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A reminder to the reader this is not a political blog, but commentary on human behavior. I am not for or against any political party. Liberalism is not a political party, but a social cancer. It is wrong to steal money and it is just as wrong to elect people to steal it for you. One more thing, never argue with a man who buys his printer ink by the barrel.

November 8, 2026

No report today, which means I am on the road.
I left TN at noon tomorrow.
Mission accomplished.

November 7, 2026

           Taking care of a ton of details, I do believe all is caught up here except for Monday morning. Alas, no carousing, and it has turned colder than expected. The strangest thing, I wrote a letter and put in on the dash so I would not forget to post it on the way home from Wal*Mart, where I declined to spend $25 on the cheapest drill on the shelf. I turned a corner and the letter slid off off, I even felt it hit my knee. Now I cannot find it. Yes, I know how to check everything, and checked it twice.

           Now the Reb recommended a Thrift, Graceworks. Just over a mile south of the library, I toured the place to find it is all furniture and the book section is, except for the cookbooks and gardening, nothing but fiction. I found one small rack of tools, with one drill missing the charger. The prices were nothing special either, about par with Dollar Tree.
           Here is a screen-shot of Little Sark, the island bought by the Brit Barclay Twins. The billionaires who own big media. I found it interesting because the island, under the jurisdiction of Sark, was the world’s last feudal system in the strict European sense. The brothers argued that the land should not belong to the feudal lord and that the island violates the European mandates for fair elections.
[Photo delayed]

           This, I found laughable. The Barclay’s are the last people that would give their land up to an unelected official, or let strangers vote on how they should conduct themselves. Sark has no income tax, or any tax. But there is a fee to the feudal lord, who is also entitled to a cut of any real estate transactions (I believe they get 1/13th of the value).The brothers bought up a sizable share of the big island, which was a banking haven until computers allowed London an American-style death grip over that operation.
           As usual, I get the old iMac sort of working just before I leave. I remembered the sequence, when I first arrive, I log on and forget the password. So I use a guest account. Later, when reminded I spell the dog's name wrong, I get it running—but forget to close that guest account. It blocks the photos until I finally remember. Even when working right, it is very slow. Nor will it allow me to upload photos (a Google problem), so you get to see what the raw input looks like, and why it happens so fast and easy. It’s the dang formatting that takes time. It cannot be automated because Google keeps mucking with the style sheets.

           And here is the address of where I had the best coffee ever. Hank’s Coffee Station. 1411 Main Street, Franklin TN 370764. In fact it is right near Boost, where as luck would have it, my phone bill is due tomorrow.

AFTERNOON
           Word has arrived that Amendment 3 has passed in Florida. I’ve mentioned the problem before, In my case the city tripled the assessment of my property. When applied to Florida, this results in a flood of new money into city coffers while allowing the cities to claim no change in the mill rates—but the windfall was being used to fuel bureaucratic bloat and nonsense projects. This change restricts tax hikes to half the 33% increase I was hit with in 2021 - 2025, and also restricts cities to spending it only on infrastructure. Note that is not my tax rate, but a result of the city re-assessing my property to nearly double what I paid for it.
           While I strongly disagree that education and employee retirement are infrastructure, this is a positive move for homeowners, who in many cases will pay no tax. No doubt many cities will try to recoup via other taxes, but in this inflationary climate, good luck with that. If they cut services, I don’t see that would affect me and I think sports facilities should pay for themselves.

[Photo delayed]
           Blackwater, the security company featuring ex-SEALs, had asked about contracting to speed up the deportations. That would be something, as they are not directly answerable to for tactics, legal impediments, and would probably just ignore Democrat obstructionism. In related news, there was an average of only 5% of “crossover” voting (change of party). Instead, 20 million new voters appeared out of thin air, all of them voting Democrat.
           And of all California’s major candidates (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, and two Supreme Court Justices) all won by nearly identical vote margins, that is 65% Democrat to 35% Republican. Impossible.

           Word arrives of 100,000+ Americans without electricity due to a single windstorm that did not even reach Category 1. This happens when Americans let DC borrow money to send overseas instead of spending it on local infrastructure.
           After reviewing the details of the Russell Brand trial, I believe women’s right to make such claims should expire after ten years. Look at her. Some smart aleck posted it was a case of mistaken identity. He honestly thought he was stealing a horse. Texas Democrats have already moved to compel all students to attend public schools. effectively banning home schools. The new new guy in Minnesota delivered his acceptance speech in Somalian.

           Some trivia: only half of Americans went to a movie theater last year. Star Trek turns 60 today. GarageJam 8.0 is released and I’ve never used it. The MSM reports Americans are “leaving the country in record numbers”, to make you think they are not talking about deportations. And I watched the trailer for the 2026 Supergirl movie. No thanks. Foreign-born workers now number one in five Americans.

ADDENDUM
           Time to record my symptoms. Hour-long yawning attacks, a front shoulder pain aggravated by the cold, and an upset tummy. That last one is always a big warning sign for me, it is a thing I just do not get unless something is severe. Few Americans eat healthier than I do and I believe I have a bout of food poisoning.

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November 6, 2026

November 6, 2026 Friday            This day will be remembered. My big brush with Real ID, the dreaded national ID nobody wanted or voted for. Then again, nobody was ever asked if they wanted a driver’s license to be ID. The difference? The license must be presented on demand (when driving). The ID has a different set of rules. The whole of the current problem is not my papers, it is that they expired while I was incapacitated. And that is where Real ID enters the room.

           You see, Real ID is designed to catch newcomers applying for the first time, and it is know millions of them are cheating. Hence, I need to take a road test—and I was quick to notice they want you to repeat all the paperwork and testing (including the eye test). They have learned, I suppose, that many people can fake their way once. There is another aspect, that none of the barriers are even mentioned in the manual.
           You see, Real ID is designed to catch newcomers applying for the first time, and it is know millions of them are cheating. Hence, I need to take a road test—and I was quick to notice they want you to repeat all the paperwork and testing (including the eye test). They have learned, I suppose, that many people can fake their way once. There is another aspect, that none of the barriers are even mentioned in the manual.

           So, you cannot plan ahead or rehearse things. But since all my documents are a matching set, I figured they would give me a road test, another potential trap. You see, they demand a second licensed adult to accompany me on the test. Since that person would be sitting in the back seat, it is clear what they really want is a second set of ID on file attached to yours.
           This put me on the spot. It is not like I could just walk into the waiting area and ask for somebody to sit in. The place was full of people who did not have licenses. The bureaucratic mindset of the DMV is a pathetic thing to watch. So, I found somebody later, but the next testing date is Monday. And staying around costs three times as much as it used to.

