tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146280412024-02-19T03:16:07.834+00:00Tag SoupOccasionally interesting, sometimes geeky, usually correctly spelt lifehacking tips 'n tricks from me, Mat, a British web guy working in Vancouver, Canada.mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-18073460140211273362015-05-02T16:36:00.001+01:002015-05-02T16:36:24.016+01:00Credit card identification<p dir="ltr">Like many folks I use a credit card sleeve as my wallet. Super slim, simple, cheap. One issue with that is when paying for stuff you can't see the face of the card, so there tends to be some rummaging for the right one.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Inspired by one of my cards being yellow, and therefore easy to select: enter permanent markers, and some nail lacquer.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Different cards get different patterns and colours, and once dry, a coat of clear nail varnish (don't skip this bit, I found even permanent marker rubbed off after a few weeks). Voila: easy to find cards - once you learn which pattern is which of course.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwgstEnG4GZ9QgX3IkcKgrTJn1ukDhTT9aImf_s_23dZFPgxGyTXberok5meCm-JSR_gZFylpbrvDV4cG6-nJpwnKumN0oqGCSSEQbJ_YSh3yuECl1VZ7Vt8rkC-on990YjCpPg/s1600/1430580732640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwgstEnG4GZ9QgX3IkcKgrTJn1ukDhTT9aImf_s_23dZFPgxGyTXberok5meCm-JSR_gZFylpbrvDV4cG6-nJpwnKumN0oqGCSSEQbJ_YSh3yuECl1VZ7Vt8rkC-on990YjCpPg/s640/1430580732640.jpg"> </a> </div>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-76660593298305228202014-02-08T17:49:00.001+00:002014-02-08T23:25:51.816+00:00Vintage suitcase shelves<p>Recently I've started up a spare time upcycling hobby - making shelves out of knackered old suitcases.</p><br />
<p>While down in Florida clearing junk out of an old house I came across some cool looking old luggage: Moth eaten, corroded, not really suitable for travel any more. However, inspired by a post on Pinterest I had a go at converting them into shelves. I'm on my fifth set now, keeping one, selling the rest on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MatMakes">my new Etsy 'shop'</a>.</p><br />
<iframe src="//instagram.com/p/kGOc6VmOSM/embed/" width="612" height="710" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"></iframe><br />
<br />
<p>The process is pretty easy, after a bit of hit and miss refinement: Cut in half, wood glue down anything that's flapping, reinforce with timber (bracing across the join between lid and base), coat in shellac and attach hooks. This pic shows the back/inside:</p><br />
<iframe src="//instagram.com/p/kGOrs8mOSj/embed/" width="612" height="710" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-80488953916544382272013-08-17T17:10:00.001+01:002013-08-17T17:10:51.010+01:00Guarding against phone theft<p>I recently splashed out for a new phone. With mobile contracts being what they are in the US (obscenely over-priced in a poorly regulated market) I decided to buy an unlocked phone outright, making it the most expensive thing I own, as well as being one of the things I'm most likely to lose - a dangerous combination.</p><br />
<p>Here's the three things I've done to help guard against that, two obvious, one hopefully interesting enough to justify this post:</p><br />
<ul><li>Installed tracking software. Prey in my (Android) case, but there's other options out there for all mobile OSs.</li>
<li>Put my wife's phone number, an email address and a promise of a reward on the lock screen.</li>
<li>Etched the same email address onto the body of the phone, using my wife's Dremel style grinder. Bit extreme I'll admit, but acceptable since I have no intention of ever selling the phone (it'll go to my wife if I ever upgrade) and also since I have a Samsung I can do it under the back cover so it doesn't make the phone look ugly. You could of course go to a professional engravers too.</li>
</ul><br />
<p>Bang goes the warranty too of course, so you may wish to wait until that's run out for this:</p><br />
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/9117419103/" title="Steal my phone will ya? by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/9117419103_c4813688ef_n.jpg" width="320" height="213" alt="Steal my phone will ya?"></a></p><br />
<p>Bonus suggestion: Check the phone is covered by your home insurance. Last time I did this (in the UK) it cost no extra, but I did have to specifically list it (and anything else over a certain value). Even if it costs more it won't be as much as the dedicated insurance the carriers try and sell you.</p><br />
<p>Here's hoping Murphy's law doesn't lead me to drop it in the toilet the day after posting this. :-)</p><br />
<br />
mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-49102863107354907952011-06-21T23:09:00.002+01:002011-06-21T23:23:17.525+01:00Alley-find renovation<p>Vancouver, like most North American cities has a block layout with back alleys for parking, refuse disposal, telegraph poles and other services. Also like many North American cities there's a culture of leaving things you don't want, but which someone else might next to the bins in these alleys for others to pick up. This appeals to my senses of environmental responsibility and general cheapness, so I often walk the alleys instead of the streets in case anything good's been left out.</p>
<p>A few months back (during winter, naturally) I found a desk fan. It was next to the bin rather than in it, which is the signal that it was still working. It also satisfied my personal rule of only picking things up that aren't overly bedbug friendly, or at least are easy to inspect for the little critters.</p>
<p>It worked of course, but it was pig-ugly, so I set about it with a can of Plastikote (or similar) and lo: Quite a nice little freebie for my desk.</p>
<p>Not sure what the overriding point is for this post, either 'reuse is better than recycle' or 'carefully spraying things a cool colour is an easy way to renovate them'. Take your pick.</p>
<p>And speaking of pics, here's the before, during and after shots:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/5846049991/" title="Before by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5312/5846049991_3457e38e83.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Before"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/5846604630/" title="During by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/5846604630_9f658b6da4_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="During"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/5846604978/" title="After by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/5846604978_994c6f681d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="After"></a></p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-58267056951218290692011-03-04T03:32:00.005+00:002011-04-04T02:41:27.702+01:00DIY Double Glazing<p>When I <a href="http://canada.hampson.org.uk/?p=44">moved into my new place in the summer</a> its only downside was it faced quite a busy road, and had <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/5060407855/in/photostream/">old, ill-fitting, single-glazed windows</a>.</p>
<p>After a couple of nights sub-optimal sleep I decided to have a go at fitting some secondary glazing, and, not wishing to spend proper money on a rental house I came up with quite a pleasing solution: $100 worth of plastic (polycarbonate to be precise, specially designed crystal clear for windows) sheeting and draft excluding tape from the local DIY store.</p>
<p>The photo tells the rest of the story, but one nice thing: Because the window frames have multiple bevels, I didn't need to cut the sheets to size down the sides, I just chose something roughly right, knowing one of the bevels would do to buttress against. A relief since cutting this stuff smoothly is almost impossible.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/5159045029/" title="Improvised double glazing by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/5159045029_8df7e670d7.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Improvised double glazing" /></a></p>
<p>I've tested noise with and without, and compared to the proper double glazing in the sitting room and it seems about as effective - in so much as you can tell with a free iPhone decibel meter anyway. :-)</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-49838194102022521762011-01-10T21:03:00.002+00:002011-01-10T21:30:53.828+00:00HDD upgrade the MacGyver way<p>I have a 5 year old laptop, with a 100gb hard disk. It has no DVD drive so installing the OS on a new disk is tricky, and even if it had one that's still an immensely boring task that can be avoided with some sticky velcro and a £50 USB-powered external disk, like so:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/5253265238/" title="100gb -> 600gb the MacGyver way by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5253265238_207935f9e5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100gb -> 600gb the MacGyver way" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/5253264960/" title="Giving the old girl a present for her 5th Birthday by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5253264960_d7beefbfaf_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Giving the old girl a present for her 5th Birthday" /></a></p>
<p>That is all.</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-18592329687365092892010-12-19T01:49:00.004+00:002010-12-19T02:01:55.655+00:00Quick tip: Reusing old candles<p>I discovered the other day that candlewax microwaves well. This is probably obvious, but compared to putting glasses of wax into pans of boiling water this does make reusing old candles much easier.</p>
<p>I scooped up a few old candle leftovers, broke them up into a glass, nuked it for a minute or so and dropped in my replacement wick (held up with a paperclip, tied down to a 1" nail):</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/5215382352/" title="Candle recovery by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5215382352_2d73a23f7a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Candle recovery" /></a></p>
