how to clean your keyboard...in the DISHWASHER!

Fact: keyboards get dirty. There are a ton of products out there to help you clean your keyboard, from the aerosol air cans to specialized wipes. However, the latest and greatest trick we've come across is simply sticking it in the dishwasher! See steps below. Also, be sure to check out the sites on the subject before washing, as there are varying opinions on the best method. The plus side: easy, thorough cleaning of your keyboard. The negative side: it generally takes at least 3 full days for the keyboard to fully dry out and become functional again, so be prepared to not use your computer or have a back-up keyboard.

STEPS:

1. Disconnect your keyboard.
2. Place keyboard in dishwasher. IMPORTANT: Put it in the top rack and ensure there is no soap with the normal wash setting and that the heated dry cycle is OFF. You run the risk of melting/warping the plastic and/or cracking the circuit board if you make it too hot.
3. Run the dishwasher.
4. Remove the keyboard and pop off all keys to allow for complete drying. IMPORTANT: Take a photo of your keyboard beforehand or write down where all the keys go so you can replace them afterward accurately.
5. Dry keyboard by leaning it vertically against a wall. Best if the environment is well-ventilated and not humid for optimal drying. Complete drying will usually take 3 to 5 days. HINT: Shake out any excess collected water each day to hasten drying.
6. Replace keys and try out your keyboard to ensure it functions properly.

Sites to check out beforehand:

• Plastic Bugs
• Rabid Hardware
• Boing Boing

Technorati tags: how to clean a keyboard, GTD, cleaning keyboard in dishwasher

Photo credit: gehringj

asparagus with test tube tongs? dining etiquette revealed

How many moments have we looked down at our place settings and wondered, "Are all these forks really necessary?" Admittedly, the cucchiaino ("little spoon" in Italian) is adorable, and very practical when stirring in a bit of sugar in a small espresso cup. However, for the more obscure instruments at a place setting, like small test tube tongs intended for picking up single spears of asparagus (yes, it's been done), what's a person to do? Check out the following links for some top-notch tips on etiquette.

• Virginia Tech Dining Etiquette for Interviews
• Real Simple's Eating Etiquette in Social Situations

Technorati tags: etiquette, which utensils to use, proper manners

Photo credit: Diego Cervo

an apple a day

We've all (probably) heard the saying: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Yet, if you've taken a stroll through the apple area of the produce section lately, you've got to wonder which apple did the saying refer to, due to the plethora of types out there. Below is a quickie apple guide. Find out more on these types at the Dole website, www.tooter4kids.com, and www.professorshouse.com.

• Red Delicious: signature of American apple industry. deep red color. taller, thinner. grown large. sweet, juicy. best for raw snacking. poor for baking. year-round availability. thick, bitter skin. strong flavor.
• Golden Delicious: slightly elongated. sweeter, juicy. great for snacking, cooking, baking. September to June availability. thin, tender skin. rounder, fat shape. rich, mellow flavor. considered the preferred "all purpose" cooking apple, because they retain their shape and taste rich when baked or cooked. also are considered the best apple choice for cider.
• Red Rome (Rome Beauty): named for an apple-growing area in Ohio, not Italy. slightly tart. best for baking. October to August availability. round, plump. brilliant red color. flesh has a greenish cast. thick skin. ideal for baking, making cider. flavor enhances with some sugar or honey.
• Winesap: wine-like, mildly tart, spicy flavor. aromatic. tend to be smaller, round. very deep red color. ideal for cider, sauces, baking. November to July availability.
• Granny Smith: mildly tart, slightly sweet, crisp. best for snacking. good for baking. year-round availability. green in color. surprisingly durable—hold up well under shipping and can sit in cold storage for half a year without going bad. great for applesauce. tangy flavor comes through when baked and sauteed.
• McIntosh: two-toned red and green color. all-purpose apple. September to June availability. cross-bred with other types to make: Cortland, Empire, Spartan. round shape. white flesh. spicy, aromatic flavor. juicy.
• Jonathan: deep red color. mildly tart, rich flavor. great all-purpose apple. September to August availability.
• Gravenstein: round and reddish-green. thin skin. very juicy. tartly acidic. strong flavor. slightly sweet. reminiscent of white wine. great for baking. perfect for dry ciders.
• Gala: golden, finely mottled with red. a cross between Golden Delicious and a New Zealand variety called a Kidd’s Orange Red. creamy yellow flesh. mild, sweet. good for snacking. not great for baking.
• Braeburn: tart and sweet. aromatic, crisp, juicy.
• Criterion (Candy Apple): very sweet, crisp, flavorful, juicy. excellent for snacking. okay for baking.
• Elstar: intensely sweet, tangy. great for snacking, cooking.
• Fuji: sweet, mild, crisp, juicy. excellent for snacking. tend to store well. good for cooking.
• Jonagold: vividly sweet, tart. crisp, juicy flesh. tender skin. ideal for snacking. good for cooking, baking.
• Newtown Pippin: tart, tangy-sweet, firm. superb for cooking, baking. good for snacking.

Technorati tags: apples, apple types, apple varieties

Photo credit: andrey

a blurb is worth a thousand words

We are super impressed by blurb.com, a website that allows you to make "bookstore-quality books. by you. for friends. for clients. for sale. for keeps." Indeed. A perfect gift solution and portfolio medium, Blurb books won't break your wallet. Prices start at $13 for a softcover, 7"x7" book up to 40 pages and go up to $160 for a hardcover, 13"x11" book up to 360 pages. (There are also bulk discounts.) See below for the incredibly easy steps to make your very own high-quality book. The hardest part of the process is getting all of your photos and witty copy together.

