Thanksgiving Luxury 2024

Posted on November 19, 2024 by admin

Here’s a revised repost from a few years ago:

Ten Best Examples of Thanksgiving Luxury During the Holiday Season

I live in the Northeastern United States for a reason:  I love the seasons (and I’m holding onto them as long as climate change will let me).  I especially love autumn, though — the colorful leaves, the comfort food, the football, the holidays.  All the best holidays occur in the fall; the winter Monday holidays are mostly for quick getaways or shopping bargains, and Memorial Day is a great excuse for a cookout . . . as is July 4th . . . and Labor Day . . . so you see my point?  Easter and Passover have their solemn traditions, but for three quarters of the year, nearly all of the holidays we celebrate are both redundant and fairly insignificant.  But Thanksgiving . . . Thanksgiving is the middle and best of three holidays that celebrate this part of the year:

Disney Scrooge Thanksgiving

1. You’ll Never See So Much Food (Until Next Year)

Of course I started with the food!  What greater luxury could exist than a holiday dedicated to EATING?  Whether you roast your turkey or smoke it, serve mac-and-cheese or mashed potatoes, garnish with cranberry sauce or gravy, prefer russets or yams, cornbread or Parker House rolls . . . see?  That’s eight options and I haven’t even reached actual vegetables, salad, soup or dessert.  The beauty of Thanksgiving is that it’s all about the meal.  You don’t even have to make these choices.  You can eat some of everything on the table, make Aunt Edythe happy that you like her cooking, go back for seconds on the really good stuff and still have the weekend to work it all off, because Thanksgiving also offers . . .

2. You Have An Extra-Long Weekend

Stay up late watching holiday movies (0r not – you can stream them).  Go to Best Buy at 4 a.m. (why?  I don’t know . . .).  Spend your days and nights doing whatever you want.  You have three full days – literally 72 hours – to catch up on your sleep, make lots of cookies, overdose on college football, find endless ways to serve turkey and stuffing.  And that’s not including the actual holiday, which coincides with the busiest holiday travel season.

3. No Presents

Can’t figure out what to get Cousin Martha to match her gingham wardrobe?  Don’t know Grandpa’s shirt size?  Save all that worry for . . . well, Friday, maybe, but you can put it off for the weekend if you want.  Thanksgiving requires no gifts.  Just show up with your appetite, good manners (please), and maybe a pie as a contribution to the National Day of Pot Luck.  No trees, no ribbons, no packages required.

4. There’s Football

If you’re a football fan, Thanksgiving is your weekend.  With two pro games on Thursday (and this year the Detroit Lions are actually winning), at least two college games on Friday, and the usual line-up of both on Saturday and Sunday, you’ll barely need to leave the couch except to refresh the snack bowl.  Even a sad Penn State fan might find something to cheer about.

5. Extended Holiday Shopping Hours

I have never figured out why, but some people – including some I love dearly – like to line up at midnight to catch super-early holiday sales. Really, I don’t understand this desire on a weekend that is built around so much lazy luxuriating, but if dawn at Target is your thing, start napping to prepare. The stores try to make this activity even more appealing by offering deals like plasma TVs for what seems like $1; if you go, try not to mow anyone down with your shopping cart. People have been trampled at these sales. Be careful, and enjoy!

6. Black Friday

The original post-Thanksgiving shopping tradition, Black Friday is the shopping day on which retailers plan to return their ledgers to the black, hence the name, “Black Friday.”  In this economy, the stores need us more than ever, and who are we not to help them out?  After all, consumer confidence is a leading indicator of economic recovery.  So come on; it’s Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus!  Go out and get more stuff for those nice friends of yours who already have too much stuff.  They’ll thank you for it with some new stuff for you!

7. Santa is at the Mall

Okay, okay, he’s already been at some malls for two weeks.  But respect Thanksgiving, and treat the day AFTER as the start of the Christmas season.  Use the weekend to get those holiday photos of the kids — or you and your best friends — on Santa’s lap.

