The Geek “Must Do Before You Die” Checklist

Vijay (Scanman) tweeted ‘The Geek “Must Do Before You Die” Checklist‘ this morning.

Done #
Item Web Reference
1. Add a Third Monitor http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/17960-13-adding-monitor
2. Build a Linux Firewall http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1524
3. Build a Network File Server http://dailycupoftech.com/howto-install-freenas/
x 4. Build a PC http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/
5. Build a Robot http://www.hiskey.us/PhysicalComputing/Week10.aspx
x 6. Build an HTML based Website using Notepad http://www.w3schools.com/htmL/
7. Bypass a Computer Password on All Major Operating Systems http://www.joetech.com/2009/01/29/how-to-crack-the-account-password-on-any-operating-system/
8. Bypass School or Work Website Blocks http://laptoplogic.com/resources/64-things-every-geek-should-know
x 9. Carry a Computer Cleaning Arsenal on Your USB Drive http://laptoplogic.com/resources/64-things-every-geek-should-know
x 10. Compile a Linux Kernel http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/compiling-linux-kernel-26.html
11. Control Your House Lights with a Computer http://www.instructables.com/id/Control-lights-in-your-house-with-your-computer/
x 12. Convert Cassette Tapes to Digital Audio Files http://lifehacker.com/software/mp3/alpha-geek-how-to-digitize-cassette-tapes-222394.php
13. Crack a Wi-Fi Password http://docs.lucidinteractive.ca/index.php/Cracking_WEP_and_WPA_Wireless_Networks
14. Create ‘Hello, World’ in at Least Five Different Programming languages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabetical_list_of_programming_languages
15. Create a Disposable E-Mail Account http://dailycupoftech.com/2009/03/14/create-a-temporary-e-mail-account-on-your-domain/
16. Create a Recovery Drive Image of Your Computer http://dailycupoftech.com/2008/05/06/free-or-open-source-imaging-solutions/
17. Create a WordPress Plugin http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/wordpress/creating-a-custom-wordpress-plugin-from-scratch/
18. Create a WordPress Theme from Scratch http://www.wpdesigner.com/2007/02/19/so-you-want-to-create-wordpress-themes-huh/
19. Create an Add-On for Firefox http://lifehacker.com/software/programming/how-to-build-a-firefox-extension-264490.php
20. Create an SSH Tunnel http://www.ehow.com/how_2036605_create-ssh-putty.html
21. Create Music with Keyboard http://thebatman.net/keybored/
x 22. Design and Build a Circuit Board http://www.olimex.com/pcb/dtools.html
23. Do Cool Things to Altoids Tins http://www.squidoo.com/altoids-tins
24. Download a Video from YouTube http://keepvid.com/
25. Download Wikipedia http://download.wikimedia.org/
x 26. Execute a Shell Script http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/unixhelp/scrpt/scrpt1.2.html
27. Find a Users IP Address on AIM http://www.elitehackers.info/forums/archive/index.php/t-2827.html
28. Find a Website IP Address Without Web/CommandPrompt Access http://laptoplogic.com/resources/64-things-every-geek-should-know
x 29. Flash System BIOS http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfmarticleID=1605
30. Hack a Pop Machine http://skattertech.com/soda-machine-hack/
31. Hack a USB Drive Startup File http://dailycupoftech.com/usb-drive-autoruninf-tweaking/
32. Hide a File Behind a JPEG http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/hide-file-in-picture/
33. Homebrew Hack Game Systems http://www.3stepads.com/2009/03/05/learn-unlock-wii-system/
34. Increase Wi-Fi Range http://www.mavromatic.com/archives/000451
35. Install a Content Management System for a Website http://dailycupoftech.com/2009/04/24/cms-roundup/
x 36. Irrecoverably Protect Data http://www.truecrypt.org/
37. Jailbreak an iPhone http://lifehacker.com/398906/jailbreak-iphone-20-with-pwnagetool
x 38. Know the Meaning of Technical Acronyms http://www.techterms.com/acronyms.php
x 39. Know Who Mulder and Scully Are http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulder_and_Scully_(song)
40. Learn and Write Javascript http://www.yourhtmlsource.com/javascript/basicjavascript.html
x 41. Learn At Least One Fictional Language http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_constructed_languages
x 42. Learn Hexadecimal and Binary Number Systems http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.aspobjID=DIG1102
43. Learn How to Convert a DVD to x264 (or XviD or DivX) http://howto.diveintomark.org/ipod-dvd-ripping-guide/
44. Learn How to Hot Wire a Car http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Hot_Wire_Your_Car
45. Learn How to Install Mac OS X on a PC http://dailyapps.net/2007/10/hack-attack-install-leopard-on-your-pc-in-3-easy-steps/
46. Learn How to Reset RAM http://www.yousaytoo.com/sudjarwo/how-to-reset-ram-in-a-computer/29133
x 47. Learn Important Keyboard Shortcuts http://ow.ly/548w
48. Learn the Fastest way to Kill a Computer http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfmarticleID=1720
x 49. Learn to Identify Keyloggers http://www.ghacks.net/2007/06/28/how-to-defeat-most-keyloggers-on-public-computers/
50. Learn to Identify Major Constellations http://www.sky-watch.com/astronomy-guide/major-constellations.html
51. Load Rockbox onto an MP3 Player http://rockbox.org
