On this day in 1888 Marvin Stone patented the waxed-paper drinking straw. It's been used ever since for many things other than the obvious slurping-up of sodas and milkshakes. For example, tape one to the end of a tube of caulking for a longer reach when bending around corners and getting into tight spaces. Try one as a holder to extend the length of lighted matches. Use a straw to hold nails and tacks -- to prevent hitting fingers with the hammer. Straws can serve as guides for feeding wires into holes and tricky places. Or slit them and wrap them around plant stems for support and protection from insects. Straws are versatile tools. They move small amounts of liquid, too; dip one end, cover the other with your finger, move it to a new location, and release. And that's the On The House tip for today.