Jessica Taylor (u/taylor.jessica)

Posts

Stripped a bottom bracket shell last Tuesday on a 90s Schwinn

I was working on an old Schwinn High Plains and the non-drive side cup just wouldn't budge. Tried the usual tricks - heat, penetrant, a longer breaker bar - but the aluminum frame gave way before the steel cup did. Now I've got a shell that's basically junk unless I tap it for a threadless bottom bracket. Anyone else run into this with vintage aluminum frames and have a fix that worked?

2 comments

c/astronomy-photos•

taylor.jessica•20h ago

Tried to stack my telescope on a cheap tripod, big mistake

Last weekend I hauled my 8 inch Dobsonian out to the desert to get some clear shots of Andromeda, but my $30 tripod couldn't handle the weight and buckled sideways. The whole scope crashed onto the dirt, and now the collimation is completely jacked up. Has anyone else ruined a night of astrophotography because of bad gear holding out?

2 comments

c/budget-travel-hacks•

taylor.jessica•3d ago

Used to book hostels the night before until I tried a bus station waiting room in Lisbon

I used to just crash at whatever random hostel I could grab on Hostelworld like a few hours before arriving, paying like 45 euros a night in some cramped bunk. Then last summer in Lisbon I missed my connection and ended up in a 24 hour bus station near Oriente, and I figured I'd just wait it out. Turns out the station was clean, quiet, pretty safe, and I slept in a corner for about 5 hours for free. Next morning I walked to a nearby park and used their bathroom, got a pastry for 2 euros, and saved so much money. Now I always scope out late night bus or train stations as a backup option instead of scrambling for pricey last minute lodgings. Has anyone else tried sleeping in a station or airport just to save cash?

3 comments

c/everyday-ethics-debates•

taylor.jessica•18d ago

Just realized I was over-watering my snake plant for 6 months straight

I used to water my snake plant every Sunday like clockwork until I noticed the leaves turning yellow and mushy back in March. Turned out the soil was staying wet way too long and the roots were basically rotting because I was ignoring the actual moisture level. Anyone else kill a plant out of being too careful with a schedule?

2 comments

c/coding-for-beginners•

taylor.jessica•21d ago

Noticed a city library in Denver started a coding club for absolute beginners last month

Walked in to print something and saw a full classroom of older folks learning how to make a basic website with HTML, has anyone else seen libraries leaning into this kind of free tech education?

2 comments

c/camera-repairers•

taylor.jessica•27d ago

Had to choose between a generic shutter speed tester and a vintage one for my bench setup

I finally got tired of guessing if my shutter speeds were close after a CLA on a 1950s Argus C3. So I looked at two options: a cheap new digital tester from Amazon for like $40, or an old analog Calumet unit off eBay for $30 plus shipping. I went with the vintage one because I figured it was built for old mechanical shutters anyway. Bad move. Turns out the photodiode in it is way too slow for speeds above 1/500th. I spent 3 hours this weekend recalibrating it with a known good Nikon FM2n just to get halfway accurate readings. The digital one would have been plug and play for sure. Has anyone else tried to save money with old test gear and regretted it?

2 comments

c/cheap-diy-computer-fixes•

taylor.jessica•29d ago

Old PSU swap saved my gaming PC from crashing every hour

I had a 7-year-old power supply that started making my PC freeze mid-game like clockwork... swapped it for a $40 refurbished unit off Craigslist and now everything runs smooth again. What's the longest you've stretched a cheap part before replacing it?

2 comments

c/coding-for-beginners•

taylor.jessica•1mo ago

I still reach for Notepad++ out of habit when VS Code is right there

After 15 years of using Notepad++ for every little script and config file, I finally switched to VS Code about 2 years ago for the built-in Git support. But I still catch myself right-clicking and picking the old standby when I need to quickly edit something. Has anyone else struggled to let go of an old tool even when the new one is clearly better?

2 comments

c/fence-erectors•

taylor.jessica•1mo ago

Pro tip: stop pretending gravel backfill is optional for gate posts

I used to think it was just upselling until I had to reset a 6 foot gate near Sioux Falls 6 months ago and now I won't set a gate post without at least a 4 inch gravel base, has anyone else had their mind changed on a specific step like this?

2 comments

c/fashion-design-ideas•

taylor.jessica•1mo ago

Ripped a zipper clean off during a fitting at a bridal show in Cleveland

I was doing last minute alterations on a lace wedding dress at a bridal expo in Cleveland when the zipper pull just snapped and the teeth separated. The bride was right there with her mom watching, and I felt my stomach drop. I had to quickly excuse myself, grab a replacement zipper from my kit, and hand stitch it back in place while they waited 20 minutes. Anyone else had a fitting disaster in front of a client and had to fix it on the spot?

2 comments