April 25, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: April 25, 2025, and nobody noticed.
Five years ago today: April 25, 2021, playing with boxes.
Nine years ago today: April 25, 2017, windmill tech.
Random years ago today: April 25, 2004, forgotten except for blog.

           Who remembers these things? The 276-159B. They are a circuit board designed to connect pins to a generic size integrated circuit. The correct term for these blanks is “unpopulated”. This is my last one, purchased for 65 cents. You wind up gong through these by the dozen. I’m not antsy that they now sell on eBay for $7 each, but that DC claims inflation is 8%. There is a Radio Shack web site, but it retails only consumer junk, no actual electronic or radio components.

           They were a mature design, great for experimentation but also rugged enough for use if done right. I suspect they are no longer manufactured, due to on-line simulators. I lived through this transition at the phone company, from people who knew their stuff to people who could run the simulators. The difference was as usual—standard people could only fix standard problems.

           I learned my lithium charger is good for 8 zaps and then goes flat without warning on the 9th. Here’s the video of the dreadfully slow overnight recharge.That means at noon today I’m still sitting at home waiting for a recharge, as I have only a new charger, not a booster. PPP, y’know. This convinces me to get the new battery for the Hundy, meanwhile I’m on social media, where they have this contest to name this all-Black teen band. Here’s my favorites.

All Is In Chains
Metaligga
Rage Against Child Support
Black-182
My Criminal Romance
30 Seconds to Jail
Audioslave
Guns & Rosa Parks
Linkin Dark
Hood Charlotte
Bowling for Crack
3 Hoods Down
Theftones
Smashing Watermelons
Matchbox 20 to Life

           Here’s the prize photo of the week, the squirrel has learned he can watch my work desk through the picture window when the Sun is just right. The curtains have to be open, yet what a clever fellow. Yes, that is the so-called squirrel-proof feeder that is supposed to close from the animal’s body weight.

           Time to check the budget. That is how they work, checking keeps you on course. You won’t like it I said what I think of grocery prices. It’s gasoline that hurts, the price is still nearly $4 per gallon—and I had to fill the Hyundai. That vehicle will be getting some attention, since it was a chore to get it ready for the current situation, that is, you don’t just waltz over and turn the key.
           A new personality is possible on board, the guy who can design 3D items. His nickname is Mason, easy to remember. He’s a worker, we’ll find out more as the printer here needs to be set up, which means clearing a space, which means fixing a rood, and generally work for somebody under 30. Which I think he is. I walked through the shed area, it would need new roofing and I could not find some of my tools.
           That means nothing, as the tools will be in fancy boxes and I just don’t know where the boxes are. Time and energy, if he supplies that, we’ll soon know at least something about the workings. It’s like my navigation charts, nothing replaces hand-on experience.

Picture of the day.
Roman arch stone bridge.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           Six hours later, my KIA is still in the parking lot. I decided on the new Hy batter, that was $162. Since I have only a charger, not a booster, I waiting for 50% juice and this took us up to afternoon rain time. It was not easy moving and lifting these batteries. Happily this was possible without any chest strain, but neither was there any last time. I was extra careful. This time I took cutting tools in case that last bolt cannot be budged or sawn. My operating speed is still maybe 25% so lugging the battery trade-in and getting help loading the cart, that took most of an hour. The extra yellow wire visible is the ignition switch bypass. Lot’s of bypass going on around here.

           Out in the yard, I had to lift the new battery high enough to clear the motor bay. It’s done, but call it another half hour. I had to remove the old unit with its clamps and wiring, all the time dreaming of home and a cup of coffee. By coincidence, on FM 96.7 there was a show about how people now fear auto repairs. They would rather wait until the car stops than go in regularly. True, cars have gotten more complicated, but rip-off mechanics are to blame for a lot of their reputation.

           The rain finally stopped but that leaves the ground too soggy for work. I hung another sign but the van is way over in the corner of a huge empty lot and bothering nobody. I ducked into the grocery and emerged $60 lighter and dog tired. Kudos, I did not forget the fly strips this time. Yes, those gooey ribbons you pull down from a tack. It looks off when they get full but chemical deterrents are not allowed in the kitchen. The glue does a wonderful job, it’s a surprise they have not stopped making them.
           To keep records accurate, I think after you turn 40, it gets 2% harder to lie down and get up again. Freel free to test this on your own time. To work on the KIA, I have to get up and down ten or fifteen times—and I’ve been over there three trips already. This would give me sore muscles any time. So far, I’m lucky, though we shall see tomorrow morning. I saw under the chassis the KIA does have a couple of metal loops plainly meant for some kind of towing. Did I just call it the "Hundy"?
           After the battery and that alternator in January, there is $4 left in the vehicle repair budget until beginning of next month. If I had the gumption, I’d go spend it on a beer at Kooters.

ADDENDUM

           If you see the on-line term DFOXZAT, I made it up right here. Finally, after a quarter of a year, the leg wound has healed enough to be level. When I was a kid, I’d heard about war vets that had wounds which never healed, but could not imagine such a thing. The spot on my leg is very easy to monitor and I see there are two sites of concern. One is the incision where they took out the vein. That is the one finally healing over. The second was some sort of puncture that is draining lymph. It shows no sign of ever going away. Why only one leg? I don’ t know.
           And what is with these White House “correspondent’s” dinners? Why can’t the MSM get their fake news from CNN like everybody else? Nothing spells media people like the reporters who started stealing champagne bottles as gunfire erupted. And have you seen the nog riots in South Africa? Seems they don’t like the illegal alien migrants from Nigeria, and want them deported. Deja-vu?

Last Laugh