Author: David

Over-educated Curmudgeon, Bit-Bucket Tuner and Budding Brewmeister.
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Book Hoarder

So, yeh, I hardly ever let go of a book I own. Have more hardcopy books now than I have shelving for. It’s a problem. Ebooks to the rescue? Well, sorta. First, not long after it was up and running, I requested a CD of all the books Gutenberg-dot-org had at the time. Offloaded those text files to other storage, stored the CD and had LOTS of reading to do.

Not enough, though.

When downloads from Gutenberg became available, I began regular searches for ebook duplicates of my most significant hardcopy books, other books I wanted to read but had not yet obtained, etc. About that time, Baen-dot-com lsted its free library of sci-fi books. I’ve been a sci-fi reader since third grade, so. . . Got ’em all (and read ’em, and updated as new freebies became available). Then I started also buying eARCs from Baen in their bundles of six or more eARCs for $18. Then buying others at list prices. (Crafty, crafty Baen: sucked me in all right!). Then I just started looking for freebie ebooks in general. Found military manuals, preparedness books, all kinds of how-to and craft books, history, theology, math, science, etc., all over the web, oh, and and free books from Amazon, as well.

I am now behind on my reading quite a bit. I have also been storing all ebooks in multiple formats (when available or convertible) on different media on different storage devices, some of which are ALWAYS offline and relatively safe from loss by various means. Different formats, in part, because I enjoyed correcting the text of the eARCs from Baen. . . in the html formats (mobi format is a PITA to edit–for me at least).

So, now my thousands of hardcopy books have much, much more than been surpassed by double in my ebook collection, and I NEED to read faster. . . The more I learn, the more I discover I don’t know. Of course.

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A Few of the Lessons Learned. . .

From a year of dealing with tree waste.

  • Use an arborist, not a “tree trimmer.” An arborist knows what it means to “poll” a tree. Apparently, at least some “tree trimmers” think it means to turn a tree into a pole. *sigh*
  • Know your limits and how to compensate for them.
  • While I can turn some into lumber and some into mulch, much of it just has to be burned.
  • Keep at it. Pay attention and keep learning.

Yeh, the five sycamores still standing are going to HAVE to come down this year, but I need to clear out the rest of the wood waste, first. Luckily, just about all of what is left standing will cycle through a chainsaw lumbermill setup pretty nicely, I think, if I can get an arborist to cut them down in about 10′ chunks. (that size is about the maximum I can move around, even with block and tackle, and rolling–with a peavey/timberjack– even that size up onto a modified sawbuck for milling will be. . . fun).

Learned some new limits, mostly age related, I suppose. One: do NOT tire out my “bad” knee. It is too susceptible to reinjury (ACL). Wear appropriate knee braces, too (yeh, yeh, and back support, and “arborist’s safety equipment,” and gloves, and. . . *heh*).

OK. Have what I need for lumber milling and have milled some out of this mess, but getting better equipment will speed that up. Check. Making mulch? Check. Burning other? Check. Learned a few things there, remembered others.

    1. Put largest pieces to be burned (too small or crooked to mill, too large to chip) in the BOTTOM of the burn bin and kindling on top. Yeh, I know it is counter to what your granddad taught you (mine too), but I have found the larger pieces burn more thoroughly, and longer. Longer is good because. . .
    2. I have other “waste” wood that is not really waste, just some walnut trimmings, some elm, and some maple that I can turn into charcoal. Cur up decent hardwood scraps into nice 3”x3” or so chunks, pack into a clean paint can, drill hole in lid and seal the paint can. place it in the middle of the fire you build, then burn your firewood. When the fire burns longer, more wood gas outgasses, and better charcoal results.
    3. Also: I’ve learned to cut down on paper trash taken to the curb for disposal. Paper trash can make excellent fire starting material.
    4. A wee bit of diesel is a great fire starting aid.

    So, I just need to keep at it and pay attention to processes, both great and small. There’s always room for improvement.

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This Is Utterly Appalling. . .

. . .and thus to be expected of DC pols and the Hivemind: just another day of completely, totally, and absolutely ignoring and disrespecting the primary foundational document of our nation. Regardless what I think of Trump, as a person (and I can’t imagine a circumstance where I’d even want to hold a casual conversation with the man–seriously), these Enemies of the Republic who have decided to hold a show trial, a SHAM show trial if that’s not too redundant, these evil (yes, evil) children of Satan* (and yes, I mean that, too), these despicable, rotten, asshat slanderers were what convinced me to vote for Trump in 2020, even if I had to crawl over broken glass to do it. Yeh, yeh, while in office, his actual policy decisions and actions on the national and international stages effected more good for both the USA and the world at large than all the best of the previous four presidents combined, but that might not have been enough to convince me to vote for him “come hell or high water” instead of a third party candidate. But these evil asshats convinced me to do so.

Here is the initial filing of Trump’s lawyers in answer to the spurious, ridiculous, slanderous articles of impeachment:

https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-trumps-lawyers-offer-former-presidents-answer-to-impeachment-article-on-incitement-of-insurrection

THey thump the constitutional DISqualifications for the impeachment trial bone pretty hard, but how many in the Senate give a rat’s ass what the Constitution actually says, when they have their own lies?

I am tempted, now that voting at all is a sham, to simply take myself off the voter rolls and let the country burn to the ground.

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Class: Missed Opportunities

Actually, non-existent, never were opportunities. For example: Ryan Paevey’s voice. I’ve only been peripherally exposed to the actor via my Wonder Woman’s affection for Hallmark TV movies. They guy has a wonderfully rich voice, but. . . good sharkey! What an awful ear! In the cases where one of the shows has been going in the background and I’ve been just enjoying the sound of his voice but. . . the script calls for him to sing. #gagamaggot Not one note on pitch, almost monotonous. Sad. His speaking voice is a joy to just listen to. If his ear were trained along with his voice, he could have a beautiful singing voice, great for an ensemble or even solo work.

But, alas! Apparently no one (or no one who’s competent) has ever taken him in hand and helped him train his voice well.

Just sad. Oh, well.

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Got It Covered–Top & Bottom

So yeh, I have a pair of nice Lucchese “cowboy” boots (thanks Daddy, RIP), but I’m having difficulty finding a place to resole them ( first world problem *sigh*). Fortunately, Ariat makes some nice ropers–and not those nasty looking ones with the square toes. *heh* Inexpensive (for boots) and not too “dressy” (the Lucchese’s one real fault; I have little use for playing dressup nowadays 😉 ) Oh, small thing: I definitely give “Lucchese” a proper Italian pronunciation, but a very plain proper pronunciation. I ain’t gonna try picking one of the regional accents. *heh*

Bug plus: My Banjo Paterson does well for work, casual, and moderately dressy, not that I’d wear it for such (cos I don’t “do” dressy now).

Oh, breaking in new boots? Yeh, saddle soap and “glove” (neatsfoot) oil. Sure they darken the leather a bit, but for these boots, that’s kinda a plus. Works a charm though.

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Remember. . .

Paranoia is a point of view. YOU are paranoid, as far as the folks who are out to get you are concerned. *heh*

Condition yellow. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.

(BUT, even given the aforesaid, “Be anxious for nothing. . . ” Philippians 4:6-7.)

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January 20, 2021: A Day That Will Live in Infamy

Recessional

~ Rudyard Kipling, 1897 (though could as easily be 2021 and re: The Fall of the Republic as concerning Britain at the end of the 19th Century)

God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word—
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!

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Be of Good Cheer

Take heart! Rome wasn’t destroyed in a day.

(Oh, and Condition Yellow, head on a swivel, watch your six, and all that jazz, too.)