You Should Blow Me Before You Leave

Do not Drink and Drive

Offbeat Rental Report: Blow Me…a Mobile Alcohol Breath Testing Rental Company

No, this isn’t a frightening college fraternity party flashback. Instead, it is the newest safety precaution being instituted at parties offering alcohol. Blow Me is a UK-based company offering rentals of breathalyzers. Keep reading! This is still an interesting topic…

Blow Me alcohol breathalyzer test Not only is the name brilliant, but the concept is ingenious. You may forget, but when you host an event that offers alcohol, you could be held responsible for the actions of the people in attendance even after they leave your party. Certainly you don’t want to experience the horrifying situation that could take place when a friend or family member has had too much to drink, then decides to drive home. With onsite breathalyzers, you can ensure anyone that is over the limit stays away from the wheel. Not only for safety purposes, but if someone is cited for driving while under the influence, they no longer have the ability to rent an exotic car through Rent It Today. (I know, sad attempt at a plug, but at least I fit it in.)

At this point, you may be thinking how hilarious it would be to observe a bunch of drunken people trying to give each other breathalyzer tests. I can see it now – a safety precaution turning into a competition of who can blow the highest number. Understandably, for this reason, the breathalyzers also come with professionally trained employees to administer the tests. With Blow Me, you can sit back, relax, and just enjoy the services of the professionals by letting them do all the work.

Blow Me Mobile Breath Testing Rental For more information, testimonials, and franchising opportunities, you can check out their web site, blog, or follow them on Twitter. In fact, here is a direct link (www.alcoholbreathtesting.com), so don’t go blaming me when your wife pitches a fit about your “blow me” online search.

**Although this article was written in jest, drinking and driving is nothing to laugh about. The Blow Me company, although comical in name, is a very serious and invaluable service. Alongside their physical administering of breathalyzer tests, they also promote awareness, and save lives. Over 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in drunk driving collisions. I whole-heartedly support the services of this company as a human being, and especially as a Mother.

Renting a Chicken is Nothing to Cluck At

Can you really rent a chicken

Offbeat Rental Report…Chicken Rentals??

If you just read that, and thought, “Rent a chicken – what a great idea!,” then you are more cognizant than this chick. If, on the other hand, you are like me and the others I mentioned chicken renting to, then you are thinking something along the lines of, “Whaaaaat? Why the cluck would I need to borrow a chicken for a few days?” Well, I’m here to answer that question.

To my amazement, there are numerous reasons to rent a chicken. The aforementioned Mr. Barraclough rents out his flock for educational purposes. Local schools in the UK borrow chickens from his farm for the duration of a school term. During that time, they learn how to properly care for a chicken. I’m not sure about you, but back in my day, we were given a doll to learn how to care for a baby, and scare us into not getting pregnant at such a young age. I guess the Northamptonshire area has seen an influx in teenage chickening.

You can Rent Chickens Making a tad bit more sense, Mother Hen, Leslie Suiter, rents out her chickens to natives of rural Traverse City in Michigan for practice in breeding. Based on your experience, you can determine if the bearing of chickens is your calling in life. If not, you simply return the chicks, and go about your un”fowl” existence.

Rentachook appears to have the appropriate business strategy in mind with their trade of chicken rentals. They advertise the chickens as an “environmentally sustainable pet,” and stress the benefits of “fresh, free range eggs at home.” Well, that makes even just a little bit more sense. They also rent live poultry to schools and daycare settings that have a specific lesson or educational objective in mind. On a personal note, one of my past professions includes being a preschool educator, and I admit, I just might have found a benefit in renting a chicken during my Feathered Friends lesson.

So let’s just say this written work of art has convinced you to rent a chicken for one of the purposes mentioned or for a completely different rationale. First, please email me relaying your motivation so I can keep “abreast” of chicken renting. Second, check out Rent It Today’s pet equipment so you are sure to give your chicken the best life before getting smothered in spicy garlic sauce and landing on my dinner plate.

Airport Rental Rest Stop Relieves Redeye

Redeye due to Airline travel layovers

Offbeat Rental Report: Airport Rental Rest Stop Relieves Redeye for Travelers

When your airline’s flight status changes from on time to a flight delay, being stranded at the airport can mean finding creative ways to kill time until you’re able to board your jet and resume your trip. It’s just a facet of air travel which buying an airline ticket can entail, be it the cheapest flight or flying first class. Air travel today can also mean long layovers even if your flight itinerary is going as planned.