Snoopy Brings Charlie Brown the turkey

8. Holiday Movies and Animated Specials

As I said above, you can spend all weekend watching them, because they start now.  Cable television has an endless supply of channels with nothing to broadcast, and many of them start their holiday programming on Thanksgiving Day.  Check your local listings, and I bet you’ll find at least one showing of “The Christmas Story,” with Peter Billingsley.  I don’t know how or when it became a classic, but it did, and it really is funny.  There’ll be more.  Take a look.

9. It Has Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macy’s is, of course, the Thanksgiving Day Parade to end all Thanksgiving Day Parades, with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade being a central attraction in New York City. New York City is known for its vibrant, holiday-centric atmosphere during Thanksgiving, making it an iconic destination for festive activities.

If you live in a major city, chances are yours has its own turkey trotting down the center of town, with bands, dancers and floats leading and trailing behind. Your local high school glee club, cheerleading squad or marching band may even be participating. An excellent reason to get up off the couch.

10. It’s Ecumenical

Thanksgiving — thank goodness! — is the one holiday celebrated by all of us.  Christian, Jewish, Muslim, atheist; any racial or ethnic group; in America we all have something for which to be grateful to a higher power than our own. You can wish everyone “Happy Thanksgiving” with no fear of the PC police. Whether it’s for the opportunity to gather, the people with whom to gather, the food we’re overeating, or just the day off, Thanksgiving is the day when all of us, whoever we are, can take a breath and acknowledge that whatever else may be wrong, we at least have THIS.  And that’s enough.

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Fountain Pens Turned Out to Be the Smoothest Writing Instruments of All

Posted on November 16, 2024 by admin

Much too late in life, I learned what the best writing tool was. Pencils were always good, but they were too temporary. Old timey felt-tips, like Flairs and Sharpies, were strong and bold and made great signatures, but they got too mushy for everyday. I never liked ballpoints, so I went to rollerballs and stayed there. Good balance between a strong line and staying power. I always had to put a pad or something down underneath to make the best impression. Fountain pen I dismissed outright, thinking they were too scratchy and messy and maybe only one step up from dipping a goose quill into an inkwell.

My son introduced me to fountain pens. Fountain pens plural; they range from the cute Japanese Pilot Kakuno, mostly for children, to the high-end Japanese Sailor, to the American-made Cross (one of many). Edison pens are still manufactured in the USA, emphasizing their quality and heritage. They are as smooth as can be and you don’t apply any pressure. You just let the ink flow. The Platinum Preppy is a top-selling Japanese fountain pen known for its exceptional writing quality and affordability.

Today, renowned pen companies like Lamy, Edison, and Platinum continue to push the boundaries, offering a diverse array of pens that cater to every taste and preference.

Gold Cross Fountain Pen

Introduction to Fountain Pens

Fountain pens are a timeless writing instrument that uses a nib to deliver water-based ink onto paper. Unlike other pens, they offer a smooth and effortless writing experience, making them a favorite among writers, artists, and pen enthusiasts. Whether you’re jotting down notes or crafting a letter, the fluidity of a fountain pen can transform the mundane into something special. With a wide range of styles, materials, and price points, there’s a fountain pen for everyone, from the casual writer to the dedicated collector.

The Smooth Writing Experience

What sets fountain pens apart is their unparalleled smooth writing experience. This is largely due to the unique design of the pen nib. Typically made from metals like gold or steel, the nib glides effortlessly across the paper, allowing the ink to flow consistently through a small slit. This design not only ensures a smooth line but also reduces the need for pressure, making writing more comfortable and ergonomic. Whether you’re writing for a few minutes or a few hours, a fountain pen can make the experience both enjoyable and luxurious.

History of Fountain Pens

The history of fountain pens is as rich and varied as the pens themselves. Dating back to the 19th century, the first fountain pens were crafted from metal and hard rubber. These early designs laid the groundwork for the sophisticated writing instruments we enjoy today. Over the decades, fountain pens have evolved, incorporating new materials and innovative designs. Today, pen companies continue to push the boundaries, offering a diverse array of pens that cater to every taste and preference.

Types of Fountain Pens

Fountain pens come in several types, each with its own unique features and benefits:

  • Cartridge Fountain Pens: Ideal for beginners, these pens use disposable ink cartridges, making them easy to refill and maintain. Convenient they are, but they seem on the small side and tend to run out of ink at the most inopportune times.

