DIY laboratory shaker

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Jordan Miller uploaded his open source orbital shaker project to Thingiverse.

This is an open-source orbital shaker for mammalian cell and tissue culture and for bench-top science. The orbital shaker fits inside a standard 37 șC/5% CO2 cell incubator and puts out no heat so you can load up the incubator full of these things. We have used them for 2 weeks now and the design is very simple, inexpensive, and scaleable. Our cells are growing happily in these shakers.

Orbital shakers are typically ~$1,500 and even more expensive if you need one that is designed for a cell incubator so that it will not put out any heat (incubators only have heating and not cooling functions, so if equipment puts out too much heat it will kill all the cells in the incubator).

I used an arduino microcontroller, Pololu stepper motor controller, and an inexpensive stepper motor. A DC motor could have been used but it is very difficult to control the rotational speed with high accuracy since the DC motor rotation speed varies based on load. Instead I used a $10 stepper motor and a pololu stepper motor controller at 1/16th stepping.

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--> Read the Full Story » | More on MAKE » | Comments » | Read more articles in Science | Digg this!

Source: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/12/diy_laboratory_shaker.html

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All Your Emails are on the Record, Unless Noted

Lifehacker's new editorial policy:

"If you send us a tip (which you can do any time at tips at lifehacker.com) that you don't want published, remember to explicitly say so in your email. Likewise, let us know if you just don't want us to use your name or anything along those lines."

This policy is no different than how newspapers have handled letters to the editor. Still, this is a different age. It's another sign that opt-out is becoming the new opt-in.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/steverubel/~3/8QmKB6fnJss/all-your-emails-are-on-the-record-unless-note

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Non-Food Uses for Cornstarch and Baking Powder

I don't cook an awful lot and because of this, I buy the small sized items when it comes to ingredients needed when I cook. Even when I do buy small, I always seemed to have opened ingredients in the back of the cupboard, for who knows how long. Today my search is on for non-food uses for corn starch and baking powder.

From talking to the county extension office, an opened container of cornstarch, if sealed well and in a dry climate, can last indefinitely. However an opened container of baking powder in the same climate has a shelf life up to 18 months, but you can test it, "Regardless of the expiration date, the effectiveness can be tested by placing a teaspoon of the powder into a small container of water. If it fizzes energetically, it's still active and usable"


Cornstarch:
? Burn relief - If it is still around the house when summer rolls in. Mix cornstarch and water until a paste is made. Apply directly to sun burn and allow to dry, then remove with lukewarm water.
? Knot detangler - I've heard of baby powder being used and corn starch has a similar consistency. I tried it on my own necklace and it worked very well.
? Carpet deodorizer - Sprinkle on carpet, wait 20-30 minutes and vacuum up. I tried this and then steam cleaned and was happy with the smell test result and the dark spots on the carpet cleared up better.
? Perspiration Sponge - Pour into shoes or socks or dab some in those special places after your shower. A natural alternative to deodorants, mix 1 part baking soda with 6 parts cornstarch.
? Dry Shampoo - Sprinkle on pet or human hair and brush out. Not a fan of this idea, tried this in the past and just had a mess, but some people think it is worthwhile.
? Spray Starch - Handy in an emergency when ironing - using a mix of one tablespoon of corn starch and two cups of cold water in a spray bottle, mix well and mist onto shirt collars and pants.
There are other uses for face painting, cleaning silver and killing cockroaches that you can check out.

Baking Powder has baking SODA in it and they both are used for baking. You can substitute baking POWDER in place of baking SODA (you'll need more baking powder and it may affect the taste), but you can't use baking soda when a recipe calls for baking powder. You can find the chemical differences explained here.

Baking Powder: 
? Detergent booster - Sprinkle some baking powder into the washing machine or dishwasher with the detergent to boost the cleaning power. And though I'm no Tool Time Tim, I like a little boost here and there.
? Counter cleaner - Dust your counter-top with powder and wipe clean for a more natural cleaner in the kitchen.
? Teeth Whitening - Small cup of powder and dip your brush in it, then brush for 1-2 minutes while it foams up. Rinse your mouth out well afterwards. (see Dental assistant video)
? Grease Killer -  Sprinkle a little baking powder on the greasy spot, shake off extra powder and brush off the rest once the grease is soaked up by the powder. Wash as usual.

It was hard finding uses that specifically speak about baking POWDER, as many got it mixed up with baking SODA, the much cheaper and less acidic version that you usually see in the orange arm and hammer box.

Any additional non-food uses for baking powder or cornstarch that you have found useful?


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/IpRp/~3/x4A1ZihzIXc/non-food-uses-for-cornstarch-and-baking.html

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The Disappearance of Yu Suzuki: Part 1

Feature

Header

The Disappearance of Yu Suzuki: Part 1

In the first half of our extensive interview, Hang-On, Virtua Fighter, and Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki talks about the old days at Sega and current industry trends.

By: James Mielke

[Editor's note: If you've been reading 1UP for more than a couple years, chances are you may have stumbled across something written by James Mielke. He was at one time editor in chief around here, and has since moved on to work at Q Entertainment on games like Child of Eden. Given his history, we invited him back to serve as a guest interviewer, but we wanted to put in this little disclaimer to avoid any confusion.]

