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TMOR (to my overseas readers): this blog
DOES NOT represent any average American life-style.
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Warning. This blog has evolved through many phases and earlier posts did not allow for links that go dead or change. I never intentionally link to sites that require memberships, accounts, or log-ins. Same with sites that don't pass my stringent filtering system. Thus, I encourage readers to NOT follow any links that attempt to redirect, use cookies, or are obvious wrong material for this publication, which is essentially PG13.

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 3, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: November 3, 2026, the GenX bulb.
Five years ago today: October 27, 2021, WIP
Nine years ago today: October 27, 2017, WIP
Random years ago today: xxxx, xxxx, WIP

           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.
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           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
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           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.
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           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.
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           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

October 29, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: October 29, 2025, capable & experienced.
Five years ago today: October 29, 2021, signifying "acceptence".
Nine years ago today: October 29, 2017, the end of the Palmdale cracker.
Random years ago today: October 29, 2006, me, at 161 pounds.

           If you are reading this, I am in Tennessee. So much for getting anything done. I flaked out until 6:00AM and decided to water the doggie. Out we went, bravely into the Tennessee darkness. Where he instantly went into snuffle mode. He’s still in a mood but seems to remember who is on the leash that lets him lead the general way. Instead of ten minutes, we were out there forty as he checked out every bush, hydrant, and fencepost. We got back, I flaked out again until 2:30PM. Cancel today.

           Of course, I don’t mean cancel your daily report. You have direct access to the captain’s log, I have woman’s indignation, it’s called, so I knew in Eufaula there would be no coffee when I got here. So I bought a 24-pack. Smart move. Today will be me, the pooch, lots of coffee, and I like to read/study. I left my DOS book around here years ago (in Hermitage) and found it. Good, because I found something else.

           I found last time I was here in July, it was hot. This time it was not. I did not fare well. This set me back two months, if I had to compare. All my old injuries re-appeared and some new ones let me know the seriousness of my operation last winter. I got Chooks out in the mid-afternoon when it’s warmest, and yep, the aches subsided. So, with a little timing, we should be okay unless we get a cold snap. I see the latest thing the climate people have glommed onto is the polar vortex.
           I picked up the chicken that will get Chooksie back into orbit, but my gawd, the Tennessee food prices. How can people here afford that? I know, put it on the credit card and worry later. I opened my travel kit so find all my shaving gear was missing. Must have left it at the hospital, that the last time I opened my jumbo travel case. Okay Chooks, car time, the nearest dollar store from here is six miles away. You know, in the other part of town.

           You’d think iMac would make it easy to transfer files. Back home, we boiled up ten pounds of chicken. Hooks can tell by the aroma, and by the sound of me cussing that there is no salt and pepper here. They all say they don’t buy it because they don’t use it. Yeah, well how come my supply, stashed way back in the cupboards, is always used up when I get here? Riddle me that.
           There is another way to get Chooks to settle to the routine. Let him meet women, and he bumped into a cutie right by the library. She walked past, but turned around. See that? That’s my boy. We wound up talking for almost five minutes, Tennessee gals always seem so nice. It was another five-minute walkie that took a half-hour.

           I plunked him on the memory foam in the van, and you are reading this, managed some computer time at the library. I cannot find the iMac command to save this a plain text. If you are reading this, it is because while Microsoft is royally screwed up, their latest crop of idiots are so predictable. (I copied and pasted it to a notebook file.) The good news is soon as I got off the library elevator, I noticed the woke bunch was gone. Now there was a guy behind the counter who did not speak with a lisp.

           Okay, you get to keep this babe picture as well.

Picture of the day.
Fort Massachusettes, in Mississippi.
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           First thing I checked was if the censorship was taken off the computers. It was, you can again access any site you want. Did the library mend their ways, or are they hedging their bets. Libraries need funding. And Trump knows who has been censoring. In a similar even, the California DMV is trying to recall a lady who’s license plate reads RVRTSEA, I don’t get it. Am I missing something. Then again, if has to do with something sleazy, I’m okay not knowing. Later, it is interpreted by Jews as meaning "from the river to the sea", the Arab expression for wiping Israel off the map.

           Tennessee has better Thrift stores. I scored an oscillating fan for the van and an almost priceless 3.5” floppy reader. If you wondered why I’m refusing my DOS, I have decided to hunt for an XP computer while here and I may have some 1990s material to post. There is an old joke, what is the difference between DOS and MicroSoft application? Answer: about $100.

