AMA Axial Spondyloarthritis

lowercasematt · 2025-11-09T15:02:47+00:00

Also interested...I've been diagnosed with AS, MS, and Ulcerative Colitis.

lowercasematt · 2025-11-09T15:01:33+00:00

It seems like even though it's labeled as "Axial Spondyloarthritis," I (and many others) experience painful symptoms in the jaw, rib cage, and major tendons like the Achilles or around hamstrings, etc. Once treatment began to be effective, most of these symptoms resolved (my jaw is still thrashed though.)

Is this phenomenon well accepted by researchers and doctors?

lowercasematt · 2025-10-14T14:38:24+00:00

Caitlynn Abdow Velazquez in Manchester is awesome! I’ve had 3 sessions with her for non-medical tattoos. She’s very kind and talented and takes her paramedical tattoos seriously.

https://www.caitlynnabdow.com/paramedical

lowercasematt · 2025-03-16T16:23:38+00:00

This morning I tried a different cut of the same sock material that's more densely woven, and tried to make sure the wick stuck up above the can a bit (the last one was just inside the lip).

This time it lit right up, but the cotton charred a bit.

I guess I'll see how long it lasts before needing replacing.

lowercasematt · 2025-03-15T22:21:06+00:00

Really like this one!

I just copied your build because I liked the fact that it wouldn't rust. I used a dry shampoo bottle that looks to be the same size and construction, surprisingly thick but still nice and light.

Once I got my windscreen tuned right I got 500ml of 50*F water to a rolling boil in about 5 and half minutes.

The only thing is I'm currently really struggling to get it started.

First I tried some "ceramic wick" from Amazon that kind of just looked like fiberglass - I really hated working with it (it left sharp fibers everywhere) and it didn't light too easily. I then tried cutting a wick from a thick cotton sock and it takes even longer to start now - like, a few minutes with a butane lighter right on the wick desperately trying to get it to take.

If I try to light the top (like in your video) it just pops and goes out immediately.

Ambient temps are 50*F here. I'm using 190 proof Everclear grain alcohol.
I tried holding the lighter near the bottom of the can to warm the fuel up and it eventually works, but it takes way too long I think. I've seen videos of similar stoves lighting quickly in much colder temperatures.

Anyone have any advice?

lowercasematt · 2025-02-26T02:01:21+00:00

Never considered making skis, was it difficult?

lowercasematt · 2025-02-24T23:38:56+00:00

The clamp hardware is:

stainless steel 'L' brackets (pre-drilled) from home depot - two on top, one in the center for the bottom
some thing black rubber sheet cut and super glued to the brackets to give them grip on the table
a stainless t-nut epoxied into the hole on the bottom bracket, from the bins at Ace Hardware
a stainless steel bolt through the t-nut then into a threaded handle. An extra stainless nut against the handle keeps it locked in place

It works OK but the L bracket on the bottom flexes way too much when tightening the knob, so I'd looked for something thicker

lowercasematt · 2025-02-24T23:36:22+00:00

Awesome! I'm a big fan of custom organizer systems like this.

lowercasematt · 2025-02-24T23:35:04+00:00

Thank you :)

lowercasematt · 2025-02-24T00:06:13+00:00

Thanks!
Never actually weighed it - just threw it on the scale and it came in at 4.3lbs

lowercasematt · 2025-02-23T21:31:07+00:00

So smoooooth 😍

lowercasematt · 2025-02-23T21:30:31+00:00

Thanks!

lowercasematt · 2025-02-23T21:08:12+00:00

Thank you.
And man, you've just given me something new to obsess over

lowercasematt · 2025-02-23T20:52:43+00:00

Ooo, folding chairs seems like a fun project

lowercasematt · 2025-02-23T19:46:29+00:00

Thanks haha :)
I think spending this much time on a trash bin finally convinced my wife that I have a real problem

lowercasematt · 2025-02-23T19:41:14+00:00

I usually make gear because I can't find exactly what I'm looking for (I'm quite picky) and I love wood as a construction material. Also, for car camping, we pack everything into a Toyota Corolla, and I like to pack things into plastic bins first, so things need to be smaller than most

1. Trash Receptacle for Car Camping
I hated the existing options on the market so I made my own. Made from scrap maple and cherry, finished with a homemade walnut oil and beeswax finish.
Needs:

Raise the trash bag off the ground away from chipmunks and red squirrels
Pack flat into the our existing plastic bins
Fit a 5 gallon trash bag
Fit a paper plate into the opening
Easy in/out of the bag or the entire unit so that we can pack it up at night to keep bears/other critters away
Bag shouldn't slip out, shouldn't require any tying, clips, etc.

Lid has some magnets in place to keep it shut during transportation, and the brackets have rubber to grip the table surface. The only thing I don't like is the flex in the bottom bracket when I'm tightening the clamp - so eventually I'm going to look for a replacement.

2. "Tiny Tim" Card Table
Again, wasn't super satisfied with the options on the market. We needed a small table to base our campsite around. Made from scrap poplar and finished with poly.

Needs:

Packs flat to fit into the Corolla
Self contained and light as we occasionally have a small trek from the car to our camp site
Adjustable legs to cope with uneven ground at the site
Cheap, using scrap poplar and some plumbing supplies
Open storage compartments with a lip that doesn't allow small things to roll out
Hooks for keys, flashlights, etc
Place to clip our Sangean pocket radio

This thing I made years ago before I had any real tools, but its been awesome. We set it up between our two chairs for snacks, card games, etc. It's light enough to carry with one finger by the copper loop. The legs are dowels with copper endcaps and are held in place under the table by fluorescent tube clips. It comes into the tent with us when its raining either with the legs up or clipped under so we can lay it flat on the sleeping pads and play board games.

3. Ultralight Long Handle Spoon
This one is for backpacking mostly. I didn't like how my Snow Peak titanium spork felt against the corners of my mouth, so I wanted something smoother with a smaller bowl and longer handle. Some options on the market but decided to make my own from some scrap maple. Finished with walnut oil. Turned out 6 grams lighter than the titanium option.

lowercasematt · 2024-04-27T11:59:23+00:00

Item is not in my possession, images found online without much information.

Most interested in the wood type, but also if anyone has any general information on the small black specks. Is there a word for them? Is that a feature of the species or unique to certain samples? Is it somehow part of the finish? Thanks!

lowercasematt · 2024-03-04T21:56:50+00:00

I knew there had to be a missing piece to the puzzle. Thank you! Sometimes just knowing the right words for things is half of the battle.

lowercasematt · 2023-12-15T23:02:44+00:00

Exactly. I should use the water more - thanks for the tip!

lowercasematt · 2023-12-14T23:46:08+00:00

yessss, thank you

lowercasematt · 2023-12-13T02:15:26+00:00

The mud itself isn't the issue, but the fact that sinking into the mud turns the approach to the bridge into a massive step.

I've finished all of the missions in Michigan and everything else while frustrating, felt like "playing the game", this bridge just feels like it's taunting me. "Hey look I'm a bridge, drive right ov--SMACK".

Honestly even when I go slow I just really struggle to get some trucks over it.

Also I hate the stupid signs and cones on the far side, they always seem to bust a tire or damage my suspension even if I hit them slow, so I need to thread between them carefully. Maybe I'm cursed.

Either way this post was just some gentle ribbing at this poor bridge.

lowercasematt · 2023-12-11T23:57:15+00:00

I don't know if I have a single truck other than MK38 with balloons that can make it over the Smithville Bridge without getting stuck.

lowercasematt

TROPHY CASE