Unlock Sony e-book reader PRS-500

When I reached home this evening, I found out that my younger son has turned on the lock feature of the Sony e-book reader. No one in my household knew the four digit code to unlock the device. This device is exclusively used in our household to store cooking recipes.

In a world loaded with processed food, cooking recipes play a vital role in our self-sufficiency goals.

Steps to unlock the device:

(1)Hold the reset button at the back of the device for more than 3 seconds.

(2)Slide the power switch to on position. The device will display 'Starting up'

(3) As the device is showing 'Starting up', press the + Volume button and the Mark button simultaneously. The Mark button is located at the bottom of the device near the big fat page circular button. The volume button is on the side.

(4) The device will ask you, if you are ok with deleting all the files. Press the '5' button to say Yes.

(5) All files get deleted from the device. Restart the device by sliding the power switch to on position.

(6) Plugin the USB cable to your computer to copy all files back to the device.

This task took about 5 minutes and all recipes are back on the e-book reader and ready for use!

Garlic Plant

GEDC0358
Originally uploaded by sumantamandal

I planted garlic cloves 2" to 3" under the surface in 10" pots back in September-October. The warmth of last couple of weeks has done wonders. I can see green shoots in four out of the six garlic cloves that I planted. The sub-freezing temperatures of winter did not kill the garlic. I have read on the web that the cold of winter is needed to start the side buds. The side buds grow and swell become cloves.

Kindle DX Cover

GEDC0358
Originally uploaded by sumantamandal

Kindle DX is the largest (9.7" Display) e-book reader in the market today with a good ecosystem of publishers. We received this device about a month back and since then it has become the most popular device in our household. Unlike other electronic reading devices like monitor, laptop, this device is meant to be held in hand for hours.

Human hand is not used to holding plastic devices for hours. We are more used to holding paper books sometimes with paper hard cover or sometimes with fabric. Fabric/paper has more natural feel to it than a shiny piece of plastic. A cover for the device also helps to protect it from daily wear and tear.

The covers available for this model of kindle are either too expensive (over $50) or not in stock.

I had some denim fabric lying around (about a yard of fabric). I went to the local fabric store and picked up 1" wide elastic to secure the kindle device to the back cover. The black elastic was stitched to the four corners of the back cover. Card board from the packaging material was inserted between fabric layers to provide the necessary stiffness.

It took me an hour to complete this project. This is relatively simple project for someone with average sewing skills on a sewing machine.

This cover has been in constant use for last 2 weeks and its still holding strong.

This kind of cover can be made for any e-book reader. Borders filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. It seems that book publishing business is moving away from paper as e-book readers and tablets get more adoption in the market.

You can get really creative with the type and color of fabric for this project. Please try and share your project images.

Weight Loss and Staying Healthy

Maybe this topic is a little detour from the goal of this blog. A closer look at the topic may change your opinion.

Please allow me to make my case.

• In a world of diminishing resources, it would become very difficult to manufacture anti-biotics.
• Obesity leads to large number of health issues. This is very well documented in the medical world.
• Staying healthy is one of the very important self sufficiency missions.

Earlier this year, I started with the goal of losing 20% weight to bring my weight to the normal level. I started running on weekdays at the gym for 30 minutes. As time progressed, I increased my running speed gradually. After loss of 10% weight, I started controlling my portion size.

I'm very happy to say that I met my target by end of the year. Now I have to maintain my weight at the current level. I plan to continue to run daily.

Someday, if we are hunting and are not fast enough then we may not have our next meal :)

Building Block

Building Block
Originally uploaded by sumantamandal

Cut a couple of cubic sections using a hand saw from a 2X2 lumber. Drilled a 3/4" hole on one of them for a circular mortise using a Frostner bit. The tenon is made using a tenoning bit on the drill press. These are the basic wooden building blocks out of which bigger structures can be assembled by kids. Simple, inexpensive and lot of fun to make and use.

Composting Tub

Composting Tub
Originally uploaded by sumantamandal

Built a composting box out of a tub. Drilled 11/4" holes on all sides. Six holes underneath the tub. Six on longer side and four on the shorter side of the tub. Will add brown matter (leaves) and green matter (kitchen green waste) to it and se how it goes. Please stay tuned in...

Pecan Pie

Made pecan pie from scratch for Thanksgiving this year.