• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

People are weird.

A norm that restrains only one side really is not a norm – it is a trap.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

I like political parties that aren’t owned by foreign adversaries.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

The real work of an opposition party is to hold the people in power accountable.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Afternoon Open Thread: Fish Tacos!

Afternoon Open Thread: Fish Tacos!

by Betty Cracker|  May 10, 201312:34 pm| 110 Comments

This post is in: Domestic Politics, Open Threads

FacebookTweetEmail

Here are some so-not-heart-healthy fish tacos for your consideration:

fish tacos

I made these last night, and they were delish.

In other news, my air-conditioning repair nightmare continues. After the electrician extracted $750+ out of my bank account to install a new box and otherwise bring the electrical thingie that serves our central A/C unit up to code, we still didn’t have cold air.

An A/C tech came out and examined it. Looks like we can take a gamble on a $300+ freon refill that may or may not solve the problem (but will definitely cost $300+) or spring for a new unit. Which costs about FIVE-FUCKING-THOUSAND-DOLLARS! We’re getting a second opinion.

Going without A/C in Florida during the summer isn’t really an option. Maybe I should just sell my fucking house and move.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « In weird coincidence, Rhee and ALEC turn in same answer on assignment
Next Post: Today in derp »

Reader Interactions

110Comments

  1. 1.

    Todd

    May 10, 2013 at 12:38 pm

    Hehehehehe…..

  2. 2.

    Tokyokie

    May 10, 2013 at 12:39 pm

    Although selling a house in Florida that doesn’t have working air conditioning is nigh impossible as well.

  3. 3.

    quannlace

    May 10, 2013 at 12:41 pm

    Sweet Jesus, Betty. It was a few years ago, but when I had to replace our outdoor unit it was more like $700. Are they offering you one embossed with gold leaf?
    If they can’t find any leakage, try the freon refill

  4. 4.

    HinTN

    May 10, 2013 at 12:42 pm

    $5K – no way. Second opinion good! Also too, how old is old unit?

  5. 5.

    ranchandsyrup

    May 10, 2013 at 12:42 pm

    My current favorite recipe is panko crusted beer battered fish tacos. Our family is in a panko phase right now. Those look lovely, Betty.

  6. 6.

    Suffern ACE

    May 10, 2013 at 12:43 pm

    Going without A/C in Florida during the summer isn’t really an option. Maybe I should just sell my fucking house and move.

    What you can do is find some friends with AC and go over one night for a few games of UNO and announce “This is fun, we should do it more often!” Then start going over every night and staying later and later until you just start sleeping on the couch. Perhaps they won’t notice you’ve moved in with them.

  7. 7.

    Bob, for example...

    May 10, 2013 at 12:43 pm

    Look hard at new unit efficiency. It may be worth it to pay something extra in order to end up with lower monthly electricity bills.

    (And using less electricity helps the entire world.)

  8. 8.

    Mandalay

    May 10, 2013 at 12:44 pm

    Here’s a great example of making things worse with a complete non-apology apology…

    A Cleveland news station, WEWS NewsChannel 5, was forced to apologize to its viewers on Thursday after they complained about the station’s untimely reporting of Ramsey’s arrest record.

    “TO OUR READERS & FOLLOWERS: We heard you. Wednesday night, we made a poor judgment call in posting a story about Charles Ramsey’s criminal record and how he’s since reformed. While the story was factually sound, the timing of it and publication of such information was not in good taste, and we regret it,” noted the station’s apology on its Facebook page.

    “Your comments prompted us to quickly remove the story from our website and Facebook page, but we know we can’t erase what we’ve already done. Ramsey is a hero for his actions, and we recognize that. Thank you so much for your feedback.”

    Scumbags.

  9. 9.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    You can’t get away from replacing the unit. House won’t sell if you don’t.

    We’re pricing a/c units and the quotes we’re getting start around $5K. I don’t know if units have become more expensive or what. They’ll also replace the attic part of it, so it’s not just the outside condenser.

  10. 10.

    Rosalita

    May 10, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    Having lived in Florida, I think everyone should have a back up a/c to their a/c. That price tag does seem awful high for a new unit. Definitely get more quotes.

    share your fish taco recipe?

  11. 11.

    Jennifer

    May 10, 2013 at 12:49 pm

    I feel ya. The ac compressor in my ancient 98 Mustang burned up in December; since the shop wanted $1000 to fix the ac system, I elected to have them install a dummy pulley for under $150 on the theory that “who knows if this car will even still be running when it gets hot again?” Well, it’s still running, and 3 weeks ago I spent around $275 replacing the ac system – a real bargain compared to what the shop wanted, but still. It hurts to put that much into a car with 200,000 miles.

  12. 12.

