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I didn't know the "?.jpg" trick. Masubukan nga. :)) Life Hacks are ingenious ways to do everyday things that make life easier, more convenient, more fun, or otherwise better. They require little effort, and can cumulatively make a big difference.

For the most part, we've come to terms with the fact that pretty much anything goes on the Internet. But there are still some websites that we can’t believe anyone actually had the audacity to create. From a site that enables married people to cheat on their spouses to a database of made-up companies that allows job applicants to falsify their resumes, check out these outlandish websites that we can't believe actually exist.

I never really measure things when I cook this recipe, it always depends on my mood at that moment. I finally decided to determine the exact proportions that I really like.Ingredients:3/4 kg chicken, cut into piecesginger (around 1-2 thin slices)2 cloves garlic9 tbsp Datu Puti vinegar (or any brand of cane vinegar)9 tbsp Marca Pina soy sauce3 tsp brown sugar1/2 tsp pepper4 pcs laurel leaves2 tbsp cooking oilInstructions:Over medium heat, saute ginger and garlic in oil for about 3 minutes.Add the chicken, lower the heat (to low heat) and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes.Add the vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, pepper and laurel leaves. Do NOT stir, just simmer for about 30 minutes over low heat.Remove from heat and set aside for about 10 minutes. Serve with white rice.You can add pineapple chunks for more sweet-and-sour flavor to your adobo. This makes 4-5 servings.

