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Have you noticed shortages?


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2021 Mar 19, 10:06pm   9,777 views  372 comments

by Patrick   ➕follow (55)   💰tip   ignore  

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/things-are-out-control-there-shortage-everything-and-prices-are-soaring-what-happens-next?source=patrick.net

From a reader:


I've commented to a few others about my perceptions, exactly the same as in the article above.

This is a major reason I suspect that your "Wuhan" virus is my "Ft Detrick" virus -- that the US bioweapons people created it and released it overseas to make it look like it came from there, to cover the criminal failure and looting of our one-percenters, who have wrecked our economy with their policies of peasant labor in across the Rio Grande, skilled labor deported overseas, create a financialization economy to replace our once-unrivaled manufacturing economy, no taxes or penalties for hi-tech, banks, wall street etc.


I was interested in getting a phone with good privacy, the Librem, but they can't say when it will be available because they can't get parts.

My laptop is dying too, and I looked into the Dell XPS 13, but guess what? Six week lead time because of supply chain issues, and they won't even commit to six weeks.

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10   just_passing_through   2021 Mar 20, 6:46pm  

richwicks says
How can there be a toilet paper shortage?

Look, if you take a shit, and are out of toilet paper - take a shower. Instead of smearing shit all over your ass, clean your ass instead. Takes 3 minutes to clean up, 5 if you're taking your time.


I was joking...
11   just_passing_through   2021 Mar 20, 6:48pm  

So I went to costco today. First time in a year. I did not buy TP.

I bought the same shit mostly that I would have in the past. I spent waaaay more money. I noticed some of the items were downsized as well, like the chocolate covered macadamia nuts.

I literally spent $250 more than normal. $75 on 4 prime ribeye steaks.

Yeah, we've got inflay flay...
12   richwicks   2021 Mar 20, 7:06pm  

HeadSet says
richwicks says
As an electrical engineer in Silly Con Valley, I want to apologize to the world, for the companies I helped support and products I helped create.

Develop that room temperature super conductor and all will be forgiven.


Best I can do is make an uncensorable free communication platform.

I'm enormously frustrated that we built the internet, and so few make use of it for what we intended. They were starting to do it, which is why our internet is being censored. Talk to a Libyan, a Syrian, a Russian, a Ukrainian. We all have common enemies and they aren't Libyans, Syrians, Russians, or Ukrainians - its our governments.

In time, perhaps beyond my lifetime, people will realize that their true enemies are their "leaders". This is what we (or at least I) set out to do. You can talk to anybody in the world, now we just have to make it easier. Globalism isn't necessarily evil - how it's being enforced is. If it is enforced from top down, you have a dictatorship, if it's created from down up, it's a democratic system of commonality. You'd be shocked with how much you have in common with a family in Syria, Ukraine, or China. What you will disagree over is your authoritarian dictatorship "government".

All governments, without exception (that I know of) are dictatorships. That is who makes war and misery, not you, and not the people of other nations.
13   Bd6r   2021 Mar 20, 7:19pm  

HeadSet says
Develop that room temperature super conductor and all will be forgiven.

it's almost there, but requires high pressure. My bet is in next 10-20 yrs we will have practical room T superconductors, and then hupersonity will be replaced by energy-efficient, rational robots.
14   mell   2021 Mar 20, 7:24pm  

just_passing_through says
like the chocolate covered macadamia nuts.


Haha those are good aren't they. We buy them too at times. There's definitely inflation but no hyperinflation (yet). We could go hyperinflationary, back to stagflation or even deflationary if the bond market goes on red alert.
15   richwicks   2021 Mar 20, 7:33pm  

Rb6d says
HeadSet says
Develop that room temperature super conductor and all will be forgiven.

it's almost there, but requires high pressure. My bet is in next 10-20 yrs we will have practical room T superconductors, and then hupersonity will be replaced by energy-efficient, rational robots.


I don't think room temperature superconductors are possible. At the VERY BEST, they can exist in the lab, but they will be so fragile, they will have no applicability to the real world.

