A thread of small discoveries

[toythatkills]

In a topical move, I nearly just boiled a fly into my tea.

[Family Fry]

It all started with 2 mini doughnuts.
They were left over so I decide I didn't want them to go crusty, so I thought I will stick them in my fancy new biscuit barrel, that had biscuits in it.....oh dear.
I genuinely did not know soggyness all round would happen, it's like the doughnuts just got in there and started killing the biscuits.
Lesson learned.

[QualityChimp]

It all started with 2 mini doughnuts.
They were left over so I decide I didn't want them to go crusty, so I thought I will stick them in my fancy new biscuit barrel, that had biscuits in it.....oh dear.
I genuinely did not know soggyness all round would happen, it's like the doughnuts just got in there and started killing the biscuits.
Lesson learned.

To preserve the softness of freshly baked cookies and brownies, put a slice of bread in the storage container. The moisture from the bread keeps the cookies soft and makes them taste fresh from the oven. When the bread becomes dry, replace with another slice.

[averybluemonkey]

It's Berkshire hunt, not Berkley and God blind me, not Jesus, as in "Cor blimey!"

Wow, what a pedant...

The plural of mantis is mantids and the plural of octopus is octopuses. "Octopi" is using the Latin convention for plurals, but the word "octopus" is Greek in origin...

Interestingly in Latin the move from -us to -i for the nominative case when moving from singular to plural is only used for male 2nd declension nouns which make up a minority of Latin nouns but for some reason everyone always assumes that's how all Latin words work (and not all Latin nouns ending in -us are 2nd declension male either). While the word octopus is based on the Greek word the -es ending for plural is based on the English convention as opposed to the Greek and the English one comes from 3rd declension neuter Latin nouns (although in Latin you usually have to pull off a consonant suffix first).

One discovery I found quite interesting was when the airlines tell you to turn off your phones to avoid interferring with the equipment, it's utter rubbish. Turns out they say this due to pressure from the network operators because everytime you move between two network cells the phone goes into a handshaking procedure and when you're on a plane it utterly canes their networks as you are moving so fast the phone ends up in broadcasting the handshaking signal constantly.

Another one I learnt at uni - pretty much every door lock can be opened with one of several base key types and the gentle application of a hammer tap. When done well it can leave no sign of entry, with the lock undamaged. I'm led to believe pretty much all locksmiths have these, but makes it easy to charge higher rates if you have to drill the lock out and can then sell a replacement .

[abigsmurf]

Can't open a jar? wrap the lid in a tea-towel and bang the corner of the lid on a hard surface. You should then be able to open the jar much easier.

Another one I learnt at uni - pretty much every door lock can be opened with one of several base key types and the gentle application of a hammer tap. When done well it can leave no sign of entry, with the lock undamaged. I'm led to believe pretty much all locksmiths have these, but makes it easy to charge higher rates if you have to

Not convinced about that one. Sounds like what's happening is that you're snapping the pins inside the lock. You'd probably find it looks undamaged but that any key of the same size would then unlock it.

[averybluemonkey]

I've seen it done in person and can attest to the technique, it was quite incredible. If you google lock bumping you'll see it.

[EvilBoris]

Yeah lock bumping is super clever and is even easier now because the modern locks are so perfectly machined

[monel]

That handshakes started so the shakers knew neither person was holding a gun (sure I learned that as a kid but someone mentioned it to me recently). That bread / cookie tip was great, whenever I buy fresh cookies I always have to rush to eat them in case they go dry.

[toythatkills]

That handshakes started so the shakers knew neither person was holding a gun (sure I learned that as a kid but someone mentioned it to me recently). That bread / cookie tip was great, whenever I buy fresh cookies I always have to rush to eat them in case they go dry.

This method is obviously better though because it means you get to eat lots of cookies, and when you need more fresh cookies the next day just buy more!

[charlesr]

Can't open a jar? wrap the lid in a tea-towel and bang the corner of the lid on a hard surface. You should then be able to open the jar much easier.

Or put a spoon handle (or strong knife blade) under the edge of the lid and twist so that some air gets in. It's only the vacuum that makes it hard to remove. Banging the lid probably also lets air in.

Or you can just stick a blade through the top of the lid if it's a one time deal.

[toythatkills]

If you can't open a jar, stop buying jars

[monel]

This method is obviously better though because it means you get to eat lots of cookies, and when you need more fresh cookies the next day just buy more!

I have to travel into town to get Millies cookies .

[randombs]

I always thought knocking the jar made the screw threads line up properly. When I do it, I still get the vacuum sound when opening the jar

[Fader209]

With the jam jars (or any other jar) wrap an elastic band around the lid for extra grip.
Stuff like Bovril or Marmite needs to be knocked on a worktop still as the stuff acts like glue and the lid gets stuck, so knocking it breaks the dried bits.

['Press Start']

That handshakes started so the shakers knew neither person was holding a gun (sure I learned that as a kid but someone mentioned it to me recently).

No guns here! :P