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Warning. This blog has evolved through many phases and earlier posts did not allow for links that go dead or change. I would never intentionally link to a site that requires 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 pro-Trump, but pro-American, plus I truly love watching liberal scum squirm. 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.

July 13, 2025

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 13, 2024, WIP
Five years ago today: July 13, 2020, WIP
Nine years ago today: July 13, 2016, WIP
Random years ago today: July 13, xxxx, WIP

           It was a nice enough trip back south, but we missed Tonio. I did originally say Saturday. Seems loading up the van was a day’s more fun that I thought it would be. Once more, the trip back along the same route is longer. Two stops for gas and a small detour at Dalton added 58 miles. Once again, we had a burning truck on the side of the road causing an hour’s delay. In all, this was a pretty generic trip. Nothing special at all, one way gas was $160. I used the 13 hours to mull over this most expensive trip of my life. Even my great overseas travels of the 80s and 90s didn’t force me back to square one.

           No details, I don’t know you that well, but August 1 will be the equivalent of starting over. I have some experience at this so there is no panic. Plus after a while you can get used to it and dare I say it gets easier. Some of it is familiar turf, like my rule that it takes $10,000 invested dollars to make $1 per day. This can be taken wrongly, for instance, I could buy $10,000 worth of equipment, set up shop and gross $200 per day with $199 in expenses. You’d still get the dollar, but that would be hardly worth it. Time has also marched on, I no longer have enough days left to really do it over again. That’s why I now stress it is the ownership of the money that must do the work.
           As I mentioned, another truck on fire, a box carrier. The driver had a fire extinguisher but only a toy compared to what he needed. That’s fire number three I’ve seen at or near Atlanta in the past year, more than the rest of my rather long life combined. I’m just sayin. Back to money, I have two large boxes of slides from the Reb, much of it her parent’s travels I think. Time to take a closer look at a quality slide scanner. And that 3.6% savings account offered by Amex, even if it is changeable, still compares well with regular bank CDs, I was able to map out ten years in my head as I slowing inched through the Sunday traffic around Atlanta.

           I got into Valdosta at 5:30PM, two hours late. It always takes an hour longer than planned to get out of house up there. And now, there is no more house. I burned seven barrels and a twelve-foot stack of bamboo. Yet, it was all lighter work than the thinking I was compelled with today. The trip had to be fast due to daylight, I have one turn signal. and one brake light out on each side driving across Georgia Patrol territory. Fortunately, there were enough speeders to keep the boys busy the whole time.
           I finished the spy audio book and can only barely recommend it. “The Alice Network” is a history lesson and I confess to disliking that frog (French) accent. The narrator is plainly fluent in the language, but is this the time to demonstrate it? Grace is pronounced “grass” and the way they say Grenoble is irky “G-r-r-nbl.” Also, the portrayal of Germany as evil for doing exactly what France and England were doing earns a demerit point. So does the portrayal of young women as never being willing participants in sex. That includes the ending where the excuse for sex is, well, marriage.

           Finishing that story near Soddy-Daisy, I found a murder mystery that, while already suffering character bloat, is a novel twist on yet another lawyer story. Titled “Fugitive” (how novel), this con man turns evangelist after adopting the crimes of a cellmate, becomes a millionaire, and gets involved in a murder. He flees to Batanga, an African dictatorship based on Uganda, where he points the wrong dame. Wisely concluding American prisons are better than foreign dungeons, he cuts a magazine deal and decides to stand trial. And sure enough, his lawyer is the daughter of the big-shot on the defense team of the original trial. She’s not quite an Olympic athlete, but has the body. Reminds me of the real life Lauren Landers, see addendum.

Picture of the day.
Frozen damn in Oklahoma.
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           Finally back home to my quiet and predictable little world, I find the guitarist may have found us a couple gigs. Factor in that he is very new at this and that it is not as easy as appears. But yes, it boils down to you grab a guitar and go play. Few things would make me happier at this point. I have a van full of lawnmowers and I rescued the two oldest bird houses. I remain so far behind on this cabin, it may never be done. Tomorrow is dedicated to finding the van electrical problem as the cruise control quit again. I need that feature. And I’m afraid to do the books on this trip. My guess is over $10,000 and not even a single party, sigh, age.
           Here’s some on-line instructions on how to write “Kermit”, for those who cannot figure it out for themselves, I suppose.

           Where I saw improvement was my back, that’s welcome. I was able to put in fairly good stretches and got a lot done. I still have the original pains at roughly 40% after long walks or a lot of flexing, but that’s minor, which makes the program an overall success. On the entire return trip I was unable to find a cup of coffee except the McD’s in Sparta. How can you trust generations of people who don’t drink coffee? And no, the purple floof drinks at Starbucks don’t count.
           Here’s a high point of the day. When I’m traveling where there is no “organization” by my definition (TN qualifies), I tend to throw all odds and ends into a box until I find time. Two factors make this time unique. One is the beauty of a box, you guessed that, and the other is the weight. I’ve been throwing my coins in there, so return tomorrow for the spare change count. Since it is likely going to be closely monitored shortly. Who says there is more than ten bucks in there? You’re on.

ADDENDUM
           Lauren Landers. I don’t know her, but she fits the mold of the travel writer who, dear gawd, will never, never, never tell you what it costs or where she got the money. Now, you are expected to believe she started with nothing and by age 24 bought a 50-foot yacht (a 1993 Beneteau Oceanis 43). She claims she “just worked really hard over the past five years without a boyfriend or children to worry about.” Okay, how do we know she’s lying? Because nobody works that hard without some complaints or beefs, that’s how.

           I worked “that hard” at a lumber mill in Montana all the time I was 23-24-25, and it damn near killed me, I still have aches from it today. Peeps, I know very well what the highest paying jobs are in Ft. Lauderdale are, so don’t hand me any crap about working up from the bottom. And I guarantee you there were no Lauren Langs working next to me at that mill when it 25 above or 25 below, or anywhere in between. However, we’ll assume she had some magic wand allowing her to miraculously acquire the means and materials to fix it a yacht and sail it across the Pacific Ocean by, as she says, "not spending money on other things".