           Trivia. Since 1981, wind turbines have killed an estimated 18.7 million bats. Nobody really believes the Democrats won an election in Texas, but they are also pretty certain the Republicans will do nothing about the 1.7 million Democrat voters who appeared from out of nowhere. This picture shows the MSM “polls” with the blue (Democrat) candidates just enough ahead that does not trigger an automatic recount. Anyone who does not see the obvious pattern is just pretending.
           I heard a new verb today, which I should have expected. Nate is going “ubering” this evening. At best, I’ve only an overview of how the system works. I’ll see if I can get some info from the view at street level, but I don’t really see the guy long enough to have any informational conversations. Pets, pet food, all that, but I don’t even know if the guy has been to college.

           In a few moments, I’ll confirm when it comes to reliability, the guy is beyond useless. I’d already noticed he could not be relied on the take out the garbage, and the primary reason for this trip schedule was to ensure the pets would be fed.
           Bagnall Dunes, on Mars, a formation named after the guy who invented the “long range desert patrols” that conducted raids against Rommel from his flanks. The Germans had nothing to stop them. The connection here is the patrols navigated using a theodolite. A surveying instrument. I thought I’d look at how that works. No luck. Nothing but videos of people standing beside the thing and talking about it. Where do they even?

           Ah, you want more info about the dunefield. Sorry, it is NASA material, and it is ten years old. Once NASA has done their publicity, the news fades away. During this read I found modern references to the lost Popski patrol, including Canadian videos speaking a language I could not identify. As mentioned, the Germans had no deep desert force. Popski was one of the raiders who set up a hidden base. But the locals spotted him and sold the location to the Germans, who sent two Me-109s in and wiped them out. The survivors set out to walk 200 miles to the American lines.

           Famous quote: “Washington DC is Israeli-occupied territory.” ~Pat Buchanan, 1992. AFTERNOON            Another weekend here throws the Reb’s schedule because she instinctively believes I feel ignored. This is just not the case, I’m here on business. There you go, a man who needs no entertainment visiting a woman who excels at hostessing. Our communication this trip has been “95%” texting, a sign of the times. The best I can plan for now is that I know as soon as I pass that test, I’m restored to the situation 13 months ago. Hardly a giant leap forward.
           I’ve determined everything that can be done on this matter except that final appointment, has been done. So waiting for Monday morning may constitute my vacation for 2026. As an incident I must record, I asked Nate if he would help out on Monday. This is like 6:30AM to maybe 9:30AM or so, an otherwise dead time. The guy sleeps until past noon anyway. He would not commit, saying he did now “know if” he could be available “the whole time”.

           He said yes y’day, but I wisely asked him to commit to the time today. He went wishy-washy. I was stunned, reminding him he had said yes and this was not something I could leave to chance. I even asked him if his situation was so unpredictable he did not know what he’d be doing 48 hours from now. He would not say for sure. I know the guy is a pot-head scatterbrain, but this is unacceptable. I told him to remember this decision the next time he needs a hand with anything.
           I went up to the library book sale. The member's only portion y’day snatched up the good stuff. So I went upstairs to read and have some trivia for you. Lighthouses. They were supplied by boat, meaning unpredictable deliveries until somebody in the 70s hit on the idea of a helicopter pad on top. Within ten years the lights were automated and required no crew. That crew was three men, not two. This was so if one died, the other would not be left alone until the next boat arrived.

           There was a sinister side as well. Two men known to argue were stationed and one of them died. The other was terrified he’s be charged with murder. Anyway, there are very few manned lighthouses left in the world.
           It seems Walmart is now selling Harbor Freight tools. The first step toward absorption, if you ask me. I have more trivia, I found out how the HB-2 pencil got its name. Long ago, the English had a monopoly on graphite (it was a lubricant for cannonballs). A French chemist locked himself indoors until, 8 days later, he invented pencil leads using a mix of local pottery clay.

           He found the darkness or fineness of the mark could be varied by the amount of clay, which he numbered 1, 2, 3, etc. Later, an Austrian (like me) added letters for the Hardness and Blackness of the pencil. England was furious and the world now had the HB-2 pencil.
By now, the curious among you have wondered how I got to looking at pencil leads. Answer: I didn’t. When the revolution cut off European imports to early America, a search for new graphite deposits found them on the Mongolian border. It was expensive to haul, but also the best in the world. The buyer was a Bavarian named, you guessed it, Faber.

           And the pencils were expensive. So expensive, they were packed in (you guessed it), fancy wooden boxes, as shown here. This is not a gotcha, I really did just stumble across this. Then a petroleum chemist invented synthetic graphite, which conducts electricity. Where have you seen it besides in pencils? Those commutator brushes on old electric motors.
Want more? Sure. Two lab assistants in wanted a graphite sample thin enough to see through a microscope, so they peeled a layer off a block using scotch tape. They soon found by folding and stretching the tape, they got a single layer, known today as graphene. And those so-called child-proof pill bottle caps? If you leave them in a wooden box in the back of your van, the stupid suckers will come off by themselves.

November 5, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: November 5, 2025, you're never alone.
Five years ago today: November 5, 2021, I went downtown.
Nine years ago today: November 5, 2017, a table of broads.
Random years ago today: November 5, 2006, I played there!

           Yessir, one of the best drivers (non-pro of course) in the Western Hemisphere just failed a test for a learners permit. Earlier I may have said it was required, but only under certain circumstances like my old license being expired more than 91 days. I flunked it so bad it would not let me complete the remaining questions. What happened? The first 1/3 of the test (30 questions) was all about driving laws and statistics I know nothing about.

           My memory harked back to 2004 when I nearly failed a word processing test. It was the same general circumstance—I learned how to do things the right way and did not know how to work the dumb people way. Example, I learned in the second grade that the first word is capitalized. So I did not know how to enable that feature. And today, the driver’s test asked me the same grade of question. I do not know or care about what happens with “BAC” is 0.11%. (Blood Alcohol Level.)
          The picture is the library book sale. I found a couple things.

           The good news is I’m finally back in the system with the same information that has how changed in 40 years, including the imported error from Washington State. It’s nothing, really, but tips me off because they are finding nothing. So, I’ll try the test again later, tonight I will simply read the entire manual and memorize the more obvious.
           Knowing the Reb had clients, I went directly to the library to find no parking. Turns out they are having a book sale. Ha, in Florida, they can’t give the books away. Since I did not have my flash drive or camera in the car, I took the time to investigate the gif creation apps from last day and have decided on one to learn the best. You can try it yourself at ezgif.com. The staff by now knows I’m no trouble and let me stay past the time limits.