I've been following this shit since the 1980s. It's just energy transport, a better solution is a localized energy production. I expect to see Mr. Fusion before I see a room temperature super conductor. For data transport, we already have fiber optics, and make the glass thin enough, it's practically lossless. Solve the energy storage solution for localized energy production, and you free the world.
16   Bd6r   2021 Mar 20, 7:38pm  

richwicks says
I don't think room temperature superconductors are possible.


https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2801-z#

I work next to people who look at this stuff
there is nothing theoretically forbidding it
might not be easy but that is OK
17   FortwayeAsFuckJoeBiden   2021 Mar 20, 7:39pm  

richwicks says
HeadSet says
richwicks says
As an electrical engineer in Silly Con Valley, I want to apologize to the world, for the companies I helped support and products I helped create.

Develop that room temperature super conductor and all will be forgiven.


Best I can do is make an uncensorable free communication platform.

I'm enormously frustrated that we built the internet, and so few make use of it for what we intended. They were starting to do it, which is why our internet is being censored. Talk to a Libyan, a Syrian, a Russian, a Ukrainian. We all have common enemies and they aren't Libyans, Syrians, Russians, or Ukrainians - its our governments.

In time, perhaps beyond my lifetime, people will realize that their true enemies are their "leaders". This is what we (or at least I) set out to do. You c...


Many of us realize it today, cancel culture keeps most people from speaking up. Because it is ran by the wealthy elites trying to keep their illegitimate power.
18   Bd6r   2021 Mar 20, 7:41pm  

richwicks says
a better solution is a localized energy production.

not necessarily, I don't think applications of this will be in electricity wires spanning 100's of miles. It will be in devices such as MRI etc
19   Patrick   2021 Mar 20, 7:52pm  

Rb6d says
hupersonity will be replaced by energy-efficient, rational robots.



What is "hupersonity"?

I see a few scattered mentions on search results, but no definition of it.
20   richwicks   2021 Mar 20, 8:06pm  

Rb6d says
richwicks says
a better solution is a localized energy production.

not necessarily, I don't think applications of this will be in electricity wires spanning 100's of miles. It will be in devices such as MRI etc


For something so localized, why is there a need for superconductors?

The ONLY point of super conductors are magnets for containment fields for fusion, and energy transmission. The first would move us toward positive energy production in fusion, the later is for transmission of this energy. I can't see the future of course, but I think these are the limitations at this time.

Are MRI's limited by the energy they consume? I don't think they are and for a superconductor, they can't give off magnetic fields, because then they lose energy. That makes them not lossless. The whole point of a super conductor is lossless transmission of energy.
21   just_passing_through   2021 Mar 20, 8:23pm  

richwicks says
How can there be a toilet paper shortage?

Look, if you take a shit, and are out of toilet paper - take a shower. Instead of smearing shit all over your ass, clean your ass instead. Takes 3 minutes to clean up, 5 if you're taking your time.


Actually, you reminded me of an 'event' early in my life. My buddy and I in early high school snuck out at night and wandered into a nearby subdivision and hooked up with a couple of chicks that had also snuck out.

Their parents were out of town and we ended up side by side 'almost' fucking them in their parents bed. But I had to take a shit.

So. I went into their bathroom and let loose.

Only to realize there was no TP.

So. I wiped my ass with their shower curtain.

We high tailed it out of there after that.

I just happened to talk to that guy a few weeks ago as we were both stuck in that snow storm in TX (after I got back) and he brought that up.

We both had another good laugh.
22   GNL   2021 Mar 20, 8:30pm  

I notice a shortage in my bank account.
23   NDrLoR   2021 Mar 20, 9:11pm  

zzyzzx says
shortage
This was the 70's from start to finish--from fuel, to commodities, there were shortages of everything. The copper shortage caused houses (and my brand new apartment) in 1975 to be wired with aluminum which is a disaster. I turned my bedroom switch on one day in 1977 and smoke came out of it.
24   Bd6r   2021 Mar 20, 9:30pm  

Patrick says
What is "hupersonity"?

