(TV Tonight, Saturday, July 4th, 2009) Nothing to watch tonight, but you’ll be watching fireworks and/or accidentally blowing your hand off anyway.

All times are central

• Detonators: Demolition (Science, 7:00 pm)
• Detonators: Pyromania (Science, 8:00 pm)
• Under Construction: Two Sides to Every Job (DIY, 8:30 pm)
• Under Construction: Concrete Block Party (DIY, 9:00 pm)
• Detonators: Sheer Force (Science, 9:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Friday, July 3rd, 2009) Tonight we get a look at the making of socket sets and other interesting items on a new How It’s Made.

All times are central

• Deconstructed: Catalytic converter, toilet, bathroom scale, barbecue (Science, 6:00 pm)
• Deconstructed: Juice extractor, strongbox, telephone, lava lamp (Science, 6:30 pm)
• Wrecked: Code Red (Speed, 7:00 pm)
• Wrecked: Marci’s the Boss (Speed, 7:30 pm)
• Wrecked: The Blizzard (Speed, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Socket Sets, Leather Shoes, Aluminum Water Bottles and Bike Chains (Science, 8:00 pm) NEW
• Wrecked: Coldest Day of the Year (Speed, 8:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Aluminum Boats, Alpine Horns and Luxury Watches (Science, 8:30 pm)
• Wrecked: Odd Jobs (Speed, 9:00 pm)
• Wrecked: It’s a Dangerous Job (Speed, 9:30 pm)
• Forge and Anvil: Welcome to Forge and Anvil. Episode 101 (RFD-TV, 10:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Thursday, July 2nd, 2009) TLC seems to have abandoned their motorheaad programming tonight, although one could make the argument that they abandoned it several years ago. We do get a new Wrecked, World’s Toughest Fixes, a Naked Science on fireworks, and the new How Do They Do It looks at “supercars,” whatever they might be.

All times are central

• Cool Tools: Cut Above (DIY, 5:00 pm)
• This Old House: New Orleans Project (DIY, 5:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Wall-to-Wall Carpet, Table Saw Safety (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Break It Down: Diesel Locomotive (National Geographic, 7:00 pm)
• World’s Toughest Fixes: Mississippi River Barge (National Geographic, 8:00 pm) NEW
• How Do They Do It?: Super Cars (Science, 8:00 pm) NEW
• Successful Farming Machinery Show (RFD-TV, 8:00 pm)
• Wrecked: Code Red (Speed, 9:00 pm) NEW
• Naked Science: Secret World of Fireworks (National Geographic, 9:00 pm) NEW
• Wrecked: Joe, Terminal Manager (Speed, 9:30 pm)
• Top Gear (BBC America, 10:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Wednesday, July 1st, 2009) Discovery is running a Pitchmen marathon tonight in memory of Billy Mays so no Mythbusters or Time Warp for you tonight.

All times are central

• Cool Tools: Change of Season (DIY, 5:00 pm)
• This Old House: New Orleans Project (DIY, 5:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Extension Cords, Pop-Up Drains (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Accident Alley (History, 9:00 pm)
• Wrecked: Hogs (Speed, 9:00 pm)
• Wrecked: Slaying the Dragon (Speed, 9:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Tuesday, June 30th, 2009) Nothing exciting nor new tonight.

All times are central

• Cool Tools: Classic Update (DIY, 5:00 pm)
• Machinery of the Past (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• This Old House: New Orleans Project (DIY, 5:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Clogged Drains, Installing Kitchen Cabinets (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Weapon Masters: Roman Scorpion (Military, 8:00 pm)
• Cool Tools: Transformers (DIY, 9:00 pm)
• Drag Race High: Fathers & Sons (Speed, 9:00 pm)
• Deconstruction: Windows (DIY, 9:30 pm)
• Drag Race High: A Day at the Office (Speed, 9:30 pm)
• Jesse James Is a Dead Man: Figure 8 World Championships (Spike, 10:00 pm)

I love watching New Yankee Workshop. It’s one of my favorite shows that I pull off the Tivo every weekend. I don’t think I’ve ever had the burning urge to put together a Norm Abrams Jigsaw puzzle before, but apparently now you can.

A limited run of signature series 357 piece 12” x 18” jigsaw puzzles depicting the bearded, flannel-wearing craftsman are available through the New Yankee Workshop site for $20 plus shipping.

