Episode 835

Gadget Years
Dick and Leo have talked about their time unit for gadgets called Gadget Year, although they can never remember how long it's supposed to be.  When they first talked about the Audrey in Episode 120, they thought that a gadget year should be worth 25 human years.

Visible Man-Made Structure
In Episode 818, Leo talked about the Great Wall of China, and referred to the oft-repeated piece of trivia that it is the only man-made structure visible from space.  Doug Snell, who by the way thinks the quality of the jingles brings the quality of the Daily Giz Wiz up to just acceptable, wants to debunk the myth.  First of all, it's not just one wall, but a series of walls.  Secondly the myth is simply not true.  Depending on what one means by space and what distance from the Earth one is talking about, the Great Wall is either invisible to the naked eye, or one of many other objects visible to the naked eye.  Check out space.com, and snopes.com for more debunking.

Episode 834

Fitness Ball Recall
After Leo's fitness ball started leaking, he decided to get a cheaper version which quickly became the subject of a recall. He's now reverted to his Gophersport Ultrafit Anti-Burst Stability Ball (Episode 322).

News: Another Out-Burst

Despite the recall, Leo must have kept his non-Gophersport balls (made by Valeo).  He was on TWiTLive and the ball he was sitting on started leaking.  He went for a gag, expecting himself to sink slowly in front of the camera as the ball slowly leaked, but the ball chose to burst and he collapsed on to the floor.  Leo was unhurt though.

Check out the video of the bursting of the ball at odtv.me: Pop Goes the Weasel; and for an account by Leo while chatting with Steve Gibson, check out Ball pop update.

A Sump Pump for Dan Lueders
Back in Episode 737, Dan Lueders wrote to Dick about a power cut and the flooding of his basement. Listener Tom Westland suggests the Zoeller Home Guard Back Up Sump Pump, which does not require electricity and simply uses water pressure to work.  That reminds Dick of Reelsmart's No-Crank Garden Hose Reel (Episode 331), which rewinds the hose also using only water pressure.

Episode 833

Altitude with an Attitude
See the Bladestar in action.

Propeller on a Stick
If you want a full helicopter, Dick has talked about the PicooZ Helicopter before (Episode 204), or you can get the Dragonfly that Leo mentions.  For something simpler, try looking for the retro toy propeller on a stick, or make one yourself - with full instructions on sci-toys.com.

DIY Propeller On A Stick: sci-toys.com

Learning English on Audible
Paul Griswold, who's visited Dick at his office at MAD, has found another use for Audible. Paul has a Japanese wife, who finds listening to Audible books, along with the book itself borrowed from the library, a great way of learning English.

Bat Boy The Musical
Bat Boy was a fictional creature featured in the old tabloid Weekly World News, and made his way into an off-Broadway musical, learning English by watching Masterpiece Theatre (originally hosted by the late Alistair Cooke, now by Laura Linney). There's even a recording on CD of the musical by the original cast.

Episode 832

Power Demo of the Gyroscopes
Rather than listen to Leo explain how the 2 gadgets today work, it's better to watch his demo and show of strength.  Clip taken from odtv.me.

Another Guest Appearance on DGW
Guests on DGW have been rare.  There have been Amber MacArthur (Episode 77) and Henry Laporte (Episode 252).  Dane Golden, after his voice appearance as White Fang in Episode 826, makes his video debut, as himself.  Dane is also thinking where the TWiT Head Office should be, perhaps in Truth Or Consequences in New Mexico.

Thumbs-Up for the Pogoplug
Regular correspondent Toyota Boy is very happy with the Pogoplug (Episode 817), and Leo confirms that the iPhone App designed for it works on 3G as well as Wifi. Pity it doesn't work as a cup warmer too, laments Toyoto Boy.

Episode 831

It's a Brand New Opening Intro
After setting up TWiT's "Home Office" in Pickles Gap, Arkansas (see Episode 830), Leo decides to create a morning mood, with a little help from Dennis Wunderlin and Grieg's Peer Gynt Suites, for the brand new day and the brand new week - and it's a brand new opening intro.  Watch how Dick and Leo prepare for it before the show starts.

A Warning Jingle for Too Many Jingles?
Some people complain that there are too many themes in the show.  Michael Rivers suggests that there should be a jingle to warn them that a jingle is coming.  Personally, Michael thinks that the Daily Giz Wiz is just pure joy.

There have been similar suggestions before for a jingle to forewarn the playing of the Letters Jingle (partly because it used to start rather abruptly when it was on Leo's external hard drive).  See Episode 266 to Episode 278, and Episode 664.