A blog about science, technology and ideas for building useful stuff

No Preservatives Added, Guido's irregular monthly blog. Enjoy reading.

2018-04: Ruizu x02 mp3 player
How to change the language settings of this mp3 player from factory default Chinese to English. A short product review is included too.
2018-04: Replacing a worn-out mouse button
It's usually the left mouse button that fails after a few years. Here is how to replace it with one that will last.
2018-04: Turmeric as a natural easter egg dye
Turmeric changes not only the color of the eggs but it gives them as well a nice taste.
2018-03: Why is IPv6 a failure and how to disable it
Some general observations about IPv6 and how to disable it on your Linux laptop/pc.
2018-03: Raspberry PI, reading temperatures with a DS18S20 sensor
A nice spring break project for your childen. Read temperatures with a Raspberry and serve it over the web.
2018-03: Raspberry PI, beginner GPIO tutorial, a traffic light
A Raspberry PI GPIO 101.
2018-03: Sewing: an interesting stitch pattern
A very interesting hand sewing stitch pattern that makes a nice continuous line in one go.
2018-03: A home made jar opener
A little wooden jar opener makes your life in the kitchen much easier.
2018-02: How to fix an icy driveway without salt
You have a really icy driveway and you are wondering what to do about it?
2018-01: Is firefox a spyfox?
Firefox is spying on us under the cover of a feature called captive portal detection.
2018-01: How to open and clean a Nutone bathroom fan
This is a short guide on how to remove the cover from a Nutone bathroom ceiling fan.
2018-01: Health risks due to electromagnentc fields (EM Fields, EMF)
Some toughts about all those radio wave and micro waves around us.
2017-12: Fennel, a herbal remedy for Menstrual Cramps and Period Pain
A herb that could help millions of women if they just knew about it.
2017-12: Speeding up the web experience with a dnsmasq DNS cache (ubuntu 16.04)
This article explains how the configuration between network manager and resolver library works.
2017-12: How to melt old shaving soap scraps into new soap
Here is how to "recycle" shaving soap
2017-11: Calendula, Comfrey, St-John's oil
How to make a wonderful oil with soothing and healing properties
2017-11: Linux: how to write your own systemd scripts (unit files)
How to use the Linux systemd and how to add your own stuff
2017-10: How to keep small animals from drowning is a swimming pool
A lot of people with in-ground pools find occasionally dead animals in their pool. Here is how to avoid that.
2017-09: Computer CPU fan cleaning
Here is what a CPU heat-sink looks like after 5 years.
2017-08: Adapting a USB sound card to work with the NW-700 condenser microphone
How to get a professional condenser MIC to work on a USB sound card without an extra phantom power supply.
2017-08: Solar eclipse Montreal, Canada, August 21, 2017
We were able to observe a partial eclipse in montreal, spectacular
2017-04: Cutting a movie with vlc and ffmpeg
An efficient way to make a movie for a school project without any complicated cutting software.
2017-01: Sage Honey Lozenges
You can harvest fresh sage even in winter and make some lozenges
2016-10: Lacto-Fermented Green Tomato Pickles
Here is how to make delicious fermented green tomatoes out of those remaining tomatoes that will never ripen before the first frost comes..
2016-07: labels for your seedbeds
Here is a labeling solution for your garden that works.
2016-06: Nettle spinach
What some people call a "weed" is actually a very beneficial plant.
2016-05: How to photograph watches and jewelry
It's very easy with the right tools and it does not have to be expensive.
2016-04: How to graft apple trees
Grafting is used to transfer "good apples" to more "crappy trees".
2016-03: How to dye easter eggs with normal food coloring
Just use a few drops of food coloring.
2016-02: Tips for getting rid of any fuel oil smell on your hands
How to really clean your hands after a dirty job in the workshop.
2016-01: Ice damming, attic temperatures and insulation
Technical details and measurments about roofs and attics designed for cold winters.
2015-07: A really good stone ground flour: upper canada village mill
A really good museum and excellent flour.
2015-06: How to change a car tire
I think everybody should know how to change a tire.
2015-05: Dandelion Salad
Yes, dandelions make a delicious salad.
2015-05: air furnace blower noise reduction system
How to reduce the noise produced by a hot air furnace.
2015-04: Sourdough bread
Great bread home made.
2015-03: building an electric feet warmer
It keeps your feet warm on a cold winter day and it's fun to build one.
2015-02: Prevent squirrels from chewing holes into garbage cans