<p>One error I sometimes make: Always dip the whole wick in wax for easier/stronger starting off with the new candle.</p>
<p>Eco-scrooge strikes again!</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-85663683033469511072010-11-24T00:05:00.002+00:002010-11-24T00:17:05.105+00:00Getting a human on an automated line<p>Very few things are as annoying as wading through a number of automated menus looking for the right part of a megaglobalcorp to speak to - especially if you have an unusual request to make and know it's going to require actually speaking to someone to sort it out.</p>
<p>This is a subject many people have written about before, but I've had a couple of experiences recently that made me realise a compilation of known techniques might be useful. So, here they are:</p>
<ol>
<li>In the UK there websites that list known landline numbers to companies. The biggest is <a href="http://www.saynoto0870.com/">Say no to 0870</a> and, in addition to avoiding 08 number fees this should get you through to a human.</li>
<li>I recently got so annoyed on one of these lines I shouted "get me a f&*^ing human" out of sheer frustration. I was then immediately connected to an operator. It turns out that swearing and stress level monitors are common, so as long as you're not in an open plan office, this is worth a try.</li>
<li>Finally entering your initial login / account number, date of birth information incorectly can often shortcut you to an operator. This worked most pleasingly on <a href="https://www.vancity.com/VISA/enviroReloadableVISA/">VanCity's shockingly poor Reloadable visa card</a> customer services line, where I would otherwise have been charged one dollar for connection. Win-win.</li>
</ol>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-29610671097892150562010-11-08T21:22:00.003+00:002010-11-08T22:31:11.839+00:00Good gizmo: PCMCIA USB hub<p>I buy gizmos. I also buy gadgets. I've been known to purchase a widget. In short when I see some little impediment to the smooth running of some part of my life I often turn to technology, usually via eBay.</p>
<p>Sometimes these purchases are whack, but sometimes they're great, and in a spirit of positivity it's the latter I've decided to start sharing on this blog, so welcome to the first in an occasional series about good gizmos.</p>
<h2>Today's gizmo</h2>
<p>I've mentioned before how <a href="http://tagsoup.blogspot.com/2010/07/all-your-leads-are-belong-to-bus.html">USB rules the school</a> but sadly my old Toshiba tablet only has a couple of ports, leaving me plugging and unplugging stuff all the time, and particularly stuffed when using my 2 port USB powered DVD player (itself a good gizmo).</p>
<p>I guess from the self-explanatory title you can see where this is going: After <a href="http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=pcmcia+usb&_sacat=0&_odkw=pc+card+usb&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313">a short hunt on ebay</a> it's now filled with a flush, driverless 2 USB port card, for less than £10 all in.</p>
<p>Problem solved.</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-58372215617956799912010-10-11T22:05:00.004+01:002011-01-10T21:47:45.015+00:00Give me some credit<p>One new challenge that's presented itself during my emigration has been the loss of my UK credit rating - it counts for nothing in Canada apparently. Since they don't take cash on the net, this was a pain.</p>
<p>Luckily there are a few things you can do to give your credit rating a kick start when arriving in a new land.<p>
<ol>
<li>Get a bank account (well, duh). Initially you may not easily get a checking account, but a savings account is available to anyone with a buck and ID.</li>
<li>Get a prepaid Visa card. Not only does this get you spending on the net straight away, but if you get a card with a reloadable balance, and therefore an ongoing relationship with a financial institution, it sometimes counts positively towards your credit rating.</li>
<li>Before emigrating, get an American Express account in your native land. Annoyingly rarely accepted though they are, Amex are the one credit company I know that take your overseas credit rating into account when deciding whether to grant you a card in your new home. Aside from some niggles with ID I was instantly approved for a Canadian card.</li>
<li>Lastly, once you've got these accounts, make sure you run all your spending through them. Use the cards whenever possible, and pay your bills on time. After two or three months you should have no problems at all getting a proper Visa and a checking account.</li>
</ol>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-39363379976792006492010-07-30T10:15:00.003+01:002010-07-30T18:25:32.123+01:00All your leads are belong to bus<p>I like to travel light. On recent(ish) trips to Thailand, Japan and Egypt I've only taken carry-on luggage. I also don't like clutter in my flat. Combine these two things and you come to one, inescapably obvious conclusion:</p>
