Chapter 2
Psycho Studios: The Sprinkler
Psycho Studios: The Sprinkler
Chapter Two
10.3.2023
Editor – Mr. Z and content
Research – Mr. W and content
Psycho Studios is an independent Film/TV production company. We are a
multimedia platform and have a podcast as well as this newsletter.
Psycho Studios – Film/TV production
Psycho Studios Podcast
Psycho Studios: The Sprinkler [Newsletter]
Phoenix Arizona
Email – psychostudios66@gmail.com
Website – psycho–studio.com.
Instagram – psychostudios66
X [Formerly known as Twitter] - @Psychostud666
Forward
Mr Z. and me are a father & son team that started our production company about
a year and a half ago. We are working on the next phase of the production
company and look forward to being involved in feature film making. We wanted to
roll out a podcast and newsletter to give our audience a means to hear where we
are headed and what we are experiencing. The newsletter [The Sprinkler] is fun,
informative and value add for our audience! We want to remind our audience that
we leave politics at the door. We want our energy to be positive and wellness based.
Humor is in our DNA, along with creativity and a thirst for good film, music and
food. Our foundation is built on the horror genre, with other genres in our
repertoire as well. We hope you will join us monthly as we explore different ways to
enrich our lives and have some fun with exploring the human race.
We bring old school and contemporary to the table. Our topics we explore on our
podcast will be front and center here as well. We will add practical value add life
skills to the newsletter to make it worth everyone’s while!
Mr. Z & I are authentic & lucid and we operate with the credos of “do unto others”
as well as “be cool to one another”.
We want to connect with people, and be present while we enjoy this journey. We
have embarked on something that is moving in a direction that affords us to display
our creativity and love for film & music and more.
We have a very contrasting way in which we were brought into this world and our
perspectives meld in a way that is entertaining, rewarding and beneficial to those
that can trust sage advice.
Come with us as we explore ways to live in the moment and appreciate all we have
rather than what we have not.
Our first two chapters of The Sprinkler will be introductory and starting with the
third chapter The Sprinkler will move to a subscription-based newsletter. We are
talking less than $10 per month for a 13-month subscription. The banner below
speaks to what the content will be in each chapter of our newsletter. We are
confident if our subscribers follow our wellness & practical life skills, they will save
hundreds to thousands annually! The 13-month subscription will include a special
holiday recipe and stress reliever issue as well as a 13-month printable electronic
calendar comprised of original photography by Mr. Z.
Welcome one and all!
The Sprinkler
Film – Music – Autos – Some Sports – Wellness – Commentary – Headlines &
Practical Life Skills
Film
Saw X** rolled out on 9.29 and we can’t wait to see it! Mr. Z and I took part in the
blood drive associated with the film and found the experience to be rewarding and
unique! We challenge all our psychos to donate blood at least once per year to help
with the blood shortage in our country.
Thanksgiving flies into theatres on 11.17. This should be twisted as it is brought to
us by the creative and maniacal mind of Eli Roth! You can count on Mr. Z and I
reviewing this sick turkey treat!
We love the classic horror films from Universal – here is our list of favorites:
1] Dracula
2] Frankenstein
3]The Bride of Frankenstein
4] Creature from the Black Lagoon
5] The Wolf Man
6] The Mummy
7] The Invisible Man
There are about two dozen of the Universal Classics, many we find embarrassing
and are better off not mentioning. Mr. Z and I were sharing a scratch whiskey sour
cocktail [Mr. Z is our resident bartender] and talking about those classic horror
flicks. The two that really jump out to us are Frankenstein / Bride of and Creature
from the Black Lagoon. To think that Frankenstein was based on the novel written
by Mary Shelley in 1816 is really amazing! Not only was the author of Frankenstein
a woman; [in 1816! Meaning women’s rights were almost non-existent at that time]
she was only 19! And the ‘Creature film is such a beautiful movie that stands out
during a time when aliens and everyday animals and insects were turned into
monsters by radiation. Mr. Z and I have a dream to remake the Creature film
which has never been done before, for a number of reasons.
We challenge our psychos to give these films a watch or rewatch. When movies
were simple, compelling and beautifully shot using light and shadow.
