(no subject)

[ewt]

I appear to have Zombie Death 'Flu. I definitely need to get to the doctor this week. Today seems a bit better so far, but ugh. I know lowered immunity is a symptom of depression but I'm really catching an awful lot of what goes around (and some stuff that I have no idea where it came from) and that's without exposing myself unduly to the unwashed masses by busking. So I guess it's time to check, again, that there isn't something else wrong with me. Must make doctor's appointment.

Ordered a hakama and a spare kidogi on Saturday. It'll be a few weeks, I guess, because the hakama has to be specially made. I followed the measurement instructions pretty carefully; I also opted for the stitched pleats, because having pleats that stay put is a good thing. I hope the bloody thing fits because it isn't returnable so if it doesn't fit I'll have to alter it, le sigh. Not cheap. I might try to get a pattern and make the next lot, but right now my sewing skills aren't up to it (lots of pleats) and I havne't yet managed to get around to making a dress form for myself. I suspect I'd attract the wrong crowd if I made a public appeal for people who want to wrap me up in duct tape so I'm not going to do that here.

I believe I had some hairfalls at the DragonDreads stall in Electric Ballroom yesterday. I've not yet heard back from Sally how things went, and I didn't really have a proper break between teaching yesterday so I couldn't nip down to Camden for a visit. I don't know if any of you goffs were there, but if so I'd appreciate feedback. I'm itching to start making falls again, I have lots of ideas and plans, but I don't want to start making them unless I know I have a reliable sales venue. If it looks like custom orders are going to start flowing in then I'll be trying to photograph everything I make and print the pics out (OUCH) and put them in a display book so people can have some idea what various materials look like.

Pretty bamboo. Link from crasch. I wonder if MAKE magazine knows about the Extreme How To site?

InnoCentive is a website that matches industry R&D problems to... well, anyone who wants to have a look. There was an article about it in WIRED magazine.

Also in WIRED magazine I found information about iStockPhoto, a stock photo website where amateur (and professional) photographers can upload their work to a stock photo database, and companies make small payments for each picture (as opposed to paying huge amounts to one or two private, professional photographers for their stock photos).

I wonder whehter the Plants For A Future folks would be interested in the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products people, and vice versa.

I'd better eat some brekky and get on with the day. Going to run some errands and mostly take it easy in an attempt to be well enough for teaching and Aikido tonight. Really need to do some piano practise as well. And horn practise, for that matter.

Comments

[yady.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Hope you feel better soon!

If you need help with the dress thingie, I can help you when I'm over, maybe?

[fwuffydragon.livejournal.com]

Extreme How To
Great site!

Feel better soon!

[martling.livejournal.com]

All those bamboo construction techniques involve gluing narrow strips together. I wonder what type of glue is used, and whether it is a "sustainability bottleneck".

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Not sure. I'm under the impression that there are semi-sustainable glues available.

Personally I'm more interested in slightly more traditional bamboo building that uses round bits of bamboo; I don't have the patience to glue things myself and I don't want to buy ready-made bits of floor. But pretty! And knowing to soak it in a solution of borax and the other thing to discourage the termites and woodworms is neat.

[martling.livejournal.com]

I'm under the impression that there are semi-sustainable glues available.

If they're recently designed then we may have no idea as to the long-term durability of them. We spent last winter rebuilding much of the wings on our K13 because the ~40 year old Kaurite glue had failed on some of the joints. More recent stuff like Aerodux seems to last pretty well, but it'll be another few decades before we really know...

(How we predict anything about durability in general is an interesting question. There's a good story about some US government agency asking various experts about best methods for safe long-term data archival. Some guy at NASA gave the frank answer: "Well, if you write it on papyrus and lock it in a pyramid, it'll last a few thousand years. Everything else is just guesswork.")

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Hrm, a complete 'bamboo home fab kit' could be an interesting project. What minimal tools and skills are needed to be able to make basic household items? Some starter shoots, a couple of tools, and a booklet on the techniques needed. It looks like you can dry/steam heat bend it to some degree. I wonder if you could unroll a tube of bamboo to get a flatish plate...

[yellowrocket.livejournal.com]

What a lovely icon! I've used a similar quote as my 'footnote' line on e-mail for ages - Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'.

Mind if I use the icon too?

[pplfichi.livejournal.com]

*comforts*

Feels better! Soon! *sends nice things*

[mwana-isimu.livejournal.com]

I hope you feel better. Thanks for those links on busking and hairfalls, by the way.

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

/me *offers sympathy from a safe distance, an aqualung, three binliners, military quantities of Vicks VapoRub and a convenient quarantine sofa*