• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Fight them, without becoming them!

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

The arc of the moral universe does not bend itself. it is up to us to bend it.

When we show up, we win.

Books are my comfort food!

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

We’re watching the self-immolation of the leading world power on a level unprecedented in human history.

Trump should be leading, not lying.

Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

We know you aren’t a Democrat but since you seem confused let me help you.

Washington Post Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

Mobile Menu

  • 4 Directions VA 2025 Raffle
  • 2025 Activism
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Open Threads / Because of wow. / Late Night/Early Morning (Eastern Daylight Time) Open Thread: Mad Weapon Designer Edition

Late Night/Early Morning (Eastern Daylight Time) Open Thread: Mad Weapon Designer Edition

by Adam L Silverman|  April 16, 201611:51 pm| 66 Comments

This post is in: Because of wow., Gun nuts, Open Threads, Someone Somewhere Is Having More Fun Than I Am

FacebookTweetEmail

If you’ve never seen one of the Slingshot Channel’s videos, you are missing out on sheer, insane, fun. Jorge Sprave, the genius behind the Slingshot Channel, seems to have more fun, at all times, than anyone I’ve ever seen. In this recent episode from April 7, he demonstrates his fully automatic Ping Pong ball shooting Gatling Gun!

 

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Open Thread: OMG Bernie Met with the Pope You Guys!!!
Next Post: Sunday Morning Garden Chat: Rhododendron Days »

Reader Interactions

66Comments

  1. 1.

    redshirt

    April 16, 2016 at 11:57 pm

    As a super hippy I am against all weapons.

  2. 2.

    Adam L Silverman

    April 16, 2016 at 11:58 pm

    @redshirt: Don’t make me hit you with my TRX!

  3. 3.

    rikyrah

    April 16, 2016 at 11:58 pm

    Ummmmm….ok
    I look at this and it is confirmed -some people have too much time on their hands.

  4. 4.

    Adam L Silverman

    April 16, 2016 at 11:59 pm

    @rikyrah: He also writes children’s books and is a power lifter.

  5. 5.

    Davebo

    April 17, 2016 at 12:00 am

    You were right. That is awesome!

  6. 6.

    Adam L Silverman

    April 17, 2016 at 12:02 am

    @Davebo: Some of the stuff he makes is really innovative, but the real goodness here is him. He’s like a little kid who just got everything he wanted at Christmas.

  7. 7.

    the Conster, la Citoyenne

    April 17, 2016 at 12:04 am

    Will that guy vote for Hillary or Trump? Asking for a friend.

  8. 8.

    Adam L Silverman

    April 17, 2016 at 12:08 am

    @the Conster, la Citoyenne: Oy vey.

  9. 9.

    redshirt

    April 17, 2016 at 12:11 am

    @Adam L Silverman: I assume I’m already dead.

  10. 10.

    Adam L Silverman

    April 17, 2016 at 12:14 am

    @redshirt: I don’t think it would kill you. You do know that a TRX is a suspension training for doing functional strength training that requires full utilization of one’s core at all times?
    https://www.trxtraining.com/

    I’ve got my first TRX split of the week (and the first time I’ve done one in a little over two weeks) tomorrow. And yes, there will be pain!

  11. 11.

    Mike J

    April 17, 2016 at 12:15 am

    @the Conster, la Citoyenne: His bio says he has a masters in business admin, so I’m guessing Merkel and the CDU over the SPD.

  12. 12.

    redshirt

    April 17, 2016 at 12:15 am

    @Adam L Silverman: Heh. I thought you were referring to some fancy gun I’ve never heard of.

  13. 13.

    Adam L Silverman

    April 17, 2016 at 12:18 am

    @redshirt: Nope. Firearms are tools. Deadly tools. They have their uses. Making faux threats with them in jest is not one of them.

  14. 14.

    lamh36

    April 17, 2016 at 12:18 am

    Off to bed, but first, as I said, I’m already over the primary season, so I’ve been trying to focus on the last months of the Obamas presidency…

    In that vein, I just came across the video for PBO’s My Brother’s Keeper Mentorship Initiative on my FB timeline. As usual, I’m late seeing it (it’s from 7hr ago), but it’s just another example of how this White House has embraced social media to move it’s agenda forward and engage with the tech savier electorate. Unfortunately, I don’t see ANY of the 2016 candidates having the same ability as PBO and his administration, to their detriment, IMHO.

