Irwin Handi-Clamps
These pincer-shaped clamps are designed to open and close easily. They ratchet
shut, and only open when you pull the release lever. I got them for holding wood
down on the sawhorses when I’m using the saw, but unfortunately they don’t
grip tight enough for that — they can only grip as tight as you can squeeze. They’re
still useful for holding guides down on the board though.
Score: .5. Useful, but not for heavy-duty tasks
Irwin One-Handed Mini Bar Clamp
Like the Handi-Clamp, these are designed to open and close easily. However,
unlike the Handi-Clamp, these things are much more substantial. This model has
a pump-action grip, so even when the jaws are already clamped to the object,
you can still tighten it more by squeezing the trigger. These will hold a board
to a sawhorse. These have a release trigger as well. They have a ratchet-like action
(though it dosn’t appear to be an actual mechanical ratchet) so you can push them
closed onto an object with your hands (and then pump the trigger to make it tight),
but you can’t pull them apart without pulling the release.
Score: 1. Very handy and works well.
I started cutting the sides for the jewelry box project in shop last week. I cut the front and back pieces properly, but I screwed up the side pieces.
My technique was perfect. My use of the machine was perfect. My measurements were perfect, to the point of anal retentality. I cut a perfectly-sized 3¾” piece.
I was supposed to cut a 7¾” piece.
It doesn’t matter how many times you measure if you’re measuring for the wrong target.
Today is going to be mainly a catch-up-on-sleep day, since I haven’t had a proper one of those for weeks now.
To Do
- Wood Shop Tuesday
- Take the truck in to get smogged
- Find a dentist
- More blood work
- Get latest cholestorol Rx [DONE]
- Figure out what time I want to go to Weight Watchers and do it
- Fix the bathroom door lock
- Get another piece of wood for shop
- Get called into work on my day off [DONE]
Shopping
- Hard drive enclosures
- Lawn chairs and tables for back and front
- Doorknob
- Pegboard hangers
Projects
- Fix Truck
- Look for a car that I don’t despise
Truck issues
- Fuel line leak
- Rear axle seal? (Big O claimed this when I got my brakes done)
- Accessory drive belt?? (Ditto)
- Air filter
- Install plate lights
- Put the spare tire back in its slot
As always, everything is rated on the Binary Scale.
The IT Crowd
Taking the same old bullshit sitcom formula and throwing in a few geek in-jokes
doesn’t make it a ‘geek sitcom.’ It just makes it shitty television. Utterly without merit.
Score: -1
Doctor Who
The new series is good. But it’s missing something intangible that the old series had.
Can’t quite put my finger on it.
Score: 1
As always, everything is rated on the Binary Scale.
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Sounds like the bastard child of Rock and Techno. There’s only one track on it that
I really like, and I already had it on PureMoods II
Score: 0
Choice tracks: Teardrop
Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene
Early synth-ey new-age music. Very mellow and ambient in some sections, more
upbeat in others.
Score: 1
Choice tracks: Part IV
Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
Heavy metal, though somewhat of a departure from the metal-rap fusion of their
previous albums. This is a little less heavy overall, and barely even metal on a few
songs. The rap element is almost absent.
Score: 1
Choice tracks: Given Up, Leave Out All the Rest
The Who Sings My Generation
Their first album, as released in the US (with a slightly different track listing and a
few minor edits.) Some early hard rock tunes, while others sound a lot like early
Beatles tunes, and a couple are downright bluesy. Overall I liked it better than
‘Sells Out’ but it doesn’t really stand out.
Score: 1
Choice tracks: My Generation