           I would have written it off, except she has a nearly perfect body by my definition. (Seems most the other guys who hand you that "personality" bunk seem to agree.) She posts on-line videos that feature it. Some say she is flat-chested, but I don’t like them on the floppy side. She does, today, claim to make $7,000 per month from her youTube channel and Patreon, but that is average and does not account for her $685,000 net worth. She is clever in one aspect, playing up the "single" role, although I suspect she’s lying about that, too. Her readership is 94% single males.
           Claiming she is not looking for a boyfriend and carefully inviting only other known single women onto her boat, she plays the image to a tee of the gal who has not yet had her head spinning for the right guy. Clever, but it is commonly agreed when they find out she’s doing somebody, she will lose most of her audience. Right there, I know there is a man mapping this out for her. I spent/wasted a lifetime looking for a gal like that who was for real. So pardon me if I catch the whiff of secret millionaire husband/boyfriend behind the scenes. Here’s a picture of her two years ago when she was 26 (she maintains to be four years younger than she is). Again, I truly wish the world had some real women of this calibre. Ain’t happening, guys.

Last Laugh

July 12, 2025

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 12, 2024, WIP
Five years ago today: July 12, 2020, WIP
Nine years ago today: July 12, 2016, WIP
Random years ago today: July 12, xxxx, WIP

           A first for me, I ordered and ate sushi. Until now, I’ve sampled and shared, but never was into it. I finished up in the back yard, including loading two lawnmowers into the van. Why not, I can’t afford to make it an over-nighter on the return leg. No, I did not get any help. That is a lesson so many of these XYZers will have the hard way, and it is a costly affair. If you make a promise, it is up to you to make sure you do not get into a situation where you can’t keep it.

           I’m saying that promising to help somebody on Saturday morning is not the same as helping “if my plane isn’t late” or “if I’m not too tired” or “unless my grandfather needs a ride to the liquor store again. I had enough of that brand of bullshit when I worked with Canadians. Why should they tell you they can’t give you the promised ride to the station because they sold their car last weekend.
And they never said they’d call you and you can’t tell them they can’t sell their car, and whaddaya mean they should pay for a taxi? Are you crazy, taxis cost money. It’s you that has to get to the station, not them. Take a taxi. Yup, Canadians.

           We did some final planning, and I think I should take the tools in the shed. If the guy wants them, he’ll have to make arrangements. He’s known for some months now to come get them. So I ordered sushi to try something different. We tried the deep fried green tea cheesecake for desert. My dish, the one along the bottom, was tasty salmon with bell peppers. I’ll skip the wasabi sauce, recalling the words of Al Klit, “food shouldn’t hurt”. The Reb did not care for the cheesecake and ice cream, I found it okay but not worth the price tag, sort of.
           The last of the details are over and I am now committed to a very uncertain future for another six months. For the first time since 2019, we have no CDs, but on the other hand, everything is now liquid. This had to be our going-away dinner as she has to be in Franklin and she’s taking the dog, who has a spot made up for him out that way. I am not where I want to be and the last of the moving drained my energy but fast. And the game camera reveals the armadillos have moved on. Not a single frame overnight. I set my alarm for 5:30AM. Goodbye, Hermitage, TN. Seven years, nine months. with me, over ten for her.

           One item came up again. Should I take one year of the blog and see how A.I. turns it into a novel? We got both lawnmowers into the van with room to spare. I’ve never had one and actually thought the batteries could be swapped out. One on the charger, one on the mower. I was wrong, they are (duh) nardwired in place. No wonder nobody likes them. Hard-wired so they can go dead just before you finish that last strip. I am not discounting that I may have to be here in eight weeks to help with the move. Because so many people have said they would help that I may have to be the man.
           I brought up the subject of the now nonexistent CDs and suggested an alternative. American Express is vaunting a savings account that pays 3.60% compounded daily. My system can handily track daily income and there would be a certain satisfaction to me making money off a credit card company. It’s agreed I will look into it. Let’s see, $1,000 would bring in $36 per year, which is 9.85 cents per day, which compares well with some of the ArriveD accounts I’ve been following.

Picture of the day.
East Harlem, 2025.
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           By late afternoon, no more work is possible. I’m more than pleased with the work I managed and am looking forward to a long drive. It will be no-frills, the last 12 days have been one of the most expensive episodes of my life. I’m cranky when I’m broke, so please park your car on the street because I don’t care if you eat in restaurants, you can see we are moving and can’t keep pulling out of the driveway every time or wait for you to drive to Red Lobster. I mean, take a hint. Wait, there’s more.

           The old chaise thing was chopped up and thrown in the yard, but it still needs dismantling as all the pieces are strung together. So it’s late and getting dark but the photo guy rounds the corner of the building. I have the sawmill ready and, since I mentioned this chore early this morning, asked if he could string the extension cord over from the porch. Nope, he has to make room in his truck for his grandfather’s stuff. He worked for 5 - 8 minutes and disappeared. He could have at least volunteered to watch the fire burn so I could work rather than mostly standing around. Not even that.

           He reminds me of JZ, no concept of helping somebody for free just to help. Most rich kids are like that and this one’s father owns a jewelry store. There are some 40 cacti plants in the yard, turns out they are his. I asked if I could have the bud off one to see if it grows in Florida. Absolutely no way, even though he is growing them for free. But, if I want to walk up this trail he knows a couple miles away, I can get one for myself he says. That boy is not going to make it.
           The chaise is a two-man job, so now it stays. An hour later, drenched in sweat, I find him in the kitchen. Eating cauliflower pasta. I’d rather eat sushi. I hope I didn’t get in his way or disturb his karma making coffee. The slightly cooler climate here changed my energy levels, which is good with a tradeoff. I can putter along most of the day, but once I reach my threshold, I get very little notice. I timed it, when I pass my limit I have less than ten minutes to put the tools away and get inside—but this is a welcome improvement. My energy meter drops to zero, just enough time to plunk down, often without coffee, so trust me, the weariness if very real.

           The shed is over half cleared out. I opted not to take any tools except the one pneumatic stapler, which I used on the fence. The rest, around six bags of various hand and battery tools, I already have. The stapler is the only pneumatic and there is no compressor around here. The tools were scattered, I put them into canvas bags, quite heavy, actually. And silver passed $39 per ounce.
           See this photo? It’s amazing because it did not happen until Monday next week. Now we know the tire takes at least two weeks to go right flat, and that, friends, is the most exciting picture I could find for you today. If you think this is boring, read some of the other blogs, you’ll be back, ha-ha.

ADDENDUM
           I’m finishing the book on out Cambodian “refugee” and okay, he did suffer as did all people who were not Khmer Rouge. He was a trained watchmaker and was spared some of the worst horrors, even surviving a helicopter ride. I’m undecided if a person like that, while probably desirable as a skilled immigrant, should be getting things like free food and housing as a refugee. The church provided the house only, and things like warm clothes. The regular operations sound more like welfare to me. And welfare in America is on a grand scale most of the world can barely imagine.
           Upon arrival in Georgia, the church discovered they had really imported three families, surprise. The story carefully omits any mention of whether the neighbors were asked if they wanted such a large group in their midst. It further seems none of the women in the group were ever able to learn English, but all the boys picked it up right away. The last chapter denies the families ever received any welfare, yet it is plain they all somehow knew exactly how the welfare programs worked.

