WaPo has a "Can you spot the scam?" article. I missed 3 of 7. Two were legit and I hit "scam", but overcautious is good. I did miss a real scam though, which surprised me. Take the test: https://wapo.st/451wbV1

#fraud #phishing #scam #ITSecurity #security

I kinda feel bad for whoever had enough English to put DIY + AREA together as a brand name for their company, but not quite enough to realize it also parses as DI-YA-RE-A.

This supports my long-held theory that, in addition to the mandatory workplace violence training, all retail sales people should be trained in improv, and have to pass before staffing customer-facing positions. An example of an acceptable answer would be "Yes, and this baby right here receives all the socks that disappear from all the other dryers."

I'm looking at washer/dryer pairs in Lowe's and the sales guy walks up and asks what capacity do I need. I told him my current dryer will pack three sets of Queen sheets - flat, fitted, pillowcases, everything - into one corner of one of the fitted sheets. Does he have anything like that? He gives me a blank look for a couple of seconds, says "Let me know if you need anything," and then disappears toward the back of the store. I think he's watching from the break room waiting for me to leave.

My first time turning deer antler produced a nice looking Vesper click pen. The antler was incredibly hard and even sharp carbide cutters bogged down a bit. The biggest surprise was that it gave off a smell of over-crispy barbecue. Now I understand why people charge a lot for these - lots of work and now I need to air out the shop for a week!

#penturning #woodturning #CoSoPens

25+ years ago I had a root canal and the orthodontist said I had the longest roots he'd ever seen.

Last week I needed a repair on that tooth and went back. He showed no recognition on greeting me, but as soon as he opened my file he said "Oh, I remember you. I was hoping to retire before seeing you again."

I said "You do mouth surgery. You realize ALL of your patients feel the same way about you, right?"

He almost made it. Retired this week.

We are only two weeks away from closing on our house sale so I do a walkthrough every day or so, just to make sure no major issues develop to kill the deal.

Today it seems there's a serious leek under the kitchen sink. It's always something.

#realtor #humor #cosohumor

This dragon pen is in my Top-5 faves of all the pens I've made. The burnt bronze fittings and Poly-Ag stone barrel match so well. Plus, it's a hefty pen with good balance. Not for writing War and Peace longhand but great for signing the deed to your castle keep.

The camera meter likes the presentation case a LOT better than the black velvet background. I may have to start shooting all of them in a case.

#penturning #woodturning #CoSoPens

That pool cue pen is devilishly hard to manage. At 8 inches, no pen box or display fits. Normal pen pots tend to tip over. Something had to be done so I figured why not manage it like any other pool cue and make a cue stand for it?

Voila! #HotOffTheLathe today are the two cue sticks used as the uprights for the stand divider. The rack is 3D printed. The base is #shapermade and the divider is laser cut. Used all the toys on this one!

#woodworking #woodturning #penturning #CoSoPens

I told my wife no fast food in the new truck, even when the grandson visits. "I will not have the new car smell replaced by the new fries smell," I warned.

"That's fine. But you will have to live with the consequences."

"What consequences?"

"Under your plan the new car smell will be replaced by farts. You can't ban those."

She's not wrong, and this is why I'm still in love with my wife after 40 years - she's consistently smart, funny, and sexy all at the same time.

#MarriedLife #Humor

My latest TV show pitch is about a young woman who goes to the crossroads and sells her soul to the devil in exchange for a successful music career.

The show is called "Daisy Jones and the 666".

#humor

#HotOffTheLathe tonight is a gold Vesper pen with black palm barrel. The wood is so dark I had to reduce the contrast drastically to show it against the gold.

I love the Vesper pens for their weight, balance, and solid click mechanism.

#penturning #woodturning #CoSoPens

Next completed item from the #woodworking / #woodturning queue is a cue.

Well, a pen made to look like a pool cue, anyway. Pen is 8.5 inches long with the cap on.

Although challenging to make, the hardest part turned out to be finding a gift box for it. Ended up using a bracelet gift box.

#penturning #CoSoPens

Must have done a good job getting MIL's house ready for sale because it was under contract before the week was out. Now I am *finally* able to get caught up on some projects in the queue.

First up were these crochet needles for a Fediverse acquaintance who does amazing things with yarn. She said these are for a machine that she makes hats on. Cool!

Wife: What got delivered?
Me: Waxer/polisher.
Wife: Waxer/polisher? You don't even know her!
Me: You were a little late to the party but you are SO getting the hang of this!

#MarriedLife #humor

Sorry I've been neglecting some folks here. I owe a couple of commissioned wood items and haven't been posting much while wife and I get MIL's house ready for showing. But its finally listed! A day or so of well-deserved down time and maybe I can get back to business as usual.

https://matthewbenham.hd.pics/4517-Steepleton-Way

All this time I thought I was being lazy using a pressure washer to wash the cars. I was today old when I discovered they have brushes that automatically rotate the car for you.

I feel like it's worth the $18 just so I can contact the vendor's tech support to complain that I can't get it to rotate my car.

Wife waits until the paneer is made to tell me she needs something to press it with. Stat!

Naturally, I go out to the shop and return with half a dozen clamps, angle irons, a 5 gallon bucket and two lids with about 100 holes drilled in each.

"Problem solved," I announce.

"You're an idiot" she says, then builds this. "Clamps? Paint buckets? We're making FOOD here."

I protest "To be fair, you don't know where those 2L bottles have been."

I'm not wrong. But apparently I'm still an idiot.