Jim Ottaviani
@gtlabsrat.bsky.social
…writes comics about science. EINSTEIN is out now! https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781626728769/einstein
I’m also a NASA Solar System Ambassador, so let's talk about space stuff too!
Find me on the (wider) web at www.gt-labs.com
I’m also a NASA Solar System Ambassador, so let's talk about space stuff too!
Find me on the (wider) web at www.gt-labs.com
Bella, proving that ranked choice voting isn't hard, even when the candidates are similar. (Though I doubt she thinks of any treat as the lesser of two evils.)
November 20, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Bella, proving that ranked choice voting isn't hard, even when the candidates are similar. (Though I doubt she thinks of any treat as the lesser of two evils.)
Today's meaningless milestone.
("But not meaningless enough that you're not sharing it," you say...and I agree! Also, note the power of rounding, since you can tell at a glance that I'm not really batting 1.000.)
("But not meaningless enough that you're not sharing it," you say...and I agree! Also, note the power of rounding, since you can tell at a glance that I'm not really batting 1.000.)
November 19, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Today's meaningless milestone.
("But not meaningless enough that you're not sharing it," you say...and I agree! Also, note the power of rounding, since you can tell at a glance that I'm not really batting 1.000.)
("But not meaningless enough that you're not sharing it," you say...and I agree! Also, note the power of rounding, since you can tell at a glance that I'm not really batting 1.000.)
Hard to choose just one, since Joy Division and The Specials debuted and Pink Floyd's The Wall came out that same year as well. But these three stand out for me:
November 17, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Hard to choose just one, since Joy Division and The Specials debuted and Pink Floyd's The Wall came out that same year as well. But these three stand out for me:
If the main reason woodworkers recommend making your own workbench is how clear it makes the point that making the bench would be infinitely easier if you already had the bench, then they’re right.
November 1, 2025 at 10:31 PM
If the main reason woodworkers recommend making your own workbench is how clear it makes the point that making the bench would be infinitely easier if you already had the bench, then they’re right.
Lovely. Here are the back (and front) of my Accutron, just before I sent it out for servicing. These are cool watches, and I love the hum of the tuning fork!
(So yeah, I have two space nerd watches. That’s my whole collection, assuming you don’t count the beat up Timex Ironman I wear when running!)
(So yeah, I have two space nerd watches. That’s my whole collection, assuming you don’t count the beat up Timex Ironman I wear when running!)
October 25, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Lovely. Here are the back (and front) of my Accutron, just before I sent it out for servicing. These are cool watches, and I love the hum of the tuning fork!
(So yeah, I have two space nerd watches. That’s my whole collection, assuming you don’t count the beat up Timex Ironman I wear when running!)
(So yeah, I have two space nerd watches. That’s my whole collection, assuming you don’t count the beat up Timex Ironman I wear when running!)
The Apollo 15, non-Omega (out of my league!) Moonwatch. Coincidentally, that was the all U-M engineers mission, so it resonates that way too for me.
October 24, 2025 at 11:15 PM
The Apollo 15, non-Omega (out of my league!) Moonwatch. Coincidentally, that was the all U-M engineers mission, so it resonates that way too for me.
Hope some (better still, all) of my California Vote Forward letter recipients are baseball fans.
Also hope they vote for Prop 50, and then undo it (or just let it expire, since it’s designed to be temporary) if/when the crisis passes.
Also hope they vote for Prop 50, and then undo it (or just let it expire, since it’s designed to be temporary) if/when the crisis passes.
October 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Hope some (better still, all) of my California Vote Forward letter recipients are baseball fans.
Also hope they vote for Prop 50, and then undo it (or just let it expire, since it’s designed to be temporary) if/when the crisis passes.
Also hope they vote for Prop 50, and then undo it (or just let it expire, since it’s designed to be temporary) if/when the crisis passes.
Twentieth straight year of Dances With Dirt relay in and around Hell, MI complete, and I have the hardware — these are the only race medals I always keep — and the scratched up legs as proof.
(Photo taken after washing off the blood and grime. You’re welcome.)
(Photo taken after washing off the blood and grime. You’re welcome.)
September 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Twentieth straight year of Dances With Dirt relay in and around Hell, MI complete, and I have the hardware — these are the only race medals I always keep — and the scratched up legs as proof.
