science

S happens

Because I’ve been swamped at work, and the book’s due back at the library, I blew through “Why Things Break.” It was a page turner, literally and figuratively, covering topics like the history of Pyrex, why the Titanic’s hull failed so spectacularly, and the engineering of Cassini’s power system. (History buffs may recall the predictions

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Gas versus Electric Dryer II

Last night I got my utility bill and Holy Moly, it’s more than double last month’s thanks to a colder-than-normal month and an increase in utility rates. (Hey, Fed, I found your inflation.) Anyway, there has been a lot of interest in my previous musings on the ongoing cost tradeoffs of gas versus electric dryers.

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Gas versus Electric dryers

I still haven’t resolved my dryer issue. One technical detail has been annoying me for a while, until I finally worked on it tonight, is whether I should buy (another) gas dryer, or go with an electric. Conventional wisdom is a gas dryer will be cheaper to operate in the “long-term,” whatever that means. Unfortunately,

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It’s sourdough. Not Anthrax.

Twice this week someone’s sent me a dried sourdough culture that has accidentally been opened by the US Post Office and encased in a “We’re Sorry” envelope. One envelope was labeled “sourdough,” but the other was a cryptic “Maui,” Bo Ure’s home grown culture. Should I tidy up my place in anticipation of a “courtesy

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A guano-load of work

Our friend Amy, who’s the heart and soul of our Camp Fire chapter, solicited ideas for an Arbor Day project. Someone suggested building bat houses. After some investigation, this seemed relatively straightforward project for the kids to undertake. (I think this model was similar in scope.) Some materials were purchased. Meanwhile, she called the local

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The Dentist

After a conspicuous absence, Debbie recounted her recent experience with her dentist, Dr. Lecter . (I’m glad you’re back, Deb!) My dentist visit was much more benign. I started scheduling my checkups for obscenely in the morning so when I was done, I’d already be “down the hill,” ready for the commute to work. I

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I’m Turning Patentese

I hope that, by 2006, I’ll have secured my place in innovation history, along side the Method of concealing partial baldness. Peabody, set the Way-back machine for December, 2002. The first round of my product was scheduled for launch in March. It was neat, but what I was really excited about was the vision, the

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