Here are a few suggestions for some movies you may have missed from the 2010s –
give them a watch and let us know your thoughts:
Birdman – give this uniquely different flick a try starring Michael Keaton in one of
his better acting displays. Mr. Z – 7 / Mr. W - 6
Blade Runner 2049. This so-called sequel to the iconic classic Blade Runner
starring Ryan Gosling is a must see for all sci-fi fans and a great rewatch in 4K. If
nothing else it is a great watch as it is a beautiful film and brining Ford’s Deckard
back is super cool to see! Mr. Z – 8. Mr. W - 7
And one more, a much smaller film in the horror genre that many may have yet to
see. It Follows. This low budget, original idea and well-acted horror film provides
many uncomfortable moments with a huge dose of creepy! Mr. Z – 6.5. Mr. W - 8
** Saw X review:
Mr. Z and I went to see Saw X on the evening of it wide release. Here are our
thoughts on this most recent installment of this billion-dollar franchise;
We will start with our scoring:
Mr. Z ended up with a 3.5 score out of 10! This makes it a putrid tomato to say the
least!
For me, I’m being generous with giving it a 2 out of ten and this is more of a rancid
bottle of milk!
The movie was terrible in every way imaginable. We did our best to have an open
mind given this being the tenth installment of this storied series of films. The rest of
the SAW films [outside of the first one] were better than some and worse than
others. We will say this, the rest of the films [including “Spiral”] had a certain pace
and energy to them. The music was always very good, and the acting [for the most
part] has been solid to above average. This latest iteration was almost unwatchable.
We can appreciate the movie being taken in a different direction and setting, that’s
not what was wrong with this stinking mass of film stock! For starters it was driven
by a weakened musical score. We are not sure what happened with the music
element, but the score appeared to be neutered. The story was all right, regardless
of predictability. The acting was worse than we have seen in any of other Saw flicks.
Once we are with John and Amanda in the abandoned Mexican factory the movie
melts into something we wanted to walk out on.
We hung in there, as we are film buffs. We could write ad nauseum, but for what?
The timeline, the acting, the music, the story, it was all so very numbing. Mr. Z likes
to give me jabs when I come out hot after a poor film experience. He will say, “it’s
better than any movie you have made”. Not only do we plan on correcting that, but
the argument doesn’t hold up with a piece of crap like Saw X. We are flabbergasted
by the story and the failed use of the characters which demanded the audience
forget about the other Saw films!
To each his own, and the movie will probably make money regardless of its
festering ridiculousness!
I will end this review by saying going to see a new horror film at the theatre with
Mr. Z on a Friday evening in the desert is one of life’s simple pleasures. The
experience is one of those beautiful moments in time no matter how the feature
film ends up moving us on the big screen.
Saw X is one of those movies a true film aficionado wishes were never made!
Oh Billy!
Music
Royal Blood’s new album rocks! Check out Back to the Water Below. This album
reminds us of the 2014 Royal Blood self-titled album. It has that rock feel and the
lyrics are beyond satisfying. The majority of the album flows down the musical river
with energy and that trademark Royal Blood sound. Give it a listen!
Moving towards another new release of sorts, Dokken has dropped two new singles.
Yes, you read that correctly; Dokken has released new music! Dokken’s two new
singles – Gypsy and Fugitive. Mr. Z and I always go into listening to new tracks or
albums with an open and positive mind. For me, coming up in the 1980s I have a
tainted ear with hopes of hearing the old metal groups, sound like they used to. I
know that is unrealistic. For the two brand new tracks by Dokken Mr. Z and I
listened to them on the same day with the same outcome. Sad. It’s sad because
Dokken is making music that has lost its energy and punch. These are cookie cutter
songs and the vibe from the group’s heyday is lacking. Mr. Z concurred that the
new cuts lack depth and the great guitar licks they had in the 80s. Give them a
listen and let us know what you think!
Ironically, George Lynch former lead guitarist of Dokken dropped a new album;
Guitars at the End of the World. Don Dokken and George had a falling out back in
the day and never reconciled. They were great together in the era of heavy metal
and glam rock of the 1980s. We will give that album a listen and share our thoughts
on the disc in next month’s newsletter.