    Riley's Enabler

    May 10, 2013 at 12:49 pm

    Tis true Betty, if your unit is approaching 10 years of service, you’re probably looking at the BIG REPLACE. Last year the tech managed to give my system life for another year, but this year I’m looking at upwards of $8K to replace.

    Blargh.

  13. 13.

    Amir Khalid

    May 10, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    Funny. I live in the tropics, and home is the one place where I can’t stand air conditioning. I could just about put up with it at work, as long as I didn’t have polar bear colleagues who made it so cold I’d have to wear a sweater.

    Freon? Isn’t that the gas that actively destroys the ozone layer? I thought its use had long since been phased out by the air conditioning and refrigerator industries.

  14. 14.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    @Riley’s Enabler: Had a hot spell in March and had to turn on the a/c to get the house to cool down at night. Except it didn’t turn on. Called out the a/c guy the following morning and guess what–the a/c worked right away. Ugh.

    Unit was low on freon, so we topped up and think we might be able to eke out another year, but I’ve noticed it’s not cooling quite like it should, so not sure how July and August are going to go.

    The quotes we’ve gotten start at about $5K and go up from there. We’re probably looking at at least $8K, like you.

  15. 15.

    Trollhattan

    May 10, 2013 at 12:52 pm

    @Suffern ACE:
    To that I’d add a series of wine capsule sculptures from the wine you’ve brought over. Once they figure out it’s going to become a chess set that’ll be good for 32 nights, minimum.

    HVAC pricing and competence range vastly and do not necessarily correlate. When we had our system installed (after a record cold winter and a record hot summer in our new-to-us but very old house) the high bid was 2x the low bid and all but one bid wanted to plop a unit on our roof and run completely new ductwork, plus cut into plaster ceilings for new registers. Yeah, right. We picked the guy who’d work with our existing, under-house system and oh by the way, get rid of all the f*&$ing asbestos, too. His bid was right in the middle for much better equipment.

    At this point I know some contractors and would only get bids from companies they recommend. We’re going on two decades with our current system so I expect to be plowing down this path in the next year or three. They’re much more efficient now.

  16. 16.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    @Amir Khalid: I lived in the tropics without a/c for awhile. There were some days that were rough, but you pretty much get used to it. When I came back to the US and had to live in a/c I was always freezing. Kept getting out jackets to wear in June.

    My theory is that the body adjusts to living without a/c if you simply don’t have it around. We’ve got it so much in our modern lives that being without it seems brutal. But if you live without it all the time, it’s not all that bad.

  17. 17.

    Suffern ACE

    May 10, 2013 at 12:54 pm

    @Amir Khalid: Freon is like “Kleenex”. It’s now basically the name for whatever coolant goes into the AC.

  18. 18.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    May 10, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    @Violet: I had to replace both the inside and outside units. The one I got, a 15 seer system, cost $6800. Because I got a 15 seer, I got a tax break this year.

  19. 19.

    Yatsuno

    May 10, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    @Amir Khalid: “Freon” tends to be the throwaway term for the liquid coolant. Freon isn’t widely available in the US anymore except for certain industrial applications. Plus it sounds cool.

  20. 20.

    PsiFighter37

    May 10, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    BJ meetup in LA tonight @ 7:30 PM, Golden Road Brewery. Be there or be square.

    I’ll be eating jeans and a gray “I am not drunk, I’m awesome” t-shirt. I’m also relatively short, so look for the guy who is shorter than average height.

  21. 21.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): A tax break next year? Does it have to be installed this year to get it (2013), is that what you mean?

  22. 22.

    Trollhattan

    May 10, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Wanted to add a few years ago the furnace controller brains went kaput and as the furnace maker doesn’t technically exist (just the brand name now) I thought we were on the hook for buying a new furnace. Turned out the installer could get a universal controller that can be programmed to emulate the OEM part, so a couple hundred bucks got us up and running like new. Whew!

  23. 23.

    Brother Machine Gun of Desirable Mindfulness (fka AWS)

    May 10, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    @Riley’s Enabler:

    if your unit is approaching 10 years of service, you’re probably looking at the BIG REPLACE.

    Wow, planned obsolescence really has gone downhill. Seem to recall my parents’ unit lasting about 20.

  24. 24.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    @PsiFighter37: You’ll be eating jeans? I hope there’s video!

  25. 25.

    Emma

    May 10, 2013 at 12:58 pm

    We went through this a few years ago and were able to get a new unit for less than that, but I’m not surprised that’s the price now. Maintenance is performed as required, let me tell you!

  26. 26.

    burnspbesq

    May 10, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    The song of the day?

    http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=MMXgSFmDPos&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMMXgSFmDPos

  27. 27.

    kc

    May 10, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    5 K, yeah. I paid that a few years ago for a new unit; of course, it also included all new ductwork that I really needed. When the guy finished the job he told me that he had underbid it. Lucky for me. That was when you could get a tax credit for installing an energy efficient unit, which was pretty helpful.

