Author Archives: Joel

…all day. Without ever completely stopping. Never a trace of a shadow. And you know what that means, don’t you, off-gridders? No power tools for you. Which means no tiling the floor. Okay, yesterday was pretty much scheduled for domestic … Continue reading →

I have a one-gallon glass bowl, I think it was originally for an old mixer, that for several years I’ve used for the dogs’ water. It was a typical Joel’s-thing-that-holds-water, uncleaned since the Middle Pleistocene. This is only partially because … Continue reading →

Bird Diapers. Yes. It’s true.

I got the backer board down to the tune of LB’s moping and getting in the way, swept off his bed outside and set it down where it belongs. “Go lay down” is a command he knows well – he … Continue reading →

I’ve got the whole floor covered in backer board except LB’s corner, and whether he likes or or not that’s the plan for the first part of the morning. For the record, it’s “not.” After I’ve convinced him to move … Continue reading →

Kentucky said, “This falls under the category of ‘All ya gotta do is . . .’” How to Live Off the Grid: A Beginner’s Guide Apparently all ya gotta do is buy a couple of gadgets. Most off-the-grid homes are … Continue reading →

Little Bear likes his Lair just the way it is, and rather resents that he doesn’t get a vote about changes. I’m finally getting busy on the Lair’s floor – after putting it off for years – and poor LB … Continue reading →

Ohio Dental Patient Learns Mixing Nitrous and Guns Is No Laughing Matter A 72-year-old Ohio man learned this the hard way after accidentally shooting himself after receiving a dose of Nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) and reaching for … Continue reading →

h/t to Landlady

Stolen from 90 Miles from Tyranny.

I’m phasing out the old Yahoo address I’ve been using for TUAK correspondence. It’ll still work for a while, but if we regularly correspond please note there’s a change in the email addy posted at the “Send Joel Stuff” page. … Continue reading →

crummy dumbphone pics…

So a month ago I wrote a post complaining about these new gasoline cans I got for free from a generous reader, and in the course of comments somebody suggested maybe fitting them with plastic vent valves. It might interest … Continue reading →

So as I mentioned yesterday I’ve been cutting up lumber for winter firewood. This pile has been undisturbed since May, so of course it was infested with packrats. Packrats like piles of things. Pulling nails, unscrewing screws and then biting … Continue reading →

You gotta love synchronicity.

…because this one, taken only a few days ago, still has a satellite dish in it. But it does have the Lair’s new, improved power supply…

Never (Never! Never!) write a blog post bragging of how hi-tech you are, and then walk smugly away assuming all will henceforth be well. For Nemesis follows Hubris. Every. Single. Time. On the other hand…

Yeah, I know. I should have dusted first. I can put a wi-fi router in a 12X16 space if I want to, no matter how senseless that may seem. Because freedom.

Seen on Drudge…

Okay, this is kind of funny. I know yesterday I was praising failing to criticize Obama over his decision to stay on vacation and play golf rather than seek photo ops and the welfare of his subjects in the soggy … Continue reading →