Mr. Z and I are going to see Avenged Sevenfold at the beginning of October in
Phoenix. It seems like we purchased those tickets so long ago and suddenly here we
are! AV7X is one of Mr.Z’s very top favorite artists since the group first broke with
their Nightmare album. The group has a dozen albums in their catalog and the
latest album, Life is but a Dream really rocks! We spoke of this stellar album in last
month’s newsletter and this is a thumbs up, five-star piece of vinyl! Interestingly
enough Mr. Z and I are seeing the hard charging group in the same venue we saw
them about a decade ago. The group is iconic and unique in the same breath. They
have a great mix of hard rock, and poetic lyrics along with excellent musicianship!
This show will rock the desert!
Autos
We are Mustang fanatics as well as Jeep nuts!
We have a couple of very low mileage 2005 Mustang GTs as well as a sweet 2000
Jeep Cherokee. Get this, its patriot blue and a 4x4 two door! The Cherokee has the
bulletproof 4.0 six. Believe it or not the Jeep is also a 5-speed manual with
reasonable miles. We also have a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee. This is the loaded
Hemi Limited 4x4. To us, for a versatile comfortable carry all 4x4 the Grand
Cherokee is the cat’s pajamas.
We mentioned about the beauty of the manual transmission and nothing will ever
change that. The way a manual transmission makes the driver feel connected and
in control is an awesome feeling compared to the somewhat numb feel of today’s
electronic – technology laden rides!
Oil changes, doing them on your own, see the practical life skills below.
The EV scene is changing the landscape of the automotive world. We are not hear
to debate their value or the lack of value of fossil fuel vehicles. We do love a classic
American auto with a gas-powered engine and manual transmission. The feel and
sound of that classic combination are hard to beat for auto enthusiasts. Tell us what
your favorite vehicle is or has been?
I started out with a 1964 Nova[3 speed manual], moved onto a 1966 Chevelle [2
speed Powerglide] and settled into a 1979 Camaro Z28 [4 speed stick]. Ultimately,
I fell in love with Mustangs and have owned several, most with a manual
transmission. Mr. Z started with a beautiful bright metallic red 2004 Jeep Grand
Cherokee 4x4 – V8. He moved to a sweet 2002 Jeep Apex Wrangler in silver over
tobacco color interior and a manual transmission. Our first vehicles bring back a
fondness like our first girlfriends!
We will share reviews and thoughts about vehicles from the 1950s to present in
future newsletters. We will start with the iconic 1957 Chevrolet Belair. Sporting a
283 V8 that produced one horsepower per cubic inch! Classic!
Some Sports
The too early Super Bowl Picks:
Mr. Z – Eagles v Bengals with Eagles winning.
Mr. W – Eagles vs Dolphins with Dolphins winning.
Let’s recap some early headlines in this 104 th NFL season:
Green Bay Packers are 2-2 going into the month of October. This has surprised
many of the so-called experts in both ways. Some experts and die-hard fans
predicted the Packers would be a surprise many with 9-10 wins and a playoff berth.
Whereas many experts and bleed green fans felt this was a rebuild or worse season
and eking out six wins would be a challenge. It’s a long, short season. Mr. Z and I
watch each game together and it is one of those super cool father and son [or
daughter] experiences we highly recommend to all. The season is consistently listed
as long, yet we know there are only 17 regular season games and it goes by fast for
true fans. The NFL season also comes at a time when the weather is about as nice
as it gets in the desert for several months. The Packers are a super young team
being led by a four-year veteran at quarterback who is on his first year as a starter
in this campaign. Jordan Love is displaying poise and athleticism. Love is also
showing growing pains primarily with regards to completion percentage and big
moments nerves. This Packers season is going to be at minimum exciting and at
maximum frustrating for all die-hard GB fans. I’m sticking with my prediction of
10-7** making the playoffs with Mr. Z having a tougher view on this season at 6-
10. Go Pack Go!
We will maintain our “some sports” credo with our focus primarily on Wisconsin
sports teams. We would be remiss not mentioning the Chicago Bears and how
horrible they look! It’s hard to believe that a storied franchise like the Bears in such
a great city have been terrible on an annual basis. It’s great for Packers fans but
surely embarrassing for all associated with that Bears team! As we write this
newsletter the Bears are 0-3 and worse than the record shows. The Bears have had
their starting QB Fields throw the coaching staff under the bus to the press. The
Bears had their defensive coordinator Williams resign under very peculiar
circumstances. And if that wasn’t enough the Bears had over $100K in equipment
stolen from their facility. Shout out to the Bears and their dumpster fire of a season!
