Blog 2.0
2010.02.08 | | no comments
Welcome to my wiki, a place where I’ll store all the tips, tricks, resources, and other tidbits I hope will come in handy at some point down the road. Some of what you will find will likely be of little interest to anybody but myself, but hopefully you’ll find something to make the stop worth your time.
Enjoy!
Knifesharpening 1.0
2010.09.14 | kitchen, outdoors | no comments
Sharpening your own knives… DO IT!!!
Clean Hands
2010.09.14 | psychology | no comments
A recent study found a new benefit to washing your hands. Apparently, after making a big decision, if you follow that up with a hand-washing session, you’ll feel better about your decision. Similar to washing away your sins, it helps us to wash our conscience. Interesting stuff.
lifehacker (with audio)
DIY Mousetrap
2010.09.14 | design, diy, pests | 1 comment
Here’s a nifty & humane DIY mousetrap you can build with a toilet paper tube, a treat, and a trash can. Also, the site this comes from just happens to have just about the coolest layout I’ve seen on the web. I like!
Whack the Cracker
2010.06.02 | fun & games | 2 comments
I heard of this awesome group game the other day. Everyone gets a saltine cracker, string, and some newspaper. Each person puts the string through one of the holes in the cracker and makes a sort of belt, with the cracker hanging over their caboose. They then roll up their bit of newspaper and try to whack everyone else’s cracker so that it breaks off their string. Last intact cracker wins!
Remembering to Remember
2010.05.27 | organization | no comments
Lifehacker has an incredibly helpful and comprehensive guide to setting up automatic notifications of important events using gmail, google calendar, and a few other free services. After an hour’s work now I’m all set to remember birthdays, obscure holidays, meteor showers, and when my favorite shows will be available for watching on the hulu. Happy day.
Alfredo Sauce Snack
2010.04.02 | recipes | no comments
One of my favorite snacks is a loaf of french bread and a bowl of heated alfredo sauce to dip it in. Cheap, easy, and delicious.
Dropbox
2010.03.27 | software | no comments
Dropbox is a very very helpful tool that allows you to keep files you place in a special Dropbox folder synced across multiple machines—no more constantly plugging in that jump drive. You can also login to your free account online to retrieve your files that way if you aren’t on one of your regular computers. Setup an account via this link and you’ll get an extra 250 mb of space (on top of the 2 gig you get by default).
Lacie Iamakey Jump Drive
2010.03.20 | cool buys | no comments
I picked up one of these jump drives a few months ago and must say I’ve been very impressed. Not only is it thin—no wider than your standard key—but also incredibly strong, and water resistant. Comes in 4-to-32 gig varieties.
Pick one up at Amazon
Belt it up
2010.03.18 | clothes, cool buys | no comments
I’m not that big into belts—I much prefer the $1.40 strap I’ve used for the past decade—but if I were, I’d probably get something like this, which keeps your iPod accessible, yet out of the way, or a less girly version of this (I don’t often find myself in need of lipstick but I like the general concept).
Ultrathon Insect Repellent
2010.03.15 | cool buys | no comments
I enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, but bugs can take all the fun out of a beautiful day in a jiffy. Last year I was lucky enough to discover this repellent made by 3M. It’s a lotion and lasts for 12 hours. Amazingly enough, it is not 100% deet, but works as if it was, and as an added bonus, it doesn’t smell too bad either.
On a related note, clear nail polish seals off the itch of any existing bites.
How to Tie Your Shoes
2010.03.09 | clothes | 1 comment
That’s right, there are videos of how to tie your shoes on the web. Even better, I’ve included one on my wiki. Why is that? Because if your laces ever come untied like mine do, it means you’re tying them wrong. Ditch that granny knot and embrace a reef knot to keep those laces in place. Great for runners, little kids, and people like me.
Courtesy of lifehacker. Video after the jump. › continue reading
Grammar: the single most important thing
2010.03.09 | education | no comments
I must have been absent the day we covered usage of “it is” vs “it’s” in 4th grade because I somehow made it to age 26 never having cleared that up. Now I know, thanks to the highly entertaining/instructional grammar guides found at theoatmeal. The guides on apostrophes and semicolons were quite helpful, with classic sample sentences such as, “I gnaw on old car tires; it strengthens my jaw so I’ll be better conditioned for bear combat.”
Listen to a Movie
2010.03.04 | entertainment, websites | no comments
Something I like to do that helps to keep my brain occupied while I’m working on some mindless task is to put on a movie. Sometimes though, I will end up forgetting all about my task and get all caught up in the film. One website I’ve found helpful to solve this problem is a website called listentoamovie where, you got it, they have just the audio tracks to a bunch of movies. Problem solved.
Free Documentaries on the Web
2010.03.03 | education, entertainment | no comments
Looking for videos that are a bit more substantial than what you’ll find on YouTube? SnagFilms offers hundreds of documentaries, all free for the viewing and posting elsewhere. It’s still a growing site, but they already have a decent lineup with several well-known titles in the mix. “Super Size Me” anyone?
Indoor Herb Garden
2010.03.03 | gardening | no comments
One of the hobbies I’d like to pick up is gardening, but lacking my own place and yard, I’ve always felt it was something that would have to wait. Apparently, though, some herbs can be grown indoors just fine. This site outlines how to grow different herbs so that you can put that green thumb to some good use.
Fat Legged Table
2010.03.02 | design, diy, furniture, office, organization | no comments
I have a slight fetish for cable management. There is something quite satisfying about hiding those unsightly cables. I love the concept of this table with one hollow leg through which to route your cables. If I weren’t so in love with my ikea jerker desk, and if I actually owned any real tools, I’d love to make something like this.
Best Weather Site on the Web
2010.03.02 | websites | no comments
Weather Underground is my new go-to site for weather updates. It has a nifty full screen weather map with temperature readings from dozens of different weather stations. I find it particularly helpful when planning that next adventure up the canyon or to the Frisbee golf course.
Eye Language
2010.02.25 | dating, secrets | no comments
Pupilometrics (the study of the changes of pupil size) teaches us that our pupils get bigger when we see something we like. This means you just need to look into your date’s eyes to know if they are into you. So much easier than doing something absurd like, I don’t know, asking them…
Learn more at WikiHow, including how you can manipulate your own pupils to dilate or shrink at will. [via]
Vertical Chess Set
2010.02.25 | design, diy | no comments
Similar to the Board Games as Art concept, this idea puts a spin on your traditional chess board and hangs it on the wall. The only difference here, is you don’t take it down when you want to play a game. Only one question: where do you put the defeated pieces?
Climbing Silos
2010.02.21 | architecture | no comments
Someday when I build my house I’m going to do something like this. These were once abandoned sewage treatment silos in Amsterdam, but after a contest to repurpose the structures, they were given new life (and hopefully a thorough cleaning). Not only do they have climbing surfaces inside and out, but they also feature offices, restaurants, and other commercial spaces.
