malada

Busy Monday!

2026-04-20T17:57:07Z

Wow. 8:00. Got up, exercised, dressed, breakfasted and headed out to the Walk In Clinic for a relatively new skin irritation. They prescribed some ointment for my embarrassing location.

Got home, sorted and shredded. I've got a lot of old paperwork I don't need that's taking up space.

10:40 - off to the Senior Center for my first ever line dancing class. It was harder than I thought. I've got steps and terms to study and learn It was a good workout both physically and mentally. Learning new ways of moving exercises the mind and body.

11:45 - Lunch at the Senior Center! Meatball parm sub. Yum.

After lunch, off to the hardware store for sink caulking. I had other things on my list but I think I'll need to go to an electronics or craft store for those itty-bitty needle nosed pliers.

Then it was off to the drug store! It was on the way home from the hardware store. I got my ointment, a COVID booster and a pneumonia vaccine.

Right now at 13:45, I'm chilling for the first time today with a cup of half-caf I've got more shredding and sorting and collecting the garbage. I still need to do something musical today: practice an instrument, compose or study a particular piece of music.

The keyboard on my bench... I'll deal with tomorrow. There's a very fiddly connector that I just can't get to back in correctly. If I can't put in back in the keys won't work. The original manufacturer used a penny pinching way of connecting two circuit boards that requires a good eye and a steady hand to insert - of which I have neither. It only cost me 30 dollars but it's eaten into my time. I'll be disappointed if I can't reassemble it correctly. I part of my personality has been that I can fix things and the inability to do so hurts a bit. But I have physical limitations and really fine work - never my strongest suit - has become more and more limited as I've gotten older.

I'm adjusting.


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Electionic musical keyboards -repair and use

2026-04-18T17:59:23Z

I've got a bunch of electronic keyboards that I've collected over the past few years. The oldest is a Casio CZ-101 which is a classic synth from back in the day. I don't use it much because it's a bit beat up and hard to program. It's small with 37 tiny keys so it's not easy to play. It's got a unique sound that makes it a classic and it has MIDI ports (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). I can connect these to a computer with a cheap adapter and have it play from a music program. I'm reluctant to give it up because it is a classic and there are lots of patches available for it.

The rest are 'learning' or 'beginner' keyboards either from the thrift store or from the garbage. I only snag things from the thrift store if they have MIDI ports . So I have a "Miracle Piano" that dates from the late 1990s that was designed to worth with special Windows or DOS software. It has only 37 keys. It works, the sounds aren't very exciting, I have the software but I can't find the special cable, which I did have at one time. There's 128 patches but they're hard to access externally. I've been using the stock piano sounds for ear training and I think it's helping me train my brain to more accurate hear better.

I just recently found a Yamaha keyboard at a thrift - but it's going on the bench because a single intermittent key. I suspect the contacts are dirty. Otherwise, it all works: 61 keys, lots of patches, drums, rhythms, variable tuning - it's 'semi pro' level. I think it will be fun.

From the garbage came a "First Act" 37 key P.O.S. Half the keys don't work but all the tones, rhythms and other presets work. I tore it apart to see if cleaning the contacts will fix it. It wasn't hard to take apart - just a lot of screws - and the layout, design and parts are similar to other made in China keyboards. (You Tube is great.) There was something comforting about working with my hands: unscrewing things, cleaning things and reassembling things. The cleaning didn't fix any of the keys so I think the contact circuit board is cracked and one or more circuit traces are broken. At the moment it's not worth the effort to fix right now. The sounds are kind of meh anyways but might be fun to mess with. However, because I tore this cheap keyboard apart I feel comfortable taking apart and cleaning the Yamaha.

The second garbage find was a Casio CTK-1100. With 61 keys it's closer to a full sized keyboard. After getting the correct power adapter and giving it a good cleaning outside it all works. I suspect that the original power supply died so it was tossed. It sounds okay, 100 patches, lots of rhythms, drum sounds and demo songs. Something is rattling inside but since everything still works I'm not going to mess with it yet.

