You can easily get 20% off pretty much anything you buy if it’s part of Microsoft’s buyback program.

Here’s how you do it.  Goto Live.com and search for anything you want to buy.  Sometimes, you will have to enter the competitors product to get the discount.  (As you can see above, you get 20% off for HP laptops by searching for Dell Laptops)

I started my search at Live.com and searched for “cheap” along with some product name; I tried a few variations such as “cheap wii” and “cheap laptop” and both worked. (Nick pointed out in the comments that you should sign into Live before you search; I’d forgotten that I was signed into Live when I started. Thanks, Nick!)

Looked for the link titled “Buy A Cheap Laptop. You may get XX% off with PayPal if eligible.” (This morning, it was 30%. As I type this, it’s 20%)

Searched for the MSI Wind (Buy it Now items only), and purchased it using Paypal.

Made sure that at every step of the way, I saw the icon for “Microsoft cashback” at the top of the screen.

via laptop blog, hackszine

Here’s some really neat DIY crafty Halloween Ideas involving your pumpkin and some creativity.

If you’re looking for some easy ideas for Halloween decorating and entertaining, try these quick crafts. They’re sure to beautify (or boo-tify) your home with a minimum of effort.

via ivillage

Here’s a cool way to refreshen your old furniture with some paint and wallpapers.

1) Sand and prime the surface of the furniture.

2) Paint the surface. In this case, a white latex paint was used.

3) Change out the knobs with ones you love. (Flea markets are a great resource for vintage knobs and drawer accessories.)

4) Measure and cut the sections you’d like to cover with wallpaper. An adhesive like 3M Hi-Strength 90 spray will help secure the paper to the wood. (Quick tip - make sure you place the pattern in the right direction)

5) Finish the project by using a finishing spray and allow the furniture piece to air dry.

via apartmenttherapy, DIY Page

This has to be the most wackiest DIY ever, a phone dial that let’s you browser the web via IP addresses.

Well, technically, you won’t be able to surf the web with this phone dial unless you can remember IP addresses of every website you visit but still is a cool project.

Let’s just say this DIY is more of an artwork than it is a practical thing to make.

Our relationship with technology is quickly becoming analogous to our relationship with fast food. Like the fast food restaurant chain McDonalds, information technology (e.g. the internet) seems to be everywhere. We expect it to be fast, and collectively value convenience and efficiency over elegance and craft. In the Phone Dial Web Browser, I ask how we might bring beauty and appreciation for craft back into our interaction with the now commonplace, pervasive web browser.

via make, DIY Page

Here’s a store that sells bunch of anti-slip stickers and above is being applied to a skateboard.

It probably won’t make you nollie better but heck, there’s many uses for these stickers where you can slip easily.

Subhead Anti-Slip Stickers help avoid the very real and un-funny problem of slipping and falling. At sea or on land, help to protect your family, friends, and employees from injury.

via make, Product Page

I used to grow up watching Flintstones (while I didn’t know English back then) and although I didn’t understand a damn word, I did enjoy it thoroughly.

Here’s how to hack a toddler’s Flintstones Car for your young children.

I have a 20 month old grandaughter and a 14 month old grandson who are dressing up as Pebbles and Bambam for Halloween. I decided they needed a Flintstone Car to complete the look. This is how I made it…

via instructables

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Wow, check out this mini RC V12 engine that runs like a real V12 engine, except 10 times smaller. (but still loud)

“12-cylinder-4-stroke V-engine with two camshafts below, mixed lubrication and air cooling. * 21 mm bore stroke 21 mm Displacement 87 cm ³ engine capacity to 7,25 cc per cylinder. * Compression ratio of 1:10 weight ca 4800 g speed of 950 - 5000 1/min”

via hackedgadgets

Well, Ford has decided to add a new Parental Control to their cars by having a Smart Key with a chip that can limit how fast your teenage daughter/son drives, how loud the stereo is played, and other features that can help your child stay out of trouble.

I think this is a really good idea and it won’t cost the car manufacturer another dime since most of that is already controlled by a car-resident computer.  The only money they will really have to spend is on the chips inside the key but that still should cost less than a quarter per chip as mass production.

I think this is fantasy of movies coming to life as now we are really trying to control how a person drives.  There will be negatives like when you are trying to get away from a serial killer, a 80MPH speed limit won’t help.  But I am sure people will find a way to hack this too, maybe it is pointless for smarter teenagers but we will get the rest of them.

In addition to implementing a speed limit, the key can be used to limit the volume of the car stereo system and emit a chime for six seconds every five minutes until the driver puts on a seatbelt.

MyKey can also be programmed to chime once each time the car reaches 45 mph, 55 mph, and 65 mph to alert young drivers about their acceleration.

Another feature, useful to anyone who fails to notice when the fuel light goes on, chimes when the car is 75 miles from empty. (The light on a Ford usually goes on at 50 miles to empty.)

via cnet

Although I thought Bush was going to go away quietly this year but apparently not, starting with things that I just can’t seem to understand.

Needless to say, Bush signs another bill that will pretty much make it legal for the government to spy you with better equipment and there goes more tax dollars.

I know national security is a big issue but Bush just seems to do more stuff that remind me more of Hitler than an American president.

My last words for the worst president in history of U.S. who did fuc* it up just before he leaves:

Dumbass, wars create jobs but they won’t last long, peace creates better international relations and we wouldn’t have to worry so much about other countries trying to bomb us.

What you give, you shall receive.  How many innocent lives did American soldiers kill?  Yes, that’s how many innocent Americans might get killed too in the future because of your dumbass. Thanks for putting us in the state of economic and financial vulnerability.  No offense to American soldiers who are working their asses off but hey, you are working for the wrong leader right now.  (at least until Obama comes up)

An appropriations bill signed by President Bush last week allows the controversial National Applications Office to begin operating a stringently limited version of a program that would turn military spy satellites on the US, sharing imagery with other federal, state, and local government agencies. The government’s own watchdog agency, the Government Accountability Office, has warned in an unpublished report that the more expansive program in the offing lacks adequate safeguards to protect privacy and civil liberties.

via arstechnica