|
Handy Hints |
|
Hayfever
|
Do you suffer from seasonal runny and/or watery eyes?
Do you find yourself sneezing uncontrollably at certain times of the year? Do you get itching eyes, nose or mouth?
If so, you might be suffering hayfever.
Dedicated to those people who suffer hayfever, this site offers some general
information about hayfever, its symptoms and diagnosis as well as some tips on how to manage hayfever.
The fine print indicates that the site is owned by Sigma Pharmaceuticals, so they do recommend some of their own
pharmaceutical treatments. However, it does provide a great guide to preventing or minimising your symptoms.
Hayfever.com.au
|
|
|
|
Home Maintainance
|
|
With the help of Rusty and Sandy we have come up with 100 Handy Hints
to help you maintain your Home. From installing garden lights, laying concrete, ...
Home Maintainance
|
|
|
|
All you wanted to know about digital photography
|
It's amazing how far digital photography has come in the last few years. Ever since digital photography came
into our lives, taking photos has become so much easier. Not to mention so much more convenient.
Today's cameras are small and are very easily put into a pocket to carry around. There is no longer any need to
carry rolls of film with you. All you need to do is to see that the batteries in your camera are charged and ready
to take that picture. One of the best things that digital photography permits is the fact that once your images are
uploaded on your computer, you can send them to as many people as you like. The following links may be of use to
people who intend using their camera this summer.
All you wanted to know about digital photography
|
|
|
|
Scratched discs
|
Ever wanted to install an old program and found that your optical [CD/DVD] drive can't read it?
Both cd's and dvd's will pick up a lot of scratches over time and make them impossible to run.
There is a way to copy the contents on to your computer.
Scratched disc - no problem
|
|
|
|
The Essential Cleaning Kit
|
With these inexpensive products and tools, you’ll have everything you need to tackle the whole house.
The Essential Cleaning Kit
|
|
|
|
Manage Your Cables
|
You spend an hour or so arranging your desk, moving your monitor, setting up your speakers — the last thing on your mind is cable
management. When it comes time to plug everything in, you just want to fire up your rig and commence fragging, or movie watching,
or minesweeping. You don't want to get arm-deep in the mucky muck you've created behind your computer. What you can't see
won't hurt you, right? Wrong.
Manage Your Cables
|
|
|
|
Manage Your Man
|
Let's face it ladies, a lot of men today are slobs. They care little for their appearance.
While you may spend many hours preparing for a social function, men probably spend about five minutes. So with that in mind,
this is the first hint on making your man presentable. They will learn about shaving. Designer stubble - what's
that all about? They will also learn how to tie the Perfect Tie Knot. It's not much, but it's a start - and you
wouldn't want to tax their minds too much at one time!
Manage Your Man
|
|
|
|
Simple Housework Guide
|
It's a rare person among us who looks forward to cleaning the house. I certainly don't, but a clean house is something
I enjoy perhaps too much. I love a clean, uncluttered house, and I'm not afraid to admit it.
I constantly experiment with ways to simplify my house-cleaning routine, and what follows are some options I've experimented
with or am trying out now. Not all methods will appeal to everyone, but I'm hoping that at least a few of the ideas will
have some use to you, and perhaps inspire a simpler routine in your life.
So grab your Essential Cleaning Kit and let's get started.
Simple Housework Guide
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How to Sew
|
|
This instructable will cover the basics of hand sewing - tools needed, threading
the needle, knotting the thread, running stitch, basting stitch, backstitch,
slipstitch, blanket stitch, whip stitch and finishing with knots.
How to Sew
|
|
|
|
How to Make the Perfect Cup
|
Whether you prefer tea or coffee, here are a few ideas on how to improve that drink.
Many people ask no more than that their tea be "wet and warm", but in the hunt for perfection in a tea cup, a
scientist has created a formula for optimal temperature, infusion and imbibation.
Oh, and when to put the milk in.
Making a delicious cup of coffee is not a magical experience or a hit-and-miss stroke of luck. With the proper information,
anyone can brew a consistently great cup of coffee every time.
How to Make the Perfect Cup
|
|
|
|
Do More with Your Webcam
|
|
The webcam that came packaged with your computer system can do a whole lot more than just let you video chat.
But not all computers come with a videocam, so if you need to add one to your system take a look at these [
1
2
3 ].
