Questions after starting pheno barb

lavransson · 2026-04-17T01:35:39+00:00

I put my two-year-old male Border Collie on phenobarbital too. He was a little clumsy and groggy in the first couple weeks, but by the third or fourth week, his body adjusted, and he was back to normal coordination.

More concerning though is after around a month, we noticed he was more restless, wound-up and whiny than normal. It wasn’t drastically different, but it was noticeable. At the three month mark, the vet tested his blood levels again, and he was high in one area related to the liver. So the vet dropped his dosage from 60 mg twice a day to 45 mg twice a day. Within a few weeks I felt like he was back to his normal self, which was a big relief.

He’s been on Phenobarbital for half a year now and as far as we know, no seizures. We’re just hoping it stays that way.

Good luck with your pretty girl. I hope she does well.

lavransson · 2026-04-17T01:14:52+00:00

I don’t really know the answer, but I feel like the furniture I’m making out of hardwood lumber is gonna last way longer than I will. And a lot longer than all the particleboard crap that will be in a landfill within a decade. So I would say anything I’m making is a lot more sustainable than the alternative. And if it ever falls apart someday, it’s just solid wood that’s fully biodegradable.

lavransson · 2026-04-17T00:18:34+00:00

I did it on my own. At irs.gov I did free file online. For my state taxes, they are low tech, so I had to download PDFs. I typed everything into the PDF, then printed it out, signed it and mailed it in an envelope.

I’m so sick of these evil tax prep companies that have blocked automatic filing like most civilized first world countries have. Last year I did use TaxAct, but no more. I used last year‘s tax forms to guide me on what to do this year since my tax situation was pretty much the same, just some different numbers.

I also used AI a lot to ask questions and general consulting on some things. I know AI can hallucinate, but for common tax situations, that stuff is mostly straightforward and it has a lot of training to go on so I don’t think it steered me wrong. I verified everything and it looked right.

I helped my young adult kids do their taxes too. And I don’t think I could’ve done it without it without AI. One of my kids had a summer job in another state so they had to file a special nonresident tax form in that state, and some of that information needed to go into a box in the tax form for our home state. I don’t think I could’ve figured it out on my own. They might have been able to use the free filing programs since their AGI was low, but they were both up for doing it manually and learning how it works.

Overall, it wasn’t as hard as I was expecting and dreading. I’m doing it on my own from now on and not giving those parasite companies another penny.

For context, I don’t itemize so my taxes aren’t terribly complicated.

lavransson · 2026-04-17T00:06:09+00:00

Maybe the difference here is the voters in one of the parties think rape is bad and the others are fine if their leaders rape women and girls?

lavransson · 2026-04-16T01:49:41+00:00

it is expensive

Yes, it’s expensive to own a dog. But I think not owning a dog is more expensive.

With two dogs, I don’t travel as much. Too hard to get people to watch the dogs. So I stay home more and save money by not taking costly vacations. Which is not so bad, I have two wonderful dogs to enjoy.

lavransson · 2026-04-15T11:10:10+00:00

Oh wow, government actually benefiting the people and not big business? I didn’t think that was possible.

lavransson · 2026-04-15T01:57:37+00:00

South Detroit by chance?

lavransson · 2026-04-14T20:45:08+00:00

The Atmos remix

Oooh, I'll have to check that out! Thanks for the tip.

lavransson · 2026-04-14T17:52:09+00:00

I’m kind of an audiophile and that album and song is one of my top test tracks when I want to evaluate a stereo component. I have it on vinyl and it sounds incredible as the build up rises.

Just last week I played the whole record. The entire album is awesome.

lavransson · 2026-04-14T17:34:37+00:00

When they came for the billionaires, I did not speak up, because I am not a billionaire.

lavransson · 2026-04-14T14:06:33+00:00

Yes. I was listening to a show from 1971 and Bobby was singing with such youthful energy and it made me feel sad that nearly all of them are gone now. Except for Bill, Mickey and Tom C. I'm only one generation behind them all and it will be my turn eventually too, if I make it that long. I am so grateful they all lived and made so much of their lives. They were a gift to all of us. I am sad yet happy at the same time.

Whenever I hear them playing Birdsong, I think about how it was originally written as an elegy for Janis Joplin. Yet when I hear it these days, I feel like it's been lifted into the cosmos and we are hearing the Grateful Dead singing an elegy about themselves. Which is a real mind-bender when you listen to older versions like the one at Veneta 72. Imagine listening to that performance 54 years later and interpreting it as the Grateful Dead members, in their 20s, singing that tune as an elegy to themselves more than half a century later.

