I Stole The Election And All I Got Was This Lousy Teeshirt Open Thread

Stolen elections!  Bush!  Grand jury indictment!  All in the same story!  Discuss amongst yourselves.

In other news, I'm getting my buttocks kicked at work, and the list of things I have to do at home keeps growing, not shrinking.  Hercules would prefer my honeydew list to his.  But the baseboard moulding is now in, and the only thing we're waiting on is some transition pieces we had to special order.

But then I get to do the master bedroom.  Yay.  So, having a few beers, after a busy day of floating around on the Conway chain, watching someone else fish (I didn't have time to get a license before we left).

Comments

[Frank]

Jeff Gannon walks into a doctor's office

with a frog growing out of the top of his head.
"Good god," the doctor says. "What's that?"

"I don't know," burps the frog. "Last night it was a pimple on my rear."

[Porter Goss]

Good one, Frank.

[Frank]

I thought you were going to post the much more interesting story of election theft here: link

[rilkefan]

So on the off-chance that I ever transform myself into a handy-man around the house, I thought I might register for some tools and how-to books. Any suggestions on what a (hopefully) future homeowner should have?

[Macallan]

rilkefan,

When I got married, I told all my close friends to skip the gift registry and go for power tools. At first my wife was annoyed, but after all the years and remodeling she thinks they are the best wedding gifts we got. It's even easier now:

Home Depot Gift Registry

Skip the appliance grade stuff and get GOOD tools.

[Catsy]

Go for Sears Craftsman. Never pinch pennies on tools: the good ones will see use for the rest of your life and probably that of your children as well.

[liberal japonicus]

Slarti
Could you give a little more info so we might be able to find the article on another site tha doesn't require us to signup? Or is the subject the same as the one Frank gave. thanx

[rilkefan]

lj, they accept your LATimes login - and the LAT is a pretty good paper probably worth registering at.

[Macallan]

OK rilkefan I did a list for you:

Tape Measure
Stud Finder
Screw Drive Set – Klein® are nice
16oz claw hammer – Estwing®
22oz framing hammer
Nail Puller/Pry Bar
Rubber Mallet
Utility Knife
Safety Glasses
Dust Mask
Slip joint pliers – Knipex®
Linesman pliers – Same
Needle Nose pliers
Wire Cutter/Striper
Cordless Driver/Drill & Skil Saw Kit – at least 14.4V – Dewalt®
5'' Random Orbit Sander – Porter Cable®
Socket wrench set
Pipe wrench – small & large
Crescent wrench
Japanese Pull Stroke Saw - this one
Dry Wall Saw

[liberal japonicus]

Thanks rilkefan, I (perhaps naively) don't mind registering at a big paper (not on the assumption that they will be more diligent in protecting my data, just thinking that I would be much less noticeable in a bigger group), but balk at the smaller papers.

[aireachail]

I'd add a sawzall to Mac's list. Real time-saver. Fun, too!

[Gary Farber]

Guys? About that kitten?

Incidentally, is Sebastian or someone going to remove that double music post at some point?

[Macallan]

Bad Kitty!

Dumb Guy!

[Gary Farber]

Regarding sites that require registration: BugMeNot.com.

I'm otherwise reminded by this thread of the brief period in my life when I once worked as a salesperson at a Sears, and an elderly couple walked in, and asked me where they could find power tools and brassieres.

I do believe Sears is one of the few places to go to for both.

I leave it to you to envision scenarios in which one needs both at once.

[liberal japonicus]

Proving once again that guns don't kill people, cats kill people.

[Gary Farber]

Oh, and incidentally, registration for either the LA Times or Chicago Tribune works for the other.

[hilzoy]

Gary: Thanks for mentioning the double post. Sebastian tried to delete it this morning but couldn't get in; I tried to delete it this morning but couldn't get in; then I forgot to check. But now it's done. So I have to go stop being Moe now (one has to pretend to be Moe in order to do these special ObWiGod things.)

[Macallan]

I'd add a sawzall to Mac's list. Real time-saver. Fun, too!

Dangerous too! If you don't use it properly. I was working on a Habitat for Humanity project and out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy trying to use one to trim a rafter over his head while he was on a precariously balanced ladder. I pulled the plug on his extension cord a moment before he lost his balance. Otherwise he'd be missing something. Found out later that, he'd used a Sawzall and cut through the 220V service and propelled himself across the garage. He was asked to stop "helping".

[Catsy]

For Firefox users, the best extension there ever has been or ever will be: BugMeNot.

[crionna]

Make that four tape measures: upstairs, downstairs, toolbox and truck (or whatever vehicle you're in when you realize you're 20 minutes away from the tape measure you meant to bring to the store).

Craftsman tools are US made, as are Snap-On (drools).

Don't forget a toolbox. Snap-On and Craftsman make some that have drawers plus the top. It gets pretty dang handy to just open the drawer to get at your tools than to have to drag the box off the shelf. Your sigother will also appreciate not having to drag the box out when s/he wants a screwdriver.

I've found my Black and Decker Workmate to be very useful and space efficient (I own a townhouse in SF).

Finally, I love a set of wrenches I got for Christmas that have an open end on one side AND a ratcheting box end on the other.

Congrats BTW.

PS. Oh, and when you paint, DO NOT skimp on brushes or roller covers. Get a couple of good Purdy brushes and you'll be very happy. Also, I've used this Wagner roller contraption many times. Good enough to do the job. Cheap enough to not bother cleaning.