<p>Power cables suck.</p>
<p>Thus over the last few years I've ensured all my new gizmos are rechargeable via USB which, combined with a collection of small USB to wall plug / car cigarette lighter adaptors, means minimum cables in my luggage and my flat.</p>
<p>For example (bottom of pic), here's the cabling required to charge my X-Mini II travel speaker (mini-USB) on UK trips (noting the plug adaptor can be used for all my other devices too):</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/4842262082/" title="USB powered by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/4842262082_1fc0b486bb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="USB powered" /></a><p>
<p>A key discovery in achieving this was that even if the device, like my camera, won't natively charge over USB, there are always third party USB battery chargers available (I recommend Ebay) for very little money.</p>
<p>Alternatively, if you have your laptop with you, you can charge everything through that (some laptops will even leave a USB port live while sleeping for this exact purpose). Admittedly you'll have to take the laptop lead with you, but you can always buy a local figure of 8 or kettle lead if you want to avoid taking the adaptor for that (again Ebay is your friend - I got a US/Canada one for $3CA, delivered).</p>
<p>If you're travelling to more than one country you'll need a multi-adaptor, but there are some, like the green FujiFilm one pictured above, that cover every continent, so even that isn't to bad.</p>
<p>The beginning of the end for scenes like this?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/2997030422/" title="Cables by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/2997030422_ba9e3c8b70_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Cables" /></a></p>
<p>Here's hoping.</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-84168055200990044842010-07-29T18:03:00.009+01:002010-07-29T19:24:55.740+01:00Free online backup<p>People often ask me... well, ok, actually: Some<em>one</em> recently asked me how I back up my data on my PC laptop*, and when I told them, they said "wow that's amazing! You should do a blog post on that!".</p>
<p>Well, ok, they didn't do that either, but here's one anyway.</p>
<h2>Executive summary</h2>
<p>I keep my latest stuff (photos just off my camera, docs I've just written) inside a folder synced with the online backup service <a href="http://www.dropbox.com">Dropbox</a> (that gives you a couple of gigs storage for free). I leave the rest of my data <em>outside</em> the backed up folder.</p>
<p>Every six months (depending on how much new stuff I create) I backup <em>all</em> my data to an external HDD and move the recent stuff out of the Dropbox folder to its more permanent location - freeing up space for another six months worth of new stuff.</p>
<h2>The detail</h2>
<p>First things first, I only back up my data, not my whole system. My install of Windows XP is about 4 years old now, and while it works fine, if my HDD died I'd think of it as an opportunity to clense the remnants of all those peripheral applications that have come and gone over the years. If the whole thing explodes, or some scumbag nicks it, the question of full-system backup becomes moot anyway.</p>
<p>For online backup I use <a href="http://www.dropbox.com">Dropbox</a>, which simply syncs a specified folder on your HDD with their servers. Since I don't work for the CIA this is fine. Dropbox also have a nice web interface and an iPhone app for getting at your files when away from your machine.</p>
<p>Unfortunately Dropbox use the same "absurd or free" pricing model as (the otherwise awesome) <a href="http://www.spotify.com">Spotify</a>, thus I only have the 2GB they provide free to play with, which is no help considering I have 20GB of photos and 50GB of music. There are other online backup services of course, but they too only offer a little free space.</p>
<p>Thinking about this though, I realised that since I have a couple of external HDDs that I take manual copies of everything on to every six months or so, all I really need to back up is whatever has changed recently.</p>
<p>Thus I was able to rearrange my docs as follows:</p>
<pre><code>/My Dropbox
-\_INBOX
-\Docs
-\Music Metadata
-\New Music
-\New Photos
-\Web Pages
\Music
\Photo Archive
\Web Pages Archive</code></pre>
<h2>Inside my Dropbox</h2>
<ul>
<li>"_INBOX" is my catch-all folder for downloads and anything I'm looking at right now that I might not keep.</li>
<li>"Docs" contains all my Office-type docs, and since the folder's so small they're all kept in there. Similarly "Web Pages" has a copy of everything I have online now.</li>
<li>"Music Metadata" is where I occasionally copy my iTunes XML file to. <a href="http://tagsoup.blogspot.com/2008/06/another-itunes-library-hack.html">As I've mentioned here before</a> I'm pretty obsessive about my music metadata, so I don't want to lose it. I can't make iTunes keep it there thanks to Apple's general inability to let you specify data locations (see also iPhone photo caches).
