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EconoGreen Greens Up Your Trash

July 29, 2010 – 10:17 am

If I owned my own amusement park, I’d name it Jig-A-World. Or maybe a strip club. (A girl can dream, right?!?)

Thankfully, someone already has the name, and they saw it a completely different way.

Jig-A-World is a company that makes automotive and home improvement products. Their  latest invention is an eco-friendly line called EconoGreen Plastics™. Believe it or not, EconoGreen products include drop cloths and trash bags, which seem like the most un-Earth-friendly items imaginable. Good going, guys!

 

According to Jig-A-World’s announcement, all of the bags are made from 100 percent recycled materials and are totally oxodegradable. That means they can break down within two years. Even more awesome, the company isn’t taking advantage of the green movement by expecting too much of your green. Prices for the bags start at about $3.99.

“Now consumers have an affordable option for green bags that they can use throughout their home without paying a premium or sacrificing quality,” says said Cindy Sutton, VP at Jig-A-World USA, Inc. 

Also pretty nice: you won’t have to scour stores or the web to find EconoGreen products. Just drive on down to your local Home Depot. EconoGreen garbage bags come in all shapes and sizes, from tall kitchen bags to the ginormous contractor clean-up style. 

by Rachel Cericola

By editor | Posted in Environmentally Friendly, Organization, Outdoors | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Fun with Chainsaws

July 28, 2010 – 10:21 am

Director Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror masterpiece The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (and to a lesser extent, the 2003 remake directed by Marcus Nispel) has influenced a lot of people to pull some ridiculous pranks.  But perhaps even without those films, doesn’t the fact that chainsaws are loud and can hack your limbs off just scream out fun and games?   

But, as cruel as some of these pranks are, I can’t help but find them funny.  And hopefully these people were smart enough to actually remove the chain belt from the saw before swinging the thing around.  If not, well, that’s what the Darwin Awards  are for.

This first clip, from Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, shows a professional at work:

Yeah… I’d run, too.

But you don’t have to be a professional actor to be effective playing your favorite chainsaw-toting villain:

Poor little fireman kid!  He’ll be scarred for life!  Well, mentally at least.

It also should be noted that Halloween isn’t the only time of the year when a chainsaw can be used to scare the sh*t out of someone:

Now that I think about it, my Dad used to do stuff like that to me.  That explains a lot . . .

by John Barker

By editor | Posted in Humor, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Newlyweds House on the Market

July 27, 2010 – 11:17 am

Remember the good old days, when Jessica Simpson’s biggest dilemmas included the pronunciation of “plata-ma-pus” and the presence of buffalo in her Buffalo wings?

Her MTV stepping stone, Newlyweds, is long gone and so is her marriage to equally perky pop star Nick Lachey. However, the Newlyweds house is still standing strong, and it’s currently up for sale.

If you have a cool $1.95 million just festering in your bank account, you could own the house that Jessica used to wax poetic in. Oh, what those walls could say… probably something along the lines of, “It’s tuna, you big dummy!”

Anyway, according to the listing, the house is even more gorgeous than Simpson’s pre-MTV self. Located in the gated community of Calabasas Park Estates, this 6,483-square-foot California spread has 5 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, a wine cellar, a media room, a recording studio, a game room, two walk-in closets, stainless steel appliances, a walk-in pantry, and a built-in BBQ area. Of course, there’s a pool/spa, which you can probably see from every bedroom, since each one has its own balcony.

If you don’t have the cash to drop all at once, it’s no problem. Payments should only run you about $7,777 per month.

by Rachel Cericola

By editor | Posted in Blogs, Real Estate | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Bucket Buddy

July 26, 2010 – 11:14 am

I’m notoriously clumsy. In fact, this is me in the emergency room on July 4:

I traded in all of the fun and fireworks for 16 stitches in the noggin after face planting into the corner of a kitchen cabinet -  and all before my second beer.

That’s why things like the Bucket Buddy  from Quirky make me happy.

