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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.

May 26, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: May 26, 2025, it happened to me.
Five years ago today: May 26, 2021, list of characteristics.
Nine years ago today: May 26, 2017, the road leaving town.
Random years ago today: May 26, 2009, scratch that diet!

           Another recovery day, which means a lot of time on coffee, the shed, and tinkering. See this picture? That used to be my kitchen. It’s always this way until the new guitar player decides he should rehearse on his own time. There will always be a path to the coffee maker and fridge, but meanwhile this is the view unti further notice.

           Two chats this morning. Howie was over with his fancy mower, checking if I was mobile myself. Yes, just whooped so I had to decline his invitation for a five-mile jog before breakfast, tempting as that was. I would have met Karen up for brunch, but her neighbor needed a ride to the hospital. Maybe I’ll make her a set of small boxes today, see what she likes best. Today is shaping up as average and that average is gaining, just ever so unevenly.

           Where is my box of Arduinos? It is actually a protective sealed trunk, but were did I put it for safekeeping? It will turn up, but I’m saying the process of getting one of those running is more complicated and delicate-fussy than the how-to offerings tell you. That’s why I leave it until last, mostly. You need to have the correct IDE downloaded and installed on a compatible computer. The programming can take hair-pulling hours unless you copy one of their useless examples, which is suspect means 95% of all users. Then it has to be downloaded via an obsolete cable to a properly wired circuit. And that’s if everything goes right.
           I was fine until mid-morning, now I’m crawling back in the sack and the rules say I must get this in writing. I awoke fine but began to feel a paralysis tingling in my left hand and several sharp jabs in the “neurological” areas, namely my left outer thigh and across the chest area both sides of the incision. These are familiar pains that are part of the healing process so you don’t hate them. But numbness in my left hand is never welcome. I’ll explain this laser ad in a moment.

           Unable to shake the tired, I took another look at a small bass amp circuit diagram—and remembered I have one of those amps. It uses op-amp technology instead of transistors so I am unfamiliar with the wire-up. The fact is, none of my other circuits did a good job. They were too weak, too trebly, or did not match the parameters claimed. Aha, I just found the chip, it is a LM386M brand new in the package. You’ll have to return another day to find the outcome, by noon I was asleep.
           By happenstance, May is the best month I’ve kept records for in over 50 years. There are gaps but overall May wins—although much of the material is not blogged. This is the month I broke up with my first “big city” girlfriend. A doctor’s daughter who I intended to marry when I was 28 and finished university. In those days, degree means something and was a near-guarantee of success. But there were things I didn’t understand. Top of that list is I was unaware that good-looking rich girls didn’t just go out and marry anybody they pleased at any time in their lives.
           She was 21 at that time and got married three months later, maybe four. I did not meet my promise to contact her on her 50th birthday, but I sincerely tried. It’s a loose end I should probably tend to. At 21, I was still in shell shock from exposure to a world that was hellishly different from what I’d been told. If I think of any good life lesson I learned before that age, I’ll tell you about it.

Picture of the day.
Birch plywood model.
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           Later, I scraped up energy to build the circuit. It’s not tested yet, the wiring has to be triple-checked before power is connected. The time-waster on this project was a 0.05µF capacitor. You’d think by now they’d color-code them or something, or get rid of than nano-pico system, but no. That’s it. Festus Tuesday and we could not find a shoot-em-up. Just a drama about a bronc buster who gets kicked in the head. I won’t list around ten small chores, I just kept busy. Turns out my neighbor knew a girl who was dragged by a horse and never rode one again.
           Not counting the tumult of intensive care, I now sleep five hours, wake up, and then get another three later in the day. This wrecks most plans I have between 11:00AM and 3:00PM. I hoped this would not become permanent, but it has been 100 days. I’m making deliberate plans tomorrow to see if I can break this one and get back a productive part of my day.

           We got us the latest feisty female critter overnight. She is with the super-rodent crowd that somehow avoid the Hav-a-Hart [trap]. She is indeed a lively one and she’ll need it where she’s going. Lots of energetic competition included what I now know are a lot of barn owls right in my own general area. The on-line community says squirrels should be taken ten miles to defeat their homing instinct. I can’t see it because it never happens here and that cemetery is just ten blocks away. How do I know? Because I normally trap 3 – 4 month old juveniles like this lady. And in Florida, ladies don’t show up back in your life any younger than when they left. I speak with authority.

           The Bolt Pro 32 is a laser etcher that got my attention. I should call them engravers, since that is what the larger watt units really do. Why this model? A price drop fro $15,000 to $200 tends to get my attention. It spells the unit is obsolete. However, the tiny unit I’ve got has gotten usage all out of proportion to what was planned. I rather enjoy running the unit and experimenting different materials. And I can verify a simple mirrored finish will defeat laser beam weapons.
           The Bolt slices through leather and wood. One idea I’d like to try is etching wood grain onto cheaper cuts of lumber. Once more, Billie-Bill, I did not say I invented this idea, only that it was independently derived.

ADDENDUM
           Just when you think Tampa radio could not sink any lower, they step up to the plate. It’s that morning show with the queer, who like most, fancies his innuendo as clever. Last week he was an hour over filling a hole in his wall, “I’ve never filled one so big before”, saying he was afraid. Well, now they have this talk show where they have callers go on about their falling apart situationships. It solves nothing because they can never get the one side to tell the truth.
           It’s the only radio station that isn’t religion or sports that survived the Biden purge. Even the now defunct Armed Forces radio was superior to this crap, not made any better by that DJ who nobody asked for but who never have their own radio stations. As the saying goes, they don’t want their own bicycle.

Last Laugh

May 25, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: May 25, 2025, I discover fire.
Five years ago today: May 25, 2021, Zoom sucks.
Nine years ago today: May 25, 2017, no blog – nobody remembers.
Random years ago today: May 25, 2025, nobody will believe me, anyway.

