Useless Conversation

[Lantyssa]

0.75% -- it's usually hot as hell despite running from October to November and it's way too far out of the way.  The weapons and wenches are pretty good though.

[Sky]

Have you seen Cantiga at the Texas renfaire? One of my favorite bands in existence. I think I've pulled a Ritchie Blackmoor.

Here's 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGmR6YT4kx8

Unfortunately the amazing charangista isn't with them anymore.

[WayAbvPar]

I had like 5 trees taken out this December. I have about 1/4 of an alder tree that has been sitting in 3-4 foot rounds in my neighbors bank.. I was finally feeling guilty about that today so I went and got a splitting wedge and a maul.

I got through like 1/2 of it.

Broke the damn maul though.

Using a 4 lb. mallet to break open rounds isn't fun.

I have been told that the key is to hit it on the edge of the round, and not in the middle. This breaks the cadmium layer (or something) and helps more efficiently deliver the kinetic energy. Also, slightly wet is better than dry when splitting (again, or so I have been told). I haven't tested these theories myself, so YMMV.

[Sky]

Cambium. And split it as soon as it hits the ground, if possible.

I've never done 4' rounds (you're talking diameter?), that's huuuge. I've done 2' or so with my splitting axe. Only time I need a wedge+maul is with gnarly stuff, even then the axe can usually handle it.



Might I ask....how did you BREAK A MAUL? 

I might enjoy woodsplitting. I did take a 4# maul to the shin this year, though. I don't really feel pain, so there was a funny moment when my fiancee noticed the goose egg on my shin. I kinda downplayed it, because in reality I slammed it so hard I thought it was going to break. Woops.

[Mazakiel]

Love east and south Texas, loathe west Texas and the panhandle.

I disliked West Texas, the panhandle, and Houston so much I moved out of state and never went back.  I was in San Antonio this week and last and the temperature was 106...

Well, I'll grant you Houston.  Not a fan due to the humidity.  

It's been getting above the 100s for so long here that I've gotten used to it.  Me and a friend went to a soccer game the other night, and were commenting on how nice and it felt outside.  We later found out the temperature was a cool 95.  

[Lantyssa]

Have you seen Cantiga at the Texas renfaire? One of my favorite bands in existence. I think I've pulled a Ritchie Blackmoor.

Yep, I've seen them.  Seen a lot of acts there over the years.  I could probably do a few of the routines at that, like Ded Bob.

[Yegolev]

Wow.  You've been to Somerset?  You may be the only person that's been there and gotten away..... 

Family there, actually.  First and last time I drank Big Red.  Also it's the first and last time I went to a mexican bar on a Friday night.  We then went bowling at University Bowl and I beat my cousin-in-law's ass at Mortal Kombat.  Plenty to do if you are into that, but I can do that stuff at home.  Not the "mexican bar" part but I can definitely be the only white guy in a bar around here.

[Paelos]

Yes, there are plenty of places in Atlanta to be the only white guy in the bar.

You ain't getting out, though.

[Bunk]

I am posting this post from my brand new desk in my very first office. Only took 40 years! I has a name plate on the door and everything.

[WayAbvPar]

I am posting this post from my brand new desk in my very first office. Only took 40 years! I has a name plate on the door and everything.

Congrats! Now hire a contractor to work at night and build a bed into your desk and get to nappin' toward retirement.

[Bunk]

Yea, not going to happen. The company is so proud of our pristine new building, I have to put a request in to facilities to get a picture hung on my wall.

Seriously considering putting up a print of that picture of Chell sitting on the cube in the rain, just to see what kind of quizzical looks it gets.

[ghost]

Quit getting off topic in the Texas thread.   

Congrats man!  That's awesome.

[Morat20]

Ironically, I justed moved into my new cubicle. Apparently I got a promotion out of the deal, at least according to my new manager, although he's checking with HR because this is the first I've heard of it, and it's certainly not showing up in the ole' paycheck.

I'm skeptical of this because my company has like 7 or 8 levels total, which includes a level entirely for the CEO and board members. In return, they have ridiculously wide salary bands. (The one I'm is 70,000+ dollars wide).

Anyways, NOTHING works. The fun was just now fixed, the desktop is missing half the software -- including Adobe Reader and I'm currently not allowed into the help desk system. Which means I have no way to file a trouble ticket, since I can't print PDF's or, you know, contact the help desk.

My new lead has effectively had to do ALL my paperwork for me. *rolls eyes*. Best of all, there's like a 15 minute delay between anyone on my team sending me email and me getting it, because they kept my OLD email address so we're on entirely different exchange servers that aren't even run by remotely the same people.

I do have a window, however, and my back is to a wall and not the aisle, and the cubicle is spacious. Once I can access the help desk, I'm going to drive them nuts. New mouse, new keyboard, admin access (ha! That has to be approved to do my job!).....

Also, I go back to my OLD job next week to work the last shuttle flight. I'm feeling kinda down about that. I've been supporting flights for almost 15 years now, and directly for the last 8. Met astronauts, worked with astronauts, sat in on meetings where they discussed all the crap about broken whatsits and worst-cases and solve real problems, and generally contributed to something large.

My new job is cool, the software is pretty awesome, and it's still NASA. It's just not, you know, sending people into orbit.

[Paelos]

Send me some Tang after you get settled, Rocketman.

[Furiously]

Cambium. And split it as soon as it hits the ground, if possible.

I've never done 4' rounds (you're talking diameter?), that's huuuge. I've done 2' or so with my splitting axe. Only time I need a wedge+maul is with gnarly stuff, even then the axe can usually handle it.