[Sebastian Holsclaw]

I tried to remove the double post 4 times today (as me, since I can remove my own posts) and couldn't get through. It was odd, I could get to posting screens, but not any of the other screens. I tried as Moe a couple of time too, but same problem. Now I can get in, but the job is already done. Thanks hilzoy.

[Jesurgislac]

For all of you who were wondering what I look like.

Macallan: When I got married, I told all my close friends to skip the gift registry and go for power tools.

Heh. I didn't wait to get married. ;-)

[Anarch]

Heh. I didn't wait to get married. ;-)

Lesbians. Power tools. No jokes there at all, alas.

[Jesurgislac]

Anarch: Lesbians. Power tools. No jokes there at all, alas.

None whatsoever. At least, none it's safe to make. ;-)

[Catsy]

The funny thing is, Jess is trained as a luthier, so when we're going through the hardware store, /she's/ the one getting moist over all the power tools.

Me, I find them interesting and fun, but being a miniature modeler, the tools I lust after tend to be a lot smaller.

[Gary Farber]

"...but being a miniature modeler, the tools I lust after tend to be a lot smaller."

Mm. Trustee From The Toolroom.

[votermom]

On ways for homeowners to save -- I wish I could sew. One could save a BUNDLE of money making one's own curtains and such.

[liberal japonicus]

The funny thing is, Jess is trained as a luthier

Wow! More details please (at the live journal would be fine)

[double-plus-ungood]

Two things.

1. I friend of the family's mother just died, and as part of the clean-up of the house prior to it being sold, I offered to help pack up his father's workshop for charity, untouched in the basement since his death in the 1970's (I was told to take anything I could use).

Wow. A router, two planes, a tool and die kit, fantastic art deco hardware, a skillsaw, drill press, belt-driven grinder, 4 power drills, chisels, and plans for the last project he was working on, still covered in woodchips and sawdust. I'm done now, that's all the tools I need. Or have room for.

2. A coworker was finishing his deck last weekend, was hammering a beam in place over his head, and dropped his hammmer forcefully onto his forehead, and catapulted backward into the hedge, using every word and phrase applicable to the situation that he picked up while in the navy. There's no point to this anecdote, I just found it funny.

Oh wait, there is a point. As an industrial first-aid attendant (and yes, I'm a programmer by profession), I have to stress the importance of having minimal first aid training of some sort for the most common power tool accidents (cuts, penetrating eye injuries, burns, electric shock), and having a decent first aid kit nearby. And while it's a gross subject, if ever anyone has a penetrating eye injury, get them on their back as soon as possible. The aqueous humor in your eyes is your lifetime supply. If it leaks out, you're blind. Get horizontal, do not remove the object, let the ambulance guys deal with it.

Apologies to anyone who passed out reading the above.

[rilkefan]

Mac, thanks for the list, I definitely owe you that if-you're-around-Palo-Alto drink. Ditto crionna.

[Macallan]

rilkefan,

Let me give you another 'local knowledge' DIY tip. Orchard Supply price monitors Home Depot and tries to keep their prices in line with Big Orange. So you can avoid the warehouse hassle and fighting the IKEA traffic going to EPA for your smaller jobs. Sears bought OSH a while ago, and they now carry Craftsman tools as well. BTW, not all Craftsman branded stuff is necessarily good, but the hand tools usually are and carry a lifetime guarantee.

Being a member of the landed gentry 'round here I think it's bad karma for me to let you buy drinks. I'll have to pick up the tab.

[Slartibartfast]

Any suggestions on what a (hopefully) future homeowner should have?

A very good friend who's already done it all. Works pretty well for me.

PS. Oh, and when you paint, DO NOT skimp on brushes or roller covers. Get a couple of good Purdy brushes and you'll be very happy.

I think I have five or six. In addition to getting these fine brushes, do yourself a favor and get a decent brush comb. The one I have has got stainless steel teeth on one side and a brass bristle brush on the other side. Also get yourself Krud Kutter for cleanup; it's the best.

Invaluable tools: a good, sharp, narrow-kerf backsaw. Two or three chisels as sharp as you can get them. A decent block plane or two. I'm not a woodworker, but doing any sort of work with wood demands the above. The friend mentioned above availed me of his bandsaw and compound-miter saw (which he calls a chop saw) which just ruled when doing the baseboard boulding. In case you're wondering why, there's nary a right angle to be found even in the palatial Slartibartfast estate. A power miter box simply makes more precise cuts than the hand-cranked variety, and can easily trim a sixteenth off a thin piece of wood.

[Slartibartfast]

I thought you were going to post the much more interesting story of election theft here: link

Sorry, Frank, but the suspension on my disbelief is shot.

[Jesurgislac]

Sorry, Frank, but the suspension on my disbelief is shot.

You have no trouble believing all kinds of weird and wonderfully improbable things, like the idea that the election in Florida was fair... ;-)

[Slartibartfast]

You have no trouble believing all kinds of weird and wonderfully improbable things, like the idea that the election in Florida was fair...

Rich, indeed. Actually, I don't either believe or disbelieve that it was fair. What I have serious issues with is people like you claiming specific things about the election without being able to substantiate. Even worse, you link to documents that actually refute your point, and then deny that they do so. So, really, it's not about the election, it's about your inability to read what things actually say, as opposed to what you want them to say.

As for this particular case, this is what evidence looks like. When you have evidence, mayors get yanked out of office and Circuit Court judges get pulled off the bench.