Monday, April 27, 2020

PPE

Had a "mostly" uneventful week since last we spoke.  Went to the grocery store twice and the liquor store once.  While at the grocery store, saw and spoke to a couple of teachers that I knew and liked from my most recent prior existence.

One happens to teach first grade.  So I asked her how the home schooling was actually being accomplished at that level.  Parents would come by the school and pick up paper packets with assignments in them.

I blinked twice as I heard that.  She said "Yeah, I know...But most of my kids are lower income and don't have computers."  Which brought up a short question about Gov Abbott closing school for the duration of this school year regardless of starting the "re-opening" process.

"Damned if you do, damned if you don't."  There's been so much time lost so far, that getting butts in seats alone will take most of the day.  So...little upside.  Potential for big down side.  However, the other downside is with low income families, the school takes the place of child care.  Obviously, education is also part of that picture.

Or should be.  So, if the school's don't open, Mom and Dad are going to have to find someone to take care of Little Johnny, which means either one of them stays home, or they hire someone.  Both of which means less money for the family.  Best case is maybe a family member can help. 

As I said, no good answers.  I think if I ever hear "....an abundance of caution" again, I'll come unhinged.  I think that statement actually translated from the original Russian means " ...an overabundance of cowardice."

Just me....being charitable.

Other events for the week, MBD and T-Dawg  came over for a few days.

T-Dawg is the one in the middle.
Working from home has some perks.  One of them, for me, was listening to her running a meeting for her team on a project.  The young lady has some MAD people skills.  Must have come from her mother's side.

Her looks obviously came from me,  thank you very much!

The other highlight was a Skype call to our refugees.  That would be Little Juvat and his wife (comments here occasionally as LJW...get it?).  I may not have mentioned this, but they are assigned to the US Embassy in Kuwait.  Back in January, he was sent on a short TDY to another Embassy in the region.

Then, for some unknown reason (yeah right!) all travel to and fro was shut down.  He's been there 65 days now and counting.  No end in sight yet.  I asked him about short tour credit. He said he's quite likely to get it, I think he only needs about 3 more weeks.  Good news is he's staying busy, 10-12 hour days.  He keeps track of weekends by working only 8 hours.

LJW isn't much better off in Kuwait.  The Embassy compound is shut down, so there isn't a lot of activity to keep busy.  This is her first long term overseas experience and is a bit OBE.  She seems to be hanging in there, but...

Indications of "wearing thin"  are quite evident in both of them.

They are number one in my evening appeals to a higher power.

I read an excellent article this past weekend from a link of Feral Irishman's blog.   It's a bit long, but written by a Doctor in Alabama in consult with some other physicians he associates with.  He pretty well lays bare what's really going on.  Highly recommend reading the whole thing, but IMHO, here's the money quote.

According to worldometers.info from January 1 to April 1, 2020 the worldwide deaths from COVID-19 were 46,438 as opposed to 121,993 for influenza. To recap, during the same three months, with the same social distancing, the same shelter in place, and even handicapped with a vaccine against it, the flu still killed more than two and a half times as many people as COVID-19. (Emphasis mine)
Yep!  We must put millions out of work right now!  Because....
Stolen from BarbaCat's site  Thanks!

The dog's got the right answer!

Now that my blood pressure's up, we'll change the subject.  Anyone?

"What's going on with the "Big Project", juvat?"

"Well, Sarge, it was PPE week at Rancho Juvat."

"Personal Protective Equipment week?"

No, silly!  Painters, Plumbers and Electricians."

Monday morning I'm walking up to the Horsebarn to feed the Hay Burners and a truck drives by.  Asked him what he was here to do and he said we're the Painters.  By the time I got the hay thing done, they were starting to tape things off and by the evening feed, they were done.  Or at least for this part of the project.

Mrs J and I were a bit concerned as the hardy board was this puke yellow color and we were afraid that something had gotten lost in translation.  However, the actual color is a beige and really sets off the Cedar accents on the rear of the house.




The two walls to the right side of the picture will be all brick.  As one can see by the protuberances  on the roof, the plumbers have also been there.  The gas lines have been installed as well as the hot and cold water lines.

