July 31, 2015

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 31, 2014, the then-new Europa.
Five years ago today: July 31, 2010, another false start.
Six years ago today: July 31, 2009, an old photo trick.

MORNING
           Looking back on this summer month, I’d say it rates as one of the more successful this year. I had been noting on my calendar I had planned to take the rebuilt camper pod on a thousand mile jaunt through Georgia and southeastern Tennessee. But I’m not taking into account the fantastic trips to the auctions and the excitement of that entire episode. To buy in a moment what the other guy spent his life paying for, to retire in the country overnight instead of at age 65 or more. And all of this is within budget.

           This is the view from the beach later today, but I was there since early. Typical summer day, it will cloud over and get rainy by mid-afternoon. We can’t really hold meetings at the beach because of the cost of parking. We’d get too many no-shows.
           Peanuts. That is the ticket to minimizing absenteeism at your club meetings. Big bags of jumbo, roasted in the shell peanuts. Cost is only around $1.50 per person and it can get messy, but the lowly peanut gets them off cable TV and into the clubhouse. This morning, we have another meeting at El Senor concerning the shopping trip to Radio Shack. Folks, I may not have had the most meteoric of careers, but this is the way retirement was meant to be.
           I can defend even that. You see, due to my late start, a career could not be planned with any accuracy. Too many circumstances. But retirement can be planned and this is the results. I know inflation is punching holes in everybody’s lifestyle and it’s going to get worse since the yuppies, in their cocoons, allowed the federal government to take over the country. And to repay their voters with dollars printed up just this morning.
           And another thing I’m weary of hearing is that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was unprovoked. That is nonsense. America had been interfering with politics in east Asia for decades. And Roosevelt had frozen Japanese assets in America. I’d say when somebody steals your money, that is plenty of provocation. But, America is full of people who think it is not Germans, but England, that has a right to rule the world. After all, over in England, we can understand what they are saying.
           Yes, but Hitler had a low growling voice, like the sadistic animal we have been practically forced to believe he was. Listen to those recordings as he bellows out the crude, rasping and guttural sounds of the German language, as he brainwashes the audience. Boy, are those people stupid. All to Hitler’s hoarse voice. I wonder if that voice has anything to do with the fact that the Allies had gassed him nearly to death in the war? Oh, I forgot. We are supposed to believe the Germans started that war, and lost it to the Brits. Because the Brits are good and the Germans are bad. Only a Nazi would think otherwise, right? Like the people who would watch this video. (Video was blocked by Google in 2017.)
           All they really wanted was peanuts. But nobody asked me.

           [Author's note 2023: Recent evidence confirms that Hitler was actually quite soft-spoken. The harsh rasping of his voice is confined to a few newsreels that have been doctored by the British wartime propaganda office. They took snippets of his radio speeches which sounded harsh in the day, plus the quality of microphones lent to the effect. Apparently the Brits used the electronics of the day to add the "buzzsaw" effect. A recording of Hitler's natural voice from a recording device left on in a Finnish radio station indicates Hitler's voice was quite normal.]

NOON

           Back inside in the cool, here is the latest on the drill table. The copper guide rails are very evident now. I am pointing to a microswitch that stops the table from moving too far to the side. There is one on either end. Yes, they do look a lot like the alarm switches from the old version of the camper pod. Same with that blue paint, which we’ve all seen before.
           I would point out that this table is not available for any work, no matter who asks. It is exactly as square as 10,000 toothpicks standing on end, which is 9-1/4 inches if anyone must know. Maybe slightly over. This table is designed to do one thing only, and at 20,000 drill holes per day, the task will still take 50 working days. Like counting to a million, I have no way of knowing whether these figures are even realistic. Yet. (This project was never completed.)

AFTERNOON
           So I made it to the Radio Shack in Miami Gardens and spent $200. One item on sale was the “BASIC Stamp”, one of the first microcontrollers that I would never have spent $80 on, but for $29, I’ll take a look. What a can of worms. If you think the documentation for Arduino sucks (that’s what most people think), don’t even look at the Stamp. The on-line manual does not even mention the version I have, the “HomeWork Board USB”. Instead, it gives useless page after page of what looks like operating temperatures.

           What little documentation is available is written in Martian. BASIC, which I may call Basic, was my first “high level” language and that is not Basic. There are no line numbers and no structure to the code. It looks more like bastardized C+, which is a rotten language to start with.
           From what I’ve seen, this microcontroller does not use any Basic language layout, so that is a misleading title. I cannot find it in the manual, at least not at the beginning where it should be, but I think you have to use a version called Basic 2.5.

           Now, I will likely do some kind of programming on the Stamp so I can say I did. But everything about the Stamp so far, right down to the editor (which for some strange reason displays the hidden files in your Win directory) says this thing stinks to high heaven. For example, the instructions say the first thing I must do is enter a “Stamp directive”—without any explanation of what that is.
           So, I have reverted to the most primitive of brute force computer tactics. Drop every menu choice and test every item on every list until you find something that works. I hit it on the third try, I seem to have a board version Stamp B2 and a software version called PBASIC 2.5 – it doesn’t tell you that although the USB cable is plugged in, it does not supply power to the microcontroller. You must install a separate battery or it just sits there. For about twenty minutes until you figure it out on your own. If you see a picture that says “Tales From The Trailer Court”, you’ll know I was eventually successful.

           Much as I hate storing user generated files in a Win system directory, the Stamp takes it upon itself to do just that, at least by default. Scary. I have seen this kind of idiot Basic before, in some weird MicroSoft window like VBASIC. Idiotic, because it is not Basic. May I live long enough to see the end of that company so the world can get on with new systems that work.

EVENING
           I thought of heading downtown, but stayed in to play my bass list. I’ve long known I don’t care for the type of women that go out on Fridays. While a lot of times that means they have a job, it also brings out the ones who know it is payday for the type of men who, well, spend a lot on payday. Debauchery isn’t my bag. I found an independent source of Stamp Basic commands and had the exciting time of reading that.

           Here is a picture of the “HomeWork Board”. The onboard battery clip is not optional. You must go get a battery. The working part is the long narrow black chip just above the obvious “reset” button. Unlike the Arduino, sample code for this microcontroller is very difficult to find and the examples are all simplistic. I’m glad I got 70% off.