52. Lock Your Computer with a USB Drive http://lionjkt.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/how-to-lock-your-computer-with-usb-drive/
x 53. Make a Cat5 Patch and Crossover Cable http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/01/save-money-how-to-make-your-own.html
54. Make a Laptop Cooling Pad http://www.instructables.com/id/Lazy-mans-laptop-cooler/
55. Make Your Office Ergonomic http://www.ergotron.com/tabid/305/language/en-US/default.aspx
56. Mod a Flash Drive Case http://www.instructables.com/id/Metal-USB—Flash-drive-case-mod/
x 57. Monitor Network Traffic http://www.slac.stanford.edu/xorg/nmtf/nmtf-tools.html
x 58. Mount and ISO in a Virtual DVD Drive http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/mount-an-iso-image-in-windows-vista/
59. Move Completely To Open Source http://www.osalt.com/
x 60. Permanently Delete Data on a Hard Drive http://www.dban.org/
61. Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account http://www.facebook.com/group.phpgid=16929680703
62. Pick a Lock http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/mitguide/
63. Play a Geek Practical Joke http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/news/2008/03/pranks08currentPage=all
64. Play Retro Games without Retro Consoles http://www.ladyada.net/make/fuzebox/index.html
65. Put LEDs Inside a Light Bulb http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/06/make_a_led_bulb.html
x 66. Put Open Source Firmware on a Router http://kamikaze.openwrt.org/docs/openwrt.html#x1-40001.1.1
67. Read 1337 At Normal Speed http://www.wikihow.com/Read-and-Write-in-1337
68. Recover Deleted Files http://lifehacker.com/393084/how-to-recover-deleted-files-with-free-software
x 69. Recover Master Boot Record http://www.ntfs.com/mbr-damaged.htm
x 70. Register Your Name as an Internet Domain http://www.thesitewizard.com/archive/registerdomain.shtml
x 71. Remotely Control a Computer http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfmarticleID=1441
x 72. Replace a Laptop Keyboard http://www.refurbished-laptop-guide.com/how-to-remove-a-laptop-keyboard.html
x 73. Replacing a Laptop LCD http://www.fonerbooks.com/laptop_4.htm
x 74. Retrieve Data off Hard Drive http://laptoplogic.com/resources/5-ways-to-retrieve-data-off-a-crashed-hard-drive
75. Rip Streaming Videos http://applian.com/download-videos/
76. Run an Operating System from a USB Thumb Drive http://www.pendrivelinux.com/
x 77. Run Multiple Computers with one Keyboard and Mouse http://dailycupoftech.com/2007/02/19/multiple-computers-1-keyboardmouse-no-kvm/
x 78. Run Operating System inside a Virtual Computer http://linuxvirtualization.com/
x 79. Run Your Own Ethernet Line http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/ethernetcables.html
80. Screw with Wi-Fi Leeches http://tech.nocr.at/hacking-security/baffle-wifi-leeches-with-an-upside-down-ternet-2/
81. Setup a Computer in the Cloud http://howto.opml.org/dave/ec2/
82. Setup a Streaming Media Server http://www.n00tz.net/2008/07/vlc-media-server-ubuntu-hardy/
83. Setup a VPN http://www.computernetworkinghelp.com/content/view/41/1/
x 84. Setup an Apache, MySQL, Mail, PHP server on Windows and Linux http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html
x 85. Shrink a Website URL http://internet.suite101.com/article.cfm/shrink_a_link_with_free_url_shorteners
86. Soldering Glasses Together http://www.ehow.com/how_1315_weld-glass.html
87. Strip Windows DRM http://undrm.info/remove-DRM-protection/FairUse4WM-freeware-DRM-removal-Windows-software-Strip-copy-protection-from-WMV-ASF-WMA-Windows-Media-Player.htm
88. Surf the Web Anonymously http://www.torproject.org/
89. Survive in a Linux Argument http://www.linux.com/articles/feature/
90. Tethering a Smartphone http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2276/smartphones_bb_treo_tether_modem_usa_carriers/
91. Turn a Laptop into a Digital Picture Frame http://repair4laptop.org/notebook_picture_frame.html
92. Turn Webcams into Security Cameras http://www.simplehelp.net/2006/09/27/how-to-use-your-pc-and-webcam-as-a-motion-detecting-and-recording-security-camera/
93. Unbrick a Smartphone http://www.howardforums.com/
x 94. Understand What ‘There’s no Place Like 127.0.0.1’ Means http://www.tech-faq.com/127.0.0.1.shtml
95. Unleash a Laser Pointer’s full potential http://hacknmod.com/hack/6-fantastic-laser-pointer-projects/
96. Unlock an iPhone http://www.pcworld.com/article/137223/how_to_unlock_an_iphone.html
97. Upload a Video to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watchv=qFyIT7rVZ0Q
x 98. Use a Camera in Manual Mode http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-camera-modes
99. Use Bittorrent Effectively http://infinitium.blogspot.com/2005/03/js-essential-howto-guide-bittorrent.html
100. Wire a Home Theatre System http://www.prillaman.net/ht_info_8-wiring.html

I seem to have done 33 on the list. Some of the items haven’t been relevant e.g. Build a network file server – I have a file server with RAID array already and so didn’t need to create my own. For others, my definition may vary from that listed – by the list I haven’t installed a content management system, but I would class WordPress as a CMS.

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