No, Beans, the drains are still in the middle of the hallway.



This is the hallway to the master suite.  The bathroom sinks are on the OTHER side of the wall to the left.

The electricians have installed most of the boxes and electric wire to each, so while progress is not as noticeable as it has been so far in the project, it is still being made.

My personal project is to do something about this.


My workshop.  Having a computer background, my first effort was to try and use Sketchup to figure out a more optimum configuration.

RIIIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHHHHTTTTT!  What a PITA that was!  So I got out the old drafting tools and some graph paper and drew me some scale plans


Now, an astute observer (AKA Beans) will quickly discern that the two elevations are not oriented correctly.  As the horizontal elevation is oriented with the observer at the top of the drawing looking in. Whereas the bottom one is looking in from the door.

So...the Draftsman didn't get paid for his work, but scale was more important than precise layout.  In a 15' X 11' space, storage is critical.  My plan is to build two plywood walled floor to ceiling garages where my router, drill press and bandsaw will be stored when not in use.  The middle section will be 2  60" W cabinets from Lowes with 4  30" W cabinets along the ceiling.  That should give me enough storage to clear off my work bench and stop using my table saw as one.  That will be a major improvement.

Lowes has got 10% off on the cabinets now, so I think I can do this whole thing for less than $500.  Mrs J has approved the expenditure, so now I just have to move stuff around so I have room on that wall to work it into being.

So.  I've got that going for me.  Hope all y'all are well, mostly sane  and will shortly be able to return to a somewhat normal living.






49 comments:

  1. I was nodding my head in agreement until I got to this part. "That should give me enough storage to clear off my work bench and stop using my table saw as one." You are correct. But the duration of time where the table saw isn't being used as a work bench will be so short that the time can only be measured with laboratory equipment.

    A length of rope dangling from a screw eye makes a great storage system for spring clamps of all sizes. I call it the "Grape Cluster Method."

    When we decided to rearrange the basement shop we used the same system you did. Great minds indeed.
    Roll around tool cabinets are good storage, and I am going to suggest that you put scrap wood under the front wheels so that the drawers are self closing. This is really, really, really, important because a tower of tools topple is a bad thing. (probably should add a few more reallys)

    I had my way, the color choices in our home would be blue, with other shades of blue, and an underlying theme of blue and to brighten things up I would use really light shades of blue.
    That's why color management is in the hands of my wife.

    It's good to hear from extended family, and to know they are all well.

    Things are looking shipshape in the new house and thanks for sharing.
    What are you planning for the commissioning ceremony?






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    1. Wouldn't mounting the drawer slides slightly off level accomplish the same thing, John? With the advantage that the cabinet top would be level to the floor? Or am I not understanding your suggestion correctly?

      Blue was my suggestion also, Mrs J promptly demonstrated both her dismissal of that suggestion and which shades of blue were the least desirable by placing her hands around my neck for a bit. (Just kidding of course.)

      Re: the commissioning ceremony. Right now we're thinking opening Christmas presents. That may be optimistic though.

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    2. Get the boxes with soft closing, only one drawer at a time features. Having a drawer slam shut on your digit is not a happy day. Also, if you have some time, go to Abe books, and see if there is a copy of Taunton Press's most excellent Small Shops book. (they publish fine woodworking)

      Having a narrow spot for on edge storage of plywood is most handy, and it takes just a little room to accomplish. That book has a ton of ideas and it is not easy to hand.

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    3. Here you go. I have the older version. There is a newer one. https://preview.tinyurl.com/y9q9v3mp

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    4. The rope idea for clamps is good, better is a pipe hanging from rope so you don't end up with much sway in the middle.

      As to blue, nice color in a subdivision. Out in the outback like juvat is, beige and other earth tones makes the house much less stand-out-ish. And won't show blown dirt as much, so won't require pressure washing by juvat as much either.

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    5. Thanks STxAR, Book's on its way.