           And if that isn’t thrilling, I experimented with ways of fastening 80-lb fishing line into loops. It isn’t easy. Then baked chicken while I looked at those video cams that use your smart phone as a viewing screen. Neat idea, but the thought of a videocam with no viewscreen takes me some getting used to. Yes, I’d love to be out on stage tonight working on some fancy lady, but there are none left. For the past two decades, whenever I had a woman I had a great time with, it was because I supplied it. So don’t go calling me old. My kingdom for a woman who can keep me interested.
           If that sounds easy, let me tell you, before I was thirty, I was keen enough on doing the wild thing that I never cared if a woman had an enduring personality. About that age, I met my first honestly interesting woman. It was only then that I looked back and saw how, personality-wise, dull my former women really were. Until then, I thought that monotony was part of what you put up with for a steady supply. (Don’t laugh, most married men think that is normal.)

           Alas, the one I met was happily married, but she raised the bar for me. I still enjoy a fling, but once I knew women like that existed, I could never settle for the tedium of the average woman. I’ve known for years that had I not met her, I would probably have picked the prettiest one and been content with dull routine, only suspecting there could be a dynamic woman that I would still dream and compare years later. Not an exact comparison, but on the big issue. Is she thrilling to me? Then, within that same year, I met my wife, now ex-wife.
           Now if you asked me what made my wife so enduringly interesting, I’d be stuck. But I could list the major items. Like how she was not into gossip, when she spoke, it was about ideas, places, and not people. She also did things on her own time that benefited the relationship. Not like baking cookies, I mean I could leave Judy alone for a week and nothing would change. She’d get bored. But my ex, in that time, would have read two books, learned to solder, and figured out a way to invest in a gravel pit. That’s in addition to being good company 99% of the time. Really good company. She often told me she had picked me because other men didn’t like her learning things. Since her, I’ve never even met a woman who both could and did write.

           When I say I’d give anything to meet Taylor Swift, no, it is not because she is young and pretty. It is because she is making it on her own and has no trouble throwing weak men (like Millennials and Hipsters) rapidly onto the garbage heap. I see no evidence she clings to her parents. She’d rather go it alone than waste time with weak and characterless men. She’s a thousand times more attractive than Miley Cyrus. I could go on, but I’ve made my point.
           That explains, in a sense, about why I took a chance on such a loser like Theres. It’s because we met in a computer shop. For a brief moment there, I thought she really wanted to learn computers. Duh. Out in the real world, I would not have given her a second look. You see, I must now have a dynamic woman, and there aren’t any available. The pundits will tell us they are everywhere except where I look. Such people can’t imagine anything being a woman’s fault. The way a Liberal can’t imagine an illegal committing a crime.

ADDENDUM
           I was up late last evening refining the drill table. Inventing is hard enough when one has a skill set, boy, you should try it with my resources. I either have to learn every iota myself or rely on others who rarely have the same motives. Let me bore you with some details and the reason for that is to emphasize that you never get to the stage where you know so much that there are no problems. Kind of like marriage, I suppose. Not mine, yours I mean.
           The metal rods I chose for the drive rail appeared uniform, all shiny and new. I could easily twirl a nut from one end to the other. But this characteristic changes when a lateral load, such as the weight of the drill platform, is placed on that same nut. If your brain just said, “I never thought of that”, then you are experiencing the same as I did. Logic says this drive rail must only be supported on by the ends unless some complicated support mechanism is designed to follow the nut across the working path.

           So I spent an hour taking perfectly good and new (unused) threaded rod (a.k.a “allthread”) and running it on pass after pass with my old toothpick rod cutting dies. Is this why real “lead screws” are so expensive? The drive rods have to be so perfect I’m afraid to handle them afterward. Next unexpected problem was the shaft coupler. This is the garden hose and two hose clamps I rigged up. It tests rigid, but there is a very slight flex in the rubber that gets worse with testing. It would not last in actual usage.
           This ensues a study of couplers which are not cheap, but are also overkill for my needs. I could compensate for the hose flex in the programming, but that would mean a study of the change over time or some sensor to monitor the variable flex. Metal is better than wood, but wood is more fun to work with. So I watched the video link above and said, I can do that because he is using wood. Famous last words.


Last Laugh
Here’s something my ex would found on her own,
and called me over to look. It’s nothing, but I miss such nothings.


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July 30, 2015

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 30, 2014, Kraft inflation.
Five years ago today: July 30, 2010, for your convenience.
Six years ago today: July 30, 2009, another legal scam.

MORNING
           What’s this rumor I’m hearing that the media is gagging the news that Hillary or somebody held a rally and only 32 people showed up. I say it is just a rumor. But I hope it isn’t. America has had enough of the “establishment”. Then I fell out of my chair (really) laughing when Trump told the story of how Romney tried to garner votes by doing his own shopping but couldn’t figure out how the automatic door at the supermarket worked. All caught on video.

           By sunup, still no news, so I’ll assume it (the flopped conference) is blacked out. The radio mentions a speech at a university, so maybe that’s it. Whatever, the important thing for Hillary is that there were more paparazzi than supporters. And speaking of sunup, I have not had coffee, so see you later. Ah, the joys of successful retirement.
           Next, I got together the basic parts for my stepper linear contraption. Man, these things are really accurate. But I don’t know how to use the files that make them do anything. I can, of course, program the motors and movement. And I’ll hook up an old drill. At this point, I will just be happy to get the thing to guide itself into position.
           Those who’ve been here before will recognize the Arduino and the board I mount these on long before the factory version of this original idea came along. You can see the small stepper motor, this is one of the six from Hacktronics. They are capable of half-steps, so are considerably more accurate than they need to be. The drill stays stationary, it is the table under the drill that moves with precision.
           These are great tasks for mental exercise, the element that is missing from television. Figuring out how to make it mechanically right is a lot like solving a maze. You wander down blind alleys until it hits you. While I’m proud of the tools accumulated, often a single item like a bearing fitting requires a special trip to the Home Depot for a drill bit they usually don’t have. Harbor Freight is 5.5 times the distance.
           The new guy, Serge, we’ll call him, is a complete beginner. It’s the same tale from the trailer court. Circumstances found him in possession of a quantity of computer parts and such that he did not know how to use. The fact that he even got curious about it is a good start. And it makes me look like an expert. Don’t buy 1/8 watt resistors. Download the IDE before you buy an Arduino. Learn transistors first. I guess in that sense maybe I do know a lot about the topic.
           Note that for the club, the precision manufacturing, such as it is, continues to be done in-house, right here. Not at the clubhouse. We do not regard the welding we do as a precision operation.

NOON
           By noon, I was fitting the (roller skate) bearings to the drive rail. I promise a clearer picture below, but for now this shows the procedure to get the drive rail to rotate in place with the least effort. This is because tentatively, this unit would have a portable memory batter supply, though the drill motor would require mains (110 volt commercial power).

