I had a marvelous Pennsic ( Read more... )

This has been a staggeringly busy day ( Read more... )

I don't remember if I've talked about wikileaks before, but I'm going to talk about them anyway ( Read more... )

So kids, time for another fun math problem! If four inches of rain fall down two chimneys, each one square foot, how much basement floor can this water cover? If you answered oh crap, my stupid basement, then you're right! Instead of a day of garb-making, the Sun Carolyn was kind enough to indulge me in a day of chimney-capping, so this should ( Read more... )

I've been reading a bit about late 19th/ early 20th century economic history and theory. One of the things that I find interesting about the period is that a fair number of economists at the time were concerned that capitalism seemed to be evolving from a classical, Smithian model into one based more on monopolies and finance capitalism ( Read more... )

My thinking about the world moves on two levels. There is a conscious level, on which I process ideas that I encounter in conversation and interaction with the world. On this level, I work out what I believe about the world, and try to formulate sensible and appropriate plans of action. At the same time, other parts of my brain, older parts, but ( Read more... )

Has anyone ever tried painting over wood that has previously been treated with wood oil? I have a ton of paint left from painting my bench, and I'd like to paint the poles for my tent and shadefly... but they have previously been treated with wood oil. If nobody has tried this before, I'll probably do a test piece.

It feels weird to have missed WW this year - it has always been my favorite event. However, with the fence guys building my lovely cedar fence that weekend, among other commitments, it was just not an option this year - and most of the household ended up being otherwise engaged in any event. (Huge apologies, again, for the bits of the household ( Read more... )

I've noticed something odd about myself during the last few months - there are a variety of tasks that I'm wary of undertaking, but which, once I get up the will to attack them, go very well. The basement renovation was daunting, but I love the way it looks, and I'm proud of what I did down there. (There may well be pics when I'm done with the ( Read more... )

I was reading an article today about the fight over extending unemployment benefits. I think that this is a particularly stupid place for people to be deficit hawks, but that's not the issue that I'm concerned about at the moment ( Read more... )