Welcome!

Plato said, "Necessity...is the mother of invention," meaning that in times of need humans innovate and create new solutions to problems. Sometimes we invent on the fly completely without intending to but requiring a quick means to an end. Sometimes we identify a problem, but lacking the necessary tools or technology we launch into a protracted effort to investigate, experiment, and prototype until we've developed the needed solution. The need that drives my inventiveness is simple: I just have to figure out how things work. Once I figure out how they work I feel compelled to apply my new knowledge.  Occasionally I find a project around the house to which I can apply my talent, but usually I just do this out of a need to keep myself occupied.

As I find new things to do I'll add posts and pictures here. If there's some obscure law of physics on which the project depends I'll try to explain the basic principles (I might even site references). I have a full time job outside of my tinkering, so it might take some time to complete any given project. As I make definitive progress however I'll post updates even if the entire project isn't finished. Not everything I create works as I hope. Don't be surprised at all if I spend six months posting updates for a project that eventually fails miserably (or spectacularly).

My range of interests is wide. I dabble in electronics, chemistry, and the culinary arts quite regularly, so don't be surprised if I jump back and forth between subjects. I can only promise that I'll try to keep my posts from becoming boring or dry.

And now it's time for the requisite disclaimer. Please read the following carefully before reading anything else I might post:

WARNING: I am not a trained engineer, scientist, chemist, physicist, electrician, fabricator, chef, lawyer, or teacher. I'm an untrained do-it-myself tinkerer. The contents of this journal are to be read as nothing more than the documentation of my personal (and occasionally ill advised) projects. This is not a "how-to" guide. Please do not attempt to re-create anything you see here or encourage anyone else to do so. I might from time to time forget to include in the description of a project an important step (including safety measures), or I might have blindly lucked my way through without hurting myself (or I might have hurt myself and been too embarrassed to give the details). If you are inspired by anything you see or read here please feel free to research it on your own so you have a better understanding of the principles and risks involved. I absolutely encourage the seeking of knowledge, but if you attempt anything you see here, anything inspired by anything you see here, anything anyone has told you they saw here, or anything at all after reading these entries YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. I can't watch over your shoulder to guide you, so if you get hurt I can't be held responsible.