Home Improvement Video

My Useless Husband started out as a silly comedy for TV that made a sharp right turn into a serious interactive training DVD. We did many workshops and found out that 22 minutes with a straightman and a comedian was entertainment; not education. So I changed format and designed it for people that are serious about learning (from scratch) how to use tools and materials to improve their home. I assume that you never picked up a tool before. Most TV home improvement shows have no logical beginning; random projects tend to be confusing. My program teaches you the fundamental skills and concepts that are required to accept any challenge; whether it is to improve your home or build scenery for your child’s school play. It is limited only to your imagination. Experience is not required to take this course. I start with the basics. Lesson 1, teaches you how to build a simple plywood box. Step by step instructions guide you through the process. The DVD training format enables you to get more detailed information as you need it. I’ll give you an example. If I use a circular saw in the video, a saw icon will appear on the screen. If you are not familiar with the circular saw, select the saw icon and press enter. Watch the video clip showing you how to use the tool. Then return to the lesson; pick-up right where you left off. My teaching method is non-linear. I encourage you to go backwards as much as you go forward in the lesson. Most education is linear. The teacher presents the lesson during the class. When you leave the classroom the teacher’s words are gone forever. If you did not understand what the teacher was saying chances are you won’t remember most of the lesson. I need to watch concepts I don’t understand over and over again. For me, the VCR and DVD players have personalized education. I think of my television as a tool of education, not just for entertainment. It’s a good idea to have a DVD player and TV in your home workshop. Each Lesson is broken up into Chapters. Use the Main Menu to jump from Chapter to Chapter. Each Chapter is broken up into chapter points. This allows you jump step by step within each segment; navigating forwards and backwards. Remember to use the icons that pop up in the video to access more detailed information. Why do I start with a box? A box is a simple object that is the core or a key component of many things. The extension of this metaphor is after all, your house is just big box; certainly a much more complex box. …but… If you can build a simple plywood box, you can apply the same concepts to just about anything. I will show you how the box becomes a speaker cabinet, or a kitchen cabinet using almost the same set of skills. Each subsequent lesson builds on what you learned in the previous lesson. If you are serious about learning how to use tools and materials; you are willing to try and you are not afraid to make mistakes, then this program is definitely for you. I hope you will enjoy it. John Romeo
Click here to select Clip # 1 PLAY INRODUCTION from the menu

My Useless Husband started out as a silly comedy for TV that made a sharp right turn into a serious interactive training DVD. We did many workshops and found out that 22 minutes with a straightman and a comedian was entertainment; not education.

So I changed format and designed it for people that are serious about learning (from scratch) how to use tools and materials to improve their home. I assume that you never picked up a tool before.

Most TV home improvement shows have no logical beginning; random projects tend to be confusing.

My program teaches you the fundamental skills and concepts that are required to accept any challenge; whether it is to improve your home or build scenery for your child’s school play. It is limited only to your imagination. Experience is not required to take this course.

I start with the basics. Lesson 1, teaches you how to build a simple plywood box. Step by step instructions guide you through the process. The DVD training format enables you to get more detailed information as you need it. I’ll give you an example.

If I use a circular saw in the video, a saw icon will appear on the screen. If you are not familiar with the circular saw, select the saw icon and press enter. Watch the video clip showing you how to use the tool. Then return to the lesson; pick-up right where you left off.

My teaching method is non-linear. I encourage you to go backwards as much as you go forward in the lesson. Most education is linear. The teacher presents the lesson during the class. When you leave the classroom the teacher’s words are gone forever. If you did not understand what the teacher was saying chances are you won’t remember most of the lesson.

I need to watch concepts I don’t understand over and over again. For me, the VCR and DVD players have personalized education. I think of my television as a tool of education, not just for entertainment. It’s a good idea to have a DVD player and TV in your home workshop.

Each Lesson is broken up into Chapters. Use the Main Menu to jump from Chapter to Chapter. Each Chapter is broken up into chapter points. This allows you jump step by step within each segment; navigating forwards and backwards. Remember to use the icons that pop up in the video to access more detailed information.

A box is a simple object that is the core or a key component of many things. The extension of this metaphor is after all, your house is just big box; certainly a much more complex box. …but…

If you can build a simple plywood box, you can apply the same concepts to just about anything.

I will show you how the box becomes a speaker cabinet, or a kitchen cabinet using almost the same set of skills. Each subsequent lesson builds on what you learned in the previous lesson.

If you are serious about learning how to use tools and materials; you are willing to try and you are not afraid to make mistakes, then this program is definitely for you. I hope you will enjoy it.