Wulf's Webden

The Webden on WordPress

14 July 2025
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Kumiko Box

Kumiko Box

Kumiko is a Japanese woodcarving technique. Intricate, repeated patterns lend themselves well to 3D printing and MakerWorld contributer YETI 3design has created an excellent pattern generator. That was only the start of my process though. Having generated a square plate, I had to manipulate it to form a small box which I’ll take into work tomorrow to hold the memory sticks we use for machine imaging.

What you can’t see is that I also used this model to experiment with creating a void in the base, which I filled with waste plastic. Since I don’t need the strength that can come from infill supports, this is an experiment in using some of that waste as ballast to keep the box stable. I created a false base that gradually built up a support area with an increasingly small opening so I could pause the print and poke the bits of plastic through. It wasn’t entirely successful – I think I made my support layers too thin (only one layer thick each) and the hole and height of the void a bit too small. Afterwards, I printed a drop in plate to make the base look neater!

However, I have learned some more design lessons and I think further use of this technique will be one way I will start reducing the collection of waste plastic I am amassing!

12 July 2025
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Sing Around Songs – 12 July 2025

I took the banjo to today’s sing around session and my first offering was Bad Moon Rising. That’s an easy one to join in with since the tune is well known and the chords are just G, C and D. I added just a little suspense by starting with a fragment of a banjo tune called Johnny Booker – the same chords but in a different arrangement – before hitting the recognisable opening line of John Fogerty’s song.

By the time my second chance had come around, I had switched seats to try out the Epiphone Les Paul Special bass that Kev brought along. Lochlain had started a song a little earlier with “Because it’s a hot summer’s afternoon…” so I repeated the same intro but launched into Diving Duck Blues with the bass-led intro riff from Taj Mahal’s 1970s recording. That’s also G, C and D but in a blues form.

On my final go, I picked up the banjo and offered “a song to show my versatility”. For this one, Honky Tonk Women, the chords are G, C, D … and A! It is quite a disreputable set of lyrics so I had no qualms about paying scant regard to the tune or scansion of the original!

11 July 2025
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New Phone Arrived

My CMF Phone 1 wasn’t originally due to arrive until Monday but it ended up getting to the local pickup point yesterday evening (after it had closed for picking up) and I was able to collect it this morning. It is nice getting things a bit quicker than expected… but that is also why I opted for using a delivery point. What I would prefer would be a slower delivery where I could reliably pick a delivery slot but, since I have several nearby collection points, I can live with that for now.

Anyway, the phone lives up to expectations and, since it was the same type Jane had a couple of months ago, those expectations were quite clear. Because my previous phone was regularly (automatically) backed up to my Google account, the process of getting set up was quite straightforward. It has mainly involved playing around with what widgets and icons to display on various screens although I may take the time soon to do a bit of pruning of apps I haven’t run for years.

The biggest disappoint was not the phone but that the replacement case I ordered for Jane turned out to be the wrong one. I’d searched for Nothing CMF Phone 1 cases but Amazon had shuffled me over to Nothing Phone 1 cases and those are slightly different in length. Never mind – the return is now progressing and I’ve ordered a different one after very carefully checking the wording. Jane wanted a case with more little pockets to store things she wants to carry with her phone. When the next one arrives, I’ll either use the old case myself or, now that I’ve got my first spool of TPU (soft plastic), try printing my own.

10 July 2025
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Mini Changes

Minis

One of the last things I did with my now defunct phone was to take this picture of two Mini cars sitting back to back. I saw them on my walk to work and was struck by the juxtaposition of old and new. The new one isn’t that recent (the license plate suggests registration in 2010) but the old one is certainly old. It even has leather straps holding the bonnet down (probably not original, judging from their good state, but an original type of feature).

Getting the chance to compare the two side by side, I realised the overall chassis length isn’t that different. However, the original is shorter (compare the roof and bottom line of the windows). They always used to feel quite fast cars because you really weren’t that far above the road surface! The biggest difference is the wheels, which are truly mini on the original.

I think I prefer the look of the original although I suspect the new one is a lot safer to travel in. I was glad to have the photo to compare them with.

9 July 2025
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Czar Harvest

Earlier this year, we moved our plum tree (Prunus domestica ‘Czar’) to make room for a new shed. It is about three years old but seems to have taken well to its new spot and produced a reasonable harvest (a bit over 200g so far and it will probably be nearer 300g once the last few come off). It is a good sign for future years – perhaps it won’t be too long before we are measuring its produce in kilograms?

8 July 2025
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Phone Death?

My Nokia mobile phone seems to have gone screwy today, constantly rebooting itself but failing to respond to a held power button to shut it down. I don’t know quite what has gone wrong but, given that I’ve had it for almost five years, it has probably been one of my longest lived phones and I feel that it is probably time to upgrade.

I’ve picked a replacement, the CMF Phone One, which is the same model we recently bought to replace Jane’s failing phone. She has done alright with that so I’ve picked the same model but just in a different colour. However, although I got a discount (Amazon Prime Day – more than enough to justify another month of Prime) it won’t arrive until Monday on the current estimate. Can I survive the best part of a week without a working phone? Watch this space….

7 July 2025
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Sourfaux

Sourfaux is a relatively recent term that refers to bread product that give the impression of being sourdough loaves but which have been created using industrial processes (including lots of additives) rather than a minimal set of ingredients plus time and hand-crafting. As well as allowing producers (in the UK) to charge more for the result, it creates a particular issue for people who can cope with eating sourdough bread but not more processed food stuffs.

This morning I got round to listening to a recent episode of Radio 4’s The Food Programme which covers the Sourfaux issue. Surely there is a very simple solution – limit what can be sold as sourdough bread but allow producers to use ‘sourfaux’ as an official label. They can’t pass off one thing as another and medically vulnerable consumers are protected but it still allows for them to at least test the market to see if people are willing to buy a bread with some sourdough characteristics even if compromises have been made to contribute to shelf stability and to keep the overall price down.

I know that when I buy bread rather than make it, I often go for one of these faux loaves. I’m informed enough to know that it isn’t the “real thing” but it is still preferable to most of the alternatives and reasonably affordable.

6 July 2025
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Rhythm Reading

I always used to find reading rhythms difficult. I was generally happy with a page of walking crotchets, perhaps with the occasional quaver, but complex semiquaver rhythms and syncopation would tend to put me in a panic. Three or four years of playing with the Charnwood Concert Bands are helping me get over that hurdle. We played a piece tonight (sight reading for me, since I missed the previous rehearsal with this conductor) and I quickly picked up what was needed.

Actually, listening to the official recording (I think from the composer), I think I managed to articulate it more clearly – in this video the bass rhythm sounds less complex that written on the part. I’m glad I’m not a flautist although, I guess, with time I’d get the hang of flute idioms too.

Hurrah for the benefits of ongoing practise.

5 July 2025
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Disney

I’m not a great fan of Disney as a massive entertainment empire which often gives the impression of being run by hard-nosed bean counters rather than people doing it for the love of telling a good story. However, they do have some good films and other content on their streaming channel that isn’t available elsewhere and, with a current offer putting the price at £1.99 a month (for 4 months) that seems like a chance to see some of the things like Marvel and Star Wars material that can’t be found on other channels.

My favourite find so far is probably the She-Hulk series. Corny at time and with lots of breaking of the 4th wall, it reminds me a bit of Deadpool without the extreme violence and off-colour jokes. Probably enjoyable for anyone who isn’t a serious She-Hulk fan.