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Throw a Knife
Blade-slinging is the only art that'll earn you the respect of circus folk and Navy SEALs alike. But hitting a target from 12 feet away isn't that hard, according to Rick Lemberg, a VP at consulting firm SQLStream who happens to be a two-time world champion knife-thrower. Here's how to stick it.—Bryan Gardiner
1. The projectile
Start with a 12-inch sport knife (basically a flattened metal spike). You want an ounce-per-inch heft and a sharp point but dull edges—depending on your distance, you may need to grip the blade.
2. The target
Two words: flat surface. Whether you're aiming for layers of plywood or cardboard or a bale of hay, if that foot-long blade hits an angle, it could come ricocheting back at you.
3. The grip
From 12 feet, you'll throw a full-spin rotation. Grab the knife by the handle, as you would a hammer, but keep your thumb along the top edge for stability and to prevent over-rotation.
4. The toss
Envision the knife sticking. Then, with your shoulders square, start above your head and release with your arm extended toward the target. Never snap your wrist; the knife will spin on its own.
Sync Your Life With Dropbox
Sure, Mac users can buy MobileMe ($99 per year) to stay organized across multiple machines. But Web-based service Dropbox can deliver the mobile you for free. Here's how to use it to sync your iCal data on two computers.
1. Download and install the Dropbox app, then open your Mac's Terminal utility. Enter mv ~/Library/Calendars/ ~/Dropbox/ to move your iCal files to Dropbox.
2. On a new line, type ln -s ~/Dropbox/ Calendars/ ~/Library /Calendars to redirect your Mac to Dropbox whenever it tries to access iCal data.
3. Delete the Calendars file from the User Library on your second Mac. Open Terminal and reenter the code from step 2. You've essentially built an Ethernet cable in the cloud, linking the two Macs. —Maren Jinnett
Make a Super Ball
Remember those impossibly bouncy, 25-cent wonders that could conceivably take out an eye? Bob Lazar, CEO of United Nuclear Scientific Supplies, offers these steps to making your own unruly orb: In a glass jar, combine 20 ml of sodium silicate solution (aka liquid glass, available from online stores like Science Stuff) with 5 ml of ethyl alcohol and stir with a popsicle stick. The ethyl groups replace oxygen in the silicate ion chains, creating a solid but crumbly silicone polymer. Put on plastic gloves and roll the stuff between your palms for 2 minutes to form a smooth ball, adding a few drops of water as necessary to help it bind. Now chuck it against the wall as hard as you can—and duck. —Maren Jinnett
Illustrations: Jason Lee
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