aristgd's New Writeupshttp://everything2.com/?node=New%20Writeups%20Atom%20Feed&foruser=aristgd2005-01-31T08:00:08ZZippo (thing)http://everything2.com/user/aristgd/writeups/Zippoaristgdhttp://everything2.com/user/aristgd2005-01-31T08:00:08Z2005-01-31T08:00:08Z<p>So you have your brand new <a href="/title/Zippo">Zippo</a> <a href="/title/lighter">lighter</a>. It gleams in the sun. It clicks open and shut with ease and that familiar sound of <a href="/title/American+quality">American quality</a>. It's <a href="/title/yours%252C+all+yours">yours, all yours</a>.
<p>Now you just need <a href="/title/brief+instructions">brief instructions</a> on how to fill it and replace the <a href="/title/flint">flint</a> or the <a href="/title/wick">wick</a>.
<p>If your Zippo <a href="/title/sparks">sparks</a> multiple times without lighting, or you've never filled it before, you need to add <a href="/title/fuel">fuel</a>. Open the lighter and pull the internal case out by the windproof screen. Try to do this a few minutes after you've last had it burning, so you don't <a href="/title/My+hand+is+on+fire">scorch your fingers</a>. On one side of the internal lighter is <a href="/title/embossed">embossed</a>:
<p align="center"><small>FOR BEST RESULTS<br>USE ZIPPO<br>FLINTS AND FLUID<br><br>ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD, PA</small>
<p>On the other, a warning to keep away from children and to wipe your hands clean of inflammables before you light your lighter, and the text <small>LIGHTER DOES NOT SELF EXTINGUISH. CLOSE LID TO PUT IT OUT.</small>
<p>The underside of the lighter is a dense <a href="/title/felt">felt</a><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…Margarita (thing)http://everything2.com/user/aristgd/writeups/Margaritaaristgdhttp://everything2.com/user/aristgd2005-01-31T07:33:08Z2005-01-31T07:33:08Z<p>Here's a <a href="/title/recipe">recipe</a> for a fairly strong margarita; it uses <a href="/title/Tuaca">Tuaca</a>, which gives it a slight flavor of honey.
<p><ul><li>1.5 oz <a href="/title/tequila">tequila</a></li>
<li>0.5 oz <a href="/title/triple+sec">triple sec</a></li>
<li>0.5 oz <a href="/title/Tuaca">Tuaca</a> liqueur</li>
<li>0.5 oz <a href="/title/lime+juice">lime juice</a> (<a href="/title/Rose%2527s+Lime+Juice">Rose's Lime Juice</a> works great)</li>
<li>3 oz <a href="/title/sweet+and+sour+mix">sweet and sour mix</a></li>
<li>Powdered sugar to taste</li>
</ul>
<p>Shake with cracked ice and strain into a glass. Perfect for right after you've broken up with your boyfriend, you want to try and remain friends, and you need something to break the awkward pause.<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>moderator (thing)http://everything2.com/user/aristgd/writeups/moderatoraristgdhttp://everything2.com/user/aristgd2004-02-23T06:10:47Z2004-02-23T06:10:47Z<p>In a <a href="/title/nuclear+reactor">nuclear reactor</a>, a moderator is any substance that slows a <a href="/title/neutron">neutron</a> down to <a href="/title/thermal+energy">thermal energy</a>, thereby increasing the <a href="/title/probability">probability</a> that it will cause another <a href="/title/fission">fission</a>. Neutrons that are direct products of <a href="/title/prompt+fission">prompt</a> or <a href="/title/delayed+fission">delayed fission</a> are moving too fast to be absorbed by <sup>235</sup>U, and therefore need to be slowed down. Several factors contribute to a good moderator and to the ideal amount of moderation in a <a href="/title/reactor+core">reactor core</a>.</p>
<p>First, a moderator needs to be able to slow down neutrons, as this is its primary function. Neutrons are slowed when they lose <a href="/title/kinetic+energy">kinetic energy</a> in a collision. With a particle as small as a neutron, the collision will be almost completely <a href="/title/elastic">elastic</a>, meaning that the kinetic energy will have to be transferred to whatever the neutron collides with if it is to slow down. The best moderators, then, have a mass close to that of a neutron. This is why small molecules like <a href="/title/water">water</a> are often chosen.</p>
