Avant Garland

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Cross-Stitch Ninja created this cross-stitch piece based on one of the most famous quotes from Mythbuster, Adam Savage. She's even posted the pattern for it, so you can make one for yourself!

Original, simple, beautiful, and easy to remake. From designer Sarah Dayo. She calls it "Glimpse." Me, I would've found it hard to resist "Portable Door." Reported dimensions are 77x36". [via NOTCOT]

Made in Sweden, the Light My Fire firesteels are a remake of a classic. Use them to light dry tinder if you are in Daniel Boone mode. For the rest of us, they cast off a perfect spark to light any sort of gas camp stove, from the 2 burner Coleman car camp special to the micro backpack models. They also work for the previously CT reviewed DIY alcohol stoves.

Firesteels come in 2 sizes, small for survival-backpacking and a slightly larger size for those other times. Some of the most distinctive advantages are that it works when wet, it has no moving parts, no fuel to run out of, and lasts nearly 3,000 strikes.

I've used them for everything from car camping in the VW camper van to mountaineering stoves on Rainier climbs and they always are flawless. The smaller one always has a place in my first aid / survival kit; the larger one comes on car camping trips.

Light My Fire Firesteel
$16

Available from Amazon

Manufactured by Light My Fire

I’ve found that Novus plastic polish works very well for the sorts of things that readers wondered if the previously reviewed 3M Headlight Polishing Kit worked on. I use it when cleaning and removing scratches from pinball machine parts and have had a lot of success polishing things ranging from cell phone displays to sunglasses.

There are three different compounds: #3 for dealing with big scratches, #2 for normal/light scratches, and #1 for a basic clean. #2 does the job for just about everything I’ve used it on. Available in 2-oz, 8-oz and half-gallon bottles. I’ve had 8-oz bottles of #1 and #2 that have lasted me several years of occasional use. I’d expect the half-gallon to last practically forever. Wonderful stuff.

Novus Polish Kit, Plastic Polish and Scratch Remover
Three 8 oz bottles
$19

Available from Amazon

Novus Plastic Clean & Shine, Formula #1
64 oz
$12
Available from Amazon

Manufactured by Novus

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made a bacon maple brown sugar ice cream this weekend!

I've tried bacon in chocolate and cupcakes but never in ice cream! How yummy does this look? Kathy at A Good Appetite stays cool on these hot summer days with this recipe for maple bacon ice cream.

Shared by Garland
am i too old to make one of these for me now?

When I was a kid, I used to pretend to be a mermaid or fish while swimming, I only wish I had one of these! Instructables user msaraann made this super adorable and simple mermaid tail out of a monofin and some spandex swim fabric. This kid looks like one happy customer!

Shared by Garland
i need to get this book, again...

Storing data is not a sexy subject.  Sure, we all need to store, manage and protect our computer data, but we don’t need to talk a lot about it. Buy a hard drive or server and store your stuff.  Right?  Simple enough in concept, however the truth is it has never been an easy process. The new HP StorageWorks X310 Data Vault aims to do just that:  Make data storage, backup, and sharing effortless.

I received a temporary review unit from HP last month and thought I would have my work cut out for me in setting it up and configuring it. Frankly, I was blown away with how easy it really was.  I turned on the unit, followed a few simple steps and my laptop and desktop could both connect to the X310.  As most readers know, HP is also a sponsor of this site.

Designed for SMBs with limited IT staff, the new X310 simplifies data backup.  It is ideal for any small or midsize business that has more than one machine and wants to save time and money on a new or additional backup system.

What I liked:

• The Data Vault works incredibly well with the Windows Home Server operating system.  The user-friendly interface to configure the Windows Home Server and link machines to it is a no-brainer.

• You can automate a daily backup for up to 10 PC clients in addition to Macs, on one Data Vault device and internally expand its total storage to 7 terabytes (that’s roughly 1,000 Gigabytes).  To be clearer, once your device comes in range of the wireless server it can automatically start backing up files.

• Simply plug your USB hard drive or flash drive directly into any USB port on the HP Data Vault and you can move files directly on or off the device.

What I didn’t like:

This is not HP’s fault, but I couldn’t get it to work with my wireless router and thus get access to the Data Vault from remote locations anywhere on the internet.  Most companies won’t have this problem if their wireless configuration is newer than 4 years old.  In my mind, remote access is hugely helpful and a money saver if you want an alternative to the ubiquitous web-based services at X dollars a year.

As a quick aside, once you do have this working, you can share local and remote files through a custom URL that is accessible from any web browser. What a great way to improve collaboration for you and your staff.

Hard drives and other digital storage media are cheap. You can’t afford not to have a backup in place and HP makes it easier than ever with their new X310 Data Vault.  The install and configuration for PCs is exceptional and the price point affordable if you have more than one machine.  It is worth a serious look.

Learn more about the HP StorageWorks X310 Data Vault.

Editor’s Note:  HP is a sponsor of Small Business Trends.

From Small Business Trends

Small Business Data Storage: Review of HP X310 Data Vault