    Anyhoo, check it out:
    WATCH: President Obama beats Stephen Curry in Connect Four and coaches him on his jump shot in new mentorship PSA.

  15. 15.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    April 17, 2016 at 12:21 am

    Last year I converted all my light bulbs to be remotely controlled(GE Link bulbs). So last night I went to Home Depot to get a magnetic latch for on of my cabinets, and checked the remote controlled stuff section. They had these bulbs that you can control the color! I ended up buying 3 of them.

  16. 16.

    redshirt

    April 17, 2016 at 12:21 am

    @Adam L Silverman: Amen! Let us nail these thesis on the Ammosexual’s doors!

  17. 17.

    srv

    April 17, 2016 at 12:24 am

    You should forward this to Megan McArdle – students everywhere could build this defensive weapon to provide cover for those applying her gang rush strategy.

    Alas, liberals will probably want to ban this guy’s youtube channel.

  18. 18.

    redshirt

    April 17, 2016 at 12:24 am

    @BillinGlendaleCA: That’s me! I worked for the company that created the color changing LED light and brought it to production then sold it to the megacorp when the offer came.

    I knew it in 1999 – the ability of a light to be programmed is game changing. The ability of many lights to be synchronized by central command is game changing. And so it will be.

  19. 19.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    April 17, 2016 at 12:28 am

    @redshirt: I’ve automated mine. When I go to bed(put my cellphone in the charger), they all turn off, one turns on when I wake up(remove the cell phone from the charger). I also have one light that turns on when it’s a 1/2 hour before sunset.

    ETA: What’s nice about these bulbs(as opposed to the Phillip’s Hue bulbs) is they work directly with my hub and don’t need their own.

  20. 20.

    Ruckus

    April 17, 2016 at 12:29 am

    @Adam L Silverman:
    You’ve talked about TRX before. I’m an old geezer who needs to do some workouts to keep flexibility and normal strength, not looking to buff up, etc. Is this useful for easier workouts to get started?

  21. 21.

    TaMara (BHF)

    April 17, 2016 at 12:32 am

    For some reason I was expecting him at some point to say “I’m gonna pump you up!”

    Posting this video for my bros, they’ll love it.

  22. 22.

    redshirt

    April 17, 2016 at 12:34 am

    @BillinGlendaleCA: Yes, Philips. They’ve bought every lighting company in North America that they could. It’s impressive in it’s scope.

  23. 23.

    redshirt

    April 17, 2016 at 12:35 am

    @BillinGlendaleCA: Imagine walls and ceilings behaving in similar fashion. Imagine a world of no fixtures but rather glowing surfaces.

  24. 24.

    seaboogie

    April 17, 2016 at 12:54 am

    @Adam L Silverman:

    He also writes children’s books and is a power lifter.

    Is this perhaps upping the ante in that vein? Forty years ago when I was 15, I visited my mom at her adults only apartment complex in St. Paul, MN. There was an adjacent family complex, and we went to a children’s party there where there was a clown doing balloon animals and such. His IRL name was Red Rudensky, and in his earlier days he used to work as a safe-cracker, for…mmm…Al Capone, as one example, and was, in fact, Capone’s cell mate in Hotlanta. BOOM!

  25. 25.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    April 17, 2016 at 1:01 am

    @redshirt: These are OSRAM bulbs, I think Sylvania is behind them. Yup that’s what the box sez.

  26. 26.

    redshirt

    April 17, 2016 at 1:01 am

    I think I can say I’m uncomfortable with the image at the top of this thread, as it looks like a man has just shot you.

  27. 27.

    the Conster, la Citoyenne

    April 17, 2016 at 1:01 am

    @lamh36:

    Shared that on my FB page. The coolness on display is next level.

    ETA: rewatching Jackie Robinson. The parallels with Jackie and Rachel and Barack and Michelle as to their racial pioneering is on point. No wonder Rachel got to go to Cuba with them. She’s amazing.

  28. 28.