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    6. Beans, guttering is also going to have to go up soon. Fortunately, or wisely, the bottom of the front walls are a reddish brown brick, so any dirt splashing up will be somewhat camouflaged. Even with gutters and brick, pressure washing will still be a regular occurrence.

      I'll have to ponder a rope thing for clamps. I do have some spring clamps, but haven't really used them much. F-clamps and bar clamps have seen extensive use however. I have a rack for the F-clamps which keeps them out of the way. Part of the objective of this project is to find a home for the bar clamps. Accessible, but out from underfoot.

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    7. juvat. For build it yourself cabinets, self closing slides, and/or mounting the slides with the handle end higher in the case would tend to make them self close.
      I was only speaking in reference to store bought roller cabinets. We have six lower cabinets. Two in the garage, and four in the basement.
      STxAR. I didn't even know that "one drawer at a time" slides existed.

      I'm still looking for the perfect bar and C clamp storage method.

      After the topple, we have tried to have only one drawer at a time open.

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    8. John, you'll see 'one drawer at a time' on high-end tool chests and really good filing cabinets.

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    9. John, well rolling tool chests are a "sometime in the future" thing. I flat don't have enough room for them now, so mostly permanent storage is the near term goal. Once I get that taken care of, then I can evaluate some mobile stands. And your comment about the short time period between cleaning off the table saw and having it buried again is spot on. My way of saying that is "The only thing faster than rabbits at reproducing....is stuff!"

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    10. juvat. I took a few photos today to illustrate what I was talking about with the intent to forward them through Sarge. But there is just so much clutter because the winter doldrums have yet to be followed by some spring cleanup.
      I was embarrassed at just how cluttered it looks.
      Rolling tool chests. I bought most of ours from Sears when they were on a particularly good sale.

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    11. Ok, thanks. I’ll ollk for them in the (e)mail. Thanks!

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  2. Workshops take on a life of their own it seems as does the garage. "Weeelll......I'll just put this here for now and put it away later"......Hah! Organization is good but keeping it organized is discipline. Second vote on roll around tool cabinets. Well now the casa is looking good, it seems like you folks have a decent amount of space there. Wisconsin on April 16 extended their stay at home order to May 26th.........almost 6 MORE weeks.....my state is waiting for our gov to decide since May 4 is our deadline for stay home. Some more businesses open up today here...... just what is the definition of "safe"? Seems like crashing the economy is one way of not letting a crisis go to waste in regards to the presidential election looming this year. But then what do I know? Prayers for loved ones juvat.

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    1. You're right about the put it away later. Which would be tolerable except for the rate of reproduction when in the wild. Or maybe it's the workshop goblin that moves it to a different location when you turn your back, or maybe both. Last week I searched for an hour for a box of pocket hole plugs. My shop is ~15.5' x 11.5', how many places could it be? Finally, gave up and went to Lowes for another box. Got back to the shop, and voila' there was the other box right in the middle of my workbench. I swear!

      It would be interesting to put together a sheet with opening dates and a D or R in a column next to them based on Governor's affiliation now wouldn't it?

      Thanks, Nylon.

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    2. Workshop proliferation of mess by other-worldy forces? Mrs. Andrew and I call that "Fred." Like, oh, say, a keyring of 20 keys, big enough to choke a horse, goes missing from occupied rooms and ends up being found 10 years later when moving a box that hasn't been moved for 15 years and the keys are in the bottom? "FREDdDDD!!!!!!!" Same, same. My standard procedure, when something goes missing, is to stop looking for it. Usually within an hour of not looking for it, it will show up, usually, much like your plugs, in the middle of an open space where it definitely wasn't there before.

      As to the opening dates thing, well, no, it wouldn't be interesting except as a 10 second thought exercise on why D governors suck so bad. Like Virginia's governor saying the state will open in three phases, and it will take 2 years to reach phase 1.

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    3. Glad I'm not alone in that other world stuff. My goblin has figured out the wait him out tactic. I stopped looking for the original when I finished the bench project (pocket holes are still unfilled), never turned up. I was going to use pocket holes again on the dog ramp project and needed some other things (like I need an excuse to go to Lowes) so picked up a box while there.

