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“Not bad. In fact, my first home brew wasn’t as good as this.”

That was Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery, and what he had to say when he gave a MrBeer beer kit a try for himself. And believe us—he wasn’t drunk when he said that.

Oliver described the “Mr. Beer Process” in three steps: “We sanitize, we brew, and then we bottle.”

And how much did it cost him to make a 2-gallon beer?

It took him $40 for the complete kit—and a 2-gallon beer worth $.25 cents to $1, depending on the size of the bottle that’s being used.

That’s not bad, considering it tastes good. Comedian Andy Dick once had a test run of the Mr. Beer as well, and all he had to say was: “That’s smooth. That’s probably the smoothest beer I’ve ever drank.” And unlike those that have been shipped and exposed to outside air, Mr. Beer’s aroma is more intense because it comes straight from the plastic beer keg.

Mr. Beer has been in the business of creating the world’s easiest home brewing systems and supplies since 1993. They use barley, wheat, and hops for their malts, and are brewed on their modern facility on South Island NZ. They use a complex process of cracking, heating, and separating grains and then adding in hops to produce the color, balance, and flavor that beer is known for. However, the difference is that with Mr. Beer, all the excess water is removed, and the concentrated malt extract that’s left would be canned for shipping.

Their most popular product is the Premium Edition Mr. Beer Kit, which comes with a 2-Gallon Fermenter, first batch of beer (Standard Booster Recipe with Hopped Malt extract, dry brewing yeast, and No-Rinse Cleanser), eight amber-colored bottles with caps and labels. These bottles are designed to accommodate carbonated beverages, and are FDA approved.

Other Mr. Beer products also include Cider Kits a nd Root Beer kits—and they taste good as well.

With such high-tech procedures, does it guarantee perfect beer all the time?

Not necessarily. It depends on how you brew it.

“It’s a little bit sweet and needs a little bit more carbonation.” Oliver observed, after tasting his first batch of beer.

But here’s where he made a teeny-tiny-itsy-bit mistake: he didn’t wait long enough for the beer to ferment.

A good way to avoid this is to let the beer sit longer than a week to reduce its sweetness. The longer it ferments, the less sweet it becomes.

As with everything else, patience really IS a virtue when it comes to brewing your own beer. According to Drew Vics, a.k.a “The Brewologist”, you can have home brewed beer in two weeks, but if you want it to taste its best, then wait for four weeks—or three and a half, if you can’t wait any longer.

A good solution for that “le ss head” or “less carbonation” problem so often encountered by first-time brewers is to dissolve no more than 3/8 of a cup of sugar or confectioner’s corn sugar into 1 pint of hot water and then let it cool. Then divide them evenly among your bottles instead of adding each sugar in each bottle (as what the direction says). This results in better and more even carbonation.

Really, it doesn’t get any simpler than that. Vics put it succinctly: “Mr. Beer makes a good beginner home brewing kit, and it is a great kit to keep around and reuse, even for the more advanced brewer. This is a great way to get your feet wet, and learn the basics of the home brewing process.”

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[Via - Odd News]

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Before the rise of the Digital age, research and forensic scientists, biologists, and botanists, painstakingly identified each and every living organism by searching their various ranks in the Nomenclature Code rule book. Using advanced technology however, has made it possible to simplify these steps in just a couple of clicks on the computer. Determix has created Lysandra Online, an internet-based, biological database that classifies all organisms using interactive catalogues and identification guides. Everything is basically there; and unlike a trip to the library, it wouldn’t take a day to find a strange organism’s Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species classification—all in one sitting.

This is good news to scientists all over the world. Lysandra Online is co-authored by leading specialists in the fields of zoology and biological sciences; and it uses complex algorithms to search for an organism’s specific hierarchies. It makes things even easier by adding illustrated catalogues, handy navigation, and print output in its features. And here’s the best part: it can organize random search lists from the general catalogue and even create mini-presentations. Some of its published works include beetles and butterfly classification, butterfly identifcation database, and all that can be easily accessed via website.

The best part, however, is that it’s free. All its database and facilities are available after installation, and some of its demo databases don’t even need registration. Today, it is used as an accurate guide to biological classification, and Determix has now released a commercial version of its database that contains completely illustrated tools, maps, and pictures for better identification.

