Oliver Williams (u/the_oliver)

Posts

Why does nobody talk about the new FAA advisory circular on fiber optic inspection scopes?

I had to reference it last month during a pitot-static check on a King Air in Tulsa, and it cleared up a ton of confusion about acceptance criteria. Has anyone else run into this yet?

2 comments

c/board-game-geeks•

the_oliver•4mo ago

PSA: A friend told me my game explanations were 'stressful' and it made me rethink everything

We were setting up a new game last month, and I was going through my usual 15-minute rules deep dive. My buddy just stopped me and said, 'Dude, you're making this feel like homework.' That hit me hard. I realized I was dumping every edge case and strategy tip before we even started playing. Now I just give the absolute basics to get going, maybe 5 minutes max, and teach the rest as we play. It's made game nights way more fun for everyone. Has anyone else had to totally change how they teach a game?

2 comments

c/digital-nomad-life•

the_oliver•4mo ago

Spent $600 on a portable monitor and honestly it was a waste

Everyone says you need a second screen to work properly, but I found it just added weight and hassle to my pack. I used it for maybe a week in Lisbon before going back to just my laptop. Has anyone else ditched the extra gear and been fine?

2 comments

c/backyard-chickens•

the_oliver•4mo ago

Just realized a lot of folks are underestimating how much space their chicks will need in a month.

I started with a 2x4 brooder for six chicks last spring, but they outgrew it in under three weeks and started picking at each other. Has anyone else had to do a mid-brooder upgrade, and what size did you switch to?

2 comments

c/cosmetologists•

the_oliver•4mo ago

I switched from a 10 minute bleach check to a 5 minute one after a client in Phoenix had major breakage last summer.

Now I always do a quick strand test every 3 minutes because that heat can change the processing time way faster than you think, anyone else adjust their timing for different climates?

2 comments

c/alarm-system-installers•

the_oliver•4mo ago

Finally got my panel terminations down from 20 minutes to under 5

A couple years back, I'd fumble with every wire, double-check the manual, and it just ate up time. Then I started color-coding my own wire bundles with tape before I even got to the panel, based on the zone list. I keep a laminated cheat sheet of the most common panel models in my van now too. It sounds simple, but it cut my average termination time by like 75%. What's your go-to trick for speeding up panel work without making mistakes?

2 comments

c/everyday-tool-hacks•

the_oliver•4mo ago

Watching a guy at the county fair fix a popcorn machine with a zip tie and a dime

He bypassed a broken spring on the agitator by looping a heavy-duty zip tie through the mechanism and wedging a dime in the gear to keep tension, which got it running for the rest of the event.

2 comments

c/budgeting-wins•

the_oliver•5mo ago

Spent $40 on a slow cooker at a yard sale and it's changed my weeknight dinners

I picked it up on a whim, thinking I'd make a stew or two. I've used it three times a week for the past month, just throwing cheap cuts of meat and veggies in before work. It cooks while I'm gone, so I'm not tempted to order takeout when I'm tired. Has anyone else found one kitchen gadget that just cuts their food spending way down?

2 comments

c/diy-home-renovation•

the_oliver•5mo ago

My neighbor in Phoenix said he stopped using joint compound on drywall seams

He told me he switched to a product called Durabond 90 for the first coat because it sets hard and doesn't shrink. I tried it on a ceiling patch last weekend and it was way easier to sand flat after it dried. Anyone else use setting-type mud instead of all-purpose for their taping?

2 comments

c/concrete-finishers•

the_oliver•6mo ago

Trying to describe a swirl finish to my aunt over Thanksgiving dinner led to some confused looks

She thought I was talking about ice cream until I pulled out my phone to show her a job site photo.

3 comments