SQL Murder Mystery

For the non-techies:  SQL means Structured Query Language.  It's used to read and write records in a database.  You can stop reading now.  

For the techies, the link below will take you to a murder mystery created by Knight Lab.  The first query you run gives you the names of the nine tables where clues are buried.  The second query allows you to see all the fields in a table.  You start with the statement below.

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A crime has taken place, and the detective needs your help. The detective gave you the crime scene report, but you somehow lost it. You vaguely remember that the crime was a ​murder​ that occurred sometime on ​Jan.15, 2018,​ and that it took place in ​SQL City. Start by retrieving the corresponding crime scene report from the police department’s database.

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Can you find the killer?

https://mystery.knightlab.com

Fork Mystery

The oddly designed fork you see below came from a luncheon at Wright State University.  I'm still wondering exactly the purpose of the little "wings" you see in the middle.  One theory is that they're designed to work with a particular type of dispensing unit, and the "wings" help the forks from falling out.  Another theory is that it adds additional strength at the point of maximum stress, helping the fork from breaking.  The weirdest theory is that you use it to pick off pieces of chicken or ribs from their bones.  

I don't know what to believe, but I can't find an online seller that offers this shape.  Perhaps one day I'll find the truth.

Using AI To Design A Cabinet

The picture on the left below was the result of the Gemini AI chatbot being asked to take an existing empty cabinet, add a shelf so a TV sits on top, and a cable box that fits below.  But when I saw it, the thought occurred to me that maybe painting the inside black could look even better.  Gemini then created the picture on the right in a few seconds and confirmed what my imagination cooked up.  

This example is one of the things I like about AI chatbots.  They allow me to be creative, and they do the creating.  I can let my imagination go wild and leave all the brushstrokes to the bot.  Sweet!

https://gemini.google.com/app

Slicing Texas Toast

I love Aunt Millie's Texas Toast, but two slices will cost you 220 calories of your daily intake.  Gourmet Chef Elaine taught me this trick to reduce that to a more reasonable 110 calories.  You first toast the bread, let it cool enough to handle it, then slice it in half with a serrated knife.  This would be tough to do with a regular piece of bread, but the thickness of the Texas Toast, combined with the additional rigidity gained by toasting it, makes it a breeze.  

Golf Ball Marker Line

I picked up a couple of devices for $5 to draw lines on golf balls in an attempt to make more putts.  The device is spring-loaded to hold the golf ball firmly, while a Sharpie is used to draw a line on both sides.  This would make a nice stocking stuffer for the golfer in your family.  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP6HSLPV

Hose Pot

We've replaced our standard hoses and their hose reels in both the front and back yards with the XHose Pro hoses I blogged about this last January.  We didn't want to just leave them on the ground, and we bought a couple of the Hose Pots you see below to hide and protect the hoses.  This combination makes watering our new landscaping much easier, which we (i.e., Gourmet Chef Elaine) will be doing a lot.  

I'm not sure why, but I don't have any issues connecting these hoses to the spigots.  Every other hose I've ever had took 3-5 attempts to get the threads lined up, but this usually only takes the first try.  I so love that.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Suncast-Plastic-75-ft-Hose-Pot-Hose-Reel/1000739748

New Landscaping

After losing every boxwood at the front of the house, we decided to start totally fresh.  After consulting with Mike Gorman of Gorman Landscape, we decided he and his crew would plant ‘Trautman’ Juniper (the tall one on the left) and three 'Bowing Ball’ Arborvitae to the right of that.  In front, we have three 3 White Drift Roses and one ‘Sun King’ Aralia.  The other side (to the right of the front door) has a similar configuration.  These beds were mulched, as was everything else in both yards.  These guys do a great job.

https://www.gormanlandscape.com

Using AI To Get Cleaning Instructions

If you're unsure how to clean something, like the exterior door below, asking an AI Chatbot can get useful suggestions.  Most importantly, it advised against using pressure washers, abrasive pads, ammonia, and bleach.  For the door, it suggested mixing a few drops of mild dish soap (like Dawn) in a bucket of warm water and using a microfiber cloth or a soft sponge, starting from the top and working your way down.  For the glass, since it's textured, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a dedicated glass-cleaning brush to gently reach into the "valleys."

AI Chatbots can get things wrong, so make sure to double-check their suggestions before tackling a job like this.

https://gemini.google.com/app

Sour Cream

This organic Sour Cream is the bomb!  It's thick, tasty, and will be the only brand we buy going forward.  It lacks watery fillers and has a higher "cling" factor, which is why it works so well as a dollop on tacos or a base for dips.  It's less aggressively acidic than other brands and leans into the sweetness of the cream rather than a sharp vinegar-like bite.  Yum!

https://www.traderjoes.com

Within 300 Feet

The fireworks sign you see below is on the entrance door to our local Meijer store.  First, you wouldn't think they need to tell people not to shoot off fireworks in their parking lot.  But some people are just that stupid.  But the real problem I see with the sign is that it seems to say that if you're far enough away, it's okay to light them up.  Not so.  

While Ohio state law changed in 2022 to allow the discharge of consumer fireworks on specific holidays, it also gave individual municipalities the right to "opt out" and maintain their own bans. Kettering is one of several local cities that chose to keep its ban in place.