January 28, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: January 28, 2025, raccoons and samples.
Five years ago today: January 28, 2021, the intentional fault.
Nine years ago today: January 28, 2017, gathering tools.
Random years ago today: January 28, 2004, a hundred times.

           If you are reading this, I got the call and will be in Miami and due to be checked into surgery within the next 24 hours. There is no fixed layout, but I gather the procedure is 4 hours and slated for tomorrow, the 29th at 9:00AM. If I make it, they want me for observation another week. Expect lots of empty space, hospitals are famous for nothing to do during recovery—although television is considered essential, obviously.

           Imagine being so sick as to require television to get back to “normal". Trivia. Mr. Potato Head was the first toy ever advertised on television. Few knew it was to become the precursor for the aging feminist look. Expect a long run of days where nothing is important, I predict at least a week. Today, for example, other than selling thousands in silver to advertise a friend’s gospel album, driving to Miami for open heart surgery, and adding my 7,881st blog, my life is as ordinary as the next guy’s.

           The plan is to take my activity down to nothing for a long time, maybe permanently. I have failed at becoming sedentary before. Let’s see if I have an example for you of what I expect to become top stories. Other than boxes, I mean. I foresee a lot of boxes and such, but you knew that. Okay, here’s something, the neighbor’s air compressor. It stands eight feet tall and he never uses it. Like me, he prefers a portable unit. I think such news will become the norm, at least for 90 days.
           There’s more, he spent the extra like I did on the new generation of portable. It has the features missing for the past 40 years. I’m so excited, I will list the ones I find most impressive, now how is that for thrilling blog material?

1) an in-line fuse that is inside the power plug.
2) a stub on top to hold your valve cap (should be 4 of them)
3) a internal storage clip for the toy valves
4) an off-on bleed valve on the hose to release over-pressure
5) adjustable automatic pressure cut off

           The unit still lacks a master power switch, you have to plug/unplug instead. Overall, these are features that should always have been standard. Okay, I confess I find it so because the operation is due to a microcontroller built into the unit. But hey, at least admit I could have found these things impressive even if I was Joe Shmoe.
           What’s more, this compressor could eventually be in its own fancy wooden box and have a companion saddle tank. For all we know, this could be the last model not controlled by a remote government database. Or a sensor valve that automatically deducts a fee off your paycheck for driving beneath minimum-pressure laws.
           This is the “heavy” duty truck/SUV model that says it increases gas mileage and tire life, so show a little respect. Who could ask for anything more? Amazoned for $95, I got this on sale for $66 at the local cheap Chinese junk store.

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

Last Laugh