@Patrick,

huMANity is not PC enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so I use hupersonity in conversations with my more progressive colleagues who cringe knowing that I am being sarcastic
25   Patrick   2021 Mar 20, 9:36pm  

Lol, OK I see now.
26   Bd6r   2021 Mar 20, 9:43pm  

Patrick says
Lol, OK I see now.

try replacing "MAN" with "PERSON" in every possible word when talking to progressives, and watch the reaction. batPERSON, PERSONslaughter, PERSONatee, PERSONhole, etc
sky is limit for sarcasm here
27   NDrLoR   2021 Mar 21, 7:27am  

Rb6d says
"PERSON"
Still too gender specific. "Son" in person implies male.
28   Booger   2021 Mar 21, 5:49pm  

richwicks says
just_passing_through says
zzyzzx says
And then there was that toilet paper shortage.


Noooo! Not again!!!


How can there be a toilet paper shortage?

Look, if you take a shit, and are out of toilet paper - take a shower. Instead of smearing shit all over your ass, clean your ass instead. Takes 3 minutes to clean up, 5 if you're taking your time.


I haven't used any toilet paper at home in over a year now.
29   Booger   2021 Mar 21, 5:53pm  

Bicycle and bicycle stuff shortage.
30   Patrick   2021 Mar 21, 8:30pm  

I was unaware that much of the world does not use toilet paper at all until I went to Turkey during college. It was typical that a bathroom was a hole in the floor, a spigot with a short hose, and a small pitcher. I think you were supposed to fill the pitcher and pour it down your ass crack

I always brought toilet paper with me though.
31   Automan Empire   2021 Mar 22, 2:23pm  

Every time I've seen "just in time delivery" supply chains ballyhooed as the greatest advancement in manufacturing since interchangeable parts, I imagine the effects of ONE PART long-term absent from some process as complex as an auto assembly plant or a chip fab.

Chips are something we're hearing a lot about right now. A few years ago a problem at the world's biggest supplier of a critical component of EDPM rubber seriously backed up multiple industries. If Covid restrictions go on long enough, there might come a cascade effect of several shortages synergizing into REAL problems for large populations.
33   rocketjoe79   2021 Apr 7, 6:54pm  

Patrick says
I was unaware that much of the world does not use toilet paper at all until I went to Turkey during college. It was typical that a bathroom was a hole in the floor, a spigot with a short hose, and a small pitcher. I think you were supposed to fill the pitcher and pour it down your ass crack

I always brought toilet paper with me though.


Similar to Japan. Trough in the floor, with water running through. Most asians and many euros can easily squat. Not so for Yankee dogs. We like or "seat of ease" and the French Bidets.

I do have a Toto Washlet now at home, and it's a game changer. I don't want to shit anywhere else now.
34   Patrick   2021 Apr 7, 9:59pm  

rocketjoe79 says
Toto Washlet


That's quite an expensive shitter at over $1000:

https://bidetking.com/products/toto-s500e-washlet-sw3044-sw3046-classic-contemporary

Why is it so great?
35   Onvacation   2021 Apr 7, 10:40pm  

Spent a couple of days on the snow last week and went shopping for a good pair of waterproof ski pants.

Nothing at Big5. REI was really low on merchandise and said they were not getting any new stock. Dicks Sporting Goods had closed their entire second floor and the first floor looked pretty sparse. Sears is closing. The little malls I went to in Concord were full of empty stores.

Finally ended up at Victory army navy in Vallejo and bought some Carhart rain pants made in Cambodia.

The guy at REI said covid messed up the supply chain.
36   Hircus   2021 Apr 8, 12:26am  

There's a serious global chip shortage which is making computers tough to get.

At work, we need to constantly fight our supplier to sell us new rack servers instead of giving them to other companies. The shortage is severe.

And if you think there's a computer shortage...hoo boy, try buying a graphics card lol. Cards that are normally $350 sell for $1000-1200, and $1000 cards go for $3600, if you can find them. But, those are hard to get due to the surge in crypto prices, probably not the chip shortage. Prices fluctuate daily, rising and falling with crypto prices.

