reported the company has $190 million in
debt.ƒ??
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing
line.
Lynn
Killed because robot vacuum cleaners (and robot lawn mowers, and robot
mops) are useless, gimmicky devices that unsurprisingly never lived up
to the hype.
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy. ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck a lot
more than one robot vacuum maker?
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line.
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy. ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck a lot
more than one robot vacuum maker?
[...]
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line.
Plus tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
On 12/25/2025 3:38 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy. ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck a lot
more than one robot vacuum maker?
[...]
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line. >>Plus tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
The tariffs just started this year, 2025. The Chinese knockoffs started
a decade ago.
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
On 12/25/2025 3:38 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy. ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck a lot >>>> more than one robot vacuum maker?
[...]
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line.
Plus tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
The tariffs just started this year, 2025. The Chinese knockoffs started
a decade ago.
IRobot's bancrupcy was in 2025, not a decade ago.
Killed because robot vacuum cleaners (and robot lawn mowers, and robot
mops) are useless, gimmicky devices that unsurprisingly never lived up
to the hype.
On 12/25/2025 3:41 PM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
On 12/25/2025 3:38 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy. ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck a lot >>>>> more than one robot vacuum maker?
[...]
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line.
Plus tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
The tariffs just started this year, 2025. The Chinese knockoffs started >>> a decade ago.
IRobot's bancrupcy was in 2025, not a decade ago.
The financial problems started quite a few years ago. Amazon tried to
buy IRobot a few years ago and Biden's government kept that from happening.
And the tarrifs broke the company's back. This is also mentioned
in the article that you quoted, by the way.
On 12/25/2025 3:41 PM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
On 12/25/2025 3:38 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy. ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck a lot >>>>> more than one robot vacuum maker?
[...]
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line.
Plus tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
The tariffs just started this year, 2025. The Chinese knockoffs started >>> a decade ago.
IRobot's bancrupcy was in 2025, not a decade ago.
The financial problems started quite a few years ago. Amazon tried to
buy IRobot a few years ago and Biden's government kept that from happening.
Thomas Koenig <tkoenig@netcologne.de> wrote:China,
And the tarrifs broke the company's back. This is also mentioned
in the article that you quoted, by the way.
Vietnam tariffs on electronics aren't quite as bad.
I make a thing that uses a switch. The switch costs $3.10 each from
now with a $1.10 tariff added. (These are Q1000 prices since I am justa small
operation.)similar
I went looking for an equivalent... and a company in Vietnam makes a
product, and switches from Vietnam are not tariffed at all, but they are
almost $9 each which is a problem, and I don't think the quality is asgood
as the Chinese ones.(to
Likewise board fab in China is now being tariffed at a pretty high rate
the point where the big prototype board company JLC is no longeraccepting
orders from the US because they don't want to be bothered with thecustoms
mess), but there's no tariff on board fab from Vietnam. Board fab iskind of
an odd duck since most of the cost of board fab in the US and Vietnam is
waste disposal, while in China they just drop all the heavy metal waste
into a sump in the basement. So it's very hard for anyone with sane >disposal laws to compete with the Chinese.
So, I do see some of these tariffs possibly pushing some production out
of China and into Vietnam and Thailand in the future, but I don't see it >doing anything other than hurting customers right now.
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:48:17 -0500 (EST), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
Thomas Koenig <tkoenig@netcologne.de> wrote:
And the tarrifs broke the company's back. This is also mentioned
in the article that you quoted, by the way.
Vietnam tariffs on electronics aren't quite as bad.
I make a thing that uses a switch. The switch costs $3.10 each from China, >> now with a $1.10 tariff added. (These are Q1000 prices since I am just a small
operation.)
I went looking for an equivalent... and a company in Vietnam makes a similar >> product, and switches from Vietnam are not tariffed at all, but they are
almost $9 each which is a problem, and I don't think the quality is as good >> as the Chinese ones.
Likewise board fab in China is now being tariffed at a pretty high rate (to >> the point where the big prototype board company JLC is no longer accepting >> orders from the US because they don't want to be bothered with the customs >> mess), but there's no tariff on board fab from Vietnam. Board fab is kind of
an odd duck since most of the cost of board fab in the US and Vietnam is
waste disposal, while in China they just drop all the heavy metal waste
into a sump in the basement. So it's very hard for anyone with sane
disposal laws to compete with the Chinese.
