Spacks

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The foreclosure crisis and the Great Recession have paved the way for a steady decline in homeownership. Many cities will never be the same.

Despite Google's late attempts to compartmentalize its mobile operating system, the open source nature of Android remains one of its biggest strengths. Without it we wouldn't have marvelous projects like CM13 on (relatively) ancient Barnes & Noble hardware, or various Android-powered console emulators, or a hundred million $60 Walgreens tablets crowding Craigslist. (OK, that last one isn't marvelous, but you get my point.) And we wouldn't have Jide's Remix OS, an attempt to create a desktop-style operating system on the bones of Android.

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Hands-On With Jide Remix 2.0 For PCs: A Promising Start For Android On The Desktop was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

Today AC/DC's albums have come to music streaming services. They are now available on the likes of Spotify, Rdio, and Google Play.

Some musicians make their debuts on the web. Others embraced online stores as a new revenue stream. A number have decried digital downloads and online streaming as detrimental to the music experience.AC/DC has been one of the last and most well-known holdouts.

The hard rock band formed in the 70s, decades before the Internet fundamentally altered the way music gets distributed.

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AC/DC Is Now Ready To Rock Online Music Streaming Services, Including Google Play was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

Android: A faulty charger can cause your smartphone a world of hurt. If your phone is compatible, free app Ampere tests your charger's output.

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How does a society breed innovators? Is it through rigorous curricula focused on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)? Is it exposure to art or the experiences associated with play? These are questions Justin Brady attempts to answer in his recent Washington Post column ...

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Certainly The Hunger Games and Twilight are very different media experiences, but how do the YA series differ in their actual vocabulary and sentence structure? Slate put together a textual analysis of Suzanne Collins and Stephenie Meyer's series, alongside J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels.

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LEGO's new Minifgure Series 11 includes its first female scientist character and a Yeti. Both are excellent additions to the minifig universe! I also appreciate that the scientist is holding Erlenmeyer flasks while the Yeti is gripping a popsicle.

Happy new year!

Randall Munroe has finally finished Time, his 3,000+ frame slow-motion animation that began life as wordless, enigmatic single-panel XKCD installment. Since then, the panel has been slowly, slowly updating itself, running out its course over several months. Geekwagon has collected the whole series in an easy-to-control window, and the story, taken as a whole, is a beautiful and odd existentialist parable touching on the discovery of geographic knowledge; cultural first contacts; environmental disaster, friendship and ingenuity. (Thanks, @dexitroboper!)

For months, space entrepreneur Elon Musk has been teasing fans with hints about his next big project, a "hyperloop" super train that would get people from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 30 minutes. Now, Musk says that this schematic is the "closest" anyone has gotten to guessing how the hyperloop would work.

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"This is a game changer!" says Jim Stinner, the vice president of marketing for Rust-Oleum, the company which manufactures and distributes NeverWet - a spray-on coating that repels water, mud, ice and other liquids. And judging by the demo-video, it really is.  NeverWet can be used on metal ...

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Everyone's got an opinion on the best way to cook a steak. In the great debate over whether to flip or not flip your steaks, though, science proves multi-flippers get better results.

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My first attempt at making a "Cinemagraph," a still image with slight motion. What can often be an elegant and beautiful way to capture and convey a moment or place in time can also be a huge pain in the ass in photoshop.

WARNING: Video includes Game of Thrones season one spoilers.

Game of Thrones, you so crazy. Not only are you hopelessly addicting, but as soon as a character finds his or her way into our hearts, you go killing them off. It's an emotional roller coaster ride only George R.R. Martin could take us on.

In this video, parody duo Not Literally puts the tribulations of Game of Thrones fans to the tune of Gotye's ultra-viral hit "Somebody That I Used to Know."

Check out the video and reminisce about the Westeros citizens who kicked the bucket. Oh, and this video only covers season one. But it can't possibly get any worse, right? Right? Read more...

