Friday, December 31, 2010

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Thursday, December 23, 2010

ALDI: Adjustable Painting Easel

Got this for ET, nice addition to her art colklection.



Adjustable wooden easel up to 190cm
Telescopic legs
Adjustable rake for vertical and horizontal painting
Easily folds together for easy carrying and storage
Leather carry handle and strap

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Chewed Slippers - who did that?

We returned from a shopping trip and this is how I found my slippers - or slipper.



I wonder who is the culprit ???

Sunday, November 14, 2010

ALDI: Tevion Power meter $14.99



  • Measures household power/energy consumption

  • Multi-measuring formats including current and historical consumption, greenhouse gas emission display

I setup the unit and entered our electricity rate.

Plugged into entertainment centre GPO, it's over a month now so should be able to get some decent stats.


Saturday, September 18, 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Can’t open the gate



Twisting the ring does nothing, the latch bar won’t move up!
The latch is 35 years old and well worn, the corners of square bar connecting the inside and outside rings have rounded off – round peg in a square hole.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

ALDI: Taurus Router Table $69



  • Aluminium main table: 335mm x 450mm

  • Steel extension table: 335mm x 200mm

  • Adjustable in and out feed fence

Friday, August 6, 2010

ALDI: Premium Planer $14.99




  • Red beech wood construction
  • Premium steel hardened and shaped blade
  • Length: 230mm


    Got this a few weeks later for $10.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Black & Decker WM536 Workmate

Bought one of these today from Bunning's for $99.




Dual working heights can use as a workbench, bench tool stand, vice, or sawhorse

Dual clamping cranks increase clamping force and versatility

Portable for easy transport and storage

Folds flat compact for storage and convenient for easy portability

Built in front step for extra comfort

4 pegs used for clamping odd shapes

Durable steel construction for longer life time

Rubber Feet to prevent slipping

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Home entertainment review – bundling stuff

Recently I have made a few diary posts about my retirement, this is my last week of work and there are lots of things to do such as a review of our phone, internet and cable TV services. For the last 30 odd years we have had a Telstra phone service, for 10 years Bigpond cable and for 10 years Foxtel (on Telstra cable). In an effort to stem declining PSTN revenue (loosing phone lines) Telstra is offering a range of bundles, I zoomed in on the Home TV bundles:



I decided the $198 bundle was the best one for us. We go from HomeLine Complete to Reach, I don’t use the phone much but ET makes lots of local 20c calls which are included now along with cheaper STD. We have been on cable Extreme since it became available so no change here with Elite – but we save on power. The Motorola SB1501 and D-Link DI-824VUP will be replaced with a single unit - the Netgear CGD24N (which is suitable for use in Cable 30 areas).

Friday, July 2, 2010

This time next week

Reminder to myself-

 

Today is Friday 2nd July, this time next week will be my last day of work!

 

PS. better jot that down on a sticky note and stick to forehead.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Not long now


Less than two weeks to go until I retire.

One thing I have to watch out for is:



There are plenty of them around and they are certified by the Government.

New printer purchase

Just came home with a new printer from Officeworks for $196 bucks.
This is to replace a Brother MFC which would not print black – blocked.
I managed to get black working but decided to get the Canon anyway.

Canon Pixma MP640 Multifunction Printer



The MP640 is for people wanting unsurpassed quality for printing lab quality photos, fast double sided documents or for printing colourful CDs and DVDs. Use the built-in screen to view all your photos, or slip in your memory card, or connect your PictBridge compatible camera directly to the front - for easy photo prints at home!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Talking about Creating photo panoramas with Windows Live Photo Gallery

With Windows Live Photo Gallery, your field of vision isn't limited to what you can squeeze into one photo. In Photo Gallery, you can "stitch" together several photos in a series to create a larger, more interesting composition.


In the past, taking panoramic photos required a special camera, lenses, or the use of complicated camera features. The only other option was to paste photos together by hand. Photo Gallery makes creating panoramic photos much easier—and much more fun 


Quote

Creating photo panoramas with Windows Live Photo Gallery

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Cosy cats

It’s winter, if you huddle together you stay warmer.
 