I'm running through scales and chords, honing my brain and eara so I can correctly hear things in tune. Since losing my hearing a decade ago listening to music became hard because it sounded out of tune or just like mush. With my guitar, bass and keyboard practice - sometimes for just 20 minutes a day, I think it's helping. And if feeds something in my soul.

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Out damned spots

2026-04-16T13:30:24Z

I've just had the second suspicious spot removed from the skin on my left shoulder. I was well numbed up for both so the procedures wasn't painful, were merely uncomfortable.

Today, it hurts a bit.

My primary dermatologist ignored the spots when I pointed them out. My secondary ordered biopsies. Then she removed them. In addition, my primary ignored the flaking, the pus and the bleeding AND the loss of hair on my head. I'm going to one more appointment with my primary to chew them out, show them my bald head and fire them.

Steroids helped with the scalp but made me jittery and (more) sleepless. I'm off to get blood tests to see if a new treatment will work for me without side effects.

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Oh, Jesus....

2026-04-14T13:45:37Z

This particular outrage has probably faded from the headlines... overshadowed by the latest outrage... but it was an AI slop picture of tRump dressed in white and red robes delivering shiny holy healing on a man in a hospital bed. There's people around him looking on with awe and in prayer with eagles and fighter jets and soldiers/angels above him.

Pathetic.

Where's your healthcare bill Donnie? Or the Republican healthcare? You put a quack in charge of health care and your party wants to cut, cut, cut health care for your goddamn war.

And oh yeah, and your or your goons doctored the original image - blurring out the lettering on the older man's hat that said "VETERAN" and replacing soldier/angles for something vaguely demonic. Apocalyptic, even.

I don't think your Xtians buddies are loving this much. You're a fake, a fraud, a liar, a cheater, you need to use AI slop to make you look like you're not a fat, sick old man who's losing what little marbles you have.

Vance said it was a joke. You said you thought you were dressed as a doctor. *sniff sniff* I smell bullsh*t.

Your buddy Orban's gone. He gerrymandered to attempt to win the election in Hungary and he still lost. You - or Putin - maybe next.

Jesus. Just go and take your party with you.

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Age verification and Linux

2026-04-12T13:37:07Z

California and some European countries are trying to ram age verification on the operating system level as you install or register it. To "protect the children".

This is not a field where you type in your age - they want some kind of identity check. Okay, how are you going to do that?

Are you going to give the companies that own the operating systems access to official government databases? Which ones? Passports? Driver's licenses? Social Security records? This would be a treasure trove for identity thieves and scammers. This might work for Apple, Google (Android) and Microsoft which are well heeled, monolithic corporations which have the funds, manpower and skill sets (maybe) to set up secure identity monitoring systems and loot them for profit and shovel ads at you (I'm looking at Windows 11 which tracks you to do just that) but again - secure systems have been hacked. Lots of times.

And even if they're not hacked - denial of service attacks can be easily arranged especially in times of conflict.

So the whole concept is technically a BAD IDEA.

Now, let's talk about this age verification. To set up my IRS account to clean up the f*ck up H&R Block did, I had to create an IRS account. I had to:

submit my email

submit my cellphone number

set up two factor confirmation with my computer and cellphone

go to a website with my cellphone and take a live picture of an appropriate identification (driver's license - both sides)

go to another site on my cellphone to take a live video feed of my face to verify my driver's license.

That's a lot of information. And it was a pain in the ass.

Now, to Linux. With the except of two distributions out of hundreds, NONE of the Linux distros are owned or managed by a corporation. Most distros are volunteer created, maintained and run. Donations are asked for - not demanded. The software is free. It's open source so anyone can examine the code and find problem or vulnerabilities. They don't track you. You own your computer. Only Red Hat and Ubuntu have some kind of organizational cash and skill set to create a centralized server for a secure identity database. Everyone else? Nope. All those operating systems will become illegal.

