Purple Clay Rice Cooker Solution

My mom, bless her soul, bought each of her kids a purple clay pot rice cooker set, so that we're not constantly exposed to the toxic teflon that lines most rice cookers on the market.  Unfortunately, a few challenges get introduced.

Problem

• Bought in China.  So needed to convert both the outlet, and the voltage.
• A lot of counter space.  It's big and bulky, so leaving it on the counter isn't the best idea.
• Ventilation.  Rice cookers shoots the steam upwards.  So either proper ventilation, or a big open space is idea.

Solution

Thanks to the Goldsource Voltage Transformer, Ikea's Draggan cart, a spare piece of plank, and a two-dollar dishwashing tub, voila!

The metal mesh from the Draggan is quite thin, doubtful that it could support the transformer, enter spare wood plank to save the day!

And since my kitchen's a bit claustrophobic, this lives in the dining/living room where the steam can dissipate quickly.  I don't really need the dishwashing tub, but makes it convenient to store things on that rack, in a pseudo-drawer kind of way.  Come to think of it, need to double-check if the transformer cable is long enough to move it to the bottom rack...

tpfancontrol quick hack & best practices

Quick Hacks

Some quick notes, after installing tpfancontrol, since I found Smart Mode 2 more useful than Smart Mode 1, and couldn't find a good way to get it to default without this hack.  This is Windows 7, btw, differences may exist with other OSes.

Cat Litter Boxes

Especially with the discontinuation of this product (in Canada, at least), an ode to its awesomeness!  i.e. Not only was the actual litter product really high quality, so was the packaging.

What can you do with six empty high-quality cat litter boxes?

How about three makeshift shelves?  Thanks Grundtal Towel Holder boxes!

Tennis Tourney: Lessons Learned

Just some notes, re: sports psychology, for a tennis tourney I took part in on behalf of my Condo.  Obviously, can apply to non-Tennis things too.

Technique:

• active feet, quick tempo, NO LAZINESS!
• aggressive semi-western play.  don't revert back to eastern grip/swing mechanics...
• serve: spring before swing!  Every serve is opportunity to control the point, don't waste it with worries of a double fault!
• feel, feel, feel!  relax your nerves, believe in your form, hammer down your hand-eye coordination (for racquet sweet spot), your directions (front-back, left-rights), your spins (tops, backs & sides)
• keep your ankle brace in your TENNIS bag, not your ROCK CLIMBING bag (doh!)

Psychology:

• visualization.  required.  Both pre-game and in-game
• pre-game pump-up with past videos?
• maintain a high-energy, positive, mindset throughout the game, no matter the result
• e.g. game 1 of raptors/bucks ECF (via post-game-commentary from Longo)
• every opponent will require adjustments in game, figure out what they are, ASAP
• unlike combat sports: tennis requires more back & forth, less of a pummeling mentality, so BE PATIENT, CALM YOUR NERVES, STAY LOOSE (but stay on guard)
• HAVE FUN!  LAUGH (don't GROWL) at your errors; balance the serious with the silly
• Day of tourney is your test, too late to finish homework on the day of.  So go out there, figure out your feel (internal & external), figure out your opponent, believe (and have confidence) in yourself, then go get your win!

Take Out Containers

A lot of them can't be recycled.  Depends on your location.  So here are a few things you can do with'em instead.

Lids

The original lids on these glass beakers were incredibly brittle.  Nice thing with the fluid-physics of this is you can flip the thing upside down and the water stays put!  Also works well with Starbucks bottles and such, with lids that gets lost easily, or grows dark or moldy.

Atmospheric pressure, and surface tension.  Huzah!

Coffee cup lids fit perfectly on Pokal Ikea glasses.  Great if you want to store leftover fruit shake in the fridge!

Re-furbishments

A good rinse/wash can usually allow a bunch of these guys to have a second life.

Can't remember what was previously in the container, but it's now the new home for Fragrant Bakery egg tart!