    Major Major Major Major

    April 17, 2016 at 1:10 am

    Just saw my friend’s play. It was really good! I could never do a one man show.

    No, you can’t see it, unless you’re in Scotland in August.

  29. 29.

    seaboogie

    April 17, 2016 at 1:13 am

    @lamh36: Missing Obama already – it’s a bit like a public version of my sweet canine companion aging out to the inevitable conclusion, though not as personally painful – but both of them “once in a lifetime”. Thank you for sharing this.

    ETA: I wonder what Obama’s second act will be. Hopefully more like Carter, and a bit less like Clinton as he is these days. Obama has so much more vision and self-control.

  30. 30.

    Anya

    April 17, 2016 at 1:16 am

    @the Conster, la Citoyenne: I fell in love wth Mrs Robinson. She is the personification of dignity and human spirit.

  31. 31.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    April 17, 2016 at 1:20 am

    @Anya: Agreed, she’s really special. She was at the Dodgers game on Friday.

    (She’s also a fellow alum.)

  32. 32.

    Anya

    April 17, 2016 at 1:22 am

    @seaboogie: In Clinton’s defense, other than the poor campaigning skills (strange for someone who’s known for his excellent political instincts), what did Clinton do? He set up a foundation that championed and invested in a lot of worthwhile causes. I think the republicans tried to smear the foundation in their quest to damage HRC’s presidential chances. We shouldn’t fall for that trap.

  33. 33.

    benw

    April 17, 2016 at 1:24 am

    @the Conster, la Citoyenne: I’ve thought for awhile now that there are clear similarities between the Robinsons and the Obamas; how they each performed with such grace under huge amounts of pressure.

    History is now pretty unanimous that Robinson’s career brought out the worst in the bigots and racists, but also good in a lot of people. I hope history books 50 years from now make that same point about Obama’s presidency (I guess I’ve stopped wishing our own media today would make that simple admission).

  34. 34.

    Anya

    April 17, 2016 at 1:29 am

    Did any of you watch Confirmation on HBO. It was so uncomfortable for me to watch Joe Biden depicted as sabotaging Anita Hill or falling for republican manipulations. Almost all the senators acted disgracefully. I just can’t believe they confirmed this disgusting man. I bet this is one of Joe Biden’s biggest regrets.

    On a positive note, Greg Kinnear looked and sounded like Joe Biden. The whole cast did a wonderful job.

  35. 35.

    ruemara

    April 17, 2016 at 1:35 am

    @Ruckus: The seniors at my gym love it. And I’ve done a few moves on it to preserve my error prone knees. It’s kinda fun, like working out with a giant stretchy band.

  36. 36.

    seaboogie

    April 17, 2016 at 1:35 am

    @Anya: Excellent points. I guess I just appreciate the simplicity and humbleness of Carter’s diplomatic efforts, Habitat for Humanity, and his nearly completely successful work on eliminating guinea worm. Truly a very decent man down to the soles of his feet.

    Clinton and his/their foundation have admirable goals, but there is an element of (the usual) political narcissism there, and desire for continued power and influence. Good works, to be sure – but the personal psychology that feeds it is less genuinely altruistic than Carter.

  37. 37.

    Mike J

    April 17, 2016 at 1:38 am

    Argh. Stupid hockey bullshit on NBCSN, they say hey, go to the streaming thing online for the F1 race. We get to hear all the music stings, but the announcers mics are cut.

    They do, of course, have audio in the commercials.

  38. 38.

    benw

    April 17, 2016 at 1:42 am

    @seaboogie:

    I wonder what Obama’s second act will be. Hopefully more like Carter, and a bit less like Clinton as he is these days.

    If Barack’s second act is like Bill’s, in that he’s (over) enthusiastically supporting his wife’s run for the presidency, I will be stoked! Michelle 4 Prez!

  39. 39.

    AnotherBruce

    April 17, 2016 at 1:46 am

    Imagine walls and ceilings behaving in similar fashion. Imagine a world of no fixtures but rather glowing surfaces.

    We used to call that ell ess dee.

