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TMOR (to my overseas readers): this blog
DOES NOT represent any average American life-style.

Warning. This blog has evolved through many phases and earlier posts did not allow for links that go dead or change. I never intentionally link to sites that require memberships or similar. Same with sites that don't pass my stringent filtering system. Thus, I encourage readers to NOT follow any links that attempt to redirect, use cookies, or are obvious wrong material for this publication, which is rated PG13.

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

June 18, 2026

Yesteryear
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.

           Kerpow! The crew across the way dropped something heavy enough to wake the neighborhood, so let’s begin by playing some bass—the new guy’s song list even if he doesn’t pan out. He’s good enough, but not equipped with the non-music gear to get underway. You cannot play in a serious band around here without a reliable all-weather vehicle. I picked up my bass and fell into a two minute sneezing fit. I better not be allergic to my axe, I’ll check for ticks.

           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.

           One of my favorite tools, this oscillating saw, quit on me. It is marked 2023 and has been properly stored. I removed an access cover and checked, the carbons are good. I’ll have a go at it, I have another but where is it stored? See, if it was in a wooden box, I’d find it right away.
           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.

Picture of the day.
Seven-in-a-row Bingo.
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           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.

           These sessions are no longer therapy, but regular activity again. I sometimes reminisce, sine I was almost reduced to only that, and to day I was reminded of a boy scout trip. I told you about that one, the eight slices of cherry pie. One part I likely never said was what I learned that day because I got in trouble over it. There were eight of us in the troop, all rich kids except me.

           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.

           At first I didn’t care for the ebony stain. Here is a generic box from the slat wood, the idea was to test some poly on this. But a late afternoon siesta put me out until 8:00PM, good news if this means the end of my hospital sleep cycle. The guitar player called, saying the weekend is open, but again I dislike slating anything on potential gig days. Hey, unlike the Hippie, at least tis new guy is aware other people have lives and schedules. Maybe the Hippie knew but could not imagine anybody else’s priorities rivaling his own.

           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.

Last Laugh

June 17, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: June 17, 2025, north of Mongolia.
Five years ago today: June 17, 2021, great American IQ die-off.
Nine years ago today: June 17, 2017, exactly 56 miles.
Random years ago today: June 17, 2004, five monks.

           We are on the verge of a storm that may never happen, but the Florida-wise know better than to start any big outdoor projects. I decided to shuffle over to the pile left by the neighbor for a closer look. Two solid wood wood, that is, not particle board. With my bad eye on the horizon I tested myself to the limit salvaging every useable piece. Here are around 20 slats destined to become tote boxes. They are strung together and me with no scissors.

           Years ago Ii developed a method to make my written words anonymous. Today, I use it for a different reason. I thought you might find this amusing. Take something you typed and use translation software to change it to any non-Latin language, then use different software to swap it back. Now compare the two versions to reveal two shockers. One, the very best translators in the world are not very good with English, and all on-line translation apps, especially Google, have an anit-White stance whenever they can.
           Nowadays I run headlines and/or first paragraphs through the process. There is something systematically funny going on in Europe. From total pro-immigrant propaganda to a more “maybe this wasn’t such a good idea” position. Somebody is planning on mass expulsions and they have been very careful to stay quiet so far. Good morning, we had apple pie for breakfast. No word from the guitar player, who last week discovered it is still work to play in a band.
           Then some smart aleck posted on like how all 15 COVID-vax related complications (speech impediment, asthma, chronic itching, short attention span) were identical to 1970s pre-faggot behavior. Complete with photos, statistics and case histories. While I have you all interested in salvaged wooden slats, here’s a challenge for you. The decorative head and foot boards had mating pieces stain a nice dark finish you can see here. They are not quite suitable for boxes, although I’ll try, and not strong enough for much else. If you can come up with something, leave a comment. I have nothing to match that color, so try to think of an integral product.

           I called it right on the new guitarist. The guy has nothing and is in no position to take on the added chore of working up a band. I’ve repeatedly stressed how playing in even the lightest-duty band is akin to a part-time job. Even an already-working duo is going to take up four hours per week, gigging or not. It’s like scuba diving, a few hours does not sound like much—until you try it. I have him an easy out, saying practice today is canceled because I have gear torn apart in my kitchen. Mostly true.
           It would seem it is his girlfriend pushing him to get into any diverson, which makes sense now. Also, I was dismayed at how little skill the guy exhibited to everyday problems, just little things like bending the prongs or tilting the unit backwards. He finally admits his only vehicle is that motorcycle and I know and it is monsoon season again. In fact, y’day a real growler just missed here by a couple miles and he’d have been stranded. The twist is that I now have 12 new tunes in my vocabulary and nobody to practice them with unless I head over there.
           Here’s one for you. The thousands of Brit fans who came to the USA for the sports game say they don’t want to leave. They don’t feel safe in England and are not allowed to wave their flag in pubs. I’m not laughing, honest sort of.

Picture of the day.
Miley Cyrus at 33.
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           In over two hours, I tested myself and the result is failure for output, but reasonable for overall health. The sky cleared and I dismantled the lumber in the oppressive afternoon heat, with humidity at 86%. I guarantee you would not like it. But it felt nice across my back and, what’s the word, hale on my chest. My ten or so trips across the yard were embarrassingly slow but I did not have to stop for breaks. I estimate the total distance was a half-mile, so don’t write me off just yet.