If your layover turns out to be a long one, enjoying some rest or sleep is a great way to pass the time and reduce stress. However, the quality of shuteye one can get while slumped in a gate seat, curled up in a corner on the floor, or sprawled across an airport bench is questionable at best. And a crowded bustling airport terminal is not the most conducive atmosphere to catch up on reading, email, or other personal and business tasks.

Atlanta-based Minute Suites has a solution. The company is currently constructing private suites for rent at airports in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Dallas-Fort Worth as part of an effort to expand their concept beyond current installations in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Philadelphia International airport. The suites allow travelers a secluded spot within the terminal to catch some shuteye, decompress, or get some work done.

Standard accommodations for your private nook include a comfortable daybed sofa, pillows and fresh blankets. A sound suppression system within the suite neutralizes noise and a specially designed audio program is available to help enable a refreshing powernap. If you feel you might get too comfortable or doze off into a deep slumber, an alarm clock is provided. You may also request a convenient wake-up call.

Minute suites Interior If you’d just like to enjoy the solitude and aren’t sleepy, an HDTV in each suite allows you to take in the news, sports, or a preferred program. Your television also converts to a computer with access to the Internet and the airport’s flight tracking system.

And if you have a project that demands your attention, a desk, phone, and office chair are at your disposal. Connect your laptop using airport WiFi or utilize a direct connection port for internet access. If your laptop is in the baggage hold, no worries, you can use the suite’s computer with its variety of browsers and business applications.

These secluded getaways are not overly pricey, nor are they sardine cans. Developers wanted to make the spaces roomy and affordable. According to Minute Suites executives the reaction of early adopters has been extremely positive, and a random check of online reviews seems to reflect this.

So next time you’re stuck at an airport and you’d like to just get away from the hustle and bustle, take a look around and see if rental spaces from Minute Suites are part of the landscape. Of course, as an alternative you might consider the ultimate work around, which is renting a private jet.

Stepping Into the Rental Ring

Tiana Berwanger

“Ladies and Gentlemen, in this corner of the rented building, seated behind a rented office desk, and typing away on a rented computer keyboard….the newest Rent It Today blogger, Tiana “The Wordsmith” Berwanger!!!!” (and the crowd goes wild)

I’ve been with the RIT team for a few weeks now, and can honestly say I’ve come to love renting. I’ve held more conversations starting with, “Did you know you could rent…(insert item here)?” in the past month than you can even imagine. In this day and age you can rent anything, anywhere. I was excited when I was given the job to write about any interesting rental news I could find. Before my bosses could even finish explaining the assignment, my obsessive personality had placed me behind the computer, feverishly researching crazy/strange/unique/unbelievable items for rent.

Surprisingly, and quite quickly, I located numerous items that made my jaw drop in either surprise or revulsion. I’ve decided to share a portion of one list I found on WomansDay.com regarding some of the weirdest things available for rent.

Paparazzi – I don’t know about you, but I enjoy my privacy. I don’t need to pay others to chase me around, crowd my personal space, and not allow me to shower or go the bathroom by myself. I have two young children that do this for free.
Friends – For a low price of $10 an hour, you can rent someone to act interested in the same activities as you. I wonder, though, what if my “friend” has a fear of heights, and I have planned a day of bungee jumping and roller coasters? Does the price go up? And even more importantly, where was this service during my awkward and lonely teen years?!?
The next one on the list is under there…under where? Yep, that’s right, number 3 is “underwear”, believe it or not – I can’t even think of a humorous reason to rent underwear. It’s just plain gross.
Pets –For just under $100 a month, you can get your child to stop begging for a puppy every 3 minutes. Once they realize they are responsible for feeding, walking, and especially cleaning up after the dog, they’ll probably change their mind. You may want to check on the option of a buy-out, though, just in case this plan backfires.
Wife – The women available for this service are professionally trained in nagging, complaining about dirty clothes being left on the floor, and faking fondness for in-laws.

This assignment got me thinking…what would make my top 5 list of items I WISH were for rent?

1. Rainbows…

When someone is in need of cheering up, flowers are old news. They may be beautiful, but soon enough, they wilt away reminding the recipient why she was so sad in the first place. Now imagine if you gave her a rainbow! When she is feeling particularly down, she can just pull out the old band of magnificent colors standby, and be all smiles again. Once she’s overcome her situation, she just returns the rainbow, and goes about her merry way.

2. Tattoos…

Let’s just be real – you are eventually going to get over your Tweety Bird obsession….hopefully. I’m not against tattoos. I just think some people don’t put enough thought into what is actually occurring when they get one. They’re permanent, my friend! No matter which way your body goes, the tattoo is going with it! On the flip side, maybe our fine feathered fowl can pull off the look of a saggy body and crow’s feet. However, I see some exotic and beautiful tattoos out there that would be nice to wear for a day.

