Blood Donation Campaign
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Ideas for life~ How to keep dust out of your PC (D.I.Y.)
How to keep dust out of your PC
D.I.Y
Have you ever had a PC that started making strange whining noises? Even if you've investigated the cause of the noises, which can often sound pretty serious when you hear them, you may not realise the reason for them. The chances are they're caused by a cooling fan with dust in its bearing.
Fans are one of the few components in a PC which have unsealed moving parts. By their nature, they have to be open to the air to suck heat out of the machine and push cool air in. As a result, they're extremely susceptible to all the airborne particles that make up household dust.
Contrary to popular myth, household dust is not primarily composed of human skin. In fact, although there are some skin cells present in virtually all house dust, its composition varies quite dramatically from area to area, season to season and room to room.
As you might expect, it includes pet hairs, pollen, plant seeds and broken-down insect remains, as well as lots and lots of particles of dirt. Both the organic and inorganic components of house dust can be troublesome to a machine with moving parts. Minute fragments of minerals can become trapped between bearings and shafts, while a build-up of softer material can act as a brake and slow a fan's rate of rotation.
Thankfully, with a little DIY work on a typical desktop PC case, you can increase the reliability of the fans, which in turn ensures proper cooling of all your system's important components: processor, video card, memory and power supply.
The simple answer to fan failure is to filter the air that enters your PC. Doing this isn't difficult at all, and here's a really simple way to cut out the muck.
1. Find a filter
The obvious filter material for a PC intake is that used for screening dust in a vacuum cleaner filter pad, since this material is designed expressly to perform this function.
These filter pads are cheap and readily available from all good electrical shops, and since you'll mark out and cut the filter material to fit your particular PC, it doesn't matter which vacuum cleaner model filters you buy.
You're after the largest area of filter you can get for your money, though, so go through the different models. You may be able to buy filter material in sheets, which could be even cheaper. It won't be a major outlay: you're typically looking at spending just a few pounds for a bag of filter pads.
2. Hold it in place
To get started, you'll need to find something to hold the filter material in place over the intake on your PC's case. You could stick it in place, but that would make it hard to replace periodically. Fortunately there's a ready-made holder for the filter material in the form of a simple J-shaped plastic extrusion.
This kind of extrusion is normally used to hide the rough edges of hardboard or acrylic sheet fittings, but it's just as good for holding vacuum filter material, and the gap is ideal for use as a slide fit. It's available in strips from DIY chains like B&Q and Homebase for a couple of pounds a metre.
You should be able to get all the lengths you need to add filters to a typical PC from one extrusion pack. Measure the size you need to hold the filter material in your PC and cut it to length with a craft knife.
In most cases, two strips placed at the top and bottom of the filter will work best, but for small areas a single strip may suffice. You can attach the strips of extrusion to the case with double-sided tape, applied first to the extrusion and then to the PC's case. This tape is readily available from most DIY stores.
3. Cut the filter to size
Measure the ventilation holes in your PC's case and cut out a cardboard template for each. Lay each template on the filter material and draw round it with a marker to make the inserts. Keep the templates, so you can renew the filters every so often.
You can fit filter pieces to the fan ports on power supplies and hold them in place by undoing the mounting screws and screwing them back through corresponding holes in the filter material.
Cut the filter material with scissors – a craft knife tends to snag. Though it's generally an unwoven, felt-like material, filter pads can still be cut into quite intricate shapes if needed.
4. Fit it to your PC
Fitting the filters, once you have the extrusion and filter material cut to size, is very simple. Stick the extrusion strips to the top and bottom of the case vent and slide the prepared filter strip between them so they're gripped in the channels.
Filters can be added inside or outside the case, whichever is more convenient (the result will look neater if they're added on the inside, of course). Try not to stick the extrusion over holes making up part of the case vent.
Adding the filter will reduce the airflow through the vents in comparison with unfiltered vents, but not significantly – a fan running slowly because of dust in its bearing will suffer far more.
