tips

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The Blogger Abides: Words and Phrases I've Misused

Good news, everyone! I wrote a book! It's called The Blogger Abides, and it's based on my experience writing for Mental Floss and other publications over the years. Longtime readers of this blog will recognize the book as a very Flossy affair: it includes a lengthy foreword by Ransom Riggs, and it was edited by Adrienne Crezo. Have you ever wondered what it's like to interview famous people who are intimidatingly awesome and/or rude? Have you asked yourself, "Do bloggers wear pants?" Have you... READ ON

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Using Your Headphones as a Mic

So here's something you probably didn't know: If you're ever in a pinch for a microphone, to record something quickly when the quality doesn't really matter, you can always use a pair of headphones. Say WHAT? Yep, it's true! A microphone is the same as a speaker. The diaphragm of the driver of the headphones is moved by the molecules of air that make up a soundwave. This driver is attached to a coil of wire (voice coil) which rests between a magnet. As the coil moves through the magnetic field, a current... READ ON

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How To Stop Unwanted Phone Books

Back in September, fellow blogger Ransom asked how to stop unwanted phone books. I have long wondered this myself, as I use the internet for all my phone number lookups. Now, I don't think the phone book is a bad thing -- it's just something that I don't need, and it gets old picking up the new phone book and dumping it right in the recycling bin. So after a little research, today I'll offer the long-sought answer to this problem. Yes folks, you can finally stop the delivery of phone books you don't... READ ON

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What Do You Floss With?

Dentally, I mean, not mentally. (Obviously you floss mentally with us, hence your reading of this blog.) But dentally-wise, it's a legitimate question -- I know when something's stuck between my teeth, the urge to get it out can be overwhelming. In such situations I rarely wait until I get to a roll of dental floss; instead I reach for whatever's available: a business card, an edge of folded paper, even the tip of a sharpened pencil has sufficed. And I know I'm not alone: a recent survey by the British... READ ON

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Mac Tips: Backup (Part 2)

Last week I covered backing up your Mac with Mozy -- a way to get your most important files backed up online for free. But because the free Mozy solution only stores up to 2 GB of data, you'll need to look elsewhere for a complete backup that covers your music, photos, and so on. You could pay a subscription for the Mozy full service, but this can get expensive over time -- and it can be very slow to upload tons of data over your home internet connection. For Mac users, the obvious choice for... READ ON

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Mac Tips: Backup (Part 1)

As a long-time Mac geek, I'm often called upon to help friends and family with Mac issues. In this new feature, I'll post a few of the most crucial tips so our Mac-using readers can benefit. This week's tip is also applicable to the Windows platform -- but future tips may not be! Today's topic is backup. Anyone who has experienced a hard drive crash, had a computer stolen, or lost a computer in a disaster can tell you how important it is to have a copy of your precious data. Imagine losing all your... READ ON

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Why Cell Phones Make Speakers Go "Blip Blip Blip Buzz"

When I first got a cell phone (an early Sidekick), a new noise entered my life. When I put on my big crazy headphones while the phone was in my shirt pocket, I'd hear a very distinctive "blip ba da blip ba da blip ba da buzzzzzzz" noise right before my phone rang, so loud that I'd have to wrench the headphones from my poor ears -- which was handy, because then I'd hear the phone ringing. It took me a long time to figure out that this noise was coming from the phone, because I'm kind of slow. I also... READ ON

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My Credit Card Experiment

I've been conducting a credit card experiment over the last year and a half. I've been carrying a minor balance on a single card, and periodically I call up and ask the company to reduce my interest rate. As of last week, they have now done it three times in a row. Each time I call and ask (in my case, the calls are roughly six months apart), I get another 2-5% rate cut. I went from having a card with a painfully high rate (it's an Amazon rewards card, if you must know) to one that's pretty reasonable.... READ ON

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Inbox Zero: Inbox Currently at 100

Two weeks ago I started on a journey to Inbox Zero, using Merlin Mann's tips for managing your email. After living with the tips in practice, I'm...getting there. My inbox went from 222 to an even 100 messages. I'll explain a few of the techniques I used to get there, and what's next to get to zero. Separate work and personal messages - I have long had separate accounts for work and personal stuff, but I have always read them merged together in a single inbox. The first thing I did was start using... READ ON

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Summer First Aid Tips

Walking home last night, I witnessed a variety of Independence Day near-mishaps, as cars drove past twinkling buckets of fire, children made their first explosions, and hardcore fireworks dudes lit up the night. The National Safety Council declares Independence Day the most dangerous holiday, so I figured I'd share some first aid links to help you cope with this summer's injuries. First up: 10 Useless or Even Dangerous First Aid Myths reports on what not to do to treat a snakebite, jellyfish sting, or... READ ON