Just thought I should point out that those "sane disposal laws" are
/exactly/ the sort of thing rabid idealizers of unfettered capitalism
oppose.
Well, they would be putting them in the nearest river, if possible.
Raw, unfettered, capitalism is, indeed, a bitch.
So, I do see some of these tariffs possibly pushing some production out
of China and into Vietnam and Thailand in the future, but I don't see it
doing anything other than hurting customers right now.
If by "customers" you mean people in your situation (and you are,
indeed, a customer), that's fine.
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store".
Nor am I seeing any riots on this topic on true-red MAGA streets.
Which I would expect if they were causing severe heartburn.
Or anything like that. When I do find articles on the topic, they are
usually some Great Expert assuring us that they are a problem.
I, myself, am basically unaffected. Of course, some prices rise from
time to time. But they have done so my entire life (a candy bar
costing 5-cents now costs -- well, I don't know how much; I stopped
buying them when I retired they were at $1.20 but that's over 50 years
or so). What I am /not/ seeing is a sudden across-the-board 10% jump.
And my expenditures are still within what passes for me as the
expected amount.
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chain
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting truck drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain
issues.
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:48:17 -0500 (EST), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
mess), but there's no tariff on board fab from Vietnam. Board fab is =kind of
an odd duck since most of the cost of board fab in the US and Vietnam is= >=20
waste disposal, while in China they just drop all the heavy metal waste=20 >>into a sump in the basement. So it's very hard for anyone with sane=20 >>disposal laws to compete with the Chinese.
Just thought I should point out that those "sane disposal laws" are
/exactly/ the sort of thing rabid idealizers of unfettered capitalism
oppose.
Raw, unfettered, capitalism is, indeed, a bitch.
So, I do see some of these tariffs possibly pushing some production out
of China and into Vietnam and Thailand in the future, but I don't see it >>doing anything other than hurting customers right now.
If by "customers" you mean people in your situation (and you are,
indeed, a customer), that's fine.=20
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store".=20
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:48:17 -0500 (EST), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
mess), but there's no tariff on board fab from Vietnam. Board fab is =kind of
an odd duck since most of the cost of board fab in the US and Vietnam is= >> =20
waste disposal, while in China they just drop all the heavy metal waste=20 >>> into a sump in the basement. So it's very hard for anyone with sane=20
disposal laws to compete with the Chinese.
Just thought I should point out that those "sane disposal laws" are
/exactly/ the sort of thing rabid idealizers of unfettered capitalism
oppose.
Yes, and this is what governments exist for... to prevent the despoiling
of the commons.
Right now we're still paying lots of money to clean up the waste from industry in Pittsburgh back in the fifties. It's much cheaper to control
the waste today than to kick the can down the road, but since someone else will be paying it later down the road corporations with a short-term
outlook don't care.
Governments exist in part to deal with the long-term outlook.
Raw, unfettered, capitalism is, indeed, a bitch.
I am very much in favor of capitalism... but it is in the best interest of individual capitalists to eliminate competition and therefore eliminate capitalism itself which is dependent on competition to work. This is why
it all collapses unless it has government support.
I think what you mean by "raw, unfettered" is what is classically called "laissez-faire."
So, I do see some of these tariffs possibly pushing some production out
of China and into Vietnam and Thailand in the future, but I don't see it >>> doing anything other than hurting customers right now.
If by "customers" you mean people in your situation (and you are,
indeed, a customer), that's fine.=20
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store".=20
It's raising the prices they have to pay at the store, and it is hurting them. The fact that they aren't up in arms about it is a different issue.
On Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:16:08 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/25/2025 3:41 PM, Thomas Koenig wrote:The article you linked said that the purchase was abandoned with the
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
On 12/25/2025 3:38 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy. ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck a lot >>>>>> more than one robot vacuum maker?
[...]
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line.
Plus tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
The tariffs just started this year, 2025. The Chinese knockoffs started >>>> a decade ago.