With the right tools, you can turn your webcam into a
watchful surveillance tool, a face recognition-enabled
computer login utility, a time-lapse movie-maker, and more. Take a look at some ways you can get more
out of your underutilised webcam.
Do More with Your Webcam
|
|
|
|
How to Recover Deleted Files with Free Software
|
|
You delete an important file or photo, somehow it skips your Recycle Bin altogether, and for all practical purposes,
it's disappeared forever. But before you hit the big red panic button, there is a very good chance that your file
is still alive and kicking somewhere on your hard drive — you just need to know how to find it. With the right tools,
finding and recovering that deleted file can be as simple as a few clicks of your mouse.
Recover Deleted Files
|
|
|
My House
|
MyVirtualHome
MyVirtualHome allows users to create an accurate 3D walk-through model of their home,
preview renovation possibilities and products provided by vendors, and contact service
suppliers. People can share their home interiors and gardens for collaborative design.
The viewing software will soon be available as a free download, allowing manufacturers
and retailers to display products and themed homes in interactive 3D on their websites.
MyVirtualHome
Electronic House
Electronic House serves discriminating consumers who enjoy the elegance, simplicity
and fun afforded by integrated home technology. It is our mission to provide expert
information and insight on products and technologies that inspire, excite and help
our readers achieve the electronic house lifestyle.
Electronic House
|
|
|
|
The Bicycle Tutor
|
|
The Bicycle Tutor is the brainchild of Alex Ramon, a bicycle geek since early childhood. Having worked as a mechanic in bike
shops and with a love of photography, it seems natural for him to start a website [with videos] to help others learn how to
fix their own bikes. As any cyclist will tell you, regular riding means regular maintenance and repairs, so with ith over
30 short video segments describing how to perform various maintenance and repair tasks, this is a defiinite bookmark.
The Bicycle Tutor
|
|
|
|
Purchasing goods in the US
|
WorldPurchases
is a service provided to people who live in Australia that would
like to purchase items from the United States. A disadvantage is that most U.S
websites do not ship internationally, do not accept non U.S. credit cards, or
charge ridiculous international shipping rates. The service is provided by a
husband and wife team that grew up in Sydney and have recently made the move to
Los Angeles. Not everything for sale in the US is available for purchase by
Australian residents [a list of restricted items allowed into Australia is provided
HERE]. WorldPurchases
do not accept orders that contain items from eBay auctions.
Price USA
located in Bendigo also provides a similar service. There is a
very detailed thread at Whirlpool
discussing if priceusa.com.au is safe.
US Global Mail
provides mail forwarding that allows you to shop at eBay and other popular sites that will
only ship to a U.S. address. Site requires a registration fee.
|
|
|
|
Typing Tutor
|
|
Sharpen your typing skills with freeware application RapidTyping. Learn how to type as quickly
as possible while avoiding mistakes. As each lesson ends, you will be given statistics charts
with characters-per-minute, words-per-minute, and percentage of accuracy, and then be able
to move up to the next level where you will face tougher challenges. RapidTyping is a free download.
If you would just like to see how slow your typing is at the moment the website also has an
Online Typing Test so that you can
Typing Tutor
|
|
|
|
Create a First Aid Kit for the road
|
|
Nobody ever asks where the first aid kit is when something good has happened. In fact,
they're traditionally one of the first things left behind, in the interest of size
and weight. This brings me to the most important rule of a kit:
"You can't use it if its not with you". I like to think of my kit as an
insurance policy that I hope to never use.
Create a First Aid Kit for the road
|
|
|
|
Google Translate
|
Google Translate added 11 new languages:
Catalan, Filipino, Hebrew, Indonesian, Latvian, Lithuanian,
Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
Google's machine translation service now supports 35 languages and
you can use it to translate text between any combination of languages.
In most cases, Google uses English as an intermediary language, so when
you translate a text from Indonesian to Vietnamese, Google translates
the text to English and then it translates the result to Vietnamese.
You'll get the best results when one of the languages is English,
since Google needs a single translation.
Google Translate
|
|
|
|
Paint Storage
|
|
Over time, a small amount of paint stored in a large container can get pretty dried out. If left that way
long enough, it becomes totally unusable. Also, when paint is stored in its original container, it is difficult
to remember which paint goes where. Ron has come up with a great solution for safely storing leftover paint.