<p>Almost as important, though, is the resistance a<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…Captain Jack Sparrow (thing)http://everything2.com/user/aristgd/writeups/Captain+Jack+Sparrowaristgdhttp://everything2.com/user/aristgd2004-02-19T07:10:50Z2004-02-19T07:10:50Z<p>A character in the <a href="/title/Disney">Disney</a> movie <a href="/title/Pirates+of+the+Carribean">Pirates of the Carribean</a>: The Curse of the Black Pearl, played by <a href="/title/Johnny+Depp">Johnny Depp</a> with his usual <a href="/title/flair">flair</a>. Jack Sparrow was the captain of the <a href="/title/pirate">pirate</a> vessel Black Pearl, but was left on an island by a mutinous crew who then went and got themselves cursed by <a href="/title/Aztec">Aztec</a> gold. He teams up with <a href="/title/Orlando+Bloom">Orlando Bloom</a> to get his ship back in a delightful adventure.</p>
<p>More importantly, a Captain Jack Sparrow is an <a href="/title/alcoholic+drink">alcoholic drink</a> that is a delight to serve at <a href="/title/party">parties</a>, both pirate related and not.<p>
<p>Ingredients:
<ul>
<li>2 oz coconut <a href="/title/rum">rum</a>.</li>
<li>8 oz <a href="/title/Vanilla+Coke">vanilla</a> <a href="/title/cola">cola</a>.</li>
</ul>
Mix as a <a href="/title/rum-and-coke">rum-and-coke</a>. Drink.</p>
<p>For best results, not only is it important to have the best rum(local recipe suggests Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Rum, which fits the pirate theme,) but a good vanilla cola. Mixing one's own allows for variations in the vanilla flavor and a selection of cola not always avaliable in vanilla. Either <a href="/title/vanilla+syrup">vanilla syrup</a> or<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…commons cup (thing)http://everything2.com/user/aristgd/writeups/commons+cuparistgdhttp://everything2.com/user/aristgd2004-02-19T06:54:01Z2004-02-19T06:54:01Z<p>A commons cup is the term used primarily at <a href="/title/Reed+College">Reed College</a> to refer to the non-disposable plastic cups provided by the <a href="/title/institutional+food">institutional food</a> service. They are clear plastic, hold 10 <a href="/title/ounces">ounces</a> of liquid, and have a faux-shower-glass texture.</p>
<p>There are several remarkable things about commons cups. The first is that they are relatively easy to carry off and return later; depositing them in the wash a day or two after you borrow them lets campus have an adequate supply of cups for dorm activities. They are also used as a form of <a href="/title/communication">communication</a>; by writing jokes in permanent marker, one can leave lousy jokes about required classes sitting around the dining commons.</p>
<p>The best feature of a commons cup, though, is the three stabilizing 'prongs' or plastic extrusions inside the cup around the bottom. These are there to make sure it doesn't fall apart under strain; in reality, they function as wonderful guidelines for mixing <a href="/title/alcohol">drinks</a> at parties.</p>
<p>Here is a <a href="/title/diagram">diagram</a> of a commons cup:</p>…Carmex (thing)http://everything2.com/user/aristgd/writeups/Carmexaristgdhttp://everything2.com/user/aristgd2004-02-19T06:43:27Z2004-02-19T06:43:27Z<p>Carmex is the black tar <a href="/title/heroin">heroin</a> of <a href="/title/lip+balm.">lip balm.</a></p>
<p>Sold in small white 'jars' with yellow caps, Carmex advertizes itself as "For-Cold-Sores" on the cap. However, its quite pleasant smell and texture imply that using it more often can't be bad... not really. But once you start using Carmex, it is often difficult to stop.</p>
<p>The <a href="/title/active+ingredients">active ingredients</a> on the label are <em><a href="/title/Menthol">Menthol</a></em>, 0.7%, <em><a href="/title/Camphor">Camphor</a></em>, 1.7%, and <em><a href="/title/Phenol">Phenol</a></em>, 0.4%, but <a href="/title/Salicylic+Acid">Salicylic Acid</a> is also listed under 'inactive ingredients.' Salicylic acid is found in willow bark and is a close relative of <a href="/title/acetylsalicylic+acid">acetylsalicylic acid</a>, or <a href="/title/Aspirin">Aspirin</a>. Menthol is often used in pain rubs, such as <a href="/title/Tiger+Balm">Tiger Balm</a> or <a href="/title/Icy+Hot">Icy Hot</a>.</p>
<p>Carmex's instructions are quite simple: "Use Carmex for <a href="/title/cold+sores">COLD SORES</a>, <a href="/title/fever+blisters">FEVER BLISTERS</a>, and <a href="/title/chapped+lips">CHAPPED LIPS</a>. Apply freely to affected parts." At $1.29 for a quarter of an <a href="/title/ounce">ounce</a>, a jar of Carmex should last a long time.</p>
<p>A personal testimony: upon finding myself<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…