           I worked myself to a standstill on purpose. The house across the way is still full of workers most days. I think maybe some larger renovation company is sending over a crew whenever there are slack times otherwise. They seem to have unlimited tools and materials. And vocabularies to match.
           You know the old quad box electric outlets? This is my wooden version. This one is designed for one switch and one duplex outlet. There is a GFCI, but it is located well away on the plug end. This model is not waterproof and will have a rope carry handle. The metal and electrical parts are exposed, but they are recessed below the rim of the container. No nonsense.

           I ate half an apple pie at noon. I hope your day went as well, not so for Iran. Yes, they have surrendered repeatedly—but always without handing over the goods. They have learned from a long string of weak US admins that ceasefires provide time to reload. And they did it again, launching the Shaheds not at US assets, but at innocent foreign tankers. It is taking them kind of a long time to figure out Trump isn’t falling for their fake peace deals.

           What has my interest is the repurposing of the A-10, the Warthog tank-buster. That AESA radar mentioned y’day ties into this picture.as I did some calculating. The A-10 is designed for low-speed loitering and the Shahed’s average speed is around 100 mph. You don’t need Einstein to figure out the beams could be directed to track multiple targets simultaneously. For the A-10 closing from behind, they would be sitting ducks.

           Okay! By 5:00PM, I’m fine again, so let’s shoot a star and learn something. It is 17:12:53 GMT and I choose the star called Ankaa. Aires is/was at 056° 35.0’ and Ankaa has a sidereal angle of 353° 15.2’, declination S62°23.4’. Aires has moved 003° 13.8’ since the hour. Translated to Google, Ankaa is at -53.0640 x -62.3744. We are in the frigid South Atlantic roughly equidistant from Bouvet and Bellingshausen Islands. As Bouvet is already well-internetted, let’s look at the other. Bellingshausen was not even visited until 1964 (by helicopter), the nearest habitation is in the South Sandwich Islands, around 600 miles away.

           I’m here looking at a slat of wood, wondering, is this my destiny? If so, it’s not so bad. I’m not whooped out from the toil earlier, a good sign. Here’s a piece of wood staring back at me, 26-1/2” long by 2-3/8” wide by 0.43” thick. I have one of those idiotic decimal inch calipers, although I think tenths of an inch is a good idea.
           Then needing a laugh, I went on some sites showing women complaining about men. Always good for some chuckles. The overall most common but not explicitly stated is bellyaching. Women persistently feel the man is never “doing enough”. I was unable to get any specifics on what 'enough' could mean.

Last Laugh

June 16, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: June 16, 2025, cookies in the tin.
Five years ago today: June 16, 2021, Putin questions Biden.
Nine years ago today: June 16, 2017, five blocks away.
Random years ago today: June 16, 2012, Billie-Bill & the Alman.

           I’ll take any adventure today, point some out if you can. Aha, so it’s not that easy. The back yard meter said 86°F at dawn, so today will be an inferno. Tampa says 0% chance of rain, but those boys have never learned how the Gulf of America workds. I got a scolding being late with birdie chow and only beat 2 champs on my morning puzzle—but then I never knew what an “open call” was before. Not a radio term but something British.

           Now I could be wrong, but I may have learned why the capacitor on an A/C has three posts. It seems both the compressor motor and the fan motor require a capacitor to even out the stop-start cycles. I’ll get further into it today, but the work is taking up too much space in my kitchen to bother with another day. I’m planning to buy something I’ve never had before—professional shop rags. I could not justify the cost until now, I’ll let you know since I am not sure and am likely to recycle them as much as possible. Harbor Freight is no longer a cheap shop.

           That B-52 that plowed into the ground y’day was carrying the latest in radar, the A.I. designed AESA. This is where instead of one big radar dish, you have thousands of tiny ones, now approached microscopic in size, except you are not supposed to know that. The sensors (see photo) are steerable toward multiple targets. Today, that means drone attacks. The individual receptors are tiny and expensive and require immense computer power to act right. Whatever the bomber was carrying represents one costly setback in a drone war America has probably already lost.
           The fatso lady judge who aided an illegal may actually get five years. That is a felony and she would never practice law again, a blessing. Judges are supposed to enforce the law, not create it. She will appeal because for them it is free. This destroys the camp who have been complaining that Democrats never go to jail. But this comes across as the sacrificial lamb rather than a precedent. Gawd, she is a fat one, imagine that after 60 months of prison food.

           After pricing the replacement battery, I decided to buy the 6th example of the same wristwatch in my life. Chosen because it has been a Wal*mrt staple for as long as I remember. I bought the first one for $4.95 for being cheap and the thing lasted over five years. I liked that. I longer have the originals because I cannibalized them for parts, but I have the last two. One from 2017 and one from 2023. I have used Casios at times but they do not pass the rugged enough test around me. (Later, my records show this may be the 7th watch.

           The most common problems are a broken strap pin and a scratched face. Or condensation. Other than that I keep them until the battery dies. The replacements, a 377 are sold in pairs for $10, a size not really compatible with anything else. So either store that extra, hoping it lasts because it will be 2032 before you use it, or buy a new watch, The 2023 model cost me $7, the new unit today cost me $15.
           That picture, how did it get past the censors? Pill bottles in the background and flanked by dietary information. Even a Fake box in the corner. These are the unique blog experiences we’ve come to know and love. The story behind the story is that we are baking an apple pie for tomorrow and the top crust somehow spoiled in the freezer. It has become raccoon grub.

Picture of the day.
Somewhere in New Zealand.
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           The movie “Khartoum” is being watched in pieces, it’s a story I don’t know that well. But the movie has incredible scenes and I’m sure most of them are authentic in detail. Tearing up the docks for fuel, the Mahdi using captured artillery, and the behavior of the natives. I like it but keep nodding and having to rewind, my word I am tired. Every once in a whie, I get an extraordinary cup of coffee, and here is today’s.

