VIDEO HAS SOUND.
===============================================
THIS BLOG IS NOT FORMATTED FOR ANDROID.
DOES NOT represent any average American life-style.
Tales From The Trailer Court™
Thursday, June 25, 2026
THIS IS A HEADER - scroll down one page to begin blog--->
VIDEO HAS SOUND.
===============================================
DOES NOT represent any average American life-style.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
June 24, 2026
One year ago today: June 24, 2025 Jugging.
Five years ago today: June 24, 2021, never-ending needs.
Nine years ago today: June 24, 2017, use what looks nice.
Random years ago today: June 24, 2013, 10,000 miles by sidecar.
The Senate has enacted a law preventing corporate housing purchases, as if the corporations did not see this coming and have a backup plan ready. US forces have killed the top ISIS guy again, that dude has nine lives. And I watched a documentary on “Golden Dome”, the shield that is supposed to protect the USA against a new class of attack, the “non-ballistic threat”. It boils down to the same, using billion-dollar systems to combat thousand-dollar weapons. Back over here, I turn off the cooling in the spare rooms I don’t use at night and the sensor said it got up to 90°F inside at some point before morning.
A brief afternoon shower brought temperatures back to tolerable, so here is me finalizing some jigs for the newest and tiniest fake box, already tagged the “button box”. All from existing wood and equipment, it’s a handy size and fits nicely in one hand. So no thumb holes. The neighbor was over to get some assistance with his new phone. He’s lost three in the past three weeks and does not know how to pair up speakers and such. While walking over, I got stung. I would have left the wasps alone if they’d returned the favor but a big old granddaddy wasp got me right on the knuckle. Now my right hand is swollen, a condition I never had from insect bites before.
Ricko, and this reinforces what I already think, keeled over in his hallway and landed in the hospital. I did not know he’s got COPD, but he’s the spirit and image of the oldsters that surrounded me in the therapy clinic. I was there long enough to see the patterns in the clientele and which were the good and the less good. Possibly I have another guitarist who does not know what I learned fifty years ago—playing live music requires stamina, and if you don’t think so, you are not doing it right.
Hey, from my point of view if this compels him to sit down and play guitar all day, so much the better. I’ve no illusions, I know things are never going to get better. No word from the other guitarist, but I’ll bet he lost the slip with my info. (That is part of the plan, by the way.) And of course, the other Kooters band never called because momma don’t like me. She knows when she’s met more than her match.
“Dune-bashing” safari.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.
Cutting is easy with the templates. The L’il Texas sign had no such luxury. It was popular enough (412 views) that it gets extra attention. You see, this is 2026 and if you want something to look rustic, you got to put in the time. And nothing is natural about the appearance of this neat old sign. The stake is from an old bedstead and the crosspiece is carefully selected from an older end of plank that stuck out in the rain for a year or two. To get that greyed appearance.
Trial and lots of error. Thinner nails that would bend didn’t have enough visual and those nails thick enough were so long they had to be introduced to a bolt cutter. Projects like this make me glad I pick up extra coffee most times I’m downtown. And the way that grass in L’il Texas so nicely and geometrically displays. That doesn’t happen by accident, either, sport. Gosh, my place smells like baking pies on a wood stove.
I’m around halfway through the burn, so here is a closeup of the sign. The letters are individually printed at nearly maximum size, so the small discrepancies nicely add to the less-polished appearance. Normally the software that came with the unit would make it factory crisp.
The long burns (which would be impractical otherwise) gave me time to look up raccoon habitats. They live in hollow logs and trees and those around here have no vacancies. I found a forestry site that says they take to any tunnel shape if it has and opening at either end. I never had the heart to dismantle the beautiful dwelling I made for JeePee, who I miss so much. I wonder if granny raccoon would take to those if they were modified a bit?
Just now I saw the headline that the Post Office will not be delivering mail-in ballots to states that don’t enforce voter ID. Interesting for a couple reasons. One is that some pink-haired judge will overrule the President—and we shall see who the Post Office obeys. It hints the postal people just might be smartening up. The second reason is the lack of sass from the USPS. They are the very bastion of leftist vote-stealing. The fact that things even got to the executive order stage shows the Democrat party is crumbling from within.
Here’s a good spot to remind everyone I am not a Trump fan – but I am also a moderate Libertarian (quite different from what you may have been told about that philosophy). As such I believe that all participation should be voluntary, that nobody has the right to compel others (within certain reasonable parameters) into anything they disagree with. Of the two big parties, only one tries to force vaxes, queers, foreigners, and drug addicts into my streets, parks, stores, and work places. This is not my total position, but you get the idea. I would never stop you from helping, but I would stop you from compelling others to help. Enforcing charity is the supreme act of selfishness.
ADDENDUM
Bad news from Las Vegas. It has lost enough of its glitter to cause major losses to the biggest operators. That’s the casino hotel places. I’ve never been there and have no desire to do so. I know only one gambler and you’d pretty much have to pay me to hang out in such a place with such people. Up to recently, I knew as much about Hormuz as most, so I scheduled some videos. I was aware tankers are the cheapest way to move oil and most other commodities. The place has been a trouble zone since day one, so I was looking for pipelines.
