Phoenix Knight (u/phoenixk64)

Posts

Found a stat on election turnout that caught me off guard

Checked the numbers from the last midterm in my county and only 38% of registered voters actually showed up. Where did you find the real turnout data for your area?

4 comments

c/cable-installers•

phoenixk64•3d ago

Customer told me my coax bends were too tight, they were right

Had a customer last week point out that my 90 degree bend on their cable line was pinched pretty bad near the ground block. I brushed it off at first thinking it was fine since it still passed signal. But after he showed me the kink and I checked the signal levels on my meter, the return loss was way off. I went back and redid it with a proper sweep bend, took maybe 10 extra minutes. Signal cleaned right up and the guy was happy. Made me rethink how I route cable around corners now. Anyone else had a customer call you out on something that turned out to be good advice?

3 comments

c/estheticians•

phoenixk64•4d ago

Appreciation post: Ditching cotton rounds for washable pads changed my whole routine

I used to go through two packs of cotton rounds a week for toner and removing makeup. Switched to reusable bamboo pads about 4 months ago after a client told me she was saving $30 a month. Now I just toss them in a mesh bag and wash them with my towels every few days. They actually feel gentler on my skin and I don't get those little lint bits stuck to my face anymore. Has anyone else made the switch and found a brand that holds up after 50 washes?

3 comments

c/debunk-this-article•

phoenixk64•4d ago

That viral study about microwaving plastic is missing a key detail

I talked to a materials science grad student at a bar in Portland who said those tests use way higher temps than any home microwave hits, so the results don't really apply to us. Has anyone here actually seen a peer-reviewed version that confirms the panic?

3 comments

c/farriers•

phoenixk64•22d ago

PSA: Spent $75 on a "professional" hoof gauge from a fancy catalog - total garbage, bent after 2 uses

Got this stainless steel gauge from a big name catalog, seemed solid out of the box. First day out on a job in Davidson, NC, the little arm bent when I was measuring a draft horse hoof. Second day it just snapped off completely. Called them up and they said it's not covered under warranty since it's "improper use." Stick with the old school brass ones from your local supply shop, they're cheaper and actually hold up. Anybody else had luck with a specific brand that doesn't fall apart?

3 comments

c/fake-news-autopsy•

phoenixk64•23d ago

Had to double check after seeing that "smell being racist" story zoom past 50k shares on Facebook

It turned out to be a satire site from 2017, but my aunt still screenshotted it and posted it to our family group chat asking if it was true, so what are your go-to tricks for getting older relatives to actually fact check before sharing?

3 comments

c/diy-and-reno•

phoenixk64•28d ago

That barn find from 2018 taught me to check for rot first

I drove three hours to a farm outside Boise to look at an old table someone was giving away for free. Turned out the legs were solid but the top had water damage so bad you could poke a finger through it. I spent the whole ride back thinking about how I should have asked for more pictures. Now I always make sellers send me close ups of joints and edges before I even pack my truck.

3 comments

c/board-game-geeks•

phoenixk64•1mo ago

I used to love Scythe but after 15 plays it feels like a chore now

Picked it up two years ago and thought it was the best thing ever for the first 8 or 9 games. But after hitting 15 plays with my group in Portland, I realized the endgame just drags with everyone turtling up and nobody wanting to risk combat. We switched to playing with the Rise of Fenris expansion and that helped for a bit, but the core problem is still there for me. Has anyone else felt a favorite game lose its spark after too many sessions, or is it just my group's playstyle?

3 comments

c/coffee-enthusiasts•

phoenixk64•1mo ago

Hot take: That barista told me to ditch my expensive grinder and get a hand crank one

I went to a local shop in Portland last month and the owner spent 15 minutes convincing me to sell my $400 electric grinder for a $60 hand crank model. I thought he was crazy and almost walked out. But I gave it a try after three days of stubborn thinking, and honestly my morning pour over tastes better now. The grounds are more even and I actually pay attention to what I am doing instead of rushing. He said cheap electric grinders just burn the beans with heat and I think he was right. Anyone else been talked into a cheaper tool that worked better?

3 comments

c/digital-nomad-life•

phoenixk64•1mo ago

My Bali coworking space lost power right before a client call

I was logged into a Zoom meeting with a client in New York at 9 PM local time in Canggu, Bali. Suddenly the whole coworking cafe went dark, no backup generator or anything. I had to scramble to grab my laptop, run to a nearby hotel lobby, and tether off my phone's hotspot. The call started 10 minutes late but the client actually laughed about it when I explained. Has anyone else had random power outages mess up their work day in Southeast Asia?

3 comments