Two Grumpy Vets and a Duuude

Rich is up to his ankles in floodwater, The Duuude just dropped $900 on a new phone he barely understands, and the Duuude's earbuds are staging a full rebellion. This week's rabbit hole starts with relentless Gulf Coast rain and a possible "Super El Nino," then spirals into a Samsung S26 nightmare, a TRICARE billing fight, a taco night gone sideways, and a brand-new flip phone wearing the Commodore name. Somewhere in there: water drop photography, ugly Cybertrucks parked next to a mint 1970s Pacer, Uber's new bus business, a website with a name you shouldn't say out loud at work, and a phone that survived getting run over twice. Buckle up.On this episode:Rain, flooding, and Gulf storm falloutA costly new phone and tech frustrationsTRICARE bills, VA care, and colonoscopy storiesPaychecks, insurance costs, and feeling "hood rich"Taco seasoning fails and grocery store debatesVoice royalties, cigarettes, and phone choicesAndroid versus iPhone, and retro phone nostalgia (hello, Commodore)Uber buses, Cybertrucks, and classic ugly carsWater drop photography and turning art into printsPodcast ideas, OnlyFans jokes, and internet absurdityCurrent events, hot takes, and a Reddit ban storyElon Musk, SpaceX stock, crypto, and market talkWrap-up: value for value, and a phone that survived two tire tracksLinks & Resources Mentioned: Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone -- commodore.net/callback Rasterbator (turn any image into a giant wall poster) -- rasterbator.net Modern Podcasting 2.0 apps directory -- podcastapps.com TrueFans -- truefans.fm Podverse -- podverse.fm Podcast Guru -- podcastguru.ioEmail Us: Rich -- rchelson@gmail.com Bryan -- circlecast@gmail.com If you are struggling with life please reach out to The Suicide Life Line - Dial 988 The world needs you here. Email Us:Rich-- mailto://rchelson@gmail.comBryan -- mailto://circlecast@gmail.comIf you are struggling with life please reach out to The Suicide Life Line - Dial 988The world needs you here. 

In this week’s Two Grumpy Vets and a Duuude, we settle in for a wide‑ranging catch‑up that feels like a late‑night porch talk. We open with last week’s tech gremlins and a mid‑show “rapture,” then roll into work shifts, weather, and the real cost of days off. From there, we get into practical life stuff: commissary vs. club memberships, budgeting and grocery hacks, and a spirited tangent on vacation hours and planning. A big chunk dives into dogs, structure, and training—why consistent rules help our four‑legged best friends thrive—plus how life changes (and gets better) with a canine companion. We bounce to AI and everyday tinkering: local vs. cloud models, how to coax better answers, Linux quirks, scripts and desktop tickers, and a quick crypto/markets check. We also swap takes on current headlines, winter sports tech (drones chasing skiers and sleds), and car/jeep tire choices headed into Moab. We wrap with a value‑for‑value reminder, how to participate live, and an open invite to email us with thoughts, questions, or chapter art.  Resources and mentions (non-sponsored): - Podcasting 2.0 apps (live notifications/chapters): podcastapps.com - Archive utility for paywalled articles: archive.ph - OpenRouter (AI model router): openrouter.ai - CQ WW DX Contest (ham radio): cqww.com - Commissary and base access tips for savings - Dog training principle: consistency, simple commands, and shared structure.Email Us:Rich -- mailto://rchelson@gmail.comBryan -- mailto://circlecast@gmail.com Email Us:Rich-- mailto://rchelson@gmail.comBryan -- mailto://circlecast@gmail.comIf you are struggling with life please reach out to The Suicide Life Line - Dial 988The world needs you here. 