           Blog rules compel me to tell of the rare and unusual, and today, for the only time in my life, this. A lady rolled down the window of a rental car and told me, “Thanks for the litter.” In isolation, that is so rare, but my regular readers know the Reb asked me to pick up a box on the way home. If all goes right tomorrow, I want to head home and that puts our total face time, other than that fancy hamburger, at less than twenty minutes this trip. To those who might think that’s not much of a situationship, I shudder at the alternative. That is, knowing somebody who never does anything interesting==and there seems to be nothing in between. So why date a bump on the log, right Theresa?

Picture of the day.
Bb clarinet music score.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           I’m on page 79 of the manual. The fine print does state all parts of the booklet are testable, so my guess is they let A.I. generate some of the questions. I learned a bit, such as the correct name for those X-shaped railway crossing signs. And why there is a sign underneath saying how many tracks. It’s because one passing train may hide another coming from the opposite direction.

           I’ve read the manual by 7:30PM, finding several items I would disagree with. Such as holding the steering wheel at the 9:00 & 3:00 o’clock positions. I’ve always adapted to what gives the best control while avoiding crossing hands over each other. Except on hills, I have never had the habit of using the parking brake.
           Here's a picture of the gyro/accel circuit board, for my own reference.

           More information the Lear jet crash in Florida. The same airplane had been involved in another loss of control incident some six months earlier. And Russell Brand is facing prison time, he’s the English actor accused of being a rapist without being Muslim. Yet, if you read his side of the story, he did nothing 99% of men would not do if they were in the same position. The women are simultaneously empowered or victims, they reserve the right to choose which best suits them in a given situation.
           Research at a new library is a treat for me. One chapter I read describes a British navigation device used in the Libyan desert during the Rommel years. Under the desert are vast deposits of iron ore than throw magnetic compasses off to the point useless. It was nothing new to devise a peg on a stick and use the sun’s shadow, but this intrigued me. I’ve got a hunch that rather than calculate their positions every day, they carried some form of look-up tables. And would that not be much the same as the Sight Reduction tables that I struggled with so long?

Last Laugh

November 4, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: November 4, 2026, the Kubelwagen was real.
Five years ago today: November 4, 2021, possum pandemic?
Nine years ago today: November 4, 2017, according to police . . .
Random years ago today: November 4, 1984, it was still Thailand.

           Up at 5:30AM here to an empty house. Chooks is at the studio. Have you seen the Reb’s Xmas present? In case I don’t make it back this year, she’s got some booties, the footsie kind. I know the floors around these parts can get chilly in the mornings. So here they are, modelled after Marilyn Monroe, it says on the tag. Didn’t I see her in an Xmas movie when I was seven? So I vaguely recall the leopard pattern and the furry trim. See, I know how to spoil a gal.

           I’m br waiting around most of the morning, so I took a look at the latest youTube offerings. Yep, 90% A.I.-slop. Seemingly popular are dozens of “documentaries” portraying an uneven history of American wars. Americans won by overwhelming firepower, not by military prowess or skill. Over half of WWII was not fighting the German military, but bombing German civilians. I’ve finally had time to look deeply into the Amerika bomber and it was directly in response to the killing civilians.

           An unexamined “if” is how Germany never seems to have hit on the concept of mid-air refueling. Fly a mix of bombers and tankers half-way, top up, and meet the bombers again on the way back. All beyond the range of any Allied interceptors. (An interceptor is a fighter plane modified for long range all-weather attacks on bombers.) Not a single word about this, yet it had been done in the 1920s.
           Airplane travel, I think, is more dangerous now than twenty years ago. A Lear jet full of rich people fell 30,000 feet in one minute, pancaking near Palm Beach. Photos show parts of the tailplane missing. That damn thing fell apart in the air. They did fly into a thunderstorm, but that is common in Florida. (So are pilots who blame thunderstorms.) I say poor maintenance and that spells DEI. Those are three capital letters no US airline wants to hear.

           The Reb had some clients, so I hit the library thinking a nice day was due. Wrong, when I arrived they had some gimp on one of the computers. No, I do not believe handicapped people have a right to impose upon others. Even the staff tried to quiet the guy down, but he’d start yelling he wanted to “to to church”. Society too often teaches these people what they can get away with. Don’t get me wrong, I would never prevent anyone from helping—provided they do do so entirely at their own expense. I could not get work done, I finally left.

Picture of the day.
Waiting.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           This is not exaggeration, though I have been drinking coffee for over half a century. It took long memory to determine, but this day I had the best cup of coffee in my life. The Reb and I went over to Grounds for a burger. At $17 each (add $4 for gluten-free) we shared a mushroom-Swiss cheeseburger. Told ya, she will have a bite if I do, and beef is back on my menu. But the place does not sell coffee. I know, it’s un-American.

           However, across the way is Hank’s. They close early so we’d never been there but Reb could smell the coffee, so she treated. She knows my recipe and reports all she did was order a cup and bring it over, as I was watching the doggie. I knew is was a superior product and became more convinced as I finished the cup. The last sip persuaded me, this was the best by a few percentage points, but that is all it takes.

           We had lots to catch up on, so it was around twenty minutes that I could not believe how smooth that coffee was. Before leaving, I left a message for the manager (who was not in) taking care to explain I was an aficionado and not exaggerating whatsoever. Hank’s gets my highest compliments, with a codicil. Coffee is not a consistent product, and my experience is based only on my own likes. Who knows if it can be repeated, but if I’m over that way, I’m sure to try.
           We rented the car for a week, so nothing would be rushed. Chooks is in doggie paradise because he knows he gets everything his own way when both the Reb and I are present. He got the bacon off the burger at a swank joint where that one lunch (which we shared) hit us for $35, including the tip. One thing pretty certain in America is the party is over. Millions will have to learn to live more frugally, with credit-card junkies being the hardest hit and it serves them right.

           I was going to practice driving the car, but it is a model year before all the cameras and buttons, so just driving it home was enough. She’s off to a meeting. Of all the times for me to get a slow day, this was potentially my one afternoon with the Reb, who is booked solid until past Thanksgiving
.            That, plus some technical difficulties at the studio means two of her tracks have to be re-taped. I know that means 96 hours non-stop. And much as I love this quality time, the fact is every parameter since January has changed. I’m quick to point out that still leaves me in better shape that others I’ve been around lately. But the decline is in many ways permanent at around 50%. Unless there is a miracle. I’m able to walk the dog only because he’s my age himself.

           Is the A.I. going through the the system and creating new demands? Or in the alternative, getting rid of old ones? Remember those $300 language translators, the ones that speak 68 languages or something? Now flooding the market at $80. Or the tiny stick-in cameras the size of a grape? Will I check out these devices? Not likely, they all require downloads to a smart phone. I’me even leery of the trial gif app because it requires an upload—but I have found a version that works on your browser. I’ll let you know.