           Finally! Day 122 and overnight I crossed some threshold. Other than the physical wound sites, I feel 100%. I’m not fooling myself, but this is a welcome day. Now back to work. No word from the guitarist. I’ve got a hand dolly to fix and the shed beckons, this is an outdoor but in the shade day. But I’m also tired, so let’s see what wins out. Aha, I told ya, we will see a trillionaire in my lifetime and it will likely be Musk. The primary contributing factor is inflation.

           Not bragging, butI checked my e-mail, fell asleep in the chair, and woke up at 3:30PM. Here’s hoping you get to do that when your time comes. Nope, no contact from the guitar guy, but I dealt with that like a Kennedy. Remember that old sequence, if not, see the addendum. I have an overall sensation of returning vivality and I’m heading to the shed. This is the high point of the day unless Taylor shows.
           She’s taking her time, but I understand, being a billionaire isn’t easy. Here is a generic photo of the cabin on it’s tenth anniversary last Saturday. You get a bunch of blurry pics today because I hit the wrong button during the download. Here are some random examples. First the fleet, two vehicles in the driveway. The KIA has the hood up to tend to that low battery. That would not please me to find an electrical problem as that battery is brand new.

           I set it on recondition mode, the one that is supposed to shake the molecules loose. But it was over in two minutes. Still, I don’t trust it and I’ll be watching. I told the guitar player if he can get over here, we can test his battery and see what gives. My battery tools are stored in one of the first large boxes I ever built, which today I discover has a leaky lid.

           The center pic is the slightly oversize new tire on the rear of the Hundy. Kind of racy, don’t you think? I don’t, it’s just a tire to me. I did manage to slap this box together while in the shed, mainly to suppose I did something. The ends are mitered, this box is to test a design for small devices, like my moisture meter and laser tape measure. Stuff I can never find in the drawer when I need them.
           Another returning capability is flexibility. This morning I could again work at chest height, that is, lift light items as high as my shoulders. We have a new pair of birdies, no pic yet unless they stick around. Greyish brown with black and white at the shoulders and around sparrow-size. You see, chest-high for me is filling the birdfeeder. Remember the 5x7 LED? I got it rigged up and was able to get predictable lights to word—but it is wired so wonky it took this mess of 14 wires and a mini-board. There has to be a driver chip, nobody does this by hand.

           I cut this custom strip of perf-board and it still took a hour. I had to solder the jumpers in place to get them to stay put. This component would require a microcontroller to make it display anything fancy at all; O dpibt an ordinary binary to decimal chip would produce anything remarkable, try as you might. Last, I have these wood labels that are now drying, these were dunked in the solution. It’s not great but it’s prettier than before. I don't want folks thinking I was sitting around all day like I was from Florida or something.

Picture of the day.
Lotte – world’s ugliest tower.
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           The next view is my idiot snag of a rag—into the blades of my planer. On the left you see it jammed solid and no way to release the roller. They build them so you cannot do that. Next photo is after a half hour of pulling the threads out by hand with a pair of end-cutters. These pics, I know are hard to see, but trust me, that rag is snagged and I have the plastic roller cover removed. Do those end-cutters have a proper name? I call them nibblers.

           How about some generic views? Here’s a close-up of the battery charger, this is in recondition mode. See the LED printout? It makes the too very easy to use. Then there is the empty mailbox. This, around here, is a sign of success. There is nothing like being far enough off the grid you don’t get junk mail. You will never guess what that last picture is. On the side of the roof with peaks, there is a small decorative trim. This piece is cut fill the small pot between the eaves and the gutter. Probably the only cosmetic wood on this building.
           It fell loose years ago and has been sitting waiting for me to get off my tush and pain the house. It finally got a coat of paint, drying in the back yard, waiting for me to set up a ladder to fasten it back in place.

           That’s no idle comment. It means moving the ladder and climbing it. The thought alone has me refilling my coffee-maker, let’s make that the benchmark for tomorrow. Can I muster the wherewithal to affix that in place and take a photo of it for you? I would so love to repaint my little cabin and I’ve been saying that ten years now. Don’t even mention the shingles. Dang, the origin of this blog as a captain’s log is telling on my laziness.


ADDENDUM
           The referral here is to the 60s, a historical message from Moscow reached the White House and Kennedy was about to accept the terms. Then a second message arrived that was unacceptable. Nobody knew what to do until Kennedy’s brother suggested why not just answer the first message? It worked.
           So I pretended my day was not wasted and sent a text hoping his car was back on the road soon and we should reschedule. If he’s a true band member sort, he’ll go with that.

Last Laugh

May 24, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: May 24, 2025, boring/generic day.
Five years ago today: May 24, 2021, why I hate banks.
Nine years ago today: May 24, 2017, the ten worst.
Random years ago today: May 24, 2015, swim to Portugal.

           Welcome to MillennialWorld. The one best idea I’ve got for the 3D printer has a warning not to print such things. It’s early so I’ll explain the idea. You know those special “D” power cables that fit mostly only the back of computers. Y’know, I could not find a convincing reason except to sell you a longer cord or something like that. The cover story is you can match the length of cable to you needs but that hardly justifies launching a new formal incompatible with other power cables.

           You see, any other system, you would just grab an extension cord. With D cables, you are more likely to find this situation, where you need to string two short lengths together and it can’t be done. My idea was a simple adapter that allows such ends to be joined. Once again, if such a gizmo exists, you have to know what it is called before you can search for it. You’d think such a thing would be almost universally available these days.

           Here’s some #20 biscuits stained for labels. They are not test on the laser yet where too dark a color can obscure the “brand”. I’ve not used stain since I began box-building around a year ago. It was fun to open the cans, see what survived, and how the various stains took to this compressed wood. These are dipped into the can and shown here matching up to see how they fit on top of good old Jenga blocks. These may be my only source of drawer pulls if I don’t find another source.

           No news on the smoke last evening, it could have been somebody burning an incredible pile of leaves. It is just past noon with first rehearsal slated for 2:00PM. And you know, I’ve got some misgivings. While no doubt I’ve met dozens of suitable guitarists, that is just one component of the band. It’s probably nothing, but I will record my hunches.