5. Change it regularly
If all this Blue Peter-style DIY seems like overkill, it's worth mentioning that your author, who runs three working PCs pretty much continuously, was replacing a fan roughly every four months between these machines. This is in a domestic rural environment with few vehicle fumes or other typical urban contaminants to clog the workings up.
Since installing filters and nano-ceramic fans, not a single fan has had to be replaced and all are continuing to run quietly and provide specified levels of airflow. Changing the filters on each PC takes around 10 minutes to cut the material to size and another 10 minutes to fit. That's just 20 minutes every six months, probably less time than it typically takes to download and install a Service Pack.
Look at the used and fresh filter elements in the picture here and you can see that the filter's pretty effective and catches a lot of dust that would otherwise end up inside your PC.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
health~ How to Sleep better
How to Sleep Better
TIPS FOR GETTING A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
How you feel during your waking
hours hinges on how well you sleep at night. Similarly, the cure for sleep
difficulties can often be found in your daily routine. Your sleep schedule,
bedtime habits, and day–to–day lifestyle choices can make an enormous
difference to the quality of your nightly rest. The following sleep tips will help
you optimize your nightly rest so you can be productive, mentally sharp,
emotionally balanced, and full of energy all day long.
The secret to
getting good sleep every night
Good sleep strategies are essential to deep,
restorative sleep you can count on, night after night. By learning to avoid
common enemies of sleep and trying out a variety of healthy sleep-promoting
techniques, you can discover your personal prescription to a good night’s rest.
The key is to experiment. What works for some might
not work as well for others. It’s important to find the sleep strategies that
work best for you.
The first step to improving the quality of your
rest is finding out how much sleep you need. How much sleep is enough? While
sleep requirements vary slightly from person to person, most healthy adults
need at least 8 hours of sleep each night to function at their best.
Getting back in sync with your body’s natural
sleep–wake cycle—your circadian rhythm—is one of the most important strategies
for achieving good sleep. If you keep a regular sleep schedule, going to bed
and getting up at the same time each day, you will feel much more refreshed and
energized than if you sleep the same number of hours at different times. This
holds true even if you alter your sleep schedule by only an hour or two.
Consistency is important.
§ Set a regular
bedtime. Go to bed at the same time every night. Choose a
time when you normally feel tired, so that you don’t toss and turn. Try not to
break this routine on weekends when it may be tempting to stay up late. If you
want to change your bedtime, help your body adjust by making the change in
small daily increments, such as 15 minutes earlier or later each day.
§ Wake up at the
same time every day. If you’re getting enough sleep, you should wake up
naturally without an alarm. If you need an alarm clock to wake up on time, you
may need to set an earlier bedtime. As with your bedtime, try to maintain your
regular wake–time even on weekends.
§ Nap to make up
for lost sleep. If you need to make up for a few lost hours, opt
for a daytime nap rather than sleeping late. This strategy allows you to pay
off your sleep debt without disturbing your natural sleep–wake rhythm, which
often backfires in insomnia and throws you off for days.
§ Be smart about
napping. While taking a nap can be a great way to recharge,
especially for older adults, it can make insomnia worse. If insomnia is a
problem for you, consider eliminating napping. If you must nap, do it in the
early afternoon, and limit it to thirty minutes.
§ Fight
after–dinner drowsiness. If you find yourself getting sleepy way before your
bedtime, get off the couch and do something mildly stimulating to avoid falling
asleep, such as washing the dishes, calling a friend, or getting clothes ready
for the next day. If you give in to the drowsiness, you may wake up later in
the night and have trouble getting back to sleep.
Discovering
your optimal sleep schedule
Find a period
of time (a week or two should do) when you are free to experiment with
different sleep and wake times. Go to bed at the same time every night and
allow yourself to sleep until you wake up naturally. No alarm clocks! If you’re
sleep deprived, it may take a few weeks to fully recover. But as you go to bed
and get up at the same time, you’ll eventually land on the natural sleep
schedule that works best for you.
