Sometime near the end for 2025 I was talking with Jamie about how there's nowhere to go on the Web to learn about new or cool things or to find inspiration without being bombarded by the hellish state of the world. Don't get me wrong, we both understand the importance of being aware of these things, but we also deeply value consent, and sometimes you need to learn about something cool without having Donald Trump forced down your throat so you can rechage your batteries and have capacity to do constructive things about what is happening to us all.
So at the end of December I decided that I would try to write at least one post per day in January, and they would all be something fun or cool or at least constructive. There were a few days where it was impossible for me to say anything positive, so I doubled-up on other days to reach the final count of 31.
Today I'm writing this from downtown Beaver Dam rom what I refer to as The Kratz-Gullickson Laboratories Multi-Dimensional Print Shop (KGLMDPS). I'm surrounded by ways to print things: a Provisional Press making Lego prints, a Woodzilla press making lino prints, an old-fashioned washing mangle making... I'm not sure what to call them but also a photocopier, a Creality Ender 5+ 3D printer and soon an OrangeStorm Giga (once I can get some help moving it out of the lab...). It's an eclectic mix of old and new, well-defined and hybrid processes and all of it creative and invigorating.
This is a commercial space, smack dab in the middle of downtown and it really hit me today what a difference it makes to be working in a place where you can walk to everything you need. At home we are walking distance from some essentials, and overall Beaver Dam is a small enough town that you can get around on foot for the most part, but being right downtown is different.
Just across the atrium is Bones in Jars (we're in the same building), across the street is my favorite book and antique store (the same place I scored a nice set of Baby Advents and learned how to re-foam loudspeakers), next door to that is our friend's shop knitting supply shop Firefly Fibers, then a Mexican grocery and around the corner is our indie bookstore Rosalie Book Boutique, Ooga Brewing Company, Nunatak Coffee, the list goes on.
There's also a lovely river walk and a small park on the corner just downstream from the dam, and even on winter days like this there's locals and visitors strolling the walks. Yesterday there was a vigil/protest for the victims and against the occupation of ICE and all of this is food for creative thought. It's not hard to think about things we can do in our little space to help everyone.
Jason J. Gullickson, 2026