  • Converter Fountain Pens: These pens use a converter to draw ink from a bottle, offering more flexibility in ink choices. Said flexibility opens up a whole new world of many-colored inks in bottles that look way cool on your desk.

  • Piston Fountain Pens: Featuring a piston mechanism, these pens allow for a larger ink capacity and are often favored by experienced users.

  • Fountain Pen Sets: Perfect for gifting or starting a collection, these sets typically include a pen, ink, and accessories like a pen case and cleaning cloth.

Plus there is some overlap – you very likely will be able to use most affordable fountain pens with either a cartridge or using a converter to draw up ink from a bottle.

Pen Nibs: The Heart of Fountain Pens

The pen nib is the heart of a fountain pen, responsible for delivering ink smoothly onto the paper. Made from metals such as gold or steel, nibs come in various sizes and styles to suit different writing needs:

  • Fine Nibs: Perfect for detailed writing, these nibs are often preferred by artists and writers who require precision.

  • Medium Nibs: Ideal for everyday writing, medium nibs are a popular choice among students and professionals.

  • Broad Nibs: Designed for bold, expressive writing, broad nibs are favored by calligraphers and artists.

  • Specialty Nibs: Tailored for specific tasks like music notation or technical drawing, these nibs offer unique writing experiences.

Understanding the importance of the nib and choosing the right one can significantly enhance your writing experience, making every stroke a pleasure.

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Droll Yankee Flipper: Discover the Best Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder for Your Backyard

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Maxwell Perkins

Introduction

It may have been unseasonably balmy in much of North America, without too much snow on the ground yet, but it’s nearly winter as far as wild birds are concerned. It’s nowhere near too soon to start feeding them. It takes some time for them to find the feeder, but find it they will and they will come back regularly once it gets really cold and snowy. During the summer, the yard may have held flowers and been bathed in bright sunshine, but the winter can be cold, dark and barren without birds to fly around and liven things up. Wild birds, including small birds, are lively and colorful, and the seed you supply will keep them around and help sustain them. They are endlessly fascinating to watch and hear, and they really don’t eat very much. Squirrels, on the other hand, tree rats, “ … rats with cuter outfits,” as Carrie says in Sex and the City, eat very much. You don’t need to feed them, but if they can get to your non-squirrel proof bird feeder, they’ll empty it in no time at all.

What Makes the Droll Yankee Flipper Unique

The Droll Yankee Flipper is a standout in the world of squirrel-proof bird feeders, thanks to its ingenious design. Unlike traditional feeders that rely on weight-activated perches or cumbersome cages, the Flipper employs a motorized mechanism that spins when a squirrel tries to access the seed. This clever feature makes it nearly impossible for squirrels to get a grip, ensuring that your feathered friends can dine in peace.

What sets the Flipper apart is its simplicity and effectiveness. The motorized component is not only a deterrent but also a source of entertainment as it sends squirrels spinning away. This unique design also means that the feeder is easy to clean and maintain, making it a convenient choice for any backyard bird enthusiast. With the Droll Yankee Flipper, you get a bird feeder that combines innovation with practicality, ensuring a squirrel-free feeding experience.

The Droll Yankee Flipper

Here’s where the Droll Yankee YF-M Yankee Flipper comes in. The endless battle of wits between Bird Feeding Man and Squirrel is won most of the time by Squirrel – you will start off grossly underestimating the squirrel’s athleticism and sheer persistence. They can jump, and hang, and climb better than you can ever imagine. Happily, the human’s superior intelligence is manifested by many models of “squirrel-proof” bird feeders. The best of which, especially for the price, is the Yankee Flipper, made by a company in here in the USA. Birds, having evolved to be light for ease of flying, perch at the bottom and eat at will. The feeder is also suitable for clinging birds, which prefer to cling to a surface rather than perch. Squirrels, being larger and heavier, weigh the ring down and close off the switch to the rotating motor. The quality is high, and the battery is replaceable. The feeder also features specially designed feeding ports that close when a squirrel lands on them, ensuring only birds can access the seed. It also has a lifetime warranty against squirrel damage. Your bird seed supply will take a long time to run out – the feeder has a large, 5 pound capacity and there will be no thievery … High-quality bird food will ensure that your feathered friends are well-fed and happy. Affordability: 7 Luxury: 8

Available from Amazon.

