Luna Kelly (u/the_luna)

Posts

The argument over natural dyes vs synthetics hit me hard last week

I spent a whole week dyeing fabrics with avocado pits and turmeric, got these soft earthy tones but nothing lasted through a single wash. Then I used a $6 bottle of Rit dye and got vibrant colors that held up after 5 washes. So which is better for the planet if my natural batch ends up in the trash after one wear? Do you prioritize longevity or sustainability in your projects?

2 comments

c/blacksmiths•

the_luna•2d ago

I finally stopped trying to hammer red hot steel like it was cold and saved my shoulders

For like 5 years I was gripping my hammer way too tight on every swing, thinking I needed all this force to move the metal. Last week at a workshop in Portland, a guy watched me for 2 minutes and said 'dude, let the heat do the work, your hammer is just guiding it.' I loosened up my grip and cut my swing count on a 3/8ths square bar from like 50 to 15 hits. Total game changer for my elbow and my anvil. Has anyone else had that moment where you realized you were just overpowering everything?

2 comments

c/estate-sales-wa•

the_luna•4d ago

Found a hidden jewelry stash behind a fake outlet plate at a sale in Tacoma

I went to this estate sale in Tacoma last weekend and something felt off about the layout. There was this outlet in the back of a bedroom closet that looked too new compared to the old fixtures. I tapped on it and it sounded hollow so I popped it off with a screwdriver from my delivery truck. Behind it was a little zippered bag with three gold rings and a brooch worth about $400 at a pawn shop. Has anyone else found secret hiding spots like that at estate sales in Washington?

3 comments

c/budget-travel-hacks•

the_luna•14d ago

TIL booking a flight on a Tuesday at 2pm saved me $180

I was looking at flights to Portland for a wedding and noticed the prices were all over the place. Out of curiosity, I checked the same route at 2pm on a Tuesday and it was $180 cheaper than the Sunday night quote I had. Apparently airlines update their sales early in the week and fewer people book during those hours. Has anyone else noticed a sweet spot for timing their flight bookings?

2 comments

c/ai-innovations•

the_luna•14d ago

Ran Stable Diffusion on a 5 year old laptop and it actually worked better than expected

Tried generating some images with Stable Diffusion on my old Dell from 2019 with 8GB of RAM. Figured it would crash but got a decent image in about 4 minutes. Anyone else have luck running AI tools on older hardware for specific tasks?

2 comments

c/atv-snowmobile-chat•

the_luna•16d ago

Helped a neighbor pull his sled out of a frozen creek last week, and he barely said thanks

I was out on the trails near Lake George last weekend and found a guy whose Ski-Doo went through the ice on a sharp turn. I spent about 45 minutes winching him out with my ATV while he just stood there on the bank smoking a cigarette. He muttered something about it being my fault for riding too close, then took off without offering gas money or even a nod. Has anyone else dealt with people who act like you owe them a rescue?

2 comments

c/finance-forums•

the_luna•21d ago

Switched from the big finance forums to a small one focused on commercial property

I got tired of the noise on Bogleheads and moved to a niche forum with maybe 200 active members. The advice there is way more specific to my situation, like how to handle a 1031 exchange on a 4-unit building in Austin. Anyone else find the smaller, focused forums more useful than the massive ones?

2 comments

c/barbers•

the_luna•23d ago

My uncle told me to stop using a guard on my clipper blend lines, and he was right

He's been cutting hair in Toledo for 30 years and said, 'Your fingers are the best guard you'll ever own.' I was scared of making a harsh line, so I kept using a 1.5 guard for my fades. Last week I tried it his way, just using the lever and my finger to stretch the skin, and the blend was way smoother. Has anyone else made that switch and had it click for them?

2 comments

c/appliance-repairers•

the_luna•26d ago

I know everyone says to replace the whole door boot seal on front-load washers, but I fixed a leak on a Whirlpool with just a tube of silicone.

The customer in Tempe had a slow drip from the bottom of the door, and the boot looked fine with no tears. I cleaned the area with alcohol, applied a thin bead of high-temp silicone along the outer metal clamp channel, and let it cure for a full day. Has anyone else tried a sealant fix instead of the full, expensive replacement?

2 comments

c/coding-for-beginners•

the_luna•27d ago

I just learned that the first computer bug was a real, physical bug stuck in a machine

I was reading an article on the history of programming and found this out. It happened in 1947 at Harvard University. A team working on a computer called the Mark II found a moth stuck in a relay, which was causing errors. They actually taped the bug into their logbook and wrote 'first actual case of bug being found.' I always thought 'bug' was just a word for a mistake, not a real insect. It's funny to think that a tiny moth gave us the term we all use now. It makes me feel a bit better about my own simple mistakes when I'm trying to learn Python. Has anyone else come across a cool bit of coding history that surprised them?

2 comments

Recent Comments

1d ago

My neighbor's hedge trimmer died mid-branch and I had to finish his driveway cleanup

Gotta love when a neighborly favor turns into a mini wage negotiation. I half expect Frank to start handing out pay stubs with my holiday bonus.

3d ago

Found a 1980s ad saying everyone would have a robot butler by 2000

Eighty seven hits different now doesn't it. I noticed this same pattern with those old flying car predictions. We got stuck on the small stuff instead. My mom still complains her smart speaker can't tell the difference between "set a timer for pizza" and "set a timer for 10 minutes." Meanwhile my vacuum bot spent last Tuesday fighting a cat toy for an hour. Its like we aimed for butlers and ended up with gadgets that barely understand basic commands. The gap between what they sold us and what actually showed up is honestly kind of funny when you think about it.

3d ago

Switched back to a magnesium float after years of using a resin one

Barely touching the surface" is exactly why I disagree, you need some pressure to get the cream right.

4d ago

Serious question - rotary brush vs traditional scraping for heavy creosote buildup?

Rotary brush vs traditional scraping" - rotary brushes actually just throw sparks with heavy creosote, they're for light coatings only.

4d ago

I chose a used IFR GPS over new comms gear and it paid off big

Used gear can be a solid bet if you know what you're looking at and the unit has a good history. That 155XL's approach capability is still legit for the price even if it's not the latest thing.