Ah this is a brilliant idea. I never know what to do with those cartridges from my laser printer, and I always end up keeping my old cell phones (maybe I might use them again - right). Now there's something useful that can be done with them.

Funding Factory is a great initiative to help schools and non-profit organisations organise recycling programs. You can even earn money from it and use the funds for your group or donate it to a charity. There's excellent support with custom flyers, promotional Microsoft Office templates, posters, and collection boxes for organisers to use.

When Jack is older, I'll certainly run one with him to teach him leadership and the importance of being environmentally conscious. Till then, if you have a group interested in organising a recycling program, stop by FundingFactory.

This post is sponsored by FundingFactory.

Technorati: home, finance, children, leadership

I'm thrilled that the IT Show will be here this weekend. It's the perfect time to cast my grubby hands on some lovely nice devices.

I try not to go look at hardware I don't need to buy but once I am in research mode, it's no holds barred and I go a little crazy.

The hubby is always amused how I can excited buying a SD card reader but looks annoyed and rather uncomprehending on the necessity of stocking up on Selphy paper and a new Mini-SD card for my phone.

On the quest list are:

* Ultraportable laptop, preferably ASUS or Lenovo (7"-12")
* High-speed 2GB SD card for less than $30
* Skype phone (check price)
* Black and white laser printer
* Selphy paper if less than $30 for 105 pieces
* USB hub
* DVD-RWs

Things to just check out (and maybe, just maybe buy):

* Latest Canon Selphy printer
* Colour laser printer
* Extra LAN cables

Mm... I better not bring the hubby along, but will (and have to) bring Jack to show him the wonders and delights of technology. Already his favourite toy is my phone.

Technorati: technology, IT show, laptop, printer, phone, SD card, devices, Selphy

Here's one option I hadn't considered until I came across RemotePC. For those who don't know what Remote Access is, it's basically a secure communication method of accessing a computer that is physically not with you at the moment via another computer.

As you all remember from my earlier postings, I've been on a quest to find a laptop to work from virtually anywhere. It needs to be light and small, and under $1600. I saw an ASUS Centrino at Best the other day but they were only selling the display sets. You should never ever buy display sets.

Anyway, with my mobility, secure remote access is a good solution. It's easier than porting files over everyday to work from, or having 2 copies. Currently I save them online but retrieving them is a hassle, as is remembering version numbers. It'll be like working on the one PC, not two.

Now, RemotePC encrypts the communication channel with 128-bit RC4/SSL which is a boon, it doesn't use an applet - very important (Java loves lagging my computer), it offers a seamless visual experience - a nice-to-have, and it has low latency, which is critical (think playing WoW, having a red latency bar of 3s and a minute later when it clears, you're dead).

With a really affordable basic plan of $4.95 a month, it's worth a try. To help me work better, I'll pay for a great user experience.

This post was kindly sponsored by RemotePC.

Technorati: remote access, pc, laptop

About Strange Machines

Strange Machines began in April 2005 as a blog to consolidate all blogs. When I began blogging, I braced several blogging platforms to test them out and ended up having several segmented blogs I got lazy to update.

Strange Machines is a dynamic blog about my life from cat-parent to pregnant to parent, my fascination with science, and my love affair with technology.

Discussed slightly less often but no less important are personal finance and investment issues, and animal welfare and environmental issues.

Focuses you will find earlier in the blog are on science fiction poetry I wrote and published, as well as my adventures in MMORPGS, primarily on Sacred and World of Warcraft.

About Mephala

Mephala is an avatar I use. For those who played Heroes of Might and Magic, you will be familiar with this brunette ranger with dual accuracy modifiers. It is an affliction we gamers suffer, to enjoy too much living in our characters.

I am married to he whom I consider my soulmate and am the mother of six: 5 feline and 1 human. I consider animal companionship as one which is sacred from birth to death, and regard all the 6 small ones as my own children. They are treated no less than each other, although our little human requires more attention.

For the curious, I am a web developer by training and have worked functionally as a usability engineer, content producer, and a copywriter, among other titles that sound different but really doing the same work. Currently, I work on independent projects while caring for my children at home.