ADDENDUM
           Looks like I don’t get my $5,000. America knew the steal was on, they just never thought Trump would do nothing to stop it. Maybe the loss of Texas will shake them up. So much for the Save America thing and brace for another two years of committees, investigations. hoaxes, and talk of indictments. I don’t know how power is divided up in DC, but we’ve had Democrat majorities before and the pace doesn’t change much.
           The election. Trump didn’t do much but let it happen. Yet, he is not in a panic. What has he planned? Allow me to speculate. This time, the Democrats had to cheat in the open. This time the DOJ has the voter lists. Trump certainly knows prosecutions cannot be effective unless organized fraud can be proven. They had the evidence after 2020 was stolen, but could not do anything. This time, the DHS has the name of every illegal who voted. This time they have the facts—and the military.
           They have [already] found dumps of 20,000 pre-filled Democrat ballots in Texas. They know in Williamsburg, VI, that Democrat voter turnout was 118.68%. Has Trump once again won by not playing the Deep State game?

Last Laugh

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November 3, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: November 3, 2026, the GenX bulb.
Five years ago today: November 3,2021, wine was a staple.
Nine years ago today: November 3, 2017, the unskilled . . .
Random years ago today: November 3, 1982, I bought a 12-string.

           Hooray, I think. The relentless owl-eye of A.I. has found this blog. With it superhuman abilities, it was able to determine it is "long-running", but the rest is plagiarized phraseology. To their credit, they did pick up on the indented paragraphs. The Reb is back 18 hours early, which found me half-way across town. I got Genxed by the post office. Google says it is downtown, it isn’t. Closed long ago and I was not about to go looking further. Instead, I drove across the freeway to where I know I saw one last week. I got there, fourth in line, to be reminded it really does take some people ten minutes to mail a letter.

           Garvin, the GPS people, are one slipshod outfit. I wish I’d snapped a photo of the route they sent me to find that post office. It wasn’t pretty. Thinking I had all day, I rolled down the van windows and took in the sights. Noticing I was the only one. What, nobody else likes fresh air anymore? That reminds me, the hospital stay also altered my body chemistry again—but I did not notice any change in the van and I drive almost every day. I’ll ask the Reb.

           I had to make ready fast, for instance the cat tracked grit into all the hallways and the flapper chain in the flush tank came loose. When she called, I was in the library checking out new gif software, which I like but careful if it requires an upload. It is much better with titles and overlays.
           We had ten minutes to visit, then she was off to work. The studio allows Chooks as a designated support animal, so I get some time off myself. At least the library staff likes me, especially the part of never needing any help. The zoomer next cubicle called one of them over to turn off his CapsLock key. Duh. I once knew a lady who used that key instead of the Shift. Give me the Reb, a dame who keeps ahead of things.
           For example, there is an angel paperweight broken by the cat. I say it was glued back together, but without glue. The Reb made a paste out of soggy oatmeal and once dried, it is rock solid. Show me another babe who even comes close. Here is a curious item found at the local Thrift. If it could be used for titling, I would have bought it.

           Problem, and it’s a PPP. Both of us need the Honda. She needs it available all times for work, I need it up to half a day for that mandatory driver’s test. It is not as simple as renting a vehicle because I would have to be listed as a driver. Nor can we swap vehicles because of that broken door handle and expired plate. I sent her off to work with my word some plan will be ready by tomorrow morning. Either way, I’m not home until at least next weekend.
           So the thing to do is eat well. I picked up some rice and made enough for everybody, including Chooks. He’s been a little “loose” lately, though within parameters. He only has moods indoors, but only happy ones around the Reb so she never notices. And as soon as she walks in, he’s suddenly my best friend because he knows I feed him chicken on the sly. Speaking of food, try the dill pickle mustard. I know, that’s what I thought, but it is unbeatable on a turkey sammich.

Picture of the day.
A.I. crackdowns begin.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           The steal has begun. According to several political watchdogs, many counties in swing states (expected to vote Trump) ran out of ballots. It’s an old Democrat trick, but this time it could mean more people voted. What is clear is the efforts of both parties have not been evenly spread. Both know which spots are most contestable and have focused everything on those. The opposition tends to gain in mid-terms and that is where things seem headed.
           For some reason, election coverage is light, and hard to find on-line. Ignore the polls and talking heads, and all that’s reporting anything is the strongly anti-Trump MSM. which has long been useless for facts. I found one item on Gab casually mentioning an “unexpected surge” in Republican voters and that Guam, a Democrat stronghold, has voted them out.
           Ah, here we go. Ballot scanners in key counties have begun rejecting paper ballots. Voters are asked to use “emergency drop bags” while “technicians” work on the machines. See this melon scoop. Made in America, works all the time.

           What surprises me is the lack of any determined counter-measures to the cheating. Reports of stuffed ballot boxes in California with thugs threatening anyone who tries to take pictures. Doing nothing is akin to giving away the seats. Once again, the cheating is most obvious in places where the margins are narrowest. Or where people can be persuaded they are narrowest.
           As for that driving test, my conclusion is that we need the use of a third vehicle for a few days. This is well within budget and the Reb will know where to get the best deal. But this needs careful planning, and it means the Reb drives the rental. Why? Because we know things will go wrong. PPP. For example, despite hours of research, I did not know about any of the Tennessee rules for registration and renewal. Every aspect of it had to be learned the hard way.
           For another example, they will not let me take the driving test in a rental unless my name is on the lease. I’ve been around long enough to remember when things like that were none of the government’s business. For that matter, so has any ten-year-old.

           This also means long, unplanned stretches and I intend to call the library my home. Hey, it’s a treat for me. I like reading military history and the Williamson library non-fiction floor is untouched territory. Did you know the B29 bomber cost more to develop than the atomic bomb? That’s interesting, some of the technology being developed in late-war Germany is still classified. This concerns the piston-engined bombers intended to cross the Atlantic and hit US targets in retaliation for US raids against German civilians.
           In a slightly related article, the German declaration of war on America (December 11, 1941) translates kind of funny. The reality is the US had been actively aiding Britain’s war machine since 1939. What Hitler said was more to the effect that the US could no longer be considered neutral. Because it wasn’t.

ADDENDUM
           Well, it is over. I guess the voting class didn’t need the $5,000. TMOR, allow me to explain something. The Democrats laughed when Trump ran against Hillary in 2016. They needed a sap to lead the opposition and Trump fit the role. Nobody ever claimed Trump was a politician, but he won because Hillary is so despised.
           Trump upset the Democrat schedule and for that he will be remembered forever. The Democrats will never quite be able to get the control they were aiming for because Trump exposed too much of their agenda. Before Trump people suspected cheating. Now they know.