           Getting him to first rehearsal has been a month-long task. I know that serious contenders will carve out the time. First it was his place, then that didn’t happen, so it’s my place. That is not a solution until I get that kitchen A/C replaced. Then, his lady wrecked his car, so it was motorcycle, then it rained this weekend and back to the car. Which had a dead battery as of his message just now. True enough, this could all be incidental but a fail on any one of those counts is a deal-breaker. That plus his barely disguised ambition to join a full big band.
           I got up early and spiffed up the kitchen. The small PA is set up and I threw curtains over the worst parts of the view. It takes four industrial strength fans to keep the room just tolerable in this heat wave. He called just now to see if I had an extra guitar. Just the Ibanez. My spare is in Miami and the Fender is in Tennessee. And it is now past 2:00PM start time and no guitar player.

Picture of the day.
Bird of Paradise flower.
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           Almost 4:00PM, no guitarist, no phone, no messages. I’ve been here, waiting and reading datasheets. I found some 5x7 LED components, the bad design model. How does one design a bad LED array? Easy, put the pins on the upper and lower edges, and make the size overlap the last rows of the breadboard so there is no way to connect wiring. Here are some bad pictures, as I finally put the new $30 Vivitar through the paces. I discovered it does NOT have a macro setting which I would have preferred to the crappy telephoto capability.

           The photo of the clock face shows the maximum telephoto setting which I am trying to see might be tricked into thinking it is a macro. That makes for difficult shots and usually requires a tripod. The clock dial was taken with the maximum 16x setting. When the guitar player was late, I thought why not take a nap. You guessed it, I slept past 8:00PM.
           ’ll give the guy the benefit of the doubt, maybe his phone battery went dead or he got stranded, or something. My KIA has an on-board sensor that shuts the electric off if the battery voltage drops to 11.8V. That is also the lowest the [battery] plate design can tolerate. That means if your car battery ever drops below that voltage, it may charge up again but will never be reliable. You’ll need a new one—and I get the feeling that may be a pinch for old Rick.

           In the background, we have world news. The Democrats continue to infuriate the electorate by releasing murderers into the streets. If their plan is to create chaos so thy can declare martial law, it is failing miserably. The Philippines is introducing death by firing squad for stealing public funds. Lindall, the pillow guy, is leading in Minnesota primaries. I don’t know the issues, but if he’s running I hope he wins. Musk has “declared war” on Soros, a most interesting scenario.
           Not long ago, I devised a method to get gifs to play backwards. But I did not document it. Somehow, I was able to rename the files into a new order. That order was in reverse, so I could create a gif that played backwards. Interesting special effects. Well, if I did it once, I’ll do it again.

ADDENDUM
           Here’s a rare [blog] photo showing the unfinished kitchen floor and me standing beside the practice PA. In the end, rehearsal did not happen. I’m beginning to suspect old Rick is broke as hell. In itself, that can be worked around but folks, welcome to America. You must have a newer vehicle, or incur the expense of at least two like I must.

           This photo reveals the problem with my legs. Some say it is not all that bad, but I can see it. My left leg is visibly larger from lymph swelling. I don’t like it. I guess you can’t see the kitchen floor all that well. The point is, I’m standing on plywood. I should be atop some kind of space-age oak flooring material. Then again, I did not waste my life paying for a fancy house to die in.

           Nice and awake from my snooze, I stepped through every menu option on the laser etcher. I found nothing new but here are some burns. Evident is the more confident look of the product. In this case, the generic “Spices & Herbs” show is to see if there is a difference in staining before or after. I’m hoping no difference, as it is quite a walk to the shed if I have samples way up here in the office.
           Harder to spot is the difference in centering of the lettering. Without and expensive optional table, it is impossible to keep the logos consistent. I got lazy, return tomorrow for the picture.

Last Laugh

May 23, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: May 23, 2025, a lot of logistics.
Five years ago today: May 23, 2021, 30 years, no job.
Nine years ago today: May 23, 2017, have you met Suzi?
Random years ago today: May 23, 2012, constant, if petty.

           Happy 10th. Today is ten years since I bought this place. And it sure tied me down, which is a good thing. I would not want to be a renter these days. I remain amused by media that treats homelessness as a plague that strikes hapless victims. Not buying, folks. I know homelessness requires years of willful deliberate neglect of education, good example, and bad television plus a sour-ass attitude, disrespect of private property, and sabotage of any peers who try to get ahead. So I made up a big breakfast of hotcakes and the birdies get cereal and peanuts this morning.

           You do get a video of the work on my first real matching set. Two, I’ve done before, but this is six. It also tests a new format for the video presentation. Yes, I did get some experimental boxes finished as to major design. Further, I tested staining the fence picket wood, and you bet it soaks up stain. But that’s where logistics enters the equation. I get the stain for free, other than a 20 mile round trip to go pick it up.

           What will we get done today? Last evening was a total treat building that set of wee boxes. They are moderately harder to build, but now I can apply past knowledge. The small sets are easier to display and ask the same price as one larger box. If today is successful again, I’ll see about slapping together a jig to speed things up. Before that, I have news from Miami, JZ has informed me of the five full meals he ate in one sitting at the food court.
           I could not believe even JZ could tuck away five meals. You heard it right, not just the sandwiches but the full meals with all the fixin’s. Around $75 worth of food court chow, and I have permission to document it. You see, but for this blog, on some historic day last week, this true story would be lost to future generations. This photo is the best I could match to the location because I know the food court in Dadeland Mall.