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My kids (7 and 4) love to make things out of recycled cardboard, from curious Rube Goldberg-ian contraptions to palaces for stuffed animals. They do wonders with scissors, tape, and magic markers. A friend told us about Makedo, a system of reusable plastic clips and hinges for cardboard construction. We ordered a set and have been having a ball. The sets even come with a plastic saw for cutting the cardboard. It's not as quick as a box cutter or sharp scissors, but sawing itself can be fun, and the point on the saw handle is meant for punching holes for the clips. And yeah, I guess it's safer too. We didn't make the cardboard gorilla at right but I'd like to! We're gonna need a lot more clips though. There are a variety of Makedo kits available but the 65-piece starter kit is only $14 from Amazon, and comes in a sturdy tube. Of course, if you buy it from Amazon, the shipping box is part of the present! "Makedo FreePlay Kit For One"

Few things are better on a hot summer day than a frozen drink, and you can beat the heat with your own soda slushes at home with absolutely no special equipment.

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Do you have sloppy handwriting or do you use lovely, precise cursive? Did you know it actually reflects on your personality? In fact, over 5,000 personality traits can be distinguished based on how you shape your letters, the size of your writing, how you hold your pen and space your words.

The study of handwriting is known as graphology and aside from allowing people to understand your personality, your handwriting can even reveal that you have certain illnesses.

So what does your handwriting say about you? Read the infographic below to find out.

For my terrible, terrible scrawl, it says that I am well-adjusted and adaptable, logical, practical, creative, artistic, confident, lazy, private, sensitive, impatient and hard to understand. For those that don’t know me, I’d say that sums me up pretty well.

Original Source -Infographic Journal

It seems like those of us who spend most of our day at a computer are slowly losing those handwriting skills our elementary school teachers spent years drilling into us: Handwriting: A Skill For A Digital Age

 

The post What Does Your Handwriting Say About You? appeared first on Lifehack.

Every other Thursday, Gena Hamshaw of the blog Choosing Raw shares satisfying, flavorful recipes that also happen to be vegan.

Today: Take the dairy out of your smoothie, and add in some green.

Smoothies are a no-brainer breakfast for vegans: many recipes are vegan as written, and if they aren’t, it’s easy to veganize them using plant-based milks and yogurts in place of regular dairy. 

More: Make homemade almond milk that tastes infinitely better than any carton from the store.

Most of us are familiar with some basic smoothie combinations: strawberry-banana, mixed berry, pineapple-mango, and so on. But the wide world of smoothies extends far beyond these tried-and-true flavor combinations. Once you’ve experienced the fun of adding fresh leafy greens, avocado, or other unusual ingredients to your smoothies, it’ll be hard to go back to fruit as usual. 

My perfect green smoothie formula goes something like this:

1 cup fruit (bananas, berries, etc.)
1 cup leafy greens
Liquid base (almond milk, coconut water, juice)
Something for creaminess: almond butter, cashews, avocado, etc.

Your smoothies will be much better off if you freeze your fruit beforehand. I always have a giant bag of peeled, frozen bananas in my freezer; they make it easy to whip up perfectly cool, thick smoothies at a moment’s notice, and they're essential to achieve the creaminess you would expect from a yogurt-based smoothie. As you’ll see from this recipe, I’m also partial to avocado -- it gives smoothies a silky, almost fluffy texture. 

But don’t take my word for it. Get blending, and you’ll see what I mean!

Green Smoothie with Avocado

Serves 4

1 banana, peeled and then frozen
1/2 cup frozen (or fresh) mango
1/2 small or medium avocado
1 cup spinach
1 1/4 cups almond milk (soy, oat, rice, or hemp milk are also fine)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.

Photos by James Ransom

A femtocell sounds like it should be the name of the battery that powers a Fembot, but it is not. To grossly oversimplify, it’s a type of tiny cell phone tower that harnesses your broadband Internet connection and serves only your house. Our readers tell us that it might be reader Jay’s last hope to be able to talk on the phone in his own home.

We visited with Jay yesterday, as you may recall. He was worn down and frustrated after months of not being able to use his Sprint phone at home because the signal has suddenly and mysteriously gone out. Perhaps they’re upgrading the networks. Perhaps a tower has gone down. Sprint assures him that they’re on it and will fix the problem any minute now…and then they don’t.