Laptop Cooling 101 Modern day laptops are loaded with powerful, heat producing components that can often lead to overheating, especially if you’re asking your laptop to do some heavy lifting. If your laptop ever feels particularly hot in certain spots, or sometimes randomly shuts off, there's a good chance that overheating is to blame.  And if your laptop is no longer covered under warranty, fear not.  We’ve put together a step-by-step guide for both computer novices and hardware enthusiasts that’ll show you exactly how to deal with overheating problems on your own.  Method One: Non-Invasive Cleaning This method is intended for those who are uncomfortable handling or unfamiliar with computer components. Even if you've never tinkered with computer hardware before, following these instructions should be simple and effective enough to repair an overheating laptop. Necessary Tools:                  Small Sized Screwdriver (to remove the back plate)Compressed Air DusterAnti-Static Wrist Strap (Optional but recommended)Clean, Organized Work Environment Step One: Removing the Back Plate             Only two screws (circled in red) needed to be removed for this particular model. Before starting, be sure to completely shut down your laptop; you don't want it to be in sleep mode or hibernating. Also make sure you both unplug the charger from the laptop as well as remove the battery. If you're using an anti-static wrist strap, now is the time to attach it to a ground of some sort. The exact process of removing the back plate varies from model to model, but most will have a set of screws on the underside of the laptop. Some models may have a couple screws on the sides or rear of the laptop.  Few (like some models of the MacBook) don't allow any easy access into the system at all, in which case you may be out of luck. Also, keep in mind that not necessarily all of the screws on the underside of the laptop are for the back plate. Try to follow the outline of the back plate in order to see exactly which screws need to be removed. Once all the necessary screws are removed, you can pull off the back plate. Most models will have a small lip to lift from. Apply gentle, even pressure until the plate pops off. If it feels like it doesn't want to come off, check for any screws you may have missed. On rare occasions, some screws may be hidden under stickers. Note: Be sure to review your warrantee information and check for any "Warrantee Void If Removed" stickers before opening up your laptop. Some companies do not allow you to open up the system. If your laptop is still under warrantee and overheating, it is best to contact the manufacturer. Step Two: Locating and Cleaning the Fan and Heatsink                        Most modern laptops will use a cooling setup similar to the one shown in the photo above, using copper "heat pipes" connecting the CPU and GPU to a copper heatsink near the fan. You'll want to carefully remove any dust, lint, or gunk that may be stuck in the heatsink. Often times, this gunk will collect between the fan and the heatsink. It's easiest to try to remove the larger bunches of dust with your fingers and then blow out the rest using the compressed air duster. Just be sure not to bend any of the copper tubing or fins on the heatsink. You can clean out the fan with the compressed air as well. Use short, gentle bursts as not to spin the fan blades too fast. Also, be careful not to insert anything to obstruct the fan blades or put any pressure on them. Some laptop models may have multiple fans and multiple heatsinks. If this is the case, simply repeat the same procedure with each fan and heatsink. *Note: Always hold the compressed air duster upright when using it. Spraying while on its side or upside-down will expel the compressed air in liquid form which will be extremely cold and can damage electrical components.Step Three: Additional Cleanup and Closing the System Once you've finished cleaning out the fans and heatsinks, it's good practice to use the compressed air duster to clear any rogue dust particles from the system. Simply blow air gently throughout the system, checking all the vents, nooks, and crannies for dust that may impede airflow. Check to make sure you haven't bumped any connections loose and replace the back plate and screws. Insert your battery, plug in your charger, and enjoy the improved cooling. Method Two: Complete Cooling Overhaul This method is for more experienced computer enthusiasts, involving the removal of heatsinks and application of new thermal paste. If you have experience building desktop computers, you should feel perfectly comfortable following these instructions. Necessary Tools:                               Small Sized Screwdriver (to remove the back plate and heatsink)Compressed Air DusterThermal Paste (We Recommend Arctic Silver 5)Lint Free Cleaning ClothPure Isopropyl or Denatured AlcoholFlat Plastic Edge (Such as an old credit card)Anti-Static Wrist Strap (Optional but recommended)Clean, Organized Work Environment *Note: The Isopropyl must be 100% pure, meaning no added water, minerals, or oils. Step One: Removing the Back Plate This step is identical to step one of the first Method. See above. Step Two: Removing the Heatsink    Most modern laptop models will use a GPU/CPU combo heatsink, running heat pipes from the GPU block to the CPU block and connecting both to the heatsink fins near the fan. Generally, there will be several screws surrounding both the CPU and GPU blocks, and occasionally, screws securing the heatsink to the fan. Remove all of these screws and gently lift up on the heatsink with even pressure from all sides. You can wiggle it slightly from side to side in order to loosen the old thermal material. For models with multiple heatsinks, simply follow the same process for each one. The remnants of old thermal compound can sometimes make it difficult to remove the heatsink, especially when cooled. It is sometimes a good idea to open up the laptop shortly after having used it, so the components are still warm. This will make the old thermal compound less sticky. Step Three: Cleaning the Heatsink            While you have the heatsink out, use the compressed air to clear out the fins of any dust. It's also a good idea to check the fan for any dust as well. Use a plastic edge (old credit card or ID card) and scrape the old thermal material off of the heatsink. Remove as much of it as possible. Do NOT use any sort of metal edge to do this. Heatsinks have tiny micro grooves to optimize cooling, so even a small scratch can compromise the effectiveness of the heatsink. Once the excess thermal paste has been removed, use your lint-free cloth dampened with isopropyl or denatured alcohol to rub the remaining thermal paste clean from the heatsink. This will probably take several passes to get it as clean as possible. After you've cleaned the heatsink with isopropyl, make sure you do not touch the contact surfaces with anything--even the slightest contaminate, like a fingerprint, can impede cooling performance.Step Four: Cleaning the CPU and GPU             Cleaning the old thermal paste from the CPU and GPU is a similar process, though you’ll have to be much gentler. You will rely more on your lint-free cloth than your plastic edge for this part. Make sure the cloth is not over-dampened with isopropyl, as you’ll want to avoid renegade drops pooling around your CPU or GPU. Just like with the heatsink, you don't want anything to come in contact with the surface of the CPU or GPU after you've cleaned it, so it is wise to use your compressed air to clear out the chassis of the laptop before cleaning off the CPU and GPU. Step Five: Applying New Thermal Paste    There are many generally accepted methods for applying thermal paste. For laptop components, the most common method is to use a small drop of thermal paste in the middle of the chip, and using a clean plastic edge (yes, clean it off with the isopropyl and lint-free cloth first) spread the paste over the top of the chip evenly. Use the photo above as reference. Once spread out, your new layer of thermal paste should be about the thickness of a sheet of paper.  It may be tempting to use extra thermal paste, but you actually want to use as little as possible while still covering the entire chip and filling all the micro grooves. Most high-end thermal pastes rely on silver particles to transfer heat. When the layer of paste is only a few microns between the heatsink and computer chip, these particles align nicely and provide optimized heat transfer. (Optional) You can also prep the heatsink with thermal paste to reduce burn-in time. To do this, just take a small amount of thermal paste and rub it into the heatsink with a clan plastic edge. This will be a tiny amount of paste, just enough to give a translucent layer on the heatsink. Step Six: Reattaching the Heatsink         When replacing the heatsink, you will want to align it before lowering it down completely. If you miss the proper sitting place and disrupt the newly applied thermal paste, you'll need to remove the heatsink and go through the entire thermal paste application process again. Once you have the heatsink in place though, apply very gentle downward pressure and wiggle from side to side slightly, once or twice. This will help the thermal paste permeate the micro grooves. After that, you'll want to insert the screws. Tighten them in a crossing pattern, but do NOT over tighten the screws. You can use a gentle, steady pressure while to make sure all the screws are tight. Make sure to check each screw twice, going in a crossing pattern. Step Seven: Closing the System That's pretty much it. Now just check to make sure all of your fans and various connectors are still plugged in, use the compressed air to clean out any vents or dusty components, and close up the back plate. If you were having cooling problems before, you'll likely see a significant difference. Additional Cooling Tips Many laptops draw air in from underneath the chassis. Because of this using your laptop in your lap or on a couch or other upholstered surface can greatly reduce airflow. Using it on surfaces like this also increase the amount of dust and lint the cooling system takes in. To avoid this, try to use your laptop on flat, smooth surfaces, like tables or desks. Pets also contribute considerably to the amount of gunk your laptop pulls in. If you have any pets, try to keeps them away from your laptop, especially during the summer time when they are most likely to be shedding. Try not to pet near your laptop when it is on. Most importantly, turn your laptop off when you aren't using it. As long as the fan is on, it's pulling in air, and with that air comes dust. Just turning your laptop off while you sleep is enough to reduce the amount of dust it takes in by as much as 30%.    

