Category: Hobbies and Projects

Over the years of working in tech, I have noticed a pattern: certain technologies, languages, procedures, whatever, tend to make sense instantly and permanently to me. Other things, even if I work with them for months or years, never feel quite right. The latter leave me feeling less than intelligent. I’ve also noticed that the [...]

This past weekend was immense in terms of moving towards having a working letterpress setup. It started with a trip to Silverton, Ore.–I am always amazed at how long that drive takes–to pick up a type cabinet full of type, accessories and a Kelsey Exceslsior 5×8″ press. I didn’t need the press, but it was [...]

My life is full and also full of excuses, but I am finally embarking on an important project: getting my Chandler & Price 6 1/2×10″ press in spanking great shape, and finding all of the necessary bits and bots to get a home letterpress studio going. Here’s my starting point: David bought this press for [...]

It’s Science: Last Night A DJ Saved Your Life » Synthtopia: “Scientists have found that listening to just 50 minutes of uplifting dance music not only increases the levels of antibodies in your body, but it decreases your levels of stress hormones, which can weaken the immune system.” Hooray! I’ve been helping myself healthier all [...]

Complaining Bloggers Have a Cable Company’s Ear – NYTimes.com: “” Lyza Gardner, a vice president at a Web development company in Portland, Ore., used Twitter to vent about a $183 cable bill last month. (The bill was prorated for almost two months of service.) Her comment — “very angry at Comcast” — set off Mr. [...]

One thing that I have done right in my life is my domain. I was together enough to register lyza.com in the mid-90s. I was together enough to maintain some semblance of Web presence. Google developed a strong relationship with my site. Anyone in the world who needs me or wants to know about me [...]

Are there really any two families in the United States that prepare their tuna fish the same way? I would beg to assert that the composition of tuna fish salad is one of the most beautiful regional variations there is. Some people are pickle devotees. Some people swear by bare minimalism. This is how we [...]

Finally! It made it out on the Internet. I heard this live on Radio1 a month or two ago live and I was made speechless. I’m not usually impressed by mixes that aim to jam over a hundred tracks into five music, but oh my good god, this works.

Clamor, clamor, little readers / how I have joy that you care browsing through the tubes so high / like a duck-fiend in the sky satue, simmer little duck / you cooked well, such was my luck! I am glad to follow up with some nonsense and finality about my duck. It all came together [...]

It started simply, as most cooking plans do, with not enough foresight and a general craving. Duck. My god, duck. It’s good. Mr. Pencil and I thus swayed just had to impulsively buy a frozen duck a few months ago with no concept beyond: “Duck, hell yes.” I don’t remember where we got it: Sheridan’s? [...]