    Anyhoo, Betty, my local utility company offers interest free loans to customers to replace old units with energy efficient ones. Maybe yours has a similar program?

  28. 28.

    scav

    May 10, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    @Violet: Why does all the really exciting stuff happen so tantalizingly far from Chicago?

  29. 29.

    Trollhattan

    May 10, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    @Yatsuno:

    Yeah, Freon is a DuPont brand name. Cars migrated from R12 to R134a; homes currently use R22, which is being phased out for R410a. R22 production will cease in 2020–look for it to become the next 100W light bulb in wingnut hordes.

  30. 30.

    quannlace

    May 10, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    ’ll be eating jeans and a gray “I am not drunk, I’m awesome” t-shirt.

    Jeez, that place must have a real weird menu.

  31. 31.

    PsiFighter37

    May 10, 2013 at 1:03 pm

    @Violet: Guess the hungover hasn’t totally worn off yet. I will be wearing the aforementioned items of clothing

  32. 32.

    low-tech cyclist

    May 10, 2013 at 1:04 pm

    What smells like a fish, and looks like a taco?

    FISH TACOS!!

  33. 33.

    Jacquie

    May 10, 2013 at 1:04 pm

    I just found out two days ago that I am in the market for a new apartment, though not of my own volition. My landlords are redoing the house and they’re kicking me, the boyfriend, and our kiddos out after four and a half happy years there. I’m still kind of in shock absorbing the news and frantically trying to find a new place. If anyone has any helpful hints on finding a rental that allows big, friendly dogs, or knows of a place in the Rochester area, please pass it on.

  34. 34.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    May 10, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    @Violet: I got mine installed on Dec 28th, so I was able to get a tax break on my taxes filed last month. Also, if you can, wait until the end of the year. Just like a auto dealership, the A/C companies want to get rid of old product: We got like $1000 off, no charge for the installation, and no interest financing for three years.

    ETA: The tax break was because it was energy efficient. 15 seer was the minimum last year for getting the tax break.

  35. 35.

    burnspbesq

    May 10, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    When I went to get cash this morning, the ATM wished me a happy birthday.

    Data mining is out of control.

    ETA: it’s actually not until Tuesday.

  36. 36.

    MikeInSewickley

    May 10, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    Betty,

    Prepare for the $5000. Two years ago my A/C went. Found out the compressor actually had a rust through so refill was not an option.

    If I wanted to replace just the compressor and keep 20 year old parts in the furnace, it was a minimum of $2500. Tech said this is deliberate. They cannot get any used and few replacement parts for this kind of thing. Manufacturers do it deliberately.

    So we inspected the furnace and realized that the whole system should be replaced.

    $8500 but got high efficiency 95% furnace, hi eff A/C, got a $1000 rebate check from the state of Pennsylvania, another from the feds for $1000 and $8500 tax writeoff. Gas use the last two winters are at least 1/3 less.

    All that stuff was from the stimulus package everyone says didn’t work. Tech said they couldn’t keep up with all the replacement work as people scrambled to get the rebates.

    But… most of those ended.

    Check into your state and what the feds permit. Even if it is $10K, the rebates and such might get you more than $1K back.

    Sorry for the long post but I wanted to let you know some folks have been there.

  37. 37.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    @Jacquie: I’m so sorry. The same kind of thing happened to me several years ago. Are you looking for something short term or are you looking for another long term deal? Long term, see if you can find a small house to rent. You might be able to negotiate some sort of deposit for the dogs that a larger apartment complex might not allow. Short term is more difficult, judging from my own experience.

  38. 38.

    quannlace

    May 10, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    When I went to get cash this morning, the ATM wished me a happy birthday.

    Hey, she’s-a my birthday too!

    oops. missed your update that it’s really Tuesday.

    There’s a problem with my ATM card or I’d try it too.

  39. 39.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): I’m really, really hoping we can do the same thing–delay the installation until the end of the year. I figured they’d offer some kind of deal if we got it installed then as their business has probably slowed down.

    I live in a warm climate where a/c is essential during the summer. I truly hope our unit can hang on. We’re talking about topping up the freon in July just to help it out. I will look into the tax break info. We definitely want to go with an energy-efficient unit, as the one we have is old (so not efficient), plus it’s a low end unit as all the maintenance guys tell me when they show up to do the annual maintenance.

  40. 40.

    Bil

    May 10, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    Lived for 30 years in Florida without A /C. Once you live without it you’ll never go back.
    Open the windows to the world.

  41. 41.

    Trollhattan

    May 10, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    Your coment got me curious and I checked the Lennox site–they now have a 21.2 SEER unit! Holy moly, that’s amazing–IIRC ours is somewhere in the 14 range, which was tops at a time most were 8 or 9.

