yaleman.org

So, I got onto the idea of Double-Edged blade shaving by cruising Reddit and ending up on /r/wicked_edge. Leisureguy‘s blog led me to Pure Man to buy some things. I checked out some other shops but they didn’t have the range or prices for what I wanted. The fact that Pure Man is Australian (let alone, Brisbane-based, where I am!) is quite handy

I ordered the below:

• Proraso Aloe and Green Tea Shaving Soap
• Col. Conk Bay Rum Shave Soap
• Taylor of Old Bond Street Alum Block
• Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Platinum Blades
• Astra Superior Platinum Blades

When it all arrived, the box was kind of large, and had all these extra things in it! I couldn’t remember ordering them, but it seems they were free samples!

• American Crew Forming Cream
• Truefitt & Hill Lavender Shaving Cream
• Lord Super Chrome Blades
• Derby Extra Super Stainless Double Edge Blades
• Slick Water Shaving Oil

From ordering to delivery was under a couple of days, with an email for each stage of the process. Not only that but they automatically signed me up for the notification from Australia Post to show the tracking information!

It probably doesn’t cost them much in time, and the freebies were things that their suppliers probably gave them just to promote their products, but I was driven to post this by the whole experience – why can’t more stores have even half this service these days?

I think it’s part of a slow revolution that’s happening with internet retailers. Places like Harvey Norman are failing under the weight of their incompetence, while smaller retailers like Pure Man are reviews like this and providing excellent service! Keep it up

Going for a real “Evil Mad Scientist” shtick today. I have been pondering some simple DIY projects for making my little living space a little better, and decided that drawing them up might be handy to visualise/work on ideas.

The first one’s a bit of a storage cabinet/shelf to sit over the toilet cistern, which normally wasted space full of dust.

Basically there’s two “legs” which hold toilet paper rolls on hinged roll-holders like you’d normally see in people’s toilets, but covered by a bit of a door so they’re out of the way. On top of the legs are a shelf or two for putting things away. While drawing this up I scribbled a few ideas down for how the toilet roll holders would work, and as I thought of the implementation steps the idea morphed into something significantly easier. (from a weird elevator-pulley idea to just a hinge)

The next idea’s another bathroom one, basically a panel to go into the window to install an exhaust fan in. On the back side there’s triangular prism-shaped vent style thing to keep rain off the motor of the fan and out of my bathroom. I’m sure I could buy something to do this job, but for $20 and some nails I think I could do a similar job.

Also, learning how to do it is fun!

HPM has taken down the manual for these handy battery-backed timer devices, so I’ve recreated the documentation I could find here. We use them at work for a variety of power control situations, including turning off banks of 46″ LCD TV’s overnight, so they can handle a fair amount of power.

Catalogue number is either D817/2 or 817/2

Time Display

To change from 12-hour display to 24-hour display, or vice versa, press the CLOCK button and hold it until the LCD display changes.

Setting the day and time

1. Press and hold the SET Button until the day shown on the LCD flashes.
2. Press either the [Arrow-Up] or [Arrow-Down] button to select the correct day of the week.NOTE: Holding down either the [Arrow-Up] or [Arrow-Down] button speeds up the selection process.
3. Press the SET Button again to confirm your selection.
4. The hour will now start flashing on the LCD. Repeat steps above to set the correct hour and repeat again to select the correct minutes.

Setting the timer

1. With the timer on Clock mode, press the [Arrow-Up] button once to change to Program mode. “1ON” will be shown on the lower left corner of the LCD. This indicates that Program Block 1 out of a possible 14 blocks is now selected and the switch ON time can be set.NOTE: If the timer has been previously programmed the current setting will appear on the LCD. You can re-set the Digital Timer at any stage by removing the battery.
2. Begin programming by pressing the SET button. The LCD will now show 12:00 or whatever was previously set, and the day(s) of the week will be flashing.
3. The timer has pre-set days already programmed into it to make it easier to program and to maximise the available program blocks.
4. Make your selection by pressing the [Arrow-Up] button and the LCD will display the following in sequence:
   • MO TU WE TH FR SA SU (all days of the week selected)
   • MO -> TU -> WE -> TH -> FR -> SA -> SU (select individual days)
   • MO WE FR (only Monday, Wednesday and Friday selected)
   • TU TH SA (only Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday selected)
   • SA SU (only Saturday and Sunday selected)
   • MO TU WE (only Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday selected)
   • TH FR SA (only Thursday, Friday and Saturday selected)
   • MO TU WE TH FR (everyday but Saturday and Sunday selected)
   • MO TU WE TH FR SA (everyday except for Sunday selected)
5. You can navigate through the selection sequence by using the [Arrow-Up] or [Arrow-Down] buttons. Press the SET button to confirm your selection.
6. The hour now starts to flash on the LCD. Select the desired hour by using the [Arrow-Up] or [Arrow-Down] button. Press the SET button to confirm your selection.
7. The minute now starts flashing on the LCD. Select the desired minute by using the [Arrow-Up] or [Arrow-Down]  button. Press the SET button to confirm your selection.
8. The LCD display should now be steady, with nothing flashing. This allows you to verify that the correct day/s, hour/s and minute/s has been entered.
9. Press the [Arrow-Up] button to program the switch OFF time. “1OFF” will be shown on the lower left corner of the LCD. This indicates that Program Block 1 out of a possible 14 is now selected and the switch OFF time can now be set.
10. Repeat the above steps to set the switch OFF time.
11. Press the [Arrow-Up] button to select the next program block OR press the CLOCK button to finish programming OR refrain from pressing any mote buttons and the timer will automatically revert back to Clock mode.

