Occasionally, when it comes to playing the Six Degrees game, I'll pull out a fun trivia tidbit. I'm only three degrees away from Mobutu Sese Seko, the former dictator of Zaire. Via, of course, Pat Robertson.

It's good for a chuckle -- albeit a nervous one -- but it's true. Many many moons ago (think the 80s), I published a zine. I did this before I'd ever heard of a zine, and thought it was just called a publication or perhaps a news magazine. It involved lots of work with paste-up boards and an old daisy-wheel printer, scamming interviews with interesting people, and convincing publishers to send me 'review copies' of books. What a life!

Eventually, the 'Awww, kid publishes magazine! How cute!' angle got some publicity and there were about 300 or so subscribers around the country. At its peak, I was asked to co-host an episode of The 700 Club, a well-known Christian news/talk show hosted by now-infamous Christian televangelist and political personality Pat Robertson. Pat wasn't there that day (alas -- I'd only be TWO degrees from Mr. Seko) but the results are still... curious.

Now, thanks to the wonder of Google Video, you can witness it, too. Hilights include me with a scarily fluffy mullet, news clips about Michael Gorbachev's new vice president, the awkward interrogation of a black child on live television, and The World's Most Morbid Interview Ever.

Bonus! For the truly curious, my childhood encounter with bodybuilder Jake Steinfield. Don't Quit!

EDIT: Where Are They Now links for Rachel Saunders, Gabrielle Carmouche, and Sheila Walsh, my erstwhile cohosts.

When I was a wee child in need of cash to fund my plans for world domination and Star Wars Action Figure collecting, I turned to a variety of interesting vocational experiments. One such project was the popsicle stick sled affair. I manufactured boatloads of little runner-sleds out of popsicle sticks and sold them as Christmas tree ornaments at local craft shops. I was seven, I think. Maybe six.

I mentioned this in a blog entry a while back, and ever since then I've been getting google hits from people searching for popsicle sled making instructions. Hello, google searchers! I have heard your cry! Today, I shall post said instructions.

Step 1: Prep Work
You'll need six popsicle sticks, and something capable of cutting them. A small craft saw, wire cutters, something along those lines should do the trick. You'll also need some craft glue, and a bit of red paint and a brush if you want to get fancy.

Step 2: The Cutting
Take two of the popsicle sticks and cut off the rounded ends at a 45° angle. These two sticks will serve as the sled's runners. Grab another stick, and cut it into two pieces as indicated by the dotted lines in the picture. The longer of the two pieces will serve as the crossbar, and should be rounded on the cut end. The shorter piece will be used as a crossbar underneath the sled, to keep it together.

Step 3: What You've Got
You should now have three unmolested popsicle sticks, and four cut-up pieces to serve as the runners and crossbars. If you're the fancy-schmancy sort, paint the runners and crossbars red for a Christmasy look and let them dry.

Step 4: Assemble the Frame
Line up the three uncut sticks so that the middle one is sticking out a bit. This forms the classic flying wedge of a runner sled, favored by boys worldwide for running into inconveniently placed snowmen. Take the long crossbar and glue it in place near the front of the wedge. When it dries, flip the sled over and glue the short crossbar to the underside of the sled to give it more stability.

Step 5: The Runners
Once both crossbars have dried properly, your sled's ready for its runners. Run a line of glue along the edge of each runner, and carefully set it in place. Each runner should butt up against the short crossbar on the sled's underside -- that helps keep them in place while they're drying.

And that, friends, is it. There are more elaborate designs floating around on the web, some that result in a much wider sled appropriate for decorative painting. The advantage of this design? It's dirt simple, and it's just the right size for a Hasbro-sized action figure to take s cruise down a snowy hill. Yo Joe.