<li>"New Music", "New Photos" - Music and photos I've added recently.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Outside my Dropbox</h2>
<p>Contains everything that hasn't changed since I last took an external HDD backup: My older photos, my music library, websites that aren't live any more etc.</p>
<p>As with anything i post on this blog, this solution won't suit everyone, but for me it means I have everything backed up, instantly, for minimal effort and with zero cost. It'll do until this cloud computing thing takes off anyway.</p>
<hr />
<p>(* I think it's fair to say if I had a Mac I'd just buy a Time Machine, because they're awesome and seamless. However I don't.)</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-35425290041377001732010-06-23T02:54:00.005+01:002010-06-23T03:48:52.397+01:00Cycling with golf clubs<p>Ever wondered about a good way to attach a couple of golf clubs to a bike when off to pitch & putt? No? Well, it's my blog, so tough. Get reading.</p>
<p>Having found strapping them to my back a bit awkward, and wanting better weight distribution, I dropped into a 'Loonie' (dollar) store and got some self-adhesive velcro.</p>
<p>Stick a couple of 25cm lengths back to back, and wrap round frame and clubs so it sticks to the back of itself (click pics to enlarge):</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/4726345930/" title="Ready for golfycling by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1144/4726345930_50f2217711_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Ready for golfycling" /></a></p>
<p>Note the inner wrap of velcro attached to the frame to stop the whole assembly sliding back and forth:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathampson/4725699023/" title="Close up of one dollar's worth of solution by MatHampson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1147/4725699023_bca599bfdc_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Close up of one dollar's worth of solution" /></a></p>
<p>This only does 2 clubs of course, or maybe 4 at a push, but that's fine for the driving range or the pitch & putt - and I'll leave the strips in my bike toolkit too, because I bet they come in handy for other things at some point.</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-65707299226288283462010-05-20T23:55:00.008+01:002010-05-21T00:27:05.029+01:00Pack it in<p>About a month ago I had to spend £30 replacing the lock on the boat after I forgot the key and we had to kick the door open. That was quite annoying. Even more annoying when I have a simple checklist I (almost) always use when packing to ensure I don't forget common items.</p>
<p>Anyway, since it's evolved over several years of travelling, I thought you might be interested to see it in case it inspires you to make or amend your own.</p>
<p>Note it's just a single list suitable for long holidays, Glastonbury or an overnight stay (with headings so I can skip sections that aren't relevant any given trip) - because even I can't be bothered maintaining lots of separate lists with chunks of repetition. It's also not exhaustive, instead focussing on the slightly unusual stuff that I often forget.</p>
<h2>Paperwork</h2>
<ul>
<li>Passport</li>
<li>Money & tickets (or reference #)</li>
<li>(International) driving licence & proof of address</li>
<li>Travel insurance docs</li>
<li>Guide book(s)</li>
<li>Reading book(s)</li>
</ul>
<h2>Gadgets</h2>
<ul>
<li>Phone charger</li>
<li>Camera (+ charger)</li>
<li>Laptop (+ charger)</li>
<li>Mini speakers (+ charger)</li>
<li>International socket adaptor</li>
</ul>
<h2>Clothes</h2>
<ul>
<li>T shirts / shirts, trousers and underwear</li>
<li>Sandals & shorts</li>
<li>Waterproof top & cap</li>
<li>Long kohns</li>
<li>Swimming trunks</li>
<li>Hiking boots and socks</li>
</ul>
<h2>Overnight</h2>
<ul>
<li>Washkit: lenses, specs, deo, tbrush, towel, wet wipes</li>
<li>Sleeping bag, inner, thermorest, mini pillow</li>
<li>Tent</li>
<li>Ear plugs and eye mask</li>
<li>Travel wash</li>
</ul>
<h2>Meds</h2>
<ul>
<li>Plasters (inc. blister plasters)</li>
<li>Rehydration sachets</li>
<li>Paracetomol</li>
<li>Antiseptic wipes</li>
<li>Sudafed</li>
</ul>
<h2>Misc</h2>
<ul>
<li>Booze</li>
<li>Cards and travel games</li>
<li>Mini kite</li>
<li>Silver wig</li>
<li>Folding chair & stool</li>
</ul>
<h2>Keys</h2>
<ul>
<li>Boat</li>
<li>Wales</li>
<li>Parent's place</li>
</ul>