Especially buried pipelines, since we know the political climate is hotter than the rest of their wasted lands and, historically, wasted lives. Most of the countries bordering the Persian Gulf would have to build across neighboring countries to read a deep sea port. At some point most of the oil-dependent regimes have built some minor pipeline that is just enough to keep them from starving if the waterway gets blocked. As for serious capacity, they don’t even seem capable of the thought. Trillions for nothing, and what have they done to improve their lot? If the oil ever runs out, they are back to camel-herding. Zero personal initiative is a trait of the third world.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
June 23, 2026
One year ago today: June 23, 2025, BangBang.
Five years ago today: June i23, 2021, dictated by what works.
Nine years ago today: June 23, 2017, real life is cheaper.
Random years ago today: June 23, 2009, living off a few hits.
This is a day for me to build specialty boxes. Taylor is at some sort of kick-off party, it’s a phase she’s going through. Me, I’ve learned and it is quiet time, by the way I have zero symptoms today and will be lifting things all morning. I want boxes for my cables, spare batteries, and the general junk any working man will accumulate. Did you know I hold the unofficial National Title for the number of broken small drill bits? That is why, on this afternoon’s shopping trip, I will purchase sixteen more of these in various sizes—all of which will soon have their own storage box.
What you see here is first the laser cut. This is actually three identical passes to provide enough for a good grip. The second panel shows spooning the liquid putty into the pits. There seems no easy way to get it only into the lettering, remember I’ll learning all this just now same as you. In the last pic, I try so smooth the surface, but it causes a smear that obliterates the pattern.
That was a good morning’s effort, thanks for the moral support. I played some of my favorite word puzzles as I philosophized whatever happened to my can of green paint when I hit on my highest scoring word ever, “augmented” for 1,009 points. That’s beating out 138 “champions” who we know are mostly using A.I. Nobody consistently comes up with 19-letter words every day if you ask me. The suspect word today was ‘disrespectabilities’, although I would believe it if I saw him do it.
At least I’m getting my money’s worth. Not so for ABC, the worst of the fake news operators. Trump has sued them for slanderous reporting time and again, and this time Trump has got them for presenting the $16 million repair bill for the Reflecting Pool as corruption. ABC failed to mention Obama had spent over $35 million on the same project with no visible repairs. These ABC people are slow learners and Trump continues to put the money received into public and charitable causes.
Wrecked Montreal stadium.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.
Few know of the Kra Canal but the concept is over 300 years old. Even the Suez guy looked at cutting a 24 mile waterway across the waist of Thailand. That’s a long ditch but there are no real mountains in the way and there is a new backer—China. It’s said the biggest opposition is from Singapore, which would stand to lose billions. The Malacca waterway, other than it military value, is a pirate-infested gauntlet. But don’t expect much, the cost would likely approach $40 billion and take 10 years to complete.
Chintzy fence pieces, that is what I saw in the lumber place today. These look a bit like fence pieces, but they are only 35” high by around the same length. Too cheap for anything, I’d though they were for decoration. The literature says they are for yard use. Harumph, you can pretty well step over them and they would not keep out 90% of dogs. Selling for $10 a foot, says the card “above ground portion only.”
94°F. Nope, we are not going out there today, unless it is an emergency like a coffee outage or if Taylor wants to play hopscotch. Where is that box of Columbian roast, oh, here it is. I paid the wifi bill and came straight home, only to flake out under the A/C. See those blocks around Lil Texas? I bought of them instead of going to the movies. I mean really, “The Death of Robin Hood” and the Michael Jackson story ain’t getting my twenty bucks. But carrying those ten blocks twenty feet over two by two totally winded me.
Have you ever tried to get a nail to bend just the say you want it? I finally said to hell with it, I’ll bend the nail tomorrow using the bench vise and then glue the damn nail in place. This is why you sometimes get these thrilling pictures of the strap-hinge installation procedure. I’ve had these moments my entire life, it’s just that fifty years ago they were not the main event. Right, Judy?
ADDENDUM
G.I. Joe is 62 years old today. Here is a shot from a Trump rally this week. It is getting difficult to simply point at the news without seeming pro-Trump. In reality, I think the guy is a bit of an ass—while seeing that is what got him elected because that is what was required. Still, he’s a bit overboard rubbing the Leftists nose in it, maybe he should at least wait until after the mid-terms. Then, after what the Democrats did to him and his family, he has every right. Here is a photo that by itself illustrates what is about to happen to the Democrats in November, the Democrats often try to fake such scenes. But they are far too dependent on obvious hired help.
Later, I tuned in to Gab to see. Once again, politics dominates but there is a persistent presence of posters who seem to think everybody is still intensely concerned over what they perceive as the unfinished business of COVID. On they go about the source, the funding, the evil of hesitancy, and rehashing the same narratives from 2020. They must be getting paid. I say the only people still obsessed with the topic are the heavily vaxxed and boosted who have not died yet, barraging the world over their stupid life decisions.
Sadly, it looks like Gab has gutted their one true attraction—the anonymous posting of memes with often-drastic messages. They seem to have capped the number of posts unless you reveal your identity, so all the really good material is no longer present. Let me pick the articles that interest me.
Trump has more than learned not to confront the entrenched Democrats head-on. He’s weaving an elaborate plan to undermine their support, both voters and money. Today he fired six bureaucrats from the intelligence agencies—out go the Deep State mall cops right before the elections. Trump has some master plan in operation and things are well past the stage the Democrats could ever hope to regain any legitimacy in our lifetimes. They are desperate, the world has seen this situation before.