Paint Storage
|
|
|
|
19 SMS Tracks Down Costly SMS Services
|
|
Received a bill for a pricey premium SMS service on your mobile phone but not sure what it is, or how to
stop it? 19 SMS service may be able to help you. Enter the number and the date from your bill, and the site
will identify who provided the service, how much it costs, and other relevant details. Most importantly, if
it's a recurring service that could potentially cost you a fortune, information on how to unsubscribe is
included - a detail people often misplace. I'd advise against using any 19 services if you can help it,
but even if you must, this is a useful bookmark for tracking what your teenage children did with your phone.
19 SMS
|
|
|
|
StuffSafe
|
If you're a home owner or renter, a secure inventory of your possessions should be a big part of your theft
or disaster recovery plan. Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you get your home owner insurance claim
settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance.
Creating a home inventory can be a challenge. StuffSafe makes it easy.
StuffSafe
|
|
|
|
What does thread count really mean?
|
Thread count has become a buzz word for marketing luxury sheets, shirts and other woven fabric
goods. The idea is the finer threads you can weave together, the softer and finer the fabric.
But that's not always the case.
What about quality of threads and not just quantity?
And what's the big deal with Egyptian cotton anyway?
What does thread count really mean?
|
|
|
|
Fitness Isn’t an Overnight Sensation
|
An exercise physiologist was amused by ads for a popular piece of exercise equipment. Before-and-after photos showed
pudgy men and women turned into athletes with ripped bodies of steel. And it all happened after just 12 weeks of
exercising for 30 minutes three times a week.
There are many examples of people who took up exercise and markedly changed their
appearance. But how long does it take? And how much time and effort are required?
Six weeks sounded crazy.
Fitness Isn’t an Overnight Sensation
|
|
|
|
Switching Providers
|
CHOICE Switch is a free and impartial comparison and switching service, created to make it easy
for consumers to compare prices on a range of
services [Gas, Electricity, Home Phone, Broadband] and to switch to a plan that best meets their needs.
CHOICE Switch
Switching banks is also now easier with the launch of an industry
program designed to help re-establish regular payments and direct
debits with a new financial provider.
The Australian Payments Clearing Association is managing the accounts switching service.
Over 40 financial institutions will participate in this scheme which is aimed at promoting
competition between banks.
Complete details of the scheme may be found HERE [PDF].
|
|
|
|
Keep It or Toss It?
|
Your Ultimate Shelf Life Guide.
Do you have a fridge full of food but not sure what's still edible? StillTasty has the information on shelf-life
and best storage practices. The site offers several ways to determine the viability of your leftovers and dusty cabinet items,
including a simple search, category browsing, and a forum where you can ask more specific questions.
Keep It or Toss It?
|
|
|
|
Going Green - One Step at a Time
|
It doesn't take a home renovation to realise substantial savings on your energy bill.
Small, inexpensive changes around the house can yield a surprising return on investment,
as one system analyst found. Gordon Hudson wanted to make his home more energy efficient
and save money in the process. The efforts of he and his wife are an excellent case study
in how incremental change can have a big effect.
Going Green - One Step at a Time
|
|
|
|
The painful truth about trainers
|
Are running shoes a waste of money?
Thrust enhancers, roll bars, microchips...the $20 billion running - shoe industry wants us to believe that the latest technologies
will cushion every stride. Yet in this extract from his controversial new book, Christopher McDougall claims that injury rates for
runners are actually on the rise, that everything we've been told about running shoes is wrong - and that it might even be better
to go barefoot...
The painful truth about trainers
|
|
|
|
FlyBuys And Everyday Rewards
|
|
They're the duelling giants of shopper reward schemes — but just who is in and who is out with Everyday Rewards
and FlyBuys isn't always obvious. The whole point of a retailer rewards card is to engender loyalty to the store.
Since Woolworths and Coles also own lots of other retail outlets, it’s not surprising that their schemes extend over
those stores. What's sometimes surprising is the outlets they miss.
FlyBuys And Everyday Rewards
|
|
|
|
Relief From Back Pain
|
|
Chronic and recurring back pain is painful at best and incapacitating at its worst, and sitting in front of a
computer all day rarely helps. The New York Times reports that using a method known as the Alexander technique
may offer some short term relief by repositioning your head.