        &bsp;  I am obliged to record that I have a number of new symptoms. The dry skin affliction from the anesthetic has returned in a mild form and my appetite has again faded. Also a number of slight discolored skin patches that match very slow-healing incision area have appeared on my forearms and shoulder areas. All these are minor compared to February, but should not, I think, still be present after 140 days. This was not regular heart surgery, I am lucky to be alive. What I’ve described are less intense than initially, but added together easily sap half my energy for nearly a week this time.
           The latest rule of thumb on dating is that the most you should spend in $200 minus the woman’s weight. Hmmm, I’m inclined to date in Gainesville where they’d owe me money.

           What a big stink over the kid who said he won’t work for jew. (This blog does not capitalize the word, for reasons, when used in this context.) Most people wonder, with all the trouble in the world, this nothing story is plastered over the MSM. Is this another manufactured issue, like the number of times these incidents turn out to be self-inflicted? The reason I ask is because so many people, including myself, have seen that same picture they are using somewhere, years ago. What are they up to?

           I read that most tossing and turning at night is caused by uncomfortable mattresses create pressure points. This morning my time lapse cam was not charged. Remembering it won’t charge if left on, I looked at the recording. There I was, getting into the sack, I gotta see this. I slept without moving for 40 megabytes. What? Oh, that is nearly 4 hours. The camera was active, as I fell asleep reading and one of the pages was moving around under the fan. Right at the end, I rolled over once in one continuous move.

           No shed time today, I had to drive to Winter Haven. I pushed myself past the limit, this time on purpose. I cancelled Festus Tuesday. I saw the pile of wood the neighbor threw out and noticed a large number of pieces around the correct size and shape for bench slats. They are a bit narrow for boxes but we won’t know until we build one. I’m going through that pile tomorrow, see if there’s more goodies. I rotate my coffee brands and today found a winner. It was on sale, I’ll see if it makes the grade.
           Sweden is back in the news, passing a “behavior” law. Good, because they are the world’s first and worst example of immigration gone wrong. Zero beneficial assimilation in fifty years. They can now revoke residency for all kinds of items that are not necessarily criminal, including associations, unpaid bills, and working under the table. Exactly the sort of activities associated with the lower orders. If so, they brought it down on their own heads. Of course, the human rights cucks will squeal it undermines equality, but not all races gang rape equally.
           One argument I especially liked was the civil rights position that people would be made unsure of what actions could be used against them. The solution is simple—when in doubt, don’t do it. Then, there is the Chinese. They are now saying the island of Okinawa isn’t part of Japan.

ADDENDUM
           Spotting a comment with over 200 replies, I logged onto Gab to discover the issue. Some dude wants people on EBT to get packs of military MREs instead. Maybe he’s not seen what those cost, but the idea was infective, people in general loved the idea. Because America hates welfare and it only exists due to minority pressure. Here are my favorites from the replies:

√ Enjoy having a entire class of poor, constipated people
√ You would have to upgrade the plumbing
√ It's cruel and unusual punishment if they can't dine like kings at your expense!!!
√ And We can finally Clear Out all the leftover WWII C-Rations!
√ How about git a frikin job
√ No more stealing my money to feed parasites. Not even MRE's.
√ Prison loaf sounds better.
√ How about a onetime expense to board a barge heading to Bumb Fuk Island.

           TMOR, welfare, especially single black mothers, is very unpopular in the USA. Particularly loathed are the blacks who deliberately have more illegitimate children to max out their income. Soon as anyone tries to put on the brakes, it’s all about child welfare. Yet single parent blacks have by far the highest crime and violence statistics. My solution is simple but would be opposed by those who think having babies is a woman’s biological destiny.

Last Laugh

June 15, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: June 15, 2025, 25% staff.
Five years ago today: June 15, 2021, Jason Derek Brown Day.
Nine years ago today: June 15, 2017, the high & mighty.
Random years ago today: June 15, 2016, I had no idea.

           A nothing Monday, what should we do today? Watching TV is out and I don’t feel like vegetating, but I repeat myself. Tell you what, how about we have a crack at that air conditioner. It is an LG1415SHR and I quickly determined the circuit board was burnt out. This is a common occurrence in Florida due to lighting. First thing, let me peel off the plastic housing and begin keeping a log of what goes wrong. If you have a better plan for today, now is the time to speak.

           Here is the circuit board test. This is the control panel, there will be a secondary circuit inside to distribute the signals. Both are useless one the main circuit fries—I found nothing wrong with it except it would not turn on. I have stalled at this stage before, simply because there was no help in systematically troubleshooting this arrangement. But I know the major internal components work on 120VAC an my intention is to bypass the controls with simple switches.

           If not, this appliance is full of salvageable parts, like the stepper motor in the video and that big fan motor. I removed panels until I found a wiring diagram and also found the Vivitar camera has no capability of taking a clear picture closer than two feet back. I’m determined to give this the old college try, it all looks brand new inside. I’ve discovered the compressor motor is the brown & blue wires, the pump motor is the white & brown at the other end.
           Having recently read a history of air conditioners (interesting, it changed the world) I watched several repair videos to determine what parts of the A/C are 120V. I conclude it is the compressor, a pump, two fans, and some form of temperature control. I shall search for the master switch which controls all of this. Be patient as hell, because this bit of work took me all morning and wore me down to full stop just past noon. Here's video of wiping dust off boxes because I have nothing else today.

