Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Build A Novel Wren House

Vintage bird house plan and pattern from that Deltagram (Volume 22, Issue 3, May / June 1953). (You can get this vintage publication for free; I've listed it at Listia!)

Window Cleaning Tip

Window cleaning tips to help with spotting which side should be cleaned again; from that vintage Hint Hunt booklet.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

How To Make A Hanging Tool Cabinet

Instructions and pattern for a tool cabinet you hang on the wall. It would also be a good place to store crafting items, kitchen utensils and spices, gardening tools and supplies, and loads of other things you'd rather not just toss in a big drawer.  (It has small drawers inside!)This vintage shop project is from that Deltagram (Volume 22, Issue 3, May / June 1953; published by Delta Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin), where we got the pattern and instructions for a scrolled wall shelf. (See also: How To Make An Elephant Ring Toss Game.)

Friday, June 24, 2011

TrialPay Tries My Patience

I've been playing around at Listia (here's my review), and in trying to earn some additional credits, I gave a few of the "special offers" a try...

These "special offers" are provided by TrialPay, and they include a number of not-so-attractive options, such as "get paid to take surveys" as well as actual purchases, so I tried to select wisely.

First, I tried to get 24 credits for signing up for the Kellogg's newsletter. But there was some sort of horrible glitch. My first click didn't take me right to the Kellogg's website as it should have, so I had to try again and refresh the page to get it to load. That should have been a clue, right? Next, after filling out four pages with all sorts of demographic and product info, I finally made it to the last page -- which then had one of those new pop-ups, one of those flash pop-overs, which asked me to register for the very same newsletter I had just been subscribing to.

This did not please me.

And I was further troubled that no subscription confirmation or welcoming email from Kellogg's arrived.

Nor did my "confirmed instantly" credits show up.

So I contacted Listia, who directed me to the TrialPay folks. Where upon I explained the whole problem, again. I was promptly asked to send them a copy of my Kellog's subscription email -- the very one I had said I never received. I told them, again, I never received one, to which they replied I'd need to contact Kellogg's support about that.

*sigh*

I decided I didn't want 24 credit points that badly.

Meanwhile, while awaiting that to be sorted out, I decided to give another "special offer" a try. This second try was to "complete tasks" for CrowdFlower, also for 24 points.

If the Kellogg's offer was frustrating, this would be infuriating. My task was to "Verify Organizations' Websites (10 times)" -- to look at websites and decide it they were the official website or page of the company named, in the location given, or if they were a directory site/listing, or if they were none of the above. Simple, right?

The trick here is that CrowdFlower tests you, meaning they know if the sites (or most of them) are the official sites or not, and they require an 80% correct rate in order for your "30 minute" task to be completed. Going below that accuracy rate means you continue to be fed site listings. This would not be a horrible things, except that 25% of the sites I was sent to were 404s, 403s, removed/suspended sites, or otherwise not available -- and there is no way to mark this in your responses.

Even using Google search and cache was not helpful, as this did not match up with the CrowdFlower system's expected results. When you make an error, you are given the opportunity to defend yourself -- and I was clear to mention the 404s etc. But you still "fail." And, thrice I was given sites of ambiguous natures. For example, an HIV/AIDS organization naming a specific treatment house as part of their services did not qualify as the official website or webpage of the treatment house. These things sunk my accuracy rate greatly -- meaning I was well over 60 minutes at this point.  I decided this was a futile endeavor.

I sent a complaint into CrowdFlower; it went unaddressed, despite my leaving my name and email contact information.

I sent a complaint into TrialPay; they, once again, responded in a manner that proves they do not read what is sent to them. Their response was that I did not meet the accuracy level to complete the task, something I had not only stated up front, but described in detail as to why it could not be done.

It was at this time I remembered where I had heard the name CrowdFlower before... My friend Collin's review.

You are all warned.

All this while I had purposefully decided to avoid the "special offers" which involved payment or scam/spam surveys, etc.

The bottom line: I love Listia, but I won't be using "special offers" to earn credits -- or trusting TrialPay anyplace else either.

Moron Coke Rewards

Moron, err, more on My Coke Rewards... Remember when I told you about selling coupons and reward points on eBay? Well, like many things eBay, there's a twist...

Despite the many offerings for My Coke Reward Points, my recent auction listing for them was pulled.


The generic form message was surprising:
This listing has been removed because you are listing My Coke Reward points. We do not allow listings that promote giveaways, random drawings, raffles, or prizes. These promotions are highly regulated and may be unlawful in many states. Because of this, we don't allow the sale of "My Coke Reward" points as on their website, you can enter a sweepstakes for prizes. We understand that you may not have been aware, but please do not relist these or any other coke reward points on our site.
After a search, I found the details on the Lottery tickets and game pieces policy, under "Other Items" where it reads as follows:
Not allowed: Any product reward code, such as Pepsi Points and Coke Rewards, that can be entered into a sweepstakes, raffle, or drawing for cash or prizes
As for why there's even a Everything Else > Reward Pts, Incentive Progs > Reward Points category for selling such things, it's because not all rewards programs allow the points etc. to be used as sweepstakes entries.

And, it should be noted, nothing in the eBay policy (currently) states that you can't sell the rewards you receive from the points, coupons, collectibles, etc.

All this means is that you'll have to find other outlets for selling your Coke Reward Points, including Craigslist, etc.

Of course, there's Lista. And there are also some forums for trading these points, such as MyCoupons and SlickDeals, and even in regular trading or hobby sites such as SportsCardForum. So check out the communities you are already in; maybe there's an option where you already hang out.

These and other headaches are due to end when Coke ends its "loyalty" points program at the end of this year.