Lastly, regarding the NFL for this month let’s talk New York Jets. I will admit that I
had soured on Aaron Rodgers about three seasons before Green Bay traded him.
The primary reason was his lackluster performance in the playoffs since their Super
Bowl victory back in 2011. Rodger’s playoff record is 11-10 and he is 1-4 in NFC
Championship games. He is an amazing talent, no doubt. His brilliant regular
season stats are like empty calories when you see what he has done when it really
matters! Getting off my soap box I sat with baited breath when the Jets rolled
Rodgers out on the first Monday Night Football game of the regular season. The
fanfare was at a fever pitch since the trade and Aaron ran out of the tunnel holding
a sizeable American Flag on the surreal September 11 th date! As I waited for
Rodgers to take the field, I was excited to see what he could do with another team;
a franchise that has been starved for success since the 1960s and Hollywood Joe
Namath! I find it hard to believe Rodgers played a total of four offensive snaps and
his season was over! A-Rod rolled back on a simple pass play and was pressured like
he had been on the previous pass plays. It seemed like an innocuous quarterback
sack, but afterwards. Aaron stood up and then sat back down on the field turf
surface; fans knew something was amiss. Sadly, Rodger’s season was over about as
quickly as it started. Mr. Z and I saw every Packers game last season and we saw a
different Rodgers. His lateral quickness and the way he utilized his legs in the
pocket had been knuckled and he was clearly not the same great regular season QB
we were accustomed to. We hope Rodgers can return after a long rehab, as the
NFL is better when good to great quarterbacks are playing!
** I’m not going to walk back my playoff prediction but it is looking rough at this
time!
On the Major League Baseball front, the Milwaukee Brewers had been tearing it
up and were playing 15-20 games above .500 baseball. The Brewers have had a
great season and the additional seasoned veteran players that have been added to
this team along with a really great group of young players has been a formula for
success. The Brewers have slipped a little off their pace as of late but regardless they
clinched the NL Central Division title on 9.26 with a Chicago Cubs loss despite the
Brewers losing in the same evening. The Brew-Crew rolls into the Wild Card series
on October 3 rd, in Milwaukee. The Brewers have excellent pitching, athletically
sound defense and their offense has been sparked by the newest additions to the
roster. Go Brewers!
Lastly in sports this month, the NBA season is right around the corner. The NBA’s
78 th season will tip off on 10.24.2023. The Bucks regular season starts on 10.26 and
hopes are high for another championship run. The biggest headline going into this
season is that Giannis is speaking out about wanting to only play for a franchise
that is always competing for Championships. Milwaukee is a small market, but
count on them to do what they can to not only compete for but win another
championship. NBA fans would love to see Giannis move to a big market team, let’s
not count the Deer out just yet! Go Bucks!
The beauty of sport and why it is the only “reality” show I watch is the rapid way
things can change in a given day or week. The Bucks announced a trade just before
October came barging in. They. Got. Damian Lillard! This trade, which is
bittersweet to Bucks players as well as all Deer heads. Jrue Holiday [along with
Grayson Allen] were part of the deal. Jrue was not only an integral part of the
Bucks first championship in 50 years; he was also one of those great character guys
that was a positive influence in his community. [Along with his wife!] Looking at
the addition to the Bucks, DL is one of the top 10 players in the NBA at minimum.
This gives the Bucks two bona fide superstars at two uber important positions.
Forward/Center and Point Guard/Shooting Guard. The odds in Sin City have
already moved post trade, making the Bucks one of the favorites for this upcoming
season. This should satisfy Giannis’ desire to see his franchise pulling out all the
stops to win another ring! This. Is. Amazing!
Wellness
We could all use more “wellness” in our lives. Practicing a breathing technique has
so many value add elements. The benefits range from sleeping better, to being
more focused in our day to day as well as reducing stress and anxiety. For some of
us, when we hear about breathing exercises, we roll our eyes in disbelief. This
simple principle has provided so many benefits its crazy not to check it out!
Check out Dr Weil and his 4-7-8 method;
https://www.drweil.com/videos-features/videos/breathing-exercises-4-7-8-breath/
Supress it?
This recent reported study seems contrary to what many of us has been taught.
