It was a hell of a day today...

It was a hell of a day, but late at night when my demons come calling at least I will be able to sleep well.

Another short Weekend... another shop update

Working Saturday always puts a crimp in my weekend, but lucky for me the Girl is understanding and I got some shop time in. I knocked out this shelving unit for my Nephew and started playing with the lathe.

I re-organized the shop last weekend....

I re-organized the shop last weekend....is it wrong that my new clamp station makes me happy?

Snow Shoes

Ok. I am officially over winter.

Twitter is Down!

How will I get My morning news???


Oops...never mind. Its back up.

Had a small panic attack there.

OK resume normalcy .

Whew...Its Friday!

And most of the snow we were supposed to get appears to have missed us.

A word of warning:

If you are headed downtown Ann Arbor this weekend division will be closed for construction according to AnnArbor.com. Sure its a pain but since they are working on a much needed parking garage, I think we can put up with the hassle,. Right?

Things that (did not ) suck today.

Things that DID NOT suck today :

This set of turning chisels I got today. I got them for a song and they are awesome.

So chisels.... good.

Also 3d printers. Yes 3d printers are cool and the technology is starting to get interesting.

So its chisels, 3d printer technology and ..... ummmm..... Jell-o. How could I forget.

Ok I guess that is it.

Things that sucked about today:

My truck actually froze to the ground all stalactite(ie).... to the freaking ground. Honestly I thought there was so much salt on the ground that nothing could freeze to it.

I was wrong.

So cold is bad. Also bad, crazy people. Yep crazy people goes on this list.

Cold
Crazy people
Taking Tanner to the Vet. She hates it so ... no fun there either.

Kitty says....

You might think you are going to watch TV.

I think you are going to pay attention to me.

PS later I will be stomping on you face while you sleep sooooo.... consider you have plans.

Re-Post :10 Everyday Foods That Can Affect You Like Drugs

Maybe I am just Hungry.

Maybe I am just to busy to bust out some writing today.

Maybe you will never know.

The truth of the matter is, I was thinking about nutmeg the other day as I was putting a dash in my coffee, and well this post then was doubly interesting.

Thanks to io9 for this one.

See the origional post *here*

10 Everyday Foods That Can Affect You Like Drugs

Annalee Newitz — 10 Everyday Foods That Can Affect You Like Drugs Everybody knows there are certain natural substances that you can eat or smoke to feel awesome or weird, depending on your perspective. But what about ordinary foods that deliver these same mood-altering or even consciousness-warping effects? We've got ten foods that go straight to your head.

10. Chili peppers

Chilis contain a substance called capsaicin, which has been proven to work as a topical painkiller for arthritis and other conditions. But there is also anecdotal evidence that people eating extremely spicy foods experience an endorphin high. No scientific studies have validated this claim, but it's fairly common for people to report getting wasted on spice.

9. Turkey

Like other poultry, turkey contains tryptophan, a precursor to contentment-generating chemical seratonin. It can make you feel contented and sleepy.

8. Sweet potatoes

Like many starchy foods, sweet potatoes boost seratonin production, which leads to a sense of well-being. Plus the vitamin A in these orange tubers adds an extra oomph. Want to get mellow? Sweet potato fries are like the Valium of snacks.

7. Spinach

Popeye taught us many things about science, but most important was his basic lesson in chemistry: If you eat spinach, you'll feel better. Spinach is high in magnesium, which can relieve stress. You won't be able to beat the crap out of your own private Bluto, but a nice spinach salad might mellow you out enough to ignore him.

10 Everyday Foods That Can Affect You Like Drugs 6. Salmon

This tasty fish is high in DHA, which is the structural component of brain tissue. It's a natural smart drug. Studies have shown its crucial for brain development, and some say DHA can make you smarter - or at least keep from getting stupider as you age. DHA supplements are popular in Japan among students studying for exams. If you want to feel smarter and happier, eat some salmon nigiri: You'll get your DHA from the fish, and the carbos in the rice will unleash a little bit of seratonin, the "happy hormone," to make you feel perky. Hate salmon? You can get the same burst of DHA from sardines and many other fish.

5. Cocoa

Cocoa beans, the main ingredient in chocolate, contain a number of compounds that put you in a good mood. Anandamides in chocolate may target some of the same receptors in your brain that are affected by marijuana. Chocolate also contains theobromine, a mild stimulant. Eating cocoa beans in anything, from spicy Mexican sauces to sugary chocolate bars, will lift your mood - though only for a brief time.

4. Areca nuts

Popular in the Pacific Islands and parts of Asia, these tiny red nuts grow on palm trees and contain several chemicals that act as mild, coffee-like stimulants. These nuts can be chewed on their own - though eventually they'll stain your teeth red - but they're often mixed with sugar, cumin, cloves, and other seeds, then wrapped in betel leaves to make a sweet treat. Many people call them betel nuts because they are so commonly wrapped in betel leaves, which also contain stimulants.