Maximising Your User Experience

You will find paragraphs here short and succinct for maximum readability. I have tested the user interface on several resolutions and browsers for the best usability and layout so you should not experience too much eyestrain trying to read this site.

This is, of course, a recent development. If you had been straining your eyes on the old gold on black design, please forgive an old, and very much less user-friendly, preference for the more sinister designs.

Feedback is always welcome on improvements in the design and layout. Please use the contact form on the left sidebar. It is in a box of its own.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you find something worthwhile on this blog to take home with you.

Cheers,
Mephala

This policy is valid from 16 February 2007.

This is a personal blog written and edited by me. It accepts all forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions, or other forms of compensation.

The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics, or posts made in this blog, which may or may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content, but all reviews will receive my unequivocally honest opinion, findings, beliefs, and/or experiences on the said topics, products, and/or services.

I will not knowingly endorse products and services that endorses cruelty to any animal or human, such as fur, shark's fin soup, recreational fishing, fois gras, and bear bile.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party in question.

Technorati: disclosure policy

My Grandma (not the one stealing cookies, the other one) has been in a wheelchair for some years now and has relied on others to get her around. As someone who loves and cherishes her freedom, it irks her to depend so much on others.

When she was young she used to travel everywhere alone or with friends. She loved to explore new places and she loved life. I think my mother and I inherited that from her. So to see her so helpless in a wheelchair now is really sad.

With the recent popularity of Medical Scooters, we've considered getting one for her. At least that would mean she can come out shopping with us or take a trip to the park for some fresh air. After 10 years stuck at home or at the hospital, at 95 years old, perhaps now she can finally enjoy some freedom.

This post is kindly sponsored by Dependable Mobility Scooter.

Technorati: Grandma, mobility, aging, freedom

I am going to start taking my driver's licence in May. Yes, you heard it here first. The family decided that now I'm a Mom, it would be useful if I got over my driving phobia and learnt how to drive.

So I decided to get myself excited by pondering over which car I might be able to buy. Despite having a Jeep fetish (but it's not very environmentally-friendly), I've always been a Toyota girl so the hubby and decided to look at some Used Cars For Sale and check out the Toyota Camry, which would be perfect for our extended family with more of Jack's toys being flung everywhere at back.

The effervescent LemonFree, a cool new and used car and truck website, efficiently produced 881701 listings of the Camry. It was a great and very usable user interface and a very fast search engine. There were comprehensive details and most importantly, a photo of the car. I like the red one.

Still, I won't be buying a car till I pass, which could be anytime this year, but in the meantime, I'll enjoy browsing LemonTree for our next family car. :)

This post was kindly sponsored by LemonFree, New and Used Cars and Trucks.

Technorati: cars, driving, personal

Thanks to your many clicks and referrals, Jack's pic retires in the comfortable spot of 39 out of 50 in the TopMomma's Hall of Fame. He remained on the TopMomma home page for 612,616 seconds and received 90 clicks and 51 referals. Yay!

Cheers and thanks! :D

Technorati: shameless self promotion, Jack

"Who would you rather have beside you when you're defending the nation? The son nurtured by his parent who believes that he mattered enough for him/her to put career on hold, or the son who was served hand and foot by a domestic helper?"

~ Sangeetha Bysheim in Today.

Technorati: quote, parenting

When I was 12, I was in a car accident at a traffic junction. A rogue car had sped past and hit our car. I was sitting in the front seat and remember my mother had held me tightly from the back seat to keep me from being smashed through the windscreen. We were all okay but I had a nasty headache for days after.

Who is liable for the damage to the car then? What if one of us was seriously injured? If you live in Washington, it makes sense to hire a seattle personal injury attorney who specialises in personal injury claims. There are no charges for them to review your case and usually fees do not have to be paid till there is a settlement or verdict.

Until then, take good care of yourself and your family. Drive carefully, wear your seatbelts, and regularly send your car for servicing. It is for your own safety.

This post is sponsored by Paglialunga & Harris, whom you can contact via their website to give you a guide on what to do if you were involved in a serious accident.

Technorati: car accident, family