ultimate geek girl » Soulville

Top 5 Ways to Release Your Inner Faulkner

HarriMac — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:35:57 +0000

Writing appeals to many people. Some people write short stories, some write novels, some write poetry, others use other forms of written word. If you’re stuck on the first few words, here are some things that can help you let the inner writer in you flow…

1. Journal - Journaling is more than just putting your words, feelings and emotions on paper. Sometimes things that you write that happen in your own life or emotions you have can spur characters or ideas for writing. It can put your more at ease, which means your brain is free and open to let the words flow.

photo credit: Sugar Pond

2. Write down the first thought that comes in your head every morning and anything you can remember from your dreams. These things can help jumpstart your writing by giving you ideas.

3. Use “jump start” sentences. Sites such as The Story Starter give you a single sentence to start a story with. Challenge yourself to write a short story or a chapter using one of these sentences as your first sentence. Do this a couple times a week and you may find some really good works starting to flow. You may even find yourself with several pieces that you can put together for a larger work. In combination with your own dreams and first thoughts, you may really find you have a lot to work with for character development or poetry plots.

photo credit: onthetower

4. Join local writing classes or groups. If you write while you have deadlines or know that others are expecting to hear something, you may find yourself more apt to really put in the effort to make your writing better. Check your local newspaper or schools to see what is offered. There may be little to no cost for taking part. Often public libraries may have groups, as do many senior centers. Check them out and get to writing! If you find that you don’t like a particular group, switch - don’t just drop it completely.

5. Join online writing classes or groups. Just like the local groups, these groups can give you what you may need - support. By getting and giving critiques, you can hone your skills and see that others struggle sometimes too. Check out these free classes from universities or writers.com for ideas and help.

What helps you get started with writing? Let’s hear it in the comments!

HarriMac enjoys a well lived life with a large serving of soul. Her special feature, Welcome to Soulville, appears every Thursday.

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This is a post from ultimate geek girl. This post is titled:

Top 5 Ways to Release Your Inner Faulkner

Creative Ideas for Creativity

HarriMac — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:57:26 +0000

At some point we’ve all said, “Man I wish I could make that”. Well, I can’t give you any creative genius, but I can share some creative insights - things to make, freeware to make it possible, ideas for supplies, etc. Check it out then let me know how you get creative!

Calendars - Most of us need a calendar. Some of us need several that we frantically and obsessively keep up with. But if you want a cheap way to just keep a calendar around that you can be happy to put up and reference, check out these sites for making your own custom calendars.

My Free Calendar Maker
Family Crafts @ About.com
Time and Date.com
Vista Print - check out their other calendar types too
Smashing Magazine - Creative Calendar Designs- well just kidding, but they are neat!

Some other options:

Get a large dry erase board and use painters tape to mark lines that you can make in whatever shape you want with paint or permanent markers (or use colored tape that is in different shapes) to make the lines. The permanent marker will come off if written over with dry erase marker.
Get a large cork board and on the outside edge use wooden letters (you can get from Walmart or a craft store) to spell out your name or calendar or whatever you want it to say. Use a craft glue to make sure the letters stick. Use directions similar to these to actually make the board just right and stick your calendar on it every month.

photo credit: Marcin Wichary

Baskets - You’ve seen those really cool baskets that people get gift baskets and stuff in. Well now you can make some to put on your desk or elsewhere to use for anything! Find some fabric you really like (again at Walmart or a craft store. Get enough (at least a yard in case you have mess-ups) and follow these directions for lining the basket:

Once you have it lined, you can add ribbons or tags to indicate what the basket is for. In my office, I have one labeled “School Supplies”, one labeled “Sticky/Hangup” and one labeled “Writing/Drawing”. I intend to make one an inbox for assignments and a outbox for assignments but I need more desk space!

photo credit: ooh_food

Decorative Hooks - I LOVE to hang things on the wall. Not just because it makes my walls appear busy but because I live in a small space. Every space must be used to keep things off the floor and from subsequently cluttering my mind. The sites below have AWESOME directions for making your own decorative hooks. Might I suggest finding really cool craft paints you like in the wood craft section of a store and you can get the hardware from a hardware store or stores like target or Walmart. Sometimes you can even find at drugstores like Rite-Aid or CVS. These ideas can be tweaked a little to hang up power strips (notice the little hook holes in the back of the power strip) or baskets.

