I’ve lost track of how many turkeys I’ve deep-fried in my past. Probably around 30 or so. But I did my research first. There are several precautions that are necessary when lowering something the size of two bowling balls into a cauldron of super-heated fluid. And some serious consequences when you do it wrong.
Videos
Water Buffalo0
Pool owners, this one is for you.
And animal lovers, you, too.
In case you missed it last week, in Cleveland, Georgia, on the morning of October 26, 2010, Chris Nonnemaker and his wife noticed a couple of holes poked in their pool cover. Upon further investigation, they found this:
I suppose you could call this a “water buffalo.”
Apparently the buffalo had escaped (with two others) from a neighboring home a few weeks before. Did you know there are buffalo roaming aimlessly throughout Georgia? Not me? I tend to picture these noble creatures as running in massive herds like in Dances With Wolves.
So, what do you do when there’s a giant mammal stuck in your pool? You call the cops—then you do this:
This story ends on a sad note. For some reason, the owners of the buffalo put it down shortly after this event. From what I can find, they were afraid that it would hurt somebody. Um. . . what? It was just cooling itself in a pool.
If it had been a tiger that had developed a taste for human flesh? Well, I can understand the logic there. But the equivalent of a large cow? When is the last time a cow developed a taste for human flesh?
For more information, check out this article.
by John Barker
A Good Idea?0
Certain tools sort’a scare me. This is one of them—but only because I’m not good with sharp, motorized things. I’ve already mentioned in another article how I almost took my leg off with a chainsaw . . .
This is the RipCart, a portable wheeled platform that allows you to strap your circular saw into it then push it around. In the right hands, this is quite a cool device (though in my hands, it would be like some sort of crazed death engine—toes flying all over the place).
All kidding aside, this is a handy device, particularly when used in roofing.
Designed to tear multiple layers of shingles from a roof, the RipCart is quite a unique innovation. Because the circular saw is attached to the wheeled base, shingles can be cut in a pattern, reducing them into squared-off sections that are easily disposable. This eliminates a lot of the random debris formed during shingle tear-off, making cleanup of the work area much faster.
Here it is in action on a sloped roof:
And it folds up for easy storage as well…
I gotta admit: the RipCart looks pretty efficient. At $500, it doesn’t inlcude include the saw – or the hospital bills.
Some of you are gonna love having the RipCart in your tool inventory.
Me? Well, I like my toes.
by John Barker
House Hunting0
House hunting is a chore. It can also be fun and exciting, but it takes a lot of time, and there can be some frustrating moments.
My girlfriend and I just went through a typical house-hunting scenario: we made an offer, they made a counter-offer, we counter-offered their counter-offer . . . and then the owner got a bit greedy. Basically, the owner wanted roughly $20,000 more than the house was worth; it needed a new roof, a whole-new A/C system, and a new circuit breaker. That’s a lot of money that we didn’t have – and sadly, at the price the owner is looking for, these issues will insure that the house stays on the market for a long time.
But, I can say that our house hunting experiences are not as bad as some . . .
This first video comes in two parts. Starring Paul Rudd and Zooey Deschanel, it is entitled (aptly enough) House Hunting. And it made me realize how happy I am with our realtor. Be aware that it’s not for the kiddies.
PART 1
PART 2:
This next video comes from the BBC television show Spine Chillers. It involves the two main characters (both Goths) endeavoring to rent a flat:
And lastly, for a more a more whimsical look at house-hunting, but one that is still quite grim, check out this clip from the Cartoon Network’s great little show Adventuretime.
So I’m kind’a okay with the few problems my girlfriend and I have run into while house hunting. At least it hasn’t involved manic realtors, lying creepy Goth landlords, or magical monsters. That gives me hope that we’ll be in a new place soon.
by John Barker
Is It Snowing Yet?0
Winter is coming. And, depending on where you live, snow is inevitable. I’ve been lucky in this respect; it rarely snows in Florida (believe it or not, it has snowed a few times in The Sunshine State—but it usually melts upon hitting the ground).
My experiences with snow are primarily related to business trips to Pennsylvania and Michigan. And I went through enough to know that I wouldn’t want to live in those states during the winter.
I find snow to be a pain in the ass, mainly because of all of the work it takes just to start your day – like starting your car half an hour early just to warm it up. Or scraping the windshield just to be able to see. Or shoveling your driveway just to get to the car in the first place.
Which brings me to the I-Shovel. This robot has a three-foot-wide shovel that can plow through snow up to one-inch deep. Fourteen-inch wheels propel the robot— and it operates independently by automatically detecting snow accumulated in the driveway. When it detects enough snow, it comes to life and starts shoveling.
Rechargeable batteries (with optional solar recharging accessory) power the I-Shovel which creates no emissions or noise pollution. Take that, snow blower.
This product is not yet available. But I say, the I-Shovel looks to be a great little device, and they are looking for investors (hint, hint). It has already snowed in Vermont and North Dakota, and where there were tornadoes yesterday, it will be white and flaky before you know it . . .
by John Barker
Toilet Trouble0
My house has some funky water—possibly due to old, rusty pipes, though it might just be the area I live in. It takes no time at all for a nasty, red-brown film to build up inside my toilet bowl. And before you think about it – no, I don’t have anything to do with the brownish film. It IS the water . . . though there was that one morning after the taco eating contest.
Yeah, yeah. That was gross. Let just move along . . .
The Kaboom Never Scrub claims to remove hard water, rust, and toilet grime from the toilet bowl, without any scrubbing (obviously, due to the name). It’s a little device with replaceable cartridges that can be easily installed in the tank of your toilet.