Last Laugh

November 2, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: November 2, 2025, the room is dying.
Five years ago today: November 2, 2021, I buy the Hav-a-Hart.
Nine years ago today: November 2, 2017, charged 2x for the U-turn.
Random years ago today: November 2, 2010, of considerable talent.

           Reading six hours is a treat for me, with breaks for walking the doggie. One item I really looked at ia called a PCA9685. It’s a neat circuit board that can operate up to 16 servo motors. My Arduionos can run six, but that’s flat out and you cannot use the internal timers for anything else. My report is in today’s addendum. It’s a perfect fall day, so Chooks and I went for shorter walks more often.

           By now you’ve noticed some pictures and videos, perhaps the slightly different characteristics. I found a new video program on the library computer and used the movie maker in Photos. It’s pretty crappy but in a pinch. It wasn’t busy so I got to know which apps are available. Plainly their IT guy is a gamer. The telltale sign is the computers are full of his apps, and the selection tips us off he does not read, write, study, research, invest, create, or travel very much. A Google addict, betcha $5.

           One again, I will be dependent on the library for any communication, as this iMac rejects most every app including my e-mail. Nobody remembers the password to unlock it and unless Taylor knocks on the door, my contact with the outside world remains a doggie, the Internet, and if I can find the energy, a Karaoke tune or two. If I didn’t say, last week two or three of the gals remembered me, but all were there with dates. No big deal, I’m always the oldest patron. Here's a pic of the nearest post office, because I want a picture here.
           The staff renewed my minutes on-line a few times, giving me time to look up a combination I’ve heard of. I’m first to admit I have not kept up with developments in sensors. Yet they are amazingly small and cheap compared to not so long ago. Then I read of somebody using the Arduino to connect a gyroscope and an accelerometer. In my mind’s eye, I’ve always felt sensors worked best in batches and this one makes sense. I never had any real experience with a gyroscope because they ignore gravity. The accelerometer, and I already have one somewhere at the cabin, is a logical companion.

           One of the more common times for me to be in Tennessee is when they switch to daylight saving. Set it an hour back to be in this zone, then another hour back for the winter. It is best to confirm, since I do get jet lag even in cars. You’d think it would be a simple matter of asking somebody who lives here what time it is. And you would be wrong. No friggen clue, but they want $20 an hour to start. This is why you cannot blame the Reb for not trusting the pets with anybody for even a week.
           The desperate Democrats are trying anything. Full force turnout suppression, this is the tactic of having celebrities (hired help) continually announcing that Trump has already lost, so no sense voting. They have rolled out old Hillary again with the same old message, “It’s over, don’t bother.”

           The claims have the same message, that MAGA is breaking up, that Trump’s approval rating is only 20%, and that there is a “three in four” chance Democrats will take the Senate. All this before a single ballot has been certified. Then there is the chorus that Trump is unhinged and out of control from the people who told you Trump would attack, if not nuke, Iran by last week at the latest. And the Hildebeest, who lost the election of her life, has declared that Trump’s relevance “ended a decade ago.”
           Since there is no doubt the voter fraud mechanism is in place, the one unpredictable element of voter turnout is paramount. If only 10% more habitual non-voters show up, the Democrats are sunk, possibly permanently.

           Another item to watch is the Democrat scam in Alaska, which uses the logical but dismal “ranked choice” voting system. It seems the Democrats sought out, recruited, and funded a retired nobody grade school writing teacher with the identical name of their Republican opponent in an obvious effort to split the vote by confusion. This will be fun either way, as the Democrats have poured “a lot of money” into this, but dozens of street polls show that Alaskans are not in the least fooled.

Picture of the day.
Re-introduced bison, Kansas.
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           The unplanned time up north results in more reviews and this time I have flash full of band training video. Much was from jam sessions and open mics, so why not glance throug them for any useful e-mail clips? Yep, the e-mail list gets full access to material not shown here. And that’s when I noticed something. Around twenty of the videos were from Wednesdays at the old Stable. Long ago I crabbed how when I played some of my best tunes, Bradford would walk over and stand in front of the camera. Hey, it’s a free country. Here is a picture of the community jigsaw puzzle at the library. The White kids have fun putting it together and the other kids have fun taking it apart.

           That’s when I noticed something. Around 25% of the videos were times I was playing melody lines on the bass. The reason for this duo arrangement is over-explained elsewhere. These were the exact times Bradford was in the way but now I see he was also talking to Fat Rick, the guy who eventually hated our show. (We were there to help out, but he soured and now I think I know why.) You can just barely hear Bradford, who failed at arranging, pointing out how I was playing lead parts on the bass.

           Normally, the audience would hardly notice this, hearing only the general effect of the arrangement. But most guitar players instantly hear it and 99.9% hate it. No matter how many times they deny it, I have never seen a guitarist who gets on stage without an ego. You can hear Bradford scowling at me “playing lead” but also commenting that he could be playing this style “if he wanted to”. Yeah, Bradford, and you’d be on the stage instead of beside it.
           Now we get the Halloween videos, but not the fun times. It seems a bit more popular each year to post videos of diverse behavior. This year, Chad from Illinois, wins top prize. TMOR, be aware that black thievery is a huge problem in America. What happens is black families often bus into White neighborhoods to steal wholesale from houses that leave treats outside on the honor system. Chad’s video shows the mother helping her brats steal 40 juice boxes off his porch.

           In news, the CDC has refused to identify the doctors behind the faked vaccine studies. Tennessee homeowner’s annual cost beyond mortgage expense is now over $15,600 per years. That’s insurance, taxes, and upkeep. Nobody told them you must have 3x the price paid for your house in infrastructure equity to keep the place going after retirement. True. I live in a cabin, but it is a two bedroom and my expenses are less that 10% of what the others are paying.

           I made it to the Pond tonight, on the way I saw what I first mistook for Xmas decorations. It was, I think, a drone show. By the time I could pull over and take some video, it was over. I got a bit of the advertising, if it turns out, you’ll see the video. The Pond does not know know it, but they are a Texas style pub. Except, they don’t stock Budweiser. Two tunes was all I could manage, but the powers that be know I’m no longer a midnight owl. But I was there until 11:00PM.

ADDENDUM
           This is what the controller looks like, using just two Arduino pins, because it uses an addressing system to communicate. Again, one at a time but so fast you think it is simultaneous. The literature says you can chain 62 of these, but like the on-line guy says, if you have a project that needs 900 servos, contact me immediately. I’ve read how the I2C addressing works but never done it. The PCA9685 boards retail on-line for 99 cents. Maybe.

           This photo shows the board. The important physical parts are the separate power supply (5VDC), the green thing with the screws. The Arduino does not have the power to drive motor, you connect your power here. And, 16 yellow-red-black attachment points for motors or LEDs. Both work withe the PWM signal this board provides.
           All addressing (communication with each motor) is software controlled and invisible. But the segment that distributes the signals is that shiny array of six logic gates on the top right, labeled I2C. Now I wish I had paid more attention when I read the explanation 15 years ago.