Book Covers - If you read a lot, sometimes you don’t want to damage the covers of the books or you don’t want everyone knowing what you’re reading. If I’m really into a book, the last thing I want is someone walking up and trying to start a conversation about the book. Let me finish! But I digress. Here are ideas for making book covers - everything from those great paper bag book covers we used in elementary school to a little more sophisticated cover that works with paperbacks too.

Bookmarks - I am always searching for a bookmark. My favorite one is one that my Aunt made for me - she cross stitched my name and some books, cut it to size then added classic stamps to the back and laminated the whole thing. It’s awesome. I even have people who do not share my name and they try to take it (come on now)! You can’t have mine (though you could stitch your own) but here are some other ideas:

wikiHow bookmark in 11 steps
wikiHow (other ideas)
photo bookmarks
ok ok, here’s how to make a cross stich bookmark

photo credit: lavendarlady

Tshirt Quilt - I have far more tshirts than most people I know. I gave away 2 20 gallon totes and STILL have four drawers full of tshirts at home plus some hung up. Some are those old ones that I don’t wear anymore but can’t stand to part with and others are just newer ones I haven’t had a chance to wear more than a couple times. But what to do with all of those? One idea is to make a quilt from them. Here’s directions.

photo credit: waterrose

Online Scrapbooking - More and more people are moving everything digital. So why should your scrapbook be any different. Some of these sites are free and others require some type of payment. But these are the ones I thought were neat -

photo credit: amilalala

If you’ve done any of these, please send pictures, I’d love to see them! As always post your ideas, thoughts and comments below!

HarriMac enjoys a well lived life with a large serving of soul. Her special feature, Welcome to Soulville, appears every Thursday.

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This is a post from ultimate geek girl. This post is titled:

Creative Ideas for Creativity

Top 13 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays

HarriMac — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:05:31 +0000

So it’s the holiday season, and time to enjoy the 3 f’s - family, friends and food. No matter what you celebrate or if you celebrate, here are some ways you can prepare for the season.

1. Check your local newspaper for the events calendar or check out all the fliers hanging around when you go to the grocery store. Most papers print the events in a special section or in the community calendar and many also include it in their online papers.

Mark the events you want to go to and put them on your calendar. You’ll be surprised how many free or low cost events you can attend! If you have kids, this is a great way to find several things for them to be involved in that they’ll be talking about for years! If you live in a city with box window displays at downtown stores, like those at Macy’s in New York City, “don’t miss” going to see them!

2. Know in advance who’s coming to dinner. If your tradition is to eat out for a special holiday meal, make sure to make your reservations well in advance if the restaurant allows it. You don’t want to be stuck without food or cheer! If you’re cooking, get to the store when the prices drop on certain items and stock up.

Do you have a vegetarian, a vegan, or a recovering alcoholic coming over? Make sure you have the proper foods available and something to drink besides alcohol. Always add in a couple servings to the recipe just in case a friend or two drop by for good eats. At my house it’s a given that at least one of my siblings’ friends will drop by unannounced (or announced) and my mom always has enough ready. You know you’ll have plenty of dishes to do later, have everyone use disposable plates and bowls for all meals so you don’t find yourself doing dishes all the time.

photo credit: hello.vickibrown

3. If you sit at a table for holidays make sure to have enough seating available. Table and chair rental places run out of inventory pretty quickly, so last minute searches may have you at Walmart buying chairs you don’t otherwise need. If someone is coming that needs special accommodations (wider walkways, a grab bar in the bathroom, a raised toilet seat, etc) do you have them? Make concessions ahead of time so you won’t get frustrated later or make your guests feel unwelcome.

