Novemb
HOW TO SAVE A WET HANDPHONE For those times when your phone goes for an unexpected swim.
Remove the batter y and everything else that can be easily dismantled.
ber 2011
The
How-To issue
Dr y your phone with a cloth and use a vacuum cleaner to suck all the moisture out of it. Give it a few hours and say a quick prayer before attempting to switch on your phone again. Good luck.
er/Decem
pages of tips to get smarter in life
19-26 Challenge compiles a handy guide for all the things you have always wished you knew how to do, but have never gotten round to learning. From getting rid of hangovers to being a geek, we’ve got you covered.
HOW TO BREAK IN NEW SHOES
Save yourself the price and pain of beauty by breaking them in. Wear them in the house for a few hours daily with a pair of thick cotton socks until they’re stretched to the right fit. You can also try using sandpaper on the soles to make them less slippery and easier to walk in. TIP MAKE THOSE SHOES LAST Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Allow at least a day for the insides to air out.
Um... what's your name?
Uh... do I know you?
HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF
Inspired by the movie Miss Congeniality, we encourage everyone to remember to S-I-N-G: solar plexus, instep, nose and groin. This will def initely leave your assailant singing like a soprano. Ow. Nose!
HOW TO ASK SOMEONE’S NAME...
Avoid the awkward moment of failing to recall names with these tips.
Solar! plexus ! Groin
! Instep
The “introduce a friend” trick. Get a friend who doesn’t know the person to introduce themselves. Make sure you perk up your ears at the crucial moment. Start the conversation without using any names. Then hope desperately that you will remember their names during the conversation itself.
THE TI(M)ELINE
It’s THAT time of the year again, when it seems you have a never-ending stream of parties to go to (or to host).
Don’t commit a fashion faux pas by wearing a tie that is behind the times. Let us bring you through the evolution of the tie with this ti(m)eline.
HOW TO GET RID OF RED WINE STAINS
Mid-1960s – late 1970s Ties balloon in size compared to those used earlier in the 60s. Fattest of them all is the kipper tie, which can go up to six inches wide.
You’re at a party having the time of your life. Suddenly, you have an unsightly red wine stain on your clothes. Act fast! Blot it off with white wine, club soda, or milk before the stain sets. did you know? Drinking a Bloody Mary is an effective way of curing a hangover. The alcohol in the drink eases your hangover symptoms and the vitamins from the tomato juice replenish those you lost from the night before.
HOW TO OPEN A BOTTLE OF WINE WITHOUT A CORKSCREW
1980s Designs are less garish and ties get narrower. Birth of the power tie, popularised by Ronald Reagan, former President of the USA.
Don’t let the lack of tools stop you f rom sampling that bottle of wine. But be warned, this takes practice to get it right... 1980s-90s Novelty ties see a resurgence and those made from unusual material (like wood) gain popularity.
01
02
03
Take a towel and wrap it around the bottom of the bottle.
Hold bottle horizontally; hit its base firmly and evenly against a flat surface like a wall to push the cork out.
Once the cork is partially out, remove it with your hands or a pair of pliers.
TIP Be extra careful when trying this trick with carbonated wine. Let the bottle sit for 10-15 minutes before pulling out the cork to avoid an explosion of expensive wine in your face.
Mid-2000s Gradual return to narrower ties à la the 50s and early 60s. Phew.
HOW TO TIE A BOWTIe
HOW TO MAKE A CHIGNON Get this chic Hollywood hairstyle without breaking the bank.
A
B
B
B
A
A
01
02
03
Make a simple knot, crossing A which is slightly longer (about 4cm) over B.
Adjust tightness of knot. Hold A away, then fold B into a bow shape.
Place A vertically over B. Hold the half bow with one hand.
A
Brush your hair into a low ponytail. Split ponytail in half. Most of the hair should be on top with about a quarter at the bottom. Clip up the top section. Split the bottom into two sections again.
A
04
05
06
Using the other hand, tuck A through the loop behind the existing half bow.
