Sigh.... sometimes I wonder, and sometimes I just drink.

 

7-15-26

 W: 319.2            BS: 164        BP:  130/70

A special friend on FB posted the idea of Basil butter.  It's a great idea, and I am a nummy for not thinking of it myself.

But.... I being what I am, could not leave that alone. So, here we have Basil/Garlic/Onion/Black Pepper compound butter.

As it cools I'll have to stir every few minutes to keep the herbs in suspension.  Herself suggests putting it in the mixer and whipping it.  Not a terrible idea.

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I discovered the old stock Libre 14 day CGM sensors are timing out, and are becoming erratic. 1 of 3 is dead out of the box.  My last two that were usable reported low blood sugar no matter what it really was.  I finally got a clue and started finger sticks to check.  FUCKITY FUCK.  Blood sugar is all over and all high.  I went back to the insulin levels I was at before and resumed the Glipizide.

I should have known better.  No instrument can trusted with out backup checks, and backups to the backups.

****

GROK:

Manufacturing of the original FreeStyle Libre 14 Day CGM sensors (the first U.S. version) appears to have been phased out years ago, though exact stop dates aren't widely documented publicly.

Key Timeline:

• 2018: Abbott launched the FreeStyle Libre 14 Day system in the U.S. (14-day wear sensor).
• The readers for the original Libre 14 Day were discontinued earlier (sensors could still pair with the app for a while).
• Abbott transitioned users to newer models like Libre 2 (with alarms) and later Libre 3. The original 14-day version was effectively replaced over time.

Recent Discontinuations (more relevant now):

Abbott is currently discontinuing FreeStyle Libre 2 and Libre 3 sensors (which evolved from the 14-day platform). They will no longer be available after September 30, 2025.

• Patients need new prescriptions for the Libre 2 Plus or Libre 3 Plus sensors (15-day wear).
• Support for older systems continues, but new production of the discontinued models has stopped or will stop by that date.

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Carolyn is right.

Ian is right.

Nixon tried this time change freeze back in '74 to 'save energy. Locking it to daylight savings time was an unlitigated failue and most people thought it stupid.

Now the same type of genius's in Congress are trying the same dumb now. Locking it to daylight savings...AGAIN. &*%&%#@$ idiots. They had two time sets to choose from, and went with the one already tried and failed.... because idiots.

Me, I'm retired. Clock ain't no boss of me no more. Only reason I wear this watch is to track steps and do EKG's

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Basil!

 

Anyone who grows eatables or cooks with fresh stuff knows what Basil is.  If you know, you know. If you don't know... man you have some GOOD waiting for you.

I can't count how many versions of Basil there are.  I've read there are hundreds. leaning towards thousands. At least one for most every earthly culture able to grow stuff.  Some cultures have many versions, dozens at least. This being 'Murica, I think we have them *all* because we are greedy like that.  I grow three just for us.

This makes sense as Basil is in the mint family.  It grows almost everywhere, propagates easily, and crossbreeds better than a swingers club.

What we see here is lettuce leaf Basil, from Baker Seeds.  It germinates like a champ, grows fast, has large full leaves, and tastes superb.

Not an 'in your face' Basil like Genovese or Thai, but a gentle and subtle Sweet basil.  It's best raw, but cooks up well too.  We prefer it in salads or used as wraps, but it's become the backbone of this years Basil blend (dried).

As for Baker seeds, they are the best I have ever used. I've tried numerous other regular and rare seed sellers, and Baker has sent me the most dependable and viable seeds of them all.  With minimal proper care, the seeds sprout and grow.  I've had other places send me expensive and fancy rare seeds that simply would not germinate no matter what.  Not so with Baker.

If you are a gardener who likes to know what is available, and mull over the choices on long Winter evenings, consider buying their big catalog.  It's a full size softcover book, 3/4" thick, at 525 pages. The one I bought cost $10, preordered, and has a HUGE amount of information.  It's called 'The Whole Seed Catalog'.

7-14-26

 W: 319.2  318.8           BS: NA

Insomnia:  50mg Trazadone and 12mg melatonin last night.  Cutting a 100mg Traz down to 25mg was problematic.  I expect the doc will send in a scrip soon enough.  Meanwhile, 7 hours of good solid sleep last night.  Weeee!

Other stuff:   It hurts. That hurts. This thing over here hurts.  FFS, wrap me in bubble wrap and feed me Tylenol.  

