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New Sawbench

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I finished a new sawbench today. It is on the left. The picture was taken somewhat before I finished. The main change is that I have since added a board between the lower stretchers to serve as a shelf. On the right is a sawbench that I made before.

The new bench is more stable. The splayed legs are better designed, angling more outward from the long axis of the bench. They are also better executed, having more consistent angles for all four legs. This is a skill I will need for making Windsor chairs, which is something I want to try.

The top board was made by joining a 2×4 with a 2×6, both slightly trimmed. Hence the difference in appearance between the sides. I could easily have bought a 2×8 at Home Despot, but I had these pieces sitting around and I wanted to practice edge joining boards.

The Common Thread

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From Time for industry to end its war on regulation

The biggest oil spill ever. The biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression. The deadliest mine disaster in 25 years. One recall after another of toys from China, of vehicles from Toyota, of hamburgers from roach-infested processing plants. The whole Vioxx fiasco. And let’s not forget the biggest climate threat since the Ice Age.

Even if you’re not into conspiracy theories, it’s hard to ignore the common thread running through these recent crises: the glaring failure of government regulators to protect the public. Regulators who were cowed by industry or intimidated by politicians. Regulators who were compromised by favors or prospects of industry employment. Regulators who were better at calculating the costs of oversight than the benefits. And regulators who were blinded by their ideological bias against government interference and their faith that industries could police themselves.

Via osewalrus and mdlbear.