Pull A through gently to form the other half bow. Be careful not to pull it out too much.
Tighten the knot you have created, straightening it, particularly in the center.
Take the right section and curl it around your fingers like you are curling it around a roller and pin it in place. Do the same with the left section, but pin it in a northwest position.
For video instructions, go to bit.ly/bowtiein90secs
HOW TO DESHELL PRAWNS
Out on a date and made the mistake of ordering prawns? Excuse yourself and watch this video discreetly on your smartphone to learn how to peel them with your fork and knife. Disaster averted. bit.ly/deshell_prawns
Unloosen the top section and twist it, wrapping it around the rolls. Pin the ends of the twist wherever it stops wrapping. Still clueless? Watch this video at bit.ly/howtomakechignon
did you know? The bowtie has seen a revival of sorts, with many popular TV characters adopting it. Doctor Who and Chuck Bass (from Gossip Girl) are just some of the more recent ones.
in the
kitchen TURKEY CARVING 101
01
Remove the turkey leg by cutting through from skin to joint, separating the thigh and drumstick at the joint.
02
Insert a fork into the upper wing and make a long horizontal cut above wing joint through to body frame.
03
Disjoint wings from body if desired. Then slice the rest of the turkey straight down with an even stroke.
04
Continue to slice breast meat easily by starting the cut at a higher point each time.
FOR COMMON KITCHEN NUISANCES Stop those water works. Try placing the onions in the fridge before cutting them up as chilled onions result in fewer tears. Alternatively, try wearing goggles… Those pesky ants! They just seem to be everywhere. Sprinkle some white pepper in their path and they will be repelled.
chill 'em!
I don’t believe you can ever really cook unless you love eating. – Nigella Lawson, author of How to Be a Domestic Goddess
HOW TO MAKE KIMCHI Now you can be like Dae Jang Geum in your own kitchen.
Ingredients: • 2 large Chinese cabbages, sliced into chunks • 4 stalks of spring onion Brine • 1 1/2 cups of rock salt • Enough water to cover cabbage Sauce • 10 tablespoons of fish sauce • 10 tablespoons of red pepper powder • 1 onion • 4-5 cloves of garlic • 1 teaspoon of sugar • 1 tablespoon of salt • 1/2 tablespoon of sugar • Small touch of ginger
Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple. – Willy Wonka,
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Instructions • Put the cabbage into a large bowl and pour the brine over it. Leave to soak for four to five hours. • Blend the sauce ingredients. Slice the spring onions into chunks and add to the mixture. • Drain the cabbage pieces, add the kimchi sauce and mix by hand. It should be reasonably salty but add more salt if needed. • Store the kimchi in a jar and leave it in the fridge for three to six days. The kimchi can be kept for months.
HOW TO GET RID OF THE SMELL OF DURIANS Because we know the odour lingers...
Freshen up your fingers Fill up a hollow durian shell with water and wash your hands with it. Check out the science experiment this durian enthusiast did to find out why this works.
Read more: bit.ly/learnkimchi
TIP The kimchi will become more sour over time. If it gets a tad too sour to be eaten on its own, use it to make soup or stew!
bit.ly/durianexperiment
Spare the driver’s nose Place a bowl of fresh coffee powder in the car and the durian odour will be neutralised after a few days.
HOW TO SEASON A WOK
Clean out the fridge stink Put a slice of bread in your fridge and it will absorb the overpowering durian stench.
Fire up your new wok for some highheat cooking. 1. Scrub the wok with detergent and steel wool, then dry it well. 2. Rotate entire wok over high heat to blacken it. Turn heat off once sufficiently blackened. 3. Let wok cool down slightly, then spread a thin layer of oil over it using a paper towel and tongs.
4. Repeat step 2 with medium heat until the wok turns brown. 5. Wash the wok with hot water after the oil is burnt into the pan. 6. Once the wok is seasoned, wash only with water and a natural bristle brush. Soap and scouring pads should not be used.