(Photo taken after washing off the blood and grime. You’re welcome.)
(Photo taken after washing off the blood and grime. You’re welcome.)
Back from the Upper Peninsula and a week of outdoors. Started in the Les Cheneaux islands and closed out the trip with a summer triathlon: hiking, kayaking, and wedding.
August 27, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Back from the Upper Peninsula and a week of outdoors. Started in the Les Cheneaux islands and closed out the trip with a summer triathlon: hiking, kayaking, and wedding.
Closing in on it…still have to mortise out the spots for the pulls and assemble everything (base not shown) and apply finish, but the end is within sight!
August 20, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Closing in on it…still have to mortise out the spots for the pulls and assemble everything (base not shown) and apply finish, but the end is within sight!
Less obvious reason: this design is trapezoidal on purpose, so the miters everywhere were harder than normal.
The most basic reason: the precision needed for this sort of joinery (and door & drawer fitting) is simultaneously something I obsess over and don’t have enough patience (or skill) for. 2/2
The most basic reason: the precision needed for this sort of joinery (and door & drawer fitting) is simultaneously something I obsess over and don’t have enough patience (or skill) for. 2/2
August 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Less obvious reason: this design is trapezoidal on purpose, so the miters everywhere were harder than normal.
The most basic reason: the precision needed for this sort of joinery (and door & drawer fitting) is simultaneously something I obsess over and don’t have enough patience (or skill) for. 2/2
The most basic reason: the precision needed for this sort of joinery (and door & drawer fitting) is simultaneously something I obsess over and don’t have enough patience (or skill) for. 2/2
13 (more) reasons I’ll never do cabinetry at home. Each of those clamps is $50-75! 1/2
August 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
13 (more) reasons I’ll never do cabinetry at home. Each of those clamps is $50-75! 1/2
Today’s harvest. About to become puttanesca sauce thanks to K.
July 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Today’s harvest. About to become puttanesca sauce thanks to K.
Today’s triathlon: biking, running, and sharpening hand tools.
Almost everything I have I got used, and finally got around to building a stand for the bench grinder (bought used, I’d course) so I finally got all the nicks out and put a consistent bevel on just about everything.
Almost everything I have I got used, and finally got around to building a stand for the bench grinder (bought used, I’d course) so I finally got all the nicks out and put a consistent bevel on just about everything.
July 19, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Today’s triathlon: biking, running, and sharpening hand tools.
Almost everything I have I got used, and finally got around to building a stand for the bench grinder (bought used, I’d course) so I finally got all the nicks out and put a consistent bevel on just about everything.
Almost everything I have I got used, and finally got around to building a stand for the bench grinder (bought used, I’d course) so I finally got all the nicks out and put a consistent bevel on just about everything.
Sharpening setup with chisels and plane blades
July 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Sharpening setup with chisels and plane blades
After 18yrs and 130k miles, the 2007 Civic hybrid has transmogrified into a 2023 Niro PHEV. I did the math and 1/2 to 2/3 of days when we drive will be 100% electric.
We wanted to go full EV but Michigan’s Upper Peninsula doesn’t have the infrastructure yet. Next car…if there is one!
We wanted to go full EV but Michigan’s Upper Peninsula doesn’t have the infrastructure yet. Next car…if there is one!
July 15, 2025 at 9:39 PM
After 18yrs and 130k miles, the 2007 Civic hybrid has transmogrified into a 2023 Niro PHEV. I did the math and 1/2 to 2/3 of days when we drive will be 100% electric.
We wanted to go full EV but Michigan’s Upper Peninsula doesn’t have the infrastructure yet. Next car…if there is one!
We wanted to go full EV but Michigan’s Upper Peninsula doesn’t have the infrastructure yet. Next car…if there is one!
Dinner guest excusing itself after jumping off my arm and using my napkin. Not radioactive, did not bite me. Alas.
July 7, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Dinner guest excusing itself after jumping off my arm and using my napkin. Not radioactive, did not bite me. Alas.
You’ve squeezed all the miles you can out of a pair of shoes when your back starts to hurt…and you’re almost to the insole.
(Best guess: ~400 miles running and more than 500 miles walking.)
(Best guess: ~400 miles running and more than 500 miles walking.)