      Only at that point did the goblin return the first box. Bastige!

      There was a bit of tongue in cheek in the spread sheet comment.

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    4. Goblins - I just got back in the house after cutting to length the 2X6 boards being used for shelves on the potting bench I'm making for the missus. I used two clamps to hold the ad hoc cutting guide in place for the circular saw, cut a shelf, removed the guide, then went to put the guide in place for the next cut - and no clamps in sight. This on the car port pavement with just the wood and clamps there. Looked around once - nothing. Looked around a second time - nothing. Leaned against the door figuring to step inside and take a break - and there they were, on the floor I had looked over twice already.
      Where's the Goblin Slayer when you need him?
      Frank

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    5. Frank, I feel your pain, buddy!

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  3. Palacio Juvat is taking shape quite nicely.

    PPE, never knew that stood for "Painters, Plumbers and Electricians." Good to know, can't have enough acronyms, bonus points for acronyms with multiple meanings, a Sarge favorite!

    I've noticed that reports on your new abode are very popular with the Chanters, what happens when it's finished? Will we go the way of the newspaper? Stay tuned!

    I too look forward to these reports.

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    1. Well, hopefully by the time it's finished, days won't be limited to exciting tales of feeding horses and visiting the grocery store. There might even be reports from a day trip or two. One certainly hopes so, anyway.

      Glad the fish survived the winter.

      Thanks.

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    2. Thanks, Skip. I consider that my personal favorite also. ;-)

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    3. He can always tell us how the renovations of the ex-casa, the rental casa, the workshop, the barn, the fence, all the projects Mrs. Juvat will have him doing, washing his car... It's not like he doesn't have a busy life.

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    4. She does keep me hopping most of the time.

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  4. Re: Schools. Don't breed'em if you can't feed'em. If you're not going to raise them don't have them. Back in the 70's my wife quit her full time job to have and raise our daughters. We put on hold the bigger, nicer house in the burbs that all our friends had. It take sacrifices and discipline to raise a family. I'm now retired and substitute teach to fill some of my time and I see the results of the lack of kid raising be it dual income couples or single parents. Life is tough.

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    1. I don't disagree Wolff, merely state that some choices have consequences that can't be undone and compromises have to be made to accommodate. Those compromises are usually very difficult.

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    2. I have seen some free range kids up close. They, almost to a person, faired very well in later life as opposed to their schooled peers. Most kids like that suddenly start to get interested to learn when they are capable. And I've yet to meet one that wouldn't rise to meet expectations that were valid. Our education system is quite outdated. It trains kids to take factory jobs, jobs that don't exist anymore in this country. (cf. Borepatch) I'm holding out hope and praying that this mess changes things to the better.

      I figure it's like those stay at home mom's that don't vaccinate their little ones until after their 5th birthday. They let them play in dirt, and eat mud pies, breathe fresh air, and get lots of sun. I don't remember the amount of vacs that you have to have before you're 5, but the amount after 5 to "catch up" is ludicrously small in comparison. "Catching up" is a lot easier than retraining them after public skool fascistas get done with them.

      And I mean absolutely no offense to you. It's a generalization that I have seen played out since our kids were little. We either adapt to the changing times, or we become shoe clerks.

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    3. When I retired from the AF and started teaching, the changes in the system from when I was in school were noticeable. However, most of the kids in the school were still pretty good kids with their heads on straight. There were exceptions, but in general... When I left the district, the policies were completely alien to me and I knew I could not change them and that they would not work and things would go badly. That, and the new Sup (a complete idiot or dedicated communist or both), made the decision to leave much easier. I've kept tabs with my old colleagues and they report that the exodus has increased and the people leaving are not the ones you (we, I) want to be leaving. It's scary.

      Absolutely no offense taken STxAR.

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    4. I'm old enough to remember, "who buys my bread, his song I sing." I didn't want to offend, but I have seen this up close and personal. If you are gonna trust the next generation to the tender mercies of the .gov starting at pre-K, you better vaccinate against the petri dish, but realize, you are probably not gonna vaccinate against the socialist dogma they will inevitably absorb. Maybe some major event will bump them off it, but maybe not. I zipped through Reddit the other day, and I'm not expecting much of my America to exist in 20 years time.