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that
helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin production is controlled by
light exposure. Your brain should secrete more in the evening, when it’s dark,
to make you sleepy, and less during the day when it’s light and you want to
stay awake and alert. However, many aspects of modern life can disrupt your
body’s natural production of melatonin and with it your sleep-wake cycle.
Spending long days in an office away from natural
light, for example, can impact your daytime wakefulness and make your brain
sleepy. Then bright lights at night—especially from hours spent in front of the
TV or computer screen—can suppress your body’s production of melatonin and make
it harder to sleep. However, there are ways for you to naturally regulate your
sleep-wake cycle, boost your body’s production of melatonin, and keep your
brain on a healthy schedule.
Increase light exposure
during the day
§ Remove your
sunglasses in the morning and let light onto your face.
§ Spend more time
outside during daylight. Try to take your work breaks outside in sunlight,
exercise outside, or walk your dog during the day instead of at night.
§ Let as much
light into your home/workspace as possible. Keep curtains and blinds
open during the day, move your desk closer to the window.
§ If necessary,
use a light therapy box. A light therapy box can simulate sunshine and can
be especially useful during short winter days when there’s limited daylight.
Boost melatonin production
at night
§ Turn off your
television and computer. Many people use the television to fall asleep or
relax at the end of the day. Not only does the light suppress melatonin
production, but television can actually stimulate the mind, rather than
relaxing it. Try listening to music or audio books instead, or practicing
relaxation exercises. If your favorite TV show is on late at night, record it
for viewing earlier in the day.
§ Don’t read from
a backlit device at night (such as an iPad). If you use a portable
electronic device to read, use an eReader that is not backlit, i.e. one that
requires an additional light source such as a bedside lamp.
§ Change your
light bulbs. Avoid bright lights before bed, use low-wattage
bulbs instead.
§ When it’s time
to sleep, make sure the room is dark. The darker it is, the
better you’ll sleep. Cover electrical displays, use heavy curtains or shades to
block light from windows, or try an eye mask to cover your eyes.
§ Use a
flashlight to go to the bathroom at night. As long as it’s safe to do
so, keep the light to a minimum so it will be easier to go back to sleep.
If you make a consistent effort to relax and unwind
before bed, you will sleep easier and more deeply. A peaceful bedtime routine
sends a powerful signal to your brain that it’s time to wind down and let go of
the day’s stresses.
Make your bedroom more sleep
friendly
§ Keep noise
down. If you can’t avoid or eliminate noise from barking
dogs, loud neighbors, city traffic, or other people in your household, try
masking it with a fan, recordings of soothing sounds, or white noise. You can
buy a special sound machine or generate your own white noise by setting your
radio between stations. Earplugs may also help.
§ Keep your room
cool. The temperature of your bedroom also affects sleep.
Most people sleep best in a slightly cool room (around 65° F or 18° C) with
adequate ventilation. A bedroom that is too hot or too cold can interfere with
quality sleep.
§ Make sure your
bed is comfortable. You should have enough room to stretch and turn
comfortably. If you often wake up with a sore back or an aching neck, you may
need to invest in a new mattress or a try a different pillow. Experiment with
different levels of mattress firmness, foam or egg crate toppers, and pillows
that provide more support.
Reserve your bed for
sleeping and sex
If you associate your bed with events like work or
errands, it will be harder to wind down at night. Use your bed only for sleep
and sex. That way, when you go to bed, your body gets a powerful cue: it’s time
to nod off.
Relaxing
bedtime rituals to try
§ Read a book or magazine by
a soft light
§ Take a warm bath
§ Listen to soft music
§ Do some easy stretches
§ Wind down with a favorite
hobby
§ Listen to books on tape
§ Make simple preparations
for the next day
Your daytime eating and exercise habits play a role
in how well you sleep. It’s particularly important to watch what you put in
your body in the hours leading up to your bedtime.