India is moving to deport all Muslims. Do they know something we don’t?
Monday, June 22, 2026
June 22, 2026
One year ago today: June 22, 2025, surprise attack, my eye.
Five years ago today: June 22, 2021, drywall day.
Nine years ago today: June 22, 2017, soy sauce parking.
Random years ago today: June 22, 2012, the ‘skis’, ha-ha.
Happy Barbarossa Day. It’s probably coincidence, but since USAID has been defunded, a new spectrum of candidates have begun winning Central American elections. Naturally, any who don’t support commie narratives are being called “far-rght”. The Democrat claim was USAID was building schools and hospitals, but so far that is seven elections which have not gone their way. Howie was over for a backyard chat, he’s finally adapted to retirement. It took the required year.
Here’s Memphis II relaxing in his wee chapel house, happy as usual. He reminded me Greta said the world was supposed to end y’day. I built Howie a special box to hold carburetor parts. He worked a long time on those things so he’ll need a project box to keep things in. And I figure a specialist knows not to work on more than one such device at a time. And what better to keep organized in that circumstance. Everybody likes real boxes. Oh, and I was again complimented on the rustic appearance—see addendum.
They have locked up the Texas woman who herded goats through Wal*Mart while chugging Margaritas. Most did not know it was a crime. I’ve got most of my battery gear on chargers around the house, I really could use a yard sale. I may have solved the “caramel” aroma stumper. The clinic gave me an antibiotic called Betadine, a topical bactericide for the incision site, which I apply if I know I’ll be working bare-chested in a dusty environment like the shed. It has a slight medicinal whiff until mixed with inevitable Florida perspiration. I only suspect it from y’day, but it makes more logic than anything else. And I do want my red shirt back.
I am supposed to list my activities, a promise I made myself while stranded in that hospital. That was a time recently when the tiniest effort was something to be proud of. Maybe I will, but instead I had a blast listening to Tampa Commie Radio. They featured a one-hour broadcast gaslighting some local girl sports team who forfeited a game rather than play a team of queers. Complete with paid “callers”, the theme was how the girls embarrassed their coach, home room, and most of the state education system. For they said, the girls were total failures at accepting the realties of how the world had changed. How the school had worked so hard to turn the athletic department into nice people.
Now, Tampa isn’t without its moments. One slipped right past the censors, I almost spewed my diet root beer in the shed. You see, the SpaceX public offering created 4,400 new millionaires. It was speculated many were plumbers, truck drivers, carpenters, and electricians. So one of them called in to see if this new status automatically made them into the rich so hated by the Democrats, or if they had some form of grace period to adjust.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(666x0:668x2)/Dakota-Johnson-Madame-Web-LA-Premiere-021224-dfa7b5aa7c334963b22e22d336d51240.jpg){kind=link}
Dakota Johnson.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.
A pending storm again threw us some cloud cover, but it stayed dry and I spent a lot of time outside. Well, outside in the shade, nobody wise really stands around in the summer sun. I dug out the sawzall, but cannot find the box with all my spare blades. My plan is to dig out two small linden tree stumps that are in the pathway to the laundry. Howie brought over his weeder and took down most of the grass—except that one spot I’m leaving natural. I call it “Little Texas”.
My favorite coffee chair makes it easy to set up the laser and keep an eye on it. I’d rate today average on my energy scale, so after siesta (I really did nap this time) I worked in the shed until 8:30PM, which is dusk. I have a plan to test a way for the printing to stand out on dark wood finishes. I saw various how-to clips of people making pieces out of crazy glue and baking soda. My plan is similar. I will combine two factors to see the results. And it is something new and different, and for me anything beats sitting around. So, let’s experiment.
This is my idea. If you look at the logo burned into the wood piece, you may notice it bites into the wood. This can be enhanced by running the laser for two, sometimes three passes. After than, the beam gets a bit unfocused. The first part of the problem is that the laser burn in one dark color. If I stain the wood or yagasuki it, the logo no longer stands out. I immediately thought to fill in the lettering with a light-colored compound. And the baking soda came to mine—but I did not care for how the compound had to be scraped and shaved. Once set, it becomes hard and brittle.
Then it hit me. Water Putty. The container, shown here, says “sticks, stays put – will not shrink”. What do you think? It dries to a pale yellow. I won’t do this today, it is already past 11:00PM and I want a chance to read the fine print, maybe look at this stuff on-line. The container says it can be molded and painted, but can it be mixed with color? On-line, apparently nobody knows.
Canada’s departure tax has how hit 50%, but just you try to get that information in clear understandable form. This is the tax you pay if you leave Canada go live elsewhere. It is deemed that you have sold all your assets and property at market value. There is no getting around it. It cannot gifted, inherited, registered, incorporated, or disguised in any way—and even if you succeed, there is a law against that, too.
I warned my Elliott, the inventor guy from British Columbia that this was on the way in 1995. Like a true Canadian, he guffawed that could never happen in a country as free and nearly perfect as Canada. We had a falling out some years ago, so I don’t know how he’s doing, but he’s aware I was the one who warned him to get out of that shit-hole 30 years ago. He did not listen. He always talked about retiring on an island in the Channel, and probably could afford it having lived in his parent’s basement his whole life. Well Captain Canada, not no more.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country is boiling with hatred of some sort, my guess is the eastern politics. It’s a trend I attribute to Trump, not a single socialist cause has advanced since he defunded USAID. Not one left-wing candidate in the entire Americas has [since] been elected. Coincidence? Perhaps.
