Tip: Water bottle caps fit on motor oil bottles

It's probably not an adage yet but it’s going to be one soon. “When you forget the URL to your own blog it's about time for you to post something.”

I’ve thought of several things to post about in the last couple of weeks but never ended up doing it.  Lot’s of “reasons” why not but it’s mostly about doing it not being a habit yet.  I do have enough to write about.  I figured that out before I started this.  Some of it is even interesting.  Some of it is even useful.  Some of it both.

Like this:

You know those pull top bottle caps that come on regular water bottles?  Well, they fit on oil bottles too.  When you're done with the water bottle, you can take the cap off (before you recycle it) and use it on an oil bottle.  The threads are exactly the same.

If you're just putting oil in a car this of little interest to you.  That's because these pull caps really slow down the flow of oil.

However, if you're putting oil in a lawnmower these things can be really helpful.  You have a lot more control than with just an open bottle so you don't need a funnel.  Also, most lawn mowers aren't going to need a full quart and the water bottle cap will seal up the oil bottle just fine for storage.  I've had a cap on bottle of two cycle oil for years and it hasn't leaked yet.

Another good use is for putting other fluids in your car.  Topping off transmission fluid or power steering fluid can sometimes be difficult because of the small opening or because it's hard to get the bottle to the fill tube without spilling it.  Well, with the pull cap on the bottle you can have it upside down or any other position until you're ready.

I've even been lucky enough to find a pull cap that is small enough to fit down inside of those little transmission oil fill tubes on GM products.  I can tip the bottle right into the fill tube and then pull the top open without spilling a drop.

One last automotive use I can think of in the oil range of things for these pull caps is when you're mixing two cycle oil with gas.  Most bottles have measurements on the side of the bottle.  Normally, you pour a bit out into the gas can and then turn the bottle over to check to see how much you've put in.  It takes a few cycles and a few drips to get the right amount of oil in the gas can.  With the pull cap on the bottle you just turn the bottle upside down in the gas can and get a reading.  Then squeeze some out and let go to let air back in the bottle.  You can then get a good reading for how much oil you've put in the gas can.

These pull caps are also useful when you need to put some oil on when you're drilling metal or just need a drop on a door hinge or something like that.

I normally keep a pull cap in my tool box for when I or someone else needs one.  A couple of weeks ago I gave one away to someone that was putting transmission fluid in their car.  Not a big deal but it saved them a spill and I felt good about it.

I know it's not that much of a tip or one you'll use often but little things like this can add up.

Hopefully I'll get into the other subjects I've considered soon.  How I got back into exercise and lost weight after years of nothing.  How much fun fencing is.  Playing and watching live music.  About my work or things related to it.  Some of my many semi-hobbies.  The good-old-days and how they weren't all that great.

Book Burning

A couple of weeks ago there was this guy in Florida that was going to have himself "International Burn a Koran Day". I'm glad he didn't go through with it. You see, I kind of promised myself I'd hold a Bible burning in protest. The intent being to film it and then post it on YouTube. Not that I think books should be burned, especially ones people hold dear, but I wanted to protest the stupidity of it all as it's so counterproductive. They hate us because we hate them because they hate us because... ad-infinitum through the continued cycle of backwards tribal mentality.

The main reason I didn't want him to go through with it is that I don't have a bible I'm willing to burn and I'd have to go buy a cheep one or grab one out of motel room. That and that I don't think the best response to stupidity is more stupidity. But I figured that if it was working for him (HE STARTED IT!) I thought that he, and people that think like him, might be able to get the concept. I doubt it would work but what the hell, they don't understand that much anyway and it's only a book.

So, why would my first post be about Bible and Koran burning? Well, I saw this http://xkcd.com/750/ a couple of days ago. I, of course, was wondering what this, ah, person and his kind would do when books all come electronically. What form will this kind of protest take in the future? Deleting an electronic copy just doesn't have the sexually charged pyrophilia aspect that flaming a real wood pulp derived product does.

Kind of a Future-Shock moment for me.

I hope clearer heads prevail.

I don't think they will but I've still got some of that hopy-changy thing going on.