[Via - MadConomist.com]

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A London bakery recently experienced the worst-case scenario of offering a Groupon for a small business, and it cost the owner thousands.

Need a Cake bakery owner Rachel Brown decided to put up a 75% discount on a dozen cupcakes on the site, which dropped the price down to $10 from $40.

Apparently, people really love getting cupcakes cheap, because she was rushed by throngs of customers in a cupcake frenzy. 8,500 people signed up, and her crew of eight had to make 102,000 cupcakes to meet the orders.

Brown lost $3 per batch because she had to hire 25 extra workers to help, and she ended up losing $20,000 because of it, which is a ton for a small biz. It wiped out her profits for the year, reports the Daily Mail.

“Without doubt, it was my worst ever business decision,” she told the BBC. “We had thousands of orders pouring in that really we hadn’t expected to have. A much larger company would have difficulty coping.”

This is just the latest in Groupon small business horror stories. A story popped up in September about a Portland cafe losing $8,000 because of a Groupon, which prompted a personal letter from founder and CEO Andrew Mason.

It brings up the always-present question about the daily deals site: does Groupon suck for small businesses?

Well, it looks like most small businesses think so. An overwhelming majority of 70% hate Groupon, if the latest survey from iContact is to be believed.

As for Brown and her bakery, the experience may have cost her 20 grand, but what about all the exposure she’s getting for her store? Great, right? It doesn’t hurt, but it probably wasn’t worth the cost.

Small businesses like this bakery thrive on relationships with their local customers, not crowds of outsiders coming in to snatch up a free lunch.

Getting new customers is great, but in this case, the bakery rewarded the wrong customers. Those 8,500 people that rushed for the Groupon probably won’t be coming back to pay for the same cupcakes at quadruple the price.

Only those the store has nurtured relationships with for a long time (in Brown’s case, 25 years), should be the ones rewarded. They’re the ones that keep coming back for more.

[Via - BusinessInsider.com]

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1. Remember that summer you spent with your parents in Hawaii and how mad you were that they made you go? And how you were hopelessly bored until you saw the most gorgeous man you’d ever encountered strolling down the beach looking at you, skillfully removing your skimpy bikini with his piercing eyes? And how you spent the last month imagining him taking you in every possible way, masturbating feverishly day and night, wishing he would reappear, but he never did because you were 15 and he would have gone to jail? That was me, and you just turned 18.

2. Mmmm Pez! Rabid Wonder Woman fan looking for someone in satin tights, fighting for our rights and the old red, white ‘n blue. You look like Linda Carter? Big plus. Know all words to theme song? Marry me.

3. Angry, simple-minded, balding, partially blind ex-circus flipper boy with a passion for covering lovers in sour cream and gravy seeks exotic, heavily tattooed piercing fanatic, preferably hairy, either sex, for whippings, bizarre sex and fashion consulting. No freaks.

4. I’m about 5*2 and about 118lbs. I have light brown hair and gray/blue eyes. I wear glasses, I have my belly button pierced and I am slightly tan(because of the sun). I am planning on going to college to be a probation officer. Hop to here from you soon!!!!

5. When I was thirty my dates had to be young, tall, handsome, rich, intelligent. Now I’m 64, they only have to know how to read and use the telephone!

6. Me–trying to sleep on the bus station bench, pleading with you to give me a cigarette; you–choking on my odor, tripping over your purse trying to get away; at the last moment, our eyes meeting. Yours were blue. Can I have a dollar?

7. Bitter, unsuccessful middle aged loser wallowing in an unending sea of inert, drooping loneliness looking for 24 year old needy leech-like hanger-on to abuse with dull stories, tired sex and Herb Alpert albums.

8. I am black and a woman. With children being slaughtered in Rowanda.
What difference does it make how big my breasts are, how long my legs
are, or how much money you or I make? To hell with long walks, holding
hands, candle lit dinners, and all of that other crap that people never
continue doing after the first date anyway; that didn’t even take place
in Cinderella (I’ve seen the movie). If there is a man out there who:
isn’t a crackhead or crack dealer,
isn’t an alcoholic,
doesn’t have any kids,
doesn’t smoke,
doesn’t beat women,
isn’t wearing women’s underwear as you’re reading this ad,
isn’t a liar,
isn’t looking for fun behind his wife’s back,
isn’t into being hit, peed on, or tied up while having sex,
doesn’t want to hit, pee on or tie me up while having sex,
likes having sex,
CAN have sex,
is not
in jail,
on probation,
has a court date pending,
isn’t a
misogynist,
racist,
classist,
elitist,
lawyer,
politician,
member of the military,
policeman (Malice Green, Rodney King),
bible boy, or
a pompous ass.
What you have to be is HONEST, HONEST, HONEST!!! If you’re out there,
if you exist, call me. Please don’t make me give up on men. Prefer
letters.

