Weekly Editorial
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April Foolishness
I don’t know if you share my fault, but occasionally I am embarrassed by my penchant for sophomoric humor – after all, I can’t even claim middle age any longer (unless I manage to live well beyond 100 years old). But there is something to the phrase “know thyself” (for which I am pretty sure there is a cool Latin saying that I could use to impress you, but my calcifying brain just won’t pull it up).
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A New Piece of the Puzzle
Well, here we go again! As I mentioned recently, we are in the process of upgrading our websites. While all of these efforts may not have gone as smoothly as we had hoped, I am finding it a fun and exciting time. This week we are adding a couple of new items to the eZine – and they certainly will not be the last. First, check out the high quality, full-color downloadable woodworking plan we’ve added to our Free Plans page.
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Winding Down the Winter
For those of you in warmer climes, this may be a bit hard to think about: as I write this missive, a nasty winter storm is bearing down on my small corner of the world. We have been flirting with 40-degree days around here for a little while, so the impending snowstorm feels like it is adding insult to injury. Last month it would have been “ho-hum, more snow. . .” but now it feels like winter is holding on and just won’t let go.
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Click and You Shall Find
Hey – notice anything different? No, I don’t have a new haircut – look around your screen: it’s our website. This issue of the eZine kicks off our latest update of the site, replete with cool new features and including all of your old favorites. (And stay tuned, there is even more great stuff to come.) We’ve done away with the Premium section of the eZine but kept many of the features in place (they’re just free now). The site also includes easy navigation to the entire network of Woodworker’s Journal websites and our sister sites.
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I (Heart) My Shop
This week marks the approach – and, in fact, the arrival, of Valentine’s Day, a holiday dedicated to expressing love. While neither St. Valentine nor Cupid is known as a symbol of love of their hobbies (unless you count archery . . .), this celebration offers a perfect opportunity to create something in the shop. (In my mind, nothing says you’re thinking of your special some one like red oak!)
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Look, See, Listen
As promised in my last editorial, the Woodworker’s Journal traveled to the International Builder’s Show and gave you a day-by-day report of cool tool updates.
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Video Dreaming
“As the days start to lengthen, the cold starts to strengthen” is a quote from the Farmer’s Almanac, which here in Minnesota is proving to be uncomfortably true. In the woodworking business, maybe there should be a saying like: “As the days get a bit longer, new tools we like to ponder!” which is also true, but is much more comfortable from my point of view.
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A Year Full of Opportunities
As 2008 comes to a close I would like to take a few moments and offer my thanks to all of you who read the Woodworker’s Journal eZine. You have been my steady companions not only for ’08, but many of you have been part of the eZine community for years and years. I am grateful for your patronage and thankful for your graceful acceptance of our efforts. You are the reason the eZine exists and the reason that I have the best job in the country.
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A Merry Gift-mas
Now that my birthday of the year has passed (December 11, for those of you taking note for the future – I can write it on my staff’s calendars, but I can’t get to all of you), it seems that the focus has moved on to other December holidays – holidays when people expect me to give them gifts, instead of just receive (the nerve!).
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Jim Forrest Sr.
I have been actively involved in woodworking for more than 30 years. For that entire time, Forrest table saw blades have been a premier product, and Jim Forrest Sr. was willing to tell you exactly why that was true. To say that he has been a fixture in our small world of woodworking would be like saying that Gibraltar is “a nice bit of rock”.
