Ouch. I'm out for the count this weekend. No source o' fire. So no foundry stuff. No smithing. How did this nefarious state of affairs happen you ask? My gas regulator broke. For those of you who don't know, a gas regulator controls the pressure coming from the source (in this case my propane bottle) and prevents changes in pressure from doing nasty things like causing explosions. It stuck way way wide open, so until I can get one, say Tuesday....... I have been thinking about switching...

Gotcha! Since my propane regulator broke on me, I've decide to build another burner for my furnace. I'm constantly refining my furnace and burner by a complex scientific process known as "tweaking." This time, I think I'll build a choke for it, to allow better Oxygen Control. I'm also going to see if I can smooth the end of the burner pipe, and maybe add a ventura (reversed cone, like the base of a rocket) to slow the flame down and improve the burn. In the mean time, I've decided to g...

Alright, three articles in an hour, much less a day. That's almost like spamming for me. I had a brilliant idea the other day, but I don't know how to follow through with it. I think I've figured out the perfect way to put away Christmas lights. Especially icicle lights. No tangle, no knots, no mess, and less chance of breaking. I'd explain, but.....well, this is the frickin' internet. This is the kind of idea that hits ya like once a decade and you go "damn, I could really make some money...

I was listening to NPR this morning, and I once again heard the inevitable discussion of the withdrawal of combat troops in Iraq. Surprisingly enough (did you know that sarcasm comes from the greek, sarkasmos, the biting of ones lips in anger?) the interviewer suggested that the best we could do in the war was to withdraw our troops with a modicum of dignity. However, having listened to a former Great talk about "peace with honor", (and no, really, he is not a crook!), I know that i...