Being a geek like I am (what’s that? You didn’t notice?), I often have schemes in mind that require pulling new cables from one end of the house to another. Our current house doesn’t have an easy path from the first floor to the second floor, so instead I have to thread cables sideways down the back wall to get them into the garage. Needless to say, it’s time-consuming and frustrating work.

Not too long ago, I hit upon what I needed: some flexible conduit of some sort. I had in mind the kind of 1.5-inch wide plastic tubing that I often see around fiber lines. Only problem was I couldn’t find it anywhere in the hardware stores.

A few weeks ago, I found what I was looking for: a 25-foot roll of swimming pool vacuum hose. Lowes sells it for $12 in their landscaping department. I can thread this around the rafters and through the wall one time, and easily stuff it with as many cables as will fit.

Perfect.

Congratulations to the Raleigh Police Department for arresting a suspect in the Stephanie Bennett murder case. As each year dragged on, I became less and less convinced the killer would ever be found. Drew Edward Planten could be that killer, and today he’s behind bars.

Through the magic of DNA testing and RPD’s gumption to keep knocking on doors and asking questions, the streets are a little safer today. Let’s hope that if Planten is the killer, he gets put away for a long, long time.