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BY JERRY DAVICH
Times Features Writer | Sunday, April 18, 2004 | (No comments posted.)
Cy Tymony is a science-savvy region native who can use run-of-the-mill household items to detect counterfeit cash, create plastic from milk, activate devices with a ring, and use a lemon as a makeshift battery, among other MacGyver-type things.
Raised as an only child on Chicago's South Side, Tymony's mother often would send him to the baby-sitter, where he had nothing better to do than read encyclopedias and comic books every day.
"My favorite character was Lex Luther, Superman's nemesis,'' Tymony said from his Los Angeles home. "Here was the great Superman with all of his powers, and yet his greatest enemy was a mortal man who escaped using ordinary objects.''
"Hmmmmm,'' Tymony thought as a kid, wondering what alternative applications HE could concoct using his trusty erector set, electrical kits and chemistry sets.
Growing up, Tymony enjoyed watching other brainy idols, too, like "the Professor'' on Gilligan's Island, whose character's name, by the way, is Roy Hinckley, Tymony noted.
And "Q'' from the James Bond films, whose name, by the way, is Major Bothroyd.
"The Q stands for Quartermaster,'' Tymony revealed.
Tymony also learned from Peter Falk's "Columbo,'' and the TV detective's keen attention to detail, and from science-smart shows like "The Wild, Wild West,'' "The Man From Uncle,'' and "Get Smart.''
"MacGyver came much later in my life,'' he said, "but I have watched every episode.''
One day, a light bulb flashed above his head. Why not share his gift-of-gadgetry in a book?
"I've always experimented with technology, reading every survival and security technique I could find,'' he explained.
Those experiments eventually led to, "Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things'' (Andrews-McMeel Publishing, 2003), which is in its third printing.
On Friday, at 10 p.m., Tymony will be talking about "Sneaky Uses'' on the radio, on WLS-AM 890.
He returns to the region yearly to visit his family.
At 3 p.m. Saturday, Tymony will be at the Barnes & Noble book store in Hobart, signing copies of his book and offering "sneaky'' suggestions to local patrons. At 2 p.m. April 25, he'll be at Borders Books, 2210 W. 95th St., Chicago.
He typically begins each event by telling real-life stories about World War II prisoners of war who secretly built a 19-foot airplane inside a German prison.
"Although they were inspected 10 times a day, they managed to build it without a saw, drill or any other tools. They only used their floorboards, bed sheets and over 6,000 pieces of wood,'' Tymony said.
Curious readers can visit www.sneakyuses.com to see a photo of the plane, science Web site links, and samples of other sneaky uses for everyday things.
Opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. Jerry Davich can be reached at jdavich@nwitimes.com or (219) 933-3376.
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