IRobot's bancrupcy was in 2025, not a decade ago.
The financial problems started quite a few years ago. Amazon tried to
buy IRobot a few years ago and Biden's government kept that from happening. >>
EU regulators were looking to block it
Biden was not a member of the EU government
Mad Hamish wrote:
On Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:16:08 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/25/2025 3:41 PM, Thomas Koenig wrote:The article you linked said that the purchase was abandoned with the
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
On 12/25/2025 3:38 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy.ÿ ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck >>>>>>> a lot
more than one robot vacuum maker?
[...]
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same
manufacturing line.
Plus tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
The tariffs just started this year, 2025.ÿ The Chinese knockoffs
started
a decade ago.
IRobot's bancrupcy was in 2025, not a decade ago.
The financial problems started quite a few years ago.ÿ Amazon tried to
buy IRobot a few years ago and Biden's government kept that from
happening.
EU regulators were looking to block it
Biden was not a member of the EU government
Ha. Biden wasn't a _public_ member of the EU government. But Hillary's emails from Hunter's laptop conclusively prove- PROVE, I SAY- that
George Soros' paid demonstrators released the chemtrails over Area 51
that activated the Jewish Space Lasers that Joe Biden used to give the orders to ANTIFA operatives from the pizza parlor basement to mindwipe
the EU economic ministers.
SO THERE.
Every Trumper knows this stuff. It's like, you know, third grade to them.
On 12/26/2025 9:24 PM, Chris Thompson wrote:
Mad Hamish wrote:
On Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:16:08 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/25/2025 3:41 PM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
On 12/25/2025 3:38 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy.ÿ ?Roomba?s bankruptcy may wreck a lot
more than one robot vacuum maker?
[...]
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line.
Plus tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
The tariffs just started this year, 2025.ÿ The Chinese knockoffs
started a decade ago.
IRobot's bancrupcy was in 2025, not a decade ago.
The financial problems started quite a few years ago.ÿ Amazon tried to >>>> buy IRobot a few years ago and Biden's government kept that from happening.
The article you linked said that the purchase was abandoned with the
EU regulators were looking to block it Biden was not a member of the EU >>> government
Ha. Biden wasn't a _public_ member of the EU government. But Hillary's
emails from Hunter's laptop conclusively prove- PROVE, I SAY- that
George Soros' paid demonstrators released the chemtrails over Area 51
that activated the Jewish Space Lasers that Joe Biden used to give the
orders to ANTIFA operatives from the pizza parlor basement to mindwipe
the EU economic ministers.
SO THERE.
Every Trumper knows this stuff. It's like, you know, third grade to them.
Isn't third grade the MAGA equivalent of a doctorate? :P
wasBut I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store".
No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at
the supermarket as well as other frequently purchased products. This
one of the candidate's main talking points during the campaign.
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chain
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting truck
drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain
issues.
Yes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk
ICE idiocy. I know from news reports including the testimony of growers
that they are not getting the workers that they need for harvest because
the
workers are fearful of ICE which does not apparently give a damn if the >people
whom they are arresting are American Citizens or non-citizens with green
cards.
On 12/26/2025 1:39 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:is =
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:48:17 -0500 (EST), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
mess), but there's no tariff on board fab from Vietnam. Board fab
Vietnam is=kind of
an odd duck since most of the cost of board fab in the US and
sane=20=20
waste disposal, while in China they just drop all the heavy metal waste=20
into a sump in the basement. So it's very hard for anyone with
despoilingdisposal laws to compete with the Chinese.
Just thought I should point out that those "sane disposal laws" are
/exactly/ the sort of thing rabid idealizers of unfettered capitalism
oppose.
Yes, and this is what governments exist for... to prevent the
controlof the commons.
Right now we're still paying lots of money to clean up the waste from
industry in Pittsburgh back in the fifties. It's much cheaper to
elsethe waste today than to kick the can down the road, but since someone
interest ofwill be paying it later down the road corporations with a short-term
outlook don't care.
Governments exist in part to deal with the long-term outlook.
Raw, unfettered, capitalism is, indeed, a bitch.