(more…)

You know that weird sensation in Back to the Future II when Marty sees himself thirty years in the future? That’s kind of what other people talking about Toolmonger feels like to me. We spend so much time trying to put out content and tell folks about what we do, it freaked me out a little to see the site show up on ChannelFlip.

(TV Tonight, Monday, June 29th, 2009) A exciting new Swamp Loggers where they move to a new, opportunity-filled swamp.

All times are central

• Cool Tools: Multi-Task (DIY, 5:00 pm)
• Trains & Locomotives (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• This Old House: New Orleans Project (DIY, 5:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Cine Cameras, Glass Christmas Ornaments, Giant Tires (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Pruning, Hot Water Heating (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Hot Rods, Decorative Eggs, Fire Hose Nozzles, Baseballs (Discovery, 6:30 pm)
• Top Gear: Season 12 Ep. 3 (BBC America, 7:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: 200 Jobs Look-Back (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• Top Gear: Season 12 Ep. 2 (BBC America, 8:00 pm)
• Swamp Loggers: Logging for Steak (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
• King of Dirt: Replacing a Beloved Tree (DIY, 8:30 pm)
• Rock Solid: Blue Marble Patio (DIY, 9:00 pm)
• Swamp Loggers: Tough Times Ahead (Discovery, 9:00 pm) NEW
• How It’s Made: Remix: By the Seat of Your Pants (Science, 9:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Sunday, June 28th, 2009) A new Ice Road Truckers tonight, plus Jesse James is a Dead Man.

All times are central

• Celebrity Rides: Hollywood’s Speeding Bullitt Special (DIY, 6:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Canadian Invasion (History, 6:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Blinding Whiteout (History, 7:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Accident Alley (History, 8:00 pm) NEW
• Jesse James Is a Dead Man: Figure 8 World Championships (Spike, 9:00 pm) NEW
• Successful Farming Machinery Show (RFD-TV, 9:00 pm)
• Wrecked: Odd Jobs (Speed, 10:00 pm)
• Wrecked: Thanksgiving (Speed, 10:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Saturday, June 27th, 2009) Catch up on Ice Road Truckers tonight.

All times are central

• Top Gear: Season 12 Ep. 1 (BBC America, 5:00 pm)
• Modern Marvels: Mad Electricity (History, 6:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Ice Road (History, 7:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Rookie Run (History, 8:00 pm)
• Under Construction: Toughest Clients (DIY, 8:30 pm)
• Under Construction: Two Sides to Every Job (DIY, 9:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Canadian Invasion (History, 9:00 pm)
• Jesse James Is a Dead Man: Jesse James vs. the Cops (Spike, 9:00 pm)
• Modern Marvels: Ice Road Truckers (History, 10:00 pm)
• Jesse James Is a Dead Man: Arctic Bike Journey (Spike, 10:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Friday, June 26th, 2009) Nothing much tonight but a new episode of Build It Bigger on NASA.

All times are central

• Holmes on Homes: Completely Incomplete (HGTV, 5:00 pm)
• This Old House: New Orleans Project (DIY, 5:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Mulching, Sash Balancers (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Glass, Changing a Jumbo Jet Tire, Soft Drink Cans (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Logging, Baggage, Light Show (Science, 7:30 pm)
• Build It Bigger: NASA (Science, 8:00 pm) NEW
• Extreme Trains: Overnight Traveler (History, 10:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Thursday, June 25th, 2009) TLC brings us a gassy new episode of American Chopper and the excitement of auto paint on the new Paint Misbehavin’. We also get a new episode of Wrecked and rudder repair on World’s Toughest Fixes.

All times are central

• This Old House: New Orleans Project (DIY, 5:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Cement, Caskets, Soft Drinks, Glider Rockers (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• Overhaulin: The Marks Return—Chip’s Picks (TLC, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Shower Valve, Recycling Batteries (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Crayons, Wooden Kayaks, Lawn Mowers, Gold Chains. (Discovery, 6:30 pm)
• American Chopper: Abu Dhabi Bike (TLC, 7:00 pm)
• Ultimate Factories: Peterbilt (National Geographic, 7:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Mining Trucks, Money, Bowling Alleys (Science, 7:30 pm)
• American Chopper: Chesapeake Energy Bike (TLC, 8:00 pm) NEW
• World’s Toughest Fixes: 50-Ton Rudder (National Geographic, 8:00 pm) NEW
• Successful Farming Machinery Show (RFD-TV, 8:00 pm)
• Wrecked: It’s a Dangerous Job (Speed, 9:00 pm) NEW
• Paint Misbehavin’ (TLC, 9:00 pm) NEW
• Wrecked: Hogs (Speed, 9:30 pm)
• Top Gear (BBC America, 10:00 pm)
• Jesse James Is a Dead Man: Arctic Bike Journey (Spike, 10:00 pm)

Think your kid’s macaroni art proudly pinned to the refrigerator is the ultimate in child show-off material? You’re not even close, my friends. Check this little guy out. It’s not a joke and it’s not a trick: that is a three-year-old driving a small excavator.