           Close by, you’ll find a photo of the skateboard bearings being fitted into custom drilled sockets. The copper pipe is part of the guide rail that keeps the table flat. I’ve decided the best option is to have the drill stationary and let the table move. The opposite of my flight controller. I still don’t know how the on-line videos keep the drill bit dead on the chosen spot. Maybe cut the bit in half lengthwise? Special bit? Even with the drill press, small bits require a dimple to start.
           Don’t read too much into this photo, since there are other pieces shown that are not part of the design. Such as the ball caster, which was not needed soon after this picture was taken. You’ll see the importance of the copper pipe and end caps in a moment.
           Another first, a club meeting over the tracks and in a McDonald’s. The reason was kind of unorthodox. The Radio Schack reorganization saw them spread unsold stock around. Now the sad part. You can tell the general IQ of an area by how fast the robot parts sell. The more stupid the populace, the more chance of finding deals of up to 70% off. That area around 441 and Miami Gardens must be inhabited by escapees from the nearest FEMA sterilization compound.
           The new guy lives near the McDonald’s and the Radio Shack, so I called the meeting up there. He showed up with all manner of gear that has long since sold out everywhere else. Plus, he guessed mostly right.You’ll find me up there in an hour, get me some goodies. I deserve it for surviving inside a McDonald’s for nearly 90 minutes and having only coffee. It’s willpower, lads, I just got back from two out-of-town trips without breaking my diet.

           The lack of bookstores found me browsing the rack at Goodwill. Hmmm, an old lady, or I guess I’m supposed to say past her prime, moves on me. Oh, this author is great, that one is superb. Well, I know they aren’t but okay, so look at her. About 12 to 15 years younger than me, but definitely a lost cause. Do you know what bat wings are? She wasn’t a looker even in her pre-menopausal days. I had to defuse this one rapidly. So when she asked if I was looking for anyone in particular, I said, “Taylor Swift”. (Worked like a charm.)
           Don’t worry, if she had made an excellent come back on that, I’d have bought her dinner. Sorry gals, guys like me don’t swing from trees.

AFTERNOON
           I drove home in the blast furnace and not to Radio Shack. No twenty mile trips in this heat. Instead, I watched old documentaries, although I should not say old, as many of the archived newsreels have only recently been declassified. I was doing some mental gymnastics over this proposed automatic drilling table. It is the only way I will ever drill 1,000,000 holes 3/32nd of an inch in diameter. What on Earth do I need a million holes for? Those who read back far enough will know. I presume that even my critics, who no doubt have their own project needs on a similar scale, will understand.

           Next I have a bit of reading for you on this matter. There is no other documentation on this project that is immediately available. That means this picture is all the world will see ever of this step, and I owe the blog a full explanation. Under my hand you’ll see two parallel copper rails and between them a 5/8” all thread rod. My hand represents the position of a small table or platform.
           On that platform will rest a similar, but small (shorter) set of rails 90° to the ones shown. So essentially, what is shown here will move my hand left and right, the upper platform (not built yet) will move my hand toward the top and bottom of the directions shown in the photo. For the mathematically inclined, that’s the X and Z axes, the Y axis will mount an overhead drill. In theory.
           This is a fairly complete photo of all the parts you won’t see once the device is complete. So, let’s look at the same thing from a mechanical point of view. Starting in the lower right and moving diagonally toward the upper left. First you see the Arduino, which has wiring to a small black interface board. From that, you see small wires to the stepper motor. These motors are surprisingly tough, you cannot “stop” the shaft by grabbing it with your fingers.
           That shaft goes through that upright wooden block which houses a shaft coupler made from old garden hose. Those things may ultimately leak a lot, but they are tough. This turns the shaft left or right, depending on motor control. From this part in, those who have seen or used a CNC machine will probably recognize what’s going on. I have never seen such a machine myself. But this is the part that captivates me. I’ll explain in a moment.
           It is difficult to see, but this shaft rests on the bearings and as it turns, there is large “rod coupler” nut that does not turn. The spinning of the shaft, instead, moves it left or right. Actually, if you look very closely, you can make out part of that rod coupler just below the first knuckle of my little finger. This is the working part.
           Now for the explaining. This shaft has 32 screw turns per inch. That means the thread “moves” one inch each time the shaft is spun 32 times. The standard Arduino stepper motor has 200 “steps” to make one revolution (hence the name “stepper”). When connected, it means the Arduino can handily control increments as small as 1/6,400th of an inch (32 x 200). This is far beyond any precision I’m likely to require.
           There is an interesting aspect to the Arduino. Most programmers know what an interrupt request is, but are loathe to use it. The reason is it resets the chip timer (um, that’s the easy explanation). However, once I learned the PCM pins use a separate timer, I got to thinking how I can control half-steps. That means a resolution of 1/12,800th of one inch. I’ll mull over the implications of that, but I don’t think I even have equipment that can see anything that small.
           The challenge with the code is to get one Arduino to operate two steppers. Like Ken Sanchuk, the microcontroller has the mentality of a one year old and can normally do only one simple task at a time. But by interrupting that, you can trick them into doing two—as long as they don’t suspect a thing. The most expensive component in the diagram is the Arduino, at $40. It is worth trying to use only one. I have, in the back of my mind, an idea how this can be done.
           What? Well, Ken, next time pay back people the money you owe. I mean, being a winner isn't that difficult.

NIGHT
           Aha, now I’m glad I dug out the ROM device, the one I wanted to hawk to science fairs when Hacktronics went under. Now that the gang knows much more about electronics than in 2012(?) was it, the project makes great sense. Now it is fascinating. We held an impromptu meeting until 11:52PM on my porch last evening going over details. We do have an electric bike we can sell for around $150 profit each, but it works out to minimum wage after assembly.

           That’s all, I’m baking chicken (skinless) with coconut garlic sauce. This is a recipe you should try. The link contains comments from users, which in this case are excellent suggestions. Such as using only half as much coconut milk. Now be careful if you want the best, this is the sweet Indonesian style, not the East Indian with the curry. Because I love this receipe.
           That being said, the rest of the crew has minimal concepts of what it takes to make an idea successful. Asking questions like where is the next science fair? How should I know? Oh, well, how do I expect to sell these kits if I don’t know? Boy, these guys can be at a kindergarten level. When I tried to explain how I had contacted a major science fair supplier, I lost them. And of course, why have I not thought of painting the toothpicks different colors. Gee, I dunno. Just dumb, I guess.
           Yep, I’m dismayed at having to answer the same unthinking questions every time, but I’ve often thought that is why mad scientists become recluses. I’ll tell you what, if this drill table becomes another winner, I will consider showing up back and Nova and rubbing their noses in it. And it only has to look like it is working to be a success.