           Worst was the ordinary motion of bending down or over to reach the housing screws. I know some people get this all the time, for me it was a shocking disappointment. You kneel or bend enough to untwirl the screw and within ten seconds get so winded you feel like passing out. About now the neighbor was over, he’s got some trash and the city gets antsy if you put out too much. Since I never exceed my quota, we divide up the pile—which was extra great today because he asked about the KIA.
           I explained the difficult refill was stalled because of the hefty $125 per hour dealership fee. He recalled the mechanic on main street in Bartow once worked for KIA and might be far more reasonable. That could work out, as I’m hesitant about taking the Hundy on too many road trips.

           Here’s one for you. I am not claiming to be first, but years ago I posted my first ad for bass-playing and wanted it to stand out. I did a careful research of what was out there and what was not. I came up with a catchphrase and spend months checking to make sure nobody was using it and that there was no Internet history. Using all then-available search engines pretty much ensured that I was, at least on-line, first to post the phrase. I described myself as a “life-long” bassist. Today, that has become a stock phrase in this part of the world.
           And here are a couple of things you might find interesting about celestial navigation. It works best when you assume the Earth is the center of the universe. And it works even better if you think the world is flat.

Picture of the day.
Early Australian house, Queensland.
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           Hours later, no progress. I’ve studied the diagram and it is a little too schematic for me. I thing what has happened is the company left out all the ground wiring, presuming a tech would the ropes. I’m going to try a couple jumper wires on the main components, if that fails, I’ll pull the secondary (distribution) board. I ripped it right out and found more evidence of a lightning strike. It must have been a good wallop, as the board contained a 275V varistor protector, but I’m not sure, The part that melted was on some big component wire I don’t know.

           The LG circuit boards seem very well-manufactured, it must be a robot. There are 8 salvageable relays and some heat sinks. Let me ID the ICs, operating at 8Mhz. It’s a pair of ULN2003APG, ordinary Darlington pairs, probably cirrent boosters for the relays. There is a bigger chip, 32 pin, no datasheet but the designation KHET means it is likely some specialized A/C component. Since the relays are all 12V switching 110V I dropped (desoldered) them off the board.
           It’s fun but now past 4:00PM. I can say I’ve now spent a day in my life with air conditioner circuits. I found another mystery component, labeled CMPP X2 40/106/56/B. Here we go, it is a condesator. What’s that and hy have I never seen one in tens years of reading? The answer is because it is the Spanish word for capacitor. Y’know, with that, I’m tired and want a nap. I have no 110V test box, maybe it’s time to build a new one. A switched power supply, Dangerous, but better than plugging things in to see if they work. Or spark.

           Evening took the bite out of the sun, I managed a couple hours in the shed. I wonder if that is my final refuge? It’s been over twenty years I’ve wanted to spend more time at home, fully realizing there would be nobody around unless Taylor came to her senses. Sure, I’d just as soon be partying, but the options are expensive after you hit 40. Another misleading factor is you also get the impression you are aging at a constant but slightly accelerating rate. Two years ago I was walking dogs, repairing roofs, and enjoying 8-hour days. This is a view of the DIY hdrometer out the south window.

           I cut some lumber and drilled some screws. Then built a small Fake box utilizing the still-experimental technique of using the dimensions of the lumber itself to produce a box out of just about any piece of wood that is long enough. The box height is determined by the lumber width. Then inside the house to practice with more poly finish. It was disappointing, as going at slowly and carefully as possible, the finish is uneven. Thin or goopy I could use, but uneven is just bad. I put only a single coat on six junk boxes. Three of them on bare lumber, that is, no stain.

           While this is happening, I found a documentary brass sextants which led to a look at Watt’s first steam engine. I knew he was not first and that he had been handed a working model of a Newcomen. This caused me to ask why that happened, It has been put about that Watt was a lowly wage-earner and my personal experience is such things never happen by themselves. Turns out by age 21, he was an expert brass repairman, so he was not a student at the university, but an employee. So don’t be handing me any hard luck stories.
           It says Watt was forced to support himself for 11 years while developing the engine. Fine, but every job was semi-skilled. Building canals, surveying railroads. You don’t learn those trades down in the coal mines. I’m a bit jealous, but more miffed. I just don’t like people claiming to be self-made when in fact their lives are dripping with opportunities the rest of us could only dream of. I never said it was wrong, I said I don’t like it.

ADDENDUM

           So I’m not the greatest for following the Scientific Method. Mind you, I have also seen it written in as many as 12 steps, which is double the orthodox number I learned in the 8th grade. Think of me more as focused on hypothesis than the other tiers. And this is a fail, or is it?
           The DIY hydrometer was recorded this morning for three hours, that’s this grainy video shown below. We know the wood bends because we have seen it from flat to crazy shape over 24 hours. But this time it did not move from 8:00AM to 11:00AM, usually the most rapid parameter change of the day around here.
           I’ll see about placing better gear and longer time spans. You can see the sunlight advacing There's a nearby picture showing the present setup, you can see the curvature of the plank, more than enough to see from the south window. There is also a small but heavy (wind-proof) peg (not shown) that tips over to prove it moves. Yet the video show nothing. My conclusions for now are:

A) not long enough time to record movement
B) humidity has not changed
C) humidity is the wrong variable
D) more than one variable at work

Last Laugh

June 14, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: June 14, 2025, what, no WWIII‽
Five years ago today: June 14, 2021, merely because.
Nine years ago today: June 14, 2017, back to railways.
Random years ago today: June 14, 2011, Dropbox soon failed (security).