 

 

The Bucket Buddy is one of those ideas that is so simple it makes sense. Essentially, you get an extra hand to help you deal with pouring a full bucket of liquid.  A heavy-duty nylon strap and a metal buckle attaches to the bottom of your bucket.  A hook connects to the rim, securing the strap just beneath the lid.  Ready to pour?   Grip and lift, as they say over at Quirky.  

Check it out:

See?  Told ya it made sense.  Less stress on your back, less spilled water . . . and no gushing gashes. 

by John Barker

By editor | Posted in Design, Gardening, Home Improvement, Retail, Safety, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Click ‘n Cook

July 21, 2010 – 10:23 am

As some of you may know, I used to be a chef. And I sort’a still am; it’s in the blood, I suppose. As such, I find myself constantly intrigued by innovative cooking tools for both home and commercial use.

My kitchen isn’t very large, so I tend to keep my eyes peeled for effective storage for cooking tools. And this modular spatula system looks quite interesting:

The Click ‘n Cook would definitely clear out a ton of space in my “junk” utensil drawer.  A stainless steel block stores five heads, each a different shape:

  • A normal ol’ spatula—you know… flat. . . for pancakes
  • A long slotted spatula—generally used for fish
  • An extra-wide slotted spatula
  • A slotted spoon
  • A mixer—not the wire kind, but the kind used to scrape batter from a bowl

The block also stores a handle. Each of the heads clicks into this, making it quite the multi-tool for the kitchen.

This video shows how the Click ‘n Cook came to be, how it’s made, and the mode of thought behind this unique product.

My only concern is that when I cook, I tend to have spoons and spatulas and God knows what else all over the place. With the Click ‘n Cook, I’d have to jettison one attachment to use another. And though this would make cleanup easier, I don’t know how well it would work when I’m flying around the kitchen in Iron Chef style.   

At the time of this writing, the Click ‘n Cook was entering into its production phase. At $35.00, it’s a bit pricey for a set of spatulas . . . but it may be well worth it.

by John Barker

By editor | Posted in Design, Kitchens, Tools | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Day of the Deck

July 20, 2010 – 10:48 am
Everyone enjoys some good deck space. I use mine to grow plants, eat ribs, and I even drag my computer out there to do a little work on occasion. In other words, I spend plenty of time celebrating the uses of my deck. Now, there’s an official day where deck owners can flaunt to non-deck owners.

composite decking

It’s coming up: Saturday, July 24, otherwise known as National Enjoy Your Deck Day. We’re not exactly sure if there’s a card for this day, but maybe you can celebrate by spraying off your deck’s dead bugs and having the aforementioned ribs. Most likely, the latter was already part of your weekend plans anyway.

In case you are looking for other ways to celebrate, Fiberon Deckinghas compiled a few companies to help out. One is Johnsonville sausage. Nothing says deck like encased meats, right?

If you don’t have a decent deck, but a love of free meats, check out the National Enjoy Your Deck Day website.   There’s a map with local parties marked. That’s right; actual people willing to share their decks with strangers. There’s also tips on maintaining your deck, as well as the chance to win a dream deck, which includes $4,000 for parts, labor, and party supplies.

by Rachel Cericola

By editor | Posted in Contests, Gardening, Outdoors | Comments (0)

Power Bike

July 19, 2010 – 2:14 pm
What’s a sure sign that you have too much time on your hands? Building a motorcycle powered by chainsaw engines, that’s what.
 
This is the DOLMETTE:
 
 
 
 
 
 

A whopping 24 DOLMAR chainsaw engines.
 
Not being a motor-head, I’m not exactly sure what that means. What I can tell you is that each engine is mounted via two threaded studs — the same ones that normally fit the guide bar onto the chainsaw motor. The motors are attached in sets of three with a double-sided drive belt.
  
 

Though I’ve never heard of it until now, the DOLMETTE has been around for a while. And it’s apparently pretty damned fast.