           The election draws near, and while I support neither party for their agendas, I am very much against communism and corruption. And the liberal mindset that fosters such philosophies. The steal is still on, but this time they know they’ll be met. The MSM has been silent on asking Trump where the payouts are from. They know it is from tariffs and don’t really want people knowing how successful that has been. Or knowing the country can be run entirely with tariffs. Nobody will ever be able to vote taxation in again.
           Mind you, careful the tariffs are used to boost the economy, not turned into just another source of government social funding. Welfare hurts every facet of society. That is, the tariffs should be used 100% to spur industry and commerce, which distributes death through wages. That is, not used to distribute wealth through public services like welfare. A bit of healthy pain is overdue for all parties that live off the taxpayer.

           It is foolish to ignore the dozen major stats that show we are worse off than 2006, but they are only indicators. The American economy is quite resilient and often those factors offset each other. If there is another housing bubble collapse, good. More people will be able to afford them, and so on. I pay more attention to the numbers that have no pressure to balance. Like broke people who would live off credit cards rather than mend their ways. Then again, the reason they are broke is likely they don’t think they are doing anything wrong. Duh.

           My DOS review is going fast, then again, I have a background using that cryptic command set. On the long drive, a distant memory told me that modems have a direct connect (not dial-up) mode. I was thinking of this because I don’t have the Arduino shield (baby board) for such communications. I got to thinking that would be an interest research project since Tennessee Thrift stores still sell a lot of old modems. Anyway, just a thought, as modems are designed for telephone use and some have built-in blocks to stop them being used else wise.
           For clarity, I have a couple surplus routers. That’s the 1992 version of plug-n-play. I want to see if two modems could “twaddle” to each other. It’s a bit ambitious, so don’t be surprised if all I do is read up on it. I’m starting with information I last thought about 30 years ago. It’s a blur, like the difference between WiFi and wireless internet. It took me years to figure out the major difference was the range—and that only because the wireless people began censoring.

Last Laugh

October 28, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: October 28, 2025, they get paid well.
Five years ago today: October 28, 2021, they never tasted lamb.
Nine years ago today: October 28, 2017, totally ignored me.
Random years ago today: October 28, 2009 peek-a-boo.

           Just a half hour late, I was passing Gainesville before I noticed I’d forgotten my prescription. I can explain. Normally I take a different route, but this time I had to check the bank. I’m used to hopping in without my checklist. Everything else is fine and the last check cleared. I called ahead to Valdosta, Tonio is working and he has a crew in the truck. And it’s a bigger truck every time I see the guy. There he is now.

           News to me, his wife likes the boxes, mentioning the printing. See, I told you that laser adds more than it’s value. I still have no boxes sold, but Tonio is well-stocked with boxes now. He’s got the “jack in the box”. I had to ask if his wife would see those as well, and he says definitely. There you go, Tonio doesn’t know it but he just convinced me to get the larger laser.

           Not making any good time this trip, the new route is 38 miles further. But the timing should be the same since avoids that patch around Atlanta. You can follow on your atlas. Why not GoogleMaps. Well because the tiny viewing area does not allow most users to spread out the display like a folding map. I know, you’d think by now these XYZer would have invented a thin screen pocket map that opens to 4 feet by 2 feet and shows every road in the world. But they are too busy shilling on line that both political parties are the same.
           I take the usual path to Valdosta, the through west Georgia from Tipton. Some of the most beautiful countryside. There’s other places in the world, but to me they aren’t the same. Either too spectacular or too “oriental”. It’s divided four-lane except a few stretches. And Eufaula cost me an hour.

           And you get to keep the picture of the pretty girl. Here's the video.


Picture of the day.
Yogi's Jellystone Park.
(It's in east Texas.)
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           Eufaula was never intended to be a waypoint, just an side trip to see. It may well replace Macon at the halfway mark. Their Wal*mart is five miles south of town, make it six because to turn around and get back, it’s a drive to the next intersection. And that was part of the problem, it seems the “rebuild Alabama: money has reached that town and the’ve changed the road system. Not left turns everywhere, including the old trail I memorized to east Montgomery.
           You don’t want to get lost in that area, since it appears whoever planned things presumed every route must twist and turn but the only place anybody wants to go is Atlanta. I suspect people who live in Montgomery understand that, ha-ha.

           It stretched into a 15 hour trip. That van is equipped for siestas, but the Reb has a plane to catch. I drove the last 90 minutes in darkness, you just know how an old motorcyclist loves freeways in the dark. I arrived around 8:30PM local time to discover the Reb would be a few hours late. Snooze time.

           She came in at 10:30PM, a hug and drop off Chooksie, who will go into one of his funks. Playing orphan, shivering for no reason, refusing to eat. He forgets, I know the routine. Soon enough, his diet change to real chicken will jolt his doggie memory cells. Then I’ll start following me around in the house. Then he gets to sleep all day except when I take him for extra walks.