3. Head Basketball Coach…

We all need a little pick-me-up every now and then. By renting a coach, you can have someone in your face yelling, “You can do this!” “Get your head in the game!” “Get out there, and show them what you’ve got!” whenever you need a little boost. I guess it would be more of “renting confidence” in a sense.

4. A Grandma…

Be honest, if you could order up some fresh baked cookies, someone to spoil you rotten, and kiss your boo-boos, you’d pay whatever price was asked.

5. Look-Alike

There are certain situations in which I would gladly pay someone to pretend to be me, assuming they could pass as my IDENTICAL twin. For example, during all college exams. I also want to reap the benefits, but want nothing to do with Black Friday shopping. And, of course, there’s no price too high for someone to attend jury duty or a work conference in my place.

These people, services, and items may not be available for rent (just yet), but I can assure you Rent It Today has just about everything else covered. Whether you’re looking for rental properties, baby equipment, exotic cars, or one of over 61,000 items available on the site, check out www.RentItToday.com. In the meantime, I’m going to check out the RentAGrandma.com website I came across while writing this article…I could use a fresh batch of cookies right about now.

Rent Push Button Protection For Bears in Yellowstone

Rent Push Button Protection For Bears in Yellowstone and Other National Parks in Bear Country

Yellowstone National Park is not only one of Americas largest and most beautiful National Parks, it is also one the country’s most visited, typically ranking among the top five in annual guests. Attendance in Yellowstone is expected to exceed 3 million in 2012.

Yet many of these visitors probably don’t take into account the fact that they may have an encounter with a wild animal during their visit, much less a bear. Nevertheless the park is home to a significant population of both black and grizzly bears. Yellowstone is the only areas south of Canada that still has a large grizzly bear population. Bears may be seen in Yellowstone March through November.

2011 saw two people killed in bear attacks inside the park. Veteran hikers are aware of the threat and utilize protection in the form of canned bear spray, which has been shown to be more effective than even firearms in protection from bear attacks. In order to educate as well as protect less experienced visitors, a local nonprofit organization has plans to offer rentable bear spray cans in communities adjacent to entrances of Yellowstone National Park.

Bear Spray More Effective Protection Than A Gun and Safer for You and the Bear

According to the Bozeman, Montana Daily Chronicle, representatives of Keystone Conservation are still developing the program, aiming to have rental cans available by mid May. The nonprofit promotes people-predator coexistence.

In a nutshell, local merchants would partner with Keystone Conservation to offer the bear spray. Prior to rental, each can would be tested to make sure it works properly. To keep the program user friendly, customers could rent spray in one location and return it at another. Distributors would weigh the retuned can to verify it was not used, and then rent it out again if it was deemed safe.

According to a Keystone Conservation spokesman, the program goal is to improve public education about the possibility of bear encounters and increase the number of people mentally and physically prepared to deal with them should one occur.

A number of camping and outdoor outfitters currently rent bear spray, including LowerGear Outdoor Rentals and Sales, in areas of the country where bears are known to be prevalent. This program is geared to bring awareness of bear attack prevention to the general public.

Now, if only a spray could be developed to ward off the bears of Wall Street.

Goat Rentals? Now I’ve Herd It All

Go Green and Rent Goats

Most of the time when you’ve got a patch of weeds to get under control, you head over to the nearest garden center or hardware store and purchase a bottle of weed killer, take it home and apply it to your problem area. After a day or two the weeds are dying or dead and the job is done. This works well if you have an average sized lawn or garden.

So, what if you don’t want to use chemical weed killers, or have a patch of troublesome poison ivy, kudzu, or thorny blackberries that you can’t wade into? And if you’re faced with a big job, like an acre of massive tangled overgrowth that might defy even a bush hog, who ya gonna call? Goat busters!

That’s right. Conceptually Renting is a green concept and for the greenest of green and organic weed & brush control, many areas of the country can now take advantage of goat rental services. You can rent a small herd of goats to help clear brush, weeds, or just high grass. Goat rentals give one the ability to do landscaping work that would otherwise require harsh chemicals or large tractors and thus is an ecology conscious and earth friendly way to effectively clear land.

In all fairness, the use of goats to get troublesome vegetation under control will generally require at least two applications, yet this is true of chemical herbicides and also machine based methods. The benefit of using goats is that the land itself does not suffer and you can quickly introduce desirable plants on the land afterwards. Using chemical methods often renders the land unusable for long periods after the vegetation is eradicated. Renting four-legged lawn mowers does not negatively impact the earth.

