Feed: Cool Stuff - AggScore: 77.3

Shop Vac Conversion

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In my last post I mentioned how I was using a shop vac instead of my regular vacuum. I'd like to see how well it could replace a house vacuum. I've been trying different attachments that I have, to see which was the best for carpet. I found that you need to have the attachment at just the right angle for two work good. I started drawing up what would be the perfect attachment for carpet and I also wanted to make it so it would work on my hardwood floors. I drew something up with wheels on it that was pretty wide, and not that deep. I also drew it up with a flexible connection, so it would always stay at the correct angle. Then I went online to look at attachments and found this one in the picture that's almost exactly what I was drawing up. It's the same brand as my shop vac (Ridgid) and only $15 on the Home Depot website. It's made for carpet and hard floors. I think I'll have to try it out. It would be pretty sad if someone could get into a shop vac and this attachment for less that $100 and have it perform way better than all the $300 and up vacuums.

The Kirby is good but not good enough

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I guess the two biggest realizations I got from the Kirby guy are that most vacuums stink and everyone wants to rip you off. After looking at the Kirby, my own vacuum (a Hoover), and a little research online, I've come to the conclusion that there is not a great consumer house vacuum. Most vacuums suck okay (never enough), but the base at the bottom is too large for that amount of suction and many suck from the side and it's impossible to get anything from the other side. I believe the sweeping mechanism knocks some dirt and dust in the air like when you beat a rug and whatever is in the air may get sucked up but the majority will be pushed down into the carpet. I've started using my shop vac and I think it's doing a way better job.
As far as Kirby is concerned. I'm not supposed to say that the price (including the carpet shampooer and all other attachments) was dollarsignr2500 dollars (which I'm sure they get often) and when we weren't interest, it amazingly dropped in half. Later I was somehow offered the friends and family discount (what it costs them) that was dollarsignr800 which I'm also not supposed to say. The interesting thing is, he happened to know the exact sales tax of that price right off the top of his head. There were also many other red flags and things that didn't add up (like the warranty that I asked to see in writing, was not what he assured me that I really will get).

RockBand 2

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I have to say Rockband 2 is the coolest videogame of all time and I never get tired of playing it. I think the drumming part of it is the best part. The guitar and bass you feel like you're doing something, but it's not really going to help you with anything real. Singing maybe a little bit, more likely not. But I feel like when I play the drums on there, I'm becoming a good drummer in real life. I think the drum training mode is really cool. You're able to practice and learn a whole bunch of drum beats and also fills. I can't wait for future versions of Rockband, like the Beatles Rockband game coming out soon. I also wish there was a way to get whole bunch more songs cheaply.

The Kirby Surprise

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Okay, so I thought a vacuum was just a vacuum. As long as it picked up stuff off the floor and left it feeling good to walk on we were in good shape. That is until we had a surprise visitor show up at our door and want to demonstrate the Kirby vacuum. Now let me begin by saying that we moved into our brand new home just three months ago. Everything is still really fresh and new. As he begins to pull out the vacuum to show us how great it works, I'm thinking to myself "there can't be too much for him to show us. The carpet is really new and clean." As he continues his demonstration, much to my surprise he was able to pull out quite a bit of dirt from a small patch of carpet. I was really amazed and grossed out at the same time. I thought I had a really clean house, but apparently there's already a lot of dirt and stuff hiding under the carpet. And that was just the beginning. As a lot of you probably know, the Kirby is a multi-purpose machine. Besides being a deep-cleaning upright, it also converts into a canister vacuum, a carpet shampoo system, and a floor buffer. It also has a whole bunch of different attachments to use for various things from simply getting into those hard-to-reach areas to removing debris from upholstered furniture to polishing and buffing hard wood floors. I could go on and on about all the different things that it is capable of but I will just say that after the demonstration, I was truly amazed at this machine. I would have liked to purchase one that very day, but being that we were not expecting that visitor that day we were unable to throw out the money for it (as they are a little expensive). It was sad to see him walk out the door with my new favorite vacuum, but we do plan to get one in the near future. I can hardly wait!

Goodbye floss.....Hello Waterpik!!

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We all know that having healthy teeth and gums is important. It's easy to brush regularly, several times a day if you want to. It doesn't take too long and it leaves your breath feeling fresh. But flossing is extremely important as well. In fact, it seems the dentist is always saying that if you don't have time to brush and floss then you should skip the brushing and just floss. That's how important it is - to keep our gums healthy. Personally, I have a really hard time wanting to floss because it takes me a while and I don't feel like it's very productive. It seems that I can never maneuver the floss exactly right to get everything. So I decided... out with the floss - in with the waterpik! This is my new favorite thing that I have discovered. It is clinically proven to be up to 93% more effective than floss and 3-times as effective for removing plaque around orthodontic appliances. It removes hard-to-reach bacteria deep between teeth and below the gumline, while massaging and stimulating the gums for better circulation. It’s clinically proven to reverse gingivitis and improve gum health. It's so easy to use. Just fill up the bowl with warm water (adding a little baking soda or even mouthwash if you want to), put the pik in your mouth and go to town cleaning those gums. And let me tell you how much easier it has made things for me. I actually look forward to "flossing" now because it is easy to use, it feels like it's actually doing some good, and after using it only a couple times I noticed a huge improvement in my gums. So go on, give it a try. Your gums will be happy and so will you. I think it's safe to say that you will never go back to old school flossing again!!