Beastly Closet

My closet needs to be reclaimed- I'm going to clean and arrange this beast.
Here's what it looks like-


Once the Mac's are gone- I'll have more room.
I post an after pic later.
The Mac's are part of a larger group of Mac's taking up residence at my humble adobe.
Educational All in One version Macintrash Computers.
I can't remember what the Spec's on these are. I'll have to pull them out to see.

CheapGeek- Clean that Stinking Sink.

I’m cooking a Turkey. It’s January 20.

I bought the Turkey when the price was right and I’m going to cook this bird.

The problem is this-

1. Turkey is frozen hard- like an ice cube- a 13.38 lb. ice cube.
2. It’s takes about 3 days to refrigerator thaw that bird. Based on Weight.I will eat this bird on Sunday. My freezer is small I need the space for frozen pizza, burritos, Hungry man meals, you get the idea.There are a couple ways to “quick thaw,” a turkey.I’m using the cold water method.

The cold water method is this: (For future reference)

1. With a thoroughly clean sink- fill with cold water. Approx. ½ inch over the bird.
2. Place turkey in cold water bath. Ensure there are absolutely no rips or tears in the plastic turkey bag thing. If rips or tears are present, place turkey in a plastic bag.
3. Place turkey in the sink.
4. Remove and refill water bath every 30mins. Repeat every 30 mins. Until turkey is thawed. Roughly 3 hours and 40 mins. This completely depends on the weight of your turkey. Consult the tag attached to the plastic turkey bag thing.
5. Clean everything that the bird has touched- even if it’s in the bag. You’ll also need to repeat the cleaning(s) when the Turkey is out of the plastic turkey bag thing.

The title of this post is “Clean that Stinking Sink.”

Before I can start thawing my bird, I need a clean sink- the reason for this post.
Since thawing the Turkey in my sink will require it to be clean- I gave some thought to the cleaning method.
Cleaning the sink with chemicals does not seem like a good idea. No need to poison myself.
Here’s what I came up with- I’ll use dish soap and two readily available and very cheap kitchen staples. (Baking Soda and Vinegar)
Baking Soda and Vinegar combined, not only makes Volcanoes but also makes a fizzing, foaming cleaner.
Here’s what you do-

1. Clean the sink with a scouring pad or sponge, using the dish soap. Rinse.
2. Allow the sink to dry.
3. Take the dish soap, and lightly coat the sink.

1. Add some white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to a small squirt bottle or in my case- an empty dish soap bottle.
2. Lightly squirt or spray the soda/ soap in the sink.
3. Use a clean sponge to mix the baking soda, soap and vinegar to create a pasty mix. Small tight circles, Daniel-San.
4. Make sure the sink’s surface area is coated. Let it set for 15 mins.

1. Rinse well, and repeat if needed.

Don’t know if you need to repeat? Do it anyway.

Benefits-

1. Clean sink.
2. You’ve just cleaned and freshened your stinking sink.
3. The baking soda and vinegar helps to keep the drain open. Think Draino, but for about $.25 cents.
4. Baking soda is mild compared to scouring powder- safe for sinks that scouring powder is not recommend.

Other uses for this cleaning method-

• You can do the same thing to your shower or bath tub. It works very well.
• Eats through soap scum, mildew and is dirt Cheap, Geek.

Cheap Geek- Make Refrigerator Magnets

CheapGeek- Make Refrigerator magnets-(not original by any means)

Here's the deal- after seeing the all the magnet Instructibles,

and having magnets

and a refrigerator

and crap to go on it,

I figured why not make and add my own magnets.

I had leftover business card magnet blanks.

These are the type with a removable paper back with a sticky side for attaching a business card.

As I am working on ways to become more organized, I was throwing things away.

Some of these items were perfect for being re purposed for refer magnets.

Here's where the- How To Starts.....

Step 1-

Gather Your Materials:

1. Crap- to serve as Art/Magnets. If your stuff is more interesting, your magnets will be more interesting.

2. Magnets different types and / or sizes.

3. Refrigerator

4. Glue- hot glue or some other suitable sticky stuff.

Step 2-

Take your items and make art.

The item weight should not exceed the stickiness of the sticky stuff -or- the strength of the magnet used to attach it to the refrigerator.

After you've stuck the magnets to the crap you've selected as refrigerator art,

stick them to the refrigerator.

