Rick's Daily Tips

Why I prefer connecting printers via USB instead of WiFi

Posted on February 13, 2026

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Ok, I’ll admit it. Wireless printers that allow you to print via WiFi instead of having to connect a cable sure are handy.

After all, who wants to run a long USB cable into every room where you occasionally use your laptop?

And if you print from your phone or tablet then using WiFi is a no-brainer.

But what if you only use a desktop computer or you always use your laptop in the same place every time?

If you don’t need to print from a mobile device you’d be a lot better off connecting your printer to your computer with a USB printer cable instead of WiFi, for the following reasons: [Read more…]

What to do when a website you really need to access won’t load in your browser

Posted on February 12, 2026

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Have you ever really needed to access a website but you just couldn’t get it to load in your browser?

I’m guessing we all have at one time or another.

There are several things that can go wrong and prevent a site from loading in a browser. This post discusses four of the most likely culprits and provides some possible solutions. [Read more…]

A beginner’s guide to setting up a Home Theater without hiring a pro

Posted on February 12, 2026

A decade ago, building a home theater meant hiring a specialist, running conduit through your walls, and writing a check that made your eyes water. That era is over.

Today’s equipment is designed for regular people. Speakers connect wirelessly. Projectors auto-correct their own image. AV receivers walk you through setup with on-screen guides. If you can mount a shelf and plug in a few cables, you can build a home theater that sounds and looks incredible. [Read more…]

Q&A: How do I choose where an embedded YouTube video starts playing?

Posted on February 11, 2026

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Question from Brandie: I recently started embedding YouTube videos in some of my blog posts and I have a question about it.

Sometimes I want a video to start playing at a specific place instead of at the beginning. I know you can do this because I’ve seen it.

How do I choose where the video starts playing? [Read more…]

What I Wish I Knew Before Soundproofing My Apartment | Tips & Mistakes

Posted on February 11, 2026

I used to love my apartment. Great location, reasonable rent, solid layout. Then my upstairs neighbor got a subwoofer. And a girlfriend who apparently wore heels indoors at midnight. Within two weeks, I was sleeping with earplugs and losing my mind. So I did what any desperate person does. I went straight to Amazon and started throwing money at the problem.

My first purchase was a 12-pack of those egg-crate foam panels. You know the ones. They come in black or charcoal gray, cost about $25, and promise “professional studio quality.” I stuck them on my bedroom wall with command strips, stood back, and waited for silence. [Read more…]