\section{What is The Sweet Home / The Wirecutter?}
+The Sweet Home (http://thesweethome.com/) and The Wirecutter (http://thewirecutter.com/) are affiliated sites that review different gadgets, trying to recommend a ``best'' peppermill, facial tissues, winter boot, DVD player, office chair, or other home goods (The Sweet Home) or gadgets (The Wirecutter), taking into account price. A typical review involves
+\begin{itemize}
+\item talking with several experts to get recommendations and background information about the various gadgets (such as what are important features of a product class or good brands)
+\item checking other reviews (Amazon, Consumer Reports) to narrow down the field to perhaps a dozen options
+\item doing tests, using them as normal and also testing specific aspects (absorption of paper towels, or temperature drop inside a winter boot placed inside a pool of ice water)
+\item identifying a single ``best'' item, based on the test results and price
+\item identifying several variant great products, based on price/feature tradeoff, availability, or specific attributes (such as being eco-friendly)
+\end{itemize}
+
+Soviet Russia has a large number of the ``best'' gadgets (according to The Sweet Home or The Wirecutter) --
+laptops,
+Blu-Ray player (previously),
+portable bluetooth speaker,
+slippers,
+wrench, pliers,
+trash can, trash bags,
+space heater,
+dust pan,
+laundry detergent,
+paper towels,
+tissues,
+aluminum foil,
+instant read thermometer (previously),
+peppermill (best and best budget),
+vegetable peeler,
+olive oil,
+and possibly others.
+(Many of them were purchased coincidentally, but several of them we purchased at their recommendation.)
+
\section{What's up with the Soviet Russia fridge?}
Our original Bosch fridge started having problems in early November -- while the bottom of the fridge was fine, the top of the fridge was about 65\textdegree~F. When we tried to get it repaired, we discovered that there was heavy ice buildup in the bottom of the fridge. After we defrosted the fridge (leaving things on the porch overnight while that was going on), it seemed to work better again. However, in late March, we noticed the fridge was once more had a large temperature gradient, so we got it replaced by a Frigidaire.
Have you tried turning it off and on again?
+\subsection{What's the wi-fi password?}
+
+Check the printed version:\bigskip\\
+Network:\qquad\underline{\hspace{3in}}\bigskip\\
+Password:\qquad\underline{\hspace{3in}}
+
\section{How likely is it that you would recommend this FAQ to a friend or colleague?}
+[ Ask Kevin about the Net Promoter Score. ]
+
\section{Why does Veronica not like to talk about [most FAQ entries]?}
+Most of the FAQ entries are things that come up in conversation around Soviet Russia a lot (``so, how \emph{did} you get that name?'', ``when should I leave to catch the T home?'', ``what is this `best' you keep referring to?'', \ldots{}), and so Veronica has had to sit through far too many (somewhat lengthy) explanations\ldots. She's already less enthusiastic about several of the topics than the rest of us, so hearing them repeatedly doesn't really thrill her.
+
\end{document}
projects / groups / soviet-russia / public.git / blobdiff