4. Shop online. Why rush into stores with mad throngs of people and place yourself in harms way when you don’t have to? Unless the price is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay less than any store online, you’re better off staying at home in your skimpies picking out gifts and getting that free holiday shipping with wrapping and “from” cards already attached (sometimes for free or sometimes for a small fee)! You can search in Google for a particular item, especially if you want to check prices multiple stores, or you can check the mega stores like Amazon.com for your gifts.

photo credit: kalleboo

5. Comparison shop! Don’t buy something the minute you see it - there is probably a better price somewhere else. Prices are dropping every day, but make sure you order by the deadline marked on the website if you want it there in a certain amount of time. Last year, I found myself at Walmart fifteen minutes before they closed on Christmas Eve – and nothing that I needed anywhere in sight.

6. Get someone else to wrap your gifts. I’m always bad at wrapping gifts, so if anyone else will do it when I order something online or purchase at the store, I’m extra happy. When you shop online, use Good Search to make sure that a portion of what you spend will automatically go to the organization that you choose that needs money to do good for other people.

photo credit: Dan4th

7. Give the holidays a crafty feel. No need to buy decorations or ornaments for the holidays to hang around your house. Take a cue from your favorite first grader and make something! Craft items are pretty inexpensive and you can make everything from Christmas ornaments to little angel figurines to put on the mantel. Or if you don’t have a tree or a mantel (like me), make little cut out figures and hang them on the walls. Take pictures that remind you of the season, such as kids making a snowman, and hang them around for everyone to see. Just a tip – when you think it’s enough glitter, let it be!

8. Football time! Yes there still are way too many bowl games in college football. But check the schedule and get out the snacks! A good bowl game can be a great way to just relax and catch up with friends or family you never see. You can buy themed party wares like football shaped finger food trays and dip bowls and everyone will have a surprise when you finish the tray! Pick finger foods or treats that are easy to prepare and are healthy, such as carrots, celery sticks, raisins, peanuts. We all have the opportunity to be more sedentary around the holidays so every little bit counts. You can even make it fun for kids!

If you don’t watch football, there are great movies that are holiday classics. Frosty the Snowman on DVD you say? Or even pick up a set of Uno cards and watch everyone’s competitive side come out!

photo credit: hudgons

As a healthcare professional, you know I couldn’t let you get out of here without a few tips to stay healthy during the holidays. So, borrowing from the 12 Ways to Health from the CDC, here we go:

9. Wash your hands often. This is a big germ sharing time because people tend to get together in big groups (and small groups) more often than normal. Hand sanitizer is cool, but hand washing is even better. Sing “Happy Birthday” or the “ABCs” and that’s the proper length of time. Carry some lotion with you to put on to keep your skin healthy and moisturized.

10. Stay warm! We spend so much time outside in the winter that it can be difficult to get warm and stay warm. Especially if you’ll be out a while dress in plenty of layers. If you feel yourself sweating, try to adjust your layers to prevent chills. If you happen to light a fire to stay warm, make sure it is completely cold before you leave it. It only takes a small ember to start a big fire. Read more about how to prep for cold weather at: Commuting by Bike in the Winter.

photo credit: iampeas

11. Travel safely. With so many people on the road (ah the crazies!) this is a time for more traffic accidents. Travel the speed limit and if you’re tired, pull over and rest. It’s better to take a couple extra hours than to not get there safely. Check your tire pressure and fluid levels in your vehicle before hitting the road. If you get a rental, make sure you keep the paperwork they give you so you have an emergency number to call just in case. And remember, no drinking and driving!