Luna on the left, Phoenix at the back and Milo (Siamese, Tonkinese & Siamese)

Horse rugs to clean

More rugs left on the front porch for my attention.



Someone forgot to tell Elvis (TB) that it’s winter and he decided to cool off in the dam.

Monday, June 21, 2010

ALDI Router 1200W + Bit set

Thursday 24th June.

I have been thinking of getting one of these for a while now and resisted the last time they were on sale.

34003_1520326250802_3575476_n 
$49.99

  • No load speed: 11,500-30,000RPM
  • Maximum cutting capacity: 38mm
  • Variable speed
  • Safety switch with dust collection facility

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Saturday, June 19, 2010

New front gates

Another job at the kid’s place in Rowville, the gates are falling apart and Shyla the long haired German shepherd could go walkabout.



Each gate is a steel frame with fairly heavy boards that were rotting.
After a bit of thought we decided to replace then with regular fence palings (the wider ones) and secure with zinc plated self drilling hex head screws – phew.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Digitech 2.4Ghz Wireless AV Sender/Receiver





The AR-1830 is a high quality Wireless Audio & Video transmitter and receiver.
It delivers clear video and stereo audio at distances up to 100 metres in open areas.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Cleaning horse rugs

Now that it’s winter horse rugs start appearing on the front porch, they are left there for my attention – to clean.


I use a small GMC pressure cleaner connected to the water tank.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Snowflake and Trixie Bell

Snowflake and Trixie Bell - RIP

Panasonic 26" CRT TV



Purchased this in 2005 and its still going well.

Was moved from the lounge room down to the rumpus room (store room) where it sat in a corner when it was replaced with a Panasonic 42" plasma.

Found a new lease of life when it was lugged back up the stairs and into NJ's study to replace the Tevion 51cm CRT. Nothing wrong with the Tevion, the kid needed more AV inputs for all her entertainment stuff (Tevion only has one AV) which the Pana has.

Fish tank modifications

Fish are out and mice are in, so my older kid MK wanted the fish tank modified.
Job was to replace the hinged timber top with wire mesh.
So I made up two pine timber frames and stapled on cage wire.

 

 

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Makita battery pack - continued



 Basically we want to end up with a modified battery pack physically the same as before but with a decent figure 8 flex running from the bottom (offset to allow clip to close) and about 2mtrs long with battery terminal size alligator clips at the end.


 


To drop the voltage down from 12 to 9.6 we can use a few diodes.


We need to loose about 2.4V (12 – 9.6 = 2.4V)


 


Voltage drop across a silicon junction is 0.7 volts so:


3 diodes = 2.1V


4 diodes = 2.8V 


 


However, we need to make some practical measurements…a full charged lead acid battery in good condition stands at 12.6V but most likely we are going to be using an old 2nd hand one with a lower terminal voltage.


Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Ideas for Spaces categories



Jasper


2/13/2009 1:39:12 AM


Been thinking about the Spaces categories and modules.  With no surprise to some thinking from the mobile point of view.  At the moment you can post blog entries to Live Space, via email publishing.  Which is a very handy system for blogging from anywhere, eg mobile device, with just an simple email message sent to your email publishing address.  However it’s not possible to set a category for the blog entry if posted via email publishing. 


So an idea/wish for spaces email publishing would be.  In the same way you can email publish pictures to each of your live photo albums.  Via a email publishing address for each of the photo albums, that you have created in your photos.  Could we have a email publishing address for each of the categories that have been created, within your Live Space?  As currently any email published blog entries, just get posted without any category selected.


That also got me thinking.  Within your space you can click on a category.  Which will then list the posted entries with that category, no surprise there.  However would it be possible to have modules that can be added to your Live Space.  Which you can select the category, and the contents of the module are the blog entries for that category?  This would make your space more customisable and help organise your Live Space.  With your important categories in there own modules, up top on the main page.  So possibly you could have a micro-blog category on your Live Space.  Which you can email in frequent micro-blog updates ;)


 


Indian Saffron rice

Indian Saffron Rice



Serves: 6 Ready in: 25 mins (5 mins Prep - 20 mins Cook)

RE: Toaster from supermarket

 

Check out this one!