           Author's note: I shall try to get some new pictures of the ROM device. It is entirely home made, yet I still get many unbelievers. That's rookies who don't believe it isn't a kit and users who don't believe it is accomplished entirely without logic circuits. Nothing but diodes and resistors. I'm not about to try finding the older pictures, as these photos are not carefully cataloged like the blog text. There are around 15,000 photos plus another equal number of unused items filed only by general month of publication. I'll say it again, this blog was never intended to include photos. They are only here because of the advent of cheap digital cameras.

ADDENDUM
           What happened to the rat, Houdini? Smart fellow, right after I bought the Nooski, he disappeared. Makes sense, since there isn’t really enough available food in my spotless kitchen. Until 6:01AM today. He’s back, but not where I had placed the trap. From here on, it is me vs. the rat. Who shall prevail? Stayed tuned for the answers to this and many other important questions. If he gets away even on more time, I am changing his name from Houdini to Hillary.


Last Laugh
(The label says it’s a feminist detector.)


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July 29, 2015

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 29, 2014, my old band.
Five years ago today: July 29, 2010, I met an old friend.
Six years ago today: July 29, 2009, remember my Taurus?

MORNING
           Lots of technical material over coffee this morning. This lead screw assembly is fascinating, even the arithmetic is beguiling. Just with scraps in my bin, I’ve designed jig with an accuracy of 1/2000th of an inch. I’ve commenced to cutting the parts from wood. If the prototype has a tenth of that resolution, I’ll progress to metal. Meanwhile, the deadline on the property has passed and as far as I know, there were no other offers. The relevance here is that the property has a work shed. Me want work shed.

           What I’m saying is the property, shown here with the work shed circled in yellow, has been taken off the market pending approval of finances. But you understand, that is a stock phrase. If my offer is accepted, nothing gets approved as fast as cash. Yes, the surrounding properties are in the $140,000 plus range. I’m waiting for the phone call, if it’s a go, I buy it probably tomorrow.
           There are plenty of rentals in the area, so it may not be the greatest neighborhood, but the satellite image shows I only have four neighbors in the subdivision. There are four small (man-made) lakes in the area (within two blocks) and a railroad a block away, but I can deal with all that. The worst case scenario is rent to flip, which seems to be around $1,000 per month in the area. We have only driven past it, so no promises.
           It ain’t mine until I get a signed bill of sale. I find it exhilarating to go from nothing at one sale to potential outright ownership within 100 hours. From my last $90 to paying cash in 48 months. (Would have been 12 months if I'd never trusted Wallace.) I could get used to that pace. Come on, phone, ring, dammit.

NOON
           I could write a book on this auction and house procedure, you know. The reality is [hidden] behind the scenes and the system is corrupt. It needs exposing. But I’ll not write, as I know there is money to be made and I’m not that keen on competition. But I guarantee, if you try this on your own, you will make mistakes. The whole process is one hidden pitfall after another. And if you consider, as I do, incomplete answers or non-answers to be lying, then every person involved in the process is a liar—with the exception of one isolated situation in Arcadia. There are no apparent brakes on cheating in the real estate business.

           This is similar to what I have in mind, a simple table that uses a Dremel bit to carve shapes. Only, I’m interested more in simple drilling and using a bit to etch copper circuit patterns. The makers of these units claim prices of under $100. That sounds a little far fetched.
           Meanwhile, back to this intriguing lead screw project. I will be using threaded rod instead of the expensive lead screws (up to $40 each). I got the idea from looking at the flight simulator and noticing how powerful the small servo motors were when geared down. The new device uses steppers, not servos, but the concept is very similar. I’m also glad I read up on couplers, these are the devices used to hook together shafts of different diameters. These can also run $15 - $20 each.
           The on-line places that say make your own are dependent on have a machine shop or CNC laser cutter. I hardly consider that tier of equipment as do-it-yourself. While this is going on, I’m watching a youTube of Ann Coulter on single mothers. It is mostly 8 minutes of cackling by witches like that horrid Whoopi Goldberg, America’s number one hater of cold, hard facts. Why does it take four women and a trained audience to drown out Ann? Because Ann is right and they are wrong, that’s why.
           Whoopi Goldberg sees the entire white race as racist against her person. Watch how she tries to bait Ann by asking if Ann has any children. Whoopi is a moron, a left-wing Liberal mob leader. I wonder if she lies awake at night sweating how the next day will bring more racist issues for her to point out where none existed before. It isn’t Ann’s fault for going on these shows. She is out to sell books and doing a fine job of it. Goldberg probably doesn’t know how to write.

AFTERNOON

           Dang. Lost the property by six minutes. The deadline was 5:00PM and the other guy came in with the cash at 4:54PM. To explain, there was an offer on the place pending financing when I heard about it. Another party was chasing around for the cash. And he made it just under the wire. But not to worry, we were looking for a deal when I found that one. And six minutes is a tiny margin. Time to put out some feelers to let these starving real estate agents know there is cash available if they work with me.
           Yes, I’m disappointed. Because if I’d heard of this 24 hours ago, it would be mine. But I’m working alone and I can’t cover all the bases myself. The operations of the past month, including the trips to Winter Haven, Okeechobee, Arcadia, Ft. Myers, and Naples have completely streamlined our operation. We have a bank account in each of those and several other towns, ready to move fast. Now, I’m praying for another recession.

NIGHT
           So, somebody besides me is miffed at Google’s manipulation of search engines. This topic was addressed here a year ago when companies I know began experiencing loss of audience. It is well known that most search engines base results on previous hits, which is plain stupid. The “truth by majority rule” idiocy again. I was aware that Google was fooling around with the criteria, causing millions in losses to people who had invested in SEO (Search Engine Optimization). The fact is, searches on Google in general now send you to other Google sites. What's that smell?

