How To...

 

Stop a Car with No Brakes

You're exiting the freeway, headed toward that really sharp curve in the exit ramp when you realize your brakes aren't working.  What do you do?  Down shift if you can, slowly pull up on the emergency (parking) brake, and start honking. 

  • How to Stop a Car  - A well written step-by-step process with all you need to know.
  • About Brakes - Lists possible reasons for brake failure and troubleshooting tips.
  • Popular Mechanic - Check out the tip on using another car to slow you down.

Calculate Pi by Throwing Frozen Hot Dogs

That's right.  You can get an approximate value for mathematical pi by throwing frozen hot dogs.  All you need is some masking tape, a peice of paper, and nice clear throwing area (like a kitchen).  Check out the sources below for details on how and why this actually works.

  • WikiHow - Step by step instructions for completing the exercise, along with tips to help you out.
  • How Pi Works - A brief, easy to read article on pi that explains why it is so important.
  • Pi Information - Digits, formulas, history, approximation, and the Buffon's Needle experiment.

Break Out of Prison

Hopefully, you'll never end up in prison.  But if you find yourself overseas on vacation when a civil war breaks out, you could find yourself in a bad situation.  NOTE: This information is for educational use only.  Attempting to escape should be a last resort.  If you have been imprisoned for committing a crime, attempting to escape could land you more jail time.

Avoid Getting Pulled Over by the Police

Almost every driver will be pulled over by a policeman at some point in their life.  The decisions you make before and during an incident could make the difference between a warning and a revoked liscense.  Remember, the number one way to avoid getting stopped is to obey the law.