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Geek Etiquette

Geek Etiquette: Tech Help

Most geeks have been there. Whether it’s a late-night call from a friend or a quick request while visiting relatives, we’ve had to provide technical assistance. Hey, a lot of us have even needed help ourselves! I’m great at solving problems in CSS to get a site working correctly, but can’t explain why an app on my phone or iPad will just freak out or stop on me. If I look at many electronics wrong, they’ll just shut off. So what do you do when you need technical help? Read this quick guide and feel free to casually post it on your social profiles. Next time your friends/family ask you for help, you just may be more willing to help them.

1. Troubleshoot

Before you ask for help, try a couple simple things.

  • Turn it off, and then on again. I’m pretty sure IT people are required to ask  you if your device is turned on when they begin. More often than you’d think, this may solve your problem. Make sure cords are plugged in, the item is charged, and the item has been properly restarted.
  • Google it. Someone else may have had this problem before, and either the official site for the product or a consumer forum may already have the solution layed out. Try a couple different phrases while searching before calling your friends for back-up.
  • Wait. When frustrated with technology, we can get flustered and not be able to see or think clearly. Take a step back and do something else for 10-15 minutes, and then come back to the problem.

Can’t find an easy solution or don’t have time to wait? Time to bring in the big guns.

2. Ask Nicely

Your friend/family member will be doing you a favor, so please be courteous and respectful of their time. Try not to wake them up or ask them when they’re too busy to help. If the problem can wait a couple days, ask them when a convenient time for them would be.

3. Help Them Help You

In order to assist, your friend/family member will need to know what happened. Try to state calmly what happened and what you saw. If there are any error codes or weird screens, take a picture or screen cap for them. Be nearby while they’re providing help and you may even learn what to do in case it happens again!

4. Pay Them Back

IT and technical roles often make a lot of money, and I’m guessing your friend/family member is assuming they’re helping you for free. Giving them money may look a bit tacky, so find another way to thank them for their time. Bake them their favorite cookies, buy dinner or a movie ticket next time you’re all out, or offer a service in exchange. Maybe you can help them sew their cosplay outfit, edit their novel, or teach them how to sing. Or heck, maybe you’re a Mac and they’re a PC and you can just trade tech services back and forth.

Overall, remain calm and grateful when asking for assistance with technical issues, and be ready to help when they need something in exchange!

Are you the go-to tech person among your friends/family? What additional tips would you suggest?

Events

EMP’s Icons of Science Fiction Exhibit

Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Icons of Science Fiction party and previewing the exhibit before it opened to the public. The exhibit was amazing and I had a great time at the party taking pics, playing games, and hanging out with the Seattle geek community. Take a look at some of my favorite pics, and make sure you check the exhibit out for yourself! The Horror and Avatar exhibits are still there as well, which turns your time at the EMP into a trifecta of geek-awesomeness. Get tickets here.

 

The guns from Men In Black were my favorite part of the exhibit--they looked so cool up close!

 

You can put yourself in an old-timey sci-fi with their green screen, props and costumes. (And apparently everyone comes out looking like they're from the Jersey Shore.)

 

...While you're becoming a star, your friends can introduce opponents for you to fight!

 

This skull from Terminator 2 is horrifying and amazing in person.

 

We hopped over to the horror exhibit next, and I fell in love with their graphic design. Do you think they'd let me decorate my home with these when the exhibit's over?

 

One of our favorite props from the Horror exhibit: Buffy's Mr. Pointy!

Thank you to the EMP Museum for inviting me out!

Uncategorized

Geeky Gifts for Dad

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and today’s pretty much the last day to get something shipped to you from Amazon Prime. (Yes, that’s how I assess the closeness of all holidays and big events.) Still have no clue what to get your geeky dad? Take a look at these suggestions from me and some of my twitter followers:

Collectible Action Figures

Your dad is your superhero. so why not show him by getting him a sweet action figure? Shawn from Dad Unmasked is hoping for this Iron Man figurine: “As you can tell from my blog, I’m really into the superhero things for as long as I can remember. I am decorating my house (in a classy way) with cool superhero drawings and figures. I am also collecting AVENGER figurines and I’d really like to complete the set. I keep them on my desk at home next to my IMac of course. :)”
Iron Man Collectible Figurine, $19.99 at Superherostuff.com.

An Apron

 

If your dad likes to bake, cook or grill, or is just a really messy eater, pick him up a sweet apron. I’m loving these superhero ones–Amazon has a variety of Marvel and DC characters available.