I am not fully convinced that the idea of the laws are put there to "protect the children" from inappropriate internet content. That's what parents are for. Content of this type of that is marketed towards children is relatively easy to find, trace and people who provide it can be arrested. Having companies hold sensitive, personal identification data on their servers to loot is just a money grab for them and any hacker inside or outside said companies. Why do I think this? Because Apple, Microsoft and Google have all been quiet about these new laws. You have to go to their walled garden (prison) and eat their shit. No choice. No privacy. No way out. They own your computer, your data, your software, your life.

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The IRS and me

2026-04-06T20:21:25Z

I filed with H&R Block because with my change from working to retirement I wanted a little professional help. However, either the rules changed or my preparer didn't get my bank routing numbers correct. I got a letter saying the IRS couldn't deposit my check. Arrrrgh. I don't desperately need the money it's just I have to deal with government and forms and accounts and passwords.

I won't go through all the steps - just ones that broke for me. I needed to send a picture of my ID via my cellphone but the URL they sent me crashed my phone. I needed to reboot the phone to get it to work again. I had to use a phone stand because my hands shake so much I couldn't get a clear picture of my ID. After two tries they accepted my pictures and another two times to video verify my ID - again using my cellphone. Then they said my attempt failed BUT they sent me an email confirmation that my account was set up.

I took a break for a hour to settle down.

I was able to log in and after a fumble or two I managed to update my bank routing numbers. The IRS said the deposit will happen in 2 to 5 days. I hope so. Dealing with ANOTHER log in in ANOTHER government website raises my blood pressure and makes me cranky.

I'm going to make pasta for dinner.

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More work with e-waste

2026-04-02T18:33:41Z

This is sort of a follow up on my last entry on "wasting time with old hardware and software". I collected all my old IDE hard drives and tried to see if any of them still worked and/or had valuable stuff on them. Only one did: an old back up drive from 20 years ago. It had some old writing and pictures of our dog. I was able to retrieve them and save them to a newer drive.

Then I took a hammer to them all.

IDE drives are ancient. So are any computers that have IDE connections on their motherboard. Most of those systems are 32 bit only and 32 bit operating systems are getting rarer to find and run. So three machines are going to the recycle place: a Win 98, and two XP machines. Two boot, one is completely dead. There will be no salvage: the drives with be wiped and the rest recycled.

I don't have time to mess with this anymore and I really don't have much interest anymore either.

For too long I've gotten by on second/third hand me downs and things rescued and repaired. At this point, it's no longer worth my time. I have enough stuff to play with.

EDIT: instead of electronically wiping the remaining drives I went straight to Hammer Time. It was both sad and satisfying at the same time.

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Wasting time with old hardware and software

2026-03-31T22:36:21Z

I was gifted with an old Western Digital Netcenter. It has a built in hard drive for network attached storage and USB ports to attach an external drive and a printer It needed a new 12 power supply which I finally bought. Although there was originally both Mac and Windows software I could only find the software for Windows. The PDF looked like it was set up for Windows XP

And I've got a few WIndows XP systems. I downloaded the software on my Linux box then booted up my "Media Creation" XP machine. I had scored a lot of XP media creation software and set it up to do Old School digital media creation. I also downloaded a bunch of XP friendly programs on my Linux box and jeeped them to the XP machine via USB stick. But...hmmm... bad CMOS battery. Replaced it, booted it, tweaked the BIOS and used a USB stick to transfer the files. Now, you *really* shouldn't attach a XP machine to the Internet but I needed to go through my local network to set up the Netcenter. So I hooked it up and opened up Firefox just to check the network.

My internal speaker went "WEE-OOOH WEE-OOoH Your system has been hacked! Your system has been locked! Do not shut off your system! Call Microsoft how to fix this!" Firefox was completely locked up. The webpage had the same warnings and a phone number to call.

Eh, no. I've never seen it before but I sure heard of this scam. You call the number and they instruct you how to hook up to their servers then take over your system. They get your financial information and shake you down. So yeah, no... I shut down the system, disconnected the network cable and ripped Firefox out by the roots. I used Avast and CCleaner to cleanse the system. That took a little time. Then and only then did I install the software to set up the Netcenter.