Step 3-CheapGeek- Done

After you've attached your magnets is a neat and organized manner,

very carefully open the refrigerator door and slam the hell out of it.

If some of your art falls off- you may need to attach more magnet material or re adjust how the magnet is actually attached to your crap. (art) I had to readjust the fish. It would fall off. After adding more magnet material, the wooden fish was stabilized.

After your adjustments have been made, and your testing is complete- carefully open the door and reach inside, and carefully grab a beer.

Close door.

Open Beer.

Done.

Cheap Geek- Stupid Digital Camera tip O' the Day

BATTERIES-
Here's the deal, the cheap ass dollar store batteries are not going to cut it.
Put them back in the remote control. Buy some good rechargeable batteries. If you can take 300 pictures before you have to recharge them, good... That's a normal use cycle. So what if you have to recharge them. That's the point.. If your camera takes "AA" buy some 2400 milli amp hour, nickel metal hydride batteries. 2400 mah, NiMh as they are labeled. They last longer, don't get nearly as hot as others and they don't leak as much. Some batteries like lithium or Li ion get warm and can leak. That's not good for your camera. Or you. A $20.00 investment will pay for itself after about 4 charges.
Some batteries are $8.00 bucks a pop. Three sets and you have already bought the rechargeables.

I personally follow some guidelines and I have found my batteries last a long, long time.
Here's some tips to follow:

1. Don't store the batteries in the camera- No worries about leaks. The batteries may discharge less. I look at it like this- if you have contact to the positive and negative ends the battery, even with no power draw, the battery may drain faster than not.
   
2. Charge the batteries until the charger says the charging cycle is complete- remove from the charger. I know the batteries are supposed to stop receiving a charge when the cycle is complete. I do it as a practice any way. I don't like leaving things plugged in any way. Less fire hazards the better. And- what if it doesn't...
   
3. Use the battery and then re charge- If you take 4 pictures you don't really need to charge them. If you took 4 pictures two weeks ago. charge them. They really don't need to be constantly charged.
4. If the battery is swollen, cracked, split, or gets really, really hot, throw them away. If the batteries last for a very short time- it may be time for to replace them or the charger. You can buy replacement batteries. If the price for the replacement batteries are over 60% of the price of a battery charger and batteries, buy the kit. It's cheaper in the end.
   
5. Use it or lose it. They need to be used. Periodic use will extend the battery life.
6. Clean the contacts- periodic cleaning of the battery charger and the battery contacts should be considered maintenance. You can use a pencil eraser.
   
7. UNPLUG THE CHARGER FIRST!!!
   

Cheap Geek- Stupid Digital Camera tip O' the Day

Here's my Stupid tip of the Day-
Fill the frame- when framing your shot. Fill it- empty space can take away from your subject.
Place the emphasis on the subject. Here's a before and after-
Decent enough picture- the subject is in the center and its obvious, what I'm trying to show you.

Here's a different view of the same picture. A small amount cropping or trimming changes the way the picture looks-
I think it looks better- provides more interest.
The object is a very strong refrigerator magnet with small screws on it. (for safe keeping)
Fill the frame. Your results will vary..

Happy New Year's Everyone.....

Well, the New Year is here. 2007!
New Year, new ideas, resolutions, promises........ Time for a change....
Earlier- I said I was going to reorganize my desk. This is the first step to reducing the clutter of my life in general. I cheated a little- and started early. As a procrastinator this was a good start.
I unfortunately- put off- placing the new pictures up until today. I'm digging the new desk look.
Open and not cluttered- airy, lots of light, more space, good stuff.
Here's some before and after pictures of my desk-

By removing the shelves, replacing the clunky CRT, with a Starlogic flat panel LCD, clearing out old papers and removing un needed electronics, my desk is very different. More work area and the extra light is a nice benefit. I got a deal on the LCD, Officemax emailed me their Friends and Family flyer which had the LCD on sale for $80.00 off, and a trade in for used ink cartridges ($6.00) a piece- normally $3.00. I used the coupon and traded in 3 for $18.00 off.
Out the door for $101.50. Not bad- for no rebate....
Over all a nice transformation. Reducing clutter is my mantra for this year- Next will be my hall closet- that beast is going to take some planning.............. Happy New Year's........