Is There A Shuttle Bus?

There's already a bunch of handicap parking spaces that're always empty, and now we have a whole new section devoted to those who choose to waddle and take baby steps???
Photo from The Rim™

On the same subject, has anyone else noticed that a ridiculous number of Home Depot slots are handicapped?
Are you seriously telling me that people with infirmaties are loading up a pallet or two of shingles, then climbing up a ladder to re-roof their homes?
Of ALL the places that could get away with 3 handi-spots versus the 87 they actually have, it's Home Depot and Lowe's.

Take 3: I have always wondered why able-bodied men avoid using the big restroom stalls.
As far as I know there isn't a law against it.
No "Potty Cops" writing tickets.
First come, first served in my book.
They are there as a convenience/requirement, but aren't reserved on an exclusive basis.
Considering that the chances of seeing someone in a wheelchair in any given place of business amounts to far less than 1% yet the big stalls account for 33% on average, I say that they are fair game when you have to piss.

It's no great hardship to wait your turn like everybody else (mainstreaming?!) especially when you get to sit in your chair instead of having to lean against the wall trying to avoid eye contact.


Look, I "get it".
We have had fantastic progress over the last 20 years making the USA an easier place for the less fortunate to enjoy.
When I think of how bad it was when I was a kid for my friends in wheelchairs to get around, I can't help but feel proud of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

But where does it end?
I can't help but think that we've gone full-circle and are discriminating against the rest of us now.
Are reparations next?

Now that the health care bill has passed, is the government going to give everyone magic titanium legs so I can park within a quarter mile of the fucking doors again?

Toyota's Recent Troubles

This was a difficult drive-by grab shot, taken out the window while trying to avoid running down cops and firemen in the smokey street.

I think it symbolizes Toyota's current state of affairs.

Here in SA we are a little more supportive than people in other places, since the Tundra is made here and the Tacoma line is about to open, too.
I hope they get it together sooner rather than later.

It's A WonderWoman Life

Christmas decorations can be full of surprises.
The people across the street used blue lights to fashion a Star of David on their house, but Wonder Woman™ here cracked me up.

Bassic Repairs

An old Ibanez bass showed up at my house tossed in the back of a pickup truck with no case.
It had crapped-out many years ago, but was remembered fondly.


There was no cover plate on the back, just duct tape protecting the wiring and keeping the battery from falling out. Step 1 was selecting a solvent that would get rid of tape spooge without damaging the finish, then scrub the bass clean of beer, sweat, and essence of whore.
Step 2 was to dive into her spaghetti guts and figure out why she was mute and slightly retarded.
I won't bore you with the details because it's tedious work I'd rather forget.
Newer instruments have a drop-in circuit board that takes care of everything, but then I wouldn't have a chance in hell of even diagnosing the problem let alone fixing it.
Computer chipz aren't friendly to us old-school soldering gun & hammer types.

Step 3 was finding some plastic and fabricating a new back cover.
For a paying customer I would have gone out and bought some, but on this project my budget was zero so I used an EXIT sign scrounged from a dumpster for a previous project.
After cutting it to shape with an ExActo knife and sanding it down to fit (a bitch!) I drilled and countersunk the screw holes, painted the backside white, and glued a layer of aluminum foil to it for RFI rejection. You can see where there's some Ibanez foil tape to transfer ground connection to the plate in the 1st pic.

Step 4 was to find the correct allen wrench and adjust a steel truss-rod inside the neck. After letting the neck "settle" for a day I adjusted it again, then went to work on the bridge to fine-tune the action (string height).

Step 5 = Intonation.
Depending on how high the strings are and what gauge/tension strings you prefer, the bridge saddles have to be moved to shorten or lengthen the vibrating length of each string so it will play in-tune all the way up your neck.
Steps 4 & 5 are an interrelated balancing act that must be performed periodically, and any time you change string gauge or even brand.
Many musicians haven't a clue how to do this, and the ones who also can't afford to pay a professional to do it for them will forever suffer from that "garage band" sound.
You've heard what I'm talking about--chords sound a little "odd" and despite tuning between every song none of the instruments in the band agree on what exactly constitutes a G#. Yuck!
I taught myself these skills when I was 14 and have made a few bucks on the side over the decades since.
It's also a good way to spend quality time with a lot of different instruments and learn their secrets.

I brought the newly Zzakk'd bass to the next gig, and I thought it sounded much better than the one I've been listening to for 19 months.
Longer sustain, no dead notes (F#), less muddy/more even tone.
After one set I was waiting for the old bass to come out of it's case, but it didn't happen.

At the end of the night I was asked to put this one in the case and leave the other one naked.
The photo above is from the next gig and Miz Ibanez Roja again handled the whole night and in fact the other bass was left at home, so I guess my efforts were successful.
Since I prefer this one's sound and will have to listen to it for 24+ hours a month, I'm very happy that the owner is happy.

BTW, I would have charged anyone else $75-100 for the work but I consider stuff like this part of my job.
Yet another step towards being irreplaceable.

Water

After a good week+ of rain we're looking good for getting Stage II restrictions lifted. The Edwards Aquifer is filling back up at a respectable rate.

This means that fountains get turned back on, and just in time for cooler weather.
You know I'm loving that.

But what's up with this sign at La Cantera?
Doesn't anyone fucking proof-read anymore?

Thirsty In 78240

The doorbell woke me up.
When I finally had pants, I also had a picture for Zzakk's Garage.

Going outside, I found the CPS meter reader had disconnected my hose and was drinking from the faucet.
He apologized, and explained that he rang the bell to ask permission, and I assured him that there was no problem and to take his time and cool off as best he could.

Already over 100 degrees that day, it was the least I could do.
The bare minimum.
But I was still half asleep.