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    5. Had a son who tried working as a math teacher.
      In his first school, there was one student who did no work & failed all the quizzes and tests so my son gave him a failing grade for the year - and promptly got fired.
      His last school experience was at a school run by the students(sigh). Said students had a running contest to see how many teachers they could get to quit each year.
      He is now worked at a pharmacy, and considering options for the future.
      Frank

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    6. That's just wrong! (But you know that.) Both those districts need to be dissolved, replaced with new staff with degrees other than an education major, preferably Army Ranger/Navy Seal/Marine Force Recon/AF Pararescue types. No BS acceptable. No more than 3 strikes allowed. One strike can be enough for dismissal. I wouldn't be adverse to uniforms either.

      But that's just me....being charitable.

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  5. Nice work on the house. Good choice on Hardy-Board for the exterior. Stuff is definitely windblown debris proof and mostly fire resistant. Now put that over 1/2" armor plate...

    As to the drains, is the head of the contractor crew possibly an ex-highway repaver? As in, lay the substrate, lay the road, paint, remove orange cones, then dig huge trenches in road to put in pipes... So are they waiting for the flooring to go in before moving the drains?


    As to the Corona-Wuhan. Well, Mrs. Andrew has been freaking out for the last 3 weeks as she's been falling for the media's post-impeachment "How are we going to get Trump and Destroy America" unsubtle ploy. Until today. She's finally listening to what I've been saying all along. Which is, amongst a certain group, who are suffering from certain pre-existing conditions, in really poor conditions, Corona-Chan is a killer. The same group that the seasonal flu is very good at reaping.

    And that, funny, how horrible are all the huge numbers everywhere that the temporary hospitals are gone, the hospital ships have or are sailing back home, the hospitals are still empty (even in New York City, the hospitals are mostly empty.)

    What hasn't been reported very well is that hospitals across the country are now very broke, almost if not bankrupt, because nobody is using them. There is not the huge numbers of Corona patients (as is shown in clips from an Italian hospital, purported to be from a NYC hospital.) So all across the nation, during a 'health crisis,' we have hospitals firing nurses, doctors, janitorial staff, everyone (except management, management is forever.) We destroyed our economy not because of what Trump did but because Trump escaped being removed from office, at the same time the Attorney General is uncovering really good evidence that the whole impeachment process was a directed hit against Trump by the various bureaucratic entities and by the Dems and NeverTrumpers. (Duh.) But none of that is being reported, all we get is Corona-Corona-Corona.

    Gah. This just sucks. We killed this nation over TDS. Simple as that. Corona was the excuse, TDS is the actual cause.

    Prove me wrong.


    As to schools and parents staying home. Well, it's been proven over and over that homes with one stay-at-home parent are better in child-rearing than two working parents. So a lot of middle class families (if they survive the economy crashing) may discover that 1 working is actually better than 2 working. We'll see.

    Poor people? They are the first to get screwed in any crisis. Which is what is happening. A whole nation postponed a year. The longterm ramifications are huge. And not in a good way.

    Thanks, Media and Dems. You finally did it, didn't you?

    Gah! In bad mood. I see the future, and we can have a beautiful future. A wonderful future. But all anyone in power (who isn't Trump or Trumpian) is saying is doom-gloom-doom-gloom.


    I hope LJ and LJW make it home soon and safely. The middle east is no place to be right now with Iran and China getting unstable, and Turkey looks kindof leaning and slipping, too.

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    1. You and I are in pretty close to perfect formation on the above subjects, Beans. As to the last...That is my biggest concern right now also.

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    2. I had the unfortunate need of a hospital, twice within a week. No waiting at the ER. Even the big metro didn't have a wait at 1000 hrs on a Saturday.

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    3. How is the recovery going, by the way? Just off the top of my head, I'd say two visits in a week, things could be better. You're still in my prayers.

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    4. Same here STxAR, we're pulling for you!