           But not before taking stock of the place. The Reb has been on the road since July, so there is nobody here to ride herd. It shows, I mean, how long has that smoke detector been chirping and why are there dishes in the sink. It’s small stuff, but Nate should be taking care of things without her being boss. But, he managed to fall in the tub and crack a rib, so we’ll cut some slack.
           The iMac computer was not serviced and is useless, so tomorrow it is library time. Apple computers were supposed to be intuitive. This iMac is a POS. It’s now as bad as Google for no back, cancel, or delete icon. When I left in July, I had ordered the microscope camera eyepiece, which they said was out of stock and I could not wait. With good intentions they finally shipped me a different item, the kind I did not want.
           I usually buy a data cable here rather than bring one from the cabin, since I usually lose or forget them anyway. Knowing the power-cable not data-cable scam, I found the the nextXYZ rip-off. They renamed it a “sync cable”. The difference is one extra wire, the scam is quadrupling the price.

ADDENDUM
           JZ is not doing well. I have not relented on my steady pressure encouraging him to get out of that city. But the odds are against it. Three contributing negatives are him losing his truck, then that license, and now loss of outside influence. He always has his large family but that does not get you any fun at the club. And, when I’m not there, if I didn’t say, he’s quit going out looking. It’s not any secret, when I’m around he meets the women. All he has to do is make up his mine, in that context he’s like most men. So no finger-wagging.
           I’m considering stepping up the pressure. We are old pals, but his experience and approach are a study in contrast. JZ has never been on stage, and the prettier the gal, the more he feels daunted.

Last Laugh

October 27, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: October 27, 2025, the GenX bulb.
Five years ago today: October 27, 2021, Cash, top dog.
Nine years ago today: October 27, 2017, Wilmington, once.
Random years ago today: October 27, 2007, What vending license?

           According to an on-line analysis of my writing, I use semi-colons, hyphens, ellipses, colons, and brackets more often that the next 3,622 people. Makes sense. Another phone meeting with the Reb, this folks, is why I do not like the recording industry. Money-hungry clowns, the only major business that it still run totally on bribery, favoritism, and kickbacks. America’s best talent does not stand a chance against people who buy the agent a new sports car. Yes, it very much really works that way.
           Dang it, I missed mail call. Typical, I know every side road and shortcut to the post office, but today they got me. One intersection had me waiting for 23 cars. Plus, one time in twenty, my KIA sliding door does not close all the way. Fine. Except, KIA starts an alarm ringing, and in case you have a low battery, disables the timer that turns the interior light off after a minutes. Figure that one out, the light stays on when the door is ajar.


           Here's a shot of crossing the Chattahoochie tomorrow afternoon.

           Now, for sure, JZ will call when I’m on the road. Screw USPS, I have described how first class mail means nothing anymore, while the stamps still cost first class. Bunch of woke bastards. The Reb has to fly to Boston for a show, which upsets other plans we had. That’s a lot of why I never got into recording.
           Just as I settled in to copy the files I need to take with me, my Internet quit. The bill, due Thursday, was paid a week ago and I’ve still got 9GB left of my extra “hospital” coverage. I drove downtown only to learn it is an outage. Get it together Boost. I bumped into the server from the Stable, who knows Josh. so he may be in touch. It seems the Stable may never be a pub again. For the life of me I can’t think what else would be in that location. This town cannot support another pizza joint.
           Trivia. The guys who invented bubble wrap were trying to create a unique wallpaper. All the original drilling rigs in Saudi Arabia were looking for water.

Picture of the day.
Meteorite museum, Albuquerque.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           Feeling just a slight relapse, I took a two hour break. I put the finishing touches on Tonio’s tool box. Then at final assembly, one of the pieces broke. It was an easy repair but things, at this stage, should not be breaking. To the rescue, I hauled out my calipers. Sure enough, the 7/8ths drill bit is 1/128th smaller than the 7/7ths dowel. This is why, if things has gone right along, I would be making my own dowels by now. Instead, the kit is sitting in a box out in the living room.

           I worked in the shed until dark. Finishing some work, finally the Internet restored. But no pictures today unless you want more boxes. Maybe I’ll come back tomorrow and post some for you. I am complete geared toward a trip to Tennessee so not much else is to be expected. It now takes a full day to pack and ready for the trip. It was not long ago if you ran out of anything on the road, you stop at the nearest Thirft. Quilts, pillows, work shirts, may of my tools are from that source.
           That changed three years ago. Since then Thrift prices have cascaded. Those $2 quilts now cost $12 and spare computer cables have all but disappeared.

Last Laugh