With 72 ahead for me in a few short weeks, and with Elaine tuning up for hip surgeries, we continue to enjoy all the adventures we can in life. But life is indeed changing and all around us. Especially in the Shop. I’ve told you before about my concerns with America becoming a third-rate place … Read More
A number of Peoplenomics subscribers (and a few others) have made a personal investment in auxiliary solar systems for their home. Although, it makes the power industry a bit crazy: Home solar’s contribution to the grid is an algorithmic demand management nightmare. Take our place, for example: With an existing 3.5 kw of power from … Read More
I’m trying to write shorter – more useful – columns. Because as Elaine’s mobility has “wound-down” prior to hip surgery, I’m been spending less time “in the chair” than usual. And more time playing lead in the local production of the “Odd Couple”. (Planned for release as “The Bunny and the Geek.”) Masks Work Better … Read More
Almost 72, Planning Still Works Happy Aging Zone? There is a delightful balancing place most of us can find, with a little effort. It comes down to three concepts we’ve covered on Peoplenomics and here this year. For those who missed, these concepts revolve to form a “balanced life.” It’s marvelous to have/be-in a relationship … Read More
Is there a “Surplus Season?” We did a column on surplus stores in early January this year. Must be something about short days that gets the “project juices” boiling. Some of the best hours of father-son time with Pappy and me involved a surplus store just north of 4th South and Michigan Street in Seattle’s … Read More
Learning From Our Kids When you creep up into your 70s, one of the things you wonder is “Gee, if I were younger, how would I live in today’s world?” I’m fortunate. I consider the offspring: One daughter is a mental health counselor, working on a masters. The other daughter is going up the food … Read More
Ready Or Not… It’s almost here. 2021 looms. With a little free time on holiday weekends, it’s useful to turn off most of the hype-crazy mainstream media. Instead, try doing a “personal performance audit.” Designed to answer key questions. Like? “Did I have a Plan this year?” In the unlikely event you did, “Did you … Read More
How BIG is Enough? Did I ever show you my electronics bench? Total Train Wreck: (Fully functional, just looks like hell…) It’s ALL there. Desoldering machine, microscope for SMT parts, even a spetroscope for LED color checking. Thing is, I never get around to keeping it clean and organized. Project overlap. Phones ring. Martini time … Read More
The Best (& Worst) Boss is? US! One of the treasures of being raised in a “firefighter family” is that everyone “worked on the off-shift.” Sure, a lot of union jobs in the 50’s and 60’s were paying enough that one person working in a household could “get by.” But fire, police, and other first … Read More
A Convenience Store Based Antenna Ham radio operators world-wide would love an antenna that is cheap, easily built out of locally available parts – and outperforms both standard dipole antennas and other commonly-built wires. Well, here it is…. After almost a year of modeling our ideas for a “Super Antenna” the design was locked. It … Read More
Odds of me getting the major speed increase, CMS platform change – on UrbanSurvival done this weekend? Zero. Reason? Competing priorities which (frankly) are more fun. This morning we have three “topics from the heart.” All centered around that which we do that makes us human. Other than crows (and a few other animals) humans … Read More
Yes, Better BBQ! I promised a while back that I would write a review as soon as we got the new infrared BBQ rolling and I got some steaks under my belt. (By the look of it, there’s a lot more than one there, already!) As you can see, the Master Chef snapped this after … Read More
Many items on the agenda this morning. Not the least of which is the… Fires Still Raging Our condolences and support to families in California and Oregon who have lost homes and valuable personal effects in the raging wildfires out west. Talking to friends up in the Seattle area, it’s much the same story up … Read More