Setting the timer delay function

This feature allows you to set a time for a delayed switch ON or switch OFF.

1. With the Timer in Clock mode press the [Arrow-Down] button. The Bottom left hand corner on the LCD will show “d ON (or OFF)” indicating the timer is now in delay mode.
2. Press the SET button until the ON or OFF display flashes. Pressing the [Arrow-Up] or [Arrow-Down] buttons changes the status from ON to OFF and visa versa.
3. Pressing the SET button again confirms the selection and allows you to set the Hour, if so desired, or press the SET button again to se the Minute/s and again if you want to set the seconds.NOTE: Pressing the SET button will allow you to navigate through the sequence of:
   Status (ON/OFF) -> Hour(s) -> Minute(s) ->Second(s)You need only to set or change the components that you want.

   For example: If you wish a table lamp to remain ON for 10 minutes after you leave the house, set the Status to ON and if the time on the LCD is all zeros you can proceed straight to the Minute and set that to 10.

4. After setting the required Delay period press the CLOCK button to return the Timer to Clock mode.

Activating the delay function

The delay function can only be activated when the Timer is in Clock mode and only when the Timer is plugged into an outlet.

1. Ensure the Timer is in Clock mode.
2. Press the “MODE” button so that the horizontal bar on the bottom of the LCD moves and sits above the AUTO that is printed on the front of the Timer.
3. Press the DELAY button to start the function. Pressing the DELAY button again cancels the operation.NOTE: After pressing the DELAY button the word ON or OFF will appear flashing on the LCD.
4. Flashing ON: This means that the Timer will remain ON for the period that was programmed in the Delay mode.
5. Flashing OFF: This means that the Timer will remain OFF for the period that was programmed in Delay mode.

Activating the random function

The Random Function will turn an appliance ON or OFF on an irregular basis. Listed below are the criteria governing this operation:

• Minimum OFF time: 26 minutes
• Maximum OFF time: 42 minutes
• Minimum ON time: 10 minutes
• Maximum ON time: 26 minutes

1. To activate the random function ensure that the Timer is in Clock mode and that it’s plugged into an outlet.
2. Press the RND button once. The bottom left hand corner of the LCD will now show a flashing “r OFF”. This indicated the Timer is now in Random mode and it will remain in the OFF condition for a period anywhere between 26 to 42 minutes. It will then switch PN for a period anywhere between 10 to 26 minutes and then switch OFF again.

Pressing the RND button will cancel the Random Function.

Clock mode

During clock mode, the LCD displays:

• Day of the week (Monday at system reset)
• Clock (0:00 at system reset)
• Switching status (OFF at system reset)
• ‘R’ character if random switching is selected. (No ‘R’ displayed at system reset)

Override/Resume Preset Program

Press the “MODE” button to override or resume a preset program. The horizontal bar on the bottom of the LCD will move and sit about one of the three positions as listed below:

• ON : override the preset program and Timer remains ON all the time
• AUTO : resume preset program, Timer will turn ON and OFF automatically according to its present program
• OFF : override the preset program and Timer remains OFF all the time

NOTE: When Timer is in Random mode the Delay function cannot be activated.

Originally from here

So, while trying to get to the Right People ™ to fix one of our remote 3G IPWAN services, somehow I got through to a consumer-grade accounts person. The Telstra IVR is a horrible mess of “Uh, I’ll mash buttons until someone answers”.

After a few minutes of trying to convey the point, he decided to try and transfer me to a Bigpond 3G helpdesk person. Terrible idea, since they wouldn’t have the foggiest idea how to deal with my Cisco 881G router, nor access to our service details.

While sitting on hold the operator offered the exciting opportunity that because I have both a phone and data service, I could speak with a sales person in the interests of bundling my services and saving lots of money! (English fail on his behalf, sigh)

I tried to get the point across that we had a fairly large account ($100k/month?) and that the account manager (whose job is to work solely with us) might have better deals, then gave up because he just didn’t get it.

I pre-ordered it! Digital downloads make things so easy.. and paypal even more so