So yeah, work's been even more annoying than normal recently, and that's been pissing me off. I was feeling pretty sick for a good chunk of this week (took Monday off).

Yesterday, the reinforcement for my Rock Band pedal came, but it's been rendered useless because one or both of my roommates has lost the actual pedal. Last I touched it, I placed on Brendan's keyboard to gently remind him to order the part, and that was the last time I saw it. Thankfully, some of the people coming over tonight can bring their own pedals.

On a brighter note, I ordered a shirt from Tigers and Monkeys about five weeks ago. After a month, I sent an email asking where it was and the lead singer (yeah, yeah) responded and apologized. Yesterday, not only did I get the shirt (which is not American Apparel* and therefore fits me), but she sent a burned CD of their EP in a really cool felt sleeve and a handwritten note.

( Pretty sweet. )

*-I read up on them a bit recently, and they're apparently a fantastic company, vaguely-creepy ads aside. who knew? Too bad they made up their own sizing system.

For the picnic this weekend I've bought mini-sparklers for everyone. It seems obvious that they're the way to go.

I don't think I ever really bothered to grow up.



Anyway, what time of year is this supposed to BE?



cherry leaf on the canopy of my largest acer

Current Mood: relaxed

Because democritus knows he wants it.

13:04 supposes he should feel some school pride or something, but doesn't. tinyurl.com/6gxzfv #

21:55 wishes his iPod would stop being a jackass. #

via LoudTwitter

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CoolTools/~3/370885467/002992.php

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/002992.php

My wife has been asking me to build a firewood rack for years. I was planning to construct something from square steel tubing, which would require a lot of cutting and welding. A friend recommended Stack-It Brackets, which allow you to quickly assemble and locate 2x4s in three directions without using any additional hardware. I'm sorry I didn't find these years ago, as we've been stacking wood badly for quite some time. They're inexpensive, work as advertised, and allow for quick and easy variations in the size of the rack.

I picked up a set of four steel brackets and in less than 30 minutes, I had an 8x3-foot firewood rack. Most of the time is spent in cutting the 2x4s into whatever lengths you want. After that, you just install the pieces. NOTE: the brackets will not hold true 2x4s. The rectangular hole in the bracket that determines the dimensions of the lumber giving the rack it's length is 1.61" x 3.61". With that piece of wood in place, the space for the vertical piece is 1.63"-1.72" x 3.63". The space available for the piece determining the width is 1.65 x 3.69". I used dimensional lumber measuring 1.5' x 3.5" with both of my racks.

The brackets are drilled to allow the used of screws for added rigidity, if one chooses. The first rack I made, I used some decking screws to attach the 2x4s to the brackets, because I thought it needed to be rigid. The second rack I assembled to hold kindling is made without using any hardware other than the brackets, and it is working just fine (below). Without using hardware, increasing or decreasing the capacity of the rack means just swapping in different lengths of 2x4. I'm actually a bit bummed about using the screws on the first rack (below), as I want to add taller verticals to increase it's capacity, but will have to wait until the rack is almost empty to move it to get to the screws on the backside.

According to the box, the brackets can also be used to construct a workbench, storage rack, plant stand, or shelving. I've seen a similar bracket product online, but they're made from ABS plastic rather than steel. With a bit of wood preservative, my racks should last for years.

-- Kurt Jensen

Stack-It Brackets
$13
Available from Amazon

Manufactured by Seymour Manufacturing

Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:

Froe

Strong-Ties

Wood Pellet Stoves

grenoble, france



( une autre )

http://www.cartoonlabs.com/comics/index.php?date=2008-08-21&show=sinfest

Sinfest
Tatsuya Ishida

What a mixed bag of emotions it must be to come in fifth in a race (out of 8) and end up with a bronze medal.

I mean, sure rules are rules but it isn't like he'd have been close to beating them if they hadn't stepped on the line.

1.88Gb download for the beta = 4 hours

Installed. Yay!

Start game.

Starts installing a patch.

And another.

And another.

I am now on patch #8. Hopefully almost done!

Last Instructions

An Expressive Arts Workshop for Lesbian Women
What parts of you are still “in the closet?”

( More information here )

Current Mood: cheerful

When you have friends who are facing cancer and hear something like this, it will give you pause. I wish I had some of the wisdom of John Challis.

Rest In Peace, Bro.
( Read more... )

Tags: john challis
Current Location: home
Current Mood: distressed
Current Music: A Sort of Homecoming - U2

( You are about to view content that may only be appropriate for adults. )

ZAAAAAAAAAQ! No, just zaaaaaaaa! No "Q". The "Q" was an accudent!

Have had booze. Am silly, ham-headed woman, but am happy, had chittlins this evening, and I liked them, which means I will chittle again sometime, without fear.

Also had a huge slab of puffball mushroom and dandelion, which was delightful, and I would definitely have that again. And eel, although I already knew I liked eel. I knew I liked dandelion too, because I grow it to eat in my garden. And we had pink champagne and a lovely wine that tasted like elderflowers smell, and I feel all ... perfect. It didn't even rain on me, and I was wearing my favourite dress du jour. And I get home to find out I'm being made more custom jewellery and now I'm covered in cats and brochures about Inja.

Gosh, the hall looks fabulous when you're on the sofa in this room. All yellow and warm and peacocky. Goodnight! x

Current Mood: happy