           Porridge rarely tasted so good, and that’s from the guy who got people to watch me mix green paint just y’day. I wrote everybody a note at sun up advising them to do the same. I’m not particular about starting times these days, as I will max out in under three hours regardless. I have plenty to do without trekking out to the shed. Here’s me discovering in my fancy “coin battery” box that of the dozens, I don’t have a 1620. I’m so heartbroken I drank more tea and watched a movie until noon. I did not do well on my favorite puzzles, since I don’t think “Alice”, “Pooh”, and anything Shakespeare is really all that great.

           This is where you look to see, not that missing batter, but in admiration that even my spare batteries have such a nice box. I’ve discovered why my carefully cut lids sometimes don’t fit. The fence on the saw I use is not exactly perpendicular. Another jig is on the way, I can just tell. And I have actually lost that tin of green paint from last day. And no, today's post does not get much better, ha-ha. Enjoy.

           The sole thing that was good enough today was my DIY hydrometer. Don’t you hate it when the author assumes you know abbreviations, as in do-it-yourself? Here is the device and while I have nothing to correlate the findings and I’m making the broad presupposition it is due to humidity, the board definitely bends in the weather. I relocated it along the pathway to the shed so it gets notice every time. Take as close a look as you can.
           There is now a scale, from an old bandsaw and I will fashion an arrow that will point to 16ths of an inch. Lakeland is the nearest weather station that mentions humidity, so I will try to use that as a standard. I think a little wire sharpened to a fine point will work fine, I don’t know, can you see near where I am pointing? Today the humidity listed as 58%. For outside, that is so-so but for indoors that is considered very humid. Too humid for band practice. I have four fans in my currently un-airconditioned kitched. Because that is where the coffee pot is situationed.

           The record high humidity in this vicinity was in Orlando last year, at 80%.

           Feel free to work with me on any of these projects. The small Fake boxes are a great way to recycle lumber ends. Each box is a one-off, as jigs are only needed if I want consistency. Otherwise, the variation in lumber size uses a different approach. The pieces are cut in a certain order, whereby one cut piece is used to mark the next. The result is a unique box based on the lumber, not how you measure it.
           My laser device is beginning to show signs of wear, including movement noise that is untraceable without getting complicated. A slght belt-grinding sound, for instance, but the machine stops instantly if you try to tip it for a look. The technology is identical to computer printers, but those drive belts are a custom item.

           What’s this, a guy went to India and posted a video that is practically a repeat of what I said about the place forty years ago. The place is like a zombie apocalypse and the people are survivors wandering around. There is, in today’s world, an 18% chance you might have been born there. Thank the stars you were not. Also, the video is accurate in assessment but the guy is an idiot, do not do what he does. No dark alleys, no shaking hands with strangers, and never hand your backpack to anyone.

Picture of the day.
Phony DC “offices” rental ad.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           It appears, except for the smallest nails, there is no electric tool that will bury the nail without a hand on the back of the tool. Unacceptable, though I looked for the most powerful available regardless of weight. Many ads specifed “OBA”, not explained what that meant. I believe something to do with “open box”, but we are dealing with millennials. I found an unfamiliar brand, “Batavia”, on Amazon. Here is a picture of some work today. You may recognize the “little lamb” saw ponies from Hermitage. They are inside forming a small work bench.

           Remember that floor-standing air conditioner that has a broken power switch? I have little choice but to try getting in operation tomorrow. The morning should be cool and I cannot afford a kitchen-size new unit at this time. Frozen winters, I survived, but this summer is going to be unreal. I did get the unit to turn on last year and it seems very well made. If it cooled that church dining area, it will cool my kitchen.

           On the far left, there’s some Fake boxes with pieces not laser-zapped yet, and next is the painted stand for tall pieces. They are placed as weights for the board underneath has bowed and I want in flat for other projects. The white battery is my only 20V, I have to swap it between tools. It died an hour ago or I’d have more done. There are some loose key fobs being tested for poly, and a box that has a natural dark weathered coating I shall try to preserve.

           Later, I wheeled the “church” air conditioner out into the middle of the kitchen floor. This is where it gets repaired tomorrow, or I salvage that electric motor. I’m hoping because the manual shows it as a 12,000 BTU unit—but also lists a dozen other styles the same. If this thing fires up, please let it get me through this summer. You may remember this heavy beast, I probably could not have moved it at all until recently. It is a standalone floor design and the only apparent problem is that completely worn-out power button I’m pointing to.

           I read a little and took stock of my health. Not much change in the past two weeks, arriving at day 137. The leg wounds are permanently healed, living dime-sized scars. No pain but some discomfort on either side of the chest incision. No direct heart troubles, it’s all other items like tired back muscles, old pains, mild gout, and still trouble walking except baby steps. Some residual numbness in both hands. No fevers or other concerns. But I still need 9 to 10 hours sleep per day, broken up into small 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 hour segments.
           The incision. Worst wound ever and does not follow any expected healing path. Some days it can be almost invisible, then turn dark red, even purple bruising color. While undoubtedly part of the mending, it is uneven in the extreme.
           The hospital fogginess is long gone, I beat 126 champions at SpellTower this morning, and that is going up against A.I. cheaters. There are many ways to cheat, but it took the current crop to stoop to doing it. They expect you to believe they found 18-letter words or type 1,800 wmp.

ADDENDUM
           Oooh, an exposé on boondocking. Retirement in n RV, which I rejected long ago when I calculated the true cost. It is expensive as hell and far more confining that many people think. It says here 70% of retirees regret it. Most common issue? Alone time. For me, it would be the lack of a workshop.