12. Handle and prepare food safely! Use different knives for meat than you use for other things. Wash your hands between messing with different dishes, especially if they have meat or eggs. Clean up blood that has been spilled and don’t let foods like potato salad sit out for hours and hours. Read more food preparation tips at How to Protect Yourself from Salmonella.

photo credit: thisisbossi

13. Prevent injuries. Do not pull a Griswold and fall off the ladder while putting up lights! Use step stools that are rated at or below your weight and have someone hold ladders if you need them. Don’t leave cooking devices or kids unattended – you never know what’ll happen.

Enjoy your holiday!

HarriMac enjoys a well lived life with a large serving of soul.

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This is a post from ultimate geek girl. This post is titled:

Top 13 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays

Commuting by Bike in the Winter

HarriMac — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:29:47 +0000

Oh no, it’s winter time! I love winter, but I have NEVER biked in the winter. I rode the other night during some flurries and my hands froze! My face was ok until the wind hit me on my return trip. So here’s a collection of tips and hints I’ve found and some things I’ve discovered on my own.

1) Protect your hands and face from the cold and the wind. Sounds simple right? Trying to pick the perfect mix of protecting without impairing your ability to ride or see while you ride (or if you’re a commuter giving you smushed hair) can be difficult. But don’t make it that way - go to your LBS (local bike shop, remember?) and ask. They should have in stock now gloves that can protect you anywhere from about 40 degrees to near 0. A balaclava will cover your face and leave only your eyes exposed, so when able use sunglasses or something else to protect here. Some are thin, some are bulky but try them on and see what works for you. There are different types of gear for road bikers, downhill bikers and mountain bikers. Pick wisely, these accessories can set you back $20-100 each.

photo credit: Sytske_R

2) Pick your clothing wisely. You don’t want to be too hot or too cold on your ride so picking the right base layer of clothes can go a long way toward keeping that sweat from turning you into an icicle. It’s better to be cautious and test out a layering scheme than to end up halfway through your ride and find yourself on fire.

photo credit: preciouskhyatt

3) Know how to handle your bike in cold, icy and snowy conditions. It’s different than biking in the warm spring, summer and fall so you have to be far more careful. It’s not impossible to do, people do this all over the world. Be smart!

4) Check your lights. In the winter your lights could be harder to see if you just have a small light that you used to be seen the rest of the year. Check with your LBS about getting brighter, bigger lights to be seen better while biking in the white stuff and so YOU can see better to avoid ice or just to see the road.

photo credit: raiadiff

5) Take care of your bike. This tip should probably have been higher as you can’t winter bike without a bike! Check your tires - something knobby (not smooth) will be best. This is an area where your LBS really comes in handy - they know the winter conditions and can show you what type of tires work best in your area. Make sure the lubrication on your bike is ready for the winter - some types of lube work better than others. No need to have parts lock up in mid-ride! Be aware that your bike is going to get nastier than ever and suck it up. The conditions outside may rust your bike but hey - it’s metal and you’re putting it in a wet environment. Fenders can help you not get nasty during your commute and try to keep your bike as dry as possible when you can.

Some other cool articles to check out -

What tips do you have for commuting by bike in the winter? I want to know!

HarriMac enjoys a well lived life with a large serving of soul. Her special feature, Welcome to Soulville, appears every Thursday.

Download the 101 Steps to Becoming a Better Blogger e-book!

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This is a post from ultimate geek girl. This post is titled:

Commuting by Bike in the Winter

Where to Find Awesome Music on the Internet

HarriMac — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:19:17 +0000

We hear about the same sites over and over for places to listen to music for free on the internet, but they usually play the same tunes over and over and aren’t always what you want to hear.

