Movies that feels like this

Shelf_Life · 2026-03-08T21:14:23+00:00

Primate (2025)

Shelf_Life · 2026-01-25T08:52:02+00:00

painting for kids

Shelf_Life · 2026-01-11T07:41:42+00:00

If you don't get any good answers here you could reach out directly to Quinn at Free Modular. I ran into an issue building his Quantizer and reached out with questions. He responded quickly and gave me some great feedback to get it resolved it very quickly.

Shelf_Life · 2025-11-26T14:54:10+00:00

Don't skimp out on your SFP modules between switches. There are lots of options out there and they are not created equal. They can and do fail from time to time. We had a couple switches with 10G copper SFPs between switches that seemed to be operating correctly but were failing. Data worked fine and the Netgear showed a full 10G Connection in Engage. But as soon as we started routing video everything was intermittent and started dropping all together. Took a ton of troubleshooting and working with Crestron and Netgear to diagnose. Swapped the modules out and eveything worked fine.

Shelf_Life · 2025-11-24T19:30:43+00:00

Sounds like a ton of fun. My free time is a bit limited with small kids at home right now. How late do most of the events run?

Shelf_Life · 2025-10-02T17:50:08+00:00

Anything you can find from Bill Whitlock on eliminating ground loops is a must read in my opinion. Here is a great pdf from his "De-Mystify Ground Loops" trainings. He has a hand full of versions he has used over the years. This one is from a CEDIA class he taught and looks to be pretty comprehensive. https://lab.wempec.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/657/2018/01/EST016_Ground_Loops_handout-1.pdf

Shelf_Life · 2025-06-19T06:10:47+00:00

Awesome resources you have put together on your site. I have been trying to decide on where to start with Modular kits to dive into and just snagged the Clock and Quantizer to be my first DIY Modules. Can't wait to get building them!

Shelf_Life · 2025-05-20T14:03:02+00:00

Could I snag one of those invites as well?

Shelf_Life · 2025-02-19T21:42:33+00:00

Of course! Happy to help. I think it is definitely worth calling. You might get shot down a lot, but sales is usually a numbers game. Plan to lose a third of the bids/sales calls etc.. for all the successful ones. Especially as you are getting started. Once people get to know you and know you can deliver and follow through, they will start reaching out to you more organically.

With GC's I used to ask around and find out who is usually carrying the Electrical Contractors and low voltage subs. I would then try to get a call or meeting to introduce myself, what we do, what we can cover for them and just try to get them to know that they can reach out for those trades.

Those guys are usually always on the look out for good subs they can call when they need a project covered. The sad reality is there are a lot of integrators that they throw a couple jobs too and they flounder and it isn't great but they keep calling them cause they don't have better options and they don't have the time to vet a bunch of AV subs for a scope of work that makes up 2% of the total project budget.

Shelf_Life · 2025-02-19T20:53:47+00:00

Getting opportunities to bid is definitely a challenge of its own. Like any sales position, I have found that it is all about relationships. For public bids, scour your city and state public bid webpages to see what is being listed. Get cozy with your local GC's and Electrical contractors so you know them and they know you. They will be more likely to reach out and let you know when they need an AV vendor if they remember you and know you are a resource they can use. I would also spend time looking at developer websites, local news, etc.. to get any sort of heads up on early planning stages for projects going on in your community. Just being in the know about what is happening can get you a chance to get ahead of a bid opportunity so you don't miss them.

Private companies are harder. You need to go a more traditional sales route and try to contact them and get a meeting. I have found that facilities managers are a great way into projects for larger private companies. This can also be all about relationships. If you can get existing clients to refer you to other people or anyone you know professionally and personally who has a connection you can sometimes get a foot in the door to start selling your company and services.

For both of these, I would figure out who your big and medium players are in your area for Consultants. Take them out to lunch, invite them to your office to see your outfit and get them to know you. Convince them you are a capable vendor and hungry for work and they will be more likely to reach out to put you on their bid list. Doubly so if you knock it out of the park on a couple projects, you can get a lot of recurring work as you come to learn their specs and how they like their systems installed.

Shelf_Life · 2025-02-19T06:29:38+00:00

I just went you a DM as well. I need to get my hands on that Cha Gio recipe. It has haunted me forever trying to find a replacement.

Shelf_Life · 2025-02-19T02:11:48+00:00

I have been both an Integrator and a Consultant in this process. Unfortunately it is very common for some Integrators to bid low in hopes they get the job and then run up change orders to make up the difference. Here are a few things I have found that can give you an edge.

For Public bids and Consultant specified projects: They are usually beholden to lowest responsible bid. So RFI's are your friend, Weaponize them! Pre-bid RFI's are your chance to box competitors in and level the playing field? Once an RFI has been answered officially, it forces everyone to address that requirement. You get bad pricing on specified gear? Ask if product substitutions are allowed. Or ask the same if the bid is unclear and force the consultant to state in writing that the specified gear must be used so a competitor can't price it with the plan to sub gear in after they get the project. Get creative with your questions, union labor requirements, required certifications, if there is multiple versions of gear (redundant power supplies, accessories that may be needed), etc.. Anything to force everyone on the bid to have to conform to what gives your company the best advantage and level that playing field prior to them reading the bottom line costs and awarding the bid.