<p>You see? Keys even have their own section... £30! <em>Dammit!</em></p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-17737463112382117832010-02-17T22:22:00.005+00:002010-02-17T23:03:21.431+00:00Revealed: Who's sold my email address to spammers<p>Some time ago I posted about <a href="http://tagsoup.blogspot.com/2006/07/spam.html">how I use customised email addresses when signing up for services</a> so I can track who sells on my address to spamming third parties.</p>
<p>Well I've just had a rummage through my spam folder, and thought it would be fun to tell everyone which <strike>charlatans</strike> companies have done exactly that:</p>
<ol>
<li>emusic.com</li>
<li>ticketweb.co.uk</li>
<li>aquasolo.fr</li>
</ol>
<p>I also get lots to my ebay.com, ebay.co.uk and paypal.co.uk addresses, but they probably got out to an unscrupulous seller while I was paying for stuff, or messaging back and forth - still worth knowing though.</p>
<p>Oh, and note that while I may well have failed to tick a 'don't sell my info box' somewhere along the line, the point is the resulting mail is the nasty 'diet casino enlarging meds' style pure spam - not responsible related companies.</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-43348386628902044882009-11-01T11:20:00.001+00:002009-11-01T11:48:28.000+00:00Switching off the idiot box<p>I think I watch too much tv.</p>
<p>I know it's a common complaint, and there's a lot of good programming out there that I shouldn't feel is wasted time. Nonetheless, I do somehow end up watching too many things that I can barely even remember afterwards. I'm looking at you Property Ladder.</p>
<p>So, I've worked up a short checklist of avoidance tactics, that (mostly) work for me:</p>
<ul>
<li>Go out. Any excuse: For a walk, shopping, take some photos, read a book in the park. It doesn't matter. Leaving the flat will always raise my mood.</li>
<li>Focus. Don't surf the net while watching telly. This is a particular problem for me: I focus quite intently on one thing, flipping between stimuli - catching all of neither, and never quite relaxing and immersing myself in one. Put the laptop out of reach, or turn the telly off.</li>
<li>If it's late enough, go to bed - get more sleep and be in a fitter, happier and more productive mood the next day. If I'm not tired, 30 mins with a book does the trick.</li>
<li>Only watch programmes off the PVR, turning the decision to watch into a two-step one. This doesn't wholly work for me, as I still, after all this time, occasionally record crap. I'm still looking at you, Property Ladder.</li>
</ul>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-55950336813519074292009-10-19T22:24:00.002+01:002009-10-19T22:40:36.309+01:00Quickie: iPhone maps without a data connection<p>Just occasionally I know I'm heading off somewhere I could do with Google maps for, but where data is either hugely expensive (overseas), or not available (North Wales, planes, down a well).</p>
<p>Luckily you can <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/10/iphone-101-taking-screenshots/">take screenshots with the iPhone</a>, so an easy solution for cheapskates like me is to take a bunch of screenshots of the relevant map screens in before you leave the free data area.</p>
<p>Works for web pages too if you can't be bothered with the iPhone's fiddly cut 'n paste.</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-46024689096895523662009-08-29T12:46:00.002+01:002009-08-29T13:17:53.241+01:00Home drop box<p>Here's a quick post that will no doubt further amuse those of my friends who take the mickey about my l33t OCD oranised-ness.</p>
<p>Right by the door to my room I've got a little three-storey office in-tray (in no way stolen from my office many years ago) which I use it as my 'drop box' when arriving in or departing from the flat. The three layers are used like so:</p>
<ol>
<li>Top layer: Stuff I take in and out every time; Wallet, keys, coins, camera, glasses, headphones, phone etc.</li>
<li>Middle layer: Stuff I only take out occasionally; Boat key, library card, my Moo cards etc. </li>
<li>Bottom layer: 'One offs' waiting to be taken somewhere else; E-tickets, presents for others, leftover Euros etc.</li>
</ol>
<p>All part of the place for everything and everything in its place principle.</p>
<p>Let the mickey-taking commence...</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-46305189647833481912009-06-26T21:15:00.005+01:002009-06-26T21:57:16.533+01:00Rounds of three<p>This is a post I've been meaning to make for ages. It involves boozing, and amateur systems analysis, which anyone who knows me knows are two of my favourite things.</p>