ADDENDUM
It’s been just over year since the Z-box design, without a single sale. But look what we’ve learned, and that brings me to reporting the compliments. Today was even better, in the sense the party went on to say they did not like the fancier boxes. (They hooted when I reflexively referred to that as the ‘Elvis finish’.) In my best conversational style, I’ll write down what I’ve learned that makes the boxes rustic. By no means does today’s box get that way by itself.
There are distinct differences in the boxes a year apart that do not result from the original design, in fact, I use the same jigs. They are hanging on nails in the cutting shed and have never been modified, but it now takes four jigs instead of two. These encompass both cutting and drilling. The other contributing factors are, including some I’ve recorded before, the selection and cutting of lumber. It must average 11% moisture but not less than 10%.
Each piece is now hand-selected. And each box is made from one picket for color and dimensional consistency. The board must be cut within four days of purchase, and must be fastened within a day of being cut or you will get cupping. Boxes longer than six inches must be stapled, not pinned, and the corner joints must be glued. Most lumber has a good and a bad side, the good side faces outward.
The wood is also selected for grain that runs long and parallel. There is no wrap-around or “waterfall” effect, but this is the stage where the logo is etched, so be careful what is out and up. The pieces have to be carefully matched up to achieve the best and most consistent effect.
A certain amount of cupping is expected, but the wood rarely warps or twists. I now use clamps to force the wood into shape, but move fast and you don’t have to wrestle with it. I’m watching “Flyboys” in sections now, for like many “TV” movies, I’ve seen parts of it when I came in to start my gigs (in the old days, which was usually around 8:00PM), so that’s around half-way through what is called prime time. I guess it follows I'd see that part of many movies.
Sunday, June 21, 2026
June 21, 2026
One year ago today: June 21, 2025, priceless.
Five years ago today: June 21, 2021, they think it’s normal . . .
Nine years ago today: June 21, 2017, it’s representative.
Random years ago today: June 21, 2008, a cute little bulldozer . . .
Happy summer solstice, longest day of the year and first day of summer. The sun is highest in the sky around this afternoon, then begins sinking south again. I never based much on pyramids and Stonehenge noticing this event. I mean, it’s not like they had the option of kicking back and listening to their Maroon 5 collections all day. One thing I do like primitive around here is my food, so I commenced to baking some sausage pie and carrots. There, I mentioned food, and the carrots are boiling on the stove even as we speak. What fun times will today bring? If I was smart, I’d take the day off and build, let me think, I know! Some boxes.
This morning was not meant to be, I got progressively more tired instead of waking up, so I obeyed the signs. Back in the sack to read, this time more history. Now even less, as I woke up past 4:00PM. Am I healing or vegetating? Don’t know, so I peeled and boiled a pot of carrots to give the vegetate-side a head start. What doesn’t get eaten today gets pickled. Your daily highlight from the blog that dares. Unable to get un-sleepy, I’m due for any movie I can find in the next five minutes. Quick, name one more blog where you can read about carrots and celestial navigation on an equal footing? Where the author documents guitar players and any changes in his porridge diet?
How about those interviews with Europeans who first visited America for the week’s big sport event, probably soccer? The ones most viral show up on my list and these are something to behold. What strikes them most? The huge disparity between reality and what their European media has been telling them for decades. They expected to see the Wild West, with shootings and riots on every street. They were stunned walking down streets in safety and at the abundance of things they were brainwashed as scarce. Like the Belgian holding up a 100-lb bag of sugar in disbelief. Or the Frenchman shocked at the size of Texas BBQ helpings.
What’s that racket? Mrs. Red, the birdbath timed out and she wants her afternoon shower. I missed another good day but the fact is I’m around to miss them. I’ll make you a deal, if it drops to near 80°F when the Sun moves along, I will at least go out to the shed and flick on the lights. Everything here is electric and it all works. Yes, I’m aware rates are going up again, but that is a budget item so we’ll have it as long as it is available. Not like California. And here’s a Vivitar glitch—white balance. See it dance around changing color intensity by itself. The contraction does that and cannot be adjusted.
I’ve been noodling more with Hendrix’s old “Red House”. What is it with musicians and prostitutes. I became a musician partly so I would never have to resort to that and I never have. The recording is another studio overdub, that is, spots where there are two bass lines, always played by a guitarist with all the accompanying foibles. Normally Blues has distinct turnarounds so they are not adaptable to my someday-to-be-famous four-octave walkdowns but what have we here? If I ignore certain rules, three of every four notes is part of the pentatonic. Hmmmm.
Later, nope, four octaves won’t fit. Hey, but I tried.
Inside a data center.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.
It was impossible to shake this disagreeable tiredness, so I also restudied some sextant lore, as my plastic piece has been knocked out of whack. Everything that moves on it seems adjustable, I’ve just been husbanding all my energy for the work shed. I’m precariously low on coffee, but the sextant gets a look this afternoon. Later, here is a view of the sextant, still in perfect shape—except for lack of a decent carry case. Here I’m testing to see if it fits nicely inside a standard size. No such luck, it needs a custom fit. But see that box? Don’t you just hate it when you stain and finish a utility box and it turns out much too nice for that task?
