yates's Profile

Display Name: yates
Personal URL: http://www.antilatifundializationleague.blogspot.com
Member Since: 2/20/10

Latest Comments...

I'm Gen Y and I enjoy gardening, but like many others have pointed out, I've simply not had the place to do it. Living in Chicago for 3 years and now in an apartment in SE Connecticut, I've yet to enjoy the privilege of having my own garden. I suspect that part of the perceived lack of members of my generation in the gardening community is because of this issue--we're young in a weak job market and having access to land in which we can garden is something that many simply can't yet afford. I know several of my friends who are in a similar position, eager but unable.

That said, I do what I can with pots and the small patch of dirt beside my front steps!


Where Are the Gen X & Y Gardeners? The Gardenist
5/2/12 12:51 PM

I changed the several of the lights in my new apartment when I moved in. I had been thinking of doing it, but my hand was forced when one of the old fixtures came crashing down from the ceiling in the middle of the night. After juggling around some of the less-ugly fixtures, I eventually was able to replace the fixture over my kitchen table (replaced an old ceiling dome with an inexpensive pendant lamp from Ikea). I did the same thing over the kitchen sink.

It was amazing how that instantly made the place look better. I even replaced the switch for the lamp over my table with a dimmer switch from Home Depot, and it has allowed me to really remake the feel of my kitchen/eating area, especially in the evenings.


Go For It! Change the Lighting Renters Solutions
3/20/12 2:16 PM

This is pretty much the only way that I use my nano. I prefer running with it because it is older (2nd generation I believe), so not as valuable should it get damaged or desirable by others. I use it with Nike+ but also make use of the SlowGeek website, which pulls your data from Nike+ and displays it with a bit more detail--it also tracks how many miles you are putting on a pair of shoes so that you know when they are getting near needing replacement.


Minimal Running Machine: Convert a Nano
3/9/12 8:19 AM

I did something similar to this in my living room with a darkish grey and broad vertical stripes. It's a great effect and is very dynamic, as it's appearance changes as you move around the room and as the lighting changes through the day.


A Subtle + Fancy Wall Treatment
Kristen F. Davis Designs
1/12/12 1:25 PM

I really like the Sun Jar lights and have made two of them myself. The instructions are easy and it is a lot cheaper than the $45 that Urban Outfitters would charge for them.

The simple instructions are here (involves cannibalizing a spare garden solar light): http://lifehacker.com/5315357/create-your-own-sun-jar-lifehacker-edition

For those who like electronics and aren't afraid of a soldering gun, here are some schematics for designing your own "solar guts" for the sun jar: http://www.talkingelectronics.com/projects/SolarLight/SolarLight.html


Party Perfect Solar-Powered LightsRoundup | Apartment Therapy DC
6/7/10 9:34 AM

I would recommend sticking with the peroxide that you can buy over the counter, I think typically around 3-5%. Hydrogen peroxide is a very strong oxidizing agent. While it is safe in lower concentrations, in higher concentrations it can be quite dangerous.

There are a variety of concentrations out there (I believe hospitals use a slightly higher concentration than what is for sale at the pharmacy, and as lazy_lurker indicated, labs use solutions in the 30% range), they are typically not available to the general public. If you do somehow find your hands on anything other than that which you can get at your pharmacy, please don't use it. Unless you know what you are doing, using higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can lead to explosions or spontaneous combustion.


What Strength of Hydrogen Peroxide Should I Use? Good Question | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest
5/14/10 1:02 AM

I have found that baking soda with a bit of warm water does an amazing job on the stove top. It even took off old stains on our rental unit stove that I had given up on as permanent. It took just a bit of elbow grease, but in about 15 minutes, the stove top looked almost new.


How To Clean the Stove Naturally: A Tip | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest
3/25/10 6:41 PM

From what I understand about asbestos, the variety found in flooring tile is fairly harmless (it's only a problem if you start breaking it up and making a lot of dust). A contractor once told me that an easy way to remove asbestos tiles was simply to soak the floor with a bit of water and let it sit for a bit (specifically, he said to flood the floor, but you might be able to do it with less). The water will cause the tile to pop right off the floor while at the same time preventing the tile from crumbling and putting asbestos dust into the air.

I've never had the opportunity to try it, but it seems like a good idea. As for disposing of it, I was told that double bagging the stuff while wet and throwing it into the garbage would suffice. My guess is that it would be smart to check on local requirements, as they vary by location.


How To Replace Old Vinyl Flooring That Has Asbestos? Good Question | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest
2/27/10 11:49 AM

I was in the Boy Scouts growing up and we used quite a bit of cast iron cooking gear (skillets, griddles, dutch ovens, and the like). After having to redo a few seasonings, we learned the proper cleaning and care for cast iron which is namely hot water and a stiff brush. I have yet to encounter something on my cast iron that hot water and a brush couldn't take off (although sometimes almost boiling water was necessary, just be careful).

The one thing we were taught never to do was use soap, and not just because it has the potential to strip the seasoning. The real problem with soap is that cast iron is a fairly porous metal, so the soap can actually get into the surface of the metal, and from there it can flavor your food the next time you use the cast iron. Not only does this not taste good, but depending on how much you ingest, it can make for an unpleasant intestinal experience.

I now swear by cast iron and advocate it to anyone looking for cookware. In my opinion, a well seasoned cast iron skillet has a better non-stick surface than many non-stick cookware out there, and it does so without the dangerous chemicals used in some of those non-stick surfaces.


How To Clean a Cast Iron Skillet Home Hacks | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest
2/20/10 7:31 PM