In 2004, it narrowly lost a race against an Audi AS400—on only 20 of its 24 engines. It seems that the back wheel of the bike can’t handle the amount of torque put out by the chainsaw engines, so the DOLMETTE had to start the race in third gear.
DOLMAR’s web site has more information concerning the specs of this odd machine—and it’s well worth a look.
by John Barker
 
 
 

 

By editor | Posted in Tools, Uncategorized, Videos | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Home Improvement – Duh!

July 18, 2010 – 10:16 am

The TV show Home Improvement, starring Tim Allen as handyman Tim Taylor, is a shining example of what not to do when performing renovations of any type—anywhere.  And it’s funny!

The misadventures of Tim Taylor entertained viewers for 8 seasons—quite a long run for a family-oriented television series.  Tim was known, and loved, for his ineptness while using any type of tool.  Many times—actually most of the time—his actions would end in bodily harm, to himself or others.  I think it was some of the best slapstick comedy ever to appear on television.

For your entertainment (and as a safety lesson), I found a montage of clips from the show demonstrating Tim’s . . . luck when attempting home improvement.
L

Like the Roadrunner, this guy just never gives up – no matter what happens.

What I find scary about this clip is that I’m just about as bad as Tim.  I’ve fallen off of ladders, been hit by 220 volt charges (not once, but twice—and the second time it sent me flying off of a ladder), almost chopped my leg off with a chainsaw, walked into multiple walls, etc.  In hindsight, I’m glad I’m still alive.

One of the hidden beauties of Home Improvement is that it is a cautionary tale.  Watch the show—then do pretty much exactly the opposite of what Tim Taylor does.

You’ll live longer that way.

Have a nice weekend!

by John Barker

By editor | Posted in Celebrities, Screw Ups, Uncategorized, Videos | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Tool Tip: Woodworking

July 17, 2010 – 10:34 am

I’m not very handy when it comes to woodwork.  I mean, sure I can stain and cut and paint,  but when it comes to designing and building a piece of furniture from scratch, I’m about as useful as a monkey trying to solve a calculus problem.  Come to think of it, I’m not very good at calculus either.

As such, I’m always keeping my eyes peeled for gadgets that can make working with wood easier.

This is the ChestMatefrom Prazi USA.  It makes joins, including:

  • Dovetails, 14 degrees & 7 degrees
  • Precision box joints in 4 sizes: 3/8, ½, 5/8, & ¾
  • Random spaced box joints in 2 sizes: ½ & ¾
  • Dowel joints, any spacing on any length of board
  • Mortise joints of any length and width

There are no fixed templates, which allows the user to customize the unit to  specific needs.  The routing insert can be removed to accommodate a variety of different dovetail bits.

Here’s the ChestMate in action:


At under $120, the ChestMate offers a lot of variability without breaking the bank.  A three piece carbide router bit set is also available with  a 5/16″ straight cutter, a 5/8″ 7 degree cutter, and a 3/4″ 14 degree cutter.

Hmmm, what should I make? 

by John Barker

By editor | Posted in Home Improvement, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

He said, She said

July 16, 2010 – 11:32 am

I love our blog, but I love other blogs, too.  And I spend a lot of time cruising the internet and checking out what everyone else is saying.  Thought it might be fun to share some of my finds here on FIY.  If you like this kind of post, let me know. 

Comcast, I Hate You:  This is exactly how I feel about Comcast.  Once, after many days of frustration, I looked on the Comcast website to find access to any kind of local executive or manager, and I found a PR person, and I wrote her an email, and then some high-up tech guy called me, and came to my house, and now I have his phone number.  Comcast: 0  Me:  1

Fun on the Floor:  I really like the name of this website.  I was about to sign up for a free voucher (I’m not quite sure for what), but it asked for my “postcode” which is not the same as “zipcode.”  So, I guess you have to be in England.  Maybe someone else could give it a try? 

A Constructed Life:  Funny blog.  Plus a whole house renovation.  Plus a baby.   All I can say is:  Better them than me.

Have a great weekend!

by Lisa Oram

By editor | Posted in Blogs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments (0)
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