9. Austrian-born, Cambridge-educated philosopher/engineer/kindergarten teacher and published author (one book of philosophy, one of spelling) seeks companion/housekeeper adept at soup preparation and prepared to travel to Norway on a moment’s notice. Must like: silence; dampness; impenetrable intellectual speculation; detective novels. Must despise: clarity; optimism; fellow academics. Age, race, gender unimportant. Respond (’Y’ or ‘N’ only) to L. Wittgenstein, box 354.

10. Things I won’t do for love include replacing corroding soil pipes and trepanning at home. Everything else is A-OK. Eager-to-please woman (36) seeks domineering man to take advantage of her flagging confidence. Tell me I’m pretty, then watch me cling, at box no. 3286.

[Via - Webiot.com]

Flowboard - Just Add Wheels

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Nashville woman sells chickenpox-infected lollipops for $50 each

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When Michael Kern came across a 14-wheeled “flowboard”–basically a skateboard-snowboard-surfboard hybrid–in 2001, he knew he had to jump on an opportunity. His 20-year-old company, Sport Technology, bought the licensing rights, then the original board-maker’s company, and now also produces the Snowskate, which replaces the wheels of a skateboard with four mini-skis for free-footed mayhem on the slopes. It’s available at major retailers, including Target, Walmart and Toys”R”Us, as well as through more than 60 independent toy, specialty and catalog retailers. Company revenue in 2010 was around $10 million, more than double the year before; 2011 revenue is close to $20 million; and Sport Technology forecasts $36 million for 2012. A bad-ass (and lucrative) crossover.

[Via - Business Ideas Blog]

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1. Selling Pickles Online? Actually, It’s A Great Business

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10. How One New Yorker Makes $100,000 A Year Uploading CDs To iPods For Other People

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Happy Thanksgiving weekend to everyone!

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Although police officers in most countries are issued bulletproof vests, they don’t necessarily wear them at all times - would you want to heave one of those things around for an entire shift? What they do often carry, however, are clipboards. Taking the “every little bit helps” approach, Ohio’s IMPACT Armor Technologies has put two and two together, and come up with something that should actually offer some protection - a Ballistic Clipboard.

Besides holding arrest warrants, speeding tickets and other cop-type papers, the clipboard is also capable of stopping bullets. It reportedly “provides multi-hit protection against 9 mm, .357, .40, and .44 mag rounds” at up to point blank range, in hot or cold temperatures. It is also said to protect against knives and blunt weapons. Unlike a vest, however, it weighs less than two pounds (907 grams).

While some people might picture an officer desperately trying trying to hide their entire body behind a clipboard, it presumably isn’t intended to work that way. More likely, in situations where an assailant fires wildly at an officer’s chest, there would actually be a pretty good chance of their bullet striking the clipboard instead.

It’s apparently not that wacky of an idea, as IMPACT first designed the device in response to a request from local law enforcement personnel. Additionally, the company is not the only one offering such a product. Although the somewhat riot shield-like design of IMPACT’s clipboard is unique, more ordinary-looking bulletproof clipboards are available from several other manufacturers.

[Via - Madconomist.com]

Nashville woman sells chickenpox-infected lollipops for $50 each

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It seems that these days, even the most absurd kind of business ideas can flourish. A mother in Nashville is making it big with chickenpox-infected lollipops by selling them to other parents who want their children to contract the virus. The idea of wanting the children to get chickenpox is not new, as in the past also, some parents have wanted their children to contract this virus earlier on in their lives. Such parents think that making their kids contract the disease can help them develop stronger immunity.

There is a similar concept known as “chickenpox parties”, in which parents get their unvaccinated kids together at the house of an infected child, in the hopes that they will catch the virus too. The concept of chickenpox lollipops also revolves around these same lines, but it is for those people who do not have a chickenpox party going on in their vicinity.