Last Laugh

July 11, 2025

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 11, 2024, remember the radiator?
Five years ago today: July 11, 2020, tarpaper.
Nine years ago today: July 11, 2016, remember Ann Coulter?
Random years ago today: July 11, 2012., it was too expensive.

           Bwaaa-ha-ha, you know that app created to warn illegals of ICE sightings? People are using it to report fake raids, and suddenly the shopping malls and grocery stores are empty for the use of citizens. By recent accounts, more civilized, too. Here is a nice discovery. You recall that little pink practice amp I got for half-price. My cheap Panasonic can’t capture it, but if you look closely, the tag on the transformer says what I need, 12 volts. While I have yet to build a successful amp on my desk at home, I can easily identify all the components and 12 power supplies are easy to procure.

           Taking the back off this $25 unit shows why I got a discount. The MDF board got wet, you can see a bit of it. The amp is the black strip above my knuckles and I know it will fit inside an acoustic bass. I would not need a speaker that large, that’s about 6-1/4” diameter. The amp is rated at 20 watts and I’ll opt for one of those oblong speakers with super bass. Just a plan at this point, but a good one.

           Some trivia, if it was not illegal to do so, a melted down US silver dime is now worth $3 as the market price passes $38 per ounce. I got to work in the back before the morning cool and forgot the camera upstairs, so you get no before pictures on the bamboo, or the troop (band?) of armadillos who, methinks, spend 1/2 of each day eating. Keeps the yard clean. They are brave enough to waltz up and check out my boots. The bamboo took two hours of aggressive work, and I’m pooped. I did not find any holes in any of the fencing I built large enough for the doggie to get out.
vI practiced my vegetarianism with a breakfast of boiled potatoes only. I got all my food goods out of the cupboards and this morning discovered a small leak in the maple flavoring bottle, the one I hunted halfway around Nashville to find. Now, and it is actually better than before, my van smells like pancakes. Next I hauled two gas mowers out of storage and forgot she has a third. I’m dismantling my old shelving in the shed to see if I can stack the mowers up in my van.

           Out of the blue, I get a two page explanation from Caltier, and now have a personal contact in their investment department. While still not happy, I’m happier than before. Once again, this is a feature normally reserved for accredited investors and I have always suspected there is some association. On the up side, it is not that often I get mistaken for being rich.
          

Four hours in the yard this morning, and part of it sad for me. Here is the last dismantling of JeePee World. It was his paradise, he loved that outdoor time. It was my first wire cage and vastly over-built, so I saved the hardware as a keepsake, to go into some new project back home. Sigh, JeePee.
           Health is a fact with this blog and today was exceptional. Nine hours, I’ve got close to that before. No lifting and dragging, but a steady slow pace that felt like a good mild workout. The news is no side effects. No need to rest, no slowdown from weak spots, this makes me quite happy. (Later by six hours, still no aches, zero, none, and I’m feeling limber. This is a new development and welcome it it lasts.)

           The armadillos cannot get through the fence, so if they begin feeding on this side, they have to find one end of that 100-foot barrier. Which means they stop to get their bearings, meaning they also get used to me moving around. They will not waddle over and check out my boots and have also learned Chooks will ignore them. Aren’t they nocturnal? They are active every early morning. Oh, and nobody bothered to tell me the Mexican king snake has been missing for a few days. He does that, they say, and is less than a foot long. Great.
One of the larger crates here is a ton of slides of the Reb’s parents, who I knew and admired. But she has no provision to store them, and I am the closest amateur who has some experience scanning these photos. Most are slides. Thousands of them. At this time, all I can guarantee is they will be placed in better boxes.
           Um, yes there is something bloggable for me. I made up a big feast of boiled potatoes. Boiled with dill and Turkish bay leaf, for that subtle garden-fresh hint. Then layered with chopped onion and melted extra sharp cheddar cheese. That was for all day, so I did not take any breaks from the yard work. The Reb got home around four, but was away again. It is now six, and all the cheese is gone. Dang, those Mexican king snakes! I think I’ll walk the dog.

Picture of the day.
One ugly vehicle.
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           The photo guy is back, but like most, he is not a natural worker. Trust me, I know lots about sitting at a desk and making money the “easy way” but I need somebody who helps with the heavy lifting without being asked. Secretly, between you and I, none of her circle meet that standard. Then again, it is my standard. I have my shelving and brackets out of the shed and there may be a way to use the lumber to make an extra deck in the van to move those lawn mowers. I know they both work.

           This angle does not reveal the hours of work needed to trim the bamboo to what you see here. That is almost a solid wall of bamboo from the right side, now trimmed back to the wire fence line. You can’t see the fence, which a triple-checked and no way is the pooch getting out through what I built. I think he is squeezing through the front fence, which I have not crawled in there to check.
           And it looks like I may have to leave all the beautiful cedar and wire fencing behind. Built to last, I had some experience at the time I got to this project. I can’t return before September and I can’t take it now. Good luck getting any assistance.

           Here’s a better look at those two mysterious disks on the toy phone mentioned last day. I’ll stick around a few more days to take care of the bigger chores. I still think the Reb should take the smallest place she can find closer to town, but it is not my decision. The real estate market has to crash, we know that. If left to supply and demand, it probably would have right after 2020. The statistics are horrible. Nobody under 30 entering the pyramid scheme.
           I send a list of the tunes I’ve heard played in Nashville to my guitarist. While we don’t play the same tunes, the mix and age of the material is similar. He emailed back with some older tunes that are being redone, including “For What It’s Worth”, which I like but it is too slow. I would not be surprised to learn this music is still popular because people need to just get away from the constant crap on the radio.

           Just before dark, I took the pooch on another long walk, out past Lem’s place. Nobody home. Them Nashville types like to go party on Fridays, there you have it. The door handle on the fridge was broken again, this time it is held by a 2-1/2” decking screw. Should do, it is being left behind. Giving Chooks a feast of chicken, I slipped out for a couple cold ones myself. Wound up stating two hours because of Norway. What? Well, there were two 40-ish guys yakking away at the counter and Norwegian sounds to many like Spanish. (Did I mention the drop-dead gorgeous Shawn is back?)
           These guys noticed me writing and I asked about the coastal tunnel. They were taken aback because everyone is about the Denmark-Sweden project and I meant the floating coastal tunnel. In moments, they were floored by my ability to point to towns like Stavanger, Narvik, and Trondheim, all of which are regularly (but sparsely) mentioned in this blog. Yes, I knew King Harald’s unmarried daughter Ingrid Alexandra had just turned 21, and who Vidkun Quisling was. And the stave churches, the big US bond loss, but it was the tunnel that floored them, ha!√
           Having never met an “educated American”, they kept buying rounds and getting as much information as they could from me, mostly the meaning of terms and words. I can see why they were on the astonished side, but then again, we were in a Nashville saloon.

