Some of your Windows installs can become sluggish over time, and in contrast to my other Quick Fix on Clearing your system memory, you can speed up your computers shutdown process with another shortcut icon! Here is a quick fix, by creating a Shortcut icon to click on when you want to shutdown your computer, without the wait!

1. Right click on your Desktop and go to: New > Shortcut
2. In the location box, type this in: shutdown -f -t 0
3. Click Next, and for the Shortcut name call it “Shutdown Now!” or “Shutdown QuickFix”… what ever you want.
4. When done, click Finish.

Next time you feel like shutting down your computer (if you do), then click this desktop shortcut and it will shutdown your computer without the wait.

It is very surprising to myself that we have not yet posted this, but thats probably because this is not an easy art (Reference AskANinja Killacon). Today, were going to teach you how to make your own paper version of a shuriken, because if we told you how to make a metal one you would probably end up killing people.

1. Begin with a rectangular piece of paper. Ordinary loose leaf or construction paper will do. We will make a square piece of paper from this. If you’re already starting with a square piece of origami paper, skip the next two steps.
2. Fold the top right hand corner diagonally down so that the top of the paper lines up with the left side, forming a point at the top right corner.
3. Cut or carefully tear along the edge so that you are left with a square of paper.
4. Fold this square in half parallel to the edges.
5. Cut or tear along this fold.
6. Fold each piece in half vertically again, parallel to the long sides.
7. Fold the end diagonally, so that the edges line up.
8. Repeat this fold, on each end of each strip, making sure that the folds are oriented as shown.
9. Fold the end on the diagonal again. You should end up with a big triangle facing you and two littler triangles facing away from you.
10. Repeat this same fold on each end of each strip. Make sure the orientations go opposite one another, as shown.
11. Turn over only the piece on the left and arrange the two parts as shown.
12. Put the right piece on top of the left piece. There should be a square in the center of each piece that lines up, but if you can’t find it yet, don’t worry. Just line up the middles.
13. Fold the uppermost point inwards on the diagonal and tuck the point into the pocket.
14. Fold the bottom point upwards on the diagonal and tuck the point into the pocket.
15. Flip the whole thing over.
16. Fold the right point on the diagonal just as before and tuck it into the pocket.
17. Fold the left and final point on the diagonal and tuck it into the last pocket. You may have to coax a little to get it tucked in.

[Fold an Origami Star via Wikihow]

Redbox is a great service but like all great services they can be taken advantage of. If you pass one daily here is a great tip for you, if you are not sure if you pass one go here and check! Before you go out go to http://www.insideredbox.com/index.php/codes and write down several codes, alternitivly if your cell phone has internet access you can just look them up when you get to the redbox. Now just pick the dvd you want and add it to the cart, apply the promo code and go to checkout. You will have to swipe your card but you should see the charge is $0.00, they just make you swipe incase you don’t return it by 9pm the next day. Now when you get home rip the DVD to your computer or copy it to another dvd, return it to the redbox the next day and watch the movie whenever you want!

Unfortunately you can’t use the same promo code more then once on a single credit card, so you need multiple if you want to keep this up for a while. Credit Gift Cards do not work

You can only use each promo code once but there is enough where u can do this daily for a while, if for some reason you do 2 or more daily, you will run out of promo codes. However the promo codes are linked to your Credit Card so by switching cards you can reuse the promo codes!

If you ripped the movies to your computer and want to play them with your AppleTV or PS3, so that it is on your big screen, please ask in the forums and we will help you!

Last year (2007) in May we wrote an article about Google’s new “Street View” feature. Today, we are taking a look at the past, to observe its improvements and updates. The rapid expansion of Street View began with 4 major city’s in the USA, and has over the past few months increased to 21. These cities now include: Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Detroit, MI, Houston, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Las Vegas, NV, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, Minneapolis, MN, New York, NY, Orlando, FL, Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ, Pittsburgh, PA, Portland, OR, Providence, RI, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, and lastly Tucson, AZ.

For your convenience, I have placed below the instructions (as referenced in our original Street View article) on how to use the Street View service:

1. Take a trip to www.maps.google.com
2. Switch the view of the map to “Satellite”. (Shown in top-right of map)
3. Enter your desired location in the search bar and press Search. (Ex. Financial District, New York, NY)
4. Click the “Street View” button. (Shown in top-right of map)
5. Drag the little yellow guy onto one of the blue outlined streets and a Street View will appear.

• Navigate the street view by re-dragging and dropping the yellow guy onto a different blue outlined street or click the North, South, East, West buttons in the street view.

Maybe you will see Google on the Streets in your town!

Ever wish some people would leave you alone? Some phones have a built in blocker, however the person can normally tell they have been blocked. Using this method they will not have any clue that you blocked them, and its simple. Just add them as a contact and set their personal ring tone to silent!

Netvibes is an Ajax-based personal start page. With Netvibes you can use their built-in modules to view the weather, stocks, news headlines, perform image searches, check your Facebook, check your email, and much more! Netvibes is very customizable and costs nothing at all! In addition, since Netvibes is web-based you can access your personal start page where ever you get internet access, including your mobile devices!

Netvibes.com - Get your customized start page now!