If you live in Canada then you have probably seen garbage cans with tennis ball sized holes in the lid. There is a simple solution.
2015-01: Getting through the Canadian winter
A few tips to stay healty during a long winter season (Rosemary Gladstar's Fire Cider recipe)
2014-12: Homemade sauerkraut
How to make real sauerkraut.
2014-10: Homemade dill pickles
Really delicious and so easy to make.
2014-09: Book: Missing Microbes by Martin Blaser
Antibiotics have long term side effects and non of them are listed on the package. A must read for young parents.
2014-08: Using your AC to make distilled water
A normal AC makes a lot of distilled water, for free.
2014-08: Recipe: summer salad dressing
Very simple but wonderful.
2014-07: A really good book: No place to hide
A must read book for anybody who values freedom and democracy.
2014-06: A honeysuckle cough sirup recipe
How to prepare a honeysuckle cough and sore throat remerdy.
2014-05: sorting and renaming digital camera images by date and time
A great way to sort and archive your digital images.
2014-04: cyclo-vac: what to do about a defective on/off switch at the vacuum hose handle
certain cyclo-vac models have a built-in defect that can easily be fixed.
2014-03: Problems with CREE LED light bulbs and the garage door opener
Some LED light bulbs jam radio signals.
2014-02: A sheath for opinel folding knifes
Here is how to make a nice pouch for your opinel folding knife.
2014-01: New year's resolution: no more gmail
The NSA spy affair was a wake-up call for me.
2013-12: Clothespins for the children's gloves
A nice way to dry the gloves in winter.
2013-11: Making a pocket watch storage and presentation box
A nice box to store your watches when you don't use them.
2013-10: How to make a delicious cake from small and sour apples
This is the prefect time of the year for a few nice apple cakes.
2013-09: Polishing old watches
How to make an old watch case or any old metal piece shine again.
2013-08: How to stop ants from coming into your home
The article has describes some interesting alternatives to commercial products.
2013-07: Building an outdoor door chime
A second door chime installed outside in the backyard. This door chime is recodable and you can make it payback any sound.
2013-06: Clover lawn
It's very beneficial for your lawn to have some clover in it.
2013-05: Homemade natural deodorants and perfumes
We make some very effective deodorants using food grade ingredients only.
2013-04: Shoelaces make the perfect pocket-watch chain
How to carry an old pocket watch without scratching the case over time.
2013-03: A warm car seat in winter time
How to make a microwavable heating pad to keep you warm.
2013-02: Making Fennel and Estragon Vinegar
Some very nice vinegars, rich in flavor
2013-02: A permanent and light fast pen?
Which pen is absolutely permanent and light fast?
2013-02: Marvelous giant marbles made out of ice
Winter can be a lot of fun.
2013-02: DIY book printing and binding
Learn how to print and bind a really nice hardcover book yourself.
2013-02: How to make a nice leather pencil case
It's a small but very convenient pencil case with a magnetic lock.
2013-01: A magic way to clean dark spots on your teeth
An a good way to remove dark spots from teeth yourself. No dentist appointment required.
2013-01: HP15c-LE power consumption and the low battery indicator
A small investigation into some of the limitations that the HP15c Limited Edition has.
2013-01: Compost: No more leaf bagging
How to get the perfect planting soil without mess and without much work.
2012-12: Self made acid/base indicators, PH indicators, litmus
How to make PH indicators from plant dyes
2012-12: The perfect pouch for my HP 15c calculator
How I designed a neoprene pouch for my vintage HP-15c
2012-11: A tree shaped advent calendar
Fun to make for children of every age.
2012-11: Plant a tree to save energy
How a tree can help you to save cost for AC and heating
2012-10: Make your own protective wood coating
How to make a durable but harmless outdoor wood paint
2012-07: How to vacuum a laptop keyboard
How to use an ordinary household vacuum cleaner to clean the keyboard of your laptop.
2012-07: St. John's Wort Oil
An oil that soothes and heals inflamed tissue and reduces pain.
2012-06: After bite
What to do about the itch that results from a mosquito bite.
2012-06: How to make a bee-hotel
Solitary bees are very important pollinators especially in urban areas.
2012-05: Making a classic birch broom
Use it in the garden and as decoration. It's a really nice project to do with your kids.
2011-04: Android GPS car mount
How to mount a mobile phone GPS device in your car.

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