DeepSurplus: “

Deep Surplus is a fantastic source for an encyclopedic array of cables.

For example, Apple sells a mini to mini cable for connecting your iPod to your stereo for $24.95. The same cable can be had for less than a dollar from Deep Surplus.

For work I buy all of our networking patch cables, USB cables, etc. for 10% of the cost of buying them at Staples, Microcenter, or Best Buy. I recently bought some rather hard to find white, two-lead speaker wire, which elsewhere was as pricey as $80, for $12 for a 25-foot length. I also bought a 6-foot mini (iPod) to dual RCA (for my older audiophile amplifier) cable for $2.75, compared to $24.95 at the Apple store.

I rely on them whenever I need essential cables affordably.

DeepSurplus

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Terrific 180-square-foot shack houses family of four plus dog: “

Tammy and her husband John built this fantastic 180-square-foot shack on Gambier Island, British Columbia. They spent about $7,000 in materials. Tammy wrote a great article about it at Apartment Therapy, which includes the mistakes they made. But as you can tell from the photos, it’s bright and happy, and filled with just the right amount of furniture and other neat stuff.

Before I get started with this tour, I cannot emphasize this enough: My husband and I are not rich and we are not particularly handy. Heck, we’re not even all that smart. This latter fact was probably the driver behind why two people with little money and even fewer skills would even attempt to build a cabin on an isolated island with no amenities. But armed with a hacked $25 shed plan and an incredibly generous friend with actual skills, we gave it a shot.

Four People (and a Dog) Living in 180 Square Feet

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[Aw hell yeah. -egg]

What it’s really like to work in a music store (a series of superb reality-comedy videos): “

Tara McGinley points us to this seemingly real series of funny videos on YouTube documenting the Kafkaesque hell that is the daily life of a music store employee.

Not only are you laughing at the ‘musicians’ testing out instruments at the store, but when this guy makes his cameo appearance, the look on his face will have you in tears. He doesn’t have to say anything at all and it’s side-splitting. When you make eye-contact, you know what he’s thinking!

It’s all the creation of a YouTube vlogger named Avery Ellis, aka ‘Mostly Harmless.’ He lives and plays music in Alabama, in a band called The Exhibits. Guy’s a genius.

Dangerous Minds has collected a series of his videos for you to enjoy here.

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Macro photos of eyes: “

Our boy Dean Putney spotted a series of gorgeous macro photographs of eyes by Suren Manvelyan. ‘Your beautiful eyes‘ (Photography Served via Reddit)

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Intricately carved vintage vinyl records: “

By artist Scott Marr, who is based in Australia: ‘Records revert to time.’ Carved record and ochre, 25cm. View more from this series of artwork. He explains that these are all carved by hand using a dremel, which sounds awfully time-consuming and delicate. Really beautiful stuff. (via Bibliodyssey)

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Designs For A Vertical City: “

Anthony Stahl and David Lee’s “barrio de los paracaidistas’:

The architecture within the tower develops over time, creating a dynamic composition of vertical neighborhoods that grow around and into one another. Sub-public and private spaces evolve organically, creating complex urban spaces similar to those of historic Mexico. The meaning of the tower is a living being that breathes in the city and is truly defined by Mexican culture and people.

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FINDING YOUR DOMINANT EYE: “To find your dominant eye, make a circle of your thumb and forefinger about 6 inches in front of your face. Look through the circle with both eyes at an object across the room. Now close one eye; if the object stays in the circle, the open eye is the dominant one. Submitted by: Donald H. Dunn, in Business Week”

Costco Photo Center: “

Though I claim to be a photographer I don’t own a printer. I can’t stand dealing with ink cartridges or printer profiles. Instead, I rely on Costco Photo for most, if not all, of my photo printing needs.

Costco is the cheapest place I have found that prints on high quality Fuji archival photo paper in sizes up to 20′ x 30′. At $9.99 for a 20’x30′ print, it’s 1/3rd the cost of the previously reviewed Pictopia (though, admittedly, they lack the same range in sizes). You do not need a membership to use the Costco Photo Center service on-line but it necessitates that the prints are shipped to you. Larger prints are shipped rolled in a tube. If you are a Costco member you are allowed to use custom color profiles while also adding the option of picking up your order at the nearest Costco which can cut down on turn-around time.

I have heard on forums that Costco Photo Centers vary significantly in quality, and that some labs are run incredibly well and are capable of producing results equivalent to far more expensive services, while others have wonky colors with less than dedicated staff. In my experience, if I ever have a problem with a photo, no matter how minor, they are very, very quick to reprint while also letting me keep both (which is a nice bonus).

— Oliver Hulland

Costco Photo Center

20’x30′ print on Fuji archival photo paper

$10

Available from Costco Photo Center

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TESTING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT: “After buying new electronic equipment, use it for 48 hours straight. If it doesn’t fail, it probably won’t. Submitted by: Norman Brenner, Fleetwood, New York”