Suppressing negative thoughts may improve health contrary to popular belief. New
research suggests that blocking out fearful – negative thoughts could reduce
symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. I can tell you
that I have utilized something to this effect for the last six months [before I came
across this study] when I was going to sleep. If I have something challenging, even
fearful taking place in my life I repeat to myself “everything will be ok, everything
will work out.” This mantra has really helped. Remember the great quote; “Our
greatest fears lay in our anticipation.”
This article from NBC News provides more insight on this topic;
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/suppressing-negative-thoughts-
improve-mental-health-rcna108020
We want our psychos to take care of themselves!
Commentary
We practice what we preach and we will continue to stay away from politics and
associated topics. For this month our theme is similar to last months, let’s be cool to
each other. Let those that you care about know you sincerely value them and what
they mean to you. This “showing gratitude” piece may be awkward and or new to
many of our psychos out there. To those that practice this already – KUDOs! To
those of you that have room for improvement in this area we challenge you to step
it up. Life is beautifully bittersweet. We live in unprecedented times. Let’s focus on
living in the moment and letting those in our lives know what they truly mean to us.
A text, an email, a phone call or what about an old school letter in the mail? These
forms of communication stating that we are thinking of them and what we think of
them is a beautiful circle. Telling those how we feel about them, and sharing the
positives that those in our lives bring to the table will bring a warm glow to those
we reach out to; it will also help with our own well-being. Mr. Z and I often share
how we are feeling and the positives each of us provide in each other’s lives. It is
special moments and day to day life that can equally be impactful to our psyche.
Telling those in our lives that they are great at this or that and how they touch our
lives is a true gem when it comes to how we move through the challenges in the
modern world.
We also want to remind our readers that we are all in this together. Everyone we
come in contact with has their own story. Their own struggles. Their own wins.
Remember to say hello to people. A simple hi when we pass someone when we are
on a walk, or out at a store or restaurant goes a long way in being more than civil.
When we interact with those in the service industry, let’s be kind and cool to all! We
appreciate all of our psychos and share well wishes to all!
One more element under commentary which could also go under the Wellness
heading. We suggest trying journaling if you haven’t. Mr. Z was sharing his
journaling experience and it helped remind me to get back to journaling as I
navigate a challenging change in my life. Keep it simple per Mr. Z. Grab a
notebook, fancy or otherwise, or even a simple legal pad. Write your thoughts from
the day, either as they happen or at the end of the day. The end of the day wrap up
is typically more practical for most. A great reminder from Mr. Z is that we
shouldn’t simply journal our challenges but also log the positives. The last part of
journaling which is critical; reviewing the entries once weekly. The last step is what
makes journaling effective and without it the logging of thoughts will be far less
impactful. At the end of each week, after reviewing the entries decide next steps;
this action is required. If no next steps are required per se; take what you can from
what you experienced and move on. Do not ruminate!
Take care of yourselves! You have people that care about you and count on you!
Headlines
Some interesting revisited facts that are disturbing for many:
Two Scottish doctors originally invented the first chainsaw prototype for
childbirth.
The US military has lost several nuclear weapons and many have yet to
be recovered.
MK Ultra was real, which was experiments headed by the CIA on
unwitting US citizens involving administering psychedelic drugs!
And either we are the only sentient species in the entire universe or we
are not. Both are equally odd.
Many find those kinds of lists troubling. In reality, they may be interesting but many
are based on the way things were or the way things some believe to be true.
We are not big list guys, but will have these from time to time. Let us know what
you think about lists!
Mr. Z and I had a conversation about how today’s teenagers are waiting to get their
driver’s licenses at a much later age than we experienced. We wondered if there was
a correlation with more and more teenagers refraining from premarital sex. We
also threw in the fact very few new drivers know how to drive a manual
transmission vehicle. It’s quite the conundrum. I was thinking about get my driver’s
license from about the age of 13, and Mr. Z was in a similar boat. I would sneak
out of my bedroom window at 15 years of age to quietly drive away in the middle
of the night. Crazy! Mr. Z and I both had our licenses as soon as it was legal. The
freedom it gives one, and the experience is almost hard to explain. Getting one’s
license can help with maturity, responsibility as well as fun! We hurt for the youth of
America; get you license! Get laid!
This headline came across our desks and seemed fitting:
A 10-year-old boy was pulled over [driving mother’s car] along with his 11-year-old
sister four hours from their Florida home! According to their mother, the young
children were upset because they had lost their electronic devices privilege as
punishment. The super young car thieves were fine and no charges were pressed
based on the mother’s actions.