I am very much in favor of capitalism... but it is in the best
eliminateindividual capitalists to eliminate competition and therefore
whycapitalism itself which is dependent on competition to work. This is
calledit all collapses unless it has government support.
I think what you mean by "raw, unfettered" is what is classically
out"laissez-faire."
So, I do see some of these tariffs possibly pushing some production
see itof China and into Vietnam and Thailand in the future, but I don't
store".=20doing anything other than hurting customers right now.
If by "customers" you mean people in your situation (and you are,
indeed, a customer), that's fine.=20
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the
hurting
It's raising the prices they have to pay at the store, and it is
issue.them. The fact that they aren't up in arms about it is a different
Largely because they think that they will actually be allowed to vote
for someone OTHER than Trump in 2028. (Or whichever of his successors >survives the knives if Trump dies before then.)
On 12/27/2025 10:35 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:30:07 -0800, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
<snippo mucho>
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store".
No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at the
supermarket as well as other frequently purchased products. This was
one of the candidate's main talking points during the campaign.
I've read those as well, and, while it is heartening to think that the
one or two that are identified are the tip of iceberg, at least one of
these disgruntled MAGAs did not blame D Trump -- but G Soros.
Speaking of sheeple ...
<snippo more-o>
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chainYes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting truck >>>> drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain issues. >>>
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk ICE idiocy. I know from news reports including the
testimony of growers that they are not getting the workers that they
need for harvest because the workers are fearful of ICE which does not
apparently give a damn if the people whom they are arresting are
American Citizens or non-citizens with green cards.
Right now we are still running, I suspect, mostly on the harvests of
years past. So food is available, but the market is raising the prices.
But that won't last forever if ICE deports the workers..
If the prices rise then the owners can afford picking machines.
Lynn
On 2025-12-27 20:55:16 +0000, Lynn McGuire said:
On 12/27/2025 10:35 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:30:07 -0800, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
<snippo mucho>
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store".
No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at
the supermarket as well as other frequently purchased products.
This was
one of the candidate's main talking points during the campaign.
I've read those as well, and, while it is heartening to think that
the one or two that are identified are the tip of iceberg, at least
one of these disgruntled MAGAs did not blame D Trump -- but G Soros.
Speaking of sheeple ...
<snippo more-o>
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chain
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting
truck drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-
chain issues.
Yes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk ICE idiocy.ÿ I know from news reports including the
testimony of growers that they are not getting the workers that they
need for harvest because the workers are fearful of ICE which does
not apparently give a damn if the people whom they are arresting are
American Citizens or non-citizens with green cards.
Right now we are still running, I suspect, mostly on the harvests of
years past. So food is available, but the market is raising the
prices. But that won't last forever if ICE deports the workers..
If the prices rise then the owners can afford picking machines.
Lynn
For many fruits and vegetables, picking machines are simply useless and damage the fruit, making it worthless. Human pickers are a far better
option - usually they're low-paid students, travellers, and imported temporary workers, mainly because nobody else actually wants to do the physically hard work, often in the blazing sun.
On 12/27/2025 10:35 AM, Paul S Person wrote:was
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:30:07 -0800, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
<snippo mucho>
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store".
No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at
the supermarket as well as other frequently purchased products. This
truckone of the candidate's main talking points during the campaign.
I've read those as well, and, while it is heartening to think that the
one or two that are identified are the tip of iceberg, at least one of
these disgruntled MAGAs did not blame D Trump -- but G Soros.
Speaking of sheeple ...
<snippo more-o>
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chain
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting
growersdrivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain
issues.
Yes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk
ICE idiocy. I know from news reports including the testimony of
becausethat they are not getting the workers that they need for harvest
thethe
workers are fearful of ICE which does not apparently give a damn if
greenpeople
whom they are arresting are American Citizens or non-citizens with
cards.
Right now we are still running, I suspect, mostly on the harvests of
years past. So food is available, but the market is raising the
prices. But that won't last forever if ICE deports the workers..
If the prices rise then the owners can afford picking machines.
On 2025-12-27 20:55:16 +0000, Lynn McGuire said:store".
On 12/27/2025 10:35 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:30:07 -0800, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
<snippo mucho>
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the
the
No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at
wassupermarket as well as other frequently purchased products. This
theone of the candidate's main talking points during the campaign.
