CF75

It doesn't appear to produce an ellipse, agreed. But the next time you are building a boat, it would be a handy way to make a camber pattern for the deck, which is not an ellipse. It's a cool trick...

cLs: I accept that my proposition is idealistic -- when, indeed, do we all agree to spend more to save a community? But, maybe that's the point. Despite agreeing with you, I stubbornly hold my ideal as valid. I do my best to support my local economy. Am I naive to think that my local hardware can coexist with the buying power of the big boxes? Perhaps, but I hope not. It remains to be seen, I suppose.

First, let me congratulate the Bouratoglous on a clever design. Further, let me commend them for their resourcefulness. I imagine that, even without their time constraints, a trip to the lumber yard or hardware store in NYC is a bit less than convenient. That being said, I am concerned by a message that this article sends. It seems to be condoning and encouraging the already-growing trend in this country to sit at home and order online from a company of unknown origin, when, unlike folks like the Bouratoglous, most of us can get into our cars and go to the local purveyor of home supplies (and I don't mean the large blue or orange kind) and acquire most of the products we need to complete our projects. At a premium? Often, a slight one. Your pocket might feel a little sting, but as locally owned businesses (and now I could just as well be referring to all local businesses that are being routed by online retailers) in your town begin to drop off the map, as they are in mine, you will feel a greater sting for sure. History shows us time and again that when commercial enterprise leaves a community, the community eventually dies, or at the least, stagnates. Without a doubt, the internet is an unbeatable source for the obscure and the locally-unavailable. And, yes, I do shop online when I have to, but, in this economy especially, we need to be mindful of how our shopping decisions effect our communities, and ultimately our nation, in the long run. If nothing else, it can be very rewarding to spend enough time in a local business that they get to know you, at which point, by the way, the service you receive will likely improve with subsequent visits. And, simply put, confirmation emails just don't give me the same welcomed feeling that a smile and a handshake do.