  42. 42.

    boatboy_srq

    May 10, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    @quannlace: Welcome to commodity pricing in Florida. Anything worth having there seems to be worth paying a lot more than you would in other places.

    If you think the HVAC is expensive, try doing the math over drilling a new well ($20K for a crapshoot whether you strike potable water) versus dealing with salt intrusion into what you have.

  43. 43.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    May 10, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    @Violet: We were kind of in the same boat last summer. I’m in Texas, so I understand the not having A/C. We paid to have the freon refilled and a little bit of maintenance, and then held on to the end of the year.

  44. 44.

    Another Halocene Human

    May 10, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    $5K central air? Whattajoke.

    And this, ladies and germs, is why A/C exterior units get stolen in Florida faster than an unlocked bike* in New York.

    *-assuming said bike is not a brakeless fixie** left in a less-than-hipst ‘hood where kids aim to steal bikes they can actually ride instead of boneshaking deathtraps for trust fund kiddiez with gold plated private insurance.

    **-I saw one of these go unsecured and unstolen for a week in an area where thick chains were being cut to steal conventional hybrid bikes on a daily basis

  45. 45.

    quannlace

    May 10, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    drilling a new well ($20K for a crapshoot whether you strike potable water) versus dealing with salt intrusion into what you have.

    Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.

  46. 46.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    @Another Halocene Human: Most of the a/c units are stolen for their copper wiring. That’s where the resale value is.

  47. 47.

    Jacquie

    May 10, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    @Violet: Thanks for the advice. We are looking for long-term, and hoping to get a small house or duplex if possible; the hoops that the complexes want you to jump through to have pets are a little ridiculous. Luckily we actually have a small emergency fund saved up, so security deposits and whatnot aren’t such a problem right now. The biggest crisis is finding something in the timeframe allotted, I think.

  48. 48.

    Soonergrunt

    May 10, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    @Amir Khalid: Yeah, it is. But if the system was produced before the ban went into effect, they can still put freon into it. That’s usually the law in the US, anyway.
    In the long run, it may be cheaper for her to get a new system if it’s old enough to still use freon.

    BTW–I have never heard back from you, Sir, in regards to the email I sent you?

  49. 49.

    Another Halocene Human

    May 10, 2013 at 1:21 pm

    @Bil: You need an old school, Georgian or dogtrot with a high roof, for that. And a big fan.

    (I suspect the people who built the shotguns pretty much were outside the house working all day (and they cooked outdoors, too), so they didn’t have to endure heat inside the house.)

    Giant old growth shade trees also don’t hurt.

    If I had my druthers I would build a concrete version of a dogtrot. The Calusa cooked outside. They weren’t stupid. But I’d probably have an A/C unit appropriate to a small space and cook inside a lot anyway. Microwaves don’t put off much heat, and there is such a thing as cold meals.

    The problem is that our culture don’t accommodate the late afternoon slowdown. It gets really, really hot and humid, then rains like the dickens, then gets really hot and even humider. It’s not like I haven’t been able to work outside in such conditions (with the assistance of ice, okay?) but indoor activities, ugh.

  50. 50.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    May 10, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    Just clicked through al Foxeera on my TV. Chyron screamer “Film maker Benghazi Patsy?”

  51. 51.

    J.W. Hamner

    May 10, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    Mmmmm fish tacos. Makes me miss San Diego.

  52. 52.

    The Moar You Know

    May 10, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    Is that Fiestaware? Haven’t seen them do that color before.

  53. 53.

    Redshirt

    May 10, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    A geothermal system will provide natural cooling and heat if you should ever need it. Plus there’s a 30% Federal tax rebate. FL might have state rebates as well.

  54. 54.

    Soonergrunt

    May 10, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    @Trollhattan: R410a is what they put in the new 4 ton SEER 14 AC unit for my new house.

  55. 55.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): I started doing some research into units in March, but then life got busy (and I got a nasty virus that took me out of commission for a few weeks) and it kind of fell by the wayside. Any tips for looking for a good unit? It seems really confusing and the a/c guys all seem to have a different opinion on what brand of unit is good and so forth.

    I figured I’d talk to a variety of companies and see if I can try to get a handle on what brands are dependable and which ones are just resting on their name. Also, we’d like to go with one of those two-speed units because they run on a lower frequency during the not-so-hot times of year. We’ve got a lot of those and apparently they save a lot of energy usage. However, a few years ago when we looked into them, they didn’t qualify for the tax rebate. The a/c guy was just shaking his head about that.

  56. 56.