PS This post wouldn't be in good faith if I did not also mention My Coke Rewards official statement on the buying, selling and, it looks like, even trading of program points:
Enrollees may not purchase or otherwise acquire codes from third parties and may not combine codes obtained by others for deposit into a single Enrollee's account. Enrollees may not transfer or sell codes under any circumstance, other than in programs authorized by Sponsor. Any attempt to combine or transfer codes or points will result in disqualification from the Program and forfeiture of all points in the Enrollee's Account. The Coca-Cola Company reserves the right to take any other or additional action it deems appropriate in its sole discretion in the event that The Coca-Cola Company believes (in its sole discretion) that an Enrollee (or Enrollees) have violated any of these provisions.

Plain & Fancy Ice Cubes

Plain, garnished, colored and decorated ice cubes; from a 1937 Frigidaire publication.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Coupon Chief: Never Pay Full Retail Again

Coupon Chief is dedicated to the notion that you should never pay full price for anything online -- well, virtually never, anyway.

The theory behind the site is that all the big apparel, electronics, travel, entertainment, beauty, food, and other shopping sites offer online coupons and store discount codes, so why not use them every time you shop? If your excuse is that you don't know about the discounts and codes, well, CouponChief.com takes care of that by having them all in one place for you, easily organized and ready to sort and search. They even have categories and gift occasions located neatly on the home page -- including the coveted free stuff.

The site holds a list of all active online coupons and store discounts for all the big retailers, and a number of smaller ones as well. While this isn't a grocery store coupon place, Coupon Chief does offer for suggestions for saving money on groceries with the site as well.

And, you can make some money with Coupon Chief too.

With their Pays 2 Share program, you can make money just for building the site's database of offers -- 2% of the sales generated from the coupons and codes you upload to the site.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Vintage Nutrition Plate -- Before The Food Pyramid

From my recent interviews with bookmark collector Lauren Roberts (still another interview; Lauren's site), I discovered this vintage War Food Administration bookmark showing the food groups in a round or plate format:




It's not the same as the new plate design, but I'm amused that literally everything comes 'round again. *wink*

On a related note, there's a contest to redesign the food label. They're asking for nutritionists and designers, but I think good old fashioned consumers ought to give it a go -- after all, that's who food labels are for!

A Pair Of Thrifty Links

Regal's Summer Movie Express 2011: During this 9-week festival, select Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theatres will offer selected G or PG rated movies for only a dollar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00am.

Canadian Free Stuff: Just what it says, samples, contests and other deals for Canadians.

Friday, June 17, 2011

The Versatile Banana: Cooking Tips & Four Vintage Recipes

The Versatile Banana by Miriam Lane (in a 1940s issue of Modern Woman), covers how to bake, broil, and fry bananas; provides recipes for Banana Fritters, Ham Banana Rolls, Banana Spice Layer Cake, and Tomatoes Tropical; and banana basics.

Bananas are yellow-ripe when the green has disappeared from the tip...

Fully ripe bananas are golden yellow flecked with brown. Now in its prime, the banana has reached the best stage for eating. Sweet, mellow and thoroughly digestible, it's just right for fruit cups salads, desserts and beverages.

Interestingly, this article considers the banana -- or the not fully ripe banana -- to be a vegetable:

Yellow bananas tipped with green are partially ripe. The pulp is firm, starchy, slightly tart, and just right to cook and serve with the main course as a vegetable.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Love Gelatin? Food In Molds? Losing Weight? Vintage Magazines?

Have you read my interview with Retro Mimi of the Retro Weight Watchers Experiment?

Saturday, June 4, 2011

5 Vintage Macaroni Recipes

How would you like your macaroni? With cheese? Baked? Boiled? Au gratin? With left-over meats? Creamed with shrimp or lobster? These recipes (plus one for Cereal Brown Bread) from this vintage Pillsbury cookbook.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Vintage Nautical Sailing Doily Pattern

This beauty comes from The American Thread Company Star Doily Book No 137, 1955.


Thursday, June 2, 2011

Grilled Cinnamon Apples

A recipe from King Royal's Suggestions For Outdoor Cooking (Royal Chef Portable Barbecue Grills, Manufactured by Chattanooga Implement & Mfg. Co., Tennessee; circa 1950).

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Washing Dishes By Hand

OK, before I get into the real concept behind this vintage photograph, note not only the knives, measuring cups and other kitchenware that's out and accessible hanging above the counter but, on the other side, all the can and bottle openers too.


Proof that back "in the day," cooking utensils were used so often, drawers were not seen as so vital; these items were used (and then washed) so often, they never had time to gather dust or otherwise need protection that left them far removed from where they were used. Why hide them from sight when you'd be using them -- and soon.

However, the first reason I stopped and looked at this photo was the obvious subject matter: the young girl helping her mother, or other woman, doing the dishes.

Not only do I enjoy the nostalgia of this photo, recalling conversations with my mother, sister and, yes, my father, while washing and drying dishes by hand (my spelling was never better than at those times we quizzed one another off school spelling lists!), but this photo captures something that's rather missing from our culture now...

Children once learned about household and other chores by performing them with their parents. Now, between maid and cleaning services -- and parents who perform their housekeeping chores at night after the kids are in bed (mistakenly trading "alone" for "easier") -- many children don't know how the house "magically" gets clean. It's no wonder children feel entitled to avoid such tasks &/or haven't a clue what to do themselves (nor appreciate the work they can't see being done).

Besides learning how to clean, doing chores together fosters an appreciation for and value of the home and of family too.

...Writing all this makes me want to toss out the built-in dishwasher.

Not that we can't quiz one another on spelling or math problems, or foster some "families who work together" spirit while loading and unloading the appliance (continually stepping out of one another's way); but it just takes too little time. Saving time at the cost of what?

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