My vacuum cleaner is suicidal. I have tried to work with it, encourage it, I have lightened its workload by having carpeted floors replaced with hardwood. All to no avail. It will seek out the one lethal particle on the rug that is most likely to cause a smoking, buzzing, clattering disaster.
And yesterday, the drug of choice was a very thin wire. The thin wire was attached to the sensor bar of the Nintendo Wii game. The bar's job is to sit near the tv screen and pick up signals from the handheld Wii-Mote unit. When you point the Wii-mote at your tv screen, a little hand or pointer will appear on your screen and this is how you control the games.
Well, when I ran over the nearly invisible wire on the rug that is patterned with palm fronds, an effective camouflage, all hell broke loose. The familiar clattering, the whine, all of those sound effects - plus the added visuals of something flying through the air (the sensor bar) and the crash of the Wii system falling over in a dead faint.
By the time I got the vacuum cleaner shut off and the cord unplugged, the fine wire had wrapped itself around the vacuum's brush several times and wisps of smoke were emitted for several minutes for dramatic effect.
My main concern was for the loss of the sensor bar. Who needs a vacuum cleaner, especially one with serious instability?
When in a crisis, I turn to the internet and it was not five minutes later that I learned how to make my own sensor bar with materials I have right at home! In fact, I will bet you $10 right now, that even if you are very nontechnical YOU, YES YOU, can make your own sensor bar! And one that even works!
Here is how:
1) Find two candles, I like the idea of matching ones for esthetics, and also little short ones are best. Like the votive sized candles.
2) Place them about 6-8 inches apart, somewhere in front of your tv screen. They don't have to be actually blocking the screen, just either on top of your set or if you have a cool thin tv like mine that doesn't have a big clunky top, you can put them right down in front.
3) Light them.
4) Turn on your wii system and point your Wii-mote at the screen.
-----------
I am NOT joking! This truly works. It is amazing. You now have a wireless Wii sensor that you made yourself. Impress all your friends!
You may still not believe me, here is a short video I found:
Enjoy your new sensor bar, so much more attractive than the old version.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Not so scary, just kind of weird
Back in the rather dull 80's, I heard a rumor which claimed if you started playing Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album right at the 3rd roar of the MGM lion at the beginning of the Wizard of Oz movie, there were many incidents of weird appropriateness with the song and the movie.
If you want to define sychronicity as "meaningful coincidences" then, this would be the perfect definition.
Here's a list of some of the meaningful coincidences:
The lyric 'balanced on the biggest wave' coincides with Dorothy balancing on the fence at the farm. The words: "Fall into an early grave" as Dorothy falls off the fence.
Chimes and Bells start ringing as the Wicked Witch appears riding her bicycle.
During the 'Time' guitar solo, the fortune teller's sign is shown with the words "Past Present and Future"
The song, "Great Gig in the Sky" has many incidents:
The tornado is shown in the background when you hear the words 'I'm not frightened of dying'.
The drums start right as the wind picks up and trees are uprooted.
The singer slows down when Dorothy is knocked out by the window.
'Great Gig in the Sky' is the song heard as the house is flying through the sky.
Side 1 of the vinyl album (vinyl) is exactly as long as the black & white portion of the film.
The jingle of the cash register sounds in Money is heard exactly at the moment that color is introduced in the movie.
'Us and Them':
The ballerinas enter on 'Us, us, us, us' and one ballerina appears to sing: 'ordinary men'; then three munchkins enter on 'Me, me, me'.
'Forward he cried' is sung as Dorothy turns and faces forward.
The Wicked Witch appears on 'Black, black' and then on 'Blue, blue, blue,' the camera switches to Dorothy (in her blue dress).
'And who knows which is which and who is who' is heard at the moment that the Wicked Witch of the West turns to look at the recently deceased Wicked Witch of the East. (Play on words: "Which is Which" as in "Witch is Witch".
The Witch is high upon a platform on 'Up, up' and then descends on 'Down, down, down'.
As 'And in the End' is heard, the Wicked Witch of the East disappears.
On 'Out, out, out,' the Glinda, the Good Witch of the North departs.
'Brain Damage' plays as the Scarecrow sings 'If I Only Had a Brain'
Heartbeat sounds at the end of the album is heard as Dorothy thumps and then listens to the Tin Man's chest.
If you are now intrigued, you can find an even more comprehensive list at the website called Turn Me On Dead Man. Sorry, I am having a brain fart and cannot get the link to work so you'll have to google it. I promise you won't be sorry, it's fascinating.
Of course, there are many who say that if you put any movie with any album or cd, or whatever they're called these days, it will match up in some ways. Well, I suppose that could be true, but that's not much fun is it?
Now, back in the good old 80's, we had about three or four copies of the Dark Side of the Moon album and we also owned a vhs of Wizard of Oz which happened to be my then two year old daughter's very favorite and treasured video. I always wanted to do the experiment, but it sounded so complicated to line up the playing of the RECORD (yes, the vinyl record) with the third roar of the lion. Especially since the lion's roars kind of run into each other so it would be difficult to discern where one actually lets off and the next one begins.
So recently, for some reason, I thought about this rumor again and I just KNEW it would be on You Tube. Thank goodness for the internet. We don't have to do anything for ourselves anymore!
For your viewing pleasure, here are the first six tracks of the album. When you're watching these, keep in mind that although they are broken into six different cuts, they are actually continuous; in other words, the cd of Dark Side of the Moon was begun right at the third roar of the MGM lion in the Wizard of Oz movie. The song tracks begin just as they are seen in each cut, they weren't edited to begin at each point in the movie that fits them.
If you want to define sychronicity as "meaningful coincidences" then, this would be the perfect definition.