 

New line. 2 slice. Extra wide slots, reheat, defrost & bagel functions, stainless steel body. KS-2000D.

$35.00 

http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/toasters-0/casera-cafe-range-toaster/4iqzy9pkq.html?source=category&pageopt=toasters-0



Time for a new computer system

Purchase new system for ET

Scorptec Firefly

Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 (2.5Ghz), Intel G31 Chipset, 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2, 1TB SATAII HDD, 20X Dual Layer DVD Burner, 5.1 Audio, Onboard LAN, Coolermaster Elite 330 Case with 420W PSU

Upgrades: 4GB PC-6400 (800mhz) DDR2, 1TB SATAII, 32MB Cache, 7200RPM, Acer 23" 16:9 Widescreen LCD, Black, 1920 x 1080, DVI (HDCP), 5ms, 40,000:1 ACM, 300 cd/m2



Writer: How to edit the published date?

Technogran MVP

If you did create all of your travel posts in Windows Live Writer, here's a step by step of how to change the publish dates of any of your previous posts.
1. Open Windows Live Writer and click on FILE and then OPEN.
2. If its a very old post, say about 200 posts back, then click on the SHOW box and open up to 500 past posts.
3. Scroll down all of your previous posts until you find the post in Question.
4. Highlight that post by clicking on it and then click on OK.
5. The post will then appear inside the editing window with the publish date empty. (as it is a previous post.)
6. Next Click on the Calendar box to the right of the Set publishing date right down on the right hand side.
7 Now work you way back through the Calendar until you reach your chosen date and choose it, your new date will then by applied to that post.
8. Now re-publish that post. NOTE! It will no longer be in the same sequence of posts in your blog!
Simply repeat this for all your other previous blog posts that you wish to change publish date of. NOTE. This ability to change the publish dates will only work with any previous posts that you have made and composed using Windows Live Writer.
TGReport as Abuse

Monday, June 7, 2010

Hutch cleaning May 2007

100_1821
Chester and Milo - that's my bed cat!

Lexmark P350 photo printer

 

General

  • Device type Photo inkjet
  • Dimensions (H x W x D) 127 x 235 x 147 cm
  • Weight 1.84 kg kg
  • Memory CompactFlash Type I, CompactFlash Type II, Secure Digital, mini-SD, xD Picture Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick DUO, MultiMediaCard, SmartMedia card MB
  • Connections USB, Bluetooth
Went into ALDI to buy carrots and apples for the horses and picked up one of these for I think $79 – clearing them?

Also purchased two of the P350 + Paper media kits for $39.50 from INKREDIBLE INKS.

http://www.inkredibleinks.com.au/all.asp?brand=Lexmark

 Lexmark part numbers:

#43 (XL) Ink Cartridge only 18Y0143A
#45 Ink Cartridge + Paper 18Y0146A (P350 + Paper above)


Lexmark P350 supplies

Purchase ink and paper for P350.




Lexmark part numbers:

#43 Ink Cartridge only 18Y0143A

#45 Ink Cartridge + Paper 18Y0146A (P350 + Paper above)

From Inkredibleinks

http://www.inkredibleinks.com.au/all.asp?brand=Lexmark


IP Camera: connect AP to router



 


DWL-900AP+ Access Point


Emulator:
http://support.dlink.com/emulators/di824vup/hwiz.htm


Firmware:




































Release Notes.txt (2 KB)


Download


 


v2.62b1 (983 KB)


Download


 



Wireless Client mode





Client - Site Survey



 


With firmware version 2.20, we've added a Site Survey feature which will display all available wireless networks.

Step 1 Open your web browser such as Internet Explorer and enter the IP address of the DWL-900AP+ (192.168.0.50).

Step 2 Enter username (admin) and password.

Step 3 Click on Advanced at the top and then click Mode on the left side.

Step 4 Select Wireless Client and then click on Site Survey

Step 5 Click on the radio button to the left of the wireless network you want to connect to. Click Connect.

Step 6 Click Apply and then click Continue.