What’s better? Check these sites:

Jamendo has a lot of indie music and even some from known artists. Music is available to stream and for download. Hits all ranges of genres including house and techno, jazz, rap, rock, etc. One of my personal favorites for good beats.
Want to listen to the music from your computer on the go? nuTsie lets you do it. What about listen to playlists you create or that others have created? Totally doable. You can search by genre, by song, type of music, years, look at popular songs and playlists, look at videos, etc. It also has plugins for iPhones, Alltel Wireless, BlackBerrys and Windows Mobile phones.
Pandora only plays what you want to hear. If it plays an artist or genre you don’t like, tell it and it won’t play that anymore. Pretty sweet and best of all it’s free! Similar to Yahoo! Music though, it does make you show you’re there to play (it won’t just keep going). Slightly annoying but still awesome.
When I found SearchMe I was in heaven! Listen to music, watch videos, see images, etc. Not only can you watch popular videos but I even found old Jackie Wilson and Four Tops videos! This is a pretty awesome site and it’s very easy to navigate and find what you want.
HousePlanet is a huge list of different DJs and mixes, but downloadable!
Choose your favorite genres, mood and bam! Musicovery picks various songs that match that mood. Like what you hear? Add it to the types of things you like or find different versions of the same song(s) and listen to them too! Definitely a way to find new great artists that you may not have heard of before (mainstream).
YouLicense is similar to Musicovery but with a few less options. Still great!

Where do you listen to music? What’s your favorite of these sites?

HarriMac enjoys a well lived life with a large serving of soul. Her special feature, Welcome to Soulville, appears every Thursday.

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Where to Find Awesome Music on the Internet

How and Where To Get Podcasts & Enjoy Life a Little More

HarriMac — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:57:33 +0000

Are you like me and don’t like to use iTunes? Well you’re still in luck for using video and audio podcasts on your iPod or mp3 player. I love MediaMonkey to pieces but it only supports audio. So what to do? Try these programs below:

Windows Media Player - Yes, this program that pretty much comes standard on Windows systems can support video and audio podcasts and sync them with your iPod. How do you use WMP to sync your iPod?

Juice 2.2 - Built specifically for podcasts, it comes highly recommended and is said to be very quick and efficient.

Ziepod - Listen on the site or directly download to your mp3 player. It’s said to be even better than Juice 2.2.

Now that we have a program to sync our podcasts, we need to get a few to listen to!

These are my top 3 sites for getting podcasts that are timely and enjoyable:

Some other really cool sites for podcasts:

Podcast.com - All genres of podcasts, plus you can test them on the site before you download.
New York Times podcasts - Over a dozen audio podcasts from the award-winning New York Times’ reporters and editors.
Scientific American - Currently four great podcasts that cover a myriad of science topics.
Podcast Pickle - One of the oldest podcast directory sites on the internet.
Slate - Daily podcasts from one of the original daily online magazines.
USA.gov - Official information from the United States government.
ESPN - Literally dozens of podcasts for sports news and happenings.

Share what podcasts you absolutely love in the comments! If you have a favorite podcast software, let us know, too!

HarriMac enjoys a well lived life with a large serving of soul. Her special feature, Welcome to Soulville, appears every Thursday.

Download the 101 Steps to Becoming a Better Blogger e-book!

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This is a post from ultimate geek girl. This post is titled:

How and Where To Get Podcasts & Enjoy Life a Little More

2 Must Have Windows Mobile Applications

HarriMac — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:35:30 +0000

SPB Mobile Shell is an amazing program! It truly organizes things in a way much better than Windows Mobile has made possible to date. I find it easier to customize how my screen looks and easier to find things like the file manager. I love the optional games you can get with SPB Mobile Shell. The best thing I think is how big it makes everything. Small is great if you’re on a touchscreen and you’re only going to use your stylus, but I prefer to use my fingers on my touch screen. Even if you don’t use a touch screen, this app is easy to use. I find it easier to dial numbers and find contacts. It’s colorful and hands down, the best app I have found so far. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

: SBP Mobile Shell

PocketBreeze - This is a Windows Mobile app that you can use in conjunction with other apps such as the SPB Mobile Shell. It is a neat concept, but I found it difficult to maneuver. I loved having my texts pop up on the screen but being able to reply was difficult as the button was so small. Being able to easily tab or scroll through calendar, notepad and other basic programs of Windows Mobile made this pretty decent overall. I’m not sure if I’ll keep it, but definitely would reconsider if they would make the buttons a little bigger (you can adjust the text size). Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

: Pocket Breeze

Neither of these great Windows Mobile applications are free, but they do have full version trials, so you can test the software out before obligating yourself to paying $19.95-29.95 for the software.