           Lots of narrators predicing the end of diode lasers. That’s the type I use. It won’t really cut anything and has to be keenly focused. Yet, I guessed right. I chose the Wainlux because it was cheap and I could not pry any good facts ot of the on-line bunch. By luck, it turned out the diode model is very good at printing on wood. Multiple passes will cut, but also char and there is danger of flames. Don’t forget about fumes, assume they are all poisonous.
           Today I looked at how the diode works with leather, I can imagine the smell. Once more, it cuts trinkets and the market is full. I’ll also pass on slate unless I get paid really well. That leaves metal, which just bounce the laser back. But there is a way, because I’ve zapped my logo on most small tools that have coated metal. And I just found a product called Brilliance Laser Ink, black metal laser spray. You spray it on bare metal for a black color result. I dunno, I’d have to see this.
           To think this is a consequence of 2011, when I decided to work mostly with wood.

Last Laugh

November 1, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: November 1, 2025, pigtails, yep, I’m sad.
Five years ago today: November 1, 2021, my last Halloween gig.
Nine years ago today: November 1, 2017, no fame & fortune.
Random years ago today: November 1, 1977, playing accordion.

           What’s this? Caltier has a building for sale. That is potential good news, even if they present it as “re-financing”. Later, the Reb reports and encouraging call from the company honcho. Reddit and a zillion other companies that piggybacked of the detestable Google are circling the drain. Why? Because they can no longer grease the SEO palm. A.I. doesn't do "referrals"--but now that Google has proven on-line advertising is a cash cow, it won't be long. My hope is whatever emerges does not sell out to Google.
           Up late and up early, it’s a dreary fall morning. Chooks wanted walks at 5:00AM. We got soaked but he knows that means a towel rub, so to heck with raincoats. Ooops, I've run afoul of the iMac pages glitch. That's where you export the first copy to a Word compatible format, but forget iMac does not preserve that path. Subsequent saves are to their proprietory Pages format. I forgot. Dang, I can see your files, but I cannot open them. Again, I will try for photos instead. If successful, you will see Chooks in his element.

           Up late and up early, it’s a dreary fall morning. Hooks wanted walks at 5:00AM. We got soaked but he knows that means a towel rub, so to heck with raincoats. The near-collapse of Reddit makes a fascinating study. If i did not mention the situation directly, some months ago the Reb & I talked about this emerging change and its aptitude—but there was no money left to try anything with it. We did not know it would blast away some websites, but we knew several things already:

√ That the search engines were totally corrupt.
√ That a change was long overdue.
√ That A.I. while not smart, outperforms average people.

           In that last sense, at least it emulates society, where 99% of totally dependent on the few good ones to keep them fed and out of trouble. Here is Chooks in nap mode, I finally got this computer to embed photos again. Seems I have to reset this every time I’ve been away a short while. I see his blankie has disappeared again. Seems every time I’ve been away, this old iMac needs all the key features reset, it will who pics like this, but only full size.
           I see the parallels with the movie industry and A.I. already. In 1980, the movies ran out of imagination. Other than the field of special effects, there were no longer any new themes or monsters or creative plots. All the classics were taken. With rare exceptions (like the first “Alien” movie), everything was standardized rehashing. The car chase, the retired secret agent, and the cop scene in the stripper bar. But all the classic elements from Cleopatra to James Bond were used up.

           So it has become with A.I. already. The big ideas are grabbed and the technology is finding its way into precisely the web spaces that relied on obfuscation. Even I got mileage on how easily I could stump a search. My Picture of the Day feature has been in jeopardy for some time due to the escalating difficulty of finding non-commercial photos.
           Every search for any picture has become cluttered by page after page of Alamy, Dreamstime, and Getty garbage which cannot be filtered. At that point, somebody needs a severe slap in the head. The Internet has become their private billboard. And the supply of in-your-face XYZ advertisers is constant. “Tyler M., a part-time janitor in Philadelphia, spent five years developing a magic hemorrhoid elixir and is now ready to share it with the world.”

           This iMac, it needs to be thrown out or fixed like I said five years ago. It was set up to be “safe” back years ago and now needs a forgotten password to enable key features. Back in Tennessee, I’m getting telemarked calls again. Chicago OBGYN desperately needs me to call and poor Richard on Collegeview Road in Bloomington is having his phone number spoofed by a caller that pre-approves your loans. Again, the problem will be solved best by going after the phone companies that enable these operations.

Picture of the day.
Near Marfa, TX
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           I’ll be here a few more days than planned. Trapped by the circular bureaucracy. But an old anti-bureaucrat like me knows most assholes are born, not made, and I have a backup plan ready. It works like so.

A) Can’t get my vehicle registration without Tennessee ID
B) Can’t get my Tennessee ID without taking a driver’s test
C) Can’t get a driver’s test without a registered vehicle
D) Go to A)

           The backup plan? Bearing in mind most people would be trapped at this point, the Reb’s vehicle is really mine and is registered in my name. But it is parked at the airport until she returns. There’s your demo that America needs 90% less government. All these inefficiencies and bull eventually add up. Most people could scant afford the three days off work needed to sort this kind of crap out. It’s a system easily bested by anyone who wants to cheat.
           This is what is left of the Goodwill book section. It is not mostly kid’s books and cookbooks. I stopped for a look after making a run to Krogers for soy sauce, syrup, and paper towels. I could hardly contain the excitement, but that was the top story today, unless something comes of all the flashing police lights on the other side of Franklin Highway. I found a book I thought was on wilderness survival, but it was mostly XYZ garbage how to protect the einvironment and pack out your garbage. (You bury it, folks.) I was looking for Bengal Gold spray with IGF, it seems fewer places than ever stock it anymore. Tells you it must be working fine.

           I found my old spice box in the cupboard, so we ate good today, after all, this is my holiday. I put on a non-A.I. documentary on Monte Casino, an abbey in Italy that was not used by the Germans until after the Allies dropped hundreds of tons of bombs on it. Only then did the Germans occupy to rubble, where 800 paratroopers held up two Allied armies for months, killing them by the thousands.
           The election is looming large. The MSM is hammering two messages. The usual that the race is near-equal and to forget the bad political issues because Trump is evil. Neither have much apparent traction, but wasn’t Trump supposed to fix the defamation laws? One severe inequity is that to sue, the wronged party cannot win by proving the vilifying material was wrong, but must also prove the other party knew in advance they were wrong and went ahead with the attack anyway.