Yankee Flipper Hangs from Tree

Features of the Droll Yankee Flipper

The Droll Yankee Flipper is packed with features that make it an exceptional squirrel-proof bird feeder. Here are some of its standout attributes:

  • Motorized Component: The feeder’s motorized mechanism twists and turns to deter squirrels, preventing them from accessing the seed.

  • Weight-Activated Perches: These perches close the seed ports when a squirrel lands on the feeder, ensuring that only birds can feed.

  • Cardinal-Friendly Perch: Designed to accommodate larger birds like cardinals, this perch allows them to feed comfortably without triggering the motor.

  • Rechargeable Battery: The motorized component is powered by a rechargeable battery, ensuring long-lasting performance.

  • Large 5-Pound Feed Capacity: With a generous seed capacity, the feeder reduces the need for frequent refills, making it convenient for busy bird watchers.

  • Easy-to-Clean Design: The feeder’s design allows for straightforward cleaning, ensuring that it remains hygienic and attractive to birds.

These features make the Droll Yankee Flipper a versatile and effective addition to any backyard, providing a reliable food source for birds while keeping squirrels at bay.

The Droll Yankee Flipper in Real Life

The Droll Yankee Flipper stands out among squirrel proof feeders with its unique weight-activated design. The squirrel will climb down, stop at the top and think about their next move. Sometimes they will try unsuccessfully to chew through the metal top. As hard as they try, that never works. Then they will cautiously stretch as far as they can – not quite far enough. When a squirrel lets go and goes down to the ring, the motor will spin it and the hapless squirrel goes flying off. This is very entertaining. My local squirrels have mostly all learned their lesson but there are some good videos over on YouTube. With a rechargeable battery and a large 5-pound feed capacity, the Droll Yankee Flipper ensures that your feathered friends are well-fed while keeping the squirrels at bay. Its four larger feed ports accommodate a variety of birds, making it a versatile and effective addition to any backyard.

Top of Squirrel Proof Feeder Chewed by Years of Squirrels

Benefits of Using a Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

Using squirrel proof feeders offers several benefits that go beyond just keeping squirrels out. First and foremost, it allows you to enjoy the beauty of birds in your backyard without the hassle of squirrels stealing their food. Squirrel-proof bird feeders also help to prevent the spread of disease, as squirrels can carry diseases that can be transmitted to birds. Additionally, these feeders can help to reduce waste, as squirrels will eat it all and spill seed on the ground. By using a squirrel-proof bird feeder, you create a safe and welcoming environment for birds, ensuring they have a reliable food source throughout the year.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

To maximize the benefits of your squirrel-proof bird feeder, consider these practical tips:

  • Optimal Placement: Position the feeder in an area with at least 18 inches of clearance around and above it. This prevents squirrels from jumping onto the feeder from nearby surfaces.

  • Variety of Bird Seed: Use a mix of bird seed types to attract a diverse range of bird species. Different seeds appeal to different birds, enhancing your bird-watching experience.

  • Regular Cleaning: Clean the feeder regularly with warm water and dish soap to prevent mold and bacterial growth. A clean feeder is more attractive to birds and healthier for them.

  • Additional Deterrents: Consider adding a baffle or squirrel stopper to further deter squirrels. These additional barriers can make it even harder for squirrels to reach the feeder.

  • Strategic Placement: Place the feeder in a location that offers a clear view of the surrounding area. This not only allows you to enjoy watching the birds but also helps you monitor any squirrel activity.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your squirrel-proof bird feeder remains effective and provides a safe, welcoming environment for your feathered friends.

Choosing and Maintaining Your Bird Feeder

Choosing the right bird feeder for your backyard can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. When selecting squirrel proof feeders, consider the type of birds you want to attract, the size of your backyard, and the level of maintenance you’re willing to perform. Look for feeders made from durable materials, such as polycarbonate or steel, and consider features like weight-activated perches and seed ports that close when a squirrel tries to access them. To maintain your bird feeder, simply wash it with warm water and dish soap, and refill it regularly. By following these tips, you can enjoy the beauty of birds in your backyard for years to come.