Do you have any Windows Mobile applications that you MUST have? Let everyone know in the comments!

HarriMac enjoys a well lived life with a large serving of soul. Her special feature, Welcome to Soulville, appears every Thursday.

Download the 101 Steps to Becoming a Better Blogger e-book!

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This is a post from ultimate geek girl. This post is titled:

2 Must Have Windows Mobile Applications

Seven Ways to Keep Organized At Home

HarriMac — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:06:46 +0000

Staying organized is a life long task, but here are seven ways to stay organized at home and keep your sanity!

Not only will you feel better, but your home will look better - now you can invite that cutie from class over to study without wearing yourself out cleaning your home from top to bottom at the last minute!

Create a Landing Pad by your front door. Choose ONE place to put things when you first get home. Then, put everything where it belongs. My landing pad is right by the front door and includes a shelf for my cell phone, iPod, backpack, etc. Now, I don’t have to spend time looking for my phone. I know where it is!
Pick up as you go along. Forget cleaning up once a week/month/year. If you pick up behind yourself as you go along, you’ll find that major cleaning like vacuuming and dusting is not as bad as it used to be.
Sync your to-do list and calendar to your cell phone/PDA and online and offline calendars. Keeping your things to do list up to date is great, but make sure it is the same list, no matter what technology you are using to access it!
Take 15 minutes a day to do a “major” cleaning duty. Not only is this good exercise, but you’ll feel better knowing your bathroom looks sparkly clean or you got the change out of the sofa cushions!
When you buy something new, throw away or give away something old. The biggest challenge to staying organized is space - which is limited - and the things we buy and obtain - which can be infinite! Organizations in your community like the Salvation Army or churches will be happy to take your gently used clothes and household items.
While space might be limited, you can invest in quality storage solutions that will “create” more space in your closets, drawers, under your bed, etc.
Have a ‘garage sale’! Sell items you don’t use, need or want via Craigslist, local newspapers, flyers in your apartment building/neighborhood, email or even sites like Amazon or Half.com! You may not be able to sell a five year old toaster for more than $5, but at least it isn’t taking up valuable kitchen counter space!

Do you have any other methods to share? Let’s hear it in the comments!

HarriMac enjoys a well lived life with a large serving of soul. Her special feature, Welcome to Soulville, appears every Thursday.

Download the 101 Steps to Becoming a Better Blogger e-book!

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Seven Ways to Keep Organized At Home

Commuting by Bike

HarriMac — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:29:23 +0000

When I moved, I decided that instead of buying a car, I’d rather commute by bike. The place I moved to isn’t that big and all the buses have bike racks so this wasn’t a difficult decision. I can rent a car when I need one. For others, the decision is based upon different reasons, such as health, the environment or saving money.

No matter your reason for choosing to commute by bike or even looking into the idea, I’m going to share what I’ve learned so far in my quest to be a biker.

