Author Archives: Joel

You guys are going to make me work, aren’t you? There are currently 14 subscribers! Including one $10/month, which brings TUAK’s Patreon income to $43/month. A big help, and much appreciated. But here’s the problem – If we cross $50/month, … Continue reading →

I thought the first SpaceX launches and recoveries were cool, finally bringing spacecraft technology into the fictional 1930’s. But since all they ever did with it was take NASA money to deliver pizza to the ISS, I lost interest quickly. … Continue reading →

Yeah, I know. Here’s another of those scientific animal studies that prove something most people already knew, but with a new factoid I didn’t actually know… Dogs have about 530 million cortical neurons while cats have about 250 million. And … Continue reading →

I got two care packages from Big Brother this morning, and spent some time this morning stocking the new loft pantry. Which I like! I can put cardboard containers of (mostly not food) stuff up there without needing to worry … Continue reading →

Facebook rolls out AI to detect suicidal posts before they’re reported This is software to save lives. Facebook’s new “proactive detection” artificial intelligence technology will scan all posts for patterns of suicidal thoughts, and when necessary send mental health resources … Continue reading →

Before T died he had specific ideas as to what he wanted on his gravestone. After T died, Landlady learned there were specific things monument makers are not willing to carve on a gravestone. So she found somebody who works … Continue reading →

…except possibly during a house fire. h/t to feralfae.

I’m not making fun here, I genuinely don’t understand. If you want to be a vegetarian, however strict, that’s totally … I don’t care. Good. You’re literally harming nothing but plants, so why would I object? I don’t even know … Continue reading →

I named him Ghost for the blog, because his original owner was briefly (and with regret) prominent in certain Libertarian circles and wanted no attention inadvertently drawn through association. Ghost was a better name – he was quiet until he … Continue reading →

In my capacity as the local hermit I don’t need to deal with many scheduling conflicts. When L called me yesterday afternoon about Ghost’s euthanasia I momentarily forgot that I had also promised to help Neighbor D put up hay. … Continue reading →

I got a phone call from L yesterday: The local vet is making a housecall on Ghost this afternoon, and then it’ll be my job to fill in that grave we dug a week or two ago. I have to … Continue reading →

Since the very memorable July 2013 I’ve been hauling my drinking water from town, and it hasn’t worked out very badly in all that time. In summer I keep a 10-gallon reserve but there’s no good way to keep it … Continue reading →

It’s a beautiful day in a string of beautiful days, certain not to last, and I thought I’d better duck into the powershed and give my batteries a bit of maintenance while I can be outside and still feel my … Continue reading →

I’m still trying to determine whether to mark the new propane space heater “emergency use only.” It depends entirely on whether I can afford the propane to run it every night, which I’m currently doing just to gauge consumption but … Continue reading →

…but, sadly, aren’t… Remember, kids! Never try to play without the instructions! That way lies horror! Rumors and embarrassment! Title IX proceedings!

“I was sad that I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.” The Last of the Iron Lungs These days her biggest concern is the canvas spiral collar that creates the seal around her neck. … Continue reading →

My diet tends to be pretty monotonous – I eat a lot of bread. I could do better, I have a lot of ingredients and access to the Internet. But I’m lazy and in general food isn’t really all that … Continue reading →

…but I understand the idea. Do you have a dressy handgun and/or holster you only carry for nice? My handguns are too beat-up to fit the description, but Tam (who wrote the linked article, BTW) once gave me a SERPA … Continue reading →

But it does happen. Apparently often enough that Little Bear knows the signs. So this is LB being “helpful” while I get dressed… He could be on his bed in the main room and out of the way. He could … Continue reading →