My Daily Smile

Life is short - begin every day with a smile!

Does lightning go up or down? High speed video gives us the answer.

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Lightning bolts are both fascinating and frightening. And truth be told, there are few things in nature that intrigue me more than these awe-inspiring demonstrations of light and sound.

I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of lightning bolts over the years. Have you ever wondered whether lightning travels up towards the sky or down towards the ground? It’s really hard to get a definitive answer when viewing it with the naked eye.  [Read more…]

How to add an electrical outlet to a finished wall (without attic or basement access)

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If you have ever remodeled a home you’re probably familiar with the process of adding new electrical outlets in places where no outlet has existed before.

This is usually accomplished by either running the wires before new drywall is installed or feeding the wire into a finished wall either from the attic or the basement/crawl space.

But what if you need to add an outlet to a finished wall and you don’t have attic or basement/crawl space access?  [Read more…]

Video: How pros wrap extension cords, cables & hoses

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If you’re like me, you probably find it extremely difficult and frustrating to try and wrap an extension cord in a way that makes it easy to use it again the next time you need it.

I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. That neatly coiled cord quickly turns into a snarled mess when you start unwinding it and stretching it out.

Well, the fellow featured in today’s video is going to show you how to wrap extension cords, cables and even hoses in ways that prevent all those problems from arising when you go to unroll them next time.  [Read more…]

Backbone Rock: “The Shortest Tunnel in the World”

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Backbone Rock

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A while back I posted this short video tour of Backbone Rock and it was quite well received.

Today I’m sharing “the rock” from a different perspective – the perspective of Jim Hayes, my long-time friend and host of the awesome Jim Hayes Hiking & Biking YouTube channel.

But first a little background info for those who might be unfamiliar with this amazing place…

Rural Johnson County, Tennessee is home to Backbone Rock, one of numerous natural wonders that are well-known to locals and absolutely fascinating to the visitors who happen to stop by.

I grew up just a few miles from “The Rock” in nearby southwestern Virginia. It’s always been one of my favorite places to visit.

My family spent lots of time there during my formative years, primarily for picnics and family reunions. But whatever the reason for the visit, it usually ended with a hike across the the rock.

Backbone Rock Recreational Area has long been a haven for picnickers, hikers and folks who just love the outdoors. It’s pretty much the same today except for the addition of a relaxing creek-side campground.

Watch, and enjoy as Jim takes you on a short hike around – and across – Backbone Rock.

Note: You can watch this video at full screen by clicking the little “square” icon in the lower-right corner of the video after it begins playing.

 

Video: Check out the shortest passenger train in North America

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Don’t you just love it when you approach a railroad crossing just as the safety arms start coming down?

You sit there waiting for the train to pass, hoping that it will be a short one so you can make it to your appointment on time. For what seems like an eternity you wait and watch as car after car slowly passes by, making that extremely loud clanking noise every time the wheels roll over one of the joints in the tracks.  [Read more…]