No I will never attach a network cable to the system ever again.

So... I able to fuss with the permissions, clean out old files and set up file and printer sharing except... none of my systems couldn't see the printer. My Mac could see some of the folders but not all of them. My Linux box couldn't see anything. Neither does my housemate's Windows 11 machine. I think the firmware is just too old to work with modern operating systems.

It's long out of support. I'm going to open the thing up and rip out the hard drive and wipe it. The chassis will get recycled. I'm disappointed but it was a learning experience.

I'm getting to old for these kind of time wasting learning experiences.

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NO KINGS rally today!

2026-03-28T20:09:39Z

I made two extra signs that simply said "NO KINGS" and gave them away.

I had my double sigh that says on one side. "It's so bad the introverts are here" and the other side says "America needs more MOXIE and less NAZI". Both sides were big hits.

It was freezing here! Semi-cloudy, snow flurries, windy. Walked around to stay warm and show off my sign. The rally wasn't as well attended as the last one but it was still good. I was smiling the whole time being around people of similar mindset.

But I'm definitely going to be exhausted for a few days.

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I should have stuck to keyboards

2026-03-27T16:18:28Z

I have an old classical guitar... old enough to vote for Carter... the strings are shot and the saddle (where the strings sit) is cracked but hey, new strings will make it sound better and play easier.

So I start to restring it and *crack*. Not just the saddle broke but the bridge broke too.

The saddle can be replaced. Just gluing the bridge back together is unlikely to work. It'll just snap off again. Removing the old saddle and gluing in a new one might not be worth the time and energy.

There's the other classical guitar I tried the fix and made a mess of, and there's an heirloom 'student' or 'parlor' guitar that really needs a new nut. That needs someone who knows what they're doing and I don't. It needs millimeter precision to make correct.

I don't mind repairing electric guitars - even shitty ones - they're more fun and interesting. Acoustics? Especially shitty cheap classical guitars? Nope.

I need to clean the house today.

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So I went to the gas station...

2026-03-27T13:27:31Z

I wasn't low yet, I had a half a tank left but decided to top it off.

After pumping in 25 dollars I still hadn't topped off the tank. Came close.

I need to get some tRump "I did that!" stickers to plaster on the gas pumps.

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This is hard

2026-03-26T14:38:49Z

Just finished half an hour of scales on my bass. I'm relearning the neck, relearning how to place my fingers (so the notes don't buzz) and relearning what scales sound like... or should sound like.

With neuropathy in my finger tips, my loss of hearing and lack of practice, it's hard.

It's exhausting. It leaves me shaking. It needs to be done.

I think I'll cut my practice into to parts: scales in the morning, songs and riffs in the afternoon. I don't want to do a full hour mixing up different exercises. I want to concentrate on one thing each session. I'm not sure how I'll fit in my guitar practice but that may be for another time. Keyboard scales are more for ear training than for actually keyboard skills but some muscle memory from my childhood playing still seems to be present. I need to concentrate on the sounds... not the fingering right now.

I just need to put in the work.

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Need to PAY ATTENTION

2026-03-24T12:40:33Z

A few months ago when I got new strings for my punk electric guitar, I asked for specific brand. They didn't have that brand but sold me a set that was "equivalent". I was in a bit of a hurry so I accepted the strings and went on my way.

So yesterday I start restringing the guitar and half way through, I somehow lost the B string. I counted all the strings, I had them on the bench, and it was just missing. Gone on walk-about. Playing hide and seek. After wasting half an hour searching I finally threw up my hands, and drove the the local music store.

It was only then - in the store - that I realized the strings I had were for an acoustic guitar. Arrrrgggghhhhh. I bought strings for an electric guitar and a string winder because doing it by hand is a pain in the ass.

Got home, and was just about to tear open the package when I looked at it more closely. "Warm, Mellow Sound" the package said.

WRONG! Punk guitar needs bright strings!

