Author Archives: twsobey

2025’s First Mistake 5k

Posted on November 10, 2024 by twsobey

** Don’t miss the Second Annual First Mistake 5k ** Life is full of bad ideas. You will likely make many mistakes during 2025, let this race be (one of) your first. What could be better than a free race on … Continue reading →

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Lockpicking and Other Mischievous Ways to Learn Engineering

Posted on October 24, 2024 by twsobey

Over the summer, I presented at WA-ACTE Summer Conference Presentations on Robotics and Lock Picking. It’s now Fall Conference time and I’ve decided to update my lock picking presentation. You can find the slides here but I outline some other details … Continue reading →

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The Infernal Machine

Posted on October 20, 2024 by twsobey

Title: The Infernal Machine: A True Story of Dynamite, Terror, and the Rise of the Modern Detective Author: Steven Johnson Completed: Sept 2024 (Full list of books) Overview: Years ago I read Ghost Map by the same author and enjoyed … Continue reading →

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Skid Road

Posted on August 18, 2024 by twsobey

Title: Skid Road: An Informal Portrait of Seattle Author: Murray Morgan Completed: Aug 2024 (Full list of books) Overview: Since moving back to Seattle in 2017, I’ve been reading different books about the history of this place, including about the … Continue reading →

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WA-ACTE Summer Conference Presentations on Robotics and Lock Picking

Posted on August 6, 2024 by twsobey

(Updated: Additional links requested in the session at bottom) I’m presenting to middle and high school CTE teachers at this year’s WA-ACTE Summer Conference on two topics: Robotics and Lock Picking. The “Lockpicking and other mischievous way to learn engineering” … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Maker | Tagged | 1 Comment

When Driving Is Not an Option

Posted on July 7, 2024 by twsobey

Title: When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency Author: Anna Zivarts Completed: July 2024 (Full list of books) Overview: I met Anna a couple of years ago when our kids did gymnastics together. Out of the … Continue reading →

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LilyTiny

Posted on June 26, 2024 by twsobey

It’s time for ToorCamp again and this year I’m helping people learn to program LilyTiny microcontrollers. You can use these at the Fairie Yurt to control the EL wire (prototyping this currently) or over at the Maker Stage to create … Continue reading →

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Rebar Ladybug

Posted on June 21, 2024 by twsobey

A few years back, I made a rebar dragonfly. Shortly after I started work on a ladybug to join the dragonfly on the fence, but ran out of welding gas before finishing. For over a year it sat there, slowly … Continue reading →

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Get the Picture

Posted on June 20, 2024 by twsobey

Title: Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See Author: Bianca Bosker Completed: June 2024 (Full list of books) Overview: About a year ago, I was asked to … Continue reading →

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Shielded

Posted on May 11, 2024 by twsobey

Title: Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable Author: Joanna Schwartz Completed: May 2024 (Full list of books) Overview: This was a somewhat depressing read. I think most people understand that police violate people’s civil rights often and the reasons for … Continue reading →

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