Last Laugh

July 10, 2025

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 10, 2024, the Valdosta rip-off shop.
Five years ago today: July 10, 2020, sigh, still no vacuum.
Nine years ago today: July 10, 2016, the Brits are weird.
Random years ago today: July 10, 2008, Pudding-Tat.

           Yep, we are broke. But, we got most of the situations sorted out, for example, yes, the Reb and I have a joint account. Then, I discovered neither of us had survivorship, which is different that it used to be. If you wade through the paperwork, it is much like setting up a whole new account and then linking them by computer. That, you know, a system I could never really trust. The Reb uses credit cards, I won’t touch the evil things. All’s I’m saying is I think it must be nearly impossible to appreciate the depth of my planning until you see what can go wrong. Silver is inching toward $38.

           We we in the banking office nearly an hour, and once the people knew we were legit, we talked a bit about the weird things they’ve seen. Alert, peeps, most the horror stories came about concerning estates. One relative moves fast and cleans out the accounts before the rest know what hit them. The clerk has tales of customers who take out $1,000 in one dollar bills. I’m beginning to wonder how much longer before lawyers refuse to take anything less that fifties.
           Today I’ve got some general interest photos. This expensive toy is a strobe flasher. The photo guy has a bunch of gear stowed here and I’ve never seen anything like this. The Reb says the bulbs are handheld, like wands. I took this photo with my $35 Panasonic.

           Some years ago I pointed out that Thomas Rousseau, born leader and patriot. His organization is Patriot Front. Every MSM flunky was blasting at him and the lefties call them them paid federal agitators. Well, he’s back, well-funded by the looks of things, and more confident than ever. He’s got people on the ground in Texas doing more than, it seems, all the churches and charities. He so points out the other organizations exist mainly to help their own at that Patriot Front, although he does not say it, would be justified to be doing the same thing. Careful, he does not know how right he is. Can you imagine the outcome if a private organization of this sort favored Whites. The howling would echo off the Rockies.
           Seems piracy is up in the Singapore Straits. That is, of course, BS. The place is only 12 miles wide with a well-lit shoreline. It would be almost impossible to sneak up on a ship. I smell another insurance scam. And the stats show while Trump deported 80,000, but let in 670,000 immigrate legally. That’s 85% non-White. Trump is exposing Democrat weaknesses, but is not plowing them under. I still bear a strong-man takeover if Trump does start kicking ass.

           My new paperback about the Cambodian refugees and their church rescue is disappointing. The title, “A Simple Seller of Noodles” misled me to believe it was a tale about a peasant to escaped the Pol Pot regime. But real Cambodian peasants I am sure to not speak ten languages including English and French well enough to become personal friends with royalty. Nor have weddings with 200 guests or fly their wives to Saigon to shop and visit. It’s true he was abandoned, but was adopted by an American missionary family, who altered his birth certificate so he could graduate. Sorry, folks, getting lucky like that is not a rags-to-riches fable you can sell me. I’m ten times more self-made, I just don’t look or act like a refugee.

           What the? A picture of the fridge door? Yes, it now has handles again. The photo guy may take great pics, but he managed to break both those handles, which stayed broken until, you got it, I arrived. It happens when you pull them sideways instead of back. I used the superglue gel brand made for ceramic. Another chore was to haul everything out of the cupboards and spray Bengal. It is a mist and nasty, and I was down on the floor spraying under the drawers and cabinets. Somebody’s got to do it. This is the second roach invasion and it is those wood-eating roaches. And while I’m crabbing, yes, I know the pots and pans I bought here are a mismatched set. But I can tell when I open the cabinets which ones get used the most. That’s why I have three sizes of frying pans. Experience.

Picture of the day.
Eiffel tower, from bottom center.
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           Due to the spray, I grabbed a Happy Meal and the toy was this play cell phone. The toys have been progressively dumbed down for years, so I would have chucked this except, when I turned it over, there are two metal disks on the back. No explanation in the package or on-line. They are not magnetic or batteries. They are too expensive a manufacturing step to be simple decoration. The yellow plastic snap on cover has a cutout on the back to scopes these disks. Darn right I’m curious.

           A dull afternoon going over the books, let’s just say I’ll feel better back in Florida where my tools and equipment are. You mustn't think this is at all like the veiled panic of living off credit cards. It is more like a deep bite into resources originally put away for other purposes. It is nothing I haven’t done before, but I see others have no experience at all. I know in ten or twenty days I’ll be back on my feet and gaining back by September. This turned the conversation back to Caltier, which I will recap the problems. First most is they have not explained why the account was suspended, and no, it is not enough to activate it again. This is a Class A (startup) investment and I need a clear explanation of what happened, lest it happen again. Next is the issue of them not returning calls or email inquiries. Last, smaller items like why no disbursement since March without explanation—and I have sent them many emails with these direct questions.
           There is also the problem of changing the account log-on, which is now entering it’s fourth month. The on-line system never worked, and now their new web page does not even present the options.

           The bright side is this brings the Reb and I closer to collaboration. Forgive me if it’s a repeat but i believe the reason we never argued money is since day one 38 years ago, we have always paid our own bills and split the ones we incur together. Neither of us has any idea how much the other spends on themselves, but all the signs are that we are not spendthrifts or irresponsible. We are in the middle of something yet if the real estate market crashes to half its value, we will be in a position to buy in mid-January, or in the alternative, take on a $188,000 mortgage. Now you know too much.
           Recent data shows Americans are not worried about climate change and the media is “shocked”. Critics point out the “ten years left” warnings have dulled since 1980 and even Greta has dumped the cause. Ireland is reaching a flash point, the population is far more hardened and united than even three months ago. They want them all out, including the “legals”. Folks, it takes a lot to anger the Anglo-Saxon and it has to start somewhere.