A Nashville TV station showcased the story of the local woman who is charging $50 (including shipping) for a lollipop smothered in saliva by her infected children. She is one of many people who are shipping objects that have been contaminated with the chickenpox virus to people who live too far away to attend a chickenpox party.

There is also a Facebook page dedicated for the purpose. The page is called “Find a Pox Party In Your Area”.

But shortly after the Phoenix story ran, the “pox party” FB page posted a warning:

“The mailing of infectious items, such as lollipops, rags, etc., is a federal offense. This page is not private and can be seen by members and non-members alike. You may post on the page that you have the pox and are willing to share but please keep your specifics in private messages between members. We are all intelligent adults but these guidelines will help protect your privacy. If you’d like to go back and delete your posts about mailing, feel free to do so.”

After this message was posted, people started conducting their business over private messages, as there were no more posts to be seen on the public walls.

Despite the popularity of this business, federal authorities have warned that giving your children such infected materials is “illegal and unsafe”, as children might get other dangerous viruses in the process.

[Via - Unusual Business Ideas Blog]

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Bosses at Enfield Council decided to produce a list of the top 10 strangest items placed in recycling bins in a bid to highlight the recycling properly.

In addition to used nappies and tissues being placed in recycling bins, residents there also tried to recycle blow up dolls, vibrators and an urn containing ashes.

Cllr Chris Bond, said: “It beggars belief what some people have placed in their recycling.”

Other items on the list include dead pets, dumb bells and oil paintings… hopefully this wasn’t all from the same family.
Chris Bond continued: “It’s no laughing matter because if recycling is contaminated it has to be sent to landfill and it costs us a fortune to dispose of it.

“If one incorrect item is placed in the recycling container and our staff don’t spot it, the whole ten tonne load of recycling could have to be sent to landfill, and that costs the Council £1,000 each time it happens.”

The strangest items placed in recycling bins in Enfield include:
1) Blow up dolls
2) Sex toys (vibrators)
3) An urn containing ashes
4) Used sanitary towels
5) Fish tank
6) A box of live maggots
7) Plastic Christmas Tree – in the organic waste bin
Oil paintings
9) Dumb bells
10) Dead pets

[Via - 10SitesToSee.com]

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People often joke about how much waiting for the cable guy and other service people is costing them — in time and billable hours. Well, now someone has actually done the math.

t costs a whopping $37.7 billion a year for the time customers spent waiting on someone to come fix, install or deliver something, according to a new “Cost of Waiting” study from TOA Technologies. The company makes software that helps businesses better track their service people and narrow down the window of time customers have to wait.

Americans waited 4.3 hours on average — more than double of what the individuals had expected. On an individual basis, that works out to about $250 a year, or two full working days, that we waste waiting for everything from the cable, phone, Internet or utility guy to a retail home delivery.

“It’s clear from this year’s survey that customer service needs to be a top priority for businesses in the current climate, not only because it can negatively affect a company’s performance but because poor service around wait times has financial penalties for a company’s own customers,” said Yuval Brisker, co-founder and CEO of TOA Technologies.

And, if you’ve had it with waiting, you’re not alone: The survey found 58 percent of Americans suffered fist-pounding frustration, waiting on somebody for something, in the past year.

In fact, Brisker and his partner Irad Carmi, now the CTO of the company, founded TOA after a particularly frustrating wait for a guy to come and fix Brisker’s video on demand. The window the company gave him came and went without a single ring of the doorbell, so he decided to go out and run an errand. He came home to find a note on the door from the service person that said, “Sorry we missed you.” The company was able to give him a new appointment — for ONE WEEK LATER.

“I thought, there’s got to be a better way!” Brisker said.

Customer frustration with wait times is bad in the best of times, but Brisker said it’s even worse since the recession.

“Our focus in this survey was to understand if waiting pains people more as a result of the downturn in the economy. Do they perceive that pain more acutely than before? Yes,” Brisker said. “There’s a much more acute sense of every dollar lost — especially in middle- and lower-income people.”

Couple that with the fact that people are more inclined to voice their complaints through social media — reaching far more people than just complaining to family and friends — and companies like TOA are seeing huge demand for their software.

[Via - MadConomist.com]

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