Archives for the 'Hacking Life' Category
How to Drink Like a High Roller in Vegas Without Going Broke [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
Being born and raised in southern California has its benefits. I can be at some of the most beautiful beaches in the country in less than an hour by car. I can also (during winter) spend a couple of hours on the road and be in just the right spot for some pretty [...]
8 Things You Should’ve Memorized a Long Time Ago [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
Let’s be honest - part of the reason most of us drank this GTD Kool-aid in the first place was that we were tired of forgetting things. Meetings, lunches, dentist appointments - all the crap that we were too busy (and, frankly, ill-equipped) to recall exactly when we needed to do so. So, [...]
How to Make Your Outgoing Voicemail Message Not Suck [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
I have a handful of friends who, despite numerous pleas and death threats, refuse to carry their cell phone with them. They’re perfectly willing to leave it in the car while out somewhere, or leave it in their bedroom while watching television in the living room. Personally, these are stack-blowing, what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-you-types of behavior, [...]
How I Almost Sent my iPod to Nigeria [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
Having been a computer guy for many years, I’ve had surprisingly little interaction with eBay. I’ve just never had much use for it, as I don’t generally sell things and prefer to buy things new. A seasoned eBay user is, I would imagine, accustomed to all the regular scams and such that are [...]
6 Simple Ways to be a Nicer Person [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
I consider myself to be pretty easy-going most of the time. I tend to get along well with people and I find it pretty easy to talk to most folks that I come in contact with.
As to why I’m a nice guy, that you can attribute to my parents. My father was a [...]
When There’s No Toilet Paper: Avoiding a Descent into Savagery [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
A word of warning: This post is about going to the bathroom. Some of the more intimate details of the activity are discussed in detail. Despite my attempt to veil some of the more colorful aspects of using the can, this post really is a bit gross. Continue at your own risk, [...]
10 Ways You Will Change When You Become a Parent [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
My Wife and Daughter
Just about every Thursday of every week, I get together with my brother to roast coffee, drink beer and have a few laughs. We hang out his house, are accosted by his two Bassett hounds and just sorta chew the fat and hang out. We always have a good time, [...]
Turn Your Daily Drive From Madness to Manageable [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
Living in southern California, traffic is as common and everyday as the sunrise. Assuming normal “work” hours (9-5, so to speak), just about any freeway in the land will be packed to the gills with cars during rush hour (which is a funny name, if you think about it - nobody is actually rushing [...]
How to Deal with Babies (that Aren’t Yours) [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
Immediate after the birth of both of our two children, my wife and I would have family and friends pop by to take a gander and the new addition. The room would be billowing with “awwww”s and such, as you’d expect. But for 90% of the people visiting, the question “would you like [...]
How to Make Sure Nobody Gets Your PIN [The Cranking Widgets Blog]
A couple days ago, I was buying some groceries at a nearby supermarket. As I gently slid my bank card through the terminal at the register, I was prompted to enter my PIN. It’s something I do so often that I rarely consider the potential security risks. What if somebody were to [...]