Watching this sewing machine animation, I feel like Homer Simpson when he first saw the drinking bird. It's sewing the thread!

I could watch that all day. Many similar animations are available here, including the Wankel engine, a reciprocating steam engine, and the fascinating Maltese cross mechanism. (via jorn)

With anti-piracy outfits and dubious law-firms policing BitTorrent swarms at an increasing rate, many Bittorrent users are looking for ways to hide their identities from the outside world. Here's an overview of five widely used privacy services. More »

Ingredients1 can tuna (in oil)200 g pasta, cooked1/6 cup cream1 egg yolk1/4 cup parmesan cheese2 cloves garlicsalt and pepperInstructionsSaute garlic using the oil in the tuna, then add the tuna. Cook for about 2 mins over medium heat.In a bowl, whisk the egg yolk with the cheese.Remove pan from heat. Add the egg mixture into the pan. Afterwards, mix in the cream.Put salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over cooked pasta.For added flavor, I added a small onion. I sauteed it with the garlic before adding the tuna.

More ways to dispose of my crab sticks and the remaining tomatoes in my refrigerator. This recipe makes 2 servings.Ingredients:10 crab sticks, chopped finely1/2 cup semi-thick cream190 g tomato sauce1 cup water2 tbsp vegetable oil2 cloves garlic, minced1/4 cup onions, chopped1 cup tomatoes, diced1 tsp basil1/2 tsp salt1/4 tsp pepperInstructions:In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute garlic, onions and tomatoes in oil until softened.Stir in tomato sauce, water and crab meat. Add all the spices (basil, salt and pepper).Stir in the cream until bubbly.The semi-thick cream can be replaced by light cream (just reduce the amount of water). For more flavor, I heated the crab sticks in water for about 15 minutes.

This entry is a part of the Paris English bookshops series. I dragged my friend to visit one of the top 5 bookshops listed in my Lonely Planet guidebook. We settled with Tea and Tattered Pages since it is the only store that is open on Sundays at noon. It took us a while to find it, and when we got at the door we thought it was closed. But after a few seconds the owner of the shop opened the door and let us in. Hilda (the shop owner) gave us a brief overview on the different sections of the bookshop. She was very helpful when we asked for specific books. It was the first time I’ve been to a second-hand bookshop and find the books arranged as if I’m in a regular bookstore. General fiction are shelved at the ground floor, arranged in alphabetical order. There are more books housed at the basement, where you can find the mystery/triller section, the children’s books, science fiction and fantasy section, and even some nonfiction books on the arts, music, Christianity, U.S. politics, economics, and so on. It was listed in Lonely Planet as a top 4 English bookshop in Paris. They are selling second-hand books, so the books are cheaper compared with the other stores. Not many tourists know of the place, so you are guaranteed to have some peace and quiet as you browse at all the books. We were only interrupted by the shop owner’s cat, Ming Long. She kept on following us around while we were there. (He reminds me of Garfield, he’s so fat.) Ming Long They also serve coffee, tea and desserts in the store, so you can just hang out at the back of the store near the kitchen while waiting or while reading. This is something that you don’t find in other bookshops in Paris. I find myself going back from time to time in this shop, hoping to find something new. New stocks of books usually arrive at random. Sometimes they buy books from a supplier and there are times when people just donate them to the shop (mostly from people who are on their way home and have no way of bringing all of their books with them). They are open from 11 am to 7 pm, Mondays to Saturdays, and from noon to 6 pm on Sundays. During summers, they only open thrice a week: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 7 pm.

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