Might I ask....how did you BREAK A MAUL? 

I think mostly by buying the cheapest one I could find at harbor freight.

[Lantyssa]

Also, I go back to my OLD job next week to work the last shuttle flight. I'm feeling kinda down about that. I've been supporting flights for almost 15 years now, and directly for the last 8. Met astronauts, worked with astronauts, sat in on meetings where they discussed all the crap about broken whatsits and worst-cases and solve real problems, and generally contributed to something large.

Ever work with John Blahah?  (Think that's the spelling, it's been a while.)  His daughter was in several of my classes when I moved to Clear Lake.

[Merusk]

Send me some Tang after you get settled, Rocketman.

I took this totally wrong...

Cambium. And split it as soon as it hits the ground, if possible.

I've never done 4' rounds (you're talking diameter?), that's huuuge. I've done 2' or so with my splitting axe. Only time I need a wedge+maul is with gnarly stuff, even then the axe can usually handle it.

Might I ask....how did you BREAK A MAUL? 

I think mostly by buying the cheapest one I could find at harbor freight.

Yep.  Very cheap steel in anything from HF.  Love the store for cheap things I know are going to be disposable or used lightly and infrequently.. anything other than that you're better off spending the extra $5-$10 getting it from a real tool store.

[Abagadro]

Speaking of offices, I need to decide whether I want to keep my awesome view or move to the other side of the building and get a double-sized office.   I'm having a hard time deciding.

[Jeff Kelly]

As a lawyer office size is probably a sign of status? Do you need the space or do you suppose your clients would react positively?

[Selby]

I'm having a hard time deciding.

I keep my view.  It's of the hazardous waste disposal building, but it beats a view of the shop downstairs.

And going to an office with actual closing and locking door (complete with nameplate) from cube farm was a radical change.  I barely knew what to do with myself for the first few months.

[Lantyssa]

Speaking of offices, I need to decide whether I want to keep my awesome view or move to the other side of the building and get a double-sized office.   I'm having a hard time deciding.

View unless it's so small you feel claustrophobic even with a window.

[Sky]

I think mostly by buying the cheapest one I could find at harbor freight.

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-7884-X27-Splitting-Axe/dp/B004M3BAQE

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-7861-Axe-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B0000950Q4

[Morat20]

Ever work with John Blahah?  (Think that's the spelling, it's been a while.)  His daughter was in several of my classes when I moved to Clear Lake.

Nope. I looked him up -- his very last mission ended about six months before I started my internship with Lockheed. If he followed the standard retired-astronaut path, he'd have been way too high up in the heirarchy for me to bump into even if he was working for Lockheed or later Hamilton. (Retired astronaut tends to send you straight into upper tier management. Why? because you generally have several degrees and a proven record of being ridiculously successfull at ridiculously hard stuff. You're also generally ex-military and have leadership skills drilled into your brain for the last 30 years).

I'm more than a little excited abotu what I'm doing now -- or will be, once the last of my desktop is set up so I can work. It's a pure science/engineering stuff, the sort of thing that private industry jumped on with both feet when NASA licensed it to the public.

[WayAbvPar]

I think mostly by buying the cheapest one I could find at harbor freight.

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-7884-X27-Splitting-Axe/dp/B004M3BAQE

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-7861-Axe-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B0000950Q4

Or spend that money buying the wood split and stacked already 

[Polysorbate80]

Option A) Hydraulic wood splitter.

When the wife comes around asking why you're just standing around drinking beer, point and tell her to get off your back--you're busy splitting wood.

Option B) Hire some college guys.

Let her enjoy the eye-candy of a bunch of shirtless guys doing manual labor while you go download lesbian porn.  Win-win!

[Abagadro]

As a lawyer office size is probably a sign of status? Do you need the space or do you suppose your clients would react positively?

Since I am a government lawyer status and client stuff doesn't really come into play (we get choice of office based upon our hire date and through attrition I'm now at a point where I can snag this one).  The extra space is really where the big deal would be because it has a table you can sit around and a much larger desk for me to pile shit up on. 

The new view wouldn't be horrible but not as good as my old one.

[WayAbvPar]

The true view test- any hottie paralegals or assistants to walk by enroute to your new office? 

[Furiously]

If I didn't only have like seven more rounds I would be all over that.

The lesbian porn and the axe Sky linked.

[WayAbvPar]

I have a splitting maul if you want to wander over and borrow it. I don't think I have hit anything with it yet and have had it for like 3 years 

[Furiously]

I have a splitting maul if you want to wander over and borrow it. I don't think I have hit anything with it yet and have had it for like 3 years 

I tell you what.. I have a great opportunity for you to swing it on a few rounds......

[IainC]

I have a splitting maul if you want to wander over and borrow it. I don't think I have hit anything with it yet and have had it for like 3 years 

You need to practice your aim.

[Lantyssa]

 

[Sky]

Or spend that money buying the wood split and stacked already 

Won't get much for that price!

Hydraulic splitters are only for serious processing. I hand-split about 6 face cords a year right now, I'd be willing to double that before even thinking about hydraulic. But I enjoy being out in the yard with a cold beverage and some good music, getting some exercise doing something useful.

A splitting maul will obviously get the job done, but I haven't touched mine since getting the Fiskars axe. It's amazing technology. I call it George.

[Samwise]

A splitting maul will obviously get the job done, but I haven't touched mine since getting the Fiskars axe. It's amazing technology. I call it George.

Doesn't that get a bit confusing?

[Sky]

Think of me as a skinny, white, hairy George Foreman.