§ Stay away from
big meals at night. Try to make dinnertime earlier in the evening, and avoid heavy, rich
foods within two hours of bed. Fatty foods take a lot of work for your stomach
to digest and may keep you up. Also be cautious when it comes to spicy or
acidic foods in the evening, as they can cause stomach trouble and heartburn.
§ Avoid alcohol
before bed. Many people think that a nightcap before bed will
help them sleep. While it may make you fall asleep faster, alcohol reduces your
sleep quality, waking you up later in the night. To avoid this effect, so stay
away from alcohol in the hours before bed.
§ Cut down on
caffeine. You might be surprised to know that caffeine can
cause sleep problems up to ten to twelve hours after drinking it! Consider
eliminating caffeine after lunch or cutting back your overall intake.
§ Avoid drinking
too many liquids in the evening. Drinking lots of water,
juice, tea, or other fluids may result in frequent bathroom trips throughout
the night. Caffeinated drinks, which act as diuretics, only make things worse.
§ Quit smoking. Smoking causes sleep
troubles in numerous ways. Nicotine is a stimulant, which disrupts sleep.
Additionally, smokers actually experience nicotine withdrawal as the night
progresses, making it hard to sleep.
If you’re
hungry at bedtime
For some people, a light
snack before bed can help promote sleep. When you pair tryptophan–containing
foods with carbohydrates, it may help calm the brain and allow you to sleep
better. For others, eating before bed can lead to indigestion and make sleeping
more difficult. Experiment with your food habits to determine your optimum
evening meals and snacks. If you need a bedtime snack, try:
§ Half a turkey sandwich
§ A small bowl of
whole–grain, low–sugar cereal
§ Granola with low–fat milk
or yogurt
§ A banana
You’ll also sleep more deeply if you exercise regularly.
You don’t have to be a star athlete to reap the benefits—as little as twenty to
thirty minutes of daily activity helps. And you don’t need to do all thirty
minutes in one session. You can break it up into five minutes here, ten minutes
there, and still get the benefits. Try a brisk walk, a bicycle ride, or even
gardening or housework.
Some people prefer to schedule exercise in the
morning or early afternoon as exercising too late in the day can stimulate the
body, raising its temperature. Even if you prefer not to exercise vigorously at
night, don’t feel glued to the couch, though. Relaxing exercises such as yoga
or gentle stretching can help promote sleep.
Do you find yourself unable to sleep or waking up
night after night? Residual stress, worry, and anger from your day can make it
very difficult to sleep well. When you wake up or can’t get to sleep, take note
of what seems to be the recurring theme. That will help you figure out what you
need to do to get your stress and anger under control during the day.
If you can’t stop yourself from worrying,
especially about things outside your control, you need to learn how to manage your thoughts.
For example, you can learn to evaluate your worries to see if they’re truly
realistic and learn to replace irrational fears with more productive thoughts.
Even counting sheep is more productive than worrying at bedtime.
If the stress of managing work, family, or school
is keeping you awake, you need help with stress management. By learning how to
manage your time effectively, handle stress in a productive way, and maintain a
calm, positive outlook, you’ll be able to sleep better at night.
Relaxation techniques for
better sleep
Relaxation is beneficial for everyone, but
especially for those struggling with sleep. Practicing relaxation
techniques before bed is a great way to wind down, calm the
mind, and prepare for sleep. Some simple relaxation techniques include:
§ Deep breathing. Close your eyes—and try
taking deep, slow breaths—making each breath even deeper than the last.
§ Progressive
muscle relaxation. Starting at your toes, tense all the muscles as
tightly as you can, then completely relax. Work your way up from your feet to
the top of your head.
§ Visualizing a
peaceful, restful place. Close your eyes and imagine a place or activity
that is calming and peaceful for you. Concentrate on how relaxed this place or
activity makes you feel.