           Included in my reading is electronic schematics. If you don’t hear much, it is because there is so little new. However, I do like to find certain circuits normally bought as a functioning unit and see if I could build it from scratch. One such challenge was a Schmidt Trigger. I’ve never used one but it takes a sloppy input signal and makes it a crisp 1 or 0. I was delighted to find a schematic until I saw the 24V power requirement. My goal had been to create a flashing LED without using a 555. But my maximum voltage is 15 and I rarely use that.
           I also want to get back to practicing bass daily, which I don’t do hear as all the gear is for guitar and keyboards. It’s just a thought, but I know where there exists a bass line nobody would suspect would fit to “Beer-Flavored Kisses”, though it would have to be heavily modified. But I’m the guy to do it. Give a listen to the old Grass Roots hit “Midnight Confessions”. Because when I’m done, nobody will ever make the connection.

Last Laugh

July 9, 2025

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 9, 2024, The actual Valdosta event.
Five years ago today: July 9, 2020, remember EARN-IT?
Nine years ago today: July 9, 2016, phone becomes required.
Random years ago today: July 9, 2018, an early box.

           So little happened to day I was on the verge of calling the day off. Let’s go for the high points. First, held the coffee shop fell out of their chairs laughing when Biden’s doctor, when questioned about his mental balance, pleaded the Fifth. We are bombarded with news item after item that Trump is finished. He’s lost. He’s done it now, yet he’s riding the crest of a popularity wave. Who knows, today the Reb is in Chattanooga, the recycle boxes need emptying, and I may be raiding my bank account. It’s a long story. Mostly, a coffee and a good book.

           Well, the Goodwill is off my list permanently now. Today, I was refused the standard 20% discount because I would not give them a phone number. I could have given them a fake, but wanted to test their resolve. This hideously fat (and droopy-eyed ugly) “manager” refused to answer my direct question, six times, is this store policy or Goodwill policy. Yes, that is the Goodwill at Old Hickory and Lebanon Pike. There is actually a creature there worse than Oprah without makeup.
           So the so-called discount is really paid for using your personal information. Mostly I came away incredulous that in this day and age, people are still giving their phone number to strangers. But, I’ve always known there are people that stupid and I hope they get what’s coming to them. That is how they learn.

           When she realized she was not going to get away easy, she grudgingly admitted it was Goodwill [policy]. Needing a couple work shirts, I went to the Thrift on Hickory and scored this brand new MicroSoft wireless mouse for two bucks. What luck, it was one of the ancient designs, not millennial-improved. That means it is over designed and overbuilt, my kind of gadget. It means it is ergonomic, lights up when properly zinked, and the battery lasts a good six months. One of the rare MicroSoft products that worked. Did I just say zinked?

Picture of the day.
Choice Cafe, Oklahoma.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           One of the books I started is about a Cambodian family that gets adopted by this American church. One of the church members decides to write the story of SamSung. He’s a Christian ethnic Vietnamese who is adopted by a Chinese family after being rescued from a trash bin. Day to day, his life was not that bad, as he has a part-time job and gets through high school. The local preacher’s wife teaches him English and he gets fake papers he is Chinese. (Vietnamese are not popular in Cambodia.)

           It’s interesting from describing how bad Asiatic politics can be and the worst is the Khmer Rouge who really did a number on the place. It’s a classic example of the opposite of gun control, sort of what the left wing seems to want for America.

           Now never you mind the explanation, but this is what $5,200 in cash looks like. I’ll be limping back to Florida and for the next 90 days. I wonder if my worldy experience at spending my last penny is there reason I’m not worried at all. Stop for a second as I explain that I do not use credit, so yes, there are times, like right after I bought my house, that I was nearly flat-busted. The thrust here is that at least I was never in the hole. The budget for the return trip is $181 of which $120 will be gasoline. If the van breaks down again, Sunshine, we are in for a bad time. I could not isolate the electrical problem, so I’ve taken to disconnecting the battery cable, which the Kaiser finds amusing—but I ain’t going to tackle any wiring with all my test gear two states away. I already know it is a short, so I’ll pull each fuse until it’s isolated, just not before I get back.

           After six, the Kaiser (I'll try to block the ads later) and I met up at Rosie’s. He’s got an excellent 250cc motorcycle these days. We got caught up on music, career into, and a general discussion of geopolitics. We have a common interest in one of his most-requested tunes, one that I picked out instantly years ago. “Beer-Flavored Kisses”, you might remember. The lyrics are a style missing from the shallow computer-generated text of contemporary schlock. Kaiser describes the demand situation, mentioning Netflix as an example. I did not know they held that much sway except with videos. Not so, he reports, a single requisition from them can cause a stampede.
           This is a change at their management level, so I’ll look into it. The Kaiser has the patience, for sure, but my angle is one of us should take a closer look at the process. Not to do anything, but to be aware of how this can be best approached. That is kind of my department, although I did explain to the Kaiser I do not even know what I’m looking for. But I’ll bet you it is still who you know. He mentioned completing another full album of recordings. I’ve listened to his web page samples.

           One important factor is his lyrics tell a story, we both find this to be a Johnny Cash influence. It’s a classic juxtaposition, I find his song words to be identifiable to realists, and he finds my writing to be experience-laden enough to have a poetic facet. He asked why I don’t compose lyrics and other than not thinking I had such talent, I could not come up with an answer. If I can find any samples of what little I’ve written, I’ll forward him a copy, as I’ve always felt we should probably collaborate wherever possible.

Last Laugh

July 8, 2025

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 8, 2024, and probably as useful.
Five years ago today: July 8, 2020, nobody willing.
Nine years ago today: July 8, 2016, in my opinion, reckless.
Random years ago today: July 8, 2006, working at the Thrift.

           In the morning cool, I took down sixty branches and some bamboo with the clippers. That tree is a goner, when I got up close it is till rooted. However, the size of the eight or nine “trunks” is far beyond anything I have to shore them back into place. That is not happening without pro help. Most of the debris is piled in the fire pit, when I hear a slight rustling noise. My camera is inside upstairs. Not wanting to miss anything, I sidled up to the doggie fence using the shed for cover. We have a family of nine-banded armadillos.

           By 9:30AM is was certain I was not going to get any help. The higher branches need to be pulled down and the thicker pieces need to be sawn to burning size. Estimate is two hours, after I get the photo guy to the airport. He’s into numerology, cults, witches, tarot, and all the things I had long recognized for what they were by his age. We only talked to and from the airport, but he brought up the supernatural and paranormal several times. I showed him the Nautical Almanac, saying if he could by the mysticism in there, I’d be glad to have that discussion. Meanwhile, this morsel of cheese, with the $11 price tag, was placed back on the shelf. Wasn't even non-GMO.