The late Billy Mays pitched this item here:
Does it work? Reviews of Kaboom Never Scrub are generally positive. A majority of buyers are happy with the overall effectiveness of cleaning without scrubbing.
But there does appear to be a design flaw: it can cause flooding due to the failure of a rubber gasket in the device. The easiest fix is to use simple plumber’s thread and tape up the leaky seal when a problem occurs.
Is it worth flooding my bathroom so that my toilet bowl remains clean without scrubbing? I’m on the fence on this one. The product apparently works – but if I have to keep an eye on it – well, I’m just not sure.
Anyone out there had an experience with Kaboom?
by John Barker
Warp Speed Pizza Cutter0
Pizza cutters make sense. Not only do they cut pizza, but they can also slice through all sorts of bread, deli meats, and softer fruits. But they do it without style . . . James T. Kirk’s style, that is:
Yep. That’s a Star Trek Pizza Cutter made specifically for fun gadget site ThinkGeek. Modeled after the original Enterprise 1701 design, the body is a solid zinc-alloy with chromium plating, while the 4-inch blade is made of laser etched stainless steel. The total length comes to 8.5 inches of Federation pizza cutting awesomeness.
And while this pizza cutter is practical, it is also a licensed collectible and looks just plain pretty in its padded box:
My only concern involves the handle design. It doesn’t seem like it could deal with a lot of pressure, given that you’re mainly gonna be gripping little metal versions of the warp nacelles. I’d be afraid of bending them, particularly while photon torpedoing a Chicago-style deep-dish with extra cheese and pepperoni.
But these guys don’t seem to have a problem with that:
I’m not sure why they blow up the Death Star . . . That’s Star Wars, after all.
But it looks like the Star Trek Pizza Cutter cuts pizza at warp speed!
by John Barker
Fun at the Pool0
We are looking to buy a new house. As I type this, the loan guy is sitting in our current living room going over figures with my girlfriend concerning the purchase of a house with a really nice pool.
I’m not sure I want to own a pool with my house. They’re a lot of work, plus, well, this:
While some of these incidents look like they hurt like hell, others are just plain funny. And yes, I’m guilty of doing at least one of these stunts. I’m not saying which one, but it did involve a water slide and my head. . .
Next we have an idiot. Really, truly an idiot. This video plays to not one, but two of my own personal horrors: drowning and smothering. Don’t fret, though, he doesn’t drown . . .
At least he didn’t sink all of the way into the cover, then flounder around and die all while his friend shot video instead of helping save him.
So, I guess when all is said and done, I’d like this kind of pool best:
Designed by Argentinean artist Leandro Erlich for the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan, I’d take one of these just so I can sit on the bottom and drink beer.
Will we get our house? Will it have a pool, a fake pool, or a bucket and some beer? I’ll keep you posted.
by John Barker
Wasps0
In looking over some of my previous posts, it has become apparent that I hate bugs. And wasps are no exception. I’ve been stung a ridiculous number of times—all from random wasps flying around with no nest in sight. But when you encounter a wasp’s nest, how do you get rid of it without getting attacked?
There are a few steps you should take before going into battle.
First, it you are allergic to wasps, stop reading right now. Call in the professionals, then sit back and watch. No use trying to outwit a wasp who can kill you without even trying.
Next, choose your weapon. There are many commercial sprays on the market that will do the trick, though they are toxic not only to the wasps, but also to you and your pets.
If you are so inclined, there are safer ways to combat these little beasts than toxic spays.
- Fire: Build a fire in your grill and place it under the nest. The resulting smoke will run the wasps out. This is my favorite method.
- Boiling water: Place a bucket of boiling water beneath the nest. Using a long stick, knock the nest into the water. Then use a couple of shorter sticks to break the nest apart. The wasps will drown and the larvae will be destroyed. However, this method requires a back-up man with bug spray on hand. If any wasps escape, they’ll be angry, and your back-up guy will be called to action. This method is not for the faint of heart.
- Spray adhesive: Spray tons of this stuff over the exit hole of the nest. Wasps that are leaving the nest will get stuck, clog the hole, and make it difficult (if not impossible) for returning wasps to enter. As wasps don’t eat their dead (like bees), this renders the nest useless.
I don’t have to say “Be careful,” do I?
One final tip: when going into battle it is important to wear armor. In this case, there’s no need to encase yourself in plate mail, but I do suggest wearing multiple layers of clothing so the little buggers can’t sting you. If you end up resorting to poison, you will also be protected by the thick clothing.
Oh, yeah. Also be ready to run like hell. These things don’t like being messed with and will come after you.
I wouldn’t recommend the method used by this guy:
Nail Gun Nightmares1
I find it interesting that you don’t need a gun permit to operate a nail gun. Think about it. The thing is essentially exactly what the name implies: a gun. And, like any gun, you need to be careful when using one.
Here’s a great example. And send the kiddies out of the room for this, as there’s a naughty word near the end of the clip:
Ouch. I can only hope that was fake.
This next clip shows that even master magicians are not impervious to the dangers inherent when “stupid” and “nail gun” hang out together in the same room:
Again, I hope that was fake. But I suspect that Chris Angel would have made the nail disappear or levitate or something . . . Not just leave it in his hand with blood squirting out. Not my idea of a magic trick.
Lastly, we have a great little ad for Major League Baseball on Fox. This one is what a nail gun would do if I got my hands on it:
Is there a moral to this little exercise? I suppose there is. Be careful when using a nail gun. In the right hands, they are a great tool. In the wrong hands . . .get a license!
by John Barker