Last Laugh

June 13, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: June 13, 2025, is Ireland overdue?
Five years ago today: June 13, 2021, guitarists, roofing, jail.
Nine years ago today: June 13, 2017, the rebel to Miami.
Random years ago today: June 13, xxxx, WIP

           Good, another post-operation barrier passed. Is that French toast or freedom toast? That was breakfast—but then directly into the yard. No burnout, I filled the bird feeders (which involves lifting more than chest height, and hung the metal birdhouse for decoration. I’d love to make something fancy from it but there’s too much to do. I cut some box boards, they are now under the laser, and finished opening and mixing all the new cans from last Saturday. Here is a nice flat green exterior.

           Oh no! Is the blog that dares actually going to feature a video of mixing green paint‽ (Or was that an excuse to use a terrobang‽) Zing, there’s another. Ascii code alt-8253. It’s like this, to you it is monotony, to me it’s a victory. A step along the healthy heart highway. I was hoping for white or grey, I got green. So that’s enough disappointment for today. So upset was I, I was drinking tea instead of coffee. It means no complaining or I’ll paint your bicycle green.
           Oh look, there’s a pic of the gourmet weekend birdie nuts being chopped down to little beak size. I just know you spoil your birdies just a much as I do, but remember to fun these through the screen in case you miss any big pieces. It’s enough these little folk have to fly all the way over here for breakfast. I mean, have you ever tried flying? It’s uber-work.

           Orania, the White colony in S. Africa has a training school. If I didn’t say, the town just turned 35 and I was surprised to find they experience a parallel to my own life. They allow their teens to go live in the city any time they want, then make a big deal when many of them come back. Sound familiar? Yep, make growing up so desperately empty they can’t wait to get the hell out. Only to find city kids had a complete support mechanism, including housing, cars, cash, and the know-how to work the system via parental guidance. That’s a two-hundred-thousand-dollar head start the farm kid will never know. No wonder so many are forced to come crawling back. Sorry, do not expect me to take the side of people who think pulling that kind of a stunt on a kid is “teaching them a lesson”. There, I feel better now,

           A normal day, I was back inside for 2:00PM siesta, the way it should be. (Siesta here does not necessarily mean sleep any more than relaxing would mean doing nothing.) Rest up, for I have a big Saturday afternoon planned for my, what is it, 137th day of recovery. Statistically, I’m 37% there and feeling frisky, Let’s start the jamboree by running the 220 grit over the junk boxes and my nesting box toy guitar. I can’t that semi-smooth finish I want, but for junk boxes, they are looking good. Here, the sawdust is being cured with mineral oil.
           What? There must have been one hell of a windstorm went by while I snoozed. But, I was sweet-dreaming away in the semi-soundproof back office-slash-bedroom. My back yard looks like an Iranian missile site, pieces of once-useful things everywhere. There is a reason for these new small boxes around here. Price. My box procedure uses a now hard-to-find 7/8ths inch brad nail, I’ve had to substitute the next size up, which is the 1-inch type shown here. It is not the price, but the principle. These have shot up from $4.79 to $9.98 per box, that’s your Biden 8%.

           This was the last package at the old price, so it creates a need for some way to store the nails when you change sizes. Anyone who tries putting the part-used banks of brads, or stables, back into their packing box knows it is a hassle. So, like my hyper-handy “used once” screw & bolt box, this hardware now gets their own container. At the above rate, when it is full, it will hold over $200 worth of loose pieces.

           It was a plan to sort through the “Gold Coast” book and point out the massive inconsistencies in Hortt’s tale. But it is so bad, just step back and assume he is covering up outright fraud and lying about most of the rest. By 1925, Fort Laudedale was nothing but hype, yet its primary function as a place to overnight was good—trains and other then-slow modes of travel made it too long a stretch otherwise. And of the crooked businesses, real estate was about the crookedest. It was up to the buyer to discover if anything funny was going on.
           For example, the seller could stick you with undisclosed debt unless you contacted the banks who were under no obligation to assist you. They did so only out of self-interest. Even with the Torrens system, it was possible to find yourself in debt to parties you had never contracted to. Say, below is a picture of that “tilt marble” from last day, the one with the moonscape surface. See how far I go out of my way for my readers? What other blog provides even a fraction of this diversity without in-your-face advertising? Riddle me that.

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

           Yep, I have video of prepping the boxes and birdie guitar, you only get half the show. Turns out the full video required some 600 photos and I’m too tired. It’s just me removing sawdust, but the photos show such gems as other guitars, wall maps, and the general condition of my work environment inside what was supposed to be my kitchen. I’m listening to Bartow radio and watching my dwindling coffee supply.

           Later, I felt up to it and finished the video of the mineral oil wipedown. I confirm failure, even the lightest sanding to remove brush strokes is able to leave enough burrs and nibs. And my uneven joinery lets the grit remove stain finishing I wanted left in place.

           I had some energy reserve, but stayed home anyway. I’m an old Saturday man, if I out only once, it is that day. I didn’t want that to change, yet here I am. I chose the new used staple box to test the sander to the limit over an ice-cold Yuengling. What has happened to me? Drinking tea, staying home, can radio bingo be far behind? To perish that thought, I’m now going to shoot a star and plot its position. Its 550°08..4’W x 04°02.9’N. That’s -298.0129 x 04.6864, putting us between Somalia and the Maldives. The star is Menkar, because it is near the center of the page.

           I want to sail to a point 250°00’W x 03°30’N, to rendevous with a U-boat in 1943. Thus, I set course at 8 knots bearing 106° for 15 hours and 15 minutes. Covering 122 nautical miles. If I was making a Hollywood time travel movie, I’d have a babe lab assistant completing her PhD in physics doing all this work for me.

