You have a dog that brings things back? I've assumed the term "retriever" is ironic, for labradors anyway.

My dogs play 'chase', followed by 'get distracted', followed by 'ignore owner' followed by 'watch owner retrieve ball'.

Apparently it's a bunch of fun.

I couldn't think of a better use of a Firearms licence than making Fireworks.

One of my favourite off topics – I think that we should need explosives licenses to operate fireworks. But I also think they should be real explosives – not the wussy stuff they sell us now.

Andrew any idea if your friend can build one that falls back into a recessed position for dogs to drop the ball in and set it off?

You have a dog that brings things back? I've assumed the term "retriever" is ironic, for labradors anyway.

Might need a co2 cylinder, collection pan & tube to deliver the ball into the launcher assembly.

For the intellegent energetic dog and super…

I don't have a trebuchet, but if you want to give them even a vaguely sporting chance, I have a claybird thrower and a shotgun. They get one last burst of freedom, and you get them to blow them out of the sky like rats-with-wings.

Or if you shoot anything…

If you don't build it yourself, then it loses all its charm. And wildly dangerous inaccuracy.

That must be a fundamental difference between us Kyle, that's what happens is I do build it myself.

If you don't build it yourself, then it loses all its charm. And wildly dangerous inaccuracy.

Thinking about it though, the hard disk was just about all that did survive. Could you try putting it in a vat of Coca Cola?

http://www.catapultkits.com/

I know a guy who makes trebuchets.

Those are the coolest things. I want to make one for my backyard and use it to throw the ball for my dogs. For the dog's entertainment only, obviously.

The fact that they might have to cross three neighbouring properties to retrieve their…

Clearly, the truest method of revenge is one of eternal torture.

Why bother with incineration...

Some say the world will end in fire
some say in ice...

As with 81stcolumn's…

Firefighters out out fires

I used to flat with Ferrymead Rail enthusists.

http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/3/35/HanPopcicle.jpg

Maybe a few disfiguring blows from a sledgehammer, then encased in carbonite (or whatever molten plastiky thing you have on hand)?

power-gel

Oh, and an explosives license. Or failing that a friend on the West Coast.

(nuff said)

My suggestion is a combination of several ideas to recreate the final scenes from Terminator II.

Scene 1: dunk…

think the kiln won't work – it's a little known fact that hard drives are one of the few things that survive household fires.

I'm no fireman, but do most household fires reach 1200 degrees?

I think the…

The hydrofluoric acid idea is great, but you may find some very nasty fumes from it (and…

I've always fancied having a go with one.....bet it would be fun!

I suggest going to a pet store, buying a bowl and some sea snails, tadpoles, weed, maybe a few fish and watch the things slime up over several weeks.

Mmmm slime.

like a computer piñata!

Just tie those pesky PCs together, hang the bundle from a tree, step back, and watch the fireworks begin! Everyone will want a go a taking out their bitter frustrations on those nasty computers!

Enjoy!

Oh, could that be an option? Put them in a container with lots of mentos and diet coke?…

More feasibly, I bet a welding torch would do some nice damage.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'm leaning towards the arrow at the moment, although a scientist PA reader with excellent access has dangled the prospect of access to a nuclear facility.

Daleaway, I thought you might recommend a landfill. I still remember…

Dangle your hard drives over them on a string, swaying them closer and closer and scream maniacally. Drool a little.

Oh, Mr-Person-from-the-Railways-reading-this, I mean a bloke I met in the pub said he thought this…

I recently euthanised a baby hedgehog which had inadvertently consumed rat poison with the sharp end of a spade.

I must say, causing suffering on anything, even inanimate objects with no pain sensors, is still somewhat abhorrent.

(And I'm aware of the oxymoronic nature of the comment above.)

Or if you know someone who…

wouldn't you know it,…

I'm thinking the violent release of kinetic energy is more satisfactory in the short term?

Smack em up a bit,…

I can see some sort of high powered steel arrow peircing all three drives.

That's just what I was thinking. I think it's the way they're lined up in the picture.

The kiln is remarkably, chillingly, hands-off and cold-blooded. If we were going for heat stress I'd want a flame-thrower.

I'm guess ing not, but I wouldn't know.