Up to 8000 minks were on the loose in Pennsylvania in September. A hole was cut
into the fence on a fur farm near central Pennsylvania. The culprits opened a hole
in the fence most likely to free the minks from their fate. The problem is that the
minks are aggressive and scared. The minks were born in captivity and don’t know
how to fend for themselves. Hundreds are turning up dead with many more
expected. The farm is doing their best to round up the minks and return them to
the farm.
From the Sports world, Rodgers says his rehab and eventual return to the NFL
after an Achilles injury will shock people. Rodgers is about to turn 40 and
rehabbing from that type of injury is challenging to say the least.
McDonald’s is in the news for the wrong reason again. A woman in her 80s from
San Francisco has filed a lawsuit for her coffee being too hot! The elderly woman
received severe burns after spilling the coffee she was served! You can’t make this
stuff up!
In the macabre corner, the home in which Sharon Tate and her close friends were
murdered by the Manson cultists is indirectly part of a recent auction. The front
door from the home on Cielo Drive in California was auctioned off with a winning
bid of $127K! The door had traveled around the country after being removed and
taken by Trent Reznor when he recorded at the home in 1992. The door ultimately
made its way to several owners and was finally auctioned off. This is the true
definition of the cult of fascination with celebrity. We feel for the families impacted
by those senseless and tragic events as this country rolled out of the 1960s!
It appears the entertainment / Hollywood writer’s strike is being resolved. The
actor’s strike is next on the list for resolve. It’s interesting to see how some actors
and entertainers skated the line with continuing with their shows and the like even
though they claimed to support the writers and actors. A noteworthy star, Drew
Barrymore apologized after flip flopping on the issue. Hopefully Drew can
continue with her show she desperately needed to move forward with! Drew, phone
home!
Team USA basketball did not fare well this summer in the FIBA World Cup. Team
USA left without a medal! This appears to be in part to the fact most of the big-
name US NBA stars do not particulate in this world tournament for a number of
reasons. Until the superstars of the NBA show up for this tourney, the other
countries will bounce the US from the tourney earlier than expected. [Steve Kerr’s
coaching in this realm was in question too!]
A colossal cache of lithium found in US may be the world’s largest! The
McDermitt Caldera, a volcanic crater on the Nevada-Oregon border, contains a
colossal 20-40 million metric tons of lithium! Lithium is a key component for many
technology-based manufacturing items to include batteries for EVs! This find will
give the US leverage and make them less reliable on other countries for this
important mineral!
More entertainment news; Kevin Spacey is ready for a Hollywood comeback after
being acquitted of sex charges across the pond. This is perfect timing for the
disgraced actor given the resolve of the writer’s strike and soon to be resolved
[wishful thinking] actor’s strike! Spacey [64] wants to rebuild his career and
reputation. Time will tell if Hollywood will give this former star a second, or is it a
third chance?
A new JFK assassination revelation could upend the long-held “lone gunman”
theory. In a new book former secret service agent Paul Landis says he found a
casing or shell from a bullet in the limo in which Kennedy was killed in. This new
information which is being reviewed for truth will completely alter the Warren
Commission’s findings back in the day. We refrain from getting into politics in The
Sprinkler, however we are compelled to say the single bullet theory was madness.
Reminds us of the absurdity of the single bullet scenario by watching the Seinfeld
episode when Jerry reenacts the “single spit” theory! Also, “hey Paul Landis, ever
hear of timing?”
Marilyn Monroe’s former home in Brentwood California is set to be demolished by
its current owner. Brentwood citizens as well as an HOA in Brentwood hope to
change the current owner’s mind given the home’s historical significance.
Uruguay to offer free antidepressants to thwart suicide rate. The country is offering
free antidepressant drugs along with setting up youth social and mental health
centers as part of their national plan to aid wellness. It will be interesting to see if
this positively impacts this challenging country issue, which is also a worldwide
issue.
Scientists in Australia discover an amazing use for leftover coffee grounds. The
scientists are working on a project that could be producing concrete that is 30 per
cent stronger than traditional concrete methods using charred coffee grounds! This
is very cool; we wonder if the buildings and structures using this method will have
that amazing coffee smell!