Back to the music store with the strings and my slip. I really read the packages and got the correct style of guitar strings. The store clerk checked my original slip - and it was incorrect! The "warm" string never got scanned! We only paid for the winder! So an updated slip was printed I paid for my strings and I left feeling the Universe was Trying To Tell Me Something.

PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS!

The steroids I'm taking for my scalp condition is making me jittery so I've been pretty wound up lately. It's not a great excuse, though. I just need to move a little more deliberately, watch closely and take my time with things.

Even though I want to do Everything Right Now!

*jitters*

Interesting side note: the customer before me made a cool New Age type connection with the person at the register. Healing and stuff. I smiled at them showed my silver tree of life necklace and we all went 'Oooo!" at the Universe being all serendipity.

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Oh give me that big three inch!

2026-03-21T13:09:57Z

Gold coin with a picture of President tRump!

Because of US law: “Only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities.”

According to the law, tRump needs to die before he gets his own coin.

Just to give an idea about the size of said minted gold - the largest American coin that was in standard circulation that I know of is the silver dollar at about one and a half inches. It's a hefty coin. I've got a bunch of them. After my grandma gave me a few I started collecting them when I was in high school. Not especially valuable. In general, coins are a lousy investment.

So if tRump wants his three inch coin (twice the size of his micro penis) he's going to have to get the law changed (act of Congress) or die.

I leave the matter up to Congress and the Universe.

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Maybe this diagnosis is correct

2026-03-18T19:07:21Z

I developed a rash on my legs when I was around 20. Red, scaly, itchy. The dermatologist said it was para-psoriasis and it would go away in time.

It did not. For decades I suffered with dry, itchy skin. And it spread over 80 percent of my body.

When I was 40 I went to another dermatologist and he said I had psoriasis. After some coal tar treatments which did nothing he stuffed me in a Light Box. UVB treatment. After a few weekly treatments I started to clear. I was almost completely clear after a few months. Then he retired and no one had light treatment. The rash returned and I suffered.

A year and a half ago I decided to stop suffering and go find another dermatologist. They took biopsies and diagnosed me with psoriasis. They offered self-injectables. That kind of treatment is often hit and miss so they tried me on a pill - which did nothing. Finally I found a place that had a Light Box and again, within a month of weekly visits the rash was in retreat.

Then my scalp started flaking. Then itching. Then bleeding. Then came the scabs and the pus. A year ago my hair started falling out. I'm now 80 percent bald. During this time I saw my two dermatologists They tried a few creams and antibiotics with no effect.

Then they brought in a more experienced nurse. She took one look at my scalp and her eyes widened with horror. Steroids and a new antibiotic were prescribed along with more biopsies. After two weeks with new medications my scalp is 70 percent clear.

I now have a new diagnosis: Eczema.

The scalp may be something different but the treatment is working. The doctor is unsure if the condition scarred my scalp so hair regrowth is considered a stretch goal. I'm keeping a good attitude towards this but decades of suffering could have been avoided if I had been properly diagnosed at 20.

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Send ships to the Strait!

2026-03-17T17:06:08Z

Does the Strait of Hormuz need ships to protect it from Iranian aggression? All those important tankers need help getting through safely?

How about sending all those seized Russians yachts? Arm them with 50 caliber machine guns and drone jamming equipment. How about a nice rocket launcher and a mini gun? Maybe mount a few torpedo tubes just for good measure.

Then man them with MAGA members of the 101st Keyboard Division and some NRA Nut jobs. Make sure they fly some big tRUMP flags. They may not move very fast but the food should be excellent.

I meant this as comedy but I'm really starting to like this idea.

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Pop quiz!

2026-03-16T14:44:27Z

Question: what kind of energy moves freely through the Strait of Hormuz?

Answer: Wind and solar.

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Welcome armiplage!

2026-03-14T17:45:21Z

https://armiphlage.dreamwidth.org/

Welcome to the Zoo Crew!

I don't know how you found me... do tell the tale.

Is armiphlage a "Fire on the Deep" reference? It sounds familiar. Great look.

