Inserting Unicode Characters

Problem: You're typing something in some Microsoft program that uses the Insert > Symbol command to insert one of those funny little characters you can't find on your keyboard, but it's a symbol you use so often that going Insert > Symbol every time w/your mouse has you royally ticked.

Solution:

1. Find the Unicode character number
2. Go back to your document & type in those numbers
3. Press Alt+X

Increase Light Output w/o Exceeding Safe Wattage

Problem: Your light source (desk lamp, overhead light, other light source, etc) isn't bright enough, and you have the biggest/strongest incandescent bulb allowed in it.

Solution: buy a "compact fluorescent bulb" also known as a "CFL"  It's brighter for less wattage.  A 27 watt bulb will emit the same amount of light as a 100 watt incandescent bulb.

 

"An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb." -- Energy Star website

Remove the "Do you need to arrive at a particular time" inquiry on on a TomTom One XL

Change Preferences > R arrow > R arrow > R arrow > Status Bar Preferences > Done > Done > uncheck "Show leeway to arrival time" > Done

Wash your hair w/baking soda & vinegar

Equipment & Ingredients:

• cup/water bottle w/a hole drilled through the cap
• small bowl
• 1 cup measuring device (measuring cup or bowl)
• tablespoon
  
• 1 T baking soda
• apple cider vinegar OR white vinegar w/5% max acidity
  
• water (distilled if you can, but tap works just as well)

Make the Mixtures:

1. Put 1 T baking soda into the small bowl, then drip water slowly into the bowl & mix (form a paste).
   * You do NOT need a lot of water to make the paste.
   * If this mixture dries out your hair/scalp, use less baking soda.
   
2. Measure 1 T vinegar + 1 cup water, then dump them into the cup

Wash your Hair:

1. Bring both the cup and the small bowl w/you into the shower.
2. Scrub/massage your scalp w/the baking soda paste.
   *Try not to get it on the whole length of your hair; the runoff when you eventually wash it out will be enough to cleanse the length of the hair.  However, if you do accidentally get some on your hair, don't worry, it'll be fine- the point is to get as much as you can on the scalp.
3. Let the baking soda sit for ~1 min.  Do another part of your cleaning routine & come back.
4. Wash out the baking soda paste.

Condition your Hair:

1. Take the cup of diluted vinegar & pour it over your hair.
   *Try to coat evenly if possible.

Why the heck you'd want to consider doing this:

• Shampoo costs a buttload of money over time, so does conditioner.  A 12lb bag of baking soda costs about the same amount as a bottle of shampoo.  A 16oz bottle of apple cider vinegar costs approximately $1.50.  A 1gal jug of white vinegar costs ~$3.
  
• You (may be able to) go longer between hair washings.  I went from everyday to once every 2-3 days & my hair didn't look dirty or oily at all.
• You ran out of shampoo/conditioner.
• You're allergic to something in shampoo/conditioner or you think they may be having adverse effects on your health.
• You're looking for a more natural way of cleaning your hair and/or reducing waste in the form of plastic bottles
• You want shinier hair (the vinegar rinse is excellent for this).
• You've got a ridiculous amount of (product, oil, dirt, shampoo/conditioner residue) buildup in your hair.  (Baking soda is some of the best stuff on the market for cleaning/clarifying)

Organic vs. Non
Okay, so lots of baking soda/vinegar hair cleaning recipes call for ORGANIC apple cider vinegar and distilled water, etc.  In my experience, non-organic apple cider vinegar works just fine.  The only reason you may want to consider spending more for distilled water is if you have hard water & this method isn't working for you.  Supposedly the minerals in the hard water may make this method less effective, although I don't live in a place with hard water, so I can't really comment.

Disable Sony Vaio Touchpad

Problem:
That dang touchpad is screwing you up by being so sensitive that when you brush it w/your thumbs while typing, it resets the cursor position to some other god-forsaken place in your Word document and screws up your paragraph.

Solution A:
C: > Program Files > Sony > Setting Utility Series > VCCPointingDevice > Uncheck the box next to "Enable"
*Create a shortcut to this program so you don't have to go through all the hassle of finding it again when you want to re-enable your touchpad.

Solution B: for when your "VCCPointingDevice.exe" is not there (like my Z-690's wasn't)
Start > Control Panel > VAIO Control Center > (on the left) Keyboard and Mouse > Pointing Device > Uncheck "Enable" > Apply
*Leave this open until you're ready to re-enable your touchpad (if you're planning to do it soon before you restart/log off/shut down). It's just easier than finding it again.
*Crate a shortcut for "VAIO Control Center" on your desktop if you plan to do this often.

Solution C: because Sony can't make up their god dang minds about where to put stuff...
Start > Control Panel > Sony Notebook Setup > Device > uncheck 'pointing device'

Changing Vista to 256 color mode

1. Find the .exe application file in your Program Files folder (or wherever you installed it)
2. R-click > Properties > Compatibility (tab) > check the box next to "Run in 256 colors" > OK
   

Tell whether your computer has the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows Vista

Problem: You don't know whether or your PC is running the 32 or 64-bit version of Windows Vista

Solution: Start > type in "msinfo32.exe" > Enter > look for "System Type"
If your system type is listed as....
x86-based PC = 32-bit version of Vista
x64-based PC = 64-bit version of Vista