I've read those as well, and, while it is heartening to think that
ofone or two that are identified are the tip of iceberg, at least one
truckthese disgruntled MAGAs did not blame D Trump -- but G Soros.
Speaking of sheeple ...
<snippo more-o>
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chain
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting
issues.drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain
Yes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk ICE idiocy. I know from news reports including the
testimony of growers that they are not getting the workers that they
notneed for harvest because the workers are fearful of ICE which does
prices.apparently give a damn if the people whom they are arresting are
American Citizens or non-citizens with green cards.
Right now we are still running, I suspect, mostly on the harvests of
years past. So food is available, but the market is raising the
But that won't last forever if ICE deports the workers..
If the prices rise then the owners can afford picking machines.
Lynn
For many fruits and vegetables, picking machines are simply useless and >damage the fruit, making it worthless. Human pickers are a far better
option - usually they're low-paid students, travellers, and imported >temporary workers, mainly because nobody else actually wants to do the >physically hard work, often in the blazing sun.
On Sun, 28 Dec 2025 10:42:39 +1300, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com>
wrote:
=20
If the prices rise then the owners can afford picking machines.
=20
Lynn
For many fruits and vegetables, picking machines are simply useless and=20 >>damage the fruit, making it worthless. Human pickers are a far better=20 >>option - usually they're low-paid students, travellers, and imported=20 >>temporary workers, mainly because nobody else actually wants to do the=20 >>physically hard work, often in the blazing sun.
I myself once spent a day "hay-baling" with one of my brothers.
On Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:55:16 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/27/2025 10:35 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:30:07 -0800, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
<snippo mucho>
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store".
No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at
the supermarket as well as other frequently purchased products. This was >>>> one of the candidate's main talking points during the campaign.
I've read those as well, and, while it is heartening to think that the
one or two that are identified are the tip of iceberg, at least one of
these disgruntled MAGAs did not blame D Trump -- but G Soros.
Speaking of sheeple ...
<snippo more-o>
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chain
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting truck >>>>> drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain
issues.
Yes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk
ICE idiocy. I know from news reports including the testimony of growers >>>> that they are not getting the workers that they need for harvest because >>>> the
workers are fearful of ICE which does not apparently give a damn if the >>>> people
whom they are arresting are American Citizens or non-citizens with green >>>> cards.
Right now we are still running, I suspect, mostly on the harvests of
years past. So food is available, but the market is raising the
prices. But that won't last forever if ICE deports the workers..
If the prices rise then the owners can afford picking machines.
If the banks will loan them enough.
And the manufacturers have enough on hand.
Could be two or three seasons before that solution works.
Of course, the population will be rather ... thin ... by then. In at
least two meanings: "they disappear when they turn sideways" and
"there aren't nearly as many as there used to be".
And not everything (AFAIK) can be harvested that way.
Which is why some innovative thinkers are trying to produce -- cubical oranges. So a machine can pick them easily.
On 12/28/2025 8:25 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:55:16 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/27/2025 10:35 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:30:07 -0800, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
<snippo mucho>
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's >>>>>> tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store". >>>>>No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at
the supermarket as well as other frequently purchased products. This >>>>> was one of the candidate's main talking points during the campaign.
I've read those as well, and, while it is heartening to think that the >>>> one or two that are identified are the tip of iceberg, at least one of >>>> these disgruntled MAGAs did not blame D Trump -- but G Soros.
Speaking of sheeple ...
<snippo more-o>
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chain
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting truck >>>>>> drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain
issues.
Yes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk ICE idiocy. I know from news reports including the >>>>> testimony of growers that they are not getting the workers that they >>>>> need for harvest because the workers are fearful of ICE which does not >>>>> apparently give a damn if the people whom they are arresting are
American Citizens or non-citizens with green cards.
Right now we are still running, I suspect, mostly on the harvests of
years past. So food is available, but the market is raising the
prices. But that won't last forever if ICE deports the workers..
If the prices rise then the owners can afford picking machines.
If the banks will loan them enough.
And the manufacturers have enough on hand.