I’ve never been so green with envy in all my life. I’ve seen adults that aren’t as good with a digger as this kid is. My biggest accomplishment at age three was not chewing on the dog and this youngster can drive heavy machinery. He’s going to throw the bell curve way the heck off in school someday.

If I were Caterpillar or Komatsu I’d throw a bucketload of cash at this prodigy and his dad right now and start a global campaign with a tagline that went something like, “Our machinery is so reliable and easy to operate, even a three-year-old can do it.” Or perhaps “Komatsu, for those born to dig.”

3-Year-Old Successfully Operates Heavy Machinery Video [TechEBlog]

(TV Tonight, Wednesday, June 24th, 2009) Nothing much tonight besides a new, primarily biological rather than mechanical episode of Time Warp.

All times are central

• This Old House: Newton Project (DIY, 5:30 pm)
• Modern Marvels: Edison Tech (History, 6:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Metal Detectors, Muffins, Tiffany Reproductions, Aircraft Engines (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Automotive Fuel Pumps, Cricket Bats, Change Machines, Ductile Iron Pipe (Discovery, 6:30 pm)
• Time Warp: Big Cats and Mixed Martial Arts (Discovery, 7:00 pm) NEW
• How Do They Do It?: Ports, Contact Lenses, Tires (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Ice Breaker, Money, Bowling Alleys (Science, 7:30 pm)
• MythBusters: Phone Booth Friction (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Blinding Whiteout (History, 9:00 pm)
• Wrecked: Odd Jobs (Speed, 9:00 pm)
• Wrecked: Thanksgiving (Speed, 9:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009) The first episode of How Do They Do It: Space is tonight — not sure if it’ll be Toolmonger related, but it should be interesting.

All times are central

• Machinery of the Past (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• This Old House: Newton Project (DIY, 5:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Kitchen Backsplash, Installing Sod (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Salt, Wristwatches, Wind Turbines (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Air to air, ski slopes, car production (Science, 7:30 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Space, Episode 1 (Science, 8:00 pm) NEW
• Drag Race High: Under Fire (Speed, 9:00 pm)
• Deconstruction: Granite (DIY, 9:30 pm)
• Drag Race High: Fathers & Sons (Speed, 9:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Monday, June 22nd, 2009) A new Swamp Loggers provides excitement this evening.

All times are central

• Trains & Locomotives (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• This Old House: Newton Project (DIY, 5:30 pm)
• Modern Marvels: Wiring America (History, 6:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Mule Logger (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Childproofing, Sump Pump Installation (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Top Gear: Season 12 Ep. 2 (BBC America, 7:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Leech Trapper (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Airplane Recycling, Fireworks, Computer Printer Cartridges (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Diamond Mine, Skyscraper, Car Crusher (Science, 7:30 pm)
• Top Gear: Season 12 Ep. 1 (BBC America, 8:00 pm)
• Swamp Loggers: Cutting It Up in the Muck (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
• King of Dirt: A Yard’s Attitude Adjustment (DIY, 8:30 pm)
• Rock Solid: Rubber Pebble Pool Deck (DIY, 9:00 pm)
• Swamp Loggers: Logging for Steak (Discovery, 9:00 pm) NEW
• Jesse James Is a Dead Man: Arctic Bike Journey (Spike, 10:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Sunday, June 21st, 2009) A frosty new Ice Road Truckers for your enjoyment tonight.

All times are central.

• MythBusters: Water Stun Gun (Discovery, 5:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Rookie Run (History, 6:00 pm)
• MythBusters: Motorcycle Flip (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Canadian Invasion (History, 7:00 pm)
• MythBusters: Seesaw Saga (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• Ice Road Truckers: Blinding Whiteout (History, 8:00 pm) NEW
• MythBusters: Prison Escape (Discovery, 8:00 pm)