           You want to switch to ixquick now. Set it as your default search engine. And get Google and Google Chrome off your computer asap. Those applications are pure evil. Also, Google is, I think, targeting Yelp and the thousands of businesses that advertise there. You practically have to know the address to find anything on Yelp anymore.
           I will say it as clearly as possible. Anyone who uses Google is a complete goof who is too stupid to understand invasion of privacy and too naïve to understand the consequences. Have as little to do with Google as you can.
           NPR is, predictably, advocating that the English allow millions of illegal immigrants through the Eurotunnel. What kind of nonsense is that? Liberal, because it is a mob mentality. Don’t ask the English, just stand back and call anyone who opposes a global free-for-all as being Nazi-racist-rednecks. It's like NPR with Whoopi Goldberg as the mob leader. What does she care about the victims of Liberalism? And the biggest victim is white society, which she has made abundantly clear she cannot tolerate in any form.
           She only wants the money available in white societies, not the social responsibility. Plus, I just don’t like her because she is so goddam ugly and I know that’s what she really has against Ann Coulter. Or I could be saying that just to infuriate dismal old Whoopi. That would make me happy. When hearing Ann Coulter refer to a statistic that most criminals come from single mothers, she asks if Ann has ever had any children. Cheap shot. Whoopi, have you ever been a tall, good-looking white woman? Well! That explains everything.
           And the new Gates Foundation motto. “All people deserve to lead happy, productive lives”. Weird that the Foundation only helps the exceptional or the very ill. To hell with the rest of us. The majority of Gates' money is likely used to lobby for laws that use public funding. That is, tax dollars. That is, YOUR money. Even if I'm wrong, that is how I feel about the Foundation. I know that I have never seen a penny of help from that direction. How about you?


Last Laugh
It seems to be working.


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July 28, 2015

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 28, 2014, Nova, you are on notice.
Five years ago today: July 28, 2010, bullet-holes in the ceiling?
Six years ago today: July 28, 2009, teenage outlaws.

MORNING
           There’s JZ rapping with some passerby in the Lanai Tunnel. The Lanai Kai has a passageway from the street to the beach—just like real old Hawaii. We didn’t stay this time, just lunch and then later corn dogs. We had intended to look around the town. Instead we waded through water from the downpour. And iced tea. We had iced tea.

           What’s this? I am required by European law to provide visitors from that continent information about cookies on this blog. All I can tell you is that if there are any, it is the fault and doing of Google, not me. That is who you should make responsible. It is also a sign of how weak the US has become, but also a clear message that civilized nations are not into snooping and tracking software sneaking onto their private property disguised as Internet apps.
           I’m developing a distaste for Complex News and other Millennial productions. They are more concerned with being politically correct than being accurate, and we already have too much of that. And as for the Millennial teens who disappeared on the boat—if they die, blame the parents. If they survive, send the parents the bill. I saw their fat mothers on TV, so if my suggestion seems cruel, like whatever. When I was fourteen, there were no boats, much less boats to go joyriding in. Or $117 to fill the fuel tanks. And you want my sympathy?
           Most fourteen year olds are lost as it is, lost in poverty. I don’t recall any public sympathy for them. Where were their search parties? Where was their news coverage? Who was there to rescue them? Or is it only the rich who are worth saving at public expense? I say: no special treatment. No privilege. Dead or alive, send ‘em the bill. Daily.
           Worse, circumstances meant I had to wait around all day doing very little, stuck in a room with the television on. Fortunately, I had brought my Cussler novel. He’s slipping. But not as badly as those terrible pro-Hispanic reporters who try to out-talk Trump and Coulter. Come on Geraldo, you know you want to say it, “All of us are immigrants.” That’s a cop out, since the controversy has nothing to do with legal immigrants. But you know you want to be a dick and say it.
           Or how about the peckerheads who bring up that he has donated money to both parties 30 years ago. Even though he has answered that stupid ancient question how many times already? These reporters are such trolls they don’t know they are being out-trolled by the best.

NOON

           ”If you cause your ship to stop, and place the head of a long tube in the water and place the other extremity to your ear, you can hear ships at a great distance from you.” ~ Da Vinci, 1490.

           Trivia, because I was at the library. Snakes can catch malaria. A rocket, accelerating at a tolerable 3Gs, reaches orbital velocity in around 9 minutes. The oldest European language is “Euskara”. Only one word of it has ever been incorporated into English, the word, “silhouette” which means, in Basque, “lots of holes”. During WWI, England court martialed 8,608 people, of whom 7 went to prison.

           Now that I have some experience programming stepper motors, I’m looking closely at how to connect those to basic tools. This is different that the servo motors on the flight simulator, which began to bore me. Really, once you get into it, the process is repetitious and undemanding. The hard part is figuring it out, not doing the work. Shown here is a “lead screw”. (Rhymes with “leed”.)
           This is the internal part that makes stepper control expensive. The screw turns on a stationary mount, causing the plastic assembly to move back and forth with great precision, depending on the pitch of the screw threads. A matching nut would work, but usually inside the plastic shaft is a spring forming and “anti-kickback” assembly.
           The Arduino is ideal for tool control. Bonus, the programming is tricky enough to discourage all but the most determined beginners. I consider automatic reprogrammable tools as a form of robotics and I have the tools to make these tools. At this point, I can make the motors stop and go, and vary the speeds. This is a far cry from controlling them well enough to do useful work. But not as far a cry as a year ago thinking I’d finally be at this stage.
           It won’t be anything fancy, but it is in keeping with the general progress of robots. The major reason robots are just now making inroads into major manufacturing is that they are difficult to maintain. And most robots pick up a part and set it down, sometimes referred to as a “bang-bang” robot. I was thinking of getting one to drill evenly spaced holes. I spend three hours just doing the math, only to discover I was, in fact, designing a 2D printer table. Hmmmm.
           And as another example of “truth by majority rule”, the latest Compton’s has 30 pages on baseball and basketball, but just five short paragraphs on Basque.

NIGHT
           For those who like lobster, I just heard of it referred to as “the cockroach of the sea”. Yummy. The review of our auction adventures is done and we’ve lost the element of surprise. The recorder reveals that nothing happens as others come and go, but the strangers present are now closing ranks when we enter the room. Sudden hush, and they have figured out a few of our pitching signals. And that we are there to learn, not to bid.

           Now, to make sure nobody forgets that the original house quest is still on but temporarily sidetracked, here is a house on the Florida west coast. Nice? Well, the interior is in bad shape, but as you see here, it is quite the nice cottage otherwise. As of this moment, my bid of $20,001 (Twenty Thousand and One Dollars) is the highest. And I won’t say, but the deadline to get in on this is fast approaching.
           Again, it is trashed inside, but JZ and I are near expert rehabbers. We have not thoroughly inspected the place, but comps in the neighborhood are going for $156,000, so we know there is something wrong with it. But how much could be wrong with a house built in 1991? It has a troubled history, selling in 2001 for $71,000 and again in 2011 for $10,570. Those prices pretty much say good neighborhood, so we take a look.
           The whole auction thing was a lark, but something I highly recommend to anyone who actually believes that the system is fair to the little guy. I’m insinuating the courthouse auctions, but the very fact of letting an agent of the seller participate in the bidding is so offensive to common sense it makes it all absurd. Plus the “right” of the seller to refuse to accept the highest bid. Why bother calling it an auction?
           Tactically, we learned these auctions largely go to locals who can inspect the property. And they are dominated by professional buyers. One must have a schedule of attendance, not trying for a successful bid, but watching closely for something to go wrong, or a lapse in the system. It’s a damn shame, but that’s hardly my fault. We are, I suspect, going to have to outright buy something as a base to operate out of. But flipping these properties is indeed a lucrative enterprise.