July 3, 2025 at 1:32 AM
You’ve squeezed all the miles you can out of a pair of shoes when your back starts to hurt…and you’re almost to the insole.
(Best guess: ~400 miles running and more than 500 miles walking.)
(Best guess: ~400 miles running and more than 500 miles walking.)
“Whaddaya mean, I ‘got too hot’ earlier and ‘was grumpy all day’ and ‘didn’t want to go for a walk’? That’s all in the past and the past is an illusion! All that matters is the eternal now. And squeaky pig toys.”
June 29, 2025 at 10:14 PM
“Whaddaya mean, I ‘got too hot’ earlier and ‘was grumpy all day’ and ‘didn’t want to go for a walk’? That’s all in the past and the past is an illusion! All that matters is the eternal now. And squeaky pig toys.”
It appears these trees did in fact need to get cut down.
We’ve now lost four 75+ year old red oaks. We’ve planted a swamp oak, two birches, a hop hornbeam, a dogwood, and a linden (my favorite).
We’ve now lost four 75+ year old red oaks. We’ve planted a swamp oak, two birches, a hop hornbeam, a dogwood, and a linden (my favorite).
June 23, 2025 at 9:48 PM
It appears these trees did in fact need to get cut down.
We’ve now lost four 75+ year old red oaks. We’ve planted a swamp oak, two birches, a hop hornbeam, a dogwood, and a linden (my favorite).
We’ve now lost four 75+ year old red oaks. We’ve planted a swamp oak, two birches, a hop hornbeam, a dogwood, and a linden (my favorite).
Small walnut bench based on the traditional Moravian stool, but live-edged in the battens and seat. (Okay, had to simulate “live” in spots so it would feel good and look nicer…to me.) Hand tools only…
If/when I try this again I’ll for sure increase the splay of the legs, and maybe the rake too.
If/when I try this again I’ll for sure increase the splay of the legs, and maybe the rake too.
June 7, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Small walnut bench based on the traditional Moravian stool, but live-edged in the battens and seat. (Okay, had to simulate “live” in spots so it would feel good and look nicer…to me.) Hand tools only…
If/when I try this again I’ll for sure increase the splay of the legs, and maybe the rake too.
If/when I try this again I’ll for sure increase the splay of the legs, and maybe the rake too.
I’m in good Michigander (Kostova!) company in this Little Free Library and I hope my book finds a happy new home!
(Big fan of LFLs…I’ve read 2/3 of Michael Connelly’s Bosch books out of our local circuit.)
(Big fan of LFLs…I’ve read 2/3 of Michael Connelly’s Bosch books out of our local circuit.)
June 5, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I’m in good Michigander (Kostova!) company in this Little Free Library and I hope my book finds a happy new home!
(Big fan of LFLs…I’ve read 2/3 of Michael Connelly’s Bosch books out of our local circuit.)
(Big fan of LFLs…I’ve read 2/3 of Michael Connelly’s Bosch books out of our local circuit.)
Not pictured: the goose family, the duck family, a few humans, and Bella (impatiently) at my side. But a heron and 14 turtles is enough, yeah?
May 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Not pictured: the goose family, the duck family, a few humans, and Bella (impatiently) at my side. But a heron and 14 turtles is enough, yeah?
Not a great photo (the dog was pulling me toward Potential! Bunnies! Or! Maybe! Frogs! [TM]), but seeing an oriole around here is noteworthy, at least for me.
May 5, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Not a great photo (the dog was pulling me toward Potential! Bunnies! Or! Maybe! Frogs! [TM]), but seeing an oriole around here is noteworthy, at least for me.
Sad to see this go, but we made it last since pre-Pandemia. That’s about 23.5 proof per year.
The good news is they now make this as a standard finish to there also excellent original rye, but this early barrel select version from our Local Liquor Castle was a cut above.
The good news is they now make this as a standard finish to there also excellent original rye, but this early barrel select version from our Local Liquor Castle was a cut above.
April 12, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Sad to see this go, but we made it last since pre-Pandemia. That’s about 23.5 proof per year.
The good news is they now make this as a standard finish to there also excellent original rye, but this early barrel select version from our Local Liquor Castle was a cut above.
The good news is they now make this as a standard finish to there also excellent original rye, but this early barrel select version from our Local Liquor Castle was a cut above.