We have a terrible ammo shortage too. Walmart shelves are 100% empty. They say shipments come in but its all gone within hours. Online retailers have some limited selection of ammo, but prices are nuts, like 10x normal. $4 a round for .357 stings... I blame our self-defense hating demshit president for this.
37   Hircus   2021 Apr 8, 12:29am  

Patrick says
rocketjoe79 says
Toto Washlet


That's quite an expensive shitter at over $1000:

https://bidetking.com/products/toto-s500e-washlet-sw3044-sw3046-classic-contemporary

Why is it so great?


It sprays a soothing luxury warm water jet up your ass. Even better - other peons don't have luxury warm water jets to spray up their ass.
38   richwicks   2021 Apr 8, 2:39am  

Onvacation says
Spent a couple of days on the snow last week and went shopping for a good pair of waterproof ski pants.


I lived next to a ski area when I was growing up, I literally do not remember a time that I didn't know how to ski.

Go buy a pair of long lycra biking pants - they get wet, but because they are so thin they warm up quickly, and wear a pair of jeans over them. I used to wear that geatup and pretend to be a newbie skier and let people make fun of me when I was stationed in Colorado. I'm able to do tricks and 360 jumps and I could shred a mogul hill. I've skiied deep fresh snow too - in my experience, that's more difficult than any mogul hill because steering is a bitch.

Most people are obsessed with how they look on the slopes, just stay warm and enjoy the beautiful scenery. I enjoyed letting people think they were awesome skiers just to show off my skills. Lost interest in skiing once I tried hang gliding - I suck at it, but it's way more fun. I just boat around in the sky, but what a tremendous view. If you ever do that, remember 1/2 the people that die in that sport just forget to hook into the glider before they run off the mountain, and fall to their death. That's a sport where if you have ANY suspicion that something is wrong, check, and double check - make certain you're hooked in (always check before you go off the mountain, and be OCD about it), and if things "don't feel right" - abort your flight. You really get a sense of danger with that sport and follow your senses.

In skiing, if you screw up, you get hurt, maybe you might get seriously hurt - in hang gliding, you die.
39   Shaman   2021 Apr 8, 4:49am  

richwicks says
Lost interest in skiing once I tried hang gliding - I suck at it, but it's way more fun.


Did that a few years back with my wife as an anniversary celebration. Was a real rush!! I got a kick out of how we wound up 500 feet higher than the launch point, and could buzz the folks still on that mountain. Totally fun!
40   Shaman   2021 Apr 8, 4:52am  

Hircus says
It sprays a soothing luxury warm water jet up your ass. Even better - other peons don't have luxury warm water jets to spray up their ass.


There’s an inexpensive bidet attachment that will fit to any toilet called Tushy. Maybe $100. Sprays cold water but feels pretty good anyway. Way simpler than the complex models and does a better job at hosing you off. My wife bought two bidets, one was $350 and that one was $100. I prefer the $100 model.
41   zzyzzx   2021 Apr 8, 5:35am  

Patrick says
That's quite an expensive shitter at over $1000:

https://bidetking.com/products/toto-s500e-washlet-sw3044-sw3046-classic-contemporary

Why is it so great?


Some people are just really picky about this type of thing. I once knew someone that was really picky about the brand of toilet paper that they used.
42   ForcedTQ   2021 Apr 8, 6:02am  

Hircus says
There's a serious global chip shortage which is making computers tough to get.

At work, we need to constantly fight our supplier to sell us new rack servers instead of giving them to other companies. The shortage is severe.

And if you think there's a computer shortage...hoo boy, try buying a graphics card lol. Cards that are normally $350 sell for $1000-1200, and $1000 cards go for $3600, if you can find them. But, those are hard to get due to the surge in crypto prices, probably not the chip shortage. Prices fluctuate daily, rising and falling with crypto prices.

We have a terrible ammo shortage too. Walmart shelves are 100% empty. They say shipments come in but its all gone within hours. Online retailers have some limited selection of ammo, but prices are nuts, like 10x normal. $4 a round for .357 stings... I blame our self-defense hating demshit president for this.