  40. 40.

    seaboogie

    April 17, 2016 at 1:52 am

    @benw:

    If Barack’s second act is like Bill’s, in that he’s (over) enthusiastically supporting his wife’s run for the presidency, I will be stoked! Michelle 4 Prez!

    http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–6HdtFSme–/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/18c7m22pfcgqsgif.gif

  41. 41.

    Mike J

    April 17, 2016 at 1:53 am

    @seaboogie: What has Clinton done in his years since leaving office that you disapprove of? The Clinton Health Initiative? The Climate Initiative? The Development Initiative? Or is the problem that all of these things cost money and he goes out and asks people for it?

  42. 42.

    benw

    April 17, 2016 at 2:07 am

    @seaboogie: Michelle would be the greatest president in US history… CONFIRMED.

  43. 43.

    seaboogie

    April 17, 2016 at 2:22 am

    @Mike J: Thank you for asking that question. The simple truth is that I am uninformed on the scope of the Clinton initiatives. It’s not that I am not curious, but more that I have been unaware. I know that they have the Clinton foundation, but the specifics of it have not been on my radar. So I ask myself why this is. Perhaps possible that because the Clintons are still politically active and also vilified by The Village that their good works are not generally visible in the news? Your question prompted some spelunking on my part – and the breadth of what they are doing is impressive. I admit that I am likely a typical sympathetic but uninformed member of the public. Thank you for the heads up.

  44. 44.

    jl

    April 17, 2016 at 2:25 am

    That ping pon shooter changes everything. Everything!
    President Michelle could handle two of those, one on each arm.
    Whip ’em out during her first SOTU Address, Congress will mind themselves from then on. Believe me.

  45. 45.

    Ruckus

    April 17, 2016 at 2:25 am

    @ruemara:
    I’ve used stretch bands in the past (even still have a set but the TRX looks to be better quality and usability. May have to give them a try. They have a one yr no questions asked return so what can I lose?

  46. 46.

    Roger Moore

    April 17, 2016 at 2:29 am

    @redshirt:
    My thought is that somebody ought to come up with a crown molding that acts as a diffuser. Then you could hide one of the LED strip lights behind it and integrate lighting into something that’s already going to be part of the room. It would be easier and cheaper than replacing the whole wall or ceiling with a lightable panel, and tame the glare that’s the big problem with the LED strip lights.

  47. 47.

    Redshift

    April 17, 2016 at 2:45 am

    @Roger Moore: I could swear that I’d read about something like that existing, but I can’t remember where.

  48. 48.

    The Republic, Blah Blah Blah...

    April 17, 2016 at 2:46 am

    One of the coolest things I’ve ever done is/was help set up and the set off 4th of July fireworks on the Berkeley fishing pier in the East Bay. Took 25 of us 10 hrs to set up all the tubes (plastic & copper) and load them, and then 30 minutes to set off approx 500 6, 7, & 8 inch charges w/ high way flares. It was the last year they set off the fireworks manually. Now it’s all electronic ignition.

    So damned much fun…

  49. 49.

    seaboogie

    April 17, 2016 at 2:51 am

    @Roger Moore: Philips is kind of all over this WRT to lighting concepts.

  50. 50.

    Adam L Silverman

    April 17, 2016 at 2:55 am

    @Ruckus: Yes, if you go the link, you’ll be able to find a variety of workouts. A lot of the exercises can be done from moderate to intense. You can even use it for yoga and for pilates sans reformer.
    https://www.trxtraining.com/

    While I did take about 10 months and lift free weights and selected machines heavy, I’ve predominantly used the TRX for strength training plus core training since late 2008. My workout is set up to provide both of those plus cardio. Its so I can do a complete workout in about 45 minutes if I have no time for anything else. Finally, if you think you have a strong core, which I did, prior to starting the TRX you will quickly learn it is not as strong as you think.

  51. 51.

    Adam L Silverman

    April 17, 2016 at 2:55 am

    @efgoldman: I’ve seen that too.

  52. 52.

    Adam L Silverman

    April 17, 2016 at 2:59 am

    @Ruckus: If you get one, email me and we’ll get you sorted. It will come with a video and a guidebook. Even better if you can get someone who knows how to use it to show you how to use it.

