Berkey water filter extension

Child's parents visited for the week before Christmas.  Like us, they have a Berkey water filter. 

However, it has a shortcoming.  When the fluoride filters are installed to the base of the top receptacle, they go so deep into the bottom receptacle that the water will only fill up a few inches of the bottom receptacle.

Child's mother suggested a solution.  If the top receptacle could be lifted higher, it would allow more water to collect in the bottom receptacle.

While at Home Depot on a different errand, I noticed a duct that seemed like it would perfectly fit the bill.  

Master Flow 8 inch Starting Collar Take Off - Snap Together

Worm gear clamp. Two 4" diameter = one 8" diameter

 A quick call to Child confirmed that the diameters were the same, so I bought it, along with two four-inch-diameter worm gear clamps that I could attach together to make one eight-inch-diameter worm gear clamp.  It worked great.

Final product:

Room Cleaning

I'm about to clean my office.

I know, readers are recoiling in shock.  "Drek, clean his office?  The Mayan's must have been three days off from their end-of-the-world prediction!"

Yeah, yeah.  It needs it, though.  Child's parents have been visiting, so she and I have been sleeping on an air mattress in my office, which added to the already-hefty clutter and reduced my in-room mobility and therefore my already-low motivation to put things away properly.

But this time I have a plan!

For each item, I'm going to analyze it, determine if it has a proper location, and create one if not (rather than tossing it into a corner). 

In addition, I'm going to compromise with my lazy tendencies and find a least-effort approach to keeping the room tidy in the future.  Larger trashcan, more hangers, open box to catch once-worn teeshirts that are too clean to throw in the laundry basket but too time-consuming to fold (I said I was lazy).

Tithing

In our church, members pay 1/10 of their "increase" (defined however the individual members choose to define that) as tithing.  As clerk of the local ward, I occasionally see the amounts people pay as tithing. 

I have two primary reactions.  The first is when I see a large amount of tithing:  "Wow, s/he makes that much money and still pays tithing?  I'm impressed at his/her dedication!"

The second is when I see a small amount of tithing: "Wow, s/he is on that tight of a budget and still pays tithing?  I'm impressed at his/her dedication!"

In short, paying any tithing is a manifestation of faith, whether you give of your wealth or give a widow's mite.  There's no dollar limit, high or low, to the Lord's blessings.