Whew!

Had to take Little Boy back to the dentist today for his other filling. I don't think I've ever seen someone who likes going and getting his head drilled as much as this kid. Must be all the knobs and lights and tools and Mr. Slurpy.

Anyway, it seems like the post I did yesterday on my wonderful wood seminar struck a nerve with some of you. Fritz Schranck of Sneaking Suspicions sent me a nice e-mail with a link to a Delaware Department of Transportation project for the construction of a new covered bridge to replace a much older single lane covered bridge. Great shots of the progress during construction. Click here to go see it. There is also an online photo album done by the folks in Centreville, Delaware that offers some additional shots. Not to be outdone, here is a link to a University of Alabama site documenting Alabama's covered bridges.

Next, Nate McCord asks the following:

Hmm, sitting on my table right now is an 18" Flexible Stainless Steel Ruler. Sold by Fiskars. I know its a ruler because it says so, permanently photo-etched on its face. And since it is sold by Fiskars, the famous scissor selling folks, it must be useable for cutting too... Don't ya think? Made in China to BTW... Bought with your tax dollar by the US gummamint from the land of "reeducation through labor" camps. Grrr!

Yes, indeedy-do, Nate, that is a genuine ruler, or to some of us a "metal straightedge." There is such a fear among us old-timers of improperly calling something a ruler, that even when it IS a ruler, we have to come up with another name for it. And yes, a metal straightedge is perfect to use as a guide for your trusty X-Acto Number 11. Just remember, measure twice, cut once. And never try to catch a falling knife.

As for the country of manufacture for this piece of equipment, I think it's a bit of an unfortunate stereotype to suppose that simply because it was made in China that it had to have been manufactured by political prisoners. I mean, come on, they have lots of kids working in factories, too.

Now then, I have a load of garbage to finish up for today, so I must, well, go finish up my load of garbage! I'll check on all of you later. Please feel free to make yourself a sandwich.
posted by Terry at 10:05:00 AM