OK. I've read a few ( hundred ) of the messages. Quite a collection of sarcastic individuals. I like that. Cut the people to shreds, helps to thin out the herd. Good thing I'm never intimidated by Earthlings. My suggestion of a device which should be able to be built in the alloted time ( man, I really liked it when they were built and USED the same day. No lame "we gave them an extra hour to tinker" stuff ) would be a woodchipper machine. You toss logs or branches into a deadly whirling blade, and the most measured weight of chipped wood in a given time period wins. Should be sufficiently dangerous enough to keep people on their toes, assuming they have any left after testing, and could actually be entertaining. Nothing like whirling blades of death to get your attention. Or, how about a car lift ? Not the old type with the massive hydraulic ram in the center. No, more like the newer type today with a steel "rack" which is on the sides of the vehicle, and the "vehicle" could be lifted by some type of engine powered pulley system, hydraulics, chain hoist, etc. Has Earthmover been mentioned ? Something nuclear would be fun. Maybe a touch dangerous. Let the slicing begin !

bobwatts

-- Robert E. Watts (watscarb@one.net), February 08, 2001

Answers

People get sucked though those things every now and then. The Factory built one are dangerous enough. I can see george/robert covered in gore saying "MMM Tasty!"

-- Stephen A. Binion (Stephenbinion@hotmail.com), February 08, 2001.

well.perhaps some type of safety screen could be put around the wood chipper.. the idea has some possibilities

-- JunkMan (r1ddller@juno.com), February 08, 2001.

I would hope that the "chief expert" (the one that has to bet the farm) is smart enough to teach the crews the safest way to operate the more dangerous equipment. A butterknife can be dangerous to the untrained.

-- Dan (bolden2@hotmail.com), February 08, 2001.

Yes and have it wind powered and grind grain too.

-- Rob.Fitterling (rpfit@hotmail.com), February 08, 2001.

Ya, Junkman, remember the end of the movie "Fargo". A little dangerous but sounds like a fun challenge....

-- Duane Flatmo (flatmo@humboldt1.com), February 09, 2001.

Instead of using branches, use 1x2's or 2x2's. They should be less likley to cause injuries. First team to grind up their wood wins. I would be more worried about the chipper flying apart. Those things spin at high RPMs. If it's not ballanced right, Look Out! This idea may not have been on the FAQ, but I know it has been mentioned before.
Regarding the nuclear idea. Do we judge that by greatest hair loss or most cases of cancer?

-- Mark Richter (jyw@troyjaycees.org), February 09, 2001.