Will's Page

I’ll admit it: for me, splitting wood has nothing do with lowering the heating bill. I like that satisfying thunk! and the feeling of power, seeing that big obstinate piece of wood doing what I want. The look of the fire in the evening is nice, too, especially when you didn't have to buy the wood at the supermarket.

Here's how to make it happen.

What you need

An ax. A maul is fine, but you don't need it, unless you're entering a wood-splitting competition.

Seasoned wood split… Continue

So here's my attempt at a non-political, political post.

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A responsible man (or woman) should think through the consequences of a political stance, before promoting it.
Seems obvious, doesn't it? You wouldn't decide on home renovation, or buying a car, or marrying, without thinking of the consequences. Why do it for politics?

Our political views are a sort of entertainment. (They may also be a token of membership to a group that you like.) But they do matter. If enough people agree with yo… Continue

At Brett's suggestion, I'm writing this up: how to make cheap, sturdy basement shelves you can be sure won't fall over. I am not an expert; don't sue me if yours do. But I'm not worried about mine. (I did take the precaution of putting very heavy stuff on the bottom shelf. Nothing will save a top-heavy structure from falling over -- nothing but an L-bracket, anyway, and I don'… Continue

I celebrated a birthday this month.

When I did, and my wife was going with me to Red Lobster, I thought about how my life has become.

It's ordinary. I have a wife and a baby boy. There's little drama in it. We don't fight like cats and dogs (or any other way, for that matter.) My concerns these days are home maintenance, taking care of baby boy and romancing wife, a few other projects.

I like "ordinary."

I once thought that to stand out of the crowd, you had to be different, and it was unque… Continue

When I was a teenager, there were definitely times I didn't want older heads around. The reason was obvious. I didn't want them telling me what to do, and they had a habit of doing that. (And sometimes I expected it. But sometimes I wanted to be free.)

So teens hang out together.

When I was a young man feeling like a teenager, it was much the same. I didn't realize yet, deep down, that they could no longer tell me what to do unless I let them.

And there's also an issue of common interest. I h… Continue