Conclusion

Squirrel-proof bird feeders are an excellent way to enjoy bird watching while keeping those pesky squirrels at bay. With their innovative designs and clever mechanisms, these feeders provide a safe and welcoming space for birds to feed and thrive. By choosing the right squirrel-proof bird feeder for your backyard and following the tips outlined above, you can create a haven for birds and enjoy the beauty of nature right in your own yard.

Available from Amazon.

Posted in Gifts for Anyone, Outdoors | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Halloween Luxury

Posted on October 7, 2024 by Maxwell Perkins

Here’s a repost from a few years ago:

Ten Most “Luxurious” Things About Halloween

I’ve thought for a long time that the “holiday season” and “festive season” are what help us North Americans (and others in the Northern Hemisphere) fight back against Seasonal Affective Disorder – the holiday lights keep us from getting depressed after the summer sunshine is gone. The holidays start with Halloween, and that’s one of the things I like about it (although there are at least ten more):

Mickey Mouse Jack O'Lantern

Jack o’ Lantern as an art form

Here’s an art genre for you: carve a hollow vegetable into a work of art that involves light from the inside and typically has a theme of horror, and will start to rot within a week or so. I like to use power tools, like a jigsaw and an electric drill, to add an element of drama (and loud noise).

Children in costumes enjoying Halloween

Halloween is most definitely a holiday for children, but they will come right to your door to show you their costumes (whether you want them to or not).

Costumes as an art form

Those of us who have children, or are invited to masquerade parties, get another opportunity to express our creativity. My idea for an adult costume, a bicycle racer with syringes and blood bags hanging off of his arms, has not gone over too well.

Candy

Yes, candy. I’m one of those who takes pride in handing out full-size candy bars. Hershey and Mars are two great American companies and their products come fresh from the factories in the USA.

Halloween videos for the festive season

Can’t, absolutely can’t write this post without mentioning “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Just can’t. On the big screen, there are movies like “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” which uniquely bridges Halloween and Christmas Day by blending the spooky elements of Halloween with the festive spirit of Christmas, highlighting the transition from one holiday to the next. Plus there are decades worth of hard-core horror movies, if that’s something that appeals to you.

Seasonal beers

For those of you who are fans of craft beers, you can be almost 100% sure that your local brewery will have a seasonal pumpkin ale or something similar to get you in the holiday spirit. These seasonal beers are often enjoyed during holiday shopping sprees.

No gifts

Even department stores haven’t yet started pre-pre-pre-holiday sales, or mounted holiday decorations before you’ve gotten the artificial cobwebs out of your trees. Your only obligation, should you choose to accept it, is to dole out piles of candy to those sweet little goblins, Avengers, and Spidermen that appear at your door. Halloween offers a welcome break from the usual holiday gift-giving obligations, allowing you to enjoy the festive season without the pressure of buying presents.

It’s an ecumenical holiday

Like Thanksgiving Day, Halloween is a holiday that can be celebrated by everyone. Though some consider it Satanic, I fail to understand how streets or parties full of children and adults dressed, often badly, as their favorite superhero or Presidential candidate could possibly reflect the worship of evil to any serious person. Halloween is all in fun. Try to take it that way.

There’s no snow on the ground

At least, not usually.  Halloween is celebrated while the air is crisp but, typically, still mild enough not to require a parka or boots.  Leaves are still on the trees, you can just begin to smell wood burning in neighborhood fireplaces.  It offers no lyrical waxing about sleigh bells, silver bells, or jingle bells — just hayrides through scarecrow-guarded fields and an occasional bob for apples. The mild weather of Halloween contrasts with the colder winter holiday season, which is marked by various cultural celebrations and increased commercialization.

Haunted houses, prisons or mental hospitals

Halloween provides innumerable opportunities to have the bejeezus frightened out of you.  If you like to be terrified, now’s your chance, and you can often do it in the most unpleasant surroundings imaginable.  Creaky old mansions, converted penal institutions, places with straightjackets and handcuffs and maniacs — oh, my!  — have been repurposed into sites where ordinary people dress up as zombies, monsters, vampires, and mummies to frighten other ordinary people for a small fee.

