Monthly Archives: November 2005

Tool Raiders

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Tool Raider is a store in Bloomington (MN), almost across the street from Woodcraft, where I frequently shop for woodworking tools and supplies. I noticed Tool Raider after a visit today to Woodcraft, and decided to stop in. They sell both new and used tools, including woodworking tools. The new ones are distinctly inferior to Woodcraft’s, but the used tools merited some attention. There were lots of power tools, which I ignored, but a few hand tools got my attention. I left the store with my wallet $20 lighter, and two bit braces (drills), a chisel, and a gouge in my hands. $10 was devoted to one brace from Millers Falls. I had a good feeling about it, but was not enough of an expert to be sure it was what I hoped it was. But I figured $10 was an OK price anyway–It was in very good condition.

I got home and checked a web site about Millers Falls braces. Sure enough, this was one of their “Lion” braces, comparable to the Stanley Bell braces–among the best braces ever made. Nothing like it is made today. I don’t think Tool Raider realized what they had set out on the shelf for $10.

If ….

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[From someone’s Chinese Friend]

“If Adam and Eve were Chinese, we would still be in Paradise living the good life. Why, you might ask? Because they would have eaten the snake instead of the damn apple.”

Weekend apart

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mia_mcdavid is going to the Chicago suburbs for Windycon. Back when we lived in Chicagoland we went to every Windycon from 1978 (Mia’s first con!) through 1997, but we have not been back since we moved to Minnesota. And this time it is just Mia. The logistics for both of us going are far more complicated and less secure than for just one. Also, there are thing I want to do here, such as resting.

The weather is really nice today, which is another reason to stay behind. I got in a bike ride this afternoon, but the real payoff is for Tom. This is a respite weekend for us–he will be away. We had two options for this, and he going to the one that has more outdoors activities, and that he likes better. However, this was only possible because I will be able to take him there and pick him up on Sunday.

Another day, another software emergency.

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Yet another problem on the same classroom computers I dealt with yesterday. Straightforward, but tedious–I had to a make a change individually to each workstation in the room–immediately. The whole class was being held up. Again, not really my job, but I was the first person my boss could reach. Several senior people were present. It went OK. I left the classroom with a piece of cake and a round of applause.

Reaching Agreement

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…. from a project risk assessment document here at work, dealing with an issue that is quite controversial in the systems development world.

4.6.5 Mitigation Strategy

The […] project manager will assemble all project stakeholders, tie them to their chairs, and force them to listen to very loud Rap music until an agreement is reached..

Scrambling at work

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Late yesterday, and again this morning, I was asked to do some software installation and configuration on a classroom full of computers. Emergency, top priority…. and somebody should have thought of it weeks ago. So both times I changed my plans and got it done. Better organization would certainly make for a smoother work environment. OTOH, if everything were perfectly organized I might be out of a job.

Clann Tartan Meeting

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Most of Saturday afternoon was devoted to the quarterly membership meeting of Clann Tartan. It seemed to go quite well; some organizational problems were discussed at length, three solutions were proposed, and one was chosen by a clear vote of the membership. Then elections were held to fill some vacant positions. These went well, with clear results. Nobody lost their temper in the course of the afternoon. Seemed like a good meeting, and afterwards several of us went over to the Groveland Tap for a pleasant late lunch and a few beers. I thought it was a good afternoon’s work, and felt quite pleased with the day.

Appearances can be deceiving. Checking my e-mail this morning I found two exceptionally unpleasant msgs from someone who had been at the meeting and at the bar afterwards. This was completely unexpected–nothing in what he said yesterday suggested he would write these things. rillaspins received the same e-mails (for the same reason), and there is some discussion of it on her Live Journal. I was really shocked by this, and it took me while to readjust to our family’s Sunday routine.