           Nor have I any reason to doubt he downed the whole amount because he once ate seven steaks in one afternoon at Ocean Reef. What’s life without the occasional binge diet? Twenty years from now we’ll look down on all this and laugh. Here is the list of meals:

1. Phillie steak sandwich
2. Pizza double slice (1/4 of large pizza)
3. Chicken egg rolls with rice
4. Chick-fil-a fried chicken sandwich
5. The big burrito

           I did not assess the calorie count but I would place it above 7,500. Then he calls me a half-hour ago to brag about it and describe the people watching him. I would have charged admission. Anyway, the purpose of the call was my trip to Tennessee and pending return to Miami in around 90 days. Since I cannot be certain the past few days are a positive signal that I am doing better, I’m hesitant to make any plans at all. Except a siesta and then a stroll to the workshed. If you have any better ideas, now is the time to spout.
           And pies. I have two pies in the oven, cherry and apple. Single crust, so I don’t do a food court, ha-ha. A key lime in the cooler, and I’ve set out ingredients for oatmeal-cranberry bread. The oatmeal is soaking in the milk, so I’m committed. I don’t use buttermilk, which I consider highly overrated.

           Later, cancel any siesta, this time for good reason. I really wanted a slice of oatmeal bread, but found I had no raisins. One of the other ingredients is cinnamon, but I used half/half nutmeg. There is no white sugar, so I used turbinado. For raisins, I substituted dried cherries. Now my place smells like a bakery and I cannot fall asleep through that. Serves me right. Here’s a pic, it’s quick bread but I baked it like a cake. I’ve only got one bread pan and I have a hankering fo meat loaf, so I reserved it.

           What a weird fluke today. There was a rainstorm and shortly after, there must have been a huge fire nearby. Normally I would be very alert to the odor of burning wood, but I did not notice anything until I looked out the kitchen window, There was a thick blanket (fog-like) of smoke over the whole neighborhood. You see, I missed the warning signals due to a bizarre circumstance nobody could have predicted a few months ago. I had been inside using the laser, which takes only moments to fill a room with invisible but aromatic wood whiff. How uncanny is that?

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

           Where were we? Ah, yes, talking to JZ. Hey, dude, I warned twenty years ago to get yourself a hobby. It’s true, you know, every dude who has one of my free boxes has transformed into a box expert. JZ likes the small boxes and thinks they should go into a spice rack. Golly, I never thought of that. I’ll compromise. The larger boxes do resemble shelves when stacked sideways. In any case, I may need extra shelving to keep all the advice I’m getting from guys I know who never built these kind of boxes in their lives.

           Here’s an excellent view of the “biscuit” label idea. Those are laser etched on the largest common size, called a 20. Several test patterns are in the picture and I do not know how much these biscuits swell up. They are compressed and designed to react with the moisture in the glue to squeeze into a tight joint. Quite an impressive concept. C’mon, admit they do kind of look a bit like labels or tags, so maybe I do have a smidgen of imagination.

           Here is the result of today’s labor. Two boxes, stained, and slightly off size. You can’t tell the defect. These required 27-1/2 minutes each to get to this stage. That’s too long, and you can see the interiors are not stained. The unplaned lumber soaks up so much stain it has to be rationed and it the quantity is enough to impart a distinct oil smell to the wood. The knobs pretty much have to be a contrasting color, which are getting rare as I roll these boxes out the door.
           Paying attention to the “spice rack” faction of my input staff, I tried every possible combination of fitting these boxes into a standard size larger box. The hope was to find an easy way to create the shelf that intrigues so many onlookers. Thinking to line these boxes with cloth, I still cannot find my guillotine (large paper slicer). I’ve some experience with this sort of lining and know the value of that tool.

           I can confirm the Golden Ratio dimensions are not directly compatible with nesting designs. Put me down for some pencil and ruler time, it is a rotten idea to trial and error such works. I’ve built up wood to larger sizes and it isn’t normally economical.

           America is certain there is no connection between the cutoff of USAID and yet another anti-Trump talk show cancellation, this time that weirdo Colbert. I chose an evening of coffee and reading and was rewarded with sharp left-side leg pains that precede diminished numbness. Yep, around an hour later the affected area dropped to half-size. And I can feel warmth again on the surface, meaning the damage is fading. I called JZ back to confirm these are normal markers. He says I’m lucky, that it is paresthesias, and the healing process I’m experiencing is mild.
           Normally he says I would experience sharper “pins and needles” because I am healing rapidly. The lesser the signs, the slower the healing. But, he continues, there is no real cure, that even seeing a specialist will not accelerate recovery and I should be glad enough there are no other effects. Fair enough.

           Continuing reading, I see an article on the Catalina, a flying boat from the 1930s. It seems there could be a new model. Slightly smaller and a quarter the cost, a factory in Florida says the radials are replaced with turboprops, speed is up 70%, and composite materials make it sturdier. That would be something to see. Note, redesigns of older model planes avoids much of the regulatory paperwork of new certification. I also read last year that 15 of the originals are still flying.

ADDENDUM
           I have a few more words on homelessness. In America, you have to be a true loser to get there. Nobody is born homeless. The homeless could start by moving out of the cities. I had to live in the toonies for years before I could afford an apartment and they can too. Instead they feel entitled to live where they please. I had to put up with roommates, landlords, noisy neighbors and thieves until I worked my way up, and so can they. I worked the rigs and mills for years, so don’t be expecting me to listen to sob stories.
           In happy news, a bill has passed that makes deportation automatic for illegals who commit welfare fraud. Interesting because if they even apply, that is fraud.

Last Laugh

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May 22, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: May 22, 2025, orders, but not sales.
Five years ago today: May 22, 2021, half are bad.
Nine years ago today: May 22, 2017, because nobody knew.
Random years ago today: May 22, 2009, and discovered popcorn.

           Tomorrow is a holiday. It marks the 30th year of my retirement. May 23, 1996 is the date I stopped wasting my life as a wage slave. Yes, I worked since, but like rich kids, only if I felt like it. I do not have anything planned, but if I stay on the health recovery trail, I may one day be able to say I beat the system by not being a wage slave more than half my life. I pause here to shoo away those who mistakenly think I said I was rich. Far from it, I’m just “rich in other ways” than they had intended things to be. I’m up to the doggie pound with this month’s donation soon as it reaches 9:00AM.

