Project, Day 15, Additional

It turns out quite a bit got done today, it's a relief...



And the new speakers look nice.

A Breath of Fresh Air

http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/04/30/009245

The NY Times codes it's HTML and CSS using, get ready...

A text editor!

And low and behold, their site looks great and looks the same in any browser. What do you know... It's amazing what happens when you get people who know what they're doing and will just move forward with common sense, instead of struggling to use "tools" that they think they have to use. It is so refreshing to see that someone out there understands web technologies and does it right.

'It's our preference to use a text editor, like HomeSite, TextPad or TextMate, to "hand code" everything, rather than to use a wysiwyg (what you see is what you get) HTML and CSS authoring program, like Dreamweaver. We just find it yields better and faster results.'"

This made my day.

Project, Day 15

The project is stalled, waiting for mud to harden. The contractor has been sick. He's hoping to get over there today. I hope he'll at least drop off the remaining material, then there will be more I can do.
All this probably wasn't a good idea. It's going to be awhile.

Project, Day 13

Not much to show for today... The project is in a slump. But the good news is that Fred's Sound of Music called to say that most of the speakers are in!

Project, Day 12

No sign of the contractor this weekend. I more happens tomorrow. Meanwhile, I did more sanding, more mud, made all the pieces and started installing the shelves and installed all the window pieces except the casings.

Everything in the house is covered with plaster dust.

No fun...

Project, Day 11

The window sill problem is resolved! The new pieces are not exactly the same as before, but as Hans Solo said, I made a few special modifications. It should turn out well. Also, I did some sanding and a few odds and ends.

Project, Day 9

More plaster, and baseboards...

Does This Mean Fred Meyers Too?

http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/04/23/adding-10-to-your-economic-stimulus-rebate/

Starting May 2nd, Kroger will allow customers to exchange their 'economic
stimulus' rebate check for store gift cards with an extra 10% added to it.
So your $300 rebate is good for $330 at Kroger, $600 = $660, and so on.

Project, Day 8

Today's progress isn't really work a picture. More of the final coats of mud are up and drying, but that's about all.

Project, Day 7

A couple of sheetrock-wrapped 2x6s form a new surround for the fireplace. I'll mount a mantle above it. The area below where the mantle will be was not lathe and plaster, but just plaster over brick. It's being given an even coat of new plaster so it will stand out slightly relative to the wall.

Project, Day 6

Progress on mud and tape... Also, I have settled on a plan for rebuilding a new fireplace surround and mantle. It'll be a bunch of work, I hope it'll look good.

Project, Day 5

The majority of the sheetrock in the livingroom is ready for tape and mud, and one last new electrical outlet is installed.

Project, Day 4

Progress...

Project, Day 3

New boxes are in the wall for speakers and other wiring including lights on
the wall above the fireplace.

Later in the day it began to look like a room again.

Project, Day 2

The room is stripped down...

The Anti-Britney

http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-04/pl_music

"Imagine, if you will, a parallel universe where a pretty blonde pop star can actually carry a tune, writes her own songs, and frets over artistic integrity."

Har.

Project, Day 1

On Sunday and Monday I emptied out the living room completely. The sofa and loveseat where hauled off, and everything else was packed into the other rooms and upstairs. Just disconnecting and moving the stereo gear with a project in and of itself. But when it was done the room was left completely empty, and the rest of the house too full to walk through.

This week, starting today, the living room is being demolished and reconstructed by Justin Swanson and Swanson Construction. I'm missing out by not being there.

Road Show

Here's a couple of nice pocketwatch related items.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200703A34.html

I've worked on a few watches like the ones in this collection. It's a nice set.

And then there's this Waltham with an up/down wind indicator.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200705A04.html

Hmmm... Bacon...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080319.wlomega19/BNStory/lifeFoodWine/home

The omega-3 pig looks and tastes much like an average hog, but it could prove to be a lucrative new entry into a market that's increasingly wary of the health risks of red meat.

"I know a product like healthy bacon almost sounds like an oxymoron" said Willy Hoffmann, president of Prairie Orchard, located about 45 minutes west of Winnipeg in Elie, Man. "We have a novel product that way."

* * *

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/03/18/dinosaur.mummy.ap/index.html

"Using tiny brushes and chisels, workers picking at a big greenish-black rock in the basement of North Dakota's state museum are meticulously uncovering something amazing: a nearly complete dinosaur, skin and all."

* * *

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/immigrationreducescrimerates

"Contrary to popular stereotypes, areas undergoing immigration are associated with lower violence, not spiraling crime, according to a new study.

"Harvard University sociologist Robert Sampson examined crime and immigration in Chicago and around the United States to find the truth behind the popular perception that increasing immigration leads to crime."

Non Aeffectical

Affect and effect...

http://wsu.edu/~brians/errors/affect.html

http://xkcd.com/326/