  53. 53.

    ruemara

    April 17, 2016 at 3:00 am

    Ok, sitting up late to post this. Is Cleek running for office? As a REPUBLICAN? In all seriousness, when I saw a conservative in our liberal bastion, with the cleek last name, I had to. Also, active puppeh is active. Cute, cattle dog is cute. And active.

  54. 54.

    Ruckus

    April 17, 2016 at 3:02 am

    @Adam L Silverman:
    Not nearly as strong as it was 15 yrs ago, and it could stand to be stronger for sure. But 15 yrs ago I was doing 1 1/2-2 hrs a day when I wasn’t on the road, running, and bike riding on weekends if I had them free. Mainly low intensity but lots of reps and cardio. Cable machines, free weights, steps, and recumbent bike at the gym. At 66 I no longer have the stamina for that much but need to get off my butt and do something besides walking.
    ETA Have gone to the website and looked at what they offer, of course the pics are all of people who work out a lot. And look like it.

  55. 55.

    Ruckus

    April 17, 2016 at 3:23 am

    @ruemara:
    I think Cleek lives in OK.
    I also went to the website of the fellow running for congress. I like that while I didn’t read every word on the site, I never noticed that he was a republican. But I sure got that impression from what I did read. There must be some sort of a workbook on how to be a republican candidate. Cause this guy has all the boxes ticked. The 3rd has been pretty republican for some time but John Garamendi (D) won in 2008. Hope he wins again.

  56. 56.

    RedDirtGirl

    April 17, 2016 at 4:07 am

    @Anya:@benw: What a nice idea!

  57. 57.

    RedDirtGirl

    April 17, 2016 at 4:08 am

    @seaboogie: Side-eye for miles!

  58. 58.

    RedDirtGirl

    April 17, 2016 at 4:11 am

    Coming in late from a night of music in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Guess I missed the party, unless Anne Laurie is just getting up….

  59. 59.

    RedDirtGirl

    April 17, 2016 at 4:54 am

    Fine! I’ll just make myself a snack, and go to bed. Catch y’all on the flip side…

  60. 60.

    raven

    April 17, 2016 at 4:58 am

    @RedDirtGirl: It is the flip side.

  61. 61.

    Anne Laurie

    April 17, 2016 at 5:02 am

    @raven: Okay, okay, new post up top!

  62. 62.

    Zinsky

    April 17, 2016 at 6:15 am

    What fun! If this guy built this thing himself, he is a mechanical genius!

  63. 63.

    Doug R

    April 17, 2016 at 10:18 am

    @redshirt: It’s about time-especially if the whole floor heats up.

  64. 64.

    Miss Bianca

    April 17, 2016 at 10:51 am

    Aww, I needed that, thanks. Perfect antidote to the horrorshow of the state convention. What a great, evil-cartoon-villain laugh that guy has. I think I need that gatling-gun tennis-ball cannon, too.

  65. 65.

    planetjanet

    April 17, 2016 at 11:12 am

    @benw: That is a great insight. I pray we come through this storm of bigotry and hate as a better country.

  66. 66.

    Tom

    April 17, 2016 at 6:58 pm

    @Ruckus: I’m not in great shape and also am an old fart. I like TRX because you can easily adjust the resistance and it’s simple to set up.

    There are a lot of videos to show you how to use them. But I checked my local rec. center and found someone who could give me an hour or so of coaching to make sure that I was using good form.
    It’s a real workout, too.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - twbrandt - Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan 7
Image by twbrandt (7/18/25)
Donate

Recent Comments

  • Cliosfanboy on Saturday Morning Open Thread: Everybody Needs A Hobby (Jul 19, 2025 @ 11:55am)
  • Kayla Rudbek on Saturday Morning Open Thread: Everybody Needs A Hobby (Jul 19, 2025 @ 11:55am)
  • Librettist on Saturday Morning Open Thread: Everybody Needs A Hobby (Jul 19, 2025 @ 11:52am)
  • Deputinize America on Saturday Morning Open Thread: Everybody Needs A Hobby (Jul 19, 2025 @ 11:50am)
  • RaflW on Saturday Morning Open Thread: Everybody Needs A Hobby (Jul 19, 2025 @ 11:50am)

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
No Kings Protests June 14 2025

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!