           This box has multiple logos The average box would have just one, as the “full size” burns require 7+ minutes each. Credit for this goes to Bryne in Texas, who suggested the concept. Paint turned out to be smelly and slow, and the branding iron too expensive. Enter the laser, which has already been used a hundred times. The other methods were also messy and more dangerous. The laser needs tending while burning, but you can get other things done in the meanwhile.

           Something physiological is happening, and it is positive. Finally, I can sense a noticeable return of strength, which was the most prominent lacking aspect of recuperation. I don’t mean I’m back, just that I’ve returned to a more comfortable level, such as lifting and carrying five pickets at a time y’day without having to map it out. And I now get at least some warning of approaching “devitalization”. Like today, I was able to plan delivering the doggie donation at the pound. Though, I was unable to lift the bag. Soon.

           There’s a news item for you. With equivalent training, says Boston College, older employees not only learn A.I. faster, they are nearly half again as productive with it. Say again what is replacing these flunkies and DEI hires. I shall attempt to build six matching boxes this afternoon, blogworthy because I’m back able to plan ahead that far.
           On the way downtown, I turned toward Parker St. and saw the restoral happening on one place I looked at. Ten years back, they wanted $180,000 for this house. It was pretty run-down so I doubt I mentioned it. It was a contender, look at it now. One disappointment was that gable above the porch. I thought it was a studio, but it is a skylight for the stairwell. I don’t do stairs well in these times, bit of a pun there.

           It’s noon, is there any news worth the listen? Alberta. It seems, has a copy of the Centurion Project, which Democrats say helped Trump “win Michigan”. This is nonsense, relying on general public ignorance of software. It’s nothing but a database loaded with Alberta voters which is public information. But listen to the reports coming out of Ottawa. It is, they say, a list of “every judge, lawyer, politician, journalist, and elections investigator”. Not mentioned are yoga instructiors, custodians, and vacuum repairmen, but that’s another story. And, absolutely of course, the RCMP are treating the database as a “security breach” by “right-wing separatists”. Oh, Canada.
           But the best is how Trump is playing the Democrats like puppets. He’s got them screaming that illegals don’t vote, but are desperately trying to block IDE agents from the polling stations, duh. Such hypocrisy is hurting them badly in the ratings. What’s crazy is the number of people who think if they can get rid of Trump, things will return to the “good old days”. The fact is, right or wrong, good or bad, Trump has so awakened America to the machinations of left-wing politics that there is no going back. Millions who suspected things were wrong now know for sure—and what to watch out for since it is plain the bad guys will try it all again, given the chance.

Picture of the day.
The 500 Club dive bar.
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           I was at the doggie pound but could not budge the food bag, again standing there while some lady sheriff picks it up like nothing. Back home I decided a trail production run of small boxes. They will look similar to what you’ve seen, but are carefully scribed to get two units out of each small picket. (7/16 x 4 x 6’). These got the benefit of experience so it went fast for a new design. Here are the six carcasses, which were also a test of making a matching set.

           This was documented. If you are nice, I’ll get you a video of the assembly process. Note the boxes individually have matching shades, that doesn’t happen by itself. The average time on this is close to 18 minutes per unit, so I’m taking too long. There is a final step, placing knobs, for a thumbhole would weaken wood this small.

           This work has replaced all the boring therapy instructions and it’s getting easier. All the work is done standing up which is good. Don’t expect much more any time soon, though I’m pleased to say today’s work did not present any great difficulty. Look for another photograph of these boxes with drawer pulls attached. Classy stuff. Indeed, compared to before. My supply of that hardware is approaching zero.

           Give me a moment to record some logistics. These boxes are very handy for keeping organized, more so if I add a divider like y’day. But the logo presents a challenge. These boxes are slightly smaller and warp easily. This is dealt with by mapping 26 staples per box in a pattern that keeps the edges flat. For how long, I do not know. It’s part of our investigation here.
           The assembly requires extra attention and these boxes are too small to place under the laser after assembly. Printing in advance would entail even more work as the pieces have to match up. I have an idea, you know the biscuits from the jointer? It might prove easy to print those separately and tack them onto the front plate. Let me know, but wait until I get you some pictures first. I mean, do your other blogs give you that kind of respect? Riddle me that.

ADDENDUM
           So much for “uncopyable” formats on-line. Here is a demo, millennials, of how it is done properly. I was shocked to read that 99% of today’s greatest generation of computer-literate users had to be shown by somebody else how to use their apps. That’s horrible, only one in a hundred can figure things out for themselves. This is a GIF made from the latest youTube anti-piracy postings. Not perfect, but more than adequate. Is piracy illegal? Yes, but only if you steal sales away from the creator. That is not happening here. (They’ve already changed the law away from the creator to the owner.)
           My beef is with the faction that would make even viewing it a crime. In this case, they took it upon themselves to place something on-line that could appear on my computer. It is them that should seek permission. I naturally claim fair usage, as I am not selling anything. But they would have it so you pay a fee for each view—and I am totally against any laws that, for their enforcement, require mass surveillance of all users. Their proposed system is so prone to abuse that I would question if their true intentions had anything to do with copyright concerns.
           youTube has been slobbering for years to set up memberships to charge users by the look. They would do it instantly if they were not certain it would create all new competition. I’m old enough to remember when youTube was free posting only to display your wares. That is, cheap advertising and publicity only, as it should be.

Last Laugh

May 21, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: May 21, 2025, like briquettes.
Five years ago today: May 21, 2021, twice a year for me.
Nine years ago today: May 21, 2017, in the new workshed.
Random years ago today: May 21, 2015, --if you have faith.

           Biscuits and gravy, I’m getting more ambitious with breakfast and more exposed to Tampa radio. Here’s hot biscuits, help yourself. This morning’s talk show was about how people disappear from your life. I say so what, others seem to traumatize over it, so I had to listen. This one crazy lady said she was “evolving” as she flipped from one shallow trend to the next. Her friends didn’t like the “changes”. Makes me wonder if my predilection for new things falls into the category of trends, but then I remember I don’t really rub elbows with sketchy people.