TIP JAMIE’S RECIPES Need some inspiration? Use this app that is available for both iOS and Android phones for some ideas on what to serve for dinner tonight!
HOW TO WIN a paper airplane battle
Shock and awe the enemy with an impressive, streamlined paper jet. Origami artist Nick Robinson has some cool designs at his website www.origami.me.uk. Here’s how to fold our favourite plane, the Little Nicky.
HOW TO DO PARKOUR What is Parkour? Parkour is about moving efficiently and gracefully from point A to point B, overcoming obstacles in your path. With roots in the French military, it was popularised by David Belle who was greatly influenced by his father’s experiences as a rescuer and firefighter in Paris. French film director Luc Besson has made movies based on parkour like District B13 (2004) and Yamakasi (2001).
ukelele trivia Origins: The ukulele is the Hawaiian interpretation of the Portuguese guitar, the cavaquinho. Ukulele acts: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain was formed in 1985 and is one of the oldest ukulele groups around.
Q&A
Strum like a musician
listen BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Hawaiian native Jake Shimabukuro plays Queen’s famous song on the ukulele at bit.ly/bohemian_rhapsody
HOW TO RIDE A UNICYCLE
Be adventurous and try out a new mode of transport. It’s a great way to exercise too. Tips for beginners
• Don’t ride too slowly – it is more difficult to balance when you do so. • Always wear safety gear to protect you from bumps and scratches, even if it makes you look uncool. • Have access to handrails and other support you can hold on to. • Practise on surfaces.
flat
and
smooth
Buy unicycles at www.team-uni.com and learn to ride at www.team-uni.com/tutorials
Wish you could strum a tune but could never f ind the time? Try the ukulele that has been touted as something you could learn in 10 minutes. Simon Mok and Glyn Chan of Ukulele Movement tell us why. Why is the ukulele so easy to learn? What if I’m tone deaf ? It ’s easy because it has four strings and we have four fingers (and a thumb as a bonus!). If you can’t depend on your ear, you can still play by following the sheet music. Get someone to sing while you strum the chords. Two tips for beginners, please? One: keep practising; it ’s so portable you can even play it while you’re answering nature’s calls! Two: practise your favourite songs so you are more motivated. Will learning it up my cool factor? Or is this for retirees? Yes! Look at artistes like Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, Zee Avi, Amanda Palmer, Sara Bareilles, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins and even Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam who are now playing the ukulele too. For retirees, this is the chance to realise your dream of being a musician.
An Introduction to Geekdom The geeks are cooler than you think. We are 1337. (Now if you don’t know what this means, you need to start finding out.)
THE RUBIK’S CUBE
Fastest time taken to solve:
Nothing says geek extraordinaire more than being able to solve a Rubik’s cube. And quote trivia associated with it.
5.66 seconds by Australian teen Feliks Zemdegs at the Melbourne Winter Open 2011
TIP SEVEN STEPS Follow these steps to solve it in seven moves. bit.ly/solverubikscube
20 God’s number:
C ale n d ar
1974 Year created:
Most layers in a RUBIK’S CUBE:
1974
Creator:
20 is the maximum number of turns you need to solve a Rubik’s cube at any given position
7x7x7
Hungarian Erno Rubik
THE HASHTAG Handsign
What do Twitteratis (avid Twitter users) do when they have a real-life hashtag moment? Why, they flash this handsign of course. shop TOYS FOR GEEKS Go to Thinkgeek.com that sells “stuff for smart masses” for gift ideas.
BUILD-YOUROWN-OS
If you hate Windows 7 and think a Mac is overpriced, chances are, you will love Linux. It is one of the most successful and geekiest software available since its software development is undertaken by geeks… for free.
THE HUNKY GEEK
So, you looked at a bookcase and decided that it was better off as a sink cabinet. If that sounds like you, check out what your fellow hunky geeks have been up to as well at www.ikeahackers.net.