Luxury Halloween Decorations

In recent years, luxury Halloween decorations have taken the holiday to a whole new level of sophistication. Homeowners are now transforming their spaces into eerie yet elegant wonderlands, complete with elaborate lighting displays, intricate animatronics, and custom-designed props. Whether you’re aiming for a classic horror theme or a modern-day fright fest, these high-end decorations offer endless possibilities. The best part? Many of these luxurious items are designed to be reusable, making them a worthwhile investment for those who revel in the holiday spirit year after year and saving them from a one-way trip to a landfill. You can find these opulent decorations at high-end retailers and online marketplaces, with prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Gourmet Halloween Treats

Why settle for ordinary candy when you can indulge in gourmet Halloween treats? Elevate your holiday celebrations with artisanal candies, gourmet popcorn, and cookies made from high-quality ingredients and unique flavor combinations like pumpkin spice and chocolate. These treats aren’t just delicious; they’re also visually stunning, making them the perfect addition to any holiday party or gathering. Specialty food stores and online retailers offer a wide range of gourmet Halloween treats, with prices varying from a few dollars to several hundred dollars. It’s a delightful way to add a touch of sophistication to your Halloween festivities.

Exclusive Halloween Events

For those looking to celebrate Halloween in style, exclusive events are the way to go. These high-end gatherings are often held at luxury venues and feature live music, gourmet food and drink, and other upscale amenities. From costume parties to haunted houses and other spooky attractions, these events offer a sophisticated and thrilling experience. Many of these exclusive Halloween events are designed for adults only, providing a perfect opportunity for a night of elegant scares. You can find tickets for these events through luxury event planners and online ticketing websites, with prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

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Quitting Facebook the Right Way

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Maxwell Perkins

Are you thinking about quitting Facebook? Of course, it’s very easy: just don’t ever look at it again. I’ll get back to that later. The very first thing to do is make sure that quitting Facebook is what you want to do. Facebook is a bad thing; how much convincing do you need of that?

Why Quit Facebook?

First, it is a major distraction and a time suck. A half hour a day on FB is nearly half of a working day per week, every week. If you are watching your child play, are you really engaged if you are trying to take pictures and write a FB post? Real life is best experienced without being concerned about how it will look on your FB wall.

Quitting Facebook

Second, social comparison is bad for the spirit. I have a few friends (and they truly are my friends) whose relentless humblebragging has just gotten old. It’s human nature to wonder why YOU are not always standing at a podium receiving awards or watching your child hit grand slam home runs or seeing sunsets in tropical paradises. Finally, FB is a risk to your privacy – you are giving a lot of your personal information out for free.

Quitting Facebook, the Wrong Way

Actually, you can do whatever works for you. The advice you’ll get will range from cutting down the time you spend, either on your own or with software like FB Limiter, to deleting your Facebook account entirely. They have the drawbacks of being either not enough or too much. If you limit your time on Facebook, you will still waste time and continue to have FB’s other drawbacks. If your goal is to leave FB forever, it may seem like too drastic a step to actually take.

Quitting Facebook, the Right Way

Just stop going there. That’s it, that’s all you have to do and you won’t miss it. A few important suggestions, however:

  1. Download and save your Facebook data. That way, you won’t worry about losing anything. Here’s how.
  2. Start using email to keep in touch with your real friends.
  3. Use Instagram or Twitter to have an idea what’s going on in the world.
  4. Rely on other sites for news – your hometown newspaper page, the New York Times and the Huffington Post are all good places to stay current.
  5. Keep your pictures and video somewhere else in the cloud. Gmail and DropBox are good places with a lot of storage.
  6. Pick a date – a Monday or the first day of the month are good times to remember as the beginning of your new Facebook-free life. Or binge on Facebook in advance of your New Year’s resolution.

That’s it. How to quit Facebook. Try it out, see if you miss it and enjoy the hours you get back!

