Tim Matheson Blog - Productive Tips and More

Password protect your computer with a bar code reader

Barcode readers can be used for a lot of useful things, inventory products, and store information. One of my favorite things to use a barcode reader for is password protection on my computer. In order to do this you have to first find a usb or inline keyboard barcode reader. I recommend checking ebay they are usually pretty cheap on there.

How to make homemade Frappuccino

Have you ever wondered how hard it would actually be to make something similar in taste to the famous Starbucks Frappuccino? Well you might be surprised at just how easy it is to make one of these tasty beverages in your own kitchen.

6 Ways to make airport security painless

The idea behind this method is be prepared for the security check and things will move in a more timely fashion. This is not an article on how to avoid being the lucky flyer number 23 who is submitted to a full body cavity search. It is however an article featuring 6 ways for you to optimize your luggage. Doing so will ensure that if and when you do get stopped the delay will be minimized.

Lost? Get maps from Google Mobile Maps on your cellphone

Now you can get gps directions anywhere from your cellphone. Never get lost again thanks to Google Mobile Maps.

Removing candle wax with an iron

If you have ever spilled hot wax on fabric or carpet you may have thought it would be impossible to remove. Well I have a little tip to pass on that helped me out of a jam when I spilled hot wax all over a table cloth.

Backup/Edit your cell phone data

The goal of this article is to enlighten you to the concept of backing up/modifying data from your mobile phone (e.g. Contacts, Picture(s), Video(s), etc). Using a free open source tool called bitpim and a data cable you can easily download and edit your mobile phones contents.

Has anyone been to the airport lately? Well I am here to tell you it’s not what it used to be. As many of you may know airport security has stepped it up a notch after the events of 9/11/01. This has caused some delay in many peoples lives as they are frisked, scanned and even questioned at the security gate. That’s why I created “6 waysto make airport security painless”.

The idea behind this method is be prepared for the security check and things will move in a more timely fashion. This is not an article on how to avoid being the lucky flyer number 23 who is submitted to a full body cavity search. It is however an article featuring 6 ways for you to optimize your luggage. Doing so will ensure that if and when you do get stopped the delay will be minimized.

1. Make a list of everything you are going to take with you on your trip. Once you have this list it is time to start minimizing. Less is more and that logic can be directly applied to this situation. Try to exclude items you may be able to obtain at your point of destination. This will make les luggage for you to carry and also less luggage for them to search.

2. Once you have your list in order and you have removed the kitchen sink from it :) it is time to categorize your belongings. I personally use the three tier method for this part. The three tier method is a priority based categorization method. The first tier is the highest priority items. These items include crucial necessities such as plane tickets, cell phone, laptop, pda, tom tom, jewelry, maps, important documents, invitations and other highly important items. The second tier is depreciated from the first tier and includes medium priority items such as clothing, hygiene products, and gifts ect. . Then there is the third tier depreciated from the second tier the third tier is the easiest to fill. At this point anything that didn’t fit in the first and second tiers will no belong to the third tier.

3. Check as many bags as possible. You will want to try and check as many bag’s as possible. This is something that may make many people nervous based on previous experiences with lost or stolen luggage, however this will make it easier on you at the security gate. The fewer bags you have the less they will have to search “right there” and the faster you move through the gate and on to your flight. (Hint check the second and third tier bag’s to ensure your important belongings are not victims of the infamous lost luggage scenario)

4. The day of your flight schedule yourself one hour earlier than your flight departure. The airport recommended two hours for security but trust me you should not need more than one unless you are at an international airport and have to go through customs.

5. Purchase your tickets as far in advance as possible. This will not only lower the cost of the flight and get you a better seat but also will lower your chances of being selected for a random search. Evidently passengers who purchase tickets 60 days or more in advance are less likely to be subjected to a search.

6. Have proper identification available and ready to go. Make sure you have some sort of dmv issued valid photo id handy. You never know when someone may want you to identify you. Not having your id can cause a major dilemma if you have to return home to retrieve it. So be prepared and have all your identification documents on your person (or in your carry on).