A while ago I made a pipe lamp out of plumbing tubing and some plaster and spray paint. Then I created a lampshade out of straw, coffee, and fungal mycelium. But the weight of the lampshade moved the center of mass too far from the base, and so it always fell over. The solution was …
Book Review – Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey
Sometimes I'll pick up a book, can't put it down, and finish it in a few days. Other times I'll keep trying to read it before bed, but my mind will inevitably wander, such that I'm less and less likely to pick it up each night. Months may go by before I finally buckle down …
Book Review – Reach Out by Molly Beck
I joined Ness Labs and few months ago with the hopes of meeting like-minded people. About a month ago, I saw a workshop for "The Art, Science, and Practice of Reaching Out." While I missed the event, I watched the recorded video, in which the host spoke with Molly Beck about her book, Reach Out, …
How to build a lamp with mushrooms
For the last year and a half since I read The Noma Guide to Fermentation, I have become increasingly interested in the fungal kingdom. I recently wrote a review of a good overview guide, but today I wanted to get a little more hands-on. Specifically, how fungi are being investigated for their ability to create …
Book Review – The Kingdom of Fungi by Jens H. Petersen
Ever since I learned about koji from The Noma Guide to Fermentation, I have developed a deeper fascination for all things fungi. So I picked this book up after seeing it recommended during several internet searches. Each page has stunning pictures of the wide variety of fungi that are known. Additionally, though the text is …
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Trompe-l’œil à la Saint-Jacques: or How to Make a Multi-Course Scallop Meal without Scallops
Since I first learned how to cook by binge-watching all of Good Eats almost fifteen years ago, I've enjoyed coming up with creative cooking endeavors. More than anything, I like when there are specific constraints that require me to come up with interesting solutions. This began with early Lentil and Alphabet Challenges, although arguably the …
How to Fix a Scooter with Legos
In the previous post, I talked about how my scooter was vandalized twice last year. Despite all vital components still working fine, the mechanic wanted 650 euros to replace the plastic front pieces, more than its value even if it hadn't been vandalized. Sad scooter So as part of my 2020 challenges last year, I …
Book Review – Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson
I have taken to listening to books in bed before going to sleep. I can put on an eye mask with built-in bluetooth headphones (with the extra benefit that I don't need to close any shutters to keep the room from getting light super early), set the Sleep Time on Audible to 30 minutes, and …
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Book Review – Zero to One by Peter Thiel
I wasn't sure how to approach this book in the beginning. On one hand, Peter Thiel is an icon in Silicon Valley and has been integral in creating and fostering many world-changing companies (in addition to having a rockstar first name). On the other hand, the little I know about his politics has led me …
How to hot-wire a scooter with a paper clip
Disclaimer: This lesson is intended as a fun introduction to how an ignition works and not a guide to performing illegal activities. If you steal someone's scooter and get caught, that's your own damn fault. Also, shame on you. Nearly a year ago, during the initial two-month lockdown here in France, my scooter was vandalized. …
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Chortles and Harrumphs 