Last Laugh

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July 27, 2015

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 27, 2014, Cape Canaveral on $180.
Five years ago today: July 27, 2010, California politics.
Six years ago today: July 27, 2009, Key West architecture.

MORNING
           Barely time to settle back in and there goes the doorbell. We may have a new robot club member, but folks, this is not a hobby for broke people. Everything worthwhile costs a fortune. We convened to the Panera and were lucky enough to be wrapping up by mid-morning when the gerentological league started showing up with their spittle, racing forms, and oxygen tanks. The Panera has smartened up and limits each IP address to a 30-minute maximum log on. This would not work on me (just change your IP), but it gets rid of all the old-coot “experts”.

           Isn’t it great to be back in civilization? Here is a rear-ender on I-95. I know, it is disgusting how that could happen on a freeway, but east of the big river, lots of people will cut back into your lane at 70 mph with just a few feet to spare. This was just across from the Ft. Lauderdale airport, we heard later 11 people injured. What were 11 people doing in two cars?

           One thing about silver is I have no idea, but neither does anybody else. Currencies everywhere are falling against the dollar. I don’t know how that works, but I know that any major change is a signal to try silver. We know from ancient times, you only have to speculate right 10% of the time. Maybe watch for something soon. Silver closed at $14.54 this afternoon—if I sold now, I would lose. But real speculators do not sell at a loss. They accept a down market as a temporary position.
           Since we did not buy the house, there is an easing of money for a while and I’m going to check out one of these vocal harmonizers. They correct pitch, which I do not need, but are advertised to pick out the key you are singing and add a harmony. That makes sense with a guitar, but will it work with a bass? It looks like another brutal summer stuck in the tropics, so once again I’ll use much of the time for music.

NOON
           Aw, what a nice picture of the stormy Florida west coast from the rooftop of the Lanai Kai. Those are big breakers down there, seen through the fence. And the weather doesn’t normally get that rough in the placid Gulf of Mexico. This is a bad photo, it looks like there is a clearing on the horizon, when it is actually just some lighter rain clouds. I’ll predict steak dinner for myself at this place if one of two events occur. One, if I lose enough weight (not specified here). Two, if Trump finally winds up kicking time-wasting trouble-making reporters who use his rallies to pose staged questions.

           He already told one of those dorks, “You’re finished.” I loved it.
Thanks to Trump, that’s Lord Trump to the establishment, I am learning something about politics. Everyone knows I hate politics. But I love the way Trump is uncovering the rats in the cellar. His opponents have one common theme. They all won’t openly admit it, but they don’t want the wall to be built because they are terrified it will work. Or at least will work better than whatever else.

           Trump is getting ever closer to kicking certain hostile news people out of the room (for disruptive behavior) and calling individual big-mouths to face him directly. I hope he does. Their only hope of “winning” at this point is to bash Trump’s chances. And they are desperately striving to find one issue they can use to bring Trump down to their level—which has not worked so far.
           Furthermore, I think Trump should abandon these “interviews” and talk only directly to the electorate. Time and again you get complete jackass reporters trying to advance their own agenda over the person they are supposed to be interviewing. See, now I know who O’Reily and Hannity and Anderson are. They are assholes, that’s what they are. Shame upon any audience that ever listened to those morons. Don’t you people know a pie-hole when you hear one?
           Add another to the list. This Texas politician, Rick Perry. Former whatever, just another mouthpiece. Trying to twist Trump’s words down to his own boring way of doing things. So odd to hear a person who did so little I’d never heard of him talking like Trump doesn’t have what it takes. This Perry looks and acts like the political fossils who have run this country into the dirt for the past forty years.
           On the other hand, he does look exactly like a Texas ex-governor. I like people who are not ex-governors.

NIGHT
           The potential of a new club member brings the Arduino (microcontroller) back into sharp focus. Without realizing it, because I’ve done so little actual programming on it, I have become, by comparison, an expert on the thing—locally speaking. Because I have no way of knowing what isn’t local. Florida is not a hotbed of scientific and robotic innovation. This is not silicon valley, although there is (ahem) cause to call it silicon mountains.

           I dug out some of my older (successful) projects and pondered what to do. Out of several working prototypes, there is nothing there I could foresee having manufactured. The major hurdle is that nobody in America wants to invest in new plant and equipment, meaning they are hesitant to build anything unless it can be done with existing plant, tools, and jigs. Why take a chance on innovation when the wimps in DC won’t guarantee to block the inevitable import of cheaper knock-offs?

           This is the old RAM board, the one destined as a science fair kit when Hacktronics imploded. At least (by comparison) the innards of my kits are colorful. The lighting is too bright to show this in operation, but the RAM is activating a display of the numeral “5”. This is an analog circuit, it does not contain any integrated circuits. Nothing but switches and diodes. Electronic research at the lowest level without building the components yourself. This model is vulnerable to shorts, as all the major connections are exposed.

ADDENDEM

           For clarity, I have a running bet that Trump is going to kick a reporter out of a rally or close down an interview. These so-called professional media keep hounding him over and over with questions he has already answered many times. And they keep reaching deeper into his past instead of talking about issues today. So what if he made contributions to both sides back in 1987? Who cares any more? If he does give some media bitch or bastard the boot, I have to buy. And gladly.

           He got close with that painted hussie, Tur(?). She refused to listen to his answers and during that interview told her some things were none of her business, that she was a fool trying to quote statistics that immigration was not a problem, and to quit playing the cutsie little reporter and causing trouble. Come on Lord Trump, you can do it. Tell her to fuck off with her tired old lame questions that only work on a trained political monkey.

           [Author's note: I looked it up, her name is Katy Bear Tur. "Bear"? Apparently she does have plenty of [personal & personality] troubles that cause her to behave like such a sleaze. She got her job through family, her father is now her mother, and Katy, since age 25, has fat thighs. That's quite a load for a mousy shacked-up off-blonde to deal with, so no wonder she get's off on constantly finding fault in others.]


Last Laugh

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July 26, 2015

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 26, 2014, Moscow camouflage.
Five years ago today: July 26, 2010, this music business.
Six years ago today: July 26, 2009, sample family conversation.