Relief From Back Pain
|
|
|
|
8 Common First Aid Mistakes
|
Emergencies do not come with warning bells. They strike at unexpected moments and your response or lack thereof
could be the determinant in how things come out in the end. How much do you think you know about first aid and
proper emergency response? Most people think they know quite a lot, but most of what they have learned consists
of myths that could actually do more harm than good.
Put yourself to the test – what would you do in these situations?
8 Common First Aid Mistakes
|
|
|
|
Airport Security Rules
|
This site is designed to help you get through the security checkpoints at the airport quickly and easily. It will
help you understand the aviation security measures in place at Australian airports and why they are necessary.
It provides information on preparing for your trip, what you are prohibited from taking on board, and travelling
with children, medicines or sporting equipment. It also provides a number of videos that explain the screening
process and liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions.
TravelSECURE
To help Australians avoid difficulties overseas, the Government maintains travel advisories for more than 160 destinations,
which provides accurate, up-to-date information about the risks Australians might face overseas, enabling you to make
well-informed decisions about whether, when and where to travel.
Smartraveller
|
|
|
|
Lost your manual?
|
|
Having a problem with a product and can't find the manual for assistance?
First, visit the Web site of your product's manufacturer to see if it has a viewable or downloadable manual
for your product available there. If the problem product is getting a bit long in the tooth, you may be out of luck,
but check anyway, because the manuals on offer online vary wildly from manufacturer to manufacturer — from a
comprehensive collection to none at all. Still no joy? Try one of these sites...
Lost your manual?
|
|
|
|
Understanding 'Best Before' And 'Use By' Dates
|
|
The NSW Food Authority has a useful summary of the terminology used on food labelling in Australia. The bottom
line is pretty straightforward: products marked 'use by' a certain date shouldn't be consumed after
that date. Unsurprisingly, that mark is mostly used on fresh foods. 'Best before', a staple of canned
and packaged goods, provides a recommendation, but not an absolute guideline.
Understanding 'Best Before' And 'Use By' Dates
|
|
|
|
Travel Insurance
|
|
Travel insurance is essential if you're heading overseas, especially into the potentially bottomless medical
bill pit that is the USA. Artog's Travel Insurance comparison tool lets you compare rates from 11 insurers to
get the best deal for your upcoming trip. Travel insurance is definitely a "you get what you pay for"
market — the cheapest policies often don't offer luggage replacement or cancellation expenses, so check the conditions carefully.
Compare Travel Insurance Rates
|
|
|
|
How To Prune A Tree
|
|
Pruning a tree properly is critical to the health of the trees in your backyard.
Pruning will make trees more safe, increase vigour and health, and will make a tree more beautiful.
How To Prune A Tree
|
|
|
|
Knots, Splices and Ropeworks
|
|
Giving complete and simple directions for making all the most useful and ornamental knots in common use.
Adapted for anyone who has to use or handle ropes for any purpose. Illustrated with 156 Original Cuts showing
how each knot, tie or splice is formed and its appearance when complete.
Knots, Splices and Ropeworks
|
|
|
|
Reusable shopping bags pose health risk
|
|
Reusable shopping bags may help save the environment. But new research, first of its kind in North America, commissioned
and funded by the Environment and Plastics Industry Council suggests they pose a public health risk. Reusable bags do not
pose a serious public health risk if consumers treat bags as they would cutting boards or food preparation surfaces, and
wash them regularly and dry them well.
Reusable shopping bags pose health risk
|
|
|
|
25 New Year's Resolutions Every Parent Should Make
|
|
We're into a new decade – and we're still banging on about it being a time for self-reflection and fresh starts.
So in case you're having trouble thinking of a resolution or two, we've compiled 25 for every parent to ponder
as we plunge headlong even further into 2010.
25 New Year's Resolutions Every Parent Should Make
|
|
|
|
Crack A Combination Padlock
|
|
This method will crack that 64,000-possible-combinations lock in 100 tries or less.
Crack A Combination Padlock
Open A Locked Interior Door
If you have a lot of interior doorknobs with key locks on them, sooner or later you're bound to lose the key or
lock them inside the room. When one of my interior doors got locked with the keys inside recently, I learned all I
ever wanted to know about lock-picking and doorknob assembly. Locksmiths are expensive, so let me share everything
I tried and show you how I eventually got the door open.
[Do not use credit-cards to shim a door, use a section of a milk bottle or an icecream container].
Open A Locked Interior Door
|
|
|
|