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  6. Your house is really coming along quickly. We didn't see the electricians till about 3 1/2 or 4 months after the foundation was started because labor coverage was so short. I think in your instance this virus thingy may be helping move your house along.

    I am envious of your shop. I am currently working at another of your favorite big box stores locations hoping to earn money to get a new one of my own. We are trying not to touch the retirement savings for such things as we are afraid we may live too long for the pensions to do us good.

    The house postings are enjoyable. The family ones are too. Also I like the post action reports when Mrs Juvat gets you a good trip.

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    1. Anonymous -- They still have a 10% Military discount. You have to register through a My Lowes account though to get it. Then they track all of your purchases. Normally, they don't stack the military discount on sales items.

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    2. Yeah, I knew about (and use) the Military Discount. Every little bit helps. We've been taking your advice and taking a yardstick to the walls for skeletal photos. Hope they're not needed, but....Electricians are here today. Spoke with them on the way back from morning feeding. They said they expect to be done with the dragging wires stage of their part by tomorrow. So, knock on wood, this seems to be going well.

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  7. I think Loewe's still has their 10% discount for active and retired military. May or may not be able to stack that on top of the 10% sale.

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    1. Thanks. FWIW Home Depot has the same discount. It's just a bit further away from me than Lowes is.

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  8. I jest LUVS me some graph paper for doing that type of thing. It gives me a rapid visualization of the space, and lets me make little "markers" representing things that I can reposition as required to get the biggest bang-for-the-buck on using whatever space I have for whatever project I'm doing. I first used that method to lay out chassis' for radio gear I was scratch-building, and it's proven it's worth.

    I'm still scratching my head on the plumbing error. Wonder if they just put them "X inches" on the wrong side of the floor plate?

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    1. Could be. But they're going to have to do something soon as the mechanical inspection is coming very shortly.

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  9. cute family pic with the dog - hope they make it home soon! I'm sure there will be interesting stories ...

    Glad to see the casa juvat progress. Like drjim, the plumbing error baffles me.

    Ah, workshop rearrangements - wish I had that much space. I did a fair amount of map drafting back in school, also find it works better for me than computer generated stuff, but I'm a tech dinosaur - heck, I even remember how computers work at the bit level and what FIFO means! Will have to grab the Small Shops book for ideas. I made a nice sliding wall cabinet for my shop, it's come in handy over the workbench.

    I am also of the same mind WRT the lockdown at this point - open things up! There is now enough data available to show that covid-19 is no more deadly than seasonal flu, and the measures are harming people at an increasing rate.
    Here's a good presentation on the situation:
    https://pjmedia.com/trending/watch-california-docs-say-lockdown-vs-non-lockdown-did-not-produce-a-statistically-different-number-of-deaths/
    and another good article here
    https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/494034-the-data-are-in-stop-the-panic-and-end-the-total-isolation

    Get better, STxAR!!

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    1. Well, I've got another "pithy" statement about "stuff". "Stuff expands to meet available space." I've ordered the book also (Hope STxAR gets a commission).

      There was a post on Insty last week about needing people with COBOL experience and a link to the article. I recognized virtually all of that from College nearly 50 years ago. Think I could actually do that. Not that I think I will mind you, just that I could.

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    2. I keep getting notices from LinkedIn and some other places looking for "Analog Electronics Engineers". Seems like nobody can design simple analog circuits any more. Rather than some simple circuits with sensors, filters, amplifiers, and the like, they all want to digitize an input, and then turn the "conditioned" signal over to the software guys.

      SIGH....

      This turns a "$50 project" into a "$200 project" that pretty much can't be repaired if it goes casters-up.....

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    3. Well...As the T shirts say....Old Guys RULE!

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  10. Ah yes, 'short' hours on the weekends... Sigh... Glad they are doing okay! Sounds like your plumbers aren't on the ball if the pipes STILL aren't moved. They're going to have to break up the pad, extend the pipes, then reconcrete. That takes time to dry!

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    1. Yeah, my concern exactly. Had that discussion with the sup this afternoon. We’ll see what happens this week.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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