We asked for advice from readers who have been in the same boat, and readers delivered. Their solution: ask Sprint for one of their femtocells, which is called an Airave. Reader Alex explains:

Sprint charges folks who just want an Airave for “better” service (3 bars ain’t enough?) but will comp the device to those who have faulty service access. We weren’t charged a dime for ours even though we had only been Sprint customers for 1 year prior to moving.

…[N]o one at Sprint actually offered us this option, though – I’m tech-minded and had heard of the devices previously. The CSR I spoke with about our poor service had no suggestions until I asked about the Airave – he put me through to a different department who got me set up and had the device overnighted to me.

Pass the word onto Jay! Hopefully this is something he can qualify for in his area. My dad has a major medical disability so the month we lived without cell service was terrifying – I feel his pain.

From Sprint’s point of view, this makes sense: it’s easier for them to send a gadget than to lose longtime customers forever over what may be a short-term service disruption while they upgrade the network. Or whatever. A half-dozen other readers wrote in to agree and share their Airave stories, and the common thread was this: you have to ask for it. If you don’t know to ask for the device, you’re unlikely to get one.

The Arbor Day Tree Identification Guide app (US$4.99) does exactly what its name suggests. It offers clear, beautifully illustrated step-by-step interaction.

You start by choosing a section of North America to explore -- either primarily western or eastern regions. You then choose the kind of leaves (needles, flat, or scaly), and you're off.

I found the app to be lovely and easy-to-use. It's an excellent match for smart middle schoolers. Grades 3-5 may enjoy the identification, portion but the vocabulary in the "big reveal" will really push their reading abilities.

The app offers a useful glossary of terms, as well as a full list of supported trees -- so you can browse the botany library without having to perform any specific searches.

The app is a little treasure, one that should appeal to any family that hikes or enjoys geocaching in the wild.

Want to learn more about Arbor Day? Visit the foundation's web site: http://arborday.org.

Arbor Day tree guide provides step-by-step tree identification originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 21 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Birthday Cake Waffles

craving more? check out TasteSpotting

Roasted Smashed New Potatoes with Herbs and Parmesan Cheese

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Asparagus Pesto. Creamy & full of flavour. Oil-free!

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I bet summer is one of your favorite seasons. The weather is great, making it more fun to get outside, and there are so many great summer activities available. Choose a few summer activities from this list to make a summer bucket list, and begin having your best summer ever.

1. Watch a movie in the park together. Most communities have community outdoor movie nights, so look for one near you.
2. Attend a music festival. Search for “music festival” along with your state to start finding festivals near you.
3. Pick fresh fruit and veggies at a local farm. Nothing tastes as good as fresh fruit right off the vine or from the ground.  This is also a great way to show your kids where food comes from.
4. Go to a farmer’s market. This can be a fun summer activity to enjoy weekly. Many farmer’s markets now have entertainment as well.
5. Have friends over for a BBQ. Nothing says summer like grilling and some ice cold beverages.
6. Go fishing. Whether you like fly fishing or lake fishing, this activity is a great way to really enjoy the outdoors during the summer.
7. Watch a movie at the drive-in. Make a comfortable bed in the back of your truck or hatchback, and enjoy. Find a double feature if possible.
8. Rent a paddle boat or canoe at a nearby lake.
9. Visit the zoo. Whether you take the kids on a family outing or just go by yourself, the zoo is a lot of fun in the summer.
10. Take the kids to a spot where they can run through the fountains.
11. Have a picnic in a local state park. State parks are beautiful resources, so enjoy and explore them this summer.
12. Go for a hike. Be sure to pack some water and snacks. Look here for great local hikes near your city.
13. Go camping. Whether you visit a local KOA Kampground or find a spot far from it all in a national forest, summer isn’t complete without a night or two of camping.
14. Find a local Renaissance Festival to attend.
15. Throw a frisbee in the park — summer activity bonus points if you have a dog who loves to run and jump to catch frisbees.
16. Drink wine and relax on your porch.
17. Take early evening walks through the neighborhood.
18. Visit a local amusement park or water park. Scream and laugh along with the kids.
19. Visit a national monument. Enjoy and appreciate the history of your surrounding area.
20. Bike a local trail. Many areas allow for bike rental if you don’t have one at home… so no excuses!
21. Roast s’mores over an outdoor campfire at night.
22. Fly a kite. Choose a day with a little wind and soar the skies with your kite.
23. Find a fun local festival to enjoy. Does your local community have any unique local festivals? Read your local paper or look online to find one.
24. Have a water balloon fight — water guns work too. This is a great activity for those hot July days.
25. Go to your county fair. View the entries and choose your favorites in the art, animal, and cooking areas.
26. Play mini golf at an outdoor course.
27. Visit your local botanic gardens. When the trees and flowers are in bloom, there is no better place to visit.
28. Take an early morning walk next to a creek.
29. Go water tubing or rafting in a nearby river.
30. Take a road trip. Choose a spot on the map or just get in the car and drive.