A ship hauled a record amount of garbage out of the grotesque trash patch in
Pacific Ocean. Non-profit groups continue to work on methods to reduce the
amount of garbage in a trash patch which is the largest area of accumulated trash
in the world. It is said the floating menace is twice the size of the state of Texas!
America’s first nuclear reactor in almost seven years has started operation in
Georgia. The nuclear plant will power around 500,000 homes and businesses.
Many pro nuclear pundits believe this clean energy source is one of the answers to
the fossil fuel warming issues.
Deeply saddened Hershey’s snack unit pulls coffin shaped one chip challenge
product after a Massachusetts teenager dies from eating the chip. The one up
society we live in coupled with the desire to be a social media star has its dire
outcomes all too often.
America’s most hated foods? We can probably say the following three foods are the
most divisive in the US:
Black licorice – ever tried a Good & Plenty? Come on!
Oysters – On the half shell with hot sauce and martinis! What?
Anchovies – For cooking these little suckers really add a kick to dishes!
Nothing like super boney and salty fish!
And ending on a lighter note, which some may call a sports story; Aaron Rodgers
claims to have seen a UFO. This celebrated sports superstar sure has his bag full of
nonsense!
This wraps this month’s headlines!
Practical Life Skills
Returns – Exchanges. Restaurant issues – service and quality. In our next
newsletter we will review best practices for handling returns and exchanges from
Amazon, Wal Mart, Target and the like. We will also explore the best ways to
report an issue with a restaurant visit. Our suggestions will not only make you feel
better about returning and complaining about issues but they will save you time
and money! We don’t like to complain about items purchased or restaurant
experiences, hell we would prefer to have great experiences at all times. The reality
is that service, quality and value are a challenge in many facets of being a
consumer. We don’t complain because we enjoy it, we do it because fair is fair. With
today’s inflation, being fair and equitable are truly a value add.
The Garage:
Do your own oil changes. Mr. Z is our resident mechanic and implores auto owners
to complete oil and filter changes themselves whenever possible. A lot of new
vehicles come with free oil changes for a certain period of time, and of course it
makes sense to take advantage of that special. Regardless, many auto owners either
over pay for their oil changes or neglect the frequency of having them done all
together. The average cost of recommended synthetic oil [5 quarts] is around $35-
$40 and a good oil filter is around $10. [These are average prices and depending
on what part of the country you are in as well as the type of vehicle you have the
prices can be higher]. Changing your own oil and filter has many advantages
- Pride of completing a task for your ride that is so important to its
performance and longevity
- Money savings
- Time savings
- And one thing many may not realize. Trust. There are many oil change
places in this country and general repair shops that promote oil and filter
changes. The problem is, if you don’t trust that shop, they will often come
back and say, by the way your vehicle needs this or it needs that. The “oil
change special” ends up costing a lot more!
We recommend utilizing YouTube for video reference by choosing your year, make
and model. An inexpensive set of car ramps can be purchased and are highly
recommended. You can obtain these for $50 a set. A few notes about your basic oil
and filter change. Always make sure to have your oil, and filter at the ready. These
items are readily available at your local auto parts store or Amazon – eBay. An oil
collector container should be purchased as well. Check with your local area
regarding places that take used oil. The initial cost of the ramps and dirty oil
container will be made up after two or three oil changes and are a one-time
purchase if taken care of. Make sure you have driven the vehicle up to speed the
day of the change. Once the motor has cooled, begin the oil change. A piece of
cardboard from an Amazon delivery can come in handy as a barrier between your
garage floor / driveway and your body. Make sure the vehicle is in park [or in gear
for manual trans] and emergency brake is set once you have pulled it up onto the
ramps. Using the appropriate wrench to remove the oil plug from the oil pan makes
quick work of draining the oil into the oil catch container. Remember, when
tightening the oil plug after the oil is drained does not require superior strength –
don’t over tighten. [Torque wrench recommended]. Remove old oil filter and install
new filter. Two things about the oil filter, don’t over tighten and rub a little oil
around the gasket on the filter for a good seal. Once you are done underneath the
vehicle it’s time to add the fresh oil. Depending on your vehicle a funnel can be
helpful with this step. Make sure to wipe off any spillage.
This is also a great time to check your other fluids. Check your owner’s manual if
you are unsure where the main fluid areas are and what their levels should be.
