Saturday, July 20, 2013

Bell Pepper Rings

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Laser Etched Beads

A couple weeks ago I made a laser etched baseball, and ever since I've been stuck on the idea of lasering into other spherical objects. Etching round wooden beads into to tiny globes occurred to me as an interesting challenge.

In this Instructable, I will explain how to use the rotary attachment for the Trotec Speedy 300 to make extremely detailed etchings around beads. The pictured beads include globes, beads with numbers and words spiraled around them in continuous lines, and some with monkey to man evolution images. I have lots more ideas for images that would look cool etched onto beads (coming soon - Death Star Beads). I'm sure you've got some ideas too - put them in the comments!

Take a look at this video to see 108 digits of Pi on a 3/4 inch bead. 

I am planning on making a lot more of these, experimenting with different materials, and producing some finished jewelry. Winning a contest or two would definitely be a good start. VOTE FOR MY BEADS.

Jewelry Contest
Epilog Challenge Contest

If you think these are cool but don't have access to a laser etcher, visit my Etsy store, smallworldbeads, and support my TechShop habit!

I made it at TechShop.

techshop.ws


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how to peel and store fresh ginger

I love fresh ginger - I like to make sure I have it on hand at all times. I use it for baking, cooking and drinks. :D

But you know how you tend to buy it, forget about it, and then find it dehrydated, slightly moldy and shriveled two months later in the crisper drawer? Well, NO LONGER! 

I've got a much better and way to store fresh ginger now. Plus, I'll show you how to peel fresh ginger really easily.


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Potato Wedges

2013 19:06.jpgIn this instructable I'm going to how you how to make super tasty and easy potato wedges.2013 19:06.jpgYou will need potatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper and paprika or any herbs and spices of your choice.

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how to revive a sylvania reflex circuit transistor radio

to get inside you need to remove the back cover of the radio. this is also how you'd open it up to replace the battery. many old transistor radio are setup like this were you pry open a lid to get inside. once inside you will find the circuit board (chassis) and the schematic.

note the battery holder. is it corroded from an old battery left in it? if it is, replacements can be found online. radio shack used to carry 9v clip on terminals but i'm not sure if they still do.

the circuit board is held in the plastic housing by 1/4" hex head bolts. note the two i'm pointing at in pic 4. you will be removing those two and the two on the right edge near the battery connector. no need to remove the remaining two as all they do is hold the tuning capacitor in place.

once the screws are out, you can carefully lift the board out. be careful with the speaker leads.


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How Can I Get Through a Boring Friday Afternoon At Work?

Dear Lifehacker,
By the end of the week I really struggle to get through the day at work. Around two o'clock on Friday, I'm pretty much useless. Is there anything I can do to help myself power through the day some what productively?

Sincerely,
TGIF

Dear TGIF,
We're right there with you. Powering through a Friday afternoon with a weekend coming on is one of the hardest things to do. Thankfully, it's not impossible, and you can either do a few tricks to push yourself to get work done fast, or at least make the afternoon fly by.

How Can I Get Through a Boring Friday Afternoon At Work?

We all get a little sleepy after lunch on a Friday. The natural response to this is to pack in the bulk of your work in the early morning so you don't have to do it in the afternoon. That's fine, but Lifehack suggests keeping your afternoon tasks interesting to combat tedium:

Thus, the first rule I follow is to stay away from uninteresting to-dos after lunch. If necessary, I will switch up my workload to keep things interesting. Working in a dynamic environment will undoubtedly help as well. This rule usually helps me feel less or not at all sleepy in the afternoon.
The idea here is actually pretty simple: instead of taking on your most boring tasks this afternoon, spice it up with something you're actually interested in doing. This way, your brain will stay interested in the work at hand. This isn't always possible, but if you have a fun work project, saving it for a Friday afternoon might be the perfect cure to getting over those Friday-blues.

How Can I Get Through a Boring Friday Afternoon At Work?

Oftentimes, it's hard to pull through a Friday afternoon because you don't want to start work on a new project, but you're done with the bulk of the work for the week. So, while you're in limbo, you're just futzing about the office waiting for the clock to hit 5 pm. This is the perfect time to pick up a new skill.

If your employer lets you take time to work on new skills, then saving those sessions for Friday afternoons is a good way to get through the workday quickly. Even if it's a boring class on spreadsheets, the fact that your brain is learning something new is often enough to get your through the day. If not, you'll have to resort to other options.

We've talked about a few ways to learn new skills when you're stuck at a boring job, and you can also employ some of the same tricks that can make a car ride suck less, like listening to podcasts, learning a new language, taking online classes, or even doing a little blogging. The main idea here is to keep your brain as engaged as possible when you're in that doldrum period of Friday afternoon so you don't drift off to sleep when you're not supposed to.

How Can I Get Through a Boring Friday Afternoon At Work?

If you are drifting off to sleep, embracing that feeling isn't necessarily a bad thing. Done right, a quick afternoon nap can provide the perfect boost to your productivity and help you power through the rest of the day.

Over time, we've seen plenty of studies that suggest a perfectly timed nap can help you power through the day. In our experience, a 15-20 minute nap can help you recharge and get things done. If you need a little help finding the best target time for that nap, this nap wheel helps you pick the best time for a nap for optimal results.

If your workplace actually lets you take a nap, then take advantage of it. Provided you keep it short and don't overdo it, a nap is all you need to turn a boring Friday afternoon into something productive.

How Can I Get Through a Boring Friday Afternoon At Work?

When you're stuck in a late week afternoon rut, the last thing you want to do is exercise of any kind, but it's a pretty good way to get your juices flowing again so you can get through the rest of the day.

You don't really need to do much. The desk jockey workout can keep you moving, or this set of simple desk stretches are enough to keep your body moving and awake. Once you get your body moving again, powering through the rest of the day will be a bit easier. Personally, I do a post-lunch run to give me the energy to get through those last few hours of the workday. It sounds counter-intuitive, but it works surprisingly well.

Even if you don't want to work out, getting out of the office and into the sun for a couple minutes is a good way to boost your energy. We know a quick walk is a great way to reboot your brain, and getting out into the outdoors is boosts creativity and productivity. If you can, convincing your boss to let you work outside for the afternoon gets you away from distractions and in the mood to get work done. When it's nice out, I'll often wander outside with my laptop to finish up work on a Friday afternoon. The change of setting along is usually enough to keep me on task.

The fact is, getting through a sluggish Friday afternoon is never easy, but if you keep your brain and body moving it's easier to get through the day. If nothing else, you'll at least get your work done so you don't fall asleep at your desk.

Good Luck!
Lifehacker

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Photos by Maridav (Shutterstock) Jayel Aheram, NazarethCollege, LetTheCardsFall, Lindsay.