Here's a list of some of the meaningful coincidences:
The lyric 'balanced on the biggest wave' coincides with Dorothy balancing on the fence at the farm. The words: "Fall into an early grave" as Dorothy falls off the fence.
Chimes and Bells start ringing as the Wicked Witch appears riding her bicycle.
During the 'Time' guitar solo, the fortune teller's sign is shown with the words "Past Present and Future"
The song, "Great Gig in the Sky" has many incidents:
The tornado is shown in the background when you hear the words 'I'm not frightened of dying'.
The drums start right as the wind picks up and trees are uprooted.
The singer slows down when Dorothy is knocked out by the window.
'Great Gig in the Sky' is the song heard as the house is flying through the sky.
Side 1 of the vinyl album (vinyl) is exactly as long as the black & white portion of the film.
The jingle of the cash register sounds in Money is heard exactly at the moment that color is introduced in the movie.
'Us and Them':
The ballerinas enter on 'Us, us, us, us' and one ballerina appears to sing: 'ordinary men'; then three munchkins enter on 'Me, me, me'.
'Forward he cried' is sung as Dorothy turns and faces forward.
The Wicked Witch appears on 'Black, black' and then on 'Blue, blue, blue,' the camera switches to Dorothy (in her blue dress).
'And who knows which is which and who is who' is heard at the moment that the Wicked Witch of the West turns to look at the recently deceased Wicked Witch of the East. (Play on words: "Which is Which" as in "Witch is Witch".
The Witch is high upon a platform on 'Up, up' and then descends on 'Down, down, down'.
As 'And in the End' is heard, the Wicked Witch of the East disappears.
On 'Out, out, out,' the Glinda, the Good Witch of the North departs.
'Brain Damage' plays as the Scarecrow sings 'If I Only Had a Brain'
Heartbeat sounds at the end of the album is heard as Dorothy thumps and then listens to the Tin Man's chest.
If you are now intrigued, you can find an even more comprehensive list at the website called Turn Me On Dead Man. Sorry, I am having a brain fart and cannot get the link to work so you'll have to google it. I promise you won't be sorry, it's fascinating.
Of course, there are many who say that if you put any movie with any album or cd, or whatever they're called these days, it will match up in some ways. Well, I suppose that could be true, but that's not much fun is it?
Now, back in the good old 80's, we had about three or four copies of the Dark Side of the Moon album and we also owned a vhs of Wizard of Oz which happened to be my then two year old daughter's very favorite and treasured video. I always wanted to do the experiment, but it sounded so complicated to line up the playing of the RECORD (yes, the vinyl record) with the third roar of the lion. Especially since the lion's roars kind of run into each other so it would be difficult to discern where one actually lets off and the next one begins.
So recently, for some reason, I thought about this rumor again and I just KNEW it would be on You Tube. Thank goodness for the internet. We don't have to do anything for ourselves anymore!
For your viewing pleasure, here are the first six tracks of the album. When you're watching these, keep in mind that although they are broken into six different cuts, they are actually continuous; in other words, the cd of Dark Side of the Moon was begun right at the third roar of the MGM lion in the Wizard of Oz movie. The song tracks begin just as they are seen in each cut, they weren't edited to begin at each point in the movie that fits them.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
More Scary Stuff......
Am I missing something here, or is the Cash For Clunkers program similar to the mortgage catastrophe that was responsible for igniting the current economic problems in the U.S.?
People were lured to the thrill of new homes, big homes, more home than they could afford when they were able to be approved for a larger mortgage than they could realistically handle. The thought was, well if I can get the money I must be able to afford it. Then the payment book arrived and soon after the bank knocked on the door and took their house away. We are all now paying the price.
I'm not saying that the Cash For Clunkers program is going to ignite a new recession. But on a smaller scale, it seems to be doing the same thing....maybe there is a reason a person is driving a clunker. Maybe this person can't really afford a bigger, better, newer car.
But along comes this temptation....the thought that they could actually get $4500 on a trade in for a brand new shiny auto! The clunker will never be worth that much again.
So off they go to the dealership, sign their name for a brand new.....6 year auto loan. Something they really probably can't afford, another bill to pay, another loan.
Wait! This is great for the economy! It's helping the car dealers, the automobile manufacturers! So, who cares if the little guy ends up losing his new car because he can't make the payments? And who cares if now he has lost his clunker, too?!
At least Cash For Clunkers will have its 15 minutes of fame.
If that's not enough, take a look at what happens to your computer if you log in and register at the official Cash For Clunkers website:
No thanks, Obama. I'll keep my clunker.
People were lured to the thrill of new homes, big homes, more home than they could afford when they were able to be approved for a larger mortgage than they could realistically handle. The thought was, well if I can get the money I must be able to afford it. Then the payment book arrived and soon after the bank knocked on the door and took their house away. We are all now paying the price.
I'm not saying that the Cash For Clunkers program is going to ignite a new recession. But on a smaller scale, it seems to be doing the same thing....maybe there is a reason a person is driving a clunker. Maybe this person can't really afford a bigger, better, newer car.
But along comes this temptation....the thought that they could actually get $4500 on a trade in for a brand new shiny auto! The clunker will never be worth that much again.
So off they go to the dealership, sign their name for a brand new.....6 year auto loan. Something they really probably can't afford, another bill to pay, another loan.
Wait! This is great for the economy! It's helping the car dealers, the automobile manufacturers! So, who cares if the little guy ends up losing his new car because he can't make the payments? And who cares if now he has lost his clunker, too?!
At least Cash For Clunkers will have its 15 minutes of fame.
If that's not enough, take a look at what happens to your computer if you log in and register at the official Cash For Clunkers website:
No thanks, Obama. I'll keep my clunker.
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