Sunday, September 21, 2008

DeletionPedia Compiles Deleted Articles From Wikipedia

6:00AM Kevin Purdy | If you’ve tried to find a Wikipedia article that you swear was once there, or can’t believe a page doesn’t exist, there’s a good chance it’s over at DeletionPedia, a non-wiki database that automatically picks up the stuff that gets dropped off its more regal counterpart. As you might imagine, some of the stuff at DeletionPedia was taken down because it either became irrelevant or wasn’t all that relevant to begin with. But there’s also the occasional obscure-but-useful factoid, music/film-geek nugget, and biographical entries voted off for the subject not being well-known enough. Keep it as a backup destination if the big W doesn’t quite agree with your breadth of knowledge. DeletionPedia [via MakeUseOf.com] More »

The Treadputer Improves Your Focus

4:00AM Adam Pash | We’ve highlighted the treadmill-plus-computer concept before, including how you can use it to burn 600 calories a day while typing. Now the New York Times highlights how the treadputer is helping out in the office: “It is tempting to become distracted during conference calls, but when [you are] exercising, [you listen] more intently.” More »

Shutdown Screensaver Turns Off Your PC When You’re Not Using It

2:00AM Adam Pash | Windows only: Free application Shutdown Screensaver counts the seconds until it automatically shuts down your computer. When you run the screensaver, it immediately starts counting down from two minutes. When it hits zero, your computer shuts down. If you stop the screensaver before it hits zero, your computer doesn’t shutdown. This isn’t a screensaver you’d want to install on most computers, since it (unfortunately) doesn’t have any options other than brute-force shutdown, but if you’re responsible for a computer that you always forget to shut off, this one could come in handy. If it’s too heavy handed for you, you may be better off getting more in tune with your PC’s power options. As is this is a simple app that does what it says, but if you’re aware of a similar alternative with more features, we’re all ears in the comments. Shutdown Screensaver [4 Neurons via Shell Extension City] More »

Minimalist Workouts Get You In Shape Without The Gym Membership

12:00AM Adam Pash | Blogger Leo Babauta suggests a handful of “minimalist” workouts for getting in shape, covering everything from yardwork to prisoner workouts. Babauta calls the workouts non-traditional, and they are in the sense that a gym membership and workout videos have become more of the norm than manual labour for a lot of us. What caught my eye was his suggestion to use an ax or sledgehammer, since that’s the idea behind my favourite non-traditional workouts: the previously mentioned shovelglove. If you’ve got a non-traditional workout routine you’d like to share, let’s hear about it in the comments. While you’re in workout mode, check out a few more of the best tech tools and fitness plans to get in shape. Minimalist Fitness II: Yardwork Workouts, Prisoner Workout and Other Non-traditional Exercises [Zen Habits] More »