Useless Conversation

[Chimpy]

Stud finders are good for getting an approximate location. You also need to make several sweeps to verify the reading was not it just wigging out.

Once you get an idea, use a small drill bit to figure out if the stud is there. Provided your house was built in the last 40-50 years it will have drywall and not be plaster and lath so when you get no resistance after drilling in 3/4" you are not on a stud.

[Merusk]

shh you'll give away all the good tips. 

[01101010]

I used to have an old drywaller's tool which I have to find, but essentially it is just a 1/32" nail (2" long) with a handle you push through the drywall. Push it through and if you meet resistance, stud. move over 1/2" and test again to see where on the stud you are. This is after the knocking test.

If you miss, a dab of drywall mud or spackle in the tiny hole to fix.

[Hawkbit]

I wrote a script that saves ~10 hours/week worth of manual clicking by 30 people, something they've been dealing with for years. The script has been in prod for a few weeks now and we're really seeing positive results. It's such a good feeling to make other people's jobs less tedious for them.

Also, today is the last day of my 30s. /sigh

[Rasix]

We've switched our performance evaluation method at work.  Now I need to come up with some impactful goals for a job that I'll be pushed out of in 2 months.   

[Selby]

I always take last years goals & add +1 to the year. Goals and performance evaluations are such a waste of time everywhere I've been.

[Viin]

Yes. But HR will look at those when deciding who to put forward for layoffs.

[MisterNoisy]

My car ADD is getting worse.  Traded in the Veloster Turbo on a '16 Focus ST:



Car is a complete riot to drive and shockingly comfortable for a sporty compact.

[schild]

If my wife could drive stick well or it came in automatic, I'd have an RS asap.

[MisterNoisy]

If my wife could drive stick well or it came in automatic, I'd have an RS asap.

I'd love the RS too, but I'm pretty happy with the ST - it's plenty quick for me.  Also, I'm pretty sure the RS doesn't qualify for X-plan pricing.  :/

[MahrinSkel]

Considering the blase way that Schild discusses losing a grand a day at The Venetian as a cheap vacation, I'm going to hazard a guess that he's not worried about the financing plan. Being an e-cigarette juice mogul is apparently a pretty sweet gig.

--Dave

[MisterNoisy]

Considering the blase way that Schild discusses losing a grand a day at The Venetian as a cheap vacation, I'm going to hazard a guess that he's not worried about the financing plan. Being an e-cigarette juice mogul is apparently a pretty sweet gig.

--Dave

Clearly.  :)

[schild]

If you're going to Vegas to lose, you better have a plan to eat/drink/comp your money back, and I did that and then some.

But yes, nicotine is more profitable than game development. That should surprise literally nobody.

[Strazos]

I try to never describe the negative flow of money at a craps table as "losing" - I'm just spending money on an expensive hobby. Not spending all of the allocated cash, or even ending with more than you started with, is just a bonus.

[schild]

I try to never describe the negative flow of money at a craps table as "losing" - I'm just spending money on an expensive hobby. Not spending all of the allocated cash, or even ending with more than you started with, is just a bonus.

Bingo. This is how you gamble.

[lamaros]

I'll play poker with you guys any time you like.

[schild]

Grats Leo, memes are dead.

[Endie]

For studs, you know you hit them if wood bits come out while drilling.  The stud-finder I have is unreliable.  You can also look for nails.  Often you can assume that there is a stud on one side of a light switch or electrical outlet.

And a mains-voltage wire as well!  So remember to use a battery-powered drill and to turn off the power at the consumer unit before drilling, folks!

[schild]

I have never heard of the movie that won best picture.

[Merusk]

Not a surprise as it was pure Oscar bait. It released early November, a time movies go to die, and was in a maximum of 1,089 theaters until its, "Oh hey Oscars," bump in late January.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=spotlight.htm

[Rendakor]

I have never heard of the movie that won best picture.

Me neither, had to Google it. Doesn't even seem worth Netflixing 3 years from now.

