Instructables

I stumbled on instructables.com looking for I forget what. They have a nice format of a series of illustrated and annotated steps. I was looking at electronic projects, but there's a broad range of crafty/makey topics.

c-jump

This looks like fun: a computer programming board game

Favorite effects tips from the trenches

More tips and tricks for sound effect design than is reasonable to expect in one place: Favorite effects tips from the trenches.

Mapping the sphere

Ah. Not sure if this is work or play, but its great stuff: Vantage Graphics and Design - Mapping the sphere

Goaty suburban weed control and other stories

They just have some of the best articles over on yougrowgirl.com

This one (Getting her Goat) is a cracker - a recent transplant from NY city tackles her weed problem in suburban Boulder, CO by hiring a small herd of goats.

Does it go without saying that I have been tossing around a similar idea for a while. My problem is grass though - not something goats are that keen on - they are more your bush-whacker / weedwacker types. I think a cow might not go down so well, but how about a small herd of rabbits? You could drop a couple of cages down for a day or so on a patch of lawn, and move them around as necessary.

Turns out I'm not the only one who has wandered down this path. Here's a post on gardenweb.com: Another stupid idea: Rabbits. The thread continues with some thumbs up and down. Holes. One person points out that rabbits like to dig holes. I had in mind a enclosed mesh frame with 2in. mesh on the floor. which I think would thwart that. It would be fully enclosed, probably with a hinged lid, probably with some shade netting. You'd need to watch for excitable dogs, hawks etc. The wire mesh would protect them from harm, but not trauma. And, before you object, this would be shift work with rabbits getting rotated in and out as necessary to keep everyone happy. Read on down the thread and someone posts saying they "use to keep rabbits and ducks and used them both as weed grazers". Ha! I am vindicated.

There's always sheep of course. Not nearly as fun, but faster I imagine.

What price do you put on a herd of rabbits? I think this would make a great summer job, or weekend enterprise. I can get someone to mow my lawn for $25, but I might pay double for the entertainment and environmental value of having the job done by rabbits.

Blogger does blog-by-email

This is a feature I've wanted for years. It makes lots of sense. I'm curious to see how it all ends up looking.

Simple Japanese bookbinding

An easy step-by-step for repairing or creating a book with a simple japanese style binding. I think I could manage this.

Shopsmith Chess & Checkers
Plans and instructions for making chess pieces by compound cutting on a band/scroll saw. They actually end up looking pretty nice, I might get to this one day.

Polymer clay info
Glass Attic - "encyclopedia" of polymer clay information