           Reminding you this was a business trip, the Reb and I went over most of our agenda. Bottom line? It may be years after the crowd, but inflation has finally begun to bite down hard. The very best of my planning and investment skill is no match for people who own a printing press. It’s clearer now the aftermath of the great Valdosta Disaster of 2024 was enhanced by a lot of these external factors. While I get full credit that we did not get taken by surprise, between now and January 2026, we will be in a holding pattern.
           I am changing my plans, expect that I’ll be using my house and sheds more and cooling it with any extras. This will be a lean summer and let me say, if anything else goes wrong, this is the shakiest I’ve been in a long time. Right now I’m miles from home with a van that is acting up. It’s the same feeling as the month after I bought the cabin and had $193 left. You might say I’m used to surviving those parts of life. There is nobody else I would care to go through this with than the Reb. We are not Nashville’s Golden Couple, instead unlikely Allies that have decided we don’t want to wind up like others, buying gum with a credit card.

           There is something you might hear more of, as you know all blogs have such surprises, and it is southern France. Last year you recall my mention of all the nice tools in the shed, used to build the doggie fence. The owner was overseas renovating a house. Well, he’s gone until (you guessed it) January 2026 and those tools are not on the Reb’s move list, nor will she will have space to store them. I’ll push for some pictures for you. It seems I did not tell you everything about the depth of our investment in this renovation project.
           But here’s what I can mention. It is not just a house, it is a small chateaux that is, shall-we-say, taxi distance to Monaco. It was once
owned by a Hollywood celebrity, which is where we come into the loop. Information will be sparse and sadly, keeping with the times, the building is now has drywall throughout and a condominium. The project is complete and for sale. You might ask how much we have tied up in it and I won’t tell you. But think of a number. Got it? Well, it’s twice that.

           For distraction I pulled up Gab. What do you know, sixty years later the Feds finally admit they had a connection to the Kennedy assassination. Lee Harvey’s father was a CIA employee. There is a device called a ghost phone appearing in ads that purports to anonymize phone usage in all modes. We will take a look, but like VPN, if it requires a subscription, it isn’t private. It’s happened again, another finely tuned A.I. system, after crunching a few terabytes of data, goes “anti-Semetic”. Grok, a newcomer, apparently requires constant tweaking to stop saying pro-Hitler things and such. All I can say is ha-ha-ha.
           The MS001, a drone that used Nvida A.I. is making headlines for its apparent ability to isolate a target and navigate for the kill without human intervention. This claim has been made before. Still, it is about time for such a weapon to appear. It’s apparently a strap-on to existing hardware. Hmmm, an upsurge in anti-Google posts some 20 years after we issued the warnings, including services that will degoogalize your system. I dunno, do you suppose the mollies have finally woken to the danger?

Picture of the day.
World’s 10th largest pyramid.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           How serious was today’s business meeting. We wound up at Phat Bites after hours of planning and negotiation. For the first time since the 1980s, we went Dutch. And you know how I feel about things like that. To change the topic, they had some entertainment that got my attention. A guitar player like the one I have back in Florida. Tonight’s guy had mastered two of my top techniques. One, he strummed differently to every song, he’s mastered the art of capturing each tune in a unique pattern—one that would match up with my bass lines to a tee. Secondly, he also chose only those numbers that contributed to this manner of presentation. Before we continue, I was impressed that my el-cheapo camera caught the Damascus steel on this meat cleaver. It's not as hefty as the unit I use at the cabin but can that baby slice in a hurry. Um, I'm guessing that pattern is Damascus, because I once watched a video.

           Overall, his act lacked the audience “oomph” that I impart, but he was less restricted in what he could put on his list than a bassist like me. He has a stage presence but it is somewhat affected, it’s nice but is not reading the crowd. So while his guitar playing was middle-grade, his show has good generic appeal, just not the entire room, yet often drawing them into a sing-a-long. While this is not new, it has become so rare. Later, the on-line club says the entertainer was Mike White, which is a good match for that musical presentment.

           Later, the Kaiser called and actually has a half-day off. Did I mention he took a day job and now has a live-in gal? I’m surprised he can sneak out of the house. Check in tomorrow, but beyond that, I aim to get back home. If we can get a guy’s night out at the nearest cantina, then I’m done all the visiting I want for the season. Give me my room at my own cabin, my air conditioner, and my coffee maker, and time to wonder if I’ll ever have time to really, really settle down.
           Wait all you pet lovers, there’s more on the doggie pills. Turns out this is a superior brand, hence the premium price tag. Another surprise is it a change in the dosage, so the package is a year’s supply. The Reb doesn’t know it, but that is her birthday present, coming up next month. Yes, folks, we all get to that stage. But, at least it is not a new vacuum cleaner hose for our anniversary. Yet. The current state of situation has rattled deeper than ever before, even 30 years ago. I was up late mapping out a survival plan that avoids any credit card or outsiders—and yes, I makes me wonder how bad off most people out there must have it.

ADDENDUM
           Armadillos. First identified in Texas, they have spread all over the southeast but that is likely because their predators, such as mountain lions, have been killed off. Sorry, Josh & Tyler, it isn’t climate change. The myth that they spread leprosy false, it stems from the fact they are the only animal other than humans that can contract the disease. They eat almost anything and were attracted by the ground exposed when I cut down the foliage. My guess is there are five, since all births are identical quadruplets and they are young enough to still follow mommy. I have the game camera in the van, so let’s see if I can get some footage.

Last Laugh

July 7, 2025

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 7, 2024, hmmm, I understood it.
Five years ago today: July 7, 2020, remember the “final stage”?
Nine years ago today: July 7, 2016, a leisurely 15 hours.
Random years ago today: July 7, 1980, I scored.

           Nothing happens on Mondays. The dog turns out to be the most unenthusiastic so far, balking at even stepping off the porch. I pulled the van into the driveway and finished loading my tools in time for a thunderstorm. Moving fast, I pulled into the driveway to examine the electric problem with the van. We have a short, I was just about to start pulling fuses when a blue truck pulls up. It’s the photographer and he can use a lift to the airport. Of all the things, I forgot Tennessee was on daylight savings and lost an hour, but we got him to BNA.

           I stopped at Elm Hill on the say back to discover that ordinary heart worm pills are now $1.35 per pill, cash only. Three times the price of my own heart pills, I bought the package of 100. That’s when I noticed this was the infamous Ivermectin. The Reb owes me. Next to Wal*Mart and some hardware to fix that tree, the plan is to snip off the top ten feet and see if the bottom ten feet can be helped back into place with some rope. I know nothing of this sort but I remember JZ kept a tree away from his dad’s den wall in a similar way.