MORNING
           It was agreed, this trip was worth every effort and dollar put into it. That auction was an education in itself. On-line or not, we do not know of anyone who has participated in one. And JZ has learned not to tell anyone (except close relatives) much. We hammered out the things that went wrong and have a strategy for next spring. I warned the world, we will become very skillful opponents. We'll be as fair with the world as the world is with us. To those who disagree, all I can say is that your complacency is hardly the same as neutrality.

           If anything comes along meanwhile, great. We left contact information with the blond lady to let us know. But it is hibernation time for houses (though not the auctions). What fun—but only because we are organized. I am not suggesting everyone with normal blood pressure would benefit from these events.

           Here is JZ watching the horses. We stopped to check the oil and saw these thoroughbreds. It also prompted a security truck from the ranch to drive up and videotape us. Obviously, there are still horse thieves in the area. We decided against a huge local breakfast, instead returning to the river to feed the critters. Where we systematically scrutinized every aspect of the last days event. That’s while drinking thermos coffee, eating Russian biscuits, and chomping chicken chowder as only I can make on a motel microwave.
           One major item agreed on is we will put a stop to banks doing credit checks on us merely because they know our identities. We will incorporate or hire an agent. A target sum of money is agreed for ten months from now, the traditional late spring buying season. By now, JZ trusts my ability to find excellent scenic country back roads without a GPS. We took the byways to Port Charlotte. And smacked into one of those all-day summer rainstorms of the Florida west coast.
           It is also agreed that these trips are among the most economical of pursuits we’ve got. Seriously, staying a weekend at home can easily cost more than one of my planned holidays. I’ve learned the economies by motorcycle and it is easy enough to apply to a trip to Sebring. This entire trip, including drinks, food, accommodation, gas, toll, everything, was $181.00.

NOON
           By now, we were passing the beach at Ft. Myers. So we parked at the Lanai Kai. Where else? We had homemade corn dogs and iced tea. The Gulf was choppy enough to have real breakers (rare) and there were surfers. Not me, I staying under the canopy and read. Shown here in the distance is JZ strolling out for a swim. I know how the water seems warmer in the rain, but I am not a beach and ocean person.

           But I’ve read my whole life. Hawaii, Thailand, Mexico, I’ve read on beaches in all those localities. This picture from the Lanai Kai lower deck makes the sky look bluish, but it is overcast and there is pelting rain. It is around two years to the day we were last there. JZ recognized everybody, but I did not. We were taken by the number of businesses we stopped at in 2013 that are now closed and vacant.

           It must have been housewives day out at Ft. Myers. I don’t do housewives. We took the coast road down to the Naples turnoff and decided on Alligator Alley back. I do believe I have seen that road more often than JZ who has lived here his entire life. I read more Cussler, this book is about water supply privatization, “Blue Gold”. He uses the Clancey formula of many sub-plots. And has mention our hero, Paul Trout” as being 6-foot-8 four times already. I guess we are all supposed to go “Ooooooooooooh”.
           What I’m getting is accuracy, since by coincidence, the plot is placed in Baja California and Venezuela (so far). Both places I know quite well. And the writing is somewhat far-fetched. There are no unexplored waterfalls or secret laboratories in either place. The accuracy is otherwise good, it jogs my memories.

NIGHT
           Taking Alligator Alley back, a most boring trip, gave us time to go (yet again) what we’ve learned. Don’t think all went fine, there were fifty things that went wrong. But that’s better than everything going wrong like the first time. And we are undoubtedly already far too well known in the area already. Take Arcadia, population 8,000. Several people told me it was 32,000. Attending auction sales is not the chosen approach to keeping a low profile.

           We have taken to eating lunch in the next town over. This is our Sunday sandwich brunch at the Lanai Kai. Shop at Mario’s, if he’s open. He has a concession in the hotel. We opted not to stay another night, as JZ has an appointment in Coconut Grove that is best not rushed. One noticeable factor on the Gulf coast is the rising sea level causing lots of flooding and wet floors in older structures like the Lanai.

           We found the one dry location on the deck for our meal. The conversation was the events of yesterday. And the two hussies at the bar. Until they started chumming with some army types. I don’t do women who date soldiers or sailors.
           It is clear that the on-line auction is quite differently run. The auctioneers appear to prefer the on-line bidding, although those said bidders were evidently bottom-fishing. They drop off rapidly when the price goes above $20,000. There is even a different set of rules for on-line, of which I kept a copy. And there is an underlying psychological profile to the entire affair, which I will of course now scrutinize down to the atomic level.

           What did we see? First, the best bidders (physically present) were insiders to the process and what appeared to be husband-wife teams. Well, I mean, we noticed (with one exception) everybody in the room was also fatter than us, but let’s stick to business. Only one of each team would bid, while JZ and I tended to act in unison. Remind us to split that up and appear to be the two richest men in the room bidding against each other.
           When I say insiders, I mean they are professional bidders representing some other party. They make a living at this--but they can’t be everywhere at once. We need to learn what criteria they use to take aim. That shouldn’t be hard. They behave like trained monkeys. Makes you wonder what is really being sold.

           We also noticed the auctioneers have little patience for low-scale competitive bidding. Like our lady bidding up in $100 increments. There’s a mistake, letting us know that. That confirms (to me) they (the auctioneers) are working on commission. They also add a $3,000 premium to each house sold, another incentive for them to push for speed. The winning bid must give a check (no credit cards) for 10% of that bid or $5,000, whichever is greater. So make sure you have $5,000 before you show up. There are also other fees, which is a rip-off by the system.
           The balance is due within 14 days after the seller “accepts” the bid, another contortion of true auction protocol. This normally takes 14 days, so it seems you have 30 days to come up with the money. But I would not push those parameters. And if the people in that room learned the ropes, so can we. But if the highest bid can be rejected, calling it an auction is a farce.
           There is a secret base price. It would be interesting to learn how often that is enacted. Every “rule” we’ve encountered so far favors the seller. The wrong thing to do is to “learn the ropes”. You will not win, no matter how good you think you are. Be careful, mind you, for exploiting weakness can be more expensive than compliance. The bidder has to have ID and although nobody checked it too closely, you can bet the registration cards are not thrown out afterward. The property must go to the name on the card.