Could be two or three seasons before that solution works.
Of course, the population will be rather ... thin ... by then. In at
least two meanings: "they disappear when they turn sideways" and
"there aren't nearly as many as there used to be".
And not everything (AFAIK) can be harvested that way.
Which is why some innovative thinkers are trying to produce -- cubical
oranges. So a machine can pick them easily.
Wouldn't that require a human to place the box around the wannabe orange?
On 2025-12-28 20:03:02 +0000, Dimensional Traveler said:
On 12/28/2025 8:25 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:55:16 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/27/2025 10:35 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:30:07 -0800, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
<snippo mucho>
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's >>>>>>> tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store". >>>>>>No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at >>>>>> the supermarket as well as other frequently purchased products.
This was one of the candidate's main talking points during the
campaign.
I've read those as well, and, while it is heartening to think that the >>>>> one or two that are identified are the tip of iceberg, at least one of >>>>> these disgruntled MAGAs did not blame D Trump -- but G Soros.
Speaking of sheeple ...
<snippo more-o>
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chain >>>>>>> problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting >>>>>>> truck
drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain
issues.
Yes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk ICE idiocy.ÿ I know from news reports including
the testimony of growers that they are not getting the workers
that they need for harvest because the workers are fearful of ICE >>>>>> which does not apparently give a damn if the people whom they are >>>>>> arresting are American Citizens or non-citizens with green cards.
Right now we are still running, I suspect, mostly on the harvests of >>>>> years past. So food is available, but the market is raising the
prices. But that won't last forever if ICE deports the workers..
If the prices rise then the owners can afford picking machines.
If the banks will loan them enough.
And the manufacturers have enough on hand.
Could be two or three seasons before that solution works.
Of course, the population will be rather ... thin ... by then. In at
least two meanings: "they disappear when they turn sideways" and
"there aren't nearly as many as there used to be".
And not everything (AFAIK) can be harvested that way.
Which is why some innovative thinkers are trying to produce -- cubical
oranges. So a machine can pick them easily.
Wouldn't that require a human to place the box around the wannabe orange?
Probably easier to simply put a "padded box" around the fools coming up
with such silly ideas.ÿ ;-)
Every Trumper knows this stuff. It's like, you know, third grade to them. >>Isn't third grade the MAGA equivalent of a doctorate? :P
MAGA nutters can't even manage to graduate from pre-school. :-\
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:30:07 -0800, Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
<snippo mucho>
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's
tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store".
No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at
the supermarket as well as other frequently purchased products. This was
one of the candidate's main talking points during the campaign.
I've read those as well, and, while it is heartening to think that the
one or two that are identified are the tip of iceberg, at least one of
these disgruntled MAGAs did not blame D Trump -- but G Soros.
Speaking of sheeple ...
<snippo more-o>
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chain
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting truck
drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain
issues.
Yes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk
ICE idiocy. I know from news reports including the testimony of growers
that they are not getting the workers that they need for harvest because
the
workers are fearful of ICE which does not apparently give a damn if the
people
whom they are arresting are American Citizens or non-citizens with green
cards.
Right now we are still running, I suspect, mostly on the harvests of
years past. So food is available, but the market is raising the
prices. But that won't last forever if ICE deports the workers..
On Sun, 28 Dec 2025 10:42:39 +1300, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com>
wrote:
On 2025-12-27 20:55:16 +0000, Lynn McGuire said:
On 12/27/2025 10:35 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:30:07 -0800, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
<snippo mucho>
But I am not reading articles stating "95% of MAGA rejects Trump's >>>>>> tariffs because they raise the price they have to pay at the store". >>>>>No percentages but some MAGA are waking up to the price of beef at the >>>>> supermarket as well as other frequently purchased products. This was >>>>> one of the candidate's main talking points during the campaign.
I've read those as well, and, while it is heartening to think that the >>>> one or two that are identified are the tip of iceberg, at least one of >>>> these disgruntled MAGAs did not blame D Trump -- but G Soros.
Speaking of sheeple ...