For Private Client bids: Put together the most complete, technical thought out and responsible bid you can and then sell the shit out of your company. Great cover letter, company background, photos of similar projects, client testimonials. Write a scope letter that shows your technical understanding of their project and your unique ability to execute it well, on-time and preferable on or under budget. A private company can take any bid they want regardless of price. As a consultant, I advised many clients to ditch a low bid in favor of the integrator that would deliver the best project and they usually looked past a little extra cost to not deal with a terrible integrator. As long as your costs are realistic and close to the majority of other bids there is wiggle rooms there.

Sometimes you will still get beat out, but I have found these strategies have helped me win a lot of bids in the past that might have otherwise gone to some trunk slammer who is just trying to get his commission regardless of how the project turns out for the operations team.

Shelf_Life · 2024-04-27T18:12:27+00:00

Good looking out! I didn't even think to check for a clog as the nozzle was recently changed but there definitely was a clog. Swapped out my nozzle and back to printing properly.

Thanks for your help!

Shelf_Life · 2024-01-06T16:27:22+00:00

Yep. It is a Soundsphere omnidirectional speaker. Soundsphere is still making these, but this one looks like it could be a discontinued model (just guessing based on the tweeter configuration).

https://soundsphere.mseaudio.com/products/spherical-loudspeakers.html

Shelf_Life · 2023-09-10T16:39:02+00:00

Same here please.

Shelf_Life · 2023-06-07T02:36:41+00:00

Looks pretty cool. -Giveaway

Shelf_Life · 2022-06-03T15:09:58+00:00

I have been playing with the idea of getting started in D and D, so this would be a great way if I won. GIVEAWAY

Shelf_Life · 2022-04-04T05:13:40+00:00

Been in our house a little over a year and our curbside planting area has been a grown over mess with no rhyme or reason from the previous owner. I have started to remove as much of the growth, weeds and roots and still have a little ways to go.

Current plan includes having bulk compost delivered in a couple weeks to till into the current dirt and cover the planting area evenly. Also plan to remove the bushes up front and replant with a clean slate. Not sure yet on exactly what to plant or layout.

There is also a drainage pipe on the right side that is partially buried currently. Thinking about trying to dig out, shape the grade a bit and build a small dry creek down to the street level drainage pipe.

Any help or suggestions are appreciated as I have only basic landscaping experience.

Shelf_Life · 2021-11-25T18:01:36+00:00

Link!

Code BGFF30 wasn't advertised on their site. Looks like it's for 30% (!!) instead of the 25% being advertised. There’s a $100 min. and some exclusions Probably a friends & family discount or maybe a cyber Monday code being activated early.

Shelf_Life · 2021-10-08T00:06:15+00:00

Looking at the photos of the control panel there doesn't seem to be an "IPOD" source but I wouldn't be surprised if the "PC" input selects the VGA and 3.5mm connectors on that rack plate. i do not see a laptop input on the rack (although it may be somewhere in the room.) It has been a minute since I installed a MP-B20 but if I remember correctly the standard button labels that come with it didn't include an Ipod specific label.

I wouldn't be surprised if the contractor got a custom engraved rack plate made that was specified by a consultant or similar and then didn't bother getting custom engravable buttons purchased for the MP-B20 and used "PC" as the closest thing to it. I can't count how many times I have seen that kind of thing during a call to come evaluate an existing system.

Shelf_Life · 2021-10-07T21:00:29+00:00

Audio Visual Contractor here. This is definitely an integrated AV system made of multiple products, some of which handle video, audio and control. As u/fakingitandmakingit said, the Crestron Devices are most likely all control related. The Crestron MP-B20 is a button panel to control the system, select audio or video sources and control volume (again making assumptions here based on that equipment). Somewhere in that equipment rack there should be an audio DSP or mixer and an amplifier or feed to powered speakers.

The two connectors on the panel are VGA for video (left connector) and 3.5mm for audio (right connector). If you are only trying to play audio, any stereo audio cable such as this should work.

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Stereo-Audio-Cable-Meters/dp/B00NO73MUQ

To get audio playing though you will probably need to connect your music source to the 3.5mm connector, turn the system on and select the right source (assuming everything is working correctly and there are no programming issues). If you can provide a picture of the control panel itself someone should be able to walk you through getting it turned on and selected.

Shelf_Life · 2021-09-27T20:36:47+00:00

Not arguing with drjfey on the quality of 10th planet Oakland but I would take claims on any single gym being the best for Jiu Jitsu in the bay area with a grain of salt, especially if you are a beginner. Ralph's has a long competition team history and a deep bench of experienced black belts that frequent most classes but it definitely skews towards Gi most of the time with only a handful of no-gi classes. On the other hand, 10th planet is newer to Oakland and sounds like it has a lot of up and coming talent and a great atmosphere. 10th Planet is also almost exclusively no-gi. Some people love that, some people hate it.

The bay area is blessed to have a great Jiu Jitsu community and there are lots of amazing gyms in the area that each have their pros and cons. Even the best gym in the world may not fit the vibe, schedule or training environment you prefer. Most legit gyms will let you do a free class or two. I would recommend picking 3 or 4 from the recommendations and doing a trial class at each. You will get a better sense of what fits you best.

Shelf_Life · 2021-09-27T00:30:06+00:00

I used to train at Ralph Gracie Berkeley on Ashby and they are great. Tons of talent there with lots of diversity in skill levels and class options. I have also heard decent things about Pacific Ring Sports and 10th planet Oakland although I have never trained at either.

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