Comment author: TJIC 29 October 2010 02:04:43PM 5 points [-]

I live in the Boston area (Arlington) and am moderately skilled in

  • woodturning
  • blacksmithing
  • shooting

I've got the barest hint of skill in metalworking, cabinetmaking, and gunsmithing / ammunition reloading.

Give me a yell at <any address> at tjic.com if I can be of help.

Comment author: TJIC 13 April 2007 12:58:37PM 2 points [-]

It seems to me that folks have all sort of utility functions that I do not. ...yet, we accept "entertainment" as a legitimate line item in a budget. If you enjoy going to the theater, but do not enjoy playing the lottery, what is the standard by which you can judge someone who has the reverse preferences as behaving stupidly ? If we look at the marginal cost of various entertainments (cable TV, buying hardcover books, etc.), playing the lottery isn't noticeably more expensive than any of the others.

Is there more to the attack on the lottery than mere classism?

More here.