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I get things done

2026-03-14T14:43:33Z

Doing something musical every day - working on it. I try to rotate what I play: my new (to me) Hagstrum Super Swede electric, my 12 string acoustic, my phony Fender bass. I'm building strength in my hands and callouses on my fingers.

(Maybe get a blister on your finger, maybe get a blister on your thumb.)

I learned to play guitar from my friends who were almost exclusively finger pickers. After all these I'm learning how to use a pick.

Real bass players don't use picks. (LOL) If I was playing METAL I might use a pick on the bass but... nay.

I've rewired my practice set up: an old laptop to play out songs plugging into a 4 channel mixer to practice with. I use headphones so I don't disturb my housemate. I have to remember to take of my sweater because I tend to sweat a bit when planing the bass. It's both physically and mentally demanding right now.

Sat down at an old and shitty keyboard I bought at Goodwill and started doing chords and scales again. My hands shook when I first sat down but I'm remembering my fingering from my piano lessons. It's for ear training. The lower registers just don't sound right but the upper ones sound in tune. Due to the way the keyboard is wired it's not the keyboard - it's my ears. I'm trying to retrain my brain so it knows that the sounds are actually okay. I'm trusting my electronic tuners.

Repaired old headset - so don't need to spend 150 dollars replacing it.

I checked out 2 small 4 channel mixers for functionality They were being thrown out at work. They work very well.

Checked dual channel 45 watt Crown amp. Again, being tossed at work. Both sides are good.

Checked out old speaker columns from my old band. Hey, they're ancient but they still work. Kind of wish they were smaller though.

( I will need to recheck one of the mixers and the amp after they fell off one of the columns. I should have known better than to place it up there. The columns are tall not super stable so when I bumped one the amp and mixer fell five feet to the concrete floor. The amp case got bent up so hammer and pliers were used to straighten it out. Retesting slated for Monday. )

Wired up new connectors for said amp and speakers. I need some more wire to finish the job. Slated for Monday.

Checked old microphone and cables. Still good. I've got more cables and odds and ends to check out.

Re-wired my ancient, 12 dollar electric no-name short scale guitar. I have no idea what brand the guitar was/is but I think it originally came from the 1950s and had two pick ups. It only had one when I found it in a swap shop in the late 1970s. The faceplate had been replace and the whole guitar had been repainted. It has a gold marijuana leaf painted on it. I had taken out the POS pickup that was in there and installed a no-name bass guitar pickup, replaced the tuners and the bridge. After removing an unnecessary and troublesome switch and replacing a stripped screw I plugged it in and it still works. Very punk sounding. New strings are on the docket. I'll add that to my 'play' list.

No, I'm not going to restore it. It sounds fun, it's easy to play and I don't want to break the magic.

Years ago, my brother wanted to learn how to play electric guitar. I had an old Stromberg Carlson PA amp (tube amp) that I lent him. It matched really well with my short scale guitar. Really rock n roll. He either lost it or threw it out. Similar models on EBay are going for 250 dollars. Gee, thanks bro. I'll be looking for another shitty tube amp to rock out with.

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Have a little good news

2026-03-14T13:58:29Z

Here's two bits of good news with all the bad that's been happening:

Dolly Parton is still alive.

Charlie Kirk is still dead.

-m

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Bingo card?

2026-03-06T12:54:35Z

Excuse me, but did anyone have "Puppy-Killer Gets Fired for Sex Jet" on their bingo card?

Next!

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They're coming after the coffee now...

2026-03-05T16:47:00Z

...well, actually Mr. MAHA seems upset about all that sugar.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is gearing up for on iced coffee. The Big Huge ones with lots of sugar.

Look, we all know shoveling a lot of sugar is bad but seriously? Iced coffee? Aren't there more important things to worry about like MEASLES and WHOOPING COUGH?

Yeah, screw you, Kennedy. I will not give up my sweet sweet coffee. Come and take if, asshole.

Even though I don't care for iced coffee. Coffee should be strong as iron, dark as death and as sweet as love.

