You too can save money and stimulate the economy.

I have this idea to same you money and at the same time stimulate the economy. Buy American. If it isn't made in America, they you don't need it. But if you think you do need, make it your self. Who knows, maybe your neighbor might want one too. If you think you have a better idea, let me know, otherwise, try my way out. There is something else that would stimulate the economy, the people who you do business with should use tools made in America.

I know that it is hard trying to find anything made in America, but you just got keep looking. We, America has lost a lot of jobs to other counties. Could these jobs come back? I can see why not. And if you use the bottom line, price, as criteria then we need to look deeper. Example, one guy operating a drill press in one shop gets paid so much. Another guy down the street does the same job but gets paid much less than the first guy. And I don't know why that is. How can that be? I don't want to go there on that subject. But all things being equal, yes jobs can return to the U.S.

Have you noticed these custom cars shows on TV lately? Well somebody is putting good money to these cars to be made. There is a whole bunch of show or podcast about woodworking. Many people have made many items more than once. They made it for themselves and others, like friends or people who paid for these items. Have you notice all of these crafts shows? They too are items made by Americans for Americans.

Well that take care of the small talk, now for the big thoughts. Where do you invest your money? I hope my money is someplace make more money.

W. Kirk Crawford
Tularosa, New Mexico

What am I going to do now?

With all that is going on with the rest of the world, I have desions to make. What am I going to make next.

I have two projects, or more, in the works. The first is a cabinet that goes under the side table of my table saw. I need this because I don't have a drawer large enough to store my tenoning jig. I also need some place to keep the different saw blades I have. That will come later because I have figured out just how to each blade drawer looks. There will also be three or four drawers for other stuff.

I got the case of the cabinet made and now working on the drawer for that tenoning jig. The drawer from is 3/4" plywood and the sides and bottom is 1/2" plywood. I am trying to make half-blind dovetails. They require some experimentation to get the fit just right or at least close.

The instructions for the dovetail fixture is quite extensive. It looks like it will require about two sets to experiment with. One other thing, the instruction suggest measuring the height of the router bit to its bushing collier. The problem with that is, the bushing collier doesn't ouch the jig and therefore, the measurement doesn't work. This measurement is the starting point.

OK, the other project is 'Jack Stops'. These items are an idea that I have had for some time now. What they are is a device that went the lever is down a shalf sticks out and lift the item/cabinet up just enough so the cabinet doesn't roll. Lift the lever and the cabinet rolls. I need to test the strenght of its lifing capables.

If this 'Jack Stops' works, then it might be a product that could be sold along with wheels or casters. Now that would be a blast for me to come up with something people would like to use.

By the way, TV sucks lately. Things are going on that I can't explain. Like '60 Minutes' sound was garbled. And no PBS, about 'Skunks' was missing the naration. I heard everything else but the people talking. Even one commerical was with voice naration. Isn't anyone paying attension to there work?

W. Kirk Crawford
Tularosa, New Mexico

The you are told.

Just another day but it isn't. Being a diabetic I have always been told about losing something, sight or feet. Always heard that through the faminly all of my life. And with a lost of fealing in my legs I would expect something like that. I have had a few accidents lately, one being a pinched nerve in my right leg. The other accident was I cut my right index finger to the bone with my bandsaw. Now that was stupid and a daytime nightmare. I knew better. Dumb.

But today was different I have always worn glasses since I was eight. I can remember going to a basketball game and I keep asking my aunt what the score was all the time. That is when they discovered my vision was sharp. So I have has glasses these many years. I have had them break and just about everything that could happen has. And in the last twenty years I have has the best of luck with then.

Now thing are changing with my vision. So I got them checked. Highway signs are out of focus and I have to be very near to read street signs. 'Is this where I turn?', not know were I am going. Today I find that I am getting cataracts. They are in the early stage, before any surgery can be done. Before much more happens, what am I to do? Oh, other don't have there vision, and I don't think that will stop me much. I can find other outlets. It just something I wasn't prepared for.

Anyway, there you are. I am sitting here trying to cry in my beer, not quite. But I am concerned about being able to see the mountains, sunsets, and my wife. Rain too would be nice to watch.

Well there you have it. Now what I can do is a wait and see. Time will tell. Over all, I am happy, and at piece of mind. Strick that last part. I still don't understand why people allow a step from there porch of there house into there house? Why isn't the floor of one the same as the other? OK, someday I get over that one.

W. Kirk Crawford
Tularosa, New Mexico

Bloging this.

Lets see if this makes sence. Bloging is like an out let. Or is it, bloging is like an let out. I guess it depends what side of the fence you are stand on. Your view migth be clouded an any number of things. Your frame of mind would keep you from seeing things around you. Could you say for sure that what ever happens is right?

There is many things going on all around us today and trying to draw an conclusion it getting harder. Thing are happening that don't make sense to us but we don't know what has happened to cause this action. We can't be everywhere to see what the causes of others actions.

Maybe that why this blog is my letting out ideas in my mind that I don't know what to do with them. I have has some bad luck lately, most is my own fault. Other things at actions that I read in the paper, TV, and the internet.

For example, MacWorld, I used to be a place where people who Mac's and have a mind set around it operating system. If this is one of the last MacWorld, then these people who have attended in the past have lost interest in Mac's or in Apple. So that doesn't leave much. The people will find another outlet to find there interest in other.

Technology, in my mind, is addictive. Learning of things you can do with technology has made most thing a lot easier, but at what cost. We have thrown away so many things that either doesn't work, can't be repaired, or a lost of interest.

Is there any things that I have missed? Is the technology leaving us out of touch?

W. Kirk Crawford
Tularosa, New Mexico

It is another New Year.

I got up this morning and I just new it was a New Year. But am I going to do about it? I need to make some wooden gifts for friends and relatives. Not for anything special, but just because they are what I consider my friends.

I have learned from the past year, I need to get a GPS device for the car. I got lost so many times I have lost count. Trying to find a house that is five minutes away from a major intersection has taken 45 minutes to find. And in the dark it get's worst. Your headlights don't shine up to see the street signs. Also when people have an accident, they often take down street signs or highway signs. Turn where?

Now I must do most of the things that I have been putting off for years. Time is catching up with me and if I am to get other things done I must get other things done. Make since? At least I know what I need to do. I would like to learn to program in Visual Basic.

I have to finish getting that little Triumph TR6 stripped and rebuilt. I going to make a driver out of it. At least I have found a great web-site to help and support me as long as I send them pictures. Other friends are supporting me by asking when do you think you will have it done.
How does three years sound? And that may be pushing it a bit. But it keeps me off the streets.

Oh yes, I need to replace my fence. It is just wood logs without the bark. I have found a source for the logs, and they should be delivered soon. I must make a fixture that allows me to make flat spot on the logs to mount the cross logs. That is taking longer than I imaged. I got a neighbor to help me redrill/dig the holes for the post. As I pull out the old post, I will stick a new one back in. Just less than 100 post are needed. This fence should last another ten years.

And one other thing that is just more than one item, electrical work. I need a three-way switch between the back door and the shop. I also need a light between the two. I need, maybe, lights that show the drive-way. What I have there now is solor LEDs. Not quite bright enought. I also need to add a light to light the way to the front poarch. These lights need to be something that looks like the turn of the century.

It that isn't enough, my wife will come up with more.

W. Kirk Crawford
Tularosa, New Mexico