There may be a video nearby of this switch, showing a common problem with today’s non-Sears tools. This switch is a very common type produced by the zillions. It tests okay, shown here on the bench, but fails completely when installed back in the tool. The tool is now hard-wired and operated by plugging it in. Saves forty bucks and dealing with Harbor Freight whose biggest customer complaint is, as I predicted around ten years ago—their asshole return policy which involves scanning your driver’s license. A lose-lose scenario. It’s a lousy video, but you can see the test.
Then we cut some small pieces for Memphis II. He’s go too many chips and missing wing tips to not have his own tiny house. Another trick of the trade with the fence pickets is not to cut them until momentarily before they get used. They will cup and I just had that happen with a beautiful set. They are still usable, as I’ve learned how to position them during assembly to cut them back into shape. But it is extra work and I’m kind of past the point of doing much of that.
Last evening I also stopped at the old club to visit. It’s dead enough in there nowadays to do that, sad to say. That is also the staff that gets to review my latest projects because they have the most experience at it. This attracts interest, due to the fact it is handily the most interesting thing that ever happens there any more. There you have it, many people really like the design. (What’s lacking is cash offers.) And some day soon I just know somebody will tell me once to often it is way better than they can build anything comparable by themselves. If that is so, trust me when I say 90% of it is raw hand-on experience. So get off your haunches.
And a quirk (once again not mentioned in the literature) is the laser beam itself is meant to be focus for a shallow burn into the substrate surface but what about it getting there. A tiny exhaust fan sometimes allows smoke to fill the cavity momentarily. It was with interest I watched this effect which would normally be considered a bother. I’ve noticed something, which I am now testing, it is probably nothing, but the laser beam rides just over two inches from the surface when focused. That is enough for the beam itself to cool. That is, too close is out of focus, but it is also considerably hotter. Did you military types get that, or is this classified information of sorts? Relax, no Iranians in the room. No Taylor either, but that’s another story.
The movie I chose is “Flyboys”, more than two yours long. But so far, extremely well-researched and the equipment is fantastically reproduced. More than impressive. Mars, the M&M people, in keeping with recent backlash against artificial additives, is dropping two colors. Blue and brown. Have you heard of Bentley’s Law? I hope it’s true, requiring drunk drivers who kill a parent to pay child support.
But at the same time, there are too many instances of people snagged when drunk because other people hit them. Most people I know caught driving without insurance were hit by other vehicles.
ADDENDUM
If “hospital” views make you queasy, skip this section. I do not know how self-dissolving sutures work in every case. I don’t publish many “biology” pics. This one had to be shown. I was informed the sutures had been removed after around day 90, there was no mention of any remaining. But there are, they were subcutaneous, and are slowly working their way to the surface. I could tell something was there but suspected nothing as everything was done under the eye of a specialist who took extra care in my case. For that matter, so did the entire hospital staff. I guess they do not often see a patient who writes so much.
Here is the photo, which I would explain a bit. This is not good photography, but better shots did not reveal as much. This is by an old piece of equipment that only displays on screen, the resolution is terrible. But if I had not unmindfully turned the magnification dial to maximum, I would have missed this. This is at full power, which I believe on that old unit is around 920x. The field is so shallow I could not sharpen what you see here. There are artifacts and dust spots on the lens, the cover cap is long since lost, so you take what you can get.
But you can see plenty of detail that counts. I’ve labeled what’s recognizable. The upper left shows the sliced off end and that is the tiny piece that was formerly buried to that level flush with the skin surface. This was mighty fine work, possibly done by some instrument. Yes, the red spots are blood, both dark coagulated and tiny pale tinges as the exit site resembles a small mosquito bite.
This object is unbelievably tiny but I could tell there was something there. I see it was the larger knot and I can perceive five more present, or at least five more. So it takes months for these to work their way loose. All are [by day #144] well out of any deep tissue and in the skin layer. As such, they are harmlessly surfacing, though I would have liked to have been told the gory details Judging by my degree of discomfort, at some point there were around twelve of these.
I expect to replace the camera in the next 30 days, something with video capabilities. Oh, and if you notice all those strategically placed “How much longer” posts on social media, that’s me.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
June 20, 2026
One year ago today: June 20, 2025, hand-picked.
Five years ago today: June 20, 2021, around $14,000 each.
Nine years ago today: June 20, 2017, early stain exploring.
Random years ago today: June 20, 2010, yeah, potatoes.
Why is this day marked on my calendar with no notes? This and other great mysteries for today. Check the news, Tennessee has passed a Castle Law, you get to shoot people who don’t respect your life and property. It says here the global market for mirrors is $122 billion per year. No comment. More posts on-line about living in Thailand, although it really isn’t there anymore. I have not been there since around 1986, but the signs of international decay were already rife in every city. Men who consider consorting with prostitutes as normal will always be a majority. Most of them don’t really have any choice if they want variety.
Too busy to start that project, I have some potential news. I knew there was a reason the people across the way could afford to mess around with that house for a year—I heard them arguing today. She does not want to move it, and that is that. Ain’t nobody that rich around here so I asked the neighbor. Seems the whole area knew, but then again, I’ve spend three of the past six months kind of in isolation.
Trump is now purposely teasing the Democrats and they are reacting like brats. One of their number has been arrested for polluting the reflecting pool. I had talk radio in the shed half the day and most radio is still left-wing. As in Israeli attack headlines but no mention it was in retaliation for a rocket attack. The Iranians are up to their old trick, signing peace treaties up front and funding terrorists out back.