           I got some extra fence panels, the small ones, which made today’s post because I carried them five at a time without effort. To be accurate, the is the first day that I’ve not been anxious over my exertions, mild as they are. The doctors y’day bolstered my confidence I took a movie, but it didn’t turn out, so here is a picture of where the cardinals live. These trees are a type of hedge left growing along my south perimeter.
           The moss is left because it prevents and larger or predatory birds from getting into the thicket. See video. The cardinals are clever, they don’t fly directly to and from the nesting area. They go through the branches on the adjacent tree, then across the northern trees, approaching the back yard from the north east. Still insecure about my endurance, I spread the pickets out in the sun to get a more accurate moisture and thickness measurement. Lady Raccoon also eats well, and when I was away, a mouse got the loaf of bread I left atop the fridge. Lady gets it.

           Iran places a $57 million dollar bounty on Trump, then claims to want negotiations. Russian nuclear missiles no longer target US cities in the first strike, but the massive sitting duck bases the US needs to field world-wide power. All such warheads must have some form of satellite guidance, so keep an eye on those as a first indicator of attack. To those who laud Canada as a “free country”, there’s the man who decided to fight a traffic ticket. He appealed and went through the Canadian justice system to be finally vindicated—which took 19 years.

           Speaking of Canada, what is with the rumor of crashing real estate prices. Probably nothing, but there seems something behind a stock of surplus condos unsold due to fees and costs that have increased out of sight. House prices have been so out-of-sight for so long, the condo market is what’s left up there. And now that might be in trouble.

           Be assured I read up on anesthetics before my recent and by far most serious medical affair. The one that scared me most was loss of brain function, which apparently is one in every thousand. Today, for the first time, I was able to step through an entire celestial navigation example without notes or double-checking. This is a careful statement, because most people could readily memorize the formulas—and unfortunately, that is how the subject is taught. I set out to avoid that by understanding what is going on. And today I managed all the “paperwork”. That means I did not physically take a sextant reading or draw the chart. But those are routine mechanical affairs that fade compared to the logic involved in the calculations.
           All on a scrap of paper and in my head. I was only 400 miles off. The real practice in not the readings or charts, but using the tables. And my advice is you scrap the GPS and get an Almanac and a mid-latitude Sight Reduction book. On the drive back, a thought made me chuckle. It hit me how Sight Reduction, once known as the St. Haillaire method, but have formed. The guy was on a ship trying to maintain position while subject to tides, currents, and drift. He did a fix, then later noticed the shift. So he thinks, instead of doing the whole calculation from the stars, why not use the last position and measure how far from there?
           He would quickly spot that having a known calculation from where he last anchored made life easier. From there, it is not a big leap to realize the need for a book of every possible position on the exact hour the world over. That is what Sight Reduction is.

Picture of the day.
Illegal “manjha”
(Glass coated kite string.)
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           Not out of the weeds yet, my siesta turned into five hours in the sack. This would be great retirement news for some people I know. And this, after my first seven-hour snooze last night. That left me enough daylight to create these two boxes. See any difference? Of course not except for the divider inside. These are prototypes made from one picket. There are slight dimensional changes. The total materials cost for each unit is $0.9623 including glue and 26 staples. Construction time, including moving the lumber and a couple mistakes was 54’52”. It does not include preselecting the lumber to have no side knots, or the time and transport. The point is, we have a box that could sell for $5. As always, the boxes are very strong.

           The other invisible change is that I planned and made this boxes with having to pause. I’m not the human dynamo yet, but able to sustain two hour to say the day was not wasted. That’s it, except for another picture here of “marine rope”. I recognize it but do not know why it is called that. I’ve seen it made of poly and of hemp, I suppose it is resistant to environmental factors. I use if for box handles and picked this up last week. Yeah, and then forgot it in the van.

           Ignoring my over-consumption of coffee lately, I got in by the air conditioner and found a Sheen movie, “The Arrival”. Not a blockbuster but well acted. I’m just at the pat where these guys always have a rich but ununderstanding girlfriend. The old plot, scientist makes contact but nobody believes him. It moved slow enough that tested 8 laser logos on these boxes. The best results are the menadala (round) patterns. I’ve found the patterns look less “Wal*Mart” if you put a pencil strategically where the moving laser head will rock the unit. And the favorite of the favorite patterns is that “Fake” symbol from last day.

           The bottleneck remains the time required to position and burn the logos, but as Bryne from Texas advised, it adds real value to the object. Sort of confirmation that at least somebody once had a use for it. Taking a break to scan the national headlines, what a fury over the election in Kentucky, with the Democrats focusing on ballot-cheating. Too bad for them, comes across like they sure know it when they see it. Fact is, the loser, Massie, was voting against Trump. I only recall him from how he voted against the border wall funds, when was that, 2019?br />
           Digital pricing, have you followed it? If you signed up for things like grocery cards, it has been following you. This is where the price changes based on your profile. With face recognition a reality the price you pay is determined by your shopping history, income, location, and routines. Where did they get all this information? You gave it to them. They know how much can be extracted from each customer without losing the sale. The price you pay is factored on data such as

• Your health
• Your income
• Distance to shopping location
• Pay dates
• On-line search history
• Car model
• Religion
• Browsing activity

           Then you’ve got A.I. about to enter the game. Nobody can predict that impact, especially because corporations won’t admit where things are going until after the infrastructure is already installed. And you know who is really responsible? Pay up.
           Around the 1:00 hour mark, I realize I have seen this Sheen movie from this part on. Much later, around 3:20AM, I was awakened by searing pain in the ring fingers of both hands, around 5 or 6 out of 10. But just for maybe two minutes and faded away along with most of the numbness from the past six months. Only a slight sensation remains, barely noticeable. I love it. Since I was wide awake, I did a plot for Arcturus, again by memory. That is, not by memorization, but by knowing the theory behind each step. Wow.

Last Laugh

May 20, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: May 20, 2025, 106°F.
Five years ago today: May 20, 2021, other temporary arrangements.
Nine years ago today: May 20, 2017, it’s a rock tumbler.
Random years ago today: May 20, 2012, Liz was special.