 


 


Client to 614+



Step 1 Log onto the DI-614+ configuration page (192.168.0.1 in your browser). Log in by entering your username into the login box (admin by default).

Step 2 Select the Status tab. Under Device Info, locate the LAN MAC address. This is the address you will enter into the configuration of the DWL-900AP+. Make sure you write it down correctly.

Step 3 Click on the Home tab and select Wireless on the left pane. Write down the SSID.

Step 4 Log into the configuration page of the DWL-900AP+ (192.168.0.50 in your browser). Log in by entering your username into the login box (admin by default).

Step 5 Select the Advanced tab. Under Mode, select Wireless Client. In the Remote AP MAC box you will enter the LAN MAC address that you copied from the configuration of the DI-614+. When entering the MAC address, do not include colons (:) or dashes (-). Click on the Apply button to save your settings. Click Continue.

Step 6 Click on the Home tab and select Wireless on the left pane. Enter the SSID as it is on the DI-614+ (case-sensitive). Click Apply and then Continue.

Step 7 Turn the DI-614+ and the DWL-900AP+ off for a few seconds. Turn the DI-614+ on first, wait until the lights are steady, then turn the DWL-900AP+ back on.

Step 8 The DI-614+ and the DWL-900AP+ should now be able to communicate wirelessly, if not, then verify the LAN MAC address you entered into the DWL-900AP+ configuration is correct.

Note: When the DWL-900AP+ is in client mode, other wireless clients will not be able to connect to the DWL-900AP+.




 

Bracken Fern




 

  

Plant name: Bracken Fern (alternative names: Common Fern and Austral Bracken
Botanical name: Pteridium esculentum
Declared: An environmental weed….

Bracken Fern is a native of Australia and is prevalent throughout the coastal area of the north coast and also occurs in all states of Australia. The plant will survive in most soil types and tolerates both fire and drought. The complex underground system called rhizomes makes Bracken Fern a difficult plant to control as it is prone to regrow following both chemical and mechanical treatment. Cultivation assists in the regrowth due to the broken rhizome pieces with each section capable of producing new plants. Bracken Fern is suspected of causing cattle deaths by stock eating the fronds of plants and death may still occur weeks after the stock have been removed from infested areas. Leaves known as "fronds" are deeply divided and leathery on robust brown stalks approximately 60-120cms high.





Been trying to get rid of this stuff along one side of the house in a raised garden bed. The root system is amazing, keeps coming back but I do have it under control.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Pioneer DEH-3250UB Car CD MP3 USB Tuner

Purchased this from Autobarn for ET’s Lancer CE so she could play her CD’s.
Don't have any pictures of this install but they are all much the same - see my Camry SV21 audio upgrade.

Pioneer DEH-3250UB Car CD MP3 USB Tuner

Camry SV21 audio upgrade

This blog entry shows how I replaced the original radio cassette with a Panasonic unit, installed rear parcel shelf speakers and a sub woofer with amplifier.

THE CAR – 1991 Toyota Camry SV21

This picture was taken new years day 2004 at Kalista up in the Dandenongs.

Panasonic CJ-A1600U Car 120 Watt 6.5 inch 2-Way Coaxial Full Range Speakers

  



With the introduction of the A series speakers, you can now get high-tech Panasonic features at a super value. The A series feature durable mica-filled polypropylene cones with treated foam surrounds for great bass response, and polypropylene cone tweeters with metallic domes for crystal-clear highs. Includes grilles and mounting hardware.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Sony XM-552ZR 2 Channel Car Amplifier







Nissan NX audio upgrade

Sony Xplod 12-Inch 1200-Watt Subwoofer (XSL121P5)



Nissan NX audio upgrade

Nissan NX audio upgrade

My younger kid NJ wanted to upgrade the audio in her Nissan NX so after some research off we went shopping to purchase a Kenwood CD player, Sony 2 channel amp and Sony Xplod sub in a kicker box. I didn't take any photos of the install but checkout my Camry SV21 audio upgrade.



Looking for the Wi-Fi Chicken Doors?

Stay tuned... over the next few days I will be catch-up posting the Wi-Fi chicken Doors. Oh... and my Wi-Fi Bird Feeder. I'll be back...