Working as a game developer in Japan has its perks. The first and most obvious one is you get to make video games. The second less obvious perk is pretty much all of your connections are with other game developers. This played a major factor in scoring this interview. Before I left my post as editor in chief of 1UP nearly two years ago now, one of my personal missions was to track down and catch up with Yu Suzuki, whom I had interviewed numerous times before, mostly in San Francisco. He's always been a friendly, easy-going person to interview; a guy who would always remember you, as evidenced by the one time he reached out and tapped me on the elbow at the Sega booth one E3, simply to say hello. It was my goal to make sure that Suzuki-san got his due, but despite numerous attempts to go through the channels at Sega, and despite overtures from various freelancers with "connections," I could never get this interview off the ground while I was still an editor.

Source: http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3182648

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A Ban on 2nd Hand Undergarments

Starting February 2011, 2nd hand knickers are banned from being sold.. in Ghana. And some people are not happy about it.
Cynthia, another market trader, defended the business.
"Second-hand underwear and other clothes we sell here at Kantamanto Market are better quality than new undies in the stores," she said.
She admitted that some of the imported underwear was stained but said customers rummage through the piles and inspect goods before buying.
"No matter how poor the person is, they will not chose stained ones and we throw them away," she said.
One trader insisted that all the goods she sold had been disinfected.
It appears they are doing this because "the Ghana Standards Board, used pants - and other second-hand goods like handkerchiefs and mattresses - are unhygienic and could pose a health hazard".
flickr/cc - xavi talleda
When bed bugs were making the news about the infestation in New York and they were spreading down the the east coast and moving westward, people were freaking out. Yet no one called for a ban on used mattresses. The reason we don't have a ban on second hand items here in the states is because of (1.) it's financial impact on the poor, (2.) as long as second hand items have value, they will continue to be sold and there is no specific way sanitize some items, like mattresses and finally, (3.) the money to regulate it would not be cost-effective.

I am not someone to buy a used mattress or underwear, but I can understand the financial impact to those who don't have the means to purchase new. And if we wash our clothes thoroughly with hot water and bleach (like we do with cloth diapers) then our undergarments should be clean enough for anyone to wear or are we doubting our cleaning supplies abilities?

Initially when I read this I thought a ban would be a good idea here in the states as well, but have come to the conclusion that personal decision making is the best way to go, if enough people don't want the 2nd hand item, it won't be available and the old saying is always true: Buyer Beware

Back to the Ghana ban on 2nd hand undergarments, "If the government really wants to meet the demands of poor people, it should offer support to micro-finance and small industries who are able to produce undergarments at subsidized rates," said Angela Wauye, a programme coordinator with ActionAid Kenya, who deals with trade issues.

But I liked the comment mentioned in a forum: I never wear used underwear until I sterilize it in a pit of fire first. The fire gets rid of any bed bugs or other insects that might be living in the underwear. Unfortunately, the skivvies seldom survive the fire, either.

What are your thoughts on buying 2nd hand undergarments?

A couple government resources for bed bugs:
2nd Hand Matresses:
Bedbug prevention and cleaning
resources from the CDC


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/IpRp/~3/ZuzrLT7PKBM/ban-on-2nd-hand-undergarments.html

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Tour around New York City via a RC plane (video)

Tour around New York City via a RC plane (video)... via Twitter

Team Black Sheep flying in New York, over the Brooklyn and Verazano Bridge, around Downtown Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Enjoy! How to build your own / FPV system information, camera and transmitter details, etc - here.


Read the Full Story » | More on MAKE » | Comments » | Read more articles in Culture jamming | Digg this!

Source: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/12/tour_around_new_york_city_via_a_rc.html

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Tomb Raider Reboot Confirmed With New-Look Lara Croft

Tomb Raider new Lara Croft

A brand new Tomb Raider is in the works, and by 'brand new,' that doesn't mean your standard sequel. Developer Crystal Dynamics is going to the earlier stages of Lara Croft's life, when she was young and inexperienced, to tell the story of her first adventure. The new game will drop the subtitles and go only with the name Tomb Raider.

"Forget everything you knew about Tomb Raider, we are exploring things that have never been done before in this game," said Crystal Dynamics head Darrell Gallagher. "This is an origins story that creates Lara Croft and takes her on a character defining journey like no other."

A reboot or origins story of some sort has been rumored since last summer when a survey surfaced that was looking to gauge interest in such a thing. Last month, an anonymous source claimed that a new Tomb Raider was being worked on for release next Christmas. And then in last month's issue of Game Informer, a two-page teaser for the January issue showed a shipwreck and the phrase "A Survivor is Born," which seemed to fit with what last year's survey alluded to about Lara trying to survive on a mysterious island.

Source: http://www.1up.com/news/tomb-raider-reboot-confirmed-new-look-lara-croft

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Hot Lesbian Ballerina Sex Surprisingly Lucrative at the Box Office [Monday Box Office]

Who knew! We're certainly shocked. But not more shocked than when we heard that Tangled managed to beat Harry Potter in the slow-ish post-Thanksgiving weekend. That's a big deal! As big a deal as Burlesque? Uh, no. Definitely bigger. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gawker/full/~3/kdOi_3H9_IE/hot-lesbian-ballerina-sex-surprisingly-lucrative-at-the-box-office

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