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Wednesday, November 23  

O Blockbuster, Why Do I Hate Thee So?

"Blockbuster scrambling to stay afloat. Store closings, job cuts planned as losses mount... Blockbuster said in its quarterly report that an acceleration of the payments could force it into bankruptcy."
~ MercuryNews.com

"...one has to wonder whether Blockbuster's creditors grew more flexible because they didn't want to force Blockbuster to file for bankruptcy by tightening the screws too hard. This latest activity came on the heels of yet another horrendous quarter, in which the struggling chain posted another loss on a dip in sales. An uptick in rental revenue wasn't enough to offset the slain late-fees cash cow."
~ fool.com

Yay! For some reason, I just want this company to be the big loser in our digital movie future. Viacom gave them the heave ho and they deserved it. Clearly they underestimated Netflix or just didn't get it soon enough to compete.

But I have to wonder if Netflix is the next casualty along the way? Here in Greencastle (of all places) they're rolling out broadband fiber connections to the home, which means the holy grail of Video On Demand can't be far behind, right? Surely they're not laying out all that infrastructure for email and telephone services alone. Yes, Netflix says they're testing the market, but what are the chances that a company built around the US Mail system could make that transition? I'd bet against them, what with Apple, Microsoft, Google and every film studio also in the running.

So - why my joy at seeing BB fail? Maybe it's the grudge I hold for that embarrasing summer's employment at the Rancho San Diego branch. Have I even admitted that to anyone beyond the IRS?*

* Geez, which was worse: that, Pizza Hut or delivering the weekly "Super Savers" psuedo-paper? I've sure had some sucky jobs.

 

Best Soda Firing Ever!

OK, not ever ever. But ever in my new kiln (meaning the best of two so far). Unloaded it last night after work, and despite being pretty bleary-eyed and cold, I saw some really encouraging stuff in there. All the liner glazes fluxed down this time, good soda distribution, nice flashing marks over the decoration and stamped patterns. And again, no unexpected melting, fires, explosions or structural collapse... what else can I really ask for?

Well, I'll tell you: a) more reduction without stalling or making a long firing schedule even longer; b) a better post pattern to support the random assortment of shelves I'm using; c) I'm already wanting a bigger kiln!

And this is exactly how I do it to myself.
Desire -> Achievement -> New Desire.

Monday, November 21  

I Fire(d)

Geezus Louise-us, I'm actually firing my soda kiln. As of today, I've had two false starts - one with the wrong burner and the second on a ridiculously windy day with too tight a stack - and two "real" firings (i.e. where the kiln actually came close to target temperature).

The first one was pretty encouraging: very uneven top to bottom, and too cold in several spots resulting in unfluxed liner glazes, but good soda distribution and some nice flashing. And the arch didn't melt. And I didn't set the studio ablaze. And the local fire brigade didn't charge up the hill and extinguish it in a wave of foam - all noteworthy successes.

The second was yesterday, and I made some adjustments to try to speed up the firing, even out the temperature and get it hotter (mostly changing the flame path by the way it's stacked and tweaking the firing schedule). It was still at 1150F this morning before I came to work, so I haven't peeked yet -- but I have high hopes (foolish hope! When will I learn?) I got c9 down on top and c11 down near the bottom in the direct flame path - that should have fluxed out those liner glazes! Can't wait...

Thursday, November 10  

And Then I Wore Pants

It happens every year.

Sooner or later a day comes where the weather changes, our illusion of an summer finally gives way to fall, and I grudgingly make the transition: off with the shorts, on with the pants.

For a California boy like me this ritual is a tragic acceptance, much like fading youth. A sad confirmation that, for yet another year, I'll endure winter in snow country.

Today was that day.

Thursday, November 3  

Snackages

O Peanut M&M's, numbered E8 (so sweetly)* in the infernal quarter-sucking machine down the hall; why must Thou taunt me so; with your primary colors, clumped on the desk like some happy game, where you roll and frolick without end; until I've chewed the core out of each and every one; and gained the stale plaque upon teeth and gum that only more M&M's hast power to remove?

* A typical bag contains 23 spherules, for an average cost of 3.06 cents each.

Wednesday, November 2  

Kiln Checklist

Bricks: check
Frame: check
Arch: check
Gas: check
Shelves: check
Pots: check
Fire It (pending)