Tuesday, September 9, 2008

New Gear


Not that I have it yet, but I'm seriously considering it.

Not since my friend Bryian gave me (yes, gave me) an NEC 780 mini-laptop a few years ago have I come across anything that seems like it could replace or augment my notebook.

This mini notebook is only 9 inches by 7 which is smaller than some of my analog notebooks that I've used over the years.

It's the Dell Inspirion Mini 9.

At only 350-450, this would be the perfect "WORKING" laptop that's an actual laptop and not a portable computer. It's designed for people who need to word process and hit the net but stay mobile.

This might have to happen.

-Tom

Letter-Writing Folio

As I write a lot of letters, I was running into the problem that I couldn't find any kind of folder or folio to hold all of my letter stuff in one place. So, being the true bibliophile, I decided to make what I needed.

Basically, the folio had to hold envelopes, a writing pad and something to write with. You would have thought that it would have been easy to find. Any kind of office supply place should have had something that could of worked but nope.

With some scrap pieces of cardboard, file folder and gray board, I grabbed the handyman's secret weapon (duct tape) and started pulling the elements together.

I added a slot to the back of the folio so that whatever writing pad I was using could be slid into it. I wanted it to be held closed so the letters would fall out or get loose in my bag so I added a closure flap to the right with some velcro squares.

The pencil loops was just so that I had some place to keep a utensil.

Duct tape makes a perfect joint; it's flexible and fairly strong.

If I were doing this folio for real, I'd probably use leather; preferably pig skin.

This design is a working prototype so it's not about polish or presentation. It just has to work until I can figure out where corrections need to be made. Give it while and I'll probably make a version for real. Just in time so that I can find a folio that I was originally looking for.

Once the folio is closed, the velcro strips line up to keep it held closed. I may cover the thing in paper or something even though it only is a working prototype.

I'll post some updates if I make revisions.

-Tom

A Squatting Ent?


You find the mythical world in the strangest places sometimes.

This is a shot of a strange bit of greenery in the local cemetery.

Does it not look like some huge ent has leaned up against a tree and is watching something in the distance.

Btw, if you were to line up where the figure is looking, the first thing he would be watching is a funeral home.

Makes ya wonder.

-Tom

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Update

Well, it turns out that Josh was hurt more than previously thought.

Even though his muscles have started to relax and the swelling has gone down, he was in more and more pain. He couldn't figure out why his arm was hurting more as it got further from the date of the wreck.

Today he called me up to ask if I could pick him up because he was in wincing pain just to stand still.

After a trip to the emergency room he found out that he had fractured his clavicle. The swelling of the muscles apparently disguised the break in the original x-ray.

So now he's on better pain killers and wearing some kind of cloth harness to keep his shoulders straight and allow the collar bone to heal.

Once more Josh is crashing at my place this weekend because he's not able to easily crawl into the top bunk at the dorms.

I'm such a nice guy.