    Betty Cracker

    May 10, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    Thanks for the info and commiseration, guys. Looks like we’re going to need a new unit, but I can get a better deal than the $5K originally quoted and am eligible for some rebates / tax credits. It’ll probably end up being between $3 and $4 large, which really sucks big green gators but is better than $5K.

    RE: Fish tacos, I don’t have an actual recipe: It’s just beer-battered fillets with pico de gallo, shredded cabbage and a special sauce on corn tortillas (which I bake in the oven to lightly brown).

    For the ones pictured above, I made my own pico de gallo since hubby’s garden is producing tomatoes and peppers like there’s no tomorrow. My recipe for the pico de gallo is nothing special; you can find a better one online I’m sure.

    The sauce is what makes it so good. To make that, I use equal parts mayo and Greek yogurt and add a couple of spoonfuls of adobo sauce from canned ancho peppers plus cayenne, cumin, paprika, dill, chili powder, salt and pepper.

  57. 57.

    schrodinger's cat

    May 10, 2013 at 1:28 pm

    Recipe please!

  58. 58.

    Betty Cracker

    May 10, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    @The Moar You Know: Yep. They were making it when I got married 16 years ago and got it for a wedding present (lots of different colors, of which that is just one example). I love Fiesta.

  59. 59.

    donnah

    May 10, 2013 at 1:30 pm

    Our furnace stopped cold (pun intended) during the winter months. The tech said the furnace/central air unit is shot and it’s so old they would have trouble finding replacement parts if they could even make it work. They did replace part of the motor and clean the filters and it chugged along with some warm air. The quote to replace the entire furnace/air con was $6500. gulp.

    So soon we’ll be facing hot weather and we’ll need the A/C. As a woman in the throes of menopause, I MUST HAVE AC!

    So, we’ll see what happens. Home repairs suck!

  60. 60.

    askew

    May 10, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    So, it looks like Joe Biden is going to run for President:

    My takeaway from my one-hour White House interview with Joe Biden is that he must be considering a presidential run. There will be too much Obama-era unfinished business – implementing the Affordable Care Act, fighting for climate-change initiatives, for example – for Biden to throw in the towel. His strengths as a candidate are his blue-collar persona, family values, lifetime support of labor unions and farmers, foreign-policy expertise and stouthearted belief that the Obama administration’s record of accomplishment – from the economic recovery to the killing of Osama bin Laden – has been historic. With Air Force Two at his disposal and his two superbright sons, Hunter and Beau, probably working as his chief advisers, Biden can give Hillary Clinton a run for her money. Although she will have an unquestioned advantage among women, it’s not inconceivable to think that labor unions, environmentalists, African-Americans, LGBT voters and small-business owners will prefer the hypercaffeinated, hard-charging vice president. Like Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a presumed Republican candidate, Biden has learned to turn the sound-bite culture on its head by speaking from the gut. Though he’s been a major political player since the Nixon years, Biden has pulled off the trick of not seeming like politics-as-usual. It could be a mistake to underestimate his populist appeal. And it’s hard to imagine that this highly ambitious man will choose not to pursue the office he’s wanted all his life.

    Apparently he hasn’t been told “It’s Hillary’s turn” yet. I’d love to see him run just so we get a competitive primary. I am getting sick of Clintonites acting like the Clintons own the party.

  61. 61.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    May 10, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    @Violet: We went with the company who has been taking care of our A/C for the past few years. The person they sent looked at our house, and then picked the units that would work best, but he gave us a low, medium, and high system. The $6800 was the low end of the three. The best unit, which was over 20 seer, was about $12K.

    If you have time, I would suggest getting two or three different companies to do this assessment. That’ll give you a better feel for what a good price is.

  62. 62.

    HelloRochester

    May 10, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    Any time someone I know tells me they’re moving to Florida I say “You’ll have time to enjoy Florida’s weather when you’re rotting in Hell”

  63. 63.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    May 10, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    @askew: I haven’t gotten the impression that Democrats are the “It’s ______’s turn” types. Otherwise we’d be talking about Republican obstruction of Clinton’s second term.

  64. 64.

    scuffletuffle

    May 10, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    Send me some fish tacos and I’ll send you some money toward the AC!

  65. 65.

    Matt McIrvin

    May 10, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    @Trollhattan: In Snow Crash Neal Stephenson imagined that genuine Freon would end up being traded like a street drug, nicknamed “Chill.” That doesn’t seem to have happened yet.

  66. 66.

    askew

    May 10, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    @askew: I haven’t gotten the impression that Democrats are the “It’s ______’s turn” types. Otherwise we’d be talking about Republican obstruction of Clinton’s second term.

    I don’t think Democratic voters are, but the Democratic party elites, liberal bloggers/activists and media sure seem to be. They have already handed Clinton the nomination. Apparently, we’re just supposed to accept she’s inevitable I guess.

  67. 67.