<snippo more-o>
I am seeing availablity problems reminiscent of the supply chainYes and the price of some fruit has moved out of my price range.
problems during the pandemic. Perhaps ICE is arresting/deporting truck >>>>>> drivers who "look like a Mexican" and so producing supply-chain issues. >>>>>
I suspect part of that is tariff and part is the unwillingness of
drivers to risk ICE idiocy. I know from news reports including the
testimony of growers that they are not getting the workers that they >>>>> need for harvest because the workers are fearful of ICE which does not >>>>> apparently give a damn if the people whom they are arresting are
American Citizens or non-citizens with green cards.
Right now we are still running, I suspect, mostly on the harvests of
years past. So food is available, but the market is raising the prices. >>>> But that won't last forever if ICE deports the workers..
If the prices rise then the owners can afford picking machines.
Lynn
For many fruits and vegetables, picking machines are simply useless and
damage the fruit, making it worthless. Human pickers are a far better
option - usually they're low-paid students, travellers, and imported
temporary workers, mainly because nobody else actually wants to do the
physically hard work, often in the blazing sun.
I myself once spent a day "hay-baling" with one of my brothers.
Ah, the joys of youth!
On 12/28/2025 8:25 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
orange?Which is why some innovative thinkers are trying to produce -- cubical
oranges. So a machine can pick them easily.
Wouldn't that require a human to place the box around the wannabe
On Sat, 27 Dec 2025 19:38:11 +1300, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com>them.
wrote:
Every Trumper knows this stuff. It's like, you know, third grade to
Isn't third grade the MAGA equivalent of a doctorate? :P
MAGA nutters can't even manage to graduate from pre-school. :-\
You shouldn't really assume everyone who voted for Trump in 2024 were
true MAGA-ites. I would suspect that at least half of those who voted
for him in 2024 simply believed he was better than the other name on
the ballot.
After all - in politics you don't have to be a 10 to get elected - a 4
is good enough is the other candidate is a 2 or a 3. I don't think
either Biden or Harris was the best the Democrats had in 2024 but I do >believe Trump was better than either of those two, not withstanding I
think he did a poor job on the pandemic earlier (among other issues)
and were I an American probably would have chosen him over Harris who
I think was the weakest candidate the Dems have run in this century.
And whoever the GOP runs in 2028 won't be running on Trump's record
probably even if it's Vance. (Who at this point is for now the #1 GOP >candidate until he proves differently - and I say that as someone who
read his book the week after he was nominated - I was especially
interested in reading it as I had read his professor Amy Chua's Battle
Hymn of the Tiger Mother and noted Vance's tribute to her - they're
clearly on warm terms particularly as she introduced him to his future
wife)
On Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:03:02 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 12/28/2025 8:25 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
<snippo>
Which is why some innovative thinkers are trying to produce -- cubical
oranges. So a machine can pick them easily.
Wouldn't that require a human to place the box around the wannabe orange?
Apparently not.
IIRC, orange-picking machines exist but don't work too well with round oranges.
Or maybe it's the trees they are trying to reshape ...
On 12/29/2025 8:58 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:03:02 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 12/28/2025 8:25 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
<snippo>
Apparently not.Which is why some innovative thinkers are trying to produce -- cubical >>>> oranges. So a machine can pick them easily.
Wouldn't that require a human to place the box around the wannabe orange? >>
IIRC, orange-picking machines exist but don't work too well with round
oranges.
Or maybe it's the trees they are trying to reshape ...
Maybe the orange growers have been playing too much Minecraft....
On 12/29/2025 8:58 AM, Paul S Person wrote:cubical
On Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:03:02 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 12/28/2025 8:25 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
<snippo>
Which is why some innovative thinkers are trying to produce --
orange?oranges. So a machine can pick them easily.
Wouldn't that require a human to place the box around the wannabe
Apparently not.
IIRC, orange-picking machines exist but don't work too well with round
oranges.
Or maybe it's the trees they are trying to reshape ...
Maybe the orange growers have been playing too much Minecraft....
On 2025-12-30 01:35:22 +0000, Dimensional Traveler said:cubical
On 12/29/2025 8:58 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:03:02 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 12/28/2025 8:25 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
<snippo>
Which is why some innovative thinkers are trying to produce --
orange?oranges. So a machine can pick them easily.