It looks like somebody is finally addressing the problem of illegals on welfare, in this case, Section 8 housing. No more leaving the citizenship line blank and collecting. I hope million get kicked off, I’ve been waiting a lifetime for that.
Navajo mental hospital.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.
A light cloud cover cooled it enough to get me out in the shed, where I didn’t really build boxes. I more improved, repaired, and put lids on boxes. Still wondering what happened to my green paint, I stayed in the shed until 5:00PM. I was not ambitious, rather caught in a downpour we all knew was coming. This also means I went without coffee all afternoon, so stay alert for flying objects. Oh, and I ran a load of laundry with another problem. That burnt caramel “hospital” niff remains. I don’t mind socks and underwear, but this time I unwittingly put my favorite red shirt in the hamper. Dang, I was going to wear that tonight .
Not shown is the relative ease these lids can be applied to existing boxes. But the hardware remains a real time-consumer. It [installation] can take as long as build the whole unit to custom-fit each hinge set, in this case these are strap hinges. That is, supposedly one of the easiest installs.
On-line is no help, as most of them say the first step is to lay out the hinges and mark the positions—duh. There is also another picture, this shows two partial cuts with my fancy battery jig saw. Problem, the reason you see this is because both my 20V batteries seem to either not like that saw, or are not holding a charge. I suspect the tool, as the batteries die after the short cuts you see here, yet have been recharged only 66 and 140 times (out of a projected lifespan of 400 to 500) each respectively. And a replacement set is now $150.
Finally, I get to hear Jack, the new guitar player who is a popular hit in the place. How could he get in so well and so fast and a dozen other questions, like why have I never heard of the guy? I have a lot of answers, but let me go grab a coffee, you see, it is already tomorrow morning. You can jump around with time lines like that when you own the blog, type of thing. Who is the guy? We don’t know, turns out he just moved to town three months ago.
He is in the same style as Ray-B, who has disappeared since he got the new girlfriend, what, eight months ago already? He strums excellently and is precisely the type of guitarist I am looking for—except I need somebody not quite keen enough to solo, or they will go do that. I noticed his material was about half obscure tunes. So I waited for a break and talked to the guy for around four minutes. Plenty of time.
He is self-taught and very interested in forming a band—he means a full band. His presentation was getting weaker toward the end, which happens when you run short of material. It would appear my background is something he knows is musically useful. I picked up on this and gave him my contact info, which he enthusiastically said he would call. I do not give phone numbers just like that, so we’ll see. Always leave it up to the guitarist to initiate contact.
Of the tunes I recognized, I’ve played every one of them from “Stand By Me” to “Tight-Fittin’ Jeans”. He knows a drummer (who doesn’t) and listened closely when I described that I did all homework on my own time and yes, since he asked, I would learn enough tunes to stand in with him for a set. Move fast, before the Florida rot corrupts his act.
ADDENDUM
The fun comment section today concerns the news half-story about a car that crashed into a house, upon which the homeowner shot the driver dead. I definitely side with the owner on that one. Rumors abound they were neighbors in a dispute, a case of lost control, or medical conditions—all missing the other side of the story which is the possible motive. Anyway, here are some of my favorite replies:
√ It’s like the damn apocalypse out here nowThere is a huge margin for misinterpretation here. But if there was mitigating factors, the media neglected to mention so—but they had plenty of time to point out the dead guy was a grandfather. My stance has little to do with this affair, rather that the rate at which Americans “lose control” of their vehicles is phenomenal compared to other countries, Right there something hugely funny is going on. Then add to that how they manage to broadside people’s houses, the odd are staggering. I’d sooner believe a California vote-count.
√ That was quick justice.
√ It's weird and missing important elements.
√ You may not drive into people's houses without repercussions fool
√ I will reconsider crashing through houses with my car. I had no idea it was dangerous.
√ The guy was a little but upset about having a car driven into his living room. I don't blame him.
√ Fake news withholding information about the ramming.
√ Someone drives a car into my house they're definitely getting Glocked.
√ You can’t park here.
√ He got what he deserved. Why drive like that,
√ The media trying to cover up the attempted murder by the driver.
√ No one is illegal in a stolen living room
And get a load of Biden playing the dementia card. He’s appearing at selected events where Jill leaves him alone to go into his lost act. Biden knows what’s coming and he’s worried. The old maxim of accusing your enemy of what you are doing has been evoked by the Hildebeest. America loves it when Democrats get caught in their own trap. Her plan was always to orchestrate public violence, label it insurrection, and declare martial law. Well, now she is claiming she feels locked in her own house and it is Trump seeking the New World Order.
Friday, June 19, 2026
June 19, 2026
One year ago today: June 19, 2025, it automatically unlocks.
Five years ago today: June 19, 2021, you ‘evidence-seekers’.
Nine years ago today: June 19, 2017, easier to sing.
Random years ago today: June 19, 2004, says he was buying.
“Good morning, you’re on the Shopper.” Station Bartow was clear this morning, so I listened to one of those classics—people call in to sell things. I was amused by these shows as a lad because most of the callers are hicks. The Internet has ramped up this disparity to hysterical, truly side-splitting priceless comedy. Back in the day when it was called “Trade-io”, I actually heard that broadcast of kid who called in to sell a washer, dryer, and dining room set. Finally, the DJ asked him how he got all this stuff and the kid said, “I don’t care, I’m getting that motorcycle.”