           Miami round trip, with favorable results from two doctor visits. Is it gas prices? Because I was to town and back in record time even keeping the Hundy below 60mph. Bottom line, today was concerned with medical checkups and I can’t make it more than that. The result is the end of an era, that is, the last of my ties with Miami soon as I can find local medical. I am now officially a permanent resident of central Florida. I’ll still have a trip or two over loose ends, but my 27-year connection to life in the Deepest South is over.

           Here’s one of the delights they don’t mention in the tourist brochures. Florida summer is also bug season. I had to pull over four times to clear the screen. Curiously, Agt. M and I texted, and why is that curious? Because I was using the $10 per month “church” phone and he is in Romania.
           Isn’t that something, this millennial-think phone service. I can communicate with Europe on a hand-held device, but cannot dial Canada because it is not “in North America”. You know how I feel about those who conspire to make money in this way, in case anyone has forgotten I am a plain-clothes redneck. You don’t work, you don’t eat, and sitting in Starbucks figuring how to shaft people on cell plans is not a real job.

           Tennessee is now in focus, with the guitar player calling about rehearsal. We finally have a slot, this upcoming Sunday. It won’t take much to get stage-ready, just ironing out a song list. Our initial stage time is just 90 minutes, enough to play 12 songs. It’s more the timing of the upcoming trip, the only one I plan to make this year for sure. Yes, I was talking on the car phone, as we once called them. If things don’t pick up, this will be one of my shortest tours to Tennessee ever. Relax, the money is the same but we got us a slowdown that is lasting this year.
           What happened with my checkups? Recovery, just not total. The results of my labs show a completely balanced condition, even if I don’t feel it yet. I don’t grasp the exact meaning but I read pages of printout all indicating I was within parameters with one historical exception. I still have high cholesterol—but it is half what it once was at my high-stress job. Then a check with my heart place who basically took one look and said I’m good to go. So I won’t see them again, and I have one remaining set of checkups in August.

           There you go, nothing spells recovery better to me than three docs saying I’m okay for three months, just check in. However, a conversation with my nurse practitioner leaves no doubt I will need a long-term cardiologist near this cabin. And I have not been successful in finding one in nine months of searching. But that was due to the waiting time for an appointment and unlike fou months ago, I am now fit to make that wait.
           On parting, I chatted with my practitioner, who had a surname I could not place. It was a Dutch name and I kick myself for not spotting that. Why? Because as a student of the Boer War, I should have recognized names like Koos de la Rey, the Lion of West Transvaal.
           I arrived early due to such light traffic, that I opted to drive back to the cabin rather than visit. Normally, I check in on JZ but he had some school plays to attend until late. Being still prone to fatigue attacks, I used the remaining sunlight to return home.

Picture of the day.
England’s largest vertical farm.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           There is no radio or nothing in the Hundy, which always gives me time to think and plan. Realizing I’m at a major life decision stage, I made it a long trip. I have misgivings about this tour to Tennessee, but it is financially necessary. I stopped at Punto Rojo for a sandwich and coffee. It’s got the most authentic café con leche, which I take without sugar. That’s one long story, involving a shopping district, a one-armed Argentine fighter pilot, and a coffee contest. No sugar, or I don’t like it. The story is buried in this blog somewhere, good luck finding it. These days, sandwich and coffee? $19.

           The Reb called, the album release is still timed for August, the amount of work put into this is staggering. My role is minor, I played no part in the music or recording, but my own future is resting plenty on this outcome. The one certain thing on this upcoming trip is we’ll make time for our traditional dinner on the town. She has been in that studio for thousands of hours and thanks to my condition at this truly important part of our lives, I land in the care unit. Life can be cruel.

           Meanwhile, all I want to do is stay put and get my therapy exercise building boxes. The medical reviews are great but I’m still plodding along. Tell you what, here is a picture of today’s utterly beautiful Florida sunset, with a storm brewing over the Gulf of America. This is facing east of Moore Haven, the coast is around forty miles over the horizon. That’s a wrap for today, but I did stop in at the old club to chat with Wilford. His photography is getting markedly more professional, I hope he makes a real success of that. The club was empty.
           Wilford is the guy who draws those super great chalk ads you see for daily specials. I have not found time to go in on a Monday and check his art show. He supplies all the art stuff and has also taken to run a pot luck dinner. Like myself, he will often “improve” store-bought items with healthy ingredients. But where I’ll add an egg and milk instead of water to muffin mix, Wilford makes up entire casserole dishes which would strike fear into those on a diet. He photos the ingredients and turns out giant size dishes. Well, free food—this puts a whole new spin on my sense of art appreciation.

Last Laugh

May 19, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: May 19, 2025, my most important event.
Five years ago today: May 19, 2021, that wood, that floor.
Nine years ago today: May 19, 2017, panning for shark teeth.
Random years ago today: May 19, 2007, is it that important?

           Some cheeriness to get us underway with morning coffee. The game camera, after so much waiting, finally got our Lady Raccoon stopping by for brunch. This was y’day morning and it shows quite more detail than at first. She still drinks from the bird dish even if other water is available. She is well-fed when she picks at the food as seen here. Her shuffling shows the arthritis I’ve seen progressing and she is not as agile climbing the pole. But she is alive an well and I’m putting an egg out for her later this morning. Welcome back, Lady.

           I’m not that spry myself. Maybe a few hours in the shed, as I have the option to drive to Miami later today, or tomorrow morning. While the Thursday opening is not confirmed, it’s a good bet it will be. I feel like building boxes today, a small matching set for electrical components or something. The onset of fatigue is mercifully taking longer, though by the month, not by the week.

