A saw that won't cut corners

The people who use cutting tools ask a lot of them. Stanley tools deliver. With innovations like SharpTooth technology that enable our saws to cut wood 50% faster than conventional saws. In other words, the only things our tools don't cut are corners. (from Home Depot)


That is the absolutely the stupidest thing I've read all weekend. It's not a damn hole saw. It's a sheetrock saw! If it won't cut a corner then it's fucking useless! Copywriters who try to be clever with cliches need to check themselves. Don't even get me started on those sentence fragments.

iPhone Wallpaper

I recropped a lot of my desktop photos for iPhone proportions. Free downloads on my gallery!

iPhone update

Dear iPhone 4 owner, You are eligible to receive an iPhone 4 Bumper or a select third-party case from Apple at no charge.

Follow these steps to apply for a Bumper or case:

1.	Download the iPhone 4 Case Program app from the App Store.
2.	Launch the app on your iPhone 4 and sign in using youriTunes Store account.
3.	Select your Bumper or case.

I wonder if I'll bother trying to get a refund on the case I bought while I was waiting in line for my iPhone? I haven't downloaded the app yet. Signal strength just hasn't been a problem for me. I pretty much just use wifi unless I'm in the car. Which this month was a lot.



I think uploading photos from the road on the 4th of July used up a lot of my data allocation. I do see a lot of people who talk on the phone constantly. The maintenance man in my office building is talking on the phone every time I see him in the hall or in the lobby. I suppose that demographic outnumbers me and my friends who use our phones like pocketknives -- an indispensable tool that is always at hand. We've really gotten away from voice communication entirely. We use text messages to set up in-person meetings. I think in many ways this has to be better than just talking on the phone.

I use my phone like this just about every day.



And like this.



Usually my phone is sitting on my desk at work, charging off the USB port on my plastic laptop, popping up little notifications to let me know the world is still turning outside that windowless room. I don't hold it at all.

But the people at College Humor think you should hold it like this. Whatever works for you.

Last night I held my iPhone a few inches from my face while I watched Tim Minchin YouTube videos until I fell asleep. I switched to the ninja theme on Gmail this week and wanted to hear him sing "only a ninja can sneak up on another ninja." It's nice to be able to curl up in the pillows and be entertained to your last conscious thought. I watched/listened to Mitsubishi Colt for the first time last night and I like it very much.

I miss nice things and good construction

So I'm working on making myself at home in my budget priced, conveniently located fourth of a quadplex. I fixed the bedroom so I have a retreat from the parts I haven't fixed yet. I painted, replaced all the outlets, switches, covers, ceiling fan and blinds, got some curtains, and furniture to go with the bed I had already. I got the mattress delivered on Wednesday. I figured out that if I close the blinds and curtains and door the air conditioner will keep it cool in here. It's pretty quiet at night. I'm below the level of the big highway and the street in front of me doesn't really go anywhere. The only part that bothers me in here now are the doors that jam, the doorknobs that feel gross and the strike plates that have paint all over them.



I decided to get a minimum of kitchen stuff just to sustain me while I hole up and do this work. I bought the ingredients and cookware necessary to make scrambled eggs and toast. Before I could eat my breakfast this morning I had to do 2 hours of cleaning and troubleshooting in the kitchen.

I started by cleaning the stove. It looks like somebody replaced the drip pans under the electric elements but they didn't clean the stove top first. And nobody ever cleaned the area underneath the elements. I found mouse nesting material and dog food in there. Do people not know these things come apart? Helpful Hints from Heloise needs to stay in the paper as long as appliances this old are still in use.

Then when I got ready to get out an egg I found the egg carton was soaking wet. The refrigerator was spitting water around inside it. And the space under the crisper drawer was completely full of water. Lovely. So I had to clean that up. By the time I finished I was really hungry so I went ahead and made my breakfast. As I was eating it I was looking at the refrigerator and realized it wasn't level. If I make it level maybe the freezer defrost cycle will work properly. So after I washed my dishes I got down on the floor to look at the refrigerator to see what adjustments are available. My SubZero back in Beachton has screws on the front that you turn to adjust the feet in the back, plus feet on the front you adjust directly.

Well this refrigerator is no SubZero. It rolls really great back and forth on one way wheels. But there are no level adjustments. I pulled it all the way out to study it. And look what I found!



Isn't that precious? Just like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. All it needs is a doorbell and a welcome mat. I guess that is the front door of the mouse that put the dog food in the stove. He probably moved next door when this place went vacant since the neighbors have food. I could cut up a metal paint tray to cover up this hole, but what would that solve? Mouse could still get all around in behind the cabinets and in the stove again. Live here, get dog food from the neighbors. Only thing that would prevent this traffic is to remove the cabinets and put sheet metal on the whole wall between my place and the next one.

So back to the freezer. I decided to just disassemble it and get all the ice out and see if the drain tubing will work properly. It looks a lot worse in person.


My main weekend project was supposed to be the upstairs bathroom. I want to see how well paint sticks to the cabinet before I start the ones in the kitchen.

iPhone 4 getting a bad rap

"The antenna doesn't work properly..." said Nina Totenberg on NPR this morning, which made me holler at my iMac streaming the Morning Edition feed. IT WORKS JUST LIKE THEY DESIGNED IT! People just don't know how to use it properly! I don't understand at all why Consumer Reports had to be so idiotic about this. I had plenty of time while I was waiting in line to get a cute little blue silicone case for my iphone to help me grip it and make it sit still on my car seat and desk. I have never had a single reception problem. Of course I don't ever talk on the phone, so maybe I'm just special. To me it's just a tiny little computer with a handy GPS and camera.

So Apple if you're listening, I still love you. Don't listen to those ham-handed phone gropers. I think your antenna choice was valid and I support you.