<p>In the UK, among other countries, the culture when buying drinks is to buy a round for everyone in the group who wants a drink. Simple, but not without its drawbacks for larger groups: Rounds vary wildy in size, sometimes making people reluctant to step up to the plate, often you have to order too much to carry, and worst of all, it rewards fast drinking, because quick drinkers get to join more rounds.</p>
<p>So, what to do? Enter rounds of three, and it's so simple, even a rabid drunk can manage it. In one sentence:</p>
<p>Buy rounds for whoever wants a drink at the given time <em>exactly as usual</em>, <strong>except limit the round to three drinks.</strong></p>
<p>This means you can carry them, noone gets stung for a big round, and people drink at their own pace - safe in the knowledge they won't get left behind.</p>
<p>Now I admit the truth is it's hard to persuade a group to alter learnt behaviour - however the times I've tried it with friends it's worked nicely, and given a nice rest evening to the livers of those who wanted one...</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-6505285085808871362009-06-01T21:24:00.008+01:002009-06-01T21:59:14.068+01:00Automagic status updates<p>I use lots of apps that allow me to put little status updates in them – <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a>, IM clients and even <a href="http://www.dinqi.com/">Dinqi, my own lifetracking app</a>. I like this idea of letting people know what I'm up to, and starting conversations with them, however I don't want to spend my life updating my status on myriad different applications. What to do?</p>
<p>Enter <a href="http://www..com/">RSS</a>, <a href="http://www.twitterfeed.com/">Twitterfeed</a> and <a href="http://www.ping.fm/">Ping.fm</a>.</p>
<p>The diagram below shows how I post to a few primary sources and use a few apps to spread the love, as well as how I get notified when someone replies: </p>
<p><a href="http://www.hampson.org.uk/tagsoup/img/articles/status_updates_big.gif"><img src="http://www.hampson.org.uk/tagsoup/img/articles/status_updates.gif" alt="A fairly complex flow chart, showing how I use Twitterfeed and Ping to collate and disseminate my updates from and to multiple sources" /></a></p>
<p>A few notes:</p>
<ul>
<li>If I want to post random stuff in directly I start at Ping</li>
<li>I still visit Twitter and Facebook when I have a quiet moment and want to browse what folk are chatting about.</li>
<li>Work and play aren't absolute – if it's not a secret then the Play route is fine for both.</li>
<li>By MSN I mean MSN Messenger - there just wasn't room in the diagram.</li>
<li>This isn't exactly how I have it now – Twitterfeed has only recently started supporting Ping and I haven't bothered to rejig stuff since, but I will.</li>
<li><strong>This is just how I do it.</strong> It probably won't suit you exactly as is, but is hopefully interesting anyway.</li>
</ul>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-75081278304933453752008-12-06T09:13:00.007+00:002009-03-24T11:51:42.294+00:00Making decisions in a small group<p>When faced with a quiet evening with my flatmate we may well decide to watch a film. Cue: "What do you fancy?" and an hour of scanning Tiscali timidly pointing out stuff we think the other person might be okay with - All the while both secretly wanting to watch 'Hostel' or some other such crap, but presuming the other wouldn't want to see that in a million years.</p>
<p>Scene set.</p>
<p>The way we've found round this, which also works in other situations and with bigger groups, is <strong>one person chooses a shortlist, which the other then picks from</strong>.</p>
<p>If there's two of you, have a shortlist of 3 or 4. If there's three of you, the first picks 5, the second narrows it down to 3 and the last person chooses.</p>
<p>The key is that if you're picking several films you don't have to worry so much about what the other person wants - as long as you have a little variety in your shortlist (5 mexican restaurants is not a cool list) there's bound to be something they fancy on it.</p>
<p>Failing that there's a neat little iPhone app called iChoose - but you'll still need that shortlist...</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-2900110326785891272008-10-01T19:38:00.002+01:002008-10-01T19:47:02.996+01:00Places to attach an iPod shuffle<p>If you buy decent headphones they should come with a break half way down the cable. This means if you have a tiny mp3 player, and you can attach it within 50 cm of your ears, you can get away with half the cabling.</p>
