Bogdan's blog

Change Blindness

2010-08-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Cleaning tricks to make appliances last - by Emily Hsieh

2010-06-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

As it turns out, the secret to keeping appliances running smoothly is cleanliness—or at least that’s what Kirby Mills, owner of At Your Service Appliance Repair in Kansas City, Missouri, tells The New York Times, having seen hundreds of appliances malfunction due to “goo, dust, and gunk” every year. I learned this the hard way a couple months ago when my dishwasher stopped working, only to discover later (following a very expensive visit from a repairman) that the problem was simply a filter that needed to be rinsed. It really doesn’t take much time or effort to clean appliances, and doing so can extend their lifespan by years. Here’s a re-cap of how to best go about this:

Dishwasher: Take out the racks. Check the corners and the rubber lining around the door for cracks and food residue. Clean out both with a sponge and plastic-bristled brush (don’t use metal as it can damage the machine). Consult the owner’s manual and remove the spray arms and wash them with soap and water. If you’ve got a filter basket at the base of your dishwasher, carefully remove the filter itself and give it a rinse as well. Slide your hand in the filter hole and check for debris. Put the pieces back together and run the machine empty with a bit of detergent.

Refrigerator: The coils underneath the machine tend to get clogged with dust, which can make it hard for the compressor fan to circulate fresh air. To make sure they’re all clear, unplug the machine, get down on the floor, and pull out the vent plate that covers the coils. Then use a vacuum hose to clean the coils. It’s also good to wipe down the door gasket as with a warm damp cloth to make sure there’s no sticky build-up there, which can cause the gasket to tear (and inhibit your fridge’s ability to refrigerate).

Air conditioner: Similar to refrigerators, air conditioner coils need to be cleaned every once in a while—now, a.ka. the beginning of the season, is a particularly good time to do this. Remove the filter cover and run a vacuum brush over the coils. While you’re at it, pull out the filter and clean or replace it, depending on what kind of model you have.

Vacuum: This is one of the most oft-neglected household gadgets. Filters and bags need to be swapped out at least annually. If you have a bagless model, wipe out the canister with a sponge. Test it’s suction power: try to vacuum up a bit of sand, and see if your vac sucks up the majority of it (if so, it’s in good shape—if not, take it to a local repair shop to see if it’s just a question of changing out a part. If you’ve got motor issues, it’s probably more cost effective to buy a new vacuum).

Ceiling fan: If you notice the blades on yours are wobbling, you’re in for trouble—this wears out the motor a lot faster. Dust off the tops of the blades and tighten the screws to make sure everything is locked into place.

Stove and oven: Gas stoves in particular need to be kept clean to ensure burners and igniters will keep on for years. A warm cloth and a bit of dish soap is all you need to get them spic and span. Mr. Fleshman from Fleshman Appliance Repair tells The New York Times that the self-cleaning feature should be avoided, since the super-high-temperature can be hard on your oven’s wiring and electrical components. Instead, after you’ve used your oven, wait until it’s cool enough to touch but still warm, and wipe it down with a moist cloth. Fleshman also says not to worry about stains, “always tell my customers, if people are looking in your oven and complaining about it being dirty, you shouldn’t have those people in your home.”

2010-03-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

New! Live webcam of the Palace of Culture. I grew up two blocks away and used to play a lot around there as a kid.

For sale

2010-02-24T10:38:00.001-08:00

On the market as of today:
570 N Bayview ave, CA 94085

Jonathan Coulton's MP3 store

2010-02-04T11:30:00.000-08:00

A colleague (Mark) pointed me to Jonathan Coulton's MP3 songs. Some of the lyrics seem somewhat funny.

Mark's recommendations:

Code Monkey

Mandelbrot Set

Re: Your Brains (about a co-worker-turned-zombie)

Skullcrusher Mountain

and, if you're Canadian, you should also listen to "Curl".

Holiday Listening Guide

2009-12-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

Daddy Cruel by Pungent Stench
Ceremonial Void by Monstrosity
Putrefying Remains by Sinister
Dark is the Season by Benediction
Cryptorium by Brutality
Immortal Cessation by Incantation
Rage Within by Resurrection
Cut Through the Filth by Master
Tidings From The Blue Sphere by Afflicted
Torn Apart by Dismember
Scrolls Of The Megilloth by Mortification
Side Effects by Defecation

Random quotes

2005-08-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it. (Cullen Hightower)

"How to" links

2005-08-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

How to Open a Stuck Jar Lid
How to Inexpensively Increase the Value of Your Home
How to Make Water in the Desert
How to Touch Up Painted Walls
How to Get Rid of Deodorant Stains
How to Exercise While Sitting at Your Computer

"Ask Yahoo" links

2005-08-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

How do touchscreens work?
What's the ideal speed for maximum fuel efficiency?
What causes a "stitch" in your side during exercise?

2005-08-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Frank Smitha on London bombings (July 22, 2005)

Experts and others are describing the London bombers as having a message and a strategy with that message. But the extent of today's bomber strategy is not much different from anarchist bombers a century ago.
The anarchist bombers acted on animosity, perhaps revenge, and "hit your enemy however you can, the more sensational the better". Some anarchist bombers might have believed that continuing to kill people would force the enemy - the rich and powerful - to stop their aggravations and fade away. Some might have believed that by blowing people up their cause would gain the support needed to overwhelm their enemy, but the bombers of a century ago utterly failed except in some sort of self-indulgent immediate satisfaction at hitting what they hated.
The London bombers are described as wishing to deliver the message that they have power, but this is not a part of a well-reasoned strategy. The bombing movement of a century ago and the fascist movements of the 1920s and '30s arose within a historical context and were part fad. So too with the Islamic extremists today. Variation among Muslims will always be, but not a movement that believes that numerous people we see as innocent are an enemy deserving death.
Publicity helps keep the movement alive, but it makes too many enemies and not enough people join them. The movement is resisted, and whatever inspires its members fades, while good strategies - those of moderates - win support and prevail.