For me, it was age, not ability that did me in. The new guy, Ricko, has been a disappointment for rehearsal and new material, but let’s get out the balance scale. He always calls, he admits when he can’t or didn’t practice, and I was content with his abilities when he jammed along to my material. (Bearing in mind my list is simplistic due to lack of contact with decent rhythm players.) He has the musical ability and there is no doubt he’s been on stage and been a front man. To a degree, at least, he’s worked a room. Makes sense, he is kind of funny looking, large ears. Myself, I’m about as generic as they make them.
My short-range plan is we should rehearse here as often as he can make it, but be prepared to both practice and play in his vicinity. His reaction to “rhythm bass” is very positive, I speculate he’s never heard arranged duo music before. My kitchen is now aromatic with poly fumes, and this was one great way to spend a Friday morning. It prevents that attitude that you get so old nobody cares about you any more, the one [attitude] caused by doing nothing all day.
Ha, that police guy who gave out dog poop sandwiches to the homeless is in the news again. Don’t get me wrong, that was stupid, but at the same time I personally know what must be done and what it takes to not become homeless. So don’t expect a lot of empathy from me toward those who cannot be bothered to make the effort. Did you see the 99 tiny houses that millionaire built for the homeless? He did exactly the wrong thing building the houses next to each other. Now they can spend 100% of their welfare money on getting high instead of getting out.
Don’t argue with me, I’ve been there. I know first hand the power these people exert to drag back anybody who tries to escape their ranks. The last thing they want is an example of how it is done. And how about those Chinese military planes? They seem to be flaming out a mite too often. Engine failure, I was surprised to learn (from youTube) that these are not entirely Chinese. They are a Chinese copy of an older Russian model which is a knock-off of an even earlier British design.
I’ll tell you what else is catching fire a lot—churches up in the Somali-states, particularly Minnesota. Just churches, never mosques or synagogues. The Arkansas governor announces big gains in test scores after schools quit teaching race and gender theories and switch back to basics.
Lexington Opera House.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.
The shed was cooler than the kitchen, so I puttered. Built a storage case for my jigsaw. That’s the saw that everyone on-line can cut perfect curves except me. There are two large fans and as long as you waste little time moving between them, the work area stays comfortable. I foolishly removed the router guide and now can’t find it. So I stained some wood and tidied up. I might just get this place shipshape again.
You see, some of the callers have been around forty years and know the ropes better than the DJ. Like they know you can’t well guns, pets, or livestock, but they know you can ask to buy them, duh. There are seven boxes in this view, icluding the two ebony trials, only one has poly shown here. Staining is done in batches, just one of my habits.
Until then, how about an old movie, I’ll choose “Tango and Cash”, and coffee instead of popcorn. Call it a day, and just in time. Small gout attack, right heel. So, I sat down and watched some nostalgia videos, mostly youTube. I was astonished then as now how many people had unimaginable head starts in life and did nothing with it. Women were better looking fifty years ago, across all age brackets. I see by 1970, color photography was not yet well-established. I still believe “middle class” is a definition of parents, not families, whose children could be borderline destitute.
Then pictures of Woodstock, if people asked why I was not there, I would point to those thousands of hippie vans. These things cost money that I would not have available for another twelve or thirteen years. I like the courtroom movie scene where they plead guilty and the judge asks if they do so of their own free will. Right, free will to get 18 months instead of 25 to life.
The real feel out there was 108°F, with the actual hovering around 98°F. I have some ba news, the house across the way finally had the owners show up. They bought the place with a government grant, so they are there to stay. It is rarely the neighbors who cause the trouble, it is who their teenage offspring bring home. There goes the neighborhood, but it is also a place where everybody is on the lookout. I’m not saying it is wrong, I’m saying it is not a good development.
Some famous bass player died and I never heard of the guy. He is band had a hit around 1990 that I also never heard. Am I living in a vacuum? I listened to the “hit” and it would not have impressed me at any time, sounding like a movie track. They are a gospel band from Texas that relocated to Nashville, and I still never heard of them. So much for the impact of TV. Most of the bands I ever played in could not move across town, much less relocate to Tennessee. I gave a listen to their other hits, billed as alternative rock. They don’t rock at all, this Sixpence band. But it gets me he was just 50, had a stroke, and didn’t last a week.
In an ultimate, for me, display of old-age laziness, I’m investing in one of those springy grabbers for my work station. I’ve neglected updating the budget sheet because I know this unprecedented stretch of inactivity through all of May has me several hundred dollars ahead, even after that $508 trip to Miami, of which $192 was gasoline.
ADDENDUM
My hands and chest are still very dry, which seemed an immediate after effect of that anesthetic again. No, it does not help to use moisturizer, which makes things feel greasy. Another after effect, small moles that appeared at the catheter sites.
This is a picture of grit. This got my attention because it is pink and that is not common in the mine tailings near here. The dark splotch has striations that match the pink grain. I seem to have gotten covered with this from the shed. If it is worth anything, let me know. Pink molybdenum or something.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
June 18, 2026
One year ago today: June 18, 2025, there’s always Muxia.
Five years ago today: June 18, 2021, everything except viruses.
Nine years ago today: June 18, 2017, the $177 vacation.