In this week’s Two Grumpy Vets and a Duuude, we kick things off battling cold weather and tech gremlins, then settle into a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation the way only old friends can. We swap CPAP upgrades and sleep-apnea war stories, debate movie nostalgia versus modern CGI, and pitch a monthly classic-film chat (yes, even A Christmas Carol). From there, we dive into cultural shifts, personal finance discipline, and why brewing coffee at home beats $7 sugar-bomb lattes. We chew on free speech, accountability for public officials, AI bias, and the value of being discerning with tech and news. We also detour through trucking economics, rugged individualism vs. collective action, immigration nuance, and why fewer ads and more listener-driven value keeps this show authentic. We wrap with job-site freeze-ups, sand-trailer shop talk, and the Dude’s timeless tip of the day: if it’s cold, wear a jacket and shoes.As always, we’re ad-free and value-for-value. If you got something from the show, share it, send feedback, help with chapters or art, or support the hosting bills. Email: circlecast@gmail.com (Bryan) or rchelson@gmail.com (Rich). Email Us:Rich-- mailto://rchelson@gmail.comBryan -- mailto://circlecast@gmail.comIf you are struggling with life please reach out to The Suicide Life Line - Dial 988The world needs you here. 

This week on Two Grumpy Vets and a Duuude, we kick things off with some classic tech gremlins, button-mashing banter, and a lively dive into Linux setups, podcast rigs, and the eternal Zoom-is-weird struggle. From there, we roam through rising grocery costs, beef buying strategies, and the realities of food and fuel—from E85 to biodiesel and why regulations make ranching harder than it has to be. We also get tactical with a spirited discussion on evolving small-arms calibers, body armor, AK vs. AR history, and a few sea/airpower detours (CWIS and A-10 fans, you’ll smile). We round it out with autonomous trucks, nuclear power for AI data centers, mother-in-law mercy, ham radio contests (voice, RTTY, and a nod to CW), Morse code woes, keyboards that won’t quit, and why friendships on purpose matter. We close with a heartfelt value-for-value reminder: no ads, just you. Share the show, send your ideas, lend your time/talent/treasure, and help shape future episodes. Thanks for riding along—whether you’re in Tokyo at lunchtime or stateside near midnight, we see you and appreciate you!Email Us:Rich -- mailto://rchelson@gmail.comBryan -- mailto://circlecast@gmail.com Email Us:Rich-- mailto://rchelson@gmail.comBryan -- mailto://circlecast@gmail.comIf you are struggling with life please reach out to The Suicide Life Line - Dial 988The world needs you here. 

In this New Year’s episode, I catch up with Bryan and The Duuude for a freewheeling, three-hour hang where we kick off 2026 with stories, laughs, and some real talk. We swap New Year’s Eve recaps—from solo fire-pit zen with a pack of 7% seltzers, to hot-chocolate-at-midnight serenity, to working oilfield staging pads while hunting for cell signal. From there, we wander delightfully through trucking and fracking loads, fireworks prices and city ordinances, drones-as-firework-viewers, dog thunder shirts, vertigo, and the odd places different states drop acorns, anchors, and balls at midnight. We even go deep on the surprising history of time balls and the first Times Square drop in 1907.We also geek out hard: home bread machines and einkorn wheat, DIY pizza and pretzels, Linux backups, self-hosting, and AI chatbots (how to prompt better, where they’re useful, and why they’re not AGI). The Dude shares ham radio updates—DX chasing, noisy bands, contest goals, and 2026 awards—while I reflect on site traffic milestones, writing rhythms, and value-for-value podcasting. We close with a candid detour on border drug interdictions, the EMT smuggling sting in Texas, and a few state and national political riffs—then wrap with gratitude, goals, and good wishes for a better 2026.Chat Links: (Not Sponsored)https://www.farm2flour.comEmail Us:Rich -- mailto://rchelson@gmail.comBryan -- mailto://circlecast@gmail.com Email Us:Rich-- mailto://rchelson@gmail.comBryan -- mailto://circlecast@gmail.comIf you are struggling with life please reach out to The Suicide Life Line - Dial 988The world needs you here.