           I would change that to make the only clear defence is to prove where the information came from. As I’ve said before, I believe that would reveal almost all smears come from the same few sources. At the same time, I would enact prescribed damages so the harmed party did not have to prove financial loss. An example would be a hefty fine ($5,000 in today’s money comes to mind) for calling somebody a pedo without proof—again, unless they can prove where that information came from in a manner that leads back to the source. Then the fine is lowered to $4,000 for the crime of broadcasting it.
           Tennessee gives me fewer distractions, so I get more reading done. I looked at a few topics I’ve wondered about a while. Like some electrical components I rarely used, such as buffers. I have never wired a thing with MOSFETS, all my noodling has been with transistors, and usually the ubiquitous 2222N. I’m aware MOSFETs have replaced most bipolar transistors. I read once that the newest terabyte memory packs a trillion of them on each device, making MOSFETs the most produced product in history.

Last Laugh

October 31, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: October 31, 2025, the balsa wood section.
Two years ago today: October 31, 2024, fact: boxes need shelves.
Three years ago today: October 31, 2023, every lesson.
Four years ago today: October 31, 2022, legitimate means $$$.

           I made pulled pork omelets for Chooks and I, then two walks before and after dawn. We don’t bother with his winter sweater because it isn’t winter. Just don’t tell I said that. A little shopping and some time at the library. Be sure to look back a few days as I was able to get around a few of the changes they’ve made to block pictures. For example, they’ve capped the “Pictures” folder at 2MB, which is a bit less than the average pictures you see here.

           And they have blocked videos completely. You’ll see a few pictures but I have to compress and decompress to get past the limit. Meh, the pics can wait, as I’m looking forward to a long and quiet winter for 26/27 and there is no rule the pics have to be today’s. I let Chooks stay in the van, he is so unenthused, he’d lie on the memory foam rather than get out out. I don’t let him stay long as he is big and strong enough to really put up a fuss if you spoil him.

           I can insert pics on the iMac, and here is one from the Goodwill parking lot. That’s the blue paint job peeling off and one headlight barely hanging on. Hey, I’m not laughing, I’ve been there. But I never really drove anything in that condition, I mean, I would have fixed the light in place with a little duct tape at least. If I got the library computer working, you should see a picture of Chooks having a doggie roll.

           The water leak is from the kitchen plumbing, I will speak to the Reb, they should move her to another until until this fixed. But, the say is not mine. Nate is as unhelpful as ever but he does a good job of mopping. Maybe because of his cat, Schoolboy, who has fifty places to hide that throws him into a fret. Nate is just under 30, but it is kind of amusing the assumptions he makes. Like telling me how his “latest” video app or A.I. works. Like I’m the old guy who doesn’t know the technology.
           He’s like so many, thinking he’s part of the leading edge. I admit to teasing him, for example, telling him word processing is so outdated that only old people use it. And like so many, if you tell him you are busy writing a letter or reading, he regards it as if you were doing nothing important. Like I say, it shows where these people are coming from.
           The colder climate isn’t invigorating but brings out different facets of what I have left. Face it, that bypass was the end of any big physical events in my time. I have to take the doggie on four short walks instead of two biggies any more. And over here, it is an occasion, for I can make direct comparisons to such a short time ago. Twice in the apartment complex, but this morning to the library again.

           Reddit stock craters. A 30% drop in one day. Other sites which rely on search results are sure to follow. Millions could follow and the reason has been stated long ago in this blog. Search engines are corrupt and can be bribed to channelize your results. Plus the abuse of the word free and lack of a filter to block paid sites. All have been logged here for decades, and may they all lose their shirts for lying and being okay with lying.
           They relied on their fake advertising to have mainly Google direct business to their sites. Instead, AI. amalgamates countless sources into a single reply that links to nobody. I don’t think the results are the best but I quickly learned they are better than the usual “sponsored” returns.

Picture of the day.
African sandy beach.
Probably Namibia.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           The afternoon was not much different. We did a quick shop for some goodies. Don't forget the super-glue, the cat is the youngster around here. Her favourite targets are any figurines that have wings or limbs. We drive home by some side roads to familiarize with the town, it’s another frontier downtown that does not run north and south, so the roads are a mess. Next is either a picture of a brand new leaking coffee cup or my commentary of today over the decline of America. Did I say brand new? Yes, I did.

           Not that I ever have trouble sleeping well, but I do zonk better when traveling. That’s how Chooks and I lost the afternoon. I think he’s not quite as old as me in doggie years, rather he just has stiff joints. Nate is the sort of person who makes noise when he’s awake, like banging or dropping things, slamming doors, moving things around. And we slept right through it all.

           Unlike Sparkie, Chooks never learned to signal when he wants to go out. So I sometimes half drag him in the harness to get going, after which he is fine. This evening I took him around that huge school grounds to the west, about a mile in perimeter. In the middle, I had to stop and look around. There is way less “light pollution” here and I could see the stars. It was a perfect 68F . So we sat down and for the first time in years, really looked at the sky. I doubt I’ll see many times more. Especially in Florida, where the insects are.
           I suppose I may have another ten years, tops. Tennessee creates the time for me to ponder these things. It’s Saturday night, I should be out on the town. Let’s see, there are 52 Saturdays a year and I went without wasting any for 60 years, without a good reason I mean. So I partied for 3,120 Saturdays and still never met a winner/keeper babe that made the grade. And here I sit in the middle of a soccer field thinking about it. There’s a lesson in there somewhere, and no, I’m not too fussy. Non-fussy guys pay a lot of alimony and child support.

           Back inside, I planned a non-party evening watching on-line documentaries. That has become largely a task of avoiding A.I. slop. Then at 8:18PM, the Internet stopped working. My only window to the outside world in this town, where I know four people. It began to drizzle, which does not much bother doggies or Floridians.
           After another stroll in the rain, Chooks & I settled in, whence I took a much closer look again at the output of A.I. I first mentioned this when it took over youTube, how the videos were lame but the unblinking eye of A.I. does not miss a thing. A.I. may have made trivia obsolete, except where it amplifies failure of human memory.

           Above is the Halloween fundraiser at the school next to the library. Interesting, kids learning to play in a band. Where (in my day) I fought impossible odds to form a band, it is now a credit course.

Last Laugh

October 30, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: October 30, 2025, no warrants, you say.
Five years ago today: October 30, 2021, good old Cash.
Nine years ago today: October 30, 2017, I still like that fan.
Random years ago today: October 30, 2014, six bedrooms.

           If you are reading this, I’m still in Tennessee. Probably at the library in Franklin.
Hey, there’s that babe again. She’s 4-foot-7. In my time, I've read about and admired stone fences. I've seen pics of fences 800 years old. Today, was the first time I saw one for real. Turns out it is decoration for a shopping center. Sigh, due to intense traffic I could not get a closeup, but according to the books I've read, this is a faithful replication. (Real fences end somewhere real.)