           The Alamo is again pretending to be a battle monument. I’ve issued warnings since 2013, the place is a church, there is no fort left. It was torn down 140 years ago. Even the legend is hype—Santa Ana could have bypassed the place with nothing to worry about. What’s more, the Texas sharpshooters picked off all his best officers, ensuring he would lose at Jacinto.
           Plus, the Mexicans only scaled the walls when the Texans ran out of ammunition. A chilling omen of future infantry attacks on prepared defenses when 189 men shot down 600. Some say only 250 Mexicans died, but in those days most of the wounded succumbed, and I’ll bet Davie Crockett nailed 20 by himself.

ADDENDUM
           The AOLs at Google have screwed the system again. Over years (not weeks), I’ve published this blog by setting the posting date to match the calendar date. It’s the way logical, educated people do things. Millennials, not so much. And it is another of those “inherited” (and invisible) logic errors they love to deny is their fault. Normally that date is set once per post. Not no more. And my protocol for thousands of days has utilized that. If I post five pictures a day, I use that setting ten times a day. You learn not to think about it.
           Until some Google cucktard comes along. He (it is always a he) changed some other module that cancels your setting every time the page loses focus. You go through a stage where you forgive this as youthful inexperience, but then you see Google staff photos showing these bastards are in their mid-30s. If you point out the problem they caused, you meet with blank stares. That is, they don’t even grasp the concepts of consequences and consideration. Why, it is you and the world causing all the trouble, not them. Oh, and if you think not, you are racist.
           I will find a workaround. I’m not that smart, it is that they are that stupid. They have no clue what bastards they are, the conciliation is that it will always catch up with them. I’ve heard of coders who got lucky and became millionaires, but never the other way around.

Last Laugh

June 12, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: June 12, 2025, silver at $37.
Five years ago today: June 12, 2021, utilizing any source.
Nine years ago today: June 12, , stiles = too much dust.
Random years ago today: June 12, 2004, $42 in tips.

           My poor man’s hydrometer needs moving already. The spot I chose has a tree in the way, and the wood has returned almost flat. Hence, my big plans for a small Friday are upset already. The term hydrometer also applies to the device that measures wood moisture. Turns out for air moisture, there are extremely accurate digital sensors for sale less than ten bucks. It is currently 76°F at exactly 7:00 daylight time in central Florida. So let me shoot a star in the addendum. I have nothing planned for today—then remembered I have to go downtown and pay the phone bill. Is it true other people get to have quiet days?

           I had planned to check out this poly coating. It’s a trusted brand name, so I’ll put it through the paces. Mainly, such products wind up making all my boxes glow. Like they were special, when in reality I used them to practice with. Shown here are three boxes, all with identical two coats applied. Some gleam, some do not. I’ve learned to prefer the lighter stains which work better with the laser etcher.

           The smaller boxes can be made better, but it requires such precision cutting and fitting that precludes larger production runs. One of the steps involves dry-fitting the pieces. That is a headache. Today I will think about some kind of brace to hold the pieces steady without having to build a jig or fuss with the chop saw. I am also looking for some process that “scratches” wood without really sanding it. Help me out here. The world is full of scratch removers, I want the opposite.
           I looked at various method to distress wood, such as flailing with chains. But I want something that leaves a visible grain. Several places showed it done by hand with a wire brush, called “stunning” the wood. But labor is what I’m trying to avoid. There are wire-brushed flooring woods, however the word is they wear unevenly in no time. It’s no big deal, just a small-scale effect I’d like to follow up.

           It still being too early to run power tools, I addressed my weak spot of drawing nagivational plotting sheets. These are just a blank worksheet you fill with your calculations, then transfer the finished position to a sailing map. To test myself, I drew the first sheet from memory, and boy did I mess up. Then I returned to plot an example in the text which contained a diagram. I discovered I need a ton of plotting practice and that the diagram was not to scale. What kind of AOL would put a bogus diagram forward as a learning example.
           But, because all along I’ve insisted on understanding the process, I stopped to ponder that diagram. I figure the author had begun with the right drawing, but noticed there was a point where the LOP crossed his heading near his dead reckoning location. I can see why he would not want a student to think the lines crossed on purpose. So he straightened the line to emphasize the principle. Those who skipped learning the principle probably never noticed. Here’s a photo of how far I got, mainly so I could say once in my life I really tried this.
           Another point I learned, for now, is to plot only the LOPs until I master that. Sailing directions and headings can wait. Then because it is such a slow morning and I went for the big breakfast, I took the metal marble from the tilt sensor y’day and, noticing it was rusted, threw it under magnification. Hmmm, if that was a black and white photo, I might hazard a guess where, if the Moon pictures are false, they got their props. Identical to a moonscape, it is.

           This shows the test cuts for boxes for Tonio in Valdosta. He wrote a note complimenting the advances on some sample photos I sent recently. If this trend continues, I might just convince myself I’m on to something with thee Fake boxes. These are the “damaged” pieces, you can see where the metal shipping strap crossed and the now-familiar Fake logo, which I may call a medallion which is easy to remember.

           Next, I roared with something between laughter and anguish reading an article about feminism that unthinkingly exposed my favorite method to meet women. I do not believe in the Alpha male theory for the simple reason the attributes attached to that stereotype are self-defeating. But that’s another story, the point is I do believe the Beta males exist, by the disgusting billions. They are the ones responsible for feminism, because they can’t get any. They resort to incredible (and expensive) methods just to get women in the sack.
           But beta men are boring and it drives women away. This is what creates that huge workplace pool of “young starry-eyed women” with delayed marriage and childbirth plans, plus, it states, “loose morals”. So it is not good men that attract good women, but pressure from weak men. It makes sense, but I disagree that good men are just pawns in such a game. If that were true, guys like me would never have evolved. I am none of the things society would label an Alpha.