Random years ago today: June 18, 2001, it wasn’t working.
Day 141 and I awoke feeling right, which pretty much means feeling normal these days. Not at all wasted from y’day, which seemed like a bland stretch of moving some wood. For me, it was a milestone, so there. The raccoon gets more pie crust and the birdies can shower all day, it will be another broiler. And I intend to get the most of it. We got us some fresh wood and an early start on breakfast: sausage sandwiches and coffee. I looked at box designs a bit on-line, but nothing we have not seen or built here already. To set the pace for today, here is a dandy scene of lichen growing on my mailbox.
I got into playing and looked up. It is already 10:30AM. Now that is a good start. Let’s go make some sawdust. I do not have a lot for you these days, I’m very aware of that. These are not thrilling days for me either, but I just talked to the guitar player on the phone. He does keep in touch and has almost enough motivation, but as mentioned, he’s older than he admits. There is another element keeping him in good stead—he has successfully started bands before. This is a vague distinction. My clues are a subtle difference between “He doesn’t complain about the right things”, and “He complains about the wrong things.”
This is why folks like the Hippie have plenty of band-forming effort, but none of it long-term successful, yet the same could be said about myself. However, I’ve had regular-playing bands that lasted years. I was with the Hippie close to eight years, but not one played regular enough to make the game worth the candle. They each seem to be good at one thing only, and even that means only good by Florida standards.
Later, I had the saw apart on the bench, it seems to be the off-on switch. It is the old style motor with springy commutator carbons, which I flipped around. I may cut the entire plastic switch assembly out and hard-wire this one. You know those hand-help electric probes that trace wires that are hot? I sometimes power down my phone overnight. Well, just now I set the probe down next to the supposedly dormant phone . . . .
To keep up this hectic pace, ha-ha, I also noticed and want the screws in the wooden bed parts which are very high quality, I’ll grab what I can. I’m feeling my old self for the first time this year, it will be a fun day. I’ll even leave the air conditioner on all day. Thrillsville. Nope. The trash man is always late until the time you want him to be. The lumber was gone by sunup. Straight to the shed, I put a couple small boxes together from the slats, they’re okay. I’m spoiled I now wanting a wooden box for everything. And today I tried some ebony stain. Too dark for etching, but one it dries it is not back at all. I have a wasp nest in the lean-to that’s taking forever, which is good as my can of spray went dead on me and I’ve forgotten every damn time I was downtown.
Nearing noon and 94°F at 61% humidity, not as bad as y’day, but don’t go out there unless you know what you are doing. Trust me, you probably don’t. There’s been a heat warning since 11:00AM and enough cloud blowing past that it is not going to rain. Fry, people, fry. Here’s some views of the boxes I tried.Oops, no pictures. But you can search high and low and not find another blog that dares to feature both lichen and tool repair.
Seven-in-a-row Bingo.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.
Inside for a break, I grabbed the news. Trump has warned States to clean up their leaky unemployment programs or get cut off. The housing market has stalled, I have not got a single hit on my search profile for months. I threw this small box together using the half-size jig to see and was not impressed. The wood is very brittle and chips easily. This “pencil box” is about all it is good for until we think of something. I was more interested in the bigger slats and once more, used the half jig. There is a method to that, for example the half jig makes a box out of 24” board.
The troop stopped for pie before the long trip home and you are asking how that spelled trouble. I was also the only scout who had a job, a paper route. I saw nothing wrong with spending the money I earned myself without asking permission. I learned that day none of the rich kids had any money on them and were totally reliant on being told what to do when they did. It did not take long before the gossip mill swung into action—that I knew how to read a menu and order food off it without adult supervision. Whoa, did I have some explaining to do. It was as bad as the time I thoughtlessly put vinegar on my fries. What a radical I was.
Seeking to replace my Tailgater bass amp, I found a new generation of absolute crap that typifies the mess of the Internet these days I want something I can recharge and play for 5 or six hours, like my present unit did when new. The millennials have put in considerable resources to obfuscate the lines between portable, battery, cordless, rechargeable, and a new contender, the power bank. This is in addition to their scumbag tactic of listing the weight without the bulky wal wart, although admittedly they kind of inherited that one.
Ad after ad, each one crafted to hide or disguise the shortcoming. We are talking truly expensive presentations with professional models, often purposely posing in front of the exact panel they know you want to see. Equally disturbing is how the already-suspect user reviews now follow suit. These amateurs are real scumbags when it comes to respecting search criteria. I specified cordless rechargeable to no avail. Remember that AUX jack where you could plug in any “headphone” jack and play along? Well, it is now called the OTG port by these genius-inspired GenX types. It requires you hunt around for a USB-C cable and you are supposed to know it means “on-the-go”. Millennial America does not just demand you be stupid, but to fit in, you must be the same stupid as everybody else.
ADDENDUM
For the first time in US history, a pound of beef sells for more than Federal hourly minimum wage ($7.25/hr). Bezos, the millionaire who bought the Washington Post, has fired 300 people. He says they won’t listen. Employees at his other companies listen. While half of US adults use ChatBot, less than 1/6 think A.I. will bring any benefit. A “migrant” threw a 3-year-old White child into an alligator pit in England. The zoo owner’s wife jumped in and saved him. How much longer, England? The antifa thugs who poured toxic algae into the Reflecting Pool could get 20 years.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)