           We found out how the Tennessee DMV does business. I was out there in the cold 30 minutes before opening time. Only one person ahead of me, but they do not open at 8:30AM like the sign on the door. Nope, they shuffle around inside for a half-hour. So the now 30 people in line are shivvering. Then some DMV type comes outside to go down the line to exclude anybody for any reason. The one lady, picture too small, another need more ID, and so on. Myself, one pieces of mail did not have the Zip Code. A bank statement I'd changed last month. So, it's back here next week for another wait, and since my old ID is more than 6 weeks expired, I must take a new driver's test. Have not done that since I was 16. That's the test I failed seven times.

           Next, some banking. None of my statements have been arriving since I put in the change of address. Remember the difficulty I had finding the new address in Franklin? I'm not the only one. The building street number is the same as the apartment number. So, Chooks and I drove all the way out to Hermitage and got official copies of everything. Then over to the library thinking I'll give you all the updates. Wrong. The units have been detuned so they will not transfer files, and the latest version of Notebook does not recognize Apple text files. Yep, computers were supposed to stop people from making these same stupid mistakes all over again. I con't be here long enough to set up a new computer like I used to. On the way back, I'll side-trip to Donelson and see if the old guy has any old units for sale. Don't it beat hell when you have to resort to that?

           The picture of the pretty girl stays.

           I’ve lamented how the system is constantly tightening up, but in the wrong way. You can get a thousand more informed opinions on that. They mostly miss the point, which is how the system brainwashes then into thinking it is for their own safety, etc. As said, the cops already know who all the bad guys are and where they live, but there is no money in arresting the kingpins. The real goal has always been to get everyone on a police file, regardless of how honest they are. And that is one scary situation. (Again, sorry for any repetition, as the blog here is written on two different computers.
           Today was the outcome of a PPP (poor people problem) that began October 11. Because the van has not been road tested for lack of money, I hesitated to leave until the morning after the check cleared, which was this last Wednesday. If I had the cash, I would have left the weekend before. So I get to Tennessee to find they will not auto-renew registrations if left over 90 days. This is day 91.

           You must show ID, so I went to the Homeland Security place and showed them all my paperwork. Nope, they said, your insurance info does not list your home address. They are in the same building as the DMV, who now say since my license expired more than six months ago (they don’t care if you were in the hospital), I must take a new road test.
           So, you may get this information twice, since I was on this project since 6:30AM and it is now 3:30PM. And that morning cold did not do my ancient bones a lot of good. While in the neighborhood, I took Chooks for an extended walk around the Hermitage library. He remembered it once he heard his paws crossing the wooden plank way. He dove straight for his old shady spot and if I moved fast enough, I’ll have video of him rolling like puppy.

           I’ve lamented how the system is constantly tightening up, but in the wrong way. You can get a thousand more informed opinions on that. They mostly miss the point, which is how the system brainwashes then into thinking it is for their own safety, etc. As said, the cops already know who all the bad guys are and where they live, but there is no money in arresting the kingpins. The real goal has always been to get everyone on a police file, regardless of how honest they are. And that is one scary situation.
           Today was the outcome of a PPP (poor people problem) that began October 11. Because the van has not been road tested for lack of money, I hesitated to leave until the morning after the check cleared, which was this last Wednesday. If I had the cash, I would have left the weekend before. So I get to Tennessee to find they will not auto-renew registrations if left over 90 days. This is day 91.

           You must show ID, so I went to the Homeland Security place and showed them all my paperwork. Nope, they said, your insurance info does not list your home address. They are in the same building as the DMV, who now say since my license expired more than six months ago (they don’t care if you were in the hospital), I must take a new road test.
           So, you may get this information twice, since I was on this project since 6:30AM and it is now 3:30PM. And that morning cold did not do my ancient bones a lot of good. While in the neighborhood, I took Chooks for an extended walk around the Hermitage library. He remembered it once he heard his paws crossing the wooden plank way. He dove straight for his old shady spot and if I moved fast enough, I’ll have video of him rolling like puppy.

Picture of the day.
Cabin ruins in Arkansas.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           Needing just a short siesta. Chokes and I ambled out to the van. Now I can see his arthritis. I’m sticking to my routine of more shorter walks, where the Reb takes him out an hour or more. I also give him more leash, I figure the doggie knows where he wants to go. This evening is was over to the library (which is closed) where he knows we walked y’day. We went along the same path but I could hear a band playing. Here he is staring through the fence. I have vidoe, but it seems all the library computers have removed any editing software.

           So, we headed that direction and found a large crowd of middle-teens with a band setup. A fundraiser, they said, with about 200 attendance. It took me back 60 years, because this is how the bands sounded when I started. Not bad, but far from slick. Yes, I’ve always assumed that bands who had any form of support would benefit by not having to go through the meat-grinder. Nope, here were kids four and six years older than I was in the day, hitting the same walls. I know, but I thought bands becoming an accepted recreation could skip this phase.
           What do I mean by that? Well, think of the odds in my day of my band playing at my own high school. Impossible. Even to strangers in town, you were a dirty rotten hippy who never took a bath and played Beatles “devil music” and lived on LSD. Which I’ve never even seen. I know better than to guess how these kids are managing.

           Let Chooks meet the babes. Like so many, I’m convinced I grew up in the last good times. My theory remains how these teenage gals should have it all their now way. Instead you got the goths and the tattoo lady, pardon me if they just are not the same.
           I’m working on a meme, which I’ll post under my avatar one I refine it. I’ll describe it and let you see if you can streamline the wording. lt’s how so many XYZers whine that the Boomers shipped all the entry level jobs overseas, then imported 50 million illegals to depress wages. Now this meme in meant to jolt a few brains, so stay with me here.

           Why wouldn’t they ship the grunge jobs overseas?
The fact is, the Boomers piled so many opportunities and entitlements on you XYZers, how were they know you lazy ass-clowns would turn out such incompetent losers you wanted to start at the bottom?
           Karaoke occupational hazard. That is not until next Monday. So I stuck around for a brew and wrote two letters (JZ & Hersh), when a fat boy at the far end of the bar sneezed openly. Within the hour, I have a sore throat and a cold sore. This is the generation that will be taking over.

           I began reading my DOS chapter on modems. Why? It was one of those subsurface skills I looked up when I need to, never memorized. What changes all that? MIcrocomputers. They can only communicate serially, which is how modems work. To be fair, the complication with modems is not the data transfer. It is the whacko ways that the “engineers” made the hookup and protocols. I’m only interested in direct connect communications at this point, even though in 1982 I was one of the first to use dial-up bulletin boards

Last Laugh