           Here’s a likely good spot to remind all that, despite what you read here, my life is not (as they say) and open book. This is not the only thing I write, nor is my only style, and there are strict rules over here about what topics are allowed. My exploits, jam sessions, and travels are things you rarely know in advance, none of that is by accident. I’m just saying.
           And the freak Bankman with the cryto fraud is again appealing his 25 year sentence. Where is he getting the money for these appeals? I thought he was supposed to return all the money he stole. Then, in the bigger picture, some crook is spending more money than I make in a lifetime to get out of prison. And I sit here hooking up small chains on my boxes so the lids don’t flop backwards and call myself free.

Picture of the day.
Orania turns 35 today.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           Finally, Earth has its first trillionaire. Musk and the stock pulled it off, SpaceX is now worth more than Canada. Once again, silver is being hyped, but it is still manipulated beyond belief. Facebook is reporting outages, leaving panicked users screaming they are all gonna die. I was downtown, walking in baby steps. It seems that inflation has finally caught up with central Florida. I picked up some hardware and gawked at the prices. They are double and a half, a large pizza is now $25 and most things real people buy have more than doubled. The worst part is the constant insisting by the government it [inflation] is 8%.

           Hunting around, I see there are no dado sets to be had. It figures, there is no local market for even marginally specialized tools. Those tiny tins of stain and lacquer are now $12 each and I found the last small brad nail, it seems less than 1” no longer exist. I need 7/8th and no luck. I have days of a new recuperation. I can move faster, but choose not to, or suffer the next day. All bills are paid a month in advance, so I can leave for Tennessee any time. My bio-clock says stay put until the last minute.

           It was tough getting this shot of the lid of a box to show the reflections and polish on the lid. The finish I want will give a poly depth to the rough wood, but without a smooth finish. So far, it’s been failure. The trade off is that when the poly is applied by brush, it is impossible at my skill level to get it really smooth. Yet if I spray it, which gets expensive, it is too smooth. I’m using that sanding block which is too toilsome and creates a need for mineral oil wipedowns. So log my efforts for another failure to date but I’m not finished yet. I find 220 grit paper does erase any paintbrush ridges, but that has to be done in the shed. And there is no coffee in the shed.

           I did not press walking today but still could not wait to get home and plunk down. I always wanted to watch that old “Khartoum” movie. Hailed for accuracy, I have it playing now, still working on the sanding finish. Small problems, for example paint irregularities that sand smooth to the touch are still visible in good lighting. No mention of this in the text. A couple videos showed a sanding with 600 grit wet paper followed by hand-rubbed wax. Nice, but not the goal I’m shooting for. I will ponder this while relaxing to the incredibly accurate scenery of “Khartoum”.

           Wide awake after dark, I did more plotting practice. That’s a sheet with two points, the measure of the distance between them, followed by the heading to sail from one point to the other. Two sets, both were accurate but contained enough errors that can only be remedied by more work. The most difficult part is the bearings, as they do not match the compass rose printed on the blank form—I think. These were not Sun or star positions, just locations given by on-line examples. There are many unmentioned variables, like what sort of pencil not to use, that will take time to learn, my guess is several months on these plotting sheets. It is more fun than taking the sextant readings. What’s become of me in the past 135 days?

ADDENDUM
           Now our star position from this morning. Here is our input data, it is 07:00 on June 12, 2014 and we have chosen the star Antares because we like the sound of that word. Aries, near the summer equinox, is at 05°32.0’W and our Sidereal Hour Angle is 112°25.0’ at a declination of S26°27.7’. For you budding navigators, this is an easy calculation. Since the stars don’t move in relation to each other, a point is chosen, called Aires. All the stars are measured from that point, so you add the two figures to get the longitude from Greenwich. Since it is always measured westward, it is called an hour angle.

                      So Antares is directly above W117°57’ x S26°28’, these figures are rounded off. To use these numbers on Google maps, the minutes portion must be converted to decimal by multiplyin by 1.6, you can figure out why on your how. So, we are seeking -117.912° x -26.448, the minus sign tells us these are West and South locations. We have located the position of the star directly above the Earth’s surface.

           This is not a fix. We have not taken a sextant measurement which would tell us how far away we are from that star’s position, but not it’s direction from that position. The fancy word for that direction is “azimuth”. For that information, you need a set of Sight Reduction Tables, which we are not using here. But if I was, I would look up what is called the Assumed Position (AP) which would be AP λ 81°57’ making it 96°W at a latitude of 26°S. I round down the latitude because it makes the next calculation addition rather than subtraction.

           So, let’s do Google maps and find out where our star is. I’m probably making mistakes by now, but I show 799 miles almost due east of Adamstown in the Pitcairn Islands. Let’s look at Adamstown. The satellite shows a jungle with 50-some buildings. It’s the capital and only settlement on the islands, with a population listed as between 35 and 49. It is billed as a cruise port, but the only landing is Bounty Bay, the famous mutiny place. There are no hotels, you get a two hour stay and the only tourist item for sale is honey. The island is under two miles long.
           For you gamers (a computer term that for once I find highly appropriate), there really is a Ginger Valley Stud. It’s a rock island off the west coast, where it is currently 23°C with light wind and zero chance of rain. Pitcairn does have a radio station which they [the British government] were going to convert to a wind farm, but the contractors (two Australians) ran off with the deposit. About £250,000 in case you are wondering. Yes, Ken Sanchuk, there is a pizza joint on the island.

Last Laugh