    Betty Cracker

    May 10, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    @HelloRochester: LOL! I’ll have to remember that one! But the truth is that we only have three months of lousy weather — summer. The rest of the year is nice, which is a better ratio than most places. Unless there’s a hurricane, of course…

  68. 68.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    May 10, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    @askew: Just like 2008.

  69. 69.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Yum! That sauce sounds awesome. I’m going to remember that.

  70. 70.

    schrodinger's cat

    May 10, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Be careful though, some the older ones are radioactive. I used to do a demo with an orange one, that used to set off the Geiger counter like crazy.

  71. 71.

    schrodinger's cat

    May 10, 2013 at 1:41 pm

    @HelloRochester: I thought hell is a cold cold place.

  72. 72.

    askew

    May 10, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    Definitely. It’s just bizarre to see everyone repeat the same nonsense like 2008 never happened especially when we have a popular VP who can run as well.

  73. 73.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    @askew: Well, they handed her the nomination in 2008 too, so….

  74. 74.

    Riley's Enabler

    May 10, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    Thanks to everyone who posted about finding deals/rebates/etc. through the utility companies. I hadn’t thought of that and will investigate.

    And yeah, 10 years is about the range in Texas now as far as life of the HVAC systems. Sometimes you can squeeze a couple more out, but buyers will immediately throw fits when looking at the house. 10 years.

    BLARGH and double blargh.

  75. 75.

    Chyron HR

    May 10, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    It’s not that bad yet. At least it didn’t say, “Happy goddamned birthday, you reprehensible fuck.”

  76. 76.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    May 10, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    @askew: Lots of people like to think they know what will happen, and somewhat try to make it happen. Right now, Clinton’s numbers look really good compared to any Republican; not too many other Democrats can say that. But we’ve got a few years, and we’re Democrats, so herding us is not really an option.

    Your statement brings up an interesting point: How much of the problems that Obama is having with Congress relates to the establishment candidate not winning?

  77. 77.

    Trollhattan

    May 10, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    @Soonergrunt:

    Good, that’ll keep you in the driver’s seat when R22 is phased out in 2020.

    I think systems last longer here in the west because we don’t have the humidity. Even though my AC and furnace drain condensation into a collection sump, it’s a trickle compared to what I’ve seen in the midwest and east. When it hits 105 the humidity is usually under 20 (and if it’s windy is, like, 5–at which point we’re walking people jerky).

  78. 78.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Same where I live. June, July, August can be brutal, but the rest of the year is nice. We can have hot days in December and cold days in May (almost froze last weekend!) but overall it’s not that bad.

    For people that are used to being outside in summer, it’s an adjustment. Summer is for hunkering down, drawing the shades, turning on the a/c and generally staying inside. Fall, Winter and Spring are for being outside, seeing your neighbors and generally enjoying the weather.

  79. 79.

    JWL

    May 10, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    For what it’s worth: my uncle was forced to replace his air conditioner 5 or 6 years ago, and the new unit proved to be an incredible improvement over the old. The technology of AC’s had advanced so much that the older unit was more akin to a block of ice placed in front of a fan. Naturally, he didn’t like shelling out the dough either, but he certainly got a fair return in terms of comfort and significantly reduced power bills.

  80. 80.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): Thanks for the tips. Would you suggest getting bids at this time of year or waiting until fall? I’m torn because I’d like to have the info in case the unit conks out. On the other hand, I think bid could be lower if we wait.

  81. 81.

    askew

    May 10, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    Your statement brings up an interesting point: How much of the problems that Obama is having with Congress relates to the establishment candidate not winning?

    I think a big part of the problem with GOP Senators comes from them not respecting that upstart Obama. However, the political environment would be so different if Clinton was president instead that it’s hard to tell. Healthcare would not have passed IMO with Clinton at the helm, which means we probably wouldn’t have gotten the rise of the tea party. Of course, McCain could have easily beaten Hillary and we’d be talking about Pres. McCain right now.

  82. 82.

    The Moar You Know

    May 10, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    In Snow Crash Neal Stephenson imagined that genuine Freon would end up being traded like a street drug, nicknamed “Chill.” That doesn’t seem to have happened yet.

    @Matt McIrvin: Huge underground market in SoCal for it. Smugglers, dealers, resalers. Uses:

    1. Air conditioning for older cars.
    2. Production of high-quality meth.

    It’s not “street drug” level of shadiness yet but it’ll be there in another couple of years.

  83. 83.

    Trollhattan

    May 10, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    @Chyron HR:

    Pretty sure that’s what they do in “Idiocracy.”

    “Carl’s Jr. Fuck you! I’m eating.”

  84. 84.

    rikyrah

    May 10, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    I don’t like fish well enough to put it in a taco

  85. 85.