           [Author's note: it turns out this is the wrong medicine. There was some new staff at the clinic, but they had access to the pet files and should have known she wanted some kind of de-worming preventative gummie. So, now a trip back for the Reb, who insists she had cleared the order with them by phone and they should have know. Myself? Now I know if I'm ever stupid enough to believe the COVID hoax, I have an idea where to waste any money I'm not using.]

           Next, I checked and there is no break for a second vehicle on the insurance. The premiums for six months would be over $900, something I’d really have to think about. I took the pooch with me up to the store to where he refused to either lay down or get out of the van. I bought a cleaver and a big tree-size pair of tree clippers. The clippers are coming back to Florida with me. There are some other items I wanted but money has run out super-fast this trip.
           Primitive, that’s the way I look at most “tools” made from things like bones and vegetable husks. That would include ocarinas and this animal horn trumpet that was in the living room. I don’t look at such things as musical instruments, but more like objects that can make a sound. This is where I discover the photographer guy plays many of these oddball gadgets Lyres, pan pipes, you know, the things that blur the line between instrument and decoration.

Picture of the day.
West Texas, I think.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           At 4:30PM, the Reb calls to say the flight was cancelled, would I pick up her friend at the airport since the next flight is noon tomorrow. As I approach Donelson, the airport traffic was backed up two miles. Finally at 6:30PM I got the guy to find another hour getting out of the airport. Fortunately I had the audiobook and we learn Eve has finally been exposed. It is the cafe owner, worried about loss of business if the Germans find his staff are spies, that systematically breaks all 28 of Eve’s knuckle bones. He’s just turned her over to the authorities, but it seems he drugged her with opium and may have got her to talk about the spy network.

           Everything is packed up and ready for the return trip, yet I have not decided to leave. Somethings are not right yet, including the finances and that move in September will be here fast. A substantial amount of walking brought back the weakness in my spine but not the pain. I’m back where I was two years go in overall condition—except for all this weight gain. That’s one condition I would be ashamed to die of, yet it is a long time before I can exercise like I want to.

           I had another go at getting the laser to work standalone. Nope. It is, mind you, a very sturdy and well designed unit. The laser assembly I have seen somewhere before. I have the 5W model which the on-line demo shows slicing balsa wood. Rather than tinker with the unit, I packed it up ready for transport back to Florida.
           It took an hour to inch up to the arrivals to find one distraught and grumpy photographer, which I understand. The American airline industry went for a dump in 2002. The US version of the flying cattle car. I don’t know the guy, but one look and I said, listen dude, I’m going for a beer and you better tag along. He knew the place, Shooters, and now he knows the staff. And that I don’t play billiards.

           I am not a happy camper this trip. While it is no different than ever, I would stress that when I say “efficiency”, I mean the kind I studied in school, not my personal agenda when others disappoint me. I understand most people optimize their own activity, and all too often without a thought how that might not be the best overall strategy. It is also why they so often get stranded. And have nothing the Monday after payday.
           I’m going to cash in Caltier unless they begin explaining things same day as questions are asked. It was my mistake using a gmail account to set that up, but I point out it was not really meant to be more than a trial for on-line investing. It has been 16 months without explanation what this “pause” is all about, and no disbursements since March. The attached gmail is not being forwarded and there are other issues all linked in some way to refusal to institute even the most basic forms of computer security. The more I look at that gmail account, the more convinced I am I don’t like it.

Last Laugh

July 6, 2025

Yesteryear
One year ago today: July 6, 2024, some Karaoke.
Five years ago today: July 6, 2020, remember the COVID budget?
Nine years ago today: July 6, 2016, pitiless.
Random years ago today: July 6, 2014, pretty snippity.

           My dog finally remembers me, the guy who feeds him chicken. I slept in till 7:30AM, unlike y’day when all the people who were not shooting off fireworks until two in the morning were running their two-stroke yard tools at six in the morning. No reports of casualties. I should be out in the van looking for my hatchet, but the dog has the right idea. I’m obliged to mention my inability to see close up objects on end is now a serious condition, see addendum. Do I dare open the shed and see what I’ve left there over the years? Return later today for this, and other blogworthy events. My iMac files disappeared, so these videos are the only thing I have for you today. You've probably guessed they are not usual blog fare, but I'm tapped out, all I can say is these videos are very current material, within the last 48 hours.

           Let’s check the news over an extra coffee. Old Bernie has some explaining to do over a $44 million grant to “promote democracy” during 2016 when he suddenly decided not to run against Hillary. The new bigger-fatter AOC who sicced the IRS on Trump now wants the IRS abolished now that her sudden acquisition of $22 million is under scrutiny.

           Back from the hour’s walk and we have the neighborhood update. It confirms it is time to move. Out toward the main road there are now five, possibly six houses occupied by obvious renters. Really obvious. I cleared away the main jungle trail which leads to the heavy woods between the subdivisions. Almost. As we got to the far end, we found this barrier. I walked along the shadeless side until I saw a couple on their patio and asked what gives. They said a lady from this side faked a slip and fall and was suing their HOA.
           I asked if said lady was this high, wore horn-rim glasses, and was an [obvious renter] and they said yep, that’s her. Assuring them she was not representative of this neighborhood, the damage has been done. Other factors reveal the troubles began the month those people started moving in. I will henceforth lock my van at night. We have a problem, the van battery was dead this morning. It responded to a boost and a walk-around revealed the brake lights on one side and marker lights on another a staying on. I have no choice but to disconnect the battery when this far from the cabin.

           The tree that fell from the north side over the fence is too big for me to move. I used my hatchet to chop it off even at the fence line, peering into the bamboo. This is not an axe, it’s a light hand tool and I’m sweating full-scale. I don’t think Dale (the neighbor) is ever going to be able to clean his yard now that the bamboo is forty feet high. I got myself winded clearing the shed before 10:00AM. My beauty of a mini-chop saw, perfect for making 45 degree cuts, is folded and ready to place in the van.
           I checked the blade on the old club circular saw. I intend to use it on the tree to fit the fire pit. And that beauty of a “rose” tree on the west side of the porch keeled over from heavy rain on the branches. It came back to life but is blocking the passage to the back yard. I will have to saw those back as well. Just when it is in full bloom. The Reb wants some other bamboo removed so get ready for work, because I walked all the way to the back and did not find what she meant. It’s the neighbor’s bamboo that how chokes the whole west side, you cannot even see the fence I put in last summer. I stayed outside to watch how the dog is getting out, but he knows I’m watching.
           So I walked out to the back to look at the exact spot the Reb pointed to. But that is not a bamboo tree. Things like that wait until I’m sure. All’s I’m saying for now is there is one hell of a lot of bamboo heading right this way. Let’s see if we can squeeze any adventure out of today, there must be something can be found, even in 2025 Tennessee.

