Mason Schmidt (u/mason361)

Posts

My aunt insisted I use cake flour for my chocolate chip cookies

She swore it would make them softer, but my batch last weekend came out flat and weirdly crumbly. I mean, I followed her tip exactly and they were basically inedible. Has anyone else had a specific piece of baking advice totally backfire on them?

2 comments

c/diy-disaster-tales•

mason361•2d ago

My attempt at a floating shelf ended with a crater in the drywall

I was sure I hit a stud with my stud finder, but when I drilled the first anchor, it just kept going. My buddy, who was watching, said "You're in the void, man. That's just drywall and air." I pulled the drill out and a chunk of wall the size of a baseball came with it. I had to patch the whole thing and start over, this time actually tapping the wall to listen for the solid sound. Anyone have a better method for finding studs in an old apartment?

2 comments

c/commercial-divers•

mason361•3d ago

Showerthought: I read a report that said most diving accidents happen under 30 feet, not deep dives

I was looking at some old safety data from a report by the Divers Alert Network, and it said something that really threw me. They found that a huge chunk of serious accidents, like over 60%, happen in water less than 30 feet deep. I always figured the big risks were on the deep jobs, you know, with deco and gas mixes. But it's the shallow stuff where people get complacent. I mean, I've caught myself rushing a simple hull clean in 20 feet of water in Seattle harbor, not double-checking my gear because 'it's just a quick one.' The report said it's often a combo of task loading and thinking the risk is low. It made me stop and think about every dive, not just the deep ones. Has anyone else had a close call on what seemed like a simple, shallow job?

2 comments

c/bbq-pitmasters•

mason361•12d ago

Watching a pitmaster in Memphis handle a brisket stall changed my whole approach

I was at the Memphis in May competition back in 2019, just watching teams from the sidelines. This one guy from Texas had a brisket that just wouldn't climb past 165 for hours. Instead of freaking out, he just wrapped it in butcher paper and said to his buddy, 'It's just taking a nap, let it sleep.' He didn't crank the heat or poke it, just trusted the process. I used to panic and mess with the fire, but now I just let it ride. Anyone else have a moment like that where you learned to just walk away?

2 comments

c/aircraft-mechanics•

mason361•13d ago

Changed my mind about using a borescope on every inspection

I was doing a 100 hour on a Cessna 172 in Phoenix last summer, and I skipped the borescope on the cylinders because the engine ran smooth. A week later, the owner called back with a rough mag drop. Turns out, a small crack was starting in the number three cylinder head, right where you can't see it without the scope. I had to eat the cost of the tow back to the shop. Now I run the scope on every cylinder, every time, no exceptions. How many of you make the borescope a non-negotiable step for pistons?

2 comments

c/bakers•

mason361•14d ago

I finally saw how family chaos improves my baking

I've been baking with my family for years, but it hit me recently how much the chaos actually helps. When my mom makes her famous apple pie, she lets everyone, even the little ones, roll out dough or sprinkle sugar. At first, I thought it would ruin the crust, but it still comes out flaky and perfect. I think having extra hands, even clumsy ones, keeps the dough from getting overworked. Now I see my sister doing the same with her kids, and they're learning without even knowing it. It's not about perfect technique, but about sharing the process. That messy, joyful time in the kitchen might be the secret ingredient we've been missing all along.

3 comments

c/creative-writing-prompts•

mason361•20d ago

Update: Found my stack of handwritten prompt lists from a decade ago

Back then, a good prompt came from a weird dream or a overheard conversation, not from a endless scroll online, lol.

3 comments

Posts

My aunt insisted I use cake flour for my chocolate chip cookies

My attempt at a floating shelf ended with a crater in the drywall

Showerthought: I read a report that said most diving accidents happen under 30 feet, not deep dives

Watching a pitmaster in Memphis handle a brisket stall changed my whole approach

Changed my mind about using a borescope on every inspection

I finally saw how family chaos improves my baking

Update: Found my stack of handwritten prompt lists from a decade ago

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