[Yegolev]

For studs, you know you hit them if wood bits come out while drilling.  The stud-finder I have is unreliable.  You can also look for nails.  Often you can assume that there is a stud on one side of a light switch or electrical outlet.

And a mains-voltage wire as well!  So remember to use a battery-powered drill and to turn off the power at the consumer unit before drilling, folks!

Yeah, well, you can't live your life in fear.

[Merusk]

I seem to recall reading years ago that in the UK the wiring comes out of the side of switch and outlet boxes. In the US it typically comes out the top or bottom so you're good with the drill methods most times.

Even when you aren't, if you hit a wire you're more likely to trip the circuit and kill the drill's power than yourself. (A reason powered drills remain superior to cordless.  )

[Sky]

Saw an almost perfect house yesterday on our open house jaunt. Right at the top of the budget, but it's move-in with no obvious work needed (beyond the usual 'it's a house').

Wish this had come up in a few months after the fiancee works out her first timer nervousness. Because it's an awesome house and we probably won't find a better one in our budget :(

I mean...fireplace in living room, family room and master bedroom. Phenomenal place.

My half of PITI would run about 25% of my net monthly take-home, and she makes more than I do. Not having ever had rent or bills is going to make this experience difficult with her.

[Mandella]

For studs, you know you hit them if wood bits come out while drilling.  The stud-finder I have is unreliable.  You can also look for nails.  Often you can assume that there is a stud on one side of a light switch or electrical outlet.

And a mains-voltage wire as well!  So remember to use a battery-powered drill and to turn off the power at the consumer unit before drilling, folks!

Yeah, well, you can't live your life in fear.

The stud finder that I use, though relatively useless for finding studs, has a wire detector that actually works pretty well. I recommend spending the extra few bucks for one...

[Velorath]

I have never heard of the movie that won best picture.

Me neither, had to Google it. Doesn't even seem worth Netflixing 3 years from now.

It's actually a pretty good movie that's largely about one of the last great examples of real journalism (hey, remember when people here cared about that). I'd have made a thread about it but the movie doesn't tie into pop culture at all so nobody would have discussed it.

[Furiously]

Sky might be the most manly man of us all... http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/08/26/chopping-wood-a-manlier-feel-than-sports/

[Sky]

That does make sense. While I'm not a Bolivian man with 6 kids (as far as you know), I do rely on wood heat to keep my bills down and to improve quality of life in the winter. And it's a bitch some years to get it all split and put up, especially as the days get shorter, so there is a bit of an imperative there for the body to perform on demand more than is usually asked of it. Some years I'll work well past dark just to get it finished up, it'll knock me out the next day but that night it feels great.

I honestly don't get enough time chopping wood, it's really one of the most purely enjoyable things I know.

[01101010]

Guess I am heading to Vegas as well. April 18th-21st for a conference. Never been since I don't gamble so it should be interesting to say the least.

[Rendakor]

Any recommendations for a good dice pouch? I don't need anything huge, but big enough for a few sets of dice and a mechanical pencil and eraser.

[Merusk]

Huh.. we would just pick a nice velour or felt-like pouch up from the gaming store if we bought a new set. It just occured to me that they've all closed since the last time my wife and I actually needed one, about 12 years ago.

This one on amazon matches the type we last bought, though there were more color options.
http://www.amazon.com/Large-Velour-Drawstring-Wiz-Dice/dp/B00DH1VF6W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456936040&sr=8-1&keywords=dice+pouch

[rattran]

Just buy a fifth of crown royal, and use that bag. Seemed to be the most popular dice bag at GenCon every year.

[Strazos]

Never been since I don't gamble so it should be interesting to say the least.

It's never too late to start. 

[Abagadro]

Just buy a fifth of crown royal, and use that bag. Seemed to be the most popular dice bag at GenCon every year.

Or Blanton's. Classier and better whiskey.

[Endie]

Just buy a fifth of crown royal, and use that bag. Seemed to be the most popular dice bag at GenCon every year.

Or Blanton's. Classier and better whiskey.

It offends me to see that you with that avvy and yet uttering heretical statements regarding the uisge beatha.

Pertinent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoXdC2zDi0s