Are your favorite summer activities listed above? If not, share them with us in the comments below, along with your list of must-do summer activities.

Here are four ways to put that vacation to good use: 4 Simple Tips for Taking Advantage of Summer Vacation

The post 30 Summer Activities Not To Miss appeared first on Lifehack.

Samuel L. Jackson followed through with his promise on Friday, after asking Reddit users to submit a 300-word monologue for him to read out loud.

But not without punking the Internet in the process. Here's the beginning of his much-anticipated monologue:

Hi, I'm Samuel L. Jackson. I'm sorry to disappoint you, Reddit, but I've decided to break the rules of my own competition, and I will not be reading a user-submitted entry as my monologue. Instead, I'd like to speak to you all from my own heart, in my own words; honestly and openly. I've been waiting to reveal something for a long, long, time and... well, here it is: I am quitting acting and pursuing a life of vigilantism. Read more...

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Everyone wastes food, whether it’s throwing out uneaten food left on someone’s plate or tossing out rotten tomatoes that were left in the fridge too long. This is not only a waste of good food, but also a waste of money that could be better used elsewhere. Fortunately, a food waste diary, like the one featured on Squakfox.com, can help you track your waste so you know where you waste the most food and then work to rectify the situation.

Reports estimate that the average person wastes approximately 250 pounds of food a year, and a food waste diary is certainly a good step towards reducing that number. As you can see, the spreadsheet of their food waste diary features spaces for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks/other, which makes it easier to keep track of. And, of course, remember to document any food that has spoiled in the “other” category.

Wasting food doesn’t just a waste of good things you could have ate, it also wastes money: 27 Ways to Make Groceries Last As Long As Possible

The post Save Money and Food With A Food Waste Diary appeared first on Lifehack.

When you have leftover grains after dinner, your first instinct might be to put them in the refrigerator. This if fine if you want to heat them up for lunch over the next couple of days, but did you know that you can actually freeze them for long term storage?

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Every week, Caroline Wright creates simple, civilized recipes for Food52 that feed four -- for under $20, in under 20 minutes.

Today: Bring those unloved chicken breasts back to life with a quick simmer in milk.

I don’t love boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They rank among the ingredients that, as a recipe developer by profession, I see often enough in my work life that I would rarely — if ever — bring them home in a grocery sack of my own choosing.

Poaching chicken breasts in milk, however, is a very simple way to enhance the cut’s texture and flavor through tender, gentle cooking that ends with tucking it into a bed of noodles. Watch the milk carefully to ensure it never visibly simmers — the key to this recipe’s success is taking usually quick-cooking ingredients and slowing down the tempo to find their softer side.

Milk-Poached Chicken with Tarragon and Peas

Serves 4

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 pound)
2 garlic cloves, smashed with flat side of knife
4 strips lemon zest
3 cup whole milk
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 sprigs fresh tarragon, divided
4 cups wide egg noodles
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 cups frozen peas, thawed

See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.

 

As a freelance food writer and cook, I first wrote this style of recipe as a column on my blog, The Wright Recipes, as an excuse to cook good food for my friends in a quick and simple way. 

Twenty-Dollar, Twenty-Minute™ Meals grew into a cookbook that’s being published by Workman in May 2013. The recipes found here are original, made especially for Food52 to once again celebrate simple food with friends.

Photos by Caroline Wright

 

A good beer is a good beer, but if you're interested in pushing the envelope a little bit and expanding your beer's flavor, it turns out you don't have to do a complicated soak or extract a bunch of oils. All you need is a French press, that little gadget most of us use to make coffee.

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