************************

In head convo:  "I think it would be really nice for you to go do the thing.  I know you do not have any money to do the thing.  I know *I* don't have any money for you to do the thing.  Now you are saying you have just enough gas to get there and back. Maybe.  You are still planning on doing the thing you have no money for and will probably leave you stranded in another state, broke and hungry.  My only question is, do I hit you with a reality bat right now, or do I let you royally fuck up in hopes you learn from it?"

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Daisy + Apple = Happiness.

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This will be interesting

 260 FBI agents are in Georgia investigating fraud in the 2020 election.  I have no idea what that involves, but I'll be interested in the results, and any prosecutions that result.  Can't wait see which rent-a-judge tries to stop it.

Me "Hey, did you hear about the FBI investigating fraud? Over 200 agents sent to Georgia all at once!"

Random Squink "That's terrible!  That was a clean election and anyone who says different is a conspiracy nut".

Me "Wouldn't you like a full investigation to prove that for once and all??

RS  "No way Trump's FBI will do this honestly. They are just a nest of biased liars!"

Me  "Hmm.  You liked the FBI when they were going after J6'ers.  Same FBI, so why the change?"

RS  "It's  totally different now. The FBI will find whatever Trump orders them to find".

Me  "How is it different?".

Random Squink  "It just is, you RACIST!"

Welcome to the fishbowl. Smile for the 113,000 cameras.

Have Flock cameras ever been hacked?

Grok:

Yes, Flock Safety camera systems have faced multiple reported security vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and demonstrations of compromise, though the company has disputed characterizations of full-scale "hacks."

9news.com

Key Incidents and Findings

• Physical access exploits (2025): Researchers (including Jon Gaines/GainSec and Benn Jordan) demonstrated that with physical access to certain Flock cameras (e.g., bought on eBay), they could gain control in under 30 seconds. Methods included pressing a button sequence to enable a diagnostic Wi-Fi hotspot (default password often "security"), using Android debug tools (ADB), and accessing root shells, firmware, video feeds, or uploading malware. This allowed manipulating footage, deleting videos, or turning devices into spy tools.
  9news.com
• Exposed live feeds and admin panels (late 2025–early 2026): Multiple Flock Condor (AI-powered PTZ) cameras were left streaming live video and archived footage (up to 30 days) openly on the internet. No passwords were required for access, viewing, downloading, or changing settings in some cases. Researchers used tools like Shodan to find them; journalists and YouTubers verified by tracking themselves in real time. Flock described it as affecting a small number of cameras.
  404media.co
• Other vulnerabilities: Reports highlighted issues like unlocked bootloaders, hardcoded credentials, outdated Android kernels (e.g., 8.1 with many unpatched CVEs), lack of mandatory multi-factor authentication for some police logins, and information disclosure. Several CVEs were assigned (e.g., CVE-2025-59407 and related ones).
  nvd.nist.gov

These issues led to public backlash, videos with millions of views, privacy concerns, and some cities reviewing or pausing contracts

7-13-26

 W: 320.2             BS: 74

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Roasting meatballs at 8am for dinner tonight.  Going to be warm today and I want the oven cold all day after these are done.  Same deal with chicken stock started in  the pressure cooker.

86-88 today, after that mid 90's for the foreseeable forecast.  Stupid hot.  I dislike stupid hot.  Fat melts.

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Insomnia update.  25mg of Trazadone last night and not one other blessed thing.  No melatonin.  A standalone test.  5 hours of sleep, 10pm to 4am.  But, it was a good solid sleep and I feel like I got enough.  18% deep sleep, and that's not nothing.

The plan tonight is 25mg Trazadone and 10mg melatonin, and I  think that will be the winner.  Doc's opinion and/or scrip has been requested.

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BLECH!

I'll be pushing to chore it in early hours all week.

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Insomnia

Insomnia, amIright?

It looks like there are at least two types of insomnia.  The one where you can't fall asleep, and the other one I just discovered the existence of.  It involves waking at 2-3am, no matter when you went to bed, and being unable to go back to sleep.

I already take a fair dose of melatonin each night.  12mg.  Sometimes that is joined by other meds as needed. 

This 'maintenance insomnia' truly does sucketh.  One never gets enough sleep, and that is cumulative.  After a few weeks of living like an exhausted pigeon, I started doing research.

