Tick, Tock, PONG! The Pong Clock

If you're a fan of the 80's video game Pong, you'll love this funky Pong Clock - the clock counts down the seconds while the ball bounces between the computerized paddles.  If you get bored watching the time pass by, you can even play Pong against the computer.  Designed by Dutch design studio Buro Vormkrijgers.

Via Popgadget.

Technorati tags: design, pong, gadget, video games

How to Prep a Plant for a Move Indoors

Once the evening temperatures start to get chillier and the wind starts to pick up, you might want to think about bringing your plants inside. Here are a few tips from plant-care.com and whyy.org to help prep your plant for a trip inside for the winter:

• Give the leaves a good washing & check for pests (no need to invite unwelcome houseguests)
• Wash the windows where the plant will be sitting on both sides—washing away even a thin layer of dust will give your plants much more light.
• Leach the soil: Fill the pot with water until you have an extra 1/3 of a pot full of water through the plant. Let the plant and soil drain off completely before you move the plant inside so it is moist but not wet—do NOT let the plant sit in water, this will cause root rot and kill your plant.
• Change your watering habits: dry is good! Most houseplants should be allowed to dry out completely between waterings (with the exception of citrus plants, these guys like moist soil).
• If your indoor air is humidified, your plants can probably go two weeks without water.
• Use weight to judge water: if your plant pots feel light, place them in a few inches of water and allow them to soak it up through their drain holes until the pot feels heavy. Then, drain the excess and put the pots back by the window. Don't water if the just the surface soil is dry...only water when the soil is dry down to the roots.

Good luck!

photo credit: Jarsem Jarsem

Technorati tags: gardening, household hints, tips

A "Trezr" Chest of Deals, Tips, and Coupons

Trezr (pronounced "treasure") is a new social-bookmarking site, but devoted entirely to bargain hunting!  The site combines Digg-style voting with the latest deals on travel, digital cameras, clothing and accessories, and more.  The most popular deals are "Trezr"-ed by users, so it's easy to find the best ones, and there are some really great budgeting and money-saving tips as well.  I especially liked this tip on the best times to buy everything from airplane tickets to baby clothes.  Definitely worth checking out!

Technorati tags: bargains, Web 2.0, coupons, tips, lifehack

Substitutes for Spinach

Longing for Spinach?  The San Jose Mercury News (login required) offers a few recipes and directs readers to this helpful chart of other dark and leafy greens that will do the trick while Spinach is on the outs.

Technorati tags: spinach, nutrition, food, tips

Web 2.0 Winners and Losers

Wired News' Michael Calore recently posted his Web 2.0 Winners and Losers, a list of his five favorite and least favorite Web 2.0 applications.  Calore provides some interesting commentary on why some applications tanked (remember Friendster?) and how others got it right (including Flickr, a personal fave).  Click here for the full article.

Technorati tags: Web 2.0, Wired, apps

Patchwork Wallpocket

We love wall organizers, and this patchwork wallpocket by Sally Shim at Shim + Sons is a great take on how to make a wall organizer that is both personal and functional. Unlike a lot of fabric organizers that don't have a lot of structure to them, she suggests stretching the fabric over canvas to give it shape. Great idea and we love the alphabet ribbon, too!  Plus, you have to check out the blog for pictures of her party invitations and favors....incredible!

Technorati tags: organization, DIY, crafts

New Math

Okay, you have to check out Craig Damrauer's super clever book New Math: Equations for Living. Filled with equations ranging from the comical (Nagging = Reminding + Reminding + Reminding), to the hysterical (Entrapment =You're Going To Do It Anyway + Cops) the book is funny and sweet and best of all, it takes very little time or effort to read! The format is so contagious the author has already set up a contest inviting readers to help complete the equation: Rental Car = (a current favorite entry reads: Rental Car = Proof that putting it into reverse while going forward at 118 mph is just awful for your transmission - Consequences). Our math says:  Friend's Book = Congrats + This Blog Post + $9.95 + Tax + Shipping. Available on amazon.com and elsewhere.

Technorati tags: books, humor, math, fun

Send a Text Message from AIM

If you've signed on to AOL Instant Messenger with your cell phone but got annoyed from being disconnected, here's an easier way to IM your friends from your mobile phone.  Simply send a text message from your cell phone in this format:

Recipient:  265010
Message:  AIM_screen_name: Message Text

If you are on AOL Instant Messenger and you want to send a text message to someone's cell phone, then send an IM in this format:

To:  +1(10-digit cell phone number)
Message:  Message Text

So your instant message might look something like:
To:  +13104362250
Message:  Hello!

Now you can take the 10 cents you save per text message and spend it on something nice!  Woo hoo!

Via spugbrap.

Technorati tags: cell phone hack, lifehack, AIM, tips, text message

Find the Perfect Jeans

If the perfect jeans do exist, then Zafu will find them for you.  Answer a few questions about yourself and how you like your jeans, and the "jean calculator" will find a pair of jeans that fits you perfectly (currently, their database has only women's jeans).  The site is definitely worth a try - I mean, it's at least a little bit better than trying on a mountain of jeans that don't fit in a cramped fitting room at the mall.  Just a tiny bit better.

Technorati tags: fashion, clothing, jeans, tips

Seating Arrangements Made Simple

If you're having a fabulous dinner party, wedding, bar mitzvah, or any event that requires you to make a seating chart, SimpleSeating.com may be the perfect application for planning your party.  According to the site, "SimpleSeating.com makes seating charts easier than ever.  With a mouse, your favorite web browser and the simplicity of drag-n-drop, the process is painless; with the exception of deciding who to seat next to crazy Aunt Edna."  The site says the app is launching this month, but you can also sign up for private Beta access online.  Sounds perfect for planning where to seat all your crazy relatives at the next get-together!

Technorati tags: party planning, lifehack, organization, tips