Research, research, research. I think I benefited a lot from looking up tons of info before I actually went out and bought a bike and made the solid decision to commute by bike. I went on websites, went to bike shops and talked to people who biked to get as much info as I could on different types of bikes, different places to ride, what it is like to be a commuter, how many thefts of bikes occurred, different accessories that are necessary or just fun to have, what the different specifications meant for bikes, how to use the gears on a multi-speed bike, etc. I probably spent five or six months looking up information. When I went in to make my purchase, I made an informed decision. When I am choosing my paths to school or the store or the library, etc, I am making informed decisions about which routes are best.
Decide where to ride. This can be tricky. I live off campus but a lot of my routes run me through campus because I’ve found that the streets going to where I want to go might have bike lanes but are rather intimidating or riddled with potholes. The sidewalks, unless wide, can be dangerous because walkers pretend like they can’t hear you say “to your left” or don’t understand which direction to move. I’m not a prolific biker by any means. This is actually my first bike and the first time I was on it was maybe the sixth time in my life I’d ridden one. Scary right? As I get better, I move a little more to the road – bikes are considered vehicles. It’s safer for pedestrians and sometimes safer for you, but check out your local conditions to be sure. I am currently thinking of changing my route to my local bike shop (or LBS in biker terms) because I got cut off quite a few times last week when I was coming back from there. Another good idea is to know the local laws and get a map of local bike paths and lanes.
Proper gear. If you’re going to be on a bike, please wear a helmet. The concrete is not going to greet your head nicely if you should fall or get hit. They aren’t cheap (mine was about $50 from REI), but they are cheaper than your bike. If you’re going to be riding, especially at night or at dusk, a good pair of lights is necessary. There are lots of different kinds. Front AND rear lights. Tighter clothing (especially pants) are recommended whether you are a commuter or an enthusiast. I learned my lesson pretty quickly – I was trying to cross an intersection rather quickly and almost gave myself a wedgie because my baggy sweatpants got caught on the seat front. Ouch!
Nice extras. I just got my back rack and grocery baskets put on my bike. They were definitely the most expensive part of my accessories but worth it – I can go to the store or carry more items to the library than I can carry on my back now. They fold in and out and are so worth the effort and cash. Other people use a regular milk crate on top of a back rack or panniers (bags that hook to racks). All of these things are pretty neat.
Storage. If you spend a ton on a bike, you need to treat it right. I store my bike indoors because I can. If you live somewhere that this isn’t possible, find a good place to lock it up (well lit, etc) or try a single bike rack that can be sunk into the ground. When I ride onto campus, I lock up at one of the campus bike racks; when I ride downtown, I lock up at a rack there. I use a U-lock and a cable lock because I have quick-release wheels. Typically a really good U-lock will do the trick. Don’t say “Oh it’ll be here when I come back” because it might not be. And there goes cash wasted. The biggest tip for me was not to leave your bike out in the open without at least moving it a couple times for hours on end. It might make it more of a target for thieves.

My setup:

Trek 2009 820 series bike (16″)
Front and rear blinking lights
Rear rack + grocery baskets
Water bottle rack
Bell Citi Helmet
Total cost (so far): $500

Links I recommend:

What questions or experiences do you all have? Happy Riding!

HarriMac enjoys a well lived life with a large serving of soul. Her special feature, Welcome to Soulville, appears every Thursday.

photo credit: gruntzooki, damonabnormal, Telstar Logistics and Oak Park Cycle Club

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Commuting by Bike

Great Flash Programs to Try

HarriMac — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:09:33 +0000

Whether you’ve mastered the art of Flash or you’re a beginner/intermediate, finding a good program to work with is essential to making something look great.

If you have access, of course, the program that is best is still Adobe Flash CS3 (previously from Macromedia and plenty of previous versions to play with), but there are less expensive programs out there that are pretty simple to use and most have free trials (we like free trials).

SWiSH presents two programs that have features based on the user level – SWiSH Max2 and SWiSH miniMax2. They also offer SWiSH Studio2 which allows you to make programs and screensavers with Flash.

Express Animator for Windows is really made for quick cheap videos to be made but also has some features that might appeal to the higher end user.

Another list of free source Flash programs can be found at SourceForge.

No matter what, play with it and read the documentation. Try the trials and if you like – buy it! You owe it to yourself to buy something decent and many of the programs (especially compared to the price of Flash CS3) aren’t badly priced and you won’t be saving as long. If you are on a campus or have other access to them, use the programs on the campus computers or ones at your local public library to do what you need to do.

Expect to spend a few hours there though – it’s not going to go quickly!

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Great Flash Programs to Try