           One for-sure around here is we know how long batteries last. That applies to AA and AAA cells which have their own database. That is how we know something changed three years ago this week. Cells that used to last in usage four months, like wireless mouses (not mice, mouses) and small electronics dropped to five weeks. Because the records are by battery size, it just took a while to spot the period the deterioration began. Calendar says food mention, so it’s a breakfast medley, spuds, sausage, eggs, with fried red onions. And listening to NPR.
           If you ever feel down or dumpy, listen to a call-in program on NPR. You’ll cheer up realizing what dismal lives their audience leads. Would you take dating advice from a queer from Tampa? Some would. This week’s gist is the old kids-no-kids marriage issue. I take sides on that one with a “yuge” distinction—the attitude of the married couple. I’ve always seen marriage mostly as a final admission to settle down and have kids. What I don’t like is the couples who got married so he could finally get steady sex and she to get a steady supply of money.

           Here’s some feral cats snooping about the back yard. Notice how the tabby cat gets stopped by the baffle pipe. Why would a cat try climbing that tree? We may never know.

           We have the election year viruses hitting the news again, and they are pushing the nonsense that 70% of people are vaxxed. That’s got to be media hype. If you meet anybody jabbed, they are likely to express regret for it. Absent from the broadcasts is the very mention of the turbocancer situation. Don’t expect mercy, as the general attitude is sheeple deserve their consequences and the vaccine hoax is just one more example.
           There’s no word for it yet, but when the MSM tries to use its standard foolery on-line, it can backfire. Most of it takes the form of laughable disappointments because USAID money is cut off. They try to fake raise money or gaslight it. Like that lady Senator who tried to raise $100,000 for her defense, claiming she had 119,000 followers only got $790. Or witness there has not been a single rap song on the Billboard Top 40 since USAID quit propping up their album sales. Tens of thousands of black focused web sites have disappeared.
           Much as I disagree with releasing partial counts during active voting, this time the alarm is raised. There are 12 RINOs in the news as anti-Trumpists, and 10 of them, by the looks of early stats, are on their way out, and it is barely noon. Cheating is too dangerous, but they seem to have counted on “past performance” momentum that is not there any longer. They’ve disgusted their own votership. How about the entire MS NOW crew demonstrating their complete ignorance on famous lines from the Constitution, duh? Ah, I heard someone back there ask, if I don’t watch TV, how do I know what gives with MS NOW. That’s easy, I, at the mall, once walked past a TV playing an MSM newscast, so I know just as much about them as the rest of you. Skeptical? Try me. But the rule is no names, I don’t give a FF about their names. Nor would I have any idea why their names are important to others. A clone is a clone.

           My study today was a look at the variety of laws that address “destruction of evidence”. These vary by jurisdiction, in many it is a subset of tampering with evidence. This is where things get sticky. There is no clear distinction between what is evidence and what could be anybody innocently erasing some old files. It’s a touchy area, because when charged with such an offense, there is the implication that you willfully destroyed evidence against yourself—and you have a Constitutional right against self-incrimination. You might think this is an unsolvable paradox, but in reality, most lawyers and judges take sides very quickly. Personal property which you have every right to destroy could suddenly become evidence without your knowledge. I just plain do not like such laws.

Picture of the day.
Texas bat-watching.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           This time you can ask if I’m work tired. I was in the shed most of the afternoon working my normal pace, or justabouts. Without thinking, so there’s an improvement over having to plan to walk across the room. I slapped together a box shelving unit to shove some of the boxes into order instead of stacked on my nice carpeted bedroom floor. It looks messy because I’m not done organizing. If you say that type of box-bench-shelf could some day double as a window planter, go to the head of the class.

           Hello, the Reb from Nashville. No activity on the Caltier account yet so Thursday morning I’ll get on it. I cannot put a trip to Tennessee off much longer. I still have unfinished business from August last year when that adventure was called off due to health. Things are on track for the album release, which burns up everybody’s time over there. It means, for the first time, if the Reb and I want to visit, I will have to time the drive for a few days in June, if not it’s wait until August and my doggie will be 14 by then.

           The Israeli David’s Sling (renamed 2006 Raytheon “Magic Wand) has a new A.I. guidance system. This old hardware with new guidance totally illustrated how warfare has changed from physical vehicles to electronics. It lacks the publicity of systems like Iron Dome and has my attention because of the “warhead”. Unlike other missiles with explosives and proximity fuses, this weapon has to actually hit the target.

           The first two stages are conventional and, to me, are reminiscent of the Rheinbote, 1944 German technology. But electronically, it apparently can pick out highly maneuvering targets using sophisticated jamming, which I’d like to see. There is such a gap between the invention and adoption, it makes me wonder what might have been had I gotten a head start, and I mean that relatively—remember everyone around me had the so-called advantages some would point to.
           It’s not a big asset if everyone of the competition has everything you do. I feel my most productive years would have been age 24 to around 38. The exact years I had to sacrifice everything or I’d be starving now. Life has been nasty that way. Years wasted paying rent and taxes so others could have an easy go of it. But that’s another story. My interest is how the missile finds the target. It is launched vertically, therefore dives down on the target, meaning it must discriminate it from ground clutter before anything else works.

           How about the GenX media expressing a desire to return to land lines, film cameras, and handwritten letters. Gee gosh, is that what you’d call future shock revisited? It’s a little too late for the masses. If only somebody had warned them and warned them and warned them.

ADDENDUM
           I laughed at gold panning in Florida in 2016. I knew my cohort had not done his research, but his knowledge of the land eventually proved somewhat useful. That was Agt. R before he disappeared into the wilds south of Brooksville. Panning in the river at Wachaula, a half-hour from here and I’ve never otherwise been there. When I saw the price of “official” gold pans, I’m reminded to take the handles off any old frying pans around here.
           The FBI are moving toward that system that monitors license plate, but on a national scale. Scary, once again because it does not confine itself to criminals. Of course some will say that makes the opponents paranoid, when in fact they simply do not to live in a surveillance state. I can see some jurisdictions removing the plates. It is really the opponents who are paranoid, it reminds me of that story about the people trapped in an elevator when the cable breaks.
           As the cage speeds toward the bottom, one guy says, “I have an idea. Just before we hit bottom, everybody jump.”
           The other passenger scream at him, “What an idiot! That won’t work!”
           He replies, “Okay then—don’t jump.”

Last Laugh