I feel the need to toot my own horn a bit. I published some updates to my Google Links gadget today. Now I can communicate with my audience a little better with the mini messages at the top of the gadget. Added some new links, too.
Architectradure points to a heat regulation product called Core Control that really fascinates me. I have had problems with heat regulation my entire life. It was a real burden in the Army, where I would frequently drop out of summertime training and get propped up by a tree with an IV or two. I find it a burden today when I have yard work to do, but can only complete the bare minimum because of the heat and the need for me to protect myself from fatigue lasting a day or two.
To top it all off, my heat sensitivity can take any of three forms that materialize randomly when I get too hot:
Now, assuming this device really does cool your body core, why can’t I just stick my hand in a bag of ice to cool off? An article about the device from Stanford Magazine describes how the body can dump excess heat through the palms, but the skin of the palms can shut off this response to heat if it feels cold. It sounds like there is a happy zone where you can draw more heat out of the body through the hands, but not trigger a shutdown of the body’s mechanism that makes it possible.
The user guide talks about the device being able to detect the difference between the cone temperature and your hand temperature. Maybe this has to keep within some range for the core cooling effect to work. The device could regulate the pump of water into the cooling cone based on the temperature difference.
Still, it sounds as though I might try an experiment at home to cool my hands and feet while taking a break from yard work, and see if that improves my well-being. I also wrote to the company to see how much the thing costs.
My wife and I have been making many trips to IKEA recently in an effort to get our daughters play room organized. Here are some interesting notes on how to get the most out of your trip to yellow-and-blue-land. #2 on the list seems to be true to me, at least for small items.
The 30-day return policy is (sort of) a lie. IKEA will generally return stuff like wal-mart (but should not be confused with that evil place), so keep receipts if at all possible. And if anything is wrong with the product, take it apart and bring it backw (sic). Be sure to check the boxes for damage before you check out.
Toolmonger has a post on Danish oil as a hand finish for wood projects. I’ve used the Watco product three times on solid white pine bookcases purchased from one of those unfinished furniture stores.
I achieved pretty good results on the first two, but on the third I decided to put on a third coat and have regretted the decision ever since. The varnish included in the oil left a thick sheen on the surface of the bookcase that is rather unsightly. Also the stain wound up quite a bit darker than the finish on the other two bookcases.
You have to be careful to allow plenty of drying time, especially in humid conditions. I put some books on my first set of shelves prematurely, and now they have brown stains on the bottoms of the pages.
Fortunately, when these bookcases are full, you don’t notice those details so much. Danish oil is easy to apply and gives you a nice “woody” look. Even with my troubles, I still reccomend it. I used Watco’s medium walnut and have always enjoyed the color.
Cláudio Dias at Paperinside has posted a method to make a little paper character out of your own custom South Park avatar. I think it would be fun to have this little guy on my desk at work. I also like the South Park generator a bit better than the Simpson’s generator, even though the fatness is not realistic. I’ll post a picture of the final character.
paperinside.com » Join the South Park gang
Previously:
My Simpson’s Movie Avatar
I finally purchased something from Shirt.Woot. It’s pretty nerdy in a Musée de Cluny sorta way. I just hope the damn American Apparel sizing fits me.
If You Want To Destroy My Chainmail
Update 9/5/07: American Apparel XL does NOT fit me. Grrr.
