* Illustration: Jason Lee * ...Make Fireworks
Our great nation was built on the principles of independence and self-reliance. It's practically patriotic to build your July 4 fireworks from scratch. So, Harry Gilliam, CEO of pyrotechnics supplier Skylighter, told us how to make a spectacular fireball. (Disclaimer: Wired will not send bail money or reattach fingers.)
— Daniel Dumas
1 // The Fuse Punch a hole near the bottom of an empty 10.5-ounce can (the Campbell's Soup variety is perfect) and insert a 6-inch fuse from the hobby shop.
2 // The Explosives Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of black or smokeless powder (available at Wal-Mart). Then cover it with a disc-shaped piece of tissue paper.
3 // The Fuel Fill the rest of the can with Cremora, the highly flammable powdered nondairy creamer. Make sure it's well sifted and not clumpy.
4 // The Show At dusk, gather some friends, light the fuse, and run back at least 25 feet. Your creation will explode in a 4- to 6-foot ball of flames.
Illustration: Jason Lee...Hack a Hottie's Digits
This nifty trick is sure to score you phone numbers at a bar. 1. Surreptitiously dab a thin layer of lip balm on the tip of a ballpoint pen. 2. Approach your target and tout your special mind-reading power: "I can pick out your digits from a collection of phony ones." With your eyes averted, tell the hottie to jot down their actual phone number on a paper coaster and then 10 fake ones in any orientation. 3. When you get the coaster back, take out your cell and say, "Now all I have to do is make a few calls ..." Cue laughter. Now examine the coaster. The first numeral in the correct number will begin with an inkless groove of oil and develop into a solid line. Bingo!
—Chris Lesinski
Illustration: Jason Lee...Avoid Being Mauled by a Mountain Lion
Conventional wisdom says never to flee from cougars—except, of course, the kind that wears Chanel. Park rangers tell you to face the wild animal and try to look big. But it turns out that you may have better luck running your ass off, as long as you have a head start on even ground. >>> Richard Coss, a UC Davis expert on predator-prey relationships, studied 185 cougar-human encounters and found that people who stood still avoided injury only 26 percent of the time. Coss explains that cougars may view your lack of flight as a sign of vulnerability. Of people who backed away, 39 percent survived unscathed. And of those who booked it, 50 percent escaped without a scratch. >>> To avoid looking like lunch in the first place, Coss suggests using a walking stick: It keeps you from stumbling, which makes you appear weak. And should you find yourself eye to eye with a hungry cat, it can double as a bludgeon.
—Rachel Swaby
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