The computer components price squeeze / shortage has been created by an increase in demand (people home due to Covid working, crypto mining, and gaming) and largely by Scalpers finding profit potential of 100% or more on retail prices. All they have to do is scoop up what used to be an reasonable supply before the general public can get it and re-price at 2 to 3 times retail to rake in profits. If everyone could practice some discipline and stop buying components from these assholes for a period of time, we might be able to break them.
43   WookieMan   2021 Apr 8, 6:05am  

zzyzzx says
I once knew someone that was really picky about the brand of toilet paper that they used.

Looking into bidets after these comments. But this is a huge beef for me. Shitty toilet paper is unacceptable. My wife tried to go cheap back in the day and I threw it out and told her never again... lol. Something like 20 rolls. Pun intended, but she grew up using shitty toilet paper. Has been on my side of the TP discussion since then.

Depending on length of stay, I'll sometimes bring a roll or two with to vacation rental homes/condos. Managers and owners are usually cheap with that. Like $200 extra a year is a big fucking deal at 50-60% annual occupancy? You have renters paying off your mortgage. Likely in a desirable area. Pony up some $$$ for that ass.

Hotels are hit or miss. The worst is when you get McDonalds type, single ply TP. My younger years of staying Motel 8 or Red Roof Inn or something that class are ova. Most I go to usually have cheap two-ply or nicer.

Lesson for the day or for your kids. Don't TP someones house with those commercial sized rolls. We did a friends house in high school and another of my friends damn near got knocked out. Took him to the ground. I'm not sure how the parents didn't hear those things slamming into the ground and wake them up.
44   zzyzzx   2021 Apr 8, 6:21am  

WookieMan says
But this is a huge beef for me. Shitty toilet paper is unacceptable.


I don't get it. You are just going to shit on it anyway.
45   WookieMan   2021 Apr 8, 6:40am  

zzyzzx says
WookieMan says
But this is a huge beef for me. Shitty toilet paper is unacceptable.


I don't get it. You are just going to shit on it anyway.

Texture. Ultimately I'll shower, but single ply smooth TP is just smearing shit around and pretending like it's working. I just feel way cleaner with nicer TP. Not sure how else to describe it. Or I use the shitty stuff and with a family of four we'd be burning through a roll a day.

That's the other part on the rentals and hotels. You'll churn through substantially more of the cheaper rolls. You'd likely end up with similar expenses. Might as well treat your guests well.

I took a dump at a friends house that we've known for about 4 years now. They had the cheapest of cheap TP. I called them out on it. They switched to nice 2-ply and have said they love it.

Give it a shot. You only live once. Might as well have a cleaner ass between showers. That smooth single ply ain't cleaning that area. Quilted Northern is my brand of choice. Wife will sometimes get Charmin though.

Also, double sized rolls can go fuck off. We have a house built in '63 with the wall inset type TP holder. Those don't fit until you're 1/5th the way through the roll. It's bull shit.
46   Patrick   2021 Apr 8, 9:22am  

WookieMan says
Ultimately I'll shower


If things get messy, a shower with one of those handles on a hose works well because you can point it directly at the right place, and the water is warm.

47   NuttBoxer   2021 Apr 8, 5:17pm  

Not sure if this was mentioned, but the shortages are due to commodities being worth more than the paper used to purchase them. As inflation continues, this will only get worse. It requires real work to get materials out of the ground, refine them, manufacture, ship, and sell. Printing paper takes none of that, and the disparity between the two will only increase.
48   just_passing_through   2021 Apr 8, 6:31pm  

zzyzzx says
WookieMan says
But this is a huge beef for me. Shitty toilet paper is unacceptable.


I don't get it. You are just going to shit on it anyway.


Me either. I get my ass clean with just about any TP but I guess I've never encountered 'smooth' TP. Sounds like one of my ex-gfs but she bitched that what I'd buy scratched her ass up.
49   just_passing_through   2021 Apr 8, 6:33pm  

I'm thinking about buying that LG OLED CX TV at costco this weekend. The 77 incher. No, I don't have room for it but I suspect prices are going to go way up.

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