Author Archives: Joel

My friends have been after me to write a couple of how-to ebooks. These are the same people who tried to get me back into writing fiction, which went nowhere. Don’t know why I went so dry so suddenly, but … Continue reading →

The cool electronic indoor/outdoor thermometer Landlady gave me two years ago says it was down to 28 degrees when I rolled out. Scum of ice in the dog’s waterer. Had the stove all prepped, so I was toasty in a … Continue reading →

I’m in the process of writing my very first how-to ebook, working title “A Solar Electric System On the Cheap, On the Fly, and Off the Grid”. Long-time TUAK readers know the Secret Lair has gone through two solar power … Continue reading →

I dunno what spooked Zoe yesterday, but she seems to have reconsidered the outdoors as a desirable place to be. Temporarily, no doubt. After she came bashing in through the door I heard ravens croaking. They’ve been known to dive-bomb … Continue reading →

Big day, though…

It has always been my policy to keep a kitten indoors until it starts to fight me on the issue. Today Zoe decided she’s old enough to go outside with the others. She did it with style, too. I’ve been … Continue reading →

Landlady’s got three chickens, but her portable coop only has one nesting box. Which makes it a busy place. And when I open it up to check for eggs, there’s very likely to be a chicken in there busy with … Continue reading →

Of course that one is big enough for any number of cats to warm themselves on.

I remember when “first ladies” were useless, decorative (but charmingly unpaid) White House hostesses. They were supposed to spend stupid amounts of my money replacing all the WH china and otherwise shut the hell up. And we liked them that … Continue reading →

Ian has gotten very excited about planting fruit trees. When 2/3 of the trees we planted last year survived, he started thinking in terms of a whole grove of them. I dug a bunch of holes at his request, and … Continue reading →

It’s true. Why are gun control advocates so violent? I confess I wish they’d go away, but I don’t want any of them dead. Seems like no day goes by without one of them getting his fifteen minutes by wishing … Continue reading →

There’s an old ARI Q&A that’s been making the rounds lately. I last read about it this morning from Robb Allen. And everybody seems to get as far as reading “But of course, anarchists are collectivists,” and then their heads … Continue reading →

Back in July I posted about a clever little LED flashlight called a Blocklite. It’s now late October and I’ve been carrying it in my pocket every day, so I guess I’m qualified to post an informed review. I like … Continue reading →

This isn’t the very best violence, but it’s an old favorite. Been so long since I shot a .45-70 Springfield I’d forgotten how much I enjoy them. This particular rifle was a literal mantle-hanger so long the stock is actually … Continue reading →

Shut up and lay some eggs. So now I’m a chicken nanny. That’s Landlady’s portable coop, inside a temporary enclosure I threw up next to the Lair. For at least the next three or four weeks I’m playing host to … Continue reading →

So the Big O finally came out and said what everybody knew he wanted all along. Pragmatism kept him from saying this except through proxies till now, but he’s got nothing left to lose now: I doubt there’s enough undecided … Continue reading →

Stolen from Insty.

If the FBI Both Planned and Thwarted a Terrorist Attack, Who’s the Hero?

Fox News may be making this up, but I swear I’m not. Speedy tuna capable of swimming tirelessly in the Earth’s oceans have inspired the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to fund a lookalike robot for underwater patrols. And what, … Continue reading →

If you decide to through your house making sure everything is OK and you have a laser on the gun, your cats will think it’s a game of chase the red dot the whole time. This is distracting and annoying. … Continue reading →