Matt Shelton

Things I read, liked and bookmarked in the last 24 hours:

• How To Set up a USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 7 If you have a netbook and would like to upgrade it to Windows 7, you may be wondering how to do it without a clunky external DVD Drive.
• LackRack – Eth0Wiki This is an incredibly cheap alternative to buying a network rack. I may need to employ this for wiring the house, centrally locating a NAS, etc.

links delicious, google reader, hacks, howto, ikea, links, network, rack, software notes, to-do, tools, usb, windows7

Things I read, liked and bookmarked in the last 24 hours:

• Our Best Bites: Single Serving Pie in a Jar I like pie, and what could be better than single-serve pie?
• Build A Book Nest This looks like a cute idea for a "books I’m reading" bookshelf that wouldn’t be too hard to build.
• Cool Tools: Toto Eco Drake I’ll have to remember this one for whenever I can cobble together the money to remodel our bathroom. This looks like a smart way to get a strong flush using less water.

links baking, bathroom, books, delicious, google reader, home, links, pie, snacks, to-do, toilet, woodworking

Things I read, liked and bookmarked in the last 24 hours:

• Peekaru Original Fleece Baby Carrier Cover by Toge My son doesn’t really need this anymore since he’s walking up a storm, but it might be useful for a future kid.
• MagicPrefs is a must download for Magic Mouse owners The Macic Mouse is on my to-buy list if we ever spring for Macs at the office.
• Save Yourself the Reach by Installing an A/C Socket in Your Desk This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this, but this will be as good a reminder as any that I need to remember this technique next time I’m putting together a desk for myself.

links baby, cait, children, delicious, desk, electrical, google reader, links, macosx, magicmouse, parenting, software notes, to-do

Things I read, liked and bookmarked in the last 24 hours:

• The Organic-Shelf Office You’d have a tough time finding a workspace with a more seamless integration of greenery than this.

  I have got to try this. It’s minimal and really, really smart.

• Use Tea to Infuse Your Hot Chocolate with Flavor – Drinks – Lifehacker If you want to flavor your next cup of hot chocolate without pre-made mixes, throw in a tea bag or two and infuse it with flavor.

  I tried this with Swiss Miss No Sugar Added powdered cocoa and Bigelow’s Mint tea in a bag to see if you could get any results with cheap (or free, since it was from the office) materials. You know what? It was actually really tasty. I’m going to have to give Early Grey a shot next!

• $10 USB power outlet leaves no plug behind
  I gave serious thought to building the one that Engadget linked on the previous day (http://is.gd/5rVWn), but since this is so much more useful (you get two 110 outlets and two USB outlets), for the same price it’s almost a no-brainer. I’ll take two!

links chocolate, cocoa, delicious, desk, garden, google reader, links, recipe, tea, to-do, woodworking

Things I read, liked and bookmarked in the last 24 hours:

• Build a Silent, Standalone XBMC Media Center On the Cheap – Feature – Lifehacker You won’t find a better media center than the open-source XBMC, but most people don’t have the space or desire to plug a noisy PC into their TV. Instead, LH converted a cheap nettop into a standalone XBMC set-top box.

  Total cost: $222 including remote, but not including the spare flash drive you’ll need for the install. Add a bit more to double the RAM and it’s a serious contender to the AppleTV or MVix units

links delicious, google reader, links, to-do, tv, video, xbmc

Things I read, liked and bookmarked in the last 24 hours:

• Save Money And Stay Cooler with a Whole-House Fan – Household – Lifehacker
  Depending upon its size, a whole-house fan uses only 10% to 20% as much electricity as a central air conditioner. Also, it uses significantly less electricity than a window air conditioner, yet it keeps the entire house more comfortable, not just one room. Installing one generally provides a good payback on the investment.

  I'm seriously considering this for my house as our (non-functional) central air unit is from the 60's, and it's not really worth cooling the basement of a brick house anyway.

• How to Build a Simple Sandbox, CBS, Bob on TV, BobVila.com
  An easy-to-build sandbox can be constructed in a few hours using basic tools. Most lumberyards will cut wood to length at no extra charge. Do-it-yourselfers with a circular saw or a power miter saw can make the required cuts with ease. A box of 2-1/2- or 3-inch galvanized nails and a hammer complete the job.

links delicious, diy, google reader, kids, links, sandbox, to-do, woodworking

Things I read, liked and bookmarked in the last 24 hours:

• How to Build a Rotating Canned Food Shelf
  Thinking seriously about having better inclement weather preparations, as well as overall better storage for food stuffs led me to this. I'm somewhat itching for a building project. This looks like fun.

links delicious, diy, food, google reader, household, howto, links, storage, to-do, woodworking

Things I read, liked and bookmarked in the last 24 hours:

• Make This: Boon Stash Storage System
  Individual storage compartments for sorting everyday objects is always good for workspace organization. Like a cafeteria tray for your junk drawer or home office, this simple, pre-built storage system is an easy, inexpensive, and attractive DIY when you've got some PVC on-hand.
• How Long Do Coffee Beans Last Once Opened?
  To check if your beans are fresh, scoop 1/2 cup into a zipper-lock bag and press out all the air, then seal the bag and leave it overnight. If the beans are within seven to 10 days of roasting, they will make the bag puff up from the carbon dioxide that they release. If the bag remains flat, then the beans are not producing gas—a sign they've passed the point of peak freshness.
• The Burger Lab: The Fake Shack
  According to Adam's sources, the meat is a 50:25:25 blend of sirloin, chuck, and brisket. Don't use too much oil. With a Shack Burger, you want the meat to stick to the pan—that's how it gets that flat, sheath-like crust.

links coffee, cooking, delicious, diy, freshness, google reader, grilling, hamburger, howto, links, meat, organization, pvc, recipes, storage, tips, to-do

Things I read, liked and bookmarked in the last 24 hours:

• Magnetic Knife Strip Keeps Drillbits Handy and Organized Via Lifehacker: The hardest things to keep organized in your garage/workshop are the things you use most often. Screwdrivers and drill bits fall into that category around our home, and no matter how much we think we are returning things to their proper place, screwdriver and drill bits are easy to lose.

links delicious, google reader, links, storage, to-do, tools