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The Steampunk Rain Barrel

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Maxwell Perkins

Not so much the steampunk rain barrel, it’s the rain barrel itself that is the affordable luxury. Free water for your yard, your houseplants, cleaning and/or your iron with no chlorine. In fact, in some places, like the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, you can get the rain barrel itself installed free of charge. They’ll come by your house, bring the rain barrel, drill into your downspout and hook everything up. Takes about fifteen minutes, but the only problem is the rain barrel is blue plastic and it doesn’t quite blend into the green, brown and gray garden setting.

Of course, you can paint them – faux wood barrels and flower scenes are especially popular. They look much better, but still look like painted plastic barrels. For our century old, Edwardian house, I imagined a top of the line rain barrel back in 1915 would be made of brass, to match the copper gutters and downspouts. The upside-down, sawed in half oak barrel makes a good stand to add a little water pressure.

Steampunk Rain BarrelOnce I got out the Rustoleum Antique Brass spray can, though, I got a little carried away. Some PVC pipe and fittings from Home Depot, real brass spigots to replace the plastic ones, bike gears and some random decorative objects and I was done – for now. Every old copper tank needs a gauge, so the barrel made a good place to mount the outdoor thermometer and humidity gauge. Here’s the general idea of what it’s supposed to look like:

Meccano Steam Engine

It’s still a work in progress (for example, might need some stronger glue for some of the pieces), and if you get tired of the old timey brass look, you can always paint over it. The only problem has been the lack of rain here over the last couple of months. I’m looking forward to catching some actual rain soon.

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Hose Quick Connectors Are So Much Easier (and More Fun)

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Maxwell Perkins

Hose quick connectors just might be something you’ve never seen. I did not know about them, and when I found out about them, got some, and tried them out, it was almost life-changing …

It’s finally summer, and we’ve gone from chopping ice and shoveling snow to watering the lawn and washing the car. We unroll the hoses and attach them to the outside faucets. Attaching them means screwing the hose on to the faucet and then screwing the sprinkler or nozzle of your choice to the other end. It’s great that water is not ice outside anymore, but hoses can be a pain. The hose is invariably at an awkward angle to the tap, so it’s hard to screw it on without skinning your knuckles. You have to get them tight enough not to leak, but not too tight to unscrew the next time. Once the hose is on, you’re tempted to leave it there instead of unscrewing it and putting it away.

Hose Quick Connect

Hose quick connectors turn your hoses and fittings into the grown-up’s version of a child’s construction set – like Tinker Toy or LEGO. You break out the channel lock pliers to get them seriously tight and leakproof, then after that it’s suddenly fun to put the hose on, add fittings to the end, add another hose for more distance – you get the idea. With the water shut off, there is not a drop of water wasted when connecting or disconnecting.

You can get green plastic ones for cheap at your local hardware or big box home store, but I really like the look and feel of the brass ones. They have a ten year warranty, but that doesn’t matter much – they will last forever. The ones I got have a special gasket that might need to replace every other year or so, but your garden hose tasks will be so much easier and more enjoyable, you won’t mind.

Available from Amazon.

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A D-Core Pillow Can Save Your Neck