<p>Here's a few places I've clipped my shuffle in order to manage this:</p>
<ol>
<li>On a necklace under a T-shirt</li>
<li>Inside a rolled-up sleeve</li>
<li>In a top or inner pocket</li>
<li>On my collar (NB: This made me look like an idiot, but that was fine as I was cycling)</li>
<li>On the headphones themselves, if you have big over-ear ones (NB: This also makes me look like an idiot - irrespective of circumstance, but it really works.)</li>
</ol>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-87982398188785804942008-10-01T19:34:00.003+01:002009-10-19T22:41:34.235+01:00Quickie: Folding paper<p>Tiny tip: When folding up an A4 printout or similar that you'll want to refer to later, <em>fold it backwards first</em>, so the front faces outward.</p>
<p>That way when you come back to it you won't have to open it to see what it is.</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-36746895300754321172008-07-20T21:05:00.003+01:002008-07-20T21:22:34.289+01:00A bluffer's guide to Spanish<p>Hola! I went to Spain at the start of this year and, knowing no Spanish, I bought a phrease book and a dictionary to get me communicating.</p>
<p>However, I found that whole phrases are hard to remember and difficult to adjust to exact situations if you don't understand a word of them, and a dictionary is very time consuming to use. What I wanted was a short list of the absolute minimum vocab you need to get by, arranged so you can construct your own rudimentary sentences. Grammar, gender and spelling not required.</p>
<p>I couldn't find anything like that on the interwebs either so I've written my own, the absolute bare minimun guide to Spanish for travelling in Spain.</p>
<h2>Numbers</h2>
0 - cero, uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, sieste, ocho, nueve, 10 - diez
<h2>Vocab</h2>
<ul><li>yes - si</li><li>no - no</li><li>hello - hola</li><li>goodbye - adios</li><li>please - por favor</li><li>thankyou - gracias</li><li>room - habitacion</li><li>train - tren</li><li>bus - autobu/s</li><li>plane - avio/n</li><li>today - hoy</li><li>tomorrow - man~ana</li><li>english - inglese</li></ul>
<h2>Phrases</h2>
<ul><li>(I don't) understand - (no) comprendo</li><li>my name's - me llamo</li><li>How much? - quanto?</li><li>What time? - a que hora?</li><li>where is? - donde es?</li><li>I'm sorry - lo siento</li></ul>
<h2>Constructors</h2>
<ul><li>for - para</li><li>on/in - en</li><li>that - aquel</li><li>this - este</li><li>what? - que?</li><li>when? - cuando?</li></ul>
<h2>Pronunciation</h2>
<ul><li>c - s (gracias = grasias)</li><li>r - rll (tren = trllen)</li><li>u/ - oo (autobu/s = autoboose)</li><li>ho - o (hola = ola)</li><li>ll - y (me llamo = me yamo)</li></ul>
<h2>Examples of use</h2>
<ul><li>Where's the train station - donde es tren, por favor?</li><li>Table for two at a restaurant - para dos?</li><li>How much is this rabbit pelt? - cuanto es este (along with pointing)</li><li>The bill please - use the international "bill please" mime</li></ul>
<p>There. Now that's bound to have some obvious gaps - so have a think, and bung me your suggestions, however, remember nothing too specialist, and nothing that you can do easily with mime...</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14628041.post-21316871330856379182008-06-11T18:38:00.004+01:002008-07-20T21:23:37.398+01:00Another iTunes library hack<p>Had a couple of nags for not posting enough here - time for a mini-post...</p>
<p>Something I've <a href="/2006/11/itunes-library-hacks.html">written about before</a>, but it seems I just can't stop fiddling with my iTunes playlists.</p>
<p>My most recent addition is a "zz_filter" smart playlist (so named so as to appear out the way at the bottom alphabetically), which I use in combination with most other playlists to ensure that the following songs are not included in the final list:</p>
<ol>
<li>Songs under 30 seconds long</li>
<li>Songs over 8 minutes long</li>
<li>Songs of 2 stars or less</li>
<li>Tracks from non-music genres, for example comedy and audiobook(which also includes 100 tracks used for programming my belkin fm transmitter gizmo.)</li>
</ol>
<p>While I'm here I'd also recommend that, if you haven't done so for a year or two, you consider restoring your iPod to the factory defaults and re-syncing it. Mine was failing to sync, so I did this to fix that, but as a bonus I've found it's now docking and undocking quicker and is also quicker to navigate round the menus - it's like a new machine :-)</p>mathampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469058981044087949noreply@blogger.com0