Reader Read-In Note: In all that “spare time I have” I began a website earlier this year based on Hour-A-Day-Gardening.” That site got a warm reception, but as always, time for that project became limited, though it served a critical purpose in my life. See, most gardens fail because people don’t begin by making a … Read More
There comes a point, after enough years of owning tools, when a man begins to suspect the tools may have been studying him right back. What began as a practical little collection — a drill here, a saw there, a soldering iron because one must have standards — slowly turns into a private economy. Every … Read More
Dandy chow last night – fresh mung bean sprouts – a broiled NY strip – and red wine. Today? Well, don’t worry – I will be working it off with the lawnmower. And the string trimmer. And the vinegar pumper to kill edges. About 10 seconds after this posts. Maybe 30 with more coffee. What … Read More
I had planned to drop a ShopTalk Sunday on electroculture here this weekend, but the deeper I got into the research, the more obvious it became this isn’t casual backyard tinkering anymore. This has turned into real, industrial-grade science. I’m generous with my time and all, but giving away a 6,000-word piece with real science? … Read More
I’m slowly becoming aware that the whole of my life – this go-round on The Rock – has not been about how much money I can make. It’s really about “How well can you balance your Life?” Throw in a decent IQ, serious work ethic that never quits, and an easily distracted (ADHD) mind and the … Read More
Taken as a whole, the following perspectives were conspiring toward a future of muddle-through, or collapse. Not the lerast of which? US and Iran end ceasefire talks without an agreement | AP News And the hell of it? The luck of birthright will play as big a role in your future as all the hustle, crypto, … Read More
Ah, the glory of an Easter Sunday, huh? I like getting a bit of down time. (Actually slept in until 4:46 AM!) Except, as you might expect, my idea of down time is a little rough around the edges. Mainly, it means a change from head work to thing work. The workaholism never changes – … Read More
There will be a “quickie” post later on – when the job numbers roll this morning. But with the stock market closed – and tension building to the “Which Way Chicane” come Monday, I think it’s a dandy time to wander into dreamland. The place where we all go to make magic. The shop. Because – … Read More
I remember it well. Standing in the last field that was part of SGC up in Bellevue, Washington. It was, gosh, about 1997, or so. We were demonstrating an HF SSB Manpack to some para-military customers. I was showing off how a single operator with nothing more than a radio (like ours) on his back … Read More
Good Shopwork begins with solid Headwork. One of the ideas that has been sneaking up on me for years is what I’ve taken to calling domain walking. Sounds fancy, but it’s really not. It’s just the learned ability to stand in more than one mental place when looking at the same problem. Academics hate it … Read More
Alt: Workflow, Gear, and Staying Sane in the Heat If you’re like me, the shop ain’t just a place to fix stuff—it’s where you spend hours tinkering, swearing under your breath, and occasionally getting something right on the first try. But comfort matters more than folks admit. A sore back from hunching over one overcrowded … Read More
“Mmm.. too much ground to cover, Kimosabe! This reads like three columns in one hide-out: ranch/shop projects, solar tax gotcha, and anti-aging protocol update.” “No worries, Tonto. We write… Besides, we’re just horsin around, right Silver?” At age 77. You would think I would have enough sense to lighten the hell up and just chill. Nope. … Read More
Old age is coming for us all, just as sure as pigs come for slop. But up here on Level 77 (which is a personal odometer reading), we strive to out-think the pigs and keep moving on with life. So, listen up. I promise this won’t be “all sermon” but if you missed church today, this … Read More