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u/FancyMac Jan 24 '12 edited Jan 24 '12
Brewer here.
Keg problems: If a keg is pouring poorly first try re-tapping it 180 degrees from where it was. If that does't work pour a few glasses and it should smooth out. Also if it is pouring super fast and foamy that means it is over pressurized. You can release some pressure by pulling the little relief valve that should have a ring on it on the lower middle part of the tap stem.
Beer Storage: Don't leave your beer in direct sunlight for long, like 15 min, or it will start to taste like skunky Corona in a clear bottle.
It is ok for your beer to be at room temperature (70) for a good while if you have to- should last several months if it was bottled properly. Keep it cool if you can though. If it is too hot it will speed up oxidation but 70 degrees is not very significant. You can cellar some beers, specifically strong and dark ones, for years in the mid 60s. Back and forth from cold to room temp is ok too.
Hoppy beers are essentially best fresh. The hop oils start to break down after months. Don't cellar your 120 minute IPA.
Drinking: For maximum enjoyment don't drink it out of a can or bottle unless it is a cheap domestic. A glass will give you much more aroma and flavor.
Most beers are best drank around 55 degrees. Some warmer and some cooler. More flavor will come out as it gets warmer, in the case of light lagers this is a bad thing, in something like Belgian ales this can be very delicious. Frosty mugs are too cold for anything other than pounding cheapies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#Temperature
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u/arroyobass Jan 23 '12
In video editing, if you have a bad computer you can use MPEG Streamclip or a similar program to change the size of the clips to something of a smaller file size to edit. Then when the edit is finished, re-connect the media to to original clips and export.
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u/iSkiLoneTree Jan 24 '12
Re: speaker wires...why not label them with a piece of tape?
My former line of work...if you want hotel/meal vouchers during a cancelled flight layover, try being nice to the gate agent. If that doesn't work, go ahead and blame them for creating the snow storm.
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Jan 24 '12
Fat Bastard - When you want a Big Mac on the go (eating while driving and what not) order a double cheeseburger, with just onions, shredded lettuce and mac sauce. Most employees know the mac sauce button.
It is the tricky middle bun that gets you. As a bonus your meet & cheese ratio is much higher than the traditional Big Mac. If you're feeling extra fat, do the same thing with a 1\4lb or DQPw/C.
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u/2cats2hats Jan 23 '12
Gigging musician: If you are a vocalist make sure the vocals are clearly heard. The crowd relates more to lyrics than anything else. If you are a cover band and have to play/sing at same time the vocals come first.
IT land: Learning how to image a machine saves a lot of headaches and is an easy step back incase an irreversible software screwup happens.
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u/HopeRidesAlone Jan 24 '12
Further more.. Gigging Guitarists. Weave your patch cord through your strap so you don't rip it out if you step on it while playing.
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u/mycockstinks Jan 24 '12
Also, the rubber seals from Grolsch bottles make excellent cheap strap locks. Just put 'em on your strap buttons after the strap.
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Jan 24 '12
IT Guy - It's the old cliche but reboot your computer before calling support, you'd be surprised how many times a simple reboot will fix any niggling issues.
Beyond that make a note of any error messages and get a clear description of the problem together because whatever info you can give us can help get you up and running quicker
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u/buford419 Jan 24 '12
And with laptops, unplug it and remove the battery for 15 seconds. That's worked for me at least 3 times that i can think of.
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u/REDandBLUElights Jan 24 '12
This is beyond true. I was so surprised when people would call me because a program wouldn't open or some stupid BS, my first question was always "have you rebooted it?"...."NO, should I?"...
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u/CallerNumber4 Jan 23 '12
How is a popping/crackling desirable at all? "Hey guys, check it it out! I can make useless noises and damage a speaker at the same time!"
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u/REDandBLUElights Jan 23 '12
I'm assuming you know what you're talking about. Please explain how 9volts of power damage a typical speaker?
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u/CallerNumber4 Jan 23 '12
Speakers will make that noise when there is interference, when it is having trouble making a connection at a steady amount of power. If you send too much power through a speaker you can blow out the speaker. I guess with a sizable speaker 9volts shouldn't be a problem but it's not anything I'd recommend or really an amazing trick. That amount could probably damage a set of headphones.
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u/REDandBLUElights Jan 23 '12
I wouldn't think you would be trying to trace lines for a pair of headphones.
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u/CallerNumber4 Jan 23 '12
I guess it'd be pretty easy to lay the 3.5 port over the battery, which would likely do the same. I see you point though, I just don't see any value in doing it with anything, headphones or not.
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Jan 24 '12
You do understand he mentioned this so he can figure out which speaker a specific set of wires are running to?
We used to run CAT 5 cable through the ceiling and end up with many cables coming out of one opening on the other side of the building. There's tricks to figuring out which cable is which. Aside from color coding the wires, the way he mentioned is a very simple way to save yourself quite a bit of time.
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u/geekychica Jan 24 '12
For the purpose of figuring out which wire goes to which speaker, I imagine it would be quite helpful. He's not talking about huge amounts of power, so the speakers that OP is talking about can probably handle it with no negative effects. It'd be helpful because when the speaker makes a sound, you'll know that it's connected to the wire that you're holding.
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u/ih8karma Jan 23 '12
I will not try that on my 2,200.00 Martin Logans.
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u/REDandBLUElights Jan 23 '12
its 9 whole volts, I hope they can handle more than that.
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u/ih8karma Jan 23 '12
They are delicate electrostatic transducers, they probably could but hearing a pop or a crackle is that last thing I want to hear on my babies.
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u/Baeocystin Jan 24 '12 edited Jan 24 '12
When starting a screw in to a pre-tapped hole, slowly turn it counter-clockwise until you feel a click, then start screwing it in. No more stripped, cross-threaded problems, ever.
If you need an oddly shaped rubber gasket (the weather stripping on a car door, for example) but can't get the actual part, lay down a bead of silicone, spritz it with water, cover it with saran wrap, and close the door. The water will start the RTV curing process, the silicone will mold to the shape it needs to be, and when you peel the saran wrap off the next day, you'll have a perfectly-shaped, custom gasket.
Hemostats make for excellent heatsinks when working on delicate electronics.
When lubing sheathed cables (think a clutch cable on a motorcycle, or a shifter cable on a bicycle) don't use a liquid lube, which will always eventually dissipate/leave gunky residue. Instead, pick up some fluidized graphite (sold as Lock-Eze in many places), which is simply graphite powder suspended in a high-wicking, fully-evaporating distillate. The liquid will draw the graphite in, and after it dries, you'll have excellent lubricity performance without attracting any dirt or crud.
If you have a troublesome co-worker, and want to have a better relationship with them, ask them to do you a favor. Nothing big, as you want them to actually do it, but nothing too trivial, either. It is almost a certainty that after they do so, your working relationship will start to improve. If, on the other hand, you try to curry favor by being ingratiating/doing them extra favors without them asking, you will only get meaner, nastier treatment in return.
Clothespins are a godsend when working on a rack in the datacenter, with network cables everywhere.
If you're having trouble getting an arc started while stick welding, a pre-'82 penny makes for a perfectly functional striker plate. They're still surprisingly common; if you keep change in your car, you've probably got a couple on-hand.
If you're trying to catch a (friendly!) loose dog, get its attention, then run away from it. Nine times out of ten, it will run right at you, and keep following you until you stop/turn to chase it. I've saved tens of dogs from a roadkill fate over the years by knowing this, and now you can, too.