A Unimotorcycle that can save the planet?

I first saw this contraption on the cover of Popular Science (or maybe Popular Mechanics, can’t remember which) and I thought it was one of those futuristic mockup machines that don’t really exist. But it turns out that not only does the Uno really exist, but it’s battery-powered and the 18 yo designer got the idea for it while visiting China and watching all the locals driving the popular 2-cycle smog-cycles.

It works just like a high-perfomance Segway, it goes up to 25mph and is made mainly for short trips around town. It’s also non-polluting, though not zero-emmissions since it still has to be charged up and that electricity has to come from somewhere. Still, I think it’s a great concept.

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Alsatia “Survives” Elementary School

On the last weekend in May this year my daughter Alsatia graduated Elementary school. Since my wife has no idea how to put on a small party, we ended up with almost 40 kids here for “Survivor Beechgrove”. For those of you who are completely culturally clueless when it comes to the “omni-directional sludgebox” ¹ Survivor is a reality game show where contestants compete against each other in physical contests and vote each other out of the game via clique contests all while on some deserted tropical island or desolate location. The goal is to be the last one standing (and product-placement).

Think Gilligan’s Island meets corporate outdoor survival training weekend meets Beverly Hills High…

Linky to the full slideshow

They were split into two “tribes” – the Kickapoo and the Shawnee (in keeping with the tradition of using local aboriginal names for the teams) – and there were several challenges that the kids had to do. One challenge was to stand on a large can for as long as they could until there was a winner. First two feet, then one foot after two minutes. You should have seen the faces on the kids when I told all of they had to do it barefoot!

Another challenge was to eat gummy fish; they started out with teh fish in a cup but they ended up eating them off the grass. One kid barfed them right back up (along with a little Coke- yeesh).

The last challenge was a race that entailed running through hoops, then over a balance beam, up & over a waterslide, then knocking over a coconut monkey idol. Complete chaos.

The kids had fun, and Alsatia asked when she could have a party like that again. I think I mumbled something about “when you’re in your 20’s”.

¹ [quote from Sideshow Bob in an episode from The Simpson's where he rants about his "sucksess" compared to Krusty the Clown and how he is not being taken seriously as a thespian]

Posted in Ackerly Antics, Alsatia, Pop Culture | No Comments »

Don Imus back on the air (just in time for Xmas)

That’s right, he’s back and even though I have never really listened to him I have one question –

Will he be allowed to say “Merry Christmas – Ho Ho Ho“?

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