Spent 4 hours chasing a ghost in VIA layout

I was trying to get a custom split spacebar working on my new build and kept getting random key presses. Turns out I had a bad solder joint on the right side that only showed up when the board flexed a tiny bit. Has anyone else spent way too long debugging something that was just a cold joint?

Hot take: I just found out my tent's rainfly has a way lower hydrostatic head rating than I thought

Was looking up specs for my 3-year-old Kelty tent last night before a trip to the Smokies and saw the rainfly is only rated for 1200mm. That's actually really low for a 3-season tent, especially after some use. How much does that rating drop after a few seasons of wear and tear anyway?

Tried photographing a dead mall at night with a cheap flash versus no flash - totally different results. Which look feels more real to you?

Met an old guy at the Meriden Square Mall who knew every single store that ever opened there

I was poking around the old food court area by myself last weekend, and this older gentleman walks up and asks if I was looking for something specific. Turns out he worked maintenance there from 1985 until it closed in 2019. He pointed to a weirdly tiled spot near the escalator and said that's where the Orange Julius used to be, and he remembered the girl who worked there always gave him free samples. Then he showed me a faded outline on the floor where the Waldenbooks was, and he told me about how they had a midnight release for one of the Harry Potter books and the line wrapped around past the Sears entrance. It was wild hearing someone talk about a dead mall like it was a living thing... he knew the smells and the sounds and even the dumb little quirks like which fountain always sprayed on people if the wind was right. Did any of you ever run into former employees at a mall you were exploring? What kind of stories did they tell you?

Finally figured out the elbow trick for shaky night shots

I've been taking blurry photos of the moon and city lights for like 2 years. Tried tripods but I'm always hiking and don't want to carry one. Last week I was messing around at sunset near my local park and remembered someone on here saying to tuck your elbows into your ribs like you're hugging yourself. I did that and braced against a tree. First shot came out crystal clear. I guess I was always holding my arms out like a dork. Has anyone else had that dumb moment where it was just your stance the whole time?

Why does nobody talk about using solar chargers on the Appalachian Trail

I was near Roan Mountain in Tennessee last May and my power bank died on day three, so I strapped a 14-watt panel to my pack and it kept my phone alive for the whole stretch - has anyone else tried this on longer routes?

Had a walk-in yesterday who wanted a skin fade from a 2 guard start...

I'm over in Cleveland and this guy sits down, says he wants a skin fade but wants to start from a 2 guard at the top. I told him that's gonna leave a big step up and he insisted. 20 minutes later he's staring at the mirror with this weird ridge halfway up his head. He asked me to fix it but there wasn't much I could do without taking more off. Anyone else deal with clients who think they know the clipper game better than you do?

Saw my neighbor use a binder clip to fix his garden hose and it blew my mind

Last weekend in my backyard here in Austin, I saw my neighbor Jim hook a binder clip onto the nozzle of his leaky hose and tighten the rubber washer inside. He just smiled and said, 'Sometimes a dollar store hack beats a trip to Home Depot.' I tried it myself and that hose has been drip-free for 5 days now. Has anyone else borrowed office supplies for outdoor repairs?

Had to pick between sub or dub for a 90s classic and I went wrong

I finally sat down to watch Cowboy Bebop for the first time last week and I had to choose between the sub and the dub. Everyone online kept saying the dub was legendary so I went with that, but after 3 episodes I felt like I was missing something. Switched to sub and the whole vibe clicked for me, the voices just matched the animation better. Has anyone else started with a popular dub and then regretted it halfway through?

TIL my neighbor's dog knows the mail truck schedule better than me

I always thought I had a good handle on when mail comes to my street in Lakewood. But last week I noticed my neighbor's golden retriever starts barking at exactly 2:15 pm every weekday, and sure enough the mail truck pulls up 3 minutes later. I've lived here 4 years and never clocked it that precisely. Has anyone else's pet figured out a routine you missed?