           The way to deal with this is get out of the sun and put on more coffee. I read another chapter of the personal privacy book and see that the courts are increasingly allowing “truthfulness” as a defense in defamation cases. In earlier times, the issue was not the accuracy of the facts, but whether or not there had been harm. For clarity, it was the harm that was illegal, not how true or false the facts. It made it difficult for anyone but famous people who ostensibly derived their livelihood from their reputations. But gossip was associated with idle tongues and village do-nothings. That has been replaced by soulless journalists and the Internet.

Picture of the day.
Henry Ford’s machine shop.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           My packages arrived just before the windstorm. My present to myself was one of those roller marker tools that lets you scribe a line with one hand. The treat is the Wainlux laser engraver, here it is on the kitchen counter next to a salami sandwich. Hey, I’m not some bean-head youTube unboxer who lives on Ramen noodles. The first impression is this device is very well designed. It seems to come with a full set of accessories, including a pair of safety glasses. There is a 150-page user manual of which of which 25 or so are in English. It was only gaining this manual that several questions got answered and that is not right. One was that jpeg format could only be used with downloaded drivers. That was one of many chances I took ordering this unit on-line. Even asking people who claim to be in the loop with all the apps and downloads are no help at all.

           It appears to need connection to CutLabX, mentions sparingly in the documentation. My guess is that is software than must be installed. The paperwork and on-line how-to material is almost totally focused on using a mobile phone connection. That might explain why so much of the art is boringly simplistic. I scrolled past some 800 designs on five web pages without seeing a single novel or original pattern, so I gave that avenue up. Taking another chance, I downloaded the MAC software on to this computer, a process I have not done since 1991. Mercifully, that part does not seem to have changed, or put another way, no millennial has been allowed to “improve” it, although I am certain many have tried.
           Dang, the driver install requires the system password and the one I’ve been using does not work. Should I just plug the thing in and see if it has a demo mode? Meanwhile, let’s go to CutLabX and see what we are in for. The similarity to LightBurn is instant, both of which I would have rejected due to privacy issues with their account requirements. Sure enough, the software is not compatible with older iMac OS installs and I think this computer is from the 1990s.

           Looking deeper at the files, I see the samples use a “g-code” which I think stands for a gerber file, the very format that I balked at with 3D printer software. I am not an artist and I cannot design such things. The apps have no useful demo modes, but it is easy enough to see they are some sort of grey-scale conversion. Since I’m after a one-dimensional “branding iron” design, maybe I can bypass that step. One more, the process confirms why every on-line example is repetitious crap from the unwashed masses. Then, the system winks out for a ten-second power failure. It rejects the password so we are locked out until the Reb returns after the weekend. This, folks, is your measure of how little progress has really been made since 1985. And the guest mode is set to lock out social media. Safari sucks.

           So, let’s plug the sucker in and take our chances. Nope, no demo mode. Won’t even burn their own logo. It’s the same old, a guesswork setup, not quite like any other I’ve done, and which has to be relearned every computer I ever use with it. It’s quite sturdy to handle and has a solid feel to it, plus an interesting way to focus the laser. The junior unit requires a reflective plate and focus know, this model has a feeler that folds down to the burning surface, and then back up out of the way. I got it to trace but not burn the engraving outline. Every bit of progress is always welcome around here.
           Not to be outdone, I got out the depth marker and set it for 1/2”, now every piece of scrap lumber around here has a scribe. My centering cone is also here, along with that pricey hinge router bit, the one that cuts mortices for my box hinges. If it works right, that speeds up production by a half-hour per box. I have no hinged boxes for sale, this intense labor part makes each unit too precious to part with.

           Fifteen arrested for ballot harvesting in Texas, including two mayors, the local judge, and the Democrat representative. Don’t worry, nobody is going to notice they were all Latinos. The part of the Big Beautiful Bill I follow is the $100 billion funding for ICE so the deportations can finally get underway big time. I still don’t think we should be flying them out. Let them back into Mexico where they crossed from and let that place deal with any subsequent issues. The Mexicans broke their promise to patrol the border the instant Trump was out of power.
           Another Stalingrad documentary, but the propaganda myths of what happened die hard. The Germans never flew in the majority of their supplies. There was a railroad from Karkhov, a major railway hub for both sides. The Stalingrad line ended at Kalach where the bridge could not support rail cars. The cargo was loaded onto trucks and put back on the Stalingrad-Don, the oldest railway line in Russia at the time. So old that the trains could not turn around and were pushed backward to return to base. That hook mechanism used to destroy tracks was called Schwellenpflug (no link) and it says here a museum in Germany still has one in working order. (It was also called the rail wolf and the rail pig.)
           It operates like so. The hook is lowered onto the railway bed and begins to plow up and break the ties. A clamp over the rails pulls out the spikes, and finally a trailing bar bends the rails into unusable twisted meal. Apparently the strain on the system was so great the device required a crew of ten to keep replacing the wheel bearings.

ADDENDUM
           How could I have gotten so suddenly old in just four years? And no history to go on, I am the oldest male of my bloodline, no other has ever lived as long as I have, although I had an uncle that came close. He bore a strong facial resemblance to my father, but was a kind and gentle soul. Yet, he shared the family characteristic (until I came along) of no hobbies, interests, talent, personality, popularity, ambition, or ability to put in an ounce of extra effort. Just work a day job, go home and watch TV, and vegetate except for the long spells of criticizing anyone who at least even tried. I generally “feel” like I’ve got five years left and if so, that would make me by far the longest survivor in my lineage.
           To describe my emerging vision problem more accurately, I now had a distinct “blind spot” for objects lying on end directly in my field of vision between three and roughly five feet away. Say a tool that is long and narrow. The last short while I was subconsciously always setting them down across my field of vision. It’s when I didn’t that I detected something wrong. If it is positioned on end, lying flat and away from me, I do not recognize the shape until I get close enough to look down on the object. This is not good.

           Keeping my promise of 2003 to document the major changes due to age, that knotted muscle in my leg has stabilized and feels like a length of cartilage that makes walking uncomfortable. Which of these conditions will be the one to do me in? One thing age is no barrier to is making feminist enemies. I’m the guy who created the meme that if you don’t like Grammar Nazis it is because you are a Grammar Jew. Time permitting, I rag on people who cannot type, and one such feminist tried the angle that I was “flirting” with her. I assured her I only flirted with young, slim, blonde, college-age girls, which is basically true, and have now officially received my first death threat. Who said blogging was not a dynamic hobby?
           Later, I’m thinking this crazy Wendy broad may be serious.

Last Laugh