Goat Rentals

It is important to note that goats do not make wood a part of their diet, so branches and other woody remains will require additional measures. Some goat rental companies also provide these services, or can recommend a service to address cleanup of what the goats do not have on their menu. Many goat rental services also will erect temporary fencing to keep their crews focused on a particular area.

Like many trends, the use of goats to clear land started in California, where goats were found to be an effective tool for clearing underbrush on steep fire-prone hillsides that were difficult to access. The idea caught on and in Silicon Valley, tech giants Google and Yahoo even rented goat herds to maintain their corporate grounds. The concept is now gaining acceptance across the country.

This novel and unique method of clearing troublesome vegetation might just lend a whole new meaning to the old question: What gets your goat?

Offbeat Rental Report: It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s….You!

Jet Pack Rentals and Water Adventures

Jetpack Rentals a reality? Fans of The Jetsons or The Rocketeer, as well as individuals who have longed to strap on a jet pack and escape the bonds of mother earth, take note. A novel and breakthrough rental concept is now getting off the ground in Florida, Arizona, California, and Hawaii that can make your flying dream come true.

Developed by German company MS Watersports GmbH , the Jetlev (an abbreviation of Jet Levitation) allows the user to experience personal flight in a way that leaves renters exhilarated and delighted. Designed for use over water, the recreational jet pack is propelled by two powerful streams of H2O, sending the wearer three stories into the air at 22 mph. The Jetlev is designed for safety, stability, ease-of-use, and features precise and effortless flight controls. Promoters claim that newbies can learn to take off, fly, turn, hover and land in as little as six minutes on the water.

The device is tethered by a hose to a small trailing craft about the size of a jet ski that pumps in the water which keeps the user aloft. Inventor Ray Li has been tweaking and reworking the concept since 2003. Safety and ease of use were his primary concerns and the Jetlev earns high marks for both. A fall from its maximum height is akin to jumping off a diving board.

The Jetlev jet pack story has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, Fox News, Sports Illustrated, Discovery Channel, Popular Science, and is the subject of several YouTube videos.

Would You Like to Rent a Jet Pack?

Learn more about renting a jet pack and the Jetlev personal flight experience at jetlevsouthwest.com for the locations in Arizona, California, and Hawaii. Florida has locations at Key West and Duck Key offered by Jet Pack Adventures. Be prepared for a sky high adrenaline rush and revel in friends and onlookers saying you’ve got your head in the clouds.

Offbeat Rental Report: Self Storage As Ultimate Man Cave

Self Storage Units - The Ultimate "Man Cave"

Self Storage Company Evolves The Man Cave

Every successful concept evolves from a basic form to its ultimate expression. The Model T led to the Ferrari, and the most plush private jet can trace its roots to the Wright brother’s wood and canvas flyer.

According to a January 20th story in the The Daytona Beach News Journal, Charlotte, N.C. based Hyde Park Storage Suites has taken two concepts, the man cave and self storage, to new heights simultaneously.

Self Storage client rents unit makes man cave

Mancaveology from Facebook.com/storagesuites

The self storage company offers large units that can be leased and customized. Purchase is also an option. And the customization can only be characterized as over the top. For starters, the storage units are climate-controlled spaces with electrical hook-ups, and plumbing can be installed. From there, only the imagination and budget of the customer limit what can be developed in the creation of the ultimate personal space. Standard equipment can include a big screen TV and refrigerator, and the driving theme is to ‘have it all’ in your own space. Virtually any creature comfort can be incorporated. Pool tables, poker tables, pinball machines, and video games are not uncommon additions.

In addition to the luxury of designing and customizing a personal man cave, the facility customers also have access to an onsite clubhouse. The clubhouse is in keeping with the luxury culture of the complex and includes maintained restrooms, a furnished lounge with plush couches, large screen TV, a bar, and kitchenette.

One of the major draws of the complex is the camaraderie which develops between the participants. Most of the tribe not only store their motorcycles, classic cars, and even motor homes in their units, they also work on them there. Vehicle restoration is also a favorite hobby. The opportunity to learn from each other and share ideas, concepts, and even tools and resources creates an environment not unlike a fraternity.

Are Self Storage Units the Ultimate Man Cave?

Hyde Park Storage Suites has operated their original location in Charlotte since 2001, and has recently opened a larger state of the art development in the Daytona Beach market. It’s no coincidence that both locations are located near NASCAR tracks, as company founders Kevin Mahl and Jamie Rolewicz also own Champion Tire & Wheel, a company that uses 26 tractor-trailers to transport equipment and supplies for NASCAR teams. You can visit Hyde Park Storage Suites on Facebook here and see various “degrees of Mancaveology”.