Windshield washer fluid, brake and power steering fluid. And don’t forget to check
your coolant level! After checking all fluids and making sure all caps – lids are
refastened do a once more look-see and fire up the auto. Check under the hood for
any leaks and close the hood. Carefully back the auto from the ramps and you are
done! There are many suggestions on how often to change your oil and filter.
Review the recommendation from the oil manufacturer and or auto maker. For a
reminder, we keep an old school notebook with next mileage for oil and filter
change. Utilize your phone as a reminder or whatever note taking system utilized.
This auto task should take around 30-45 minutes depending on your vehicle and
expertise.
The Kitchen:
Boiling eggs. What? This is a life skill? Yes, yes it is. Weekly meal prep can be
challenging from a time standpoint. Eggs are a great source of protein and with the
price of a dozen having dropped over the last couple of months; making them a
value-add meal element. Boiled eggs are very versatile, we will refrain from listing
the 1000 things you can do with them. The simple thing to do is use them as a
midday snack, they are easily portable and there is no need to add anything to
them. Egg salad is an American classic and boiling a dozen or more eggs on a
Sunday makes quick work of egg salad during the week. Quick tip for your egg
salad, try chipotle mayonnaise in lieu of regular mayo for a twisted kick. One other
suggestion for your egg salad; cube an avocado and toss it in with your spices and
celery!
As far as making boiled eggs, there are many ways to accomplish this task. One
suggestion we have is this full proof method that results in very yellow and creamy
yolks along with easy to peel shells. There is no need to add vinegar or any other
odd ingredients to make the shell almost peel itself.
Boiled eggs:
Make sure the desired quantity of eggs is brought to room temperature. Place the
eggs in a large stock pot and cover about one inch over the eggs with tap water.
Bring the water to a rolling boil and set your timer for ten minutes. While you wait
for the eggs to finish, prepare an ice bath – bowl for the eggs. Once you hit 600
seconds remove the eggs with a kitchen spider [like the utensil you would use with a
deep fryer]. The eggs should be placed into the ice water bath to cool those little
suckers down. Keep the eggs in the ice bath for about 10 minutes.
The easiest way to store the boiled eggs once you have completed all those steps is
to put them back in the egg box from purchase. Hard cooked eggs are good for
seven days in the fridge. Mark the egg box with the date you cooked them as a
safety reminder. These eggs will peel easily and the yolk will look like the sun on a
perfect summer day.
Interesting Individual:
We will be putting the spotlight on an interesting individual monthly. This can be
someone living or dead, real or fictitious.
We kick off the interesting individual with Benjamin Franklin. [1706-1790]. He was
a renaissance man and one of our most colorful founding fathers! Let’s be clear on
two things, he did not invent electricity and he did love the female form!
Good old Ben:
Benjamin Franklin Honored by International Swimming Hall of Fame. Benjamin
Franklin's first invention was swim fins. He was an avid swimmer and invented
these when he was 11 years old!
He almost killed himself making a turkey due to electricity, another time he was
using electric shock to cure a man of paralysis and the treatment went sideways.
He was America's first celebrity
He created his own alphabet.
He was accused of being a philanderer. Interestingly enough for its time, Franklin
considered women equally talented as men.
Franklin was considered to have an addiction to sex and it was such a weakness that
he neglected his family immeasurably. [We won’t go into this as much as we might
like to, but men saying they are addicted to sex are literally crazy!]
He went abroad for stints as long as five years and then ten years. He
communicated with his wife and family via letters with promises to return - always
putting off the return for different reasons. Historians have for the most part, stayed
away from delving into his marriage too much for a number of reasons.
Was he our founding playboy? Sure seems like it! Benjamin “Hefner” Franklin?
B Franklin Inventions:
Lightning Rod
Bifocals
Swim Fins
Franklin Stove
Urinary Catheter
American Celebrity [He was known as a renaissance man]
The Odometer [Practical applications for this device including laying out postal
routes]
Closing
Thank you for taking the time to read the second chapter of Psycho Studios The
Sprinkler. We look forward to sharing great stories, ideas and suggestions along
with humor and insight! Our next issues will be part of a monthly subscription fee.
For less than $9.99 per month you will enjoy all our great topics and more specific
practical life skills that will save you easily 5-10x the subscription cost. Details will
be available on our website.
Be safe and stay psycho!
Mr. W / Mr. Z
Psycho Studios
10.3.2023