My blood sugar often drops a bit low, as checked at 2am.  But, sometimes on nights I sleep well it does the same thing.  I'm already juggling to my blood sugar balance again after starting an eating change, so working on that.  A better explanation is a cortisol jump that naturally occurs in the wee hours for most people.  It's suggested that it's the bodies way of preparing for waking up.  Perhaps my cortisol stress hormone whatsis is wonky, because I certainly do wake up stressed.  Usually my brain flings a totally loathsome dream at me right around 2am, and I wake breathing hard and heart thumping.   Weeeee.

I decided this needs pro help, so I messaged our lovely and competent Doc, who is a friend as well.  She came back with two suggestion that were right in line with my thinking.

1. On waking at 2am, take a small dose of melatonin (1-5mg) and see if that helps going back to sleep.  I tried it, and it didn't.
2. Trazadone, starting at 25 mg and fiddling upwards to find the right dose.  She explained how it's safe and non-addictive.  Okay, we have that in the house for other people, at 50mg and 100mg dosages and Doc knows that.  Herself said the girl child has been at 100mg since she was 9 years old, taking it when needed.  Huh.  I guess I can do that to try it.

On a night I had already planned to sleep in the recliner keeping Herself company, who was sleeping in the other recliner for reasons.  I took 100mg of Trazadone and 10 minutes later I died... or something like that.  The next morning I found out 3 other people had gone through the room and I has spoken to them.  Also, I got up twice to pee, once more than usual.  The thing is, this was all news to me.  I didn't recall any of it.

Waking up groggy is an understatement.  Sleep is good, unconscious is not.  Someone packed my skull with old gym socks, and that someone was me.  Never again.

Last night I tried half that much, 50mg.  Better.  Woke once to pee and this time I remember it.  Slept from 10:30 pm till 6 am and woke refreshed for the first time in months.  Here is the sleep record my watch tracks:

Typically, if I get any deep sleep at all it's 5% or less.  13% is miraculous to me.  Also notice the significant lack of awake time.  I'm usually awake 6-8 times a night, not counting the 2am demons.  Only twice is also miraculous.

Tonight I will back the dosage down to 25mg, and if that works as I guess it will, I'll petition Doc for a scrip at that dosage.  Once that is a stable dose I will move it to the 'as needed' category.  Save it for those times I am on day 2-3 of too little sleep.  Not every night.

So, my friends who join me in old fogeyness, maybe this info will help you if you get what I got.

7-12-26 Mega Meme dump

 W: 320.8        BS: 94

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Loads of memes today.  Many swiped from Sarah Hoyt.

7-11-26

 W: 318.8            BS: 74            

Asked doc for suggestion on sleep. I tried one last night. A p-scrip that I knew was always someplace around the house, but I never used.  Doc said start at 25mg.  Herself said daughter has been taking 100mg as needed since she was 9.  Okay, I took a 100mg at sleep time.  Fell asleep in the recliner, already planned as such for reasons.

Had to get up a few times to pee (dang Lasix), and was groggy both times.  Sometime before waking I had a dream in which I was waking from a dream and said never that much again as it made me mentally fuzzy.  I woke up and did exactly that, talking  to the same person I was talking to in the dream.  Inception much?

(Update)  As I am slowly becoming aware, I can see that People were around me and doing things last night.  I slept through that.  I SLEPT THROUGH THAT.  Normally a cat fart will bring me wide awake.  One footstep on the stairs at night and I'm awake and can tell you which kid is up.

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In other boring, I've had the dehydrator running most days.  In pint or quart jars: Mirepoix, onion, Italian seasoning, mixed assorted greens (Horseradish, radish, Kale, and Swiss chard), oregano, mint, basil, and celery leaf.  Still riding on last years dried peppers,  tomatoes, and tomato powder.

That quart of mirepoix (Onions, carrots, celery) was chopped, dehydrated, roasted, and chopped again. It will make at least ten pots of soup or sauce.

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The words 'good' and 'evil' can be exchanged for many others.
This does not require a spiritual perspective, but grounds perfectly
in the realms of psychology and human nature.  The basic message is clear.
If X cannot prosper in the face of opposing opinions being voiced, 
Then X is a lie that does not wish to be exposed.

I think this is true, I tell you three times.
I've applied this notion in business and academia
for my whole life. A large percentage of people 
firmly believe that if they can get YOU stuck in a barrel,
then THEY will not be in a barrel.