It’s normal to wake briefly during the night. In
fact, a good sleeper won’t even remember it. But if you’re waking up during the
night and having trouble falling back asleep, the following tips may help.
§ Stay out of
your head. The key to getting back to sleep is continuing to
cue your body for sleep, so remain in bed in a relaxed position. Hard as it may
be, try not to stress over the fact that you’re awake or your inability to fall
asleep again, because that very stress and anxiety encourages your body to stay
awake. A good way to stay out of your head is to focus on the feelings and
sensations in your body.
§ Make relaxation
your goal, not sleep. If you are finding it hard to fall back asleep, try
a relaxation technique such as visualization, deep breathing, or meditation,
which can be done without even getting out of bed. Remind yourself that
although they’re not a replacement for sleep, rest and relaxation still help
rejuvenate your body.
§ Do a quiet,
non-stimulating activity. If you’ve been awake for more than 15 minutes, try
getting out of bed and doing a quiet, non-stimulating activity, such as reading
a book. Keep the lights dim so as not to cue your body clock that it’s time to
wake up. Also avoid screens of any kind—computers, TV, cell phones, iPads—as
the type of light they emit is stimulating to the brain. A light snack or
herbal tea might help relax you, but be careful not to eat so much that your
body begins to expect a meal at that time of the day.
§ Postpone
worrying and brainstorming. If you wake during the night feeling anxious about
something, make a brief note of it on paper and postpone worrying about it until
the next day when you are fresh and it will be easier to resolve. Similarly, if
a brainstorm or great idea is keeping you awake, make a note of it on paper and
fall back to sleep knowing you’ll be much more productive and creative after a
good night’s rest.
A disrupted sleep schedule caused by working nights
or irregular shifts can lead to sleepiness in the work place, affect your mood,
energy, and concentration, and increase your risk of accidents, injuries, and
work-related mistakes. Shift workers tend to suffer from two problems: sleeping
at home during the day and staying awake at work during the night. To avoid or
limit these problems:
§ Limit the
number of night or irregular shifts you work in a row to
prevent sleep deprivation from mounting up. If that’s not possible, avoid
rotating shifts frequently so you can maintain the same sleep schedule.
§ Avoid a long
commute as reduces sleep time. Also, the more time you
spend traveling home in daylight, the more awake you’ll become and the harder
you’ll find it to get to sleep.
§ Drink
caffeinated drinks early in your shift, but avoid them close to
bedtime.
§ Take frequent
breaks and use them to move around as much as possible – take
a walk, stretch, even exercise if possible.
§ Adjust your
sleep-wake schedule and your body’s natural production of melatonin.
Expose yourself to bright light when you wake up at night, use bright lamps or
daylight-simulation bulbs in your workplace, and then wear dark glasses on your
journey home to block out sunlight and encourage sleepiness.
§ Eliminate noise
and light from your bedroom during the day. Use blackout curtains or an
eye mask, turn off the phone, and use ear plugs or a soothing sound machine to
block out daytime noise.
If you’ve tried the tips above, but are still
struggling with sleep problems, you may have a sleep disorder that requires
professional treatment. Consider scheduling a visit with a sleep doctor if,
despite your best efforts at self–help, you are still troubled by any of the
following symptoms:
§ Persistent daytime
sleepiness or fatigue
§ Loud snoring accompanied by
pauses in breathing
§ Difficulty falling asleep
or staying asleep
§ Unrefreshing sleep
§ Frequent morning headaches
§ Crawling sensations in your
legs or arms at night
§ Inability to move while
falling asleep or waking up
§ Physically acting out
dreams during sleep
§ Falling asleep at
inappropriate times
An outstanding article!
To summarize it, I would say Exercise & Regular sleeping timing is important to maintain!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
inspiration video~ The hardest and toughest job in the world
The hardest and toughest job in the world
android app~ top note taking apps no: 5
android app~ top note taking apps no: 4
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