    SatanicPanic

    May 10, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    @Amir Khalid: totally agree. In the desert you get used to dry air everywhere you go, but going from humid tropical air to dried out A/C air just feels awful.

  86. 86.

    The Moar You Know

    May 10, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    @askew: Hope it’s true. I’m not voting for Hillary Clinton. Period. I want someone who’s willing to shake things up. Obama could never be that person for a lot of reasons – all of which I get. First black guy in the office doesn’t get to be a revolutionary, because that means there will be no more black guys in office and possibly a bunch of dead black guys in the bargain.

    Clinton isn’t that person either. And the continuing lack of an apology for her Iraq war vote is pissing me off.

  87. 87.

    Yatsuno

    May 10, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    @Todd: @Betty Cracker: Pico de gallo is a very simple relish of onions, tomatoes, and peppers. I add garlic, cilantro, and lime juice to mine. Very easy to make and delicious!

  88. 88.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    May 10, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    @Violet: It depends on how bad your unit really is. Mine was 12 years old when I finally replaced it. During the last two years, when the guy would come out to work on it, he would show me something that really showed how bad it was getting. In July of last year, when the capacitor blew on it, he showed me the black oil leaking, very slowly, out of the cooling line. “That’s not supposed to be there.” He told me it would probably last about one more year.

    If you’ve got a reputable A/C tech, ask him how long he thinks it will last. Tell him you hope to keep it running until you have the money for a new one.

  89. 89.

    Rosalita

    May 10, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    The sauce is what makes it so good. To make that, I use equal parts mayo and Greek yogurt and add a couple of spoonfuls of adobo sauce from canned ancho peppers plus cayenne, cumin, paprika, dill, chili powder, salt and pepper.

    I knew that was key – thank you! A friend of mine spiked her sauce with some tequila.

  90. 90.

    MikeJ

    May 10, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    @rikyrah: You might like it better in taco form. Everything is better in a taco.

    I often throw some mango and even a few black beans in. Use a bigger tortilla and make fish burritos.

  91. 91.

    Ric

    May 10, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Maybe?

    The fuck you want to live in a hellhole like Florida for?

  92. 92.

    MikeJ

    May 10, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    I’m not voting for Hillary Clinton.

    President Santorum thanks you. He certainly will shake some things up!

  93. 93.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): Did that in March when the unit wouldn’t start. Of course it started just fine the next day when the tech showed up. But during the annual inspection they’ve been telling us it’s on its last legs. That’s why we want to top up the freon in July to hopefully make it easier on the unit so it will run better. I’m just not feeling confident well make it that far.

  94. 94.

    ranchandsyrup

    May 10, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    @rikyrah: A good fish taco is not “fishy”. Lots o’ breading (i do 2 layers–one beer batter and one panko). Good fish quality is always key.

  95. 95.

    SatanicPanic

    May 10, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    @MikeJ:

    Everything is better in a taco.

    Okra tacos?

  96. 96.

    Mnemosyne

    May 10, 2013 at 2:15 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Interest rates are stupid low right now, so it may be worth it to finance it. Did I remember to tell you that my credit union is offering a 1.75% rate on auto loans?!?

  97. 97.

    Mnemosyne

    May 10, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    It’s not “street drug” level of shadiness yet but it’ll be there in another couple of years.

    I’m pretty sure it’s already at that shadiness level if they’re using it for meth production. Just sayin’.

  98. 98.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    May 10, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    @Violet: All I can tell you is that they have to come to your house to do an assessment. You’re not going to get information out of them until that time. I think you’re answering your own question, though: If you’re truly worried that it won’t make it though the summer, then you should probably start looking. I’m not going to claim to be a mechanic, especially one who makes diagnoses via blog posts.

  99. 99.

    MikeJ

    May 10, 2013 at 2:18 pm

    @SatanicPanic: If you like okra, it would be better in a taco. If you only marginally accept okra, it will be better on a taco. If you hate okra, it will be better on a taco, but perhaps not enough better to make you like it.

    Rikyrah doesn’t like fish that much, so there’s some acceptance of it.

    @ranchandsyrup: I don’t do breading on my tacos. I give them a quick marinade (anything longer than 10 minutes and the acid starts to cook the fish) and grill it. I know its less traditional than the yummy beer batter, but it’s pretty damned tasty on its own.

  100. 100.

    Suffern ACE

    May 10, 2013 at 2:18 pm

    @The Moar You Know: What I don’t get is why they’re running with the “She’s unbeatable and inevitable” again. Yeah, she’s a formidable candidate who will clear the field of folks like Cuomo and she’ll be able to spend four years fundrasing (and blocking funds from anyone else). But there were lots of primary voters in 2008 turned off by the “Coronation”. Yes, she got lots of votes, too, but in the end, not enough.