Wouldn't that require a human to place the box around the wannabe
round
Apparently not.
IIRC, orange-picking machines exist but don't work too well with
oranges.
Or maybe it's the trees they are trying to reshape ...
Maybe the orange growers have been playing too much Minecraft....
Most "picking" machines simply shake each tree and either catch the
falling fruit or 'hoover' it up from the ground. Trying to get a
machine to actually pick individual fruit would be very difficult and
it would incorrectly take piles of unripe fruit (idiotic AI might help
with that, if if ever really works properly).
On 2025-12-30 01:35:22 +0000, Dimensional Traveler said:
On 12/29/2025 8:58 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:03:02 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 12/28/2025 8:25 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
<snippo>
Apparently not.Which is why some innovative thinkers are trying to produce -- cubical >>>>> oranges. So a machine can pick them easily.
Wouldn't that require a human to place the box around the wannabe orange? >>>
IIRC, orange-picking machines exist but don't work too well with round
oranges.
Or maybe it's the trees they are trying to reshape ...
Maybe the orange growers have been playing too much Minecraft....
Most "picking" machines simply shake each tree and either catch the
falling fruit or 'hoover' it up from the ground. Trying to get a
machine to actually pick individual fruit would be very difficult and
it would incorrectly take piles of unripe fruit (idiotic AI might help
with that, if if ever really works properly).
For many fruits and vegetables, picking machines are simply useless and >damage the fruit, making it worthless. Human pickers are a far better
option - usually they're low-paid students, travellers, and imported >temporary workers, mainly because nobody else actually wants to do the >physically hard work, often in the blazing sun.
On Wed, 24 Dec 2025 17:12:23 +1300, Your Name
<YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
Killed because robot vacuum cleaners (and robot lawn mowers, and robot
mops) are useless, gimmicky devices that unsurprisingly never lived up
to the hype.
Our Roomba worked quite well, and probably still would if we
dug it out of storage. An upright vaccuum cleaner is much
faster, but you can operate a Roomba while sitting in a lift
chair, and you don't have to move the furniture.
When we had to hire our vaccuuming done, we bought an
upright.
On 2025-12-24 01:48:00 +0000, Lynn McGuire said:
On 12/22/2025 5:17 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
???This is how the war against the machines begins???:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/
AVvXsEjWqK3Ac7LcwhoPWhl6Oq2HiQzqdjpDBVlZFUVRAIRzc2ruKDJD99zr8aoRWGoZ2FUpbPTRuMfYsTD2VBglaNIRr4ID6CUfgblxVrREs0HlMykD5XbGDvpOqoIn6mZh60cvOTuGw_roups7wzd32RdumToZxAWDSPcNi_Jh1PBRroGQaTPmw7VTPr0273c/s550/Meme%20-%20roomba%20Cheetoh.png
From:
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2025/12/memes-that-made-me-
laugh-291.html
Lynn
Wow, Roomba just file bankruptcy. ???Roomba???s bankruptcy may wreck a lot more than one robot vacuum maker???
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/20/roomba-bankruptcy-robot-vacuum-maker.html
???Product quality was one of the advantages for the Roomba in a flood
of less expensive knock-offs, but that didn???t save it from the
corporate bankruptcy its maker iRobot announced earlier this week. And cheap Chinese competition was not the only factor in its failure. An attempted 2022 acquisition of iRobot by Amazon, thwarted by regulators, and the changing dynamics around mergers and acquisitions, represent an ongoing concern for struggling tech companies that in the past have
turned to M&A as not just an exit ramp, but savior.???
???The company, which Amazon agreed to pay $1.7 billion to acquire in August 2022, reported in a court filing last Sunday that it had between $100 million-$500 million in assets and liabilities, and owed roughly
$100 million to its largest creditor, Shenzhen Picea Robotics Co., the contract manufacturer, located in China and Vietnam, which now owns it.
In all, Reuters reported the company has $190 million in debt.???
Killed by the Chinese knockoffs. Probably from the same manufacturing line.
Lynn
Killed because robot vacuum cleaners (and robot lawn mowers, and robot
mops) are useless, gimmicky devices that unsurprisingly never lived up
to the hype.
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