Superman Apron, $17.60 at Amazon.com

A Good Book

What’s better than relaxing with a good book? Get your dad one of your favorites, or one he’s had his eye on. Better yet, get a copy for both you and set a follow-up lunch date to discuss it!  Charlie (of  various publications and twitter) tells us why he wants a book: ‘After playing all the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, Metro 2033, sitting through countless survival horror/open world/zombie/apocalypse video games, pen-and-paper role playing, and board games I just want to curl up with a nice single player book. I’ve been eyeballing a vintage collector’s edition of Roadside Picnic for some time, but lo and behold there’s a reprint out right now for a measly $11 on Amazon. This classic Russian novel spawned a movie, a video game franchise (recently deceased), and an ardent band of Chernobyl-loving Zone freaks intent on living their cosplay fantasies from behind Geiger counters and surplus respirators. I would recommend against the digital version, however. You’ll want to be able to read this one after the end-times while you’re drinking filthy water from a ditch… for the irony.”
Roadside Picnic, $10.85 at Amazon.com

A Little Bit of Everything

 

Still not sure what to get him?  How about a bunch of fun, smaller goodies? Think Geek has put together three sizes of Father’s Day tins, and they’re currently 25% off their original price. The gifts include edibles, minifigures, cubicle toys, and tools.
Father’s Day Tin, $29.99-59.99 at ThinkGeek.com

Whether you get him a gift or not, make sure you let your dad know how much he means to you this weekend. Happy Father’s Day!

 

Geeky Fashion

Mustache Monocles

The fine gentlemen and gentlewomen at Geek Chic have started a Kickstarter for their new project: Mustache Monocles. These mustaches are an easy and classy everyday accessory, and come in a variety of styles. You can pre-order your favorite by donating to their Kickstarter campaign. Check it out, and help them bring a bit more dignity into the world.

Weddings

Jurassic Park Proposal

Two paleontologists get engaged in the cutest, Jurassic Park-iest way as they reenact a scene from the movie:

She said yes? Clever girl.

Fun Food

Pizza Vending Machine

…Because dreams really do come true.

This pizza looks amazing, but what’s with the appeal of having this pizza never touch human hands? Whatever happened to things being lovingly handmade?
Would you eat a pizza from a vending machine? (Hint: I so would.)

Thanks to Jared for the tip!

Geeky Fashion

Geek Fashion: Glow In The Dark Batman Gear

Light up a Dark Knight (ugh, sorry guys) with glow-in-the-dark tank sets and underwear sets.

Your next slumber party (or date?) will be pretty fantastic with this tank set. The Batman logos both glow, and the tank top is cool enough to wear around normally.
Batman Tank Set, $24.50 at Hot Topic.

Run around like a little boy playing superheros in your very own Batman underwear. The all-over logo print glows in the dark, but my favorite would have to be the utility belt briefs. You can’t not feel like an undercover superhero when you’re wearing those.
Batman Hot Pants, $19.50 at Hot Topic.

No matter which one you get, you’ll be set for The Dark Knight Rises when it hits theaters July 20th.

(Source: Geek Alerts)

Geek Etiquette, Libations

Geek Etiquette: How To Taste Spirits

You’ve most likely been a part of a wine tasting at some point–the swirling, tasting, and spitting that goes into fully appreciating a glass. But did you know you could do the same thing with spirits like vodka? When you’ve got a great vodka, you don’t want to shoot it back or cover it up with juice or soda. You want to sip it and appreciate it.

I was invited to a luncheon and tasting last Friday for Glass Distillery, a new vodka distillery and tasting room in Seattle’s SODO District. Wine expert Mark Oldman led us through a tasting of the delicious Glass Vodka, a vodka made from Washington Wine grapes. Want to taste some vodka (or other spirits) of your own? Follow the steps we took:

  • Pour: Pour an ounce of vodka in a clear glass.
  • Look: Look at the vodka and check for clearness (there should be no cloudiness, sediment, or residue). It helps to hold the glass in front of a white surface–I used a white napkin.
  • Smell: Put the glass down and swirl the vodka a bit, same as you would a wine glass. Cover the top of the glass as you swirl, then take your hand off of it as you smell it.
  • Taste: Swirl the vodka in the glass a bit more, then take a sip. Hold this first sip in your mouth for 5 seconds. What do you taste? What adjectives come to mind?
  • Taste Again: Take another sip (and swallow) and see how long the taste itself lasts in your mouth. What type of aftertastes do you sense?

Next time your friends tell you that wine is classier than vodka, lead them through this tasting–it’ll prove them wrong!

Want to try Glass Vodka? The distillery and tasting room is now open to the public! You can find it at 1712 1st Avenue South.

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