           Beyond that, I’m not saying how much deeper things get. No sense telling the world any new-found trade secrets we come up with. My overall conclusion is we need more information, not more experience. Attend more auctions, find that pattern. It’s there, because the general behavior in the room was one of unquestioning compliance to some unspoken norm. These auctions are essentially playing the crowd. And that presents me an opportunity for the crowd to play back.
           For instance, when more than a certain number of bidder’s show up, I would like two minutes to talk to them before we start. The Bluetooth connection? It’s radio, and we all know how unreliable radio can be. I’m not suggesting a thing except that all of this desperately needs looking into. In the worst way.


Last Laugh
The New Bicycle Seat

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July 25, 2015

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 25, 2014, what’s a “blue highway”?
Five years ago today: July 25, 2010, Shrek plugging corn syrup.
Six years ago today: July 25, 2009, a look at Etsy.

MORNING
           Here’s JZ at the park near Okeechobee this morning. It was decided to settle the questions about these “cold air ducts” once and for all, and we headed north for a few hours. We are getting to know the roadway and the preferred stops, so it is now three hours maximum for us to get out past Sebring, including the requisite stop for coffee at the Serenity in Okeechobee. So what if they were closed today. (Refers to the mysterious ducts under certain old buildings in central Florida.)

           Now this being our third trip in less than a month, we are getting sophisticated at this house hunting. Plus the trip gives us uninterrupted time to plan and I can tell you that my personal conclusion is that we will never get the bargain we seek if we play the game by the rules. I’m not advocating any law-breaking, only that tactics will not work. We need strategy.

           To make this more clear, tactics would be the policy of saving or borrowing more money until the point where an auction is won or an offer is accepted. This involves pinching every penny and borrowing every dime—which is precisely what the system wants all the stupid people in the land to do. Brainwash them that this is the “right” way to behave. But I have noticed plenty of inadequacies with that. Not every bank can cover every angle every time. And my plan to make them notice us by playing their own game has been totally accepted.
           What started as a quick trip to inspect some ducts turned into a major whirlwind tour and an unexpected auction. When the rep who was to show us the property called, she mentioned there was another auction taking place an hour earlier. This was one of those on-line auctions and I suggest to JZ we attend for the experience, since it was on the way.
           (Once again, this for the 11th time in a row, the impossible happened, which JZ says is impossible, but we did it again. With only and address and no map down a road we’d never seen before, I correctly guessed the location of the auction. I am simply incredibly lucky that way--at times.)

NOON
           This is the only picture I have of the auction, the laundry room. It was a three bedroom two bathroom that had been converted into a medical clinic (chiropractor) and was on a huge lot with a barn around back. While there is a guy in the crowd wearing a Bluetooth earpiece who is authorized to bid for those linked on-line, the rest of the auction is what you’d expect. Quite unlike the totally bastardized proceedings at the courthouse. There were no banker’s evident.

           There were plenty of professionals there, however. Husband-wife teams, a retired attorney, and what looked like the black representative of the local Baptist congregation. As soon as I saw the crowd, I advised JZ not to bid unless nobody else did, that we should closely watch only.

           And sure enough the bidding rapidly soared to $42,000 more that we were prepared to bid. By remaining silent, we did not tip our hand, a wise move in a small town. Ah, but there was one great looking lady in the bunch who refused to be railroaded by the auctioneer.
           He is also wearing a headset, but at least he is a real auctioneer. He tried to lead the bidding by asking for increments of $10,000. But the blond, blue-eyed lady held her ground, for example at $30,000 she would bid $30,100 and the auctioneer would “mistakenly” say $31,000, but she firmly corrected him each time. This was a much more exhilarating performance than the courthouse, and I’m glad JZ saw this because (although we had not done so before) he did not believe I had the right to contradict the auctioneer on increments.
           See the photo, the clinic was completely refinished on the interior. Tile floors, but the kitchen had been removed. With the odd layout, it was not clear where that would have formerly been, but there is not much to converting this back into an apartment. Now, here is where things got momentarily interesting.

AFTERNOON
           I dialed the rep at the original “cool duct” property to confirm we’d be there in driving time, and a cell phone rang in the auction room. Believe it or not, the babe doing the bidding was our lady real estate agent on the other property. Can I pick ‘em or what. Spritely, healthy, and alas, happily married. And she knew the duct work was retro-fitted modern material with an estimate of $2,800 for replacement. This put us in the running, but then, the bad news.

           Another bid for $7,000 over our maximum had been turned down yesterday. So the information we had gotten from the friendly neighbor that they would take a low price was in error. The auction experience alone was enough to make this trip incredibly worth it, so we drove up the road to the only place we really know in the area: Arcadia.
           That’s JZ on the banks of the Peace River, feeding the squirrels. Not me, I’ll feed chipmunks, but not squirrels. In the far background is a 155mm howizter and we could hear somebody target practicing with a small rifle nearby. Could have been in Texas for all it seemed. Arriving in the late afternoon, we decided to stay over and check out the entire town. Prices have bumped up $10,000 since just a month ago. No explanation forthcoming.

NIGHT
           We found a real bargain of a motel, I told people long ago my ability to speak Urdu would come in handy later in life. This is our half-price unit just before we headed out for soft drinks. Always insure you have lots of bottled drinks when staying in a strange town motel. The room included some excellent movie channels, but I preferred to read my newest Cussler novel and glance up only when John Wayne was being shot at.

           Taking my advice to never walk into a drinking establishment right on the hour, we waited until after dark to check out the “Rattler” saloon. I think the room used to be an auditorium, as it was far too big and wide to have a saloon atmosphere. It has balconies and staircases. The band, however, was overkill. They played country the way I do. That’s start off with country until the crowd is warmed up. Then play anything you want.

           Alas, a lot of what they want was old guitar hits, like “Simple Man”, a tune I singularly loathe. They were a three-piece from Avon Park and I correctly guessed they were a rock power trio to switched to country to get the few remaining gigs in the area.
           It is definitely a redneck town. JZ and I weigh nearly 400 pounds between us and we were the lightweights in that room. That includes the woman at the door, who zapped us with the $5 cover charge. Every man in the room was overweight, though some of them were strapping enough to be real bruisers. Banish any thoughts that you will go to Arcadia and see smooth-tightie cowgirls in blue jeans.

           Only three skinny women. Two were an item from Bradenton, where if you’ve heard the recent news, they have their own definition of “animal husbandry”. Only in this case, it was the “wife”. Anyway, it was evident we were again the city slickers. The bass player used a five-string and instantly picked up I knew what he was doing. The band was called “Shin Bone” and we talked bass riffs. He was over-playing a few spots, which is the tendency when you are trying to flesh out behind a guitar solo, but I’ve adopted a new approach. I wrote down some of my best riffs for him in tablature.
           By county law, the whole town shuts down at midnight. Or else.


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