3. Sugar

You can get the hardcore white powdered stuff, or you can play it safe and eat it in fruit. Either way, sugar is the basic building block of energy in your body, so lots of it can cause you to feel incredibly energetic. But refined sugar will lead to a rollercoaster affect on your moods - you'll feel super-awesome, and then crash hard into lethargy and depression. You can even get addicted to sugar and go through horrible withdrawal from it, say scientists. To avoid the rollercoaster, stick with fructose. Sugars from fruit take longer for your body to digest, so they don't get you quite as high but they also don't slam you down quite so hard either.

2. Coffee

The seeds of the coffee plant contain caffeine, and I probably don't have to tell you that caffeine is a stimulant. You can slurp it up from hot water squashed through ground, roasted coffee beans, or mix the beans into sauces or candies. However you take it, coffee will pep you up - temporarily. It will also cause painful withdrawal headaches.

1. Nutmeg

If you take massive doses of the tasty spice nutmeg, you'll get enough myristicin into your system to barf and get diarrhea - but hey, it might be worth it because in a few hours you'll start hallucinating and generally tripping balls. Yes, nutmeg can make you trip, but it's supposedly an absolutely atrocious high because it makes you so sick and the effects can last for days.

Winters back with snow...again

This morning, there was hardly any snow to be found but a surprise storm stepped up and dropped 7 inches (so far) here in SE mi. Mixing with Sleet and generally making a mess of things here in MI.
The battery in the ATV decided to die on my right when I needed it (mental note if you jump start you ATV make sure is stays running lest you end up stalled out in the middle of the road)

Tanner, on the other had, found it to be a great diversion retrieving her "bird" from in and out of the snow covered brush making a 3D maze of winter fun for her to romp through.

Today I was in my freind Mikes shop...

I was all over the place today. When I stopped to look around for a moment I was in my friend Mike's shop with this little fellow looking up at me.
Composed from an old jack and other assorted goodies, complete with articulating arms.

He is more of a metal worker than I am, and it obvious everywhere you look.

He had as many projects going as I do, all in a different medium. Its like walking into strangely parallel world. Amazing things were everywhere and everything, like this little robot guy, peaked my interest with ever increasing intensity.

He was full of stories and I had fun discussing things with him.

Meanwhile back in my shop, things were not getting done.

Son of a ......

I keep finding out things that are driving me crazy!

I had almost forgotten..

Among all the crap on the InterWeb is great resources like the Library Of Congress full of goodness and images of all kinds like this architectural drawings of the LOC itself.

I could get lost in there.

I feel like I have all the pieces to the puzzle...

I feel like I have all the pieces to the puzzle... but the big picture is just a little out of focus.

I have been working on it a long time now and it is not quite coming together.

Left feeling like I am standing on the precipice of something... its an odd feeling. Almost like I need time to see it all to make it make sense.

It is driving me a little nuts.

Re Post : Apples new Subscription rules. In technical terms: this is a dick move.

Apples new Subscription rules. In technical terms: this is a dick move.

** Caution a remix/re-post ***

Thanks to Gizmodo for the original post.

Apple’s New Subscription Model Is Evil

Matt Buchanan — Apple's New Subscription Model Is EvilDigital subscriptions for the iPad are here

Huzzah! Sounds pretty good! You can subscribe to the New Yorker or PopSci with one click, and it's automagically delivered. No in-app purchases; no muss, no fuss. I've been holding out on renewing my paper mag subscriptions, waiting for this very moment.

zone: top
size: 300x600
keywords: mtfIFPath=/assets/vendor/doubleclick/, origin=lifehacker, visited=kotakufront, visited=gizmodofront, visited=jalopnikfront, visited=lifehackerfront, visited=io9front, visited=jezebelfront, viewed=phones, refer=twitter

But it's not all puppies and rainbows. In the press release announcing these subscriptions, there are two key sections that merit second looks.

Apple does require that if a publisher chooses to sell a digital subscription separately outside of the app, that same subscription offer must be made available, at the same price or less, to customers who wish to subscribe from within the app. In addition, publishers may no longer provide links in their apps (to a web site, for example) which allow the customer to purchase content or subscriptions outside of the app.

And then there's:

Apple today announced a new subscription service available to all publishers of content-based apps on the App Store, including magazines, newspapers, video, music, etc.

Read the rest. Check it *here*.

Post Valentines Days Lunch Review: The Gandy Dancer

Since my Valentine had the day off yesterday, we met for a nice lunch instead of fighting the dinner crowds at one of Ann Arbor often overlooked but definitely most interesting restaurants : The Gandy Dancer.

Sure it was a bit of a splurge.... but lunch menu is usually a little better on the wallet then dinner, and there is no exception here.

I will not deny that the company of my love was influencing my mood, the atmosphere was amazing the that was nothing compared the food.