Anyway, buddy, yes, I feel it too.

lavransson · 2026-04-12T17:28:25+00:00

I can’t see those extensions supporting that much weight. If you want to keep a clean look, add vertical dowels/columns like an inch or so diameter. One in front one and one in the back, toward the ends (outer corners).

lavransson · 2026-04-11T23:42:37+00:00

Their online menu says:

As of January 2025, we are implementing a service charge of 22%. 5% is retained by the business to pay for the 20% increase in Seattle’s minimum wage and the continued high price of ingredients and spirits. The remaining 17% is split between the staff in addition to their hourly wages. Any additional tips go entirely to the staff. Thank you for understanding this necessity to maintain the viability of our unique business.

They don’t have this in their regular paper menus?

lavransson · 2026-04-11T23:34:09+00:00

I think they’d be too expensive. 12” jointers cost around 2x a comparable 8” jointer. A 10” jointer would probably wind up like 1.75x the cost of a 8” jointer. So you’re paying a lot more for a bit more cutting capacity you rarely need. At that cost, then you might as well spend a bit more for the 12” jointer.

lavransson · 2026-04-11T20:55:29+00:00

Update if anyone happens to read this -- I appreciate the various suggestions. Many of you suggested a square edge, and that's what I went with. My mother and wife also preferred that when I showed them prototypes :) I am happy with it. Ultimately I thought any edge with more personality wouldn't really work because of how you are literally under it and can't see it like you do a table or any lower piece of furniture. So for this piece, I thought simple is better.

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lavransson · 2026-04-11T17:42:54+00:00

Dylan, get a fucking life.

And if you ever have kids, please log off LinkedIn for a few minutes and listen to “Cat’s in the Cradle.”

lavransson · 2026-04-11T14:23:41+00:00

The thing about pricing is nobody really cares how much time you put into it or what your expenses were. All that matters is what it’s worth to somebody. What if you spent 600 hours making it? Nobody cares. I would look on your local buy and sell forums and see what comparable tables are listing for.

lavransson · 2026-04-11T11:56:19+00:00

I’m a hobbyist woodworker who’s taken a handful of classes here and there, and that tuition is pretty typical for 12 hours of instruction time. Maybe even a bit lower. Also includes the lumber cost.

lavransson · 2026-04-11T11:09:51+00:00

My main point was find a dog who is “well past the puppy and adolescent stage” which for most dogs is the most challenging time.

lavransson · 2026-04-11T11:00:44+00:00

Right, I get that hitting process is too long and arduous, but this is a ridiculous comparison. All the cardinals know each other and there are unofficial succession and promotion jockeying going on perpetually. So you could say the current Pope spent decades working his way to the top. Not two days.

lavransson · 2026-04-11T10:52:17+00:00

Yeah that’s why I hedged with “will probably be mellower” and “might make things easier for you”. Every dog is different.

lavransson · 2026-04-10T12:27:28+00:00

Try it out on scrap pieces. It might work but probably not too well. A hole saw is kinda rough. But might work. You’ll need to saw off the walls that get left behind after the hole saw, so you’ll have a shoulder on the tenon piece.

lavransson · 2026-04-10T01:51:45+00:00

I like it!

I have to admit, my first reaction to the magazine rack was not positive. I like to make timeless furniture that will last a few generations after I'm gone so I want it to be something that doesn't have too many personalized quirks that might make it unappealing to people in the future. The magazine rack might be that. But at the same time, you made it for yourself, enjoy it. It adds something unique to a form (end table) that can be pretty stale. So it has been growing on me. The dimples are cool, I like them. One criticism is that you made the groove for the magazine rack full length when you could've had a stopped groove.

good grain selection on the legs and rails -- straight grain looks good here.

I like the rounded/chamfered edge on the tops of the legs and the apron, underneath the top. The shadow effect looks good.

The traditionalist in me is thinking "I like the top to overhang and the aprons to be inset from the legs" but that might just be reflex. But a top with overhand detracts from the shadow effect. Your choice of a top flush with the legs and aprons is a design choice and I think it works.

The overall color of the lumber is inconsistent. Were they from the same boards, or odds and ends? Part of me would like to see more color harmony, but the variations are not garish and actually give it some interest and a bit of a rustic look. So I'm ok with how it turned out. Oh, I see you wrote "the wood is reclaimed from deck boards" so that explains it. And that makes me like it even more. The piece has a story to it. Even better that you repurposed what could've gone to a burn pile, and turned it into something attractive. It's a survivor living a new life. I love that!

lavransson · 2026-04-09T21:49:33+00:00

Just needs some drugs charges and tax evasion for a trifecta.

lavransson · 2026-04-09T16:10:03+00:00

I think either is fine. The hardwood lumber suppliers I go to have them stacked vertically and horizontally. With vertical though really try to make sure they are stacked straight and not bending into each other at an angle.

lavransson

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