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Daisy B
I’d never heard of a D-Core pillow until several years ago I visited the emergency room with an intolerable headache. I had never before suffered anything like this pain, which was so severe it nearly made me nauseous. After lots of tests, the ER doctor suggested that I visit — GASP! — a chiropractor, because the tests showed no organic dysfunction, and, to make a long story short, one of the remedies the chiropractor recommended was something called a D-Core Pillow that (surprise!) her office happened to sell. The headaches, she explained, were caused by neck strain, and the pillow (along with some chiropractic adjustment) would relieve that strain.
Needless to say, I was skeptical that a mere pillow could be part of the solution, and that THIS particular pillow (that the doctor herself was selling) could help, but after a single night’s sleep — no kidding, it took ONE night — my headache was barely noticeable. After several days, I was no longer experiencing headaches at all. They were caused, it seemed, by poor cervical alignment, which the shape of the pillow helped to correct as I slept.
How does it work? The pillow is shaped like this:
Shape of D Core Pillow
The core in the center of the pillow, which is shaped (obviously) like a “D,” cradles the back of your head, while the surrounding cushion support the natural curvature of your cervical spine. As I’ve learned the hard way, this curve can be disturbed, or your neck otherwise severely strained, if you sleep on your stomach (my favorite position) or on your side without adequate support for your neck, or if you spend too much time hunched and leaning over a computer keyboard, tablet, or mobile device (have you noticed that Bill Gates’ head leans precipitously forward even when he’s simply seated upright in an interview chair?). I have tried many (many!) other “cervical support” pillows over the years — memory foam, buckwheat hulls, side-sleeper shoulder-supporting — and each one of them has caused me to awaken with stiffness in my neck and shoulders. The D-Core is the only pillow that not only prevents that morning strain but relieves any strain I’ve accumulated in my neck or shoulders during the day.
The only bad news about the D-Core pillow is that it’s not really packable for travel. You can — as I do — stuff it into a suitcase and compress it to allow room for the rest of your belongings, or you could get the “mini” version that’s about half the size.
I’d be thrilled, though, if someone designed an inflatable version so I could more easily take my very necessary neck support on trips, and I’d be interested to know via comment whether anyone has found a comparable inflatable solution. In the meantime, you can get the D-Core Pillow or its smaller sibling fairly easily from Amazon.
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Spray Detailer – Have Your Car Look Just Washed Every Day

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Maxwell Perkins

You get your car washed and waxed, or you spend time doing it yourself. It looks shiny and like new – until it starts to get smudged, or the worst thing: ugly, caustic bird droppings. Could be that an otherwise clean, detailed car with an unsightly dirty spot looks worse than a uniformly dingy car. In any event, you don’t want to have to wash 100% of the car when 99% still looks perfect. That’s why they invented spray detailer – a “secret” well known to celebrity chauffeurs and car show concours winners. Keep some in the trunk of your car, along with a fairly clean microfiber and you will be ready anytime for the 30 second touch-up.

Spray Detailer
Every company that makes car care products makes spray detailer: Turtle Wax, Mothers, Meguiars, etc., and they all do the same job. Personally, I prefer Armor All or other products made with carnauba wax. My attitude is the more carnauba wax on my car, the better (and maybe I can get away with going that much longer before I have to wax it again).

Even without some cosmetic catastrophe like a bird bombing attack, you can easily improve the overall look of the car by turning the dustiest part into the shiniest. I find that the little triangular space behind the wheels tends to get dusty and dirty much faster than the rest of the car, so treat those spots and the car looks freshly washed again. Do as little or as much as you feel like doing.

Spray detailer is the perfect product for when you need a little moisture for touch-up to avoid scratching and to add back some shine. Combine it with a California Duster and you just might find out your car looks cleaner than ever with hardly any actual water. What could be easier?

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WAZE Is the Best GPS App (and It’s Free)

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Maxwell Perkins

Full disclosure – I want you to start using the Waze app on your phone while you’re driving to get directions, because maybe someday I’ll be on the highway a little distance behind you and you’ll be adding to the crowd-sourced speed and traffic information provided to everyone.

WAZE GPS App screenshot

Waze harnesses the real-time location information from all its users and distributes it to everyone, so as soon as traffic begins to build up, the word gets out. It will start to route drivers around the jam, so the jam starts to shrink. Or you can be a little more hands-on – when you start to see the brake lights go on ahead, Waze will tell you whether you’ll be past it all soon or whether the road is blocked all the way to your destination. Get off the highway and Waze will direct you to the quickest new route.

To get the maximum benefit, it’s best to have a copilot/navigator handle the Wazing. There is too much information on the screen to digest while driving, and posting information is a little too distracting (although you can do it with voice commands). To just use navigation, the information is spoken through the Bluetooth connection, politely interrupting the music. The speech can be set on one of the voices that tells you everything: right, left and the full name of the exit or street. Or have the voice of Elvis tell you when to go left or right.

Waze also warns you of objects in the road, vehicles parked on the shoulder, red light cameras and police cars. Its maps are constantly being updated by the Waze user community.

We just priced a new car – the absolute top of the line loaded model differed from the next one down mostly because of the navigation system. That’s $3,500 worth of vehicle navigation that will ultimately be obsolete. We decided to go with Waze instead – it’s free.

Learn more and get it here.

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