Build a Simple, Photo Snapping Alarm System with an Arduino

Alarm systems are complicated affairs. However, if you’re just looking to catch a sandwich thief at work or a cat spilling over all you water bottles, then Make shows you how to build an alarm system with an Arduino and a USB camera.

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Norman Reedus bitten by fan at Walker Stalker Con

Norman Reedus was reportedly bitten by a fan of The Walking Dead at Walker Stalker Convention in New York/New Jersey and banned from future WSC events. Turns out that Norman Reedus has to watch out for biters even when he’s not on the set of AMC’s hit zombie survival drama The Walking Dead.

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Bleach Away Water Stains from Your Ceiling

You’ve fixed the water leak or other cause of water damage, but that water stain is still there. You might not have to repaint or fix the ceiling, though. Try spraying bleach on the spot. Family Handyman recommends spraying the spot with a bleach and water solution (10 percent bleach).

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New software watches for license plates, turning you into Little Brother

We now live in a world where if you have an IP-enabled security camera, you can download some free, open-source software from GitHub and boom—you have a fully functional automated license plate reader (ALPR, or LPR).

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Open a Claw Padlock Using the "Rapping" Method, No Lock Picking Required

If you’ve lost the key to one of your old padlocks, and you don’t have any way to cut it, you can get it open with just about any weighted object. In this video, youtuber bosnianbill demonstrates the “rapping” technique for opening up padlocks that use a claw to hold the lock closed.

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The Best Free Add-ins for Microsoft Office

Ever wish Word had an encyclopedia you could tap, or Excel could generate some dummy numbers? Office add-ins provide this kind of added functionality to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Office apps.

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Camp Warmer and Dryer with this DIY Semi-Bivy

Anyone who’s been camping in wet weather knows how unpleasant it can be to wake up in a puddle. This DIY semi-bivy provides a completely waterproof layer between you and the ground. A bivy (short for bivouac sack) is a lightweight, fully enclosed shelter, a kind of sack-like mini tent.

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