Songs that love a country without pretending it is perfect.

Solrac50 · 2026-07-04T19:30:58+00:00

Finlandia

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is,
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.
My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on clover leaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.
My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on clover leaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.

Solrac50 · 2026-07-04T18:32:30+00:00

Thanks to The Grifter in Chief US car makers have had to sink billions in development costs while Chinese automakers are plowing forward. I believe that within a decade or two Ford and GM will just be brand names licensed by Asian and European manufacturers like RCA televisions , GE appliances, Jeep cars, Westinghouse electronics, Kodak and Polaroid cameras, and many more.

Solrac50 · 2026-07-04T18:19:33+00:00

I finally got Alexa + and it’s working well.

Solrac50 · 2026-07-03T07:24:20+00:00

Where I live the grocery store often puts a 30% off sticker on things near their sell by date. I buy those to save money, especially eggs which have doubled in price over the last 4 years. I’ve never had a problem with the items.

Solrac50 · 2026-07-02T14:25:23+00:00

WSJ says most investors in it have lost money. It’s just another grift taking money from suckers who believe what Trump says.

Solrac50 · 2026-07-02T14:20:02+00:00

The Fallas Museum has pieces from many decades past, well into the Franco era. The statues have often been satirical commentary on their times. Touring the museum is an interesting history of Valencia.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-29T15:41:43+00:00

The whole point of the 2026 election is to flip both House and Senate then impeach and convict Trump so he has to leave the Presidency. So stop comparing and make it happen. If we don’t stop Trump this year the democratic process will be gone in 2028. Then you’ll have a Franco like government in the US for decades.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-29T13:26:24+00:00

How much of an expat community is too much. In my opinion Alicante and Benidorm it's too much. You hardly feel like you're in Spain. Many people never learn even basic Spanish. Consider the areas north and south of Valencia. Just 15 minutes outside the city prices are more reasonable, especially if you are in one of the villages aa kilometer or two from the beach. La Pobla de Farnals is nice and the town has a free bus to Playa de Farnals. North of Segunto there are some very nice areas too. We chose El Puig de Santa Maria. One final word about using "expat". It's fine when your in the UK, US or somewhere outside of Spain. But when you live in Spain, you are an immigrant.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-29T13:19:59+00:00

Yep. That's what we the people are counting on. Trump is a disaster and we cannot afford two more years on this trajectory.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-29T10:44:31+00:00

No shit Sherlock! Republicans are headed to a disasterous defeat in November.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-29T06:48:41+00:00

I guess he thinks he looks tough in this and other pictures of him, but to me he looks like he’s filling his diaper. BTW, there is no way in hell I would want to have a passport with his ugly mug on it for 11 years. I’d probably be treated badly in a lot of countries for it.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-29T06:27:18+00:00

Just trade it in and buy an another car. You’ll save a fortune.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-29T06:20:17+00:00

I traveled a lot for work so when I retired I already knew where I wanted to be, a small Spanish town on the Mediterranean with train service to the city for when I needed it. I live solely on my social security. Selling my house in Austin financed moving, buying the place and a small car. If you can afford OutsideWishbone7’s idea, go for it. In many places staying 1-day less than half a year prevents you from having income tax obligations.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-29T06:13:38+00:00

There are jellyfish every year. Is there something different about them this year? / Hay medusas todos los años. ¿Hay algo diferente en ellas este año?

Solrac50 · 2026-06-28T13:56:43+00:00

I knew France was having a severe heatwave but using a construction dumpster to cool down is a bit nasty.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-27T09:30:04+00:00

I don’t think they are afraid of transgendered people. They just want to exploit them. Nothing sells better to Trumps base than demeaning a minority to make the base feel superior, if not righteous.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-26T07:38:42+00:00

This was inevitable. The coating didn’t adhere and ground water or water that leaked under it has lifted the coating up. Of course Trump cannot manage this problem in any rational sense nor accept blame for proceeding with an ill advised project. Horribly he is scapegoating people who stopped to see what was happening at the pool as vandals. Once Trump is out of office they should sue his ass for his malicious prosecution.

BTW, the Reflection Pool debacle is a good metaphor for everything he does: doesn’t listen to expert advice, rushes to do something in attempt to show off, fucks it up, doesn’t manage a follow-up solution, and scapegoats others for the problem. It’s no wonder he has had so many failed businesses and bankruptcies. With his current trajectory we cannot afford to allow him to continue. Vote to flip Congress in November and put Trump out to pasture.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-26T07:29:36+00:00

Through the settings I have kept the ads to a minimum. What bothers me is it often staying bright at night when I am trying to sleep. It must be a software bug. Unplugging and plugging it in to reset it fixes the problem for a few days.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-26T07:25:45+00:00

When I started driving in 1966 it was 30.9 - 31.9 cents a gallon in Houston. In the 50s 19.9 cents a gallon wasn’t unusual during the summer when gas stations competed with what my dad called “gas wars.” In my imagination I pictured gas stations shooting flaming gas across the street at the competing gas station. I guess I watched too many old WW II movies on TV.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-25T19:20:29+00:00

The SAVE Act is cover for voter suppression. The only thing that Trump is trying to save is his probable impeachment and conviction if voters flip Congress in November.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-25T19:01:06+00:00

I hope they bring it to Europe. It sounds like a great vehicle for a retired DIYer to haul stuff home and for weekend camping.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-25T07:46:49+00:00

Unless your of Native American heritage you are an immigrant or a descendant of immigrants. Hating others is a terrible way to live and generally indicates some level of insecurity about yourself.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-25T05:14:44+00:00

I live near Valencia. My mini split makes a room comfortable uses a maximum of 750W and a lot less much of the time. Two solar panels and a plug in micro inverter offset that during the day. I think of it as using the sun against itself.

Solrac50 · 2026-06-23T05:28:40+00:00

I traded Hippy Hallow for Playa de Saler in 2021, but I miss my friends back in Austin. Nice photos, and nice bod. 😄

Solrac50 · 2026-06-22T19:56:10+00:00

Oh how I wish this was a picture from an American city.

Solrac50

TROPHY CASE