    I also understand that it would be difficult for her to run as the underdog making the uphill climb. But still…

    If she runs, I’d vote for her ahead of a lot of potential candidates in the primary. But right now I don’t have a lot of options. I’m not sold on Biden either. I had the opportunity to vote for Biden a twice in presidential primaries and haven’t.

  101. 101.

    Trollhattan

    May 10, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    @MikeJ:

    Mister Rih, he’s a peach.

    Hillary redeemed herself in my eyes with her stint at State. She’s still far from ideal but I find her to be a solid decision maker and certainly “tough enough” on the world stage.

    Both her and Biden’s ages are an issue looking toward ’16. The campaign grind and voter perception have to be considered. But I don’t know who the Dem rising stars might be, either, so I’ll be surprised if both don’t toss their hat into the ring.

    Crap, I don’t even want to think about 2016.

  102. 102.

    SatanicPanic

    May 10, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    @MikeJ: I’m just joking, yesterday we had a long discussion of Okra on some thread that had nothing to do with Okra. Balloon Juice at its finest.

  103. 103.

    ranchandsyrup

    May 10, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    @MikeJ: If I had my druthers, I’d let the acid do the work like you do. But the family demands double breading, consarnit.

  104. 104.

    bin Lurkin'

    May 10, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    Two words, window units.

    You can get a pretty decent window unit for a couple of hundred dollars and a big one for four or five, I put one smallish and one medium one in my last home (1100 sq ft living space) when the central AC crapped out and actually kept the place cooler than with the central unit. The electric bill dropped moderately and sleeping at night was much better with just a small unit going in the bedroom, I like it cool at night when I sleep but hated cooling the whole house that much.

    By keeping the ceiling fans in every room going and the interior doors open we managed to circulate the cool air through the house pretty well.

    If you check out the reviews of central AC units on Amazon you’ll find they all get miserable ratings, very few satisfied customers evidently.

  105. 105.

    Violet

    May 10, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): Yeah, I know. Thanks for your input. I guess I was partly thinking out loud. I’m going to start getting companies out to the house to get bids. Hopefully we can hold off on installation until after the worst of the summer heat. I hope the unit can hold on that long.

  106. 106.

    Steeplejack

    May 10, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    @Violet:

    Just looked on Weather.com to check my suspicions, and the weather in Kuala Lumpur is much more “even” than in most of the United States: highs around 90° and lows in the lower 70s all year round. That’s got to be an easier environment to design for—and to acclimate to—than somewhere with highs approaching 100° in the summer and in the low 40s in the winter. “Air conditioning” is very different in those two climates.

  107. 107.

    askew

    May 10, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    Clinton isn’t that person either. And the continuing lack of an apology for her Iraq war vote is pissing me off.

    Yeah, that’s infuriating. We are all supposed to just get over it.

  108. 108.

    burnspbesq

    May 10, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    @Trollhattan:

    If her awesome rant during the hearing on the Air Force sexual assault thing didn’t get you revved up about Gillibrand, you may not be capable of getting revved up.

  109. 109.

    low-tech cyclist

    May 10, 2013 at 8:35 pm

    @askew:

    I don’t think Democratic voters are, but the Democratic party elites, liberal bloggers/activists and media sure seem to be.

    It’s even worse further down.

    Right now, when Virginia Dems could use a really good gubernatorial candidate to oppose Crazy Ken Cuccinelli, the Dem elites, in an act that can only be described as gross political malpractice, foisted that faceless, soulless hack Terry McAuliffe on us as our nominee, and scared away any other potential contenders.

    If he manages to lose to Crazy Ken – and there’s a good chance of it – both he and the weasels who cleared his path to the nomination should be kicked out of the party, and given a few good kicks in the crotch to boot.

  110. 110.

    Bg

    May 11, 2013 at 9:27 am

    We are going thru this too a bit farther south but the guy wanted $400 for freon plus $79 service fee just for showing up
    And I agree. Going w/o a/c in Fla in summer is not an option

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Image by HinTN (5/22/25)

Recent Comments

  • Gloria DryGarden on War for Ukraine Day 1,183: A Quick Thursday Night Update (May 23, 2025 @ 4:01am)
  • Gloria DryGarden on Thursday Evening Open Thread (May 23, 2025 @ 3:55am)
  • Gloria DryGarden on Thursday Evening Open Thread (May 23, 2025 @ 3:51am)
  • Jay on War for Ukraine Day 1,183: A Quick Thursday Night Update (May 23, 2025 @ 3:27am)
  • Jay on Thursday Evening Open Thread (May 23, 2025 @ 3:15am)

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
War in Ukraine
Donate to Razom for Ukraine

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Meetups

Upcoming Ohio Meetup May 17
5/11 Post about the May 17 Ohio Meetup

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Hands Off! – Denver, San Diego & Austin

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!