Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Invention Intervention - Wintertime

Win
I love this invention. Apparently, as the story goes, the inventor of this barrell-sled had a nice sled stored in his shed, which burned down one day.

Undaunted, he found a plastic barrell at work and with a little help from one of the other guys there, he created this toboggan. Even has handles on the sides.

I love inventions like this. Now...if it only has a place to hold your beer....

Friday, February 4, 2011

Snow Vs Rain


By now it will come as no surprise to anyone that a 2100 mile snowstorm has stomped its way across the country like a bully at the beach and kicked snow in every one's faces. This, in the face of already record snowfalls in such places as New York, Chicago and even Washington DC.

Here in the South, we got snow, but it's gone now. We are about to get another nice big rainstorm. This rainstorm runs about 1200 miles across the southern US and parts of the Gulf. Not that I'm bragging or anything. I hate snow. As I've stated at least 37 times in the past 24 hours, I grew up in Colorado and have seen my share of snowstorms, shoveled walks and built my share of snowmen, snowforts and assorted snow...stuff.

I bring this up because although snow is not the reason I left Colorado, it is one of the reasons I love the South. If I had to choose, I prefer rain over snow and even over a hot humid summer in the hot sticky south.

Let's compare.
When it snows, you must shovel the walk. Any sort of accumulation is a possible dangerous icy situation waiting to happen. When it rains, you can't shovel it (Yes, Bubba, I tried) but, for the most part it runs off on it's own without any interference on anyone's part.

When it snows, you are stuck inside until the roads are cleared. When it rains, you can still get out, go places and just protect yourself with an umbrella.

If you can get out in the snow, you risk your life taking even the shortest trip to the store to stock up on milk, bread and eggs. (Yes, that's all they want, and for the life of me I have no idea why they don't want pizza, root beer and donuts.) Like the guy in the photo above, you just don't know what's out there waiting for you. With rain, the worst you have is a wet car, and need to get new wipers.

With snow, you can build a snowman, snowfort, or make snow angels. With rain, you can't really do anything like that, but why would you? You get wet if you lay down in it and the only thing you need to really make is Southern Sweet Tea with Clear Rainwater.

With snow you get snowdays. With rain, you don't. Let me clarify. When it snows, the schools are closed and you have bored kids stuck at home - INDOORS - screaming at each other to get on (or off) the Internet, watch their favorite shows, or whining because they are bored. With rain, they are at school.

Ok, so for the most part, too much rain can mean a flood, which we have had in spades. Too much snow can literally smash your house. But let's face it. That School Closing thing is what really gives the points to rain.

Rain in the South. Another good reason to live here.