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So I got more experienced dermatologist today...

2026-03-04T22:51:16Z

Wednesday is my usual day for light box treatment. It's UVB and with weekly visits over a period of several months my psoriasis mostly cleared and stayed clear.

My scalp, no such luck. It scabbed and oozed and blistered and 60 percent of my hair is gone. Two types of shampoo, two courses of antibiotics - no help. I wear scarves when I go out because the sight of my scalp makes women faint, grown men cry and dogs to howl.

Yes it hurts and itches like hell. Three biopsies showed nothing scary.

So they passed me to a more experienced partner. She walked into the examination room and asked what I was here for.

I took off my scarf. Her eyes widened in horror.

After a quick overview of my treatment she excused herself for several minutes. Several long minutes. She came back with another nurse and gave me a good looking over. She took two more biopsies - not of my scalp - but other odd areas - put me on a different antibiotic and a steroid. She expressed so much concern about my condition she even gave me a little hug as she left.

I'd post pictures of my scalp but I'm afraid they're too gruesome.

I'm hoping to finally get some traction on this.

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What's in the bag, b **ch?

2026-02-26T16:04:46Z

From the Daily Mail Feb 24, 2026:

"It wasn't just the blanket left behind on a plane that got Homeland Security senior adviser Corey Lewandowski so riled up that he fired Kristi Noem's pilot.

It was, according to three DHS insiders, another item Noem left on that flight last spring: her bag.

No one knows for certain what was inside the bag - or at least no one was saying - but it was enough to stir up a hornet's nest with a firing, a rehiring, a promotion and even a medal."

Right. The Bag was so important that Lenandowski came into the cockpit in the middle of the critical climb to altitude - with the seat belt light still one - to chew out the pilot. Then they fired him after they landed. Then they realized there was no one to fly them out of the airport so they rehired him.

What's in the bag, b**ch?

If it was Important Papers and Documents of a Security Type, you DON'T make a noisy fuss about it - you send an air marshal to discretely pick up the bag and have it securely delivered back to you. You don't take off your seat belt and berate the pilot who is FLYING THE AIRCRAFT.

Oh by the way? The pilot was black. Funny about that.

And when were pilots supposed to be baggage handlers?

What's in the bag, b**ch?

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Some minor musical steps taken

2026-02-21T01:09:30Z

So... I spent a little money.

I bought a Super Snark guitar tuner. It clips onto the head stock of the guitar and can be used for both electric guitar, base and acoustic guitar. It's made tuning much easier. This is important because with my decaying physical hearing, I'm trying to train my brain to hear better. I've been working on it for several months by playing almost every day. I've noticed that my left ear hears better than the right when it comes to hearing things in tune.

I've bought a bunch of guitar straps!! My 12 string kept slipping off my knee when trying to play it so putting a strap on to keep it stable really helps. I've been having problems finding strap locks that I like locally so I may have to check online. There's these cute button ones that look like they come off of Grolsch beer bottles. They should be fine for lightweight acoustic guitars but I wouldn't trust them for my base. I still have my old strap locks which still work just fine for my Phony Fender.

They Phony Fender is getting new strings. It's about time. I've put them on but I haven't tuned it up yet. I want to give the strings time to settle. In addition, the initial stress of stringing it up the E string caused the nut to pop off. I've glued it back on and I want the glue to set overnight.

I've got a no-name short scale electric guitar that needs new strings. Also a classical guitar that needs them. I've got the strings, I just need the time to put them on. I really dislike stringing guitars - it's a pain in the neck.

The Hagstrom hollow body bass (in the picture) may need some technical help: a neck shim, maybe a new nut and complete set up. It also needs a new case. Because it's an unusual base the local shops are unable to find one that fits. I may end up building a case. I'm putting both ideas on the back burner right now.

When I started losing my hearing about a decade ago I practically gave up on music: I didn't play and I barely listened to any. I regret stopping. I have to build up my strength and my fingering all over again. Still, I think I'm making progress.

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