STEPS:

1. download Blurb BookSmart™ software for Mac or PC for free on the blurb.com website
2. add your own copy and images/photos to pre-made layouts or your own layout design
3. choose the size of book and type of cover
4. send file to Blurb (pay online) and await book to arrive (7 to 10 business days, expedited shipping available)

Technorati tags: blurb books, photo albums, portfolios, custom books

Photo credit: blurb.com

the WIRED way

This past weekend in Los Angeles was WIRED NextFest, a convention geared toward exposing the public to the up-and-coming technologies that'll change our way of living, whether that be an uber sweet kung fu video game (think: you do a roundhouse kick, the virtual you onscreen does a roundhouse kick 12 feet in the air, knocking the virtual opponent out cold) or a vein-pattern-reading identifier system (think: you swipe your index finger rather than an ATM card). For those who weren't able to attend, check out the following links for a few highlights.

• Brainball - The object of this game is to relax, so that your EEG waves are lower than your opponents, so that the ball on the table moves into his/her circle, so that you win. When watching this game, one can't help but note the Jedi-mind-trick feel.
• WineM (pictured above) - Store your wine with the ultimate smart organizer. RFIDs attached to bottles are used to display which wines are which using LED backlights behind the bottles.
• d3o - It's the real Spidey suit! Sort of. The folks at d3o have engineered a material that can be put inside suits (think muscular-looking wetsuit) that, while completely pliable/soft normally, instantly hardens to protect the body upon impact.

Technorati tags: WIRED NextFest, hi tech, d3o, smart wine rack, brainball

Photo credit: seanbonner

the not-so-weary traveler: vacuum packing

So how many times have you been on vacation, begun repacking to come home, then realize that all of the newly purchased knick-knacks have managed to overflow your suitcase? One of the niftiest inventions for the professional traveler is something that's been on the market for years: vacuum storage bags. Basically, pack up a few of these (along with accompanying air compressor) in your suitcase. Then thank yourself when you're repacking, able to easily compress your contents into half the space they originally took up! Another great trick: put all of your dirty clothes into one vacuum bag so that the rest won't become contaminated. A few sites that sell these bags are listed below.

• www.spacebag.com
• www.space-food-saver.com
• www.comforthouse.com
• www.merchantamerica.com

Technorati tags: spacebag, vacuum storage bag, packing tips, travel tips

Photo credit: www.spacebag.com

10 tips for healthy fast fooding

We all have to do a grab-n-go every once in awhile (often more than we'd like to admit). However, when you do so, follow the tips we found from the ediets article here. Most are common sense, but it's always good to be reminded that there ARE ways to eat fast food in a healthy way.

1. While being as fast as possible, eat as slow as possible. It typically takes about 20 minutes for your body to feel full, so chew thoroughly (which also helps digestion).
2. Instead of a foot-long submarine sandwich, go for the 6-inch. Ask for whole-wheat bread instead of white, and use mustard instead of mayo to cut fat and calories.
3. All salads are not created equal! When you consume that taco salad shell, you can endulge upon hundreds of extra calories. Also, most dressings are extraordinarily high in fat and calories. Do the fork-dip method, which is dressing on the side and dipping the fork prongs into it before taking up the lettuce instead of slathering it on top of the whole salad.
4. If you go for soup, go low-fat and low-sodium (i.e. nothing cream-based).
5. Basics (e.g. bean burrito, junior hamburger) are much better than “loaded” or "deluxe" options.
6. Double anything = double trouble. Choose a junior or regular option.
7. Grilled chicken is the best meat option in most cases, since other types of meat tend to soak up more grease while being cooked.
8. Best breakfast options are usually English muffin and egg or yogurt with fruit. Stay away from anything loaded with syrup (e.g. pancakes, french toast).
9. Forego those combos and super sizes! A sandwich and small pack of fries or side salad will do you just fine. No need to increase that small pack to a super duper extra large with a super duper 32 oz. soda. Simply skipping the super-sized fries and opting for water instead of soda can save you a whopping 900 calories!
10. It all boils down to portion control. One slice of pizza. One small pack of fries. One regular-sized sandwich. Just don't go overboard!

Another tidbit to cap off this post is a quiz testing your fast food nutrition knowledge. You may be surprised by a few of the answers.

Technorati tags: eating healthy, fast food, how to make fast food healthy

Photo credit: Bora Ucak

DNA analysis...for your wall

We loved the mingling of science and home decor at this site: www.dna11.com. Here's the lowdown: you pick your orientation, sizing and color scheme. Then, the folks at DNA11 send you a kit for you to swab your cheek (or your family member's or your pet Fluffy's) and send it back. After 6 to 8 weeks, you receive in the mail a large print of your (or family member's or Fluffy's) DNA to adorn your walls. The pricing starts at $390 for an 18" x 24" print of DNA. They also have fingerprint portraits as well. You've got to admit, this art brings new meaning to "personalized home decor."

Technorati tags: DNA art, personalized home decor, fingerprint painting, DNA portrait

Photo credit: www.dna11.com

credit card traps to avoid

Today more than ever, it's easy to get stuck in the credit trap. Whether it's buying that hybrid car to save gas, finishing up your last semester of school, or splurging on those perfect designer jeans, credit can help make us or break us. The best guide we've found is from Truth About Credit, a website dedicated to helping you understand what all that fine print can (and will!) actually do. It also has a calculator that helps you figure out the best monthly payments to reasonably lower your debt and an exquisite guide that explains how to spot and avoid the credit card trap.

Technorati tags: credit card debt, payment calculator, credit card trap

Photo credit: Bora Ucak