Every man needs a place to hang out, lay back and decompress. Being able to do so in luxury and style and with like minded friends in a place that allows secure storage of adult toys is a concept in evolution that Darwin could only have dreamed of.

Additional Offbeat Self Storage News:

Self Storage Unit or Crematorium

Weird Storage Findings

Offbeat Rental Report: I’d Like To Rent Your Driveway Today

Parkatmyhouse.com founder Anthony Eskinazi won't stand in your way if you want to rent this spot.

Most of us have attended a major event and seen enterprising individuals turn their nearby yards and driveways into parking lots to cash in on the demand for convenient access. My first experience with this phenomenon was at the Indy 500 in 1969. It seemed like every yard within two miles of the famed oval was occupied by homeowners offering their yards and driveways as parking lots. And business was brisk.

An enterprising entrepreneur has taken this idea and created a web site to expand this concept to almost any available parking space in North America. Anthony Eskinazi, CEO and founder of ParkatmyHouse.com intends to make more convenient parking available to drivers while delivering dollars to driveway owners across America.

Eskinazi, 28, launched the website in 2006, test marketing the idea in his hometown neighborhood in the U.K. The inspiration for the idea occurred when he was a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. Eskinazi had tickets to a San Francisco Giants and when he motored to the ballpark vicinity, he had trouble finding a spot to berth his vehicle.

On his student budget, Anthony found the rate advertised in available lots to be a bit steep for his wallet. Also, previous experience with post-game traffic had taught him that exit from these lots required a long wait which necessitated an early exit from the game if he wanted to avoid the delay in getting to his next destination.

Nearby empty parking spaces reserved for residents and businesses caused a light bulb to come on in his head and he recognized a business opportunity connecting supply and demand.

Since launching the web site, more than 150,000 people in the U.K. have earned more than $5 million from the site, Eskinazi said. His goal is to take the rental site worldwide, with a target market being anyone with an address or geographic point with a latitude and longitude and a parking space available for rent. The site assists drivers in finding spots in a specific area and allows payments online. Homeowners post driveways and businesses post parking during their off-peak hours. A church in London, England reports turning a sizable profit renting spots in their prime location.

The idea might just catch on. It has been featured in the New York Times, BBC News, and recently announced a strategic long term investment by automaker BMW. Apparently there’s a lot of appeal in potentially paving your driveway with gold. I’m currently searching spots in Indianapolis. Not for the 500. I can’t wait until May. The Super Bowl is just around the corner. Heck, this might even create a new real estate bubble for homes within easy reach of popular venues.

Offbeat Rental Report: Self Storage Unit or Crematorium?

The truth is often stranger than fiction and the rental world offers its share of stories that can be considered offbeat, strange, or just plain weird. With that said…Rent It Today is excited to introduce a new rental blog category: The Offbeat Rental Report. This week’s edition of odd rental industry news features self storage unit rentals and takes us to Saint Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands.

Self Storage Facility or Crematorium?

Self storage facilities offer many practical uses which are utilized by large numbers of consumers and businesses. The ways self storage facilities are used are quite varied, and one currently proposed method to employ a storage unit warrants closer examination for its unique application.

A recent article in the Virgin Island Daily News reports that a self storage business in St. Thomas, USVI has applied for a permit to use rented self storage space to operate a crematorium.

The proposed crematorium would occupy two self storage units in the southernmost buildings of the Fortress Self Storage . The proposal is currently under review. Saint Thomas currently doesn’t have a crematorium, and residents who wish to have remains of their deceased loved ones cremated have to travel to Puerto Rico for the service.

The funeral home owner who wants to operate the crematorium has met with some opposition from other renters. The facility has a number of tenants including a dance instructor, a bakery, and two salons, among others. The proposed crematorium would house a propane-fired chamber heated to at least 1,800 degrees. According to the report, the proposed 30-ton unit meets existing air pollution regulations and zoning ordinances.

The proposal does present some interesting possible future scenarios. If the proposal is denied, one might say it died and went up in smoke. Or if the proposal is approved and the tenant eventually fails to pay on the unit, can you imagine the episode of Storage Wars that could be filmed? Picture the reaction of the bidders when the door is rolled up to reveal a 30 ton crematory furnace.

Although perhaps a bit out of the mainstream, this story does illustrate the versatility of self storage rental. Perhaps the take away lesson here is, if you plan to rent a self storage space to house a crematorium, be prepared to meet some stiff resistance.

Written by +Bob Schrichte for +RentItToday

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