We had the Dynamite Scallops - Crab encrusted with basil drizzled cream sauce (served over sea shells- amazing presentation) . She had the lobster bisque and a salad and I had the lunch special London broil. All of it was amazing.

It was a long, leisurely lunch, and sitting in the old train station watching the train go by with the Girl was a perfect way to get away... if only for an hour.



If your ever in Ann Arbor I would recommend you try this place.

Happy Valentines Day

Dropping the cable TV

Dropping the Cable for the Satellite TV.

Little nervous about it honestly.

Tonight, for one night we have both, but tomorrow its sink or swim with the dish.

I will let you know how it all goes.

Shop Time: Shelving units.

Speaking of the shop... some shelving units are coming together.

In the woods....

In the woods the last of the berries somehow over looked by the birds left standing like a promise that winter will pass into spring soon.

After the recent cold snap spring like temperatures are knocking at our door.

Tanner and I were witness to temperatures warm enough that I could go hat-less with out fear of loosing my ears to frost bite.

More snow is predicted for tonight but the implications of the coming thaw brings a spring to my step that is undeniable.

Shop Time: The Woodshop

Here is a quick shot of the wood shop, mid work.

There is always one or more projects going on at once. Usually more.

More Scary Numbers:

What is 227 you might ask? That, my friends, is the number of days it has been since I bought some new technology.

Here is another scary number:

1241 is the number if days since I have updated my cell phone. That is over three years people, like 21 years in phone years.

No wonder I am having the D.T's

Serioulsy Cold.

Really mother nature? Really?

(this was posted after I got to work, it had warmed up a bit by then.)

Cool Gear: Kyocera Echo

You might find yourself flip-flopping between all the Android goodness out their and the latest iPhone 4 (soon to be 5) as I have... but before you do you might just want to check out this dual screen hotness from kyocera.

Check out the demo *here* or cut an paste this into your browser: http://www.echobykyocera.com/.

I could go on about it but I will let you discover its dual screen goodness for your self.

Is it going to add to the already surfacing "fragmentation" issues with special android apps? Probably. Is it worth going back to Sprint? Maybe.

Did it just make my decision that much harder? You betcha!

While we are all here freezing

Pictures from the girl are in trickling in like this one of a orange tree behind a gate in Malta.

Proving that studious behavior does have its benefits.

My new breakfast routine:

Those of us who have survived the Michigan winter (so far) and the mass exodus to states with single digit unemployment can appreciate that a normal breakfast will no longer do.

I'm not saying you have to be more manly then the rest of the country to live here .... but I'm not not saying that either.

Cant wait for the cold weather to break so I can switch back to my lighter "summer" gun.

Sobering Census

According the the 2010 US census data....

Our beloved Michigan is the only state that had a decrease in population.

Black and White

(with a little gray)

Shop Time: My Niece’s project Box - completed.

While it was snowing, I completed the project box for my niece.

Hopefully she likes it.

Unexpectedly - More Snow

More snow fell today almost matching the last batch. There was little
talk this time of accumulation but it came anyway. Once again Tanner
was unaffected. We went for our walk while she wondered what all the
fuss was about.

Best Laid Plans....

I HATE it when I have something planned out perfectly and then through no fault of my own ... the universe screws it all up.

By universe I mean other people of course.

Mexican .... Not White.

The Girl calls me whitest Mexican she knows and she may be right. Although my name persists my Mexican heritage kind of waned with my fathers passing at a young age. Top that off with the fact that I look like my mothers side of the family, quite a bit. So although I have been told my family tree can be traced back to the the great Mexican revoluationy Emiliano Zapata all it really does is create a odd sort of paradox where I live in one world, but my name lives in another.

It really does create some funny situations.

The best things about having an overtly Mexican sounding name.

No one wants to steel your credit.

The surprise look you get when you don’t show up wearing a sombrero.

Hanging up on telemarketers is a lot easier when you don’t understand what they are saying.

All the dish network Telemundo package offers.

The worst things about having an overtly Mexican sounding name

No one assumes you have any credit.

The surprise look when you are at the resister with my credit card. (Like it might not be mine)

People will start talking to you over the phone, in Spanish.

All the dish network Telumundo package offers.

Why do I feel like...

Why do I feel like...

If life were an IQ test too many people would be failing.

Happy Groundhog Day everyone

The snow was not as bad as predicted but it was still bad enough to get the plow out.

Tanner was happy to get out early and ride though town. I think she has more fun on the back riding through town then I do.

Whiteout in the night ( out)-

While the rest of the world hunkered down for the snow Tanner went for our park for our nightly romp around the park.

I would like to show you what it looked like, but I really could not see it myself.

I would say that I can not remember the last time weather stopped our ritual. So tonight was not going to be an exception.

We have gone during rain and sleet and snow... so this was not any different.

Tanner lives for the ritual and the snow and cold rolls off her back as if she were a canine machine. I, on the other hand, am only human and therefore subject to the energy sucking cold and snow and the pain that it brings.

Brace for impact...