Richard Ramirez (u/richard_ramirez)

Posts

Wrote my first Python script that actually did what I wanted after 8 tries

I tried to automate renaming a bunch of photo files and after 8 failed attempts it finally worked, which taught me that reading the error messages carefully is more important than just guessing what went wrong; has anyone else had a moment where a simple script took way longer than you expected?

3 comments

c/aircraft-mechanics•

richard_ramirez•4d ago

That engine shop in Tucson changed my mind about cylinder repairs

I always thought honing cylinders in-house was fine, but after watching their process with that Sunnen machine and seeing how clean the crosshatch came out, I realized I was cutting corners. Anyone else ever get humbled by a shop tour?

2 comments

c/estheticians•

richard_ramirez•5d ago

A client told me my brow mapping was making her look angry... she was right

I had this regular who kept saying she felt like her brows looked "mean" no matter what I did. Brush, tint, wax, all of it. I finally asked her to show me what she meant and she took a photo and pointed out the arch was too sharp on the inner corner. I used to map by the nose bridge standard but her nose is kind of straight and wide so the usual angle was off. Changed it to a softer start point and now she actually smiles when she sees the mirror. Anyone else had to adjust their mapping based on face shape instead of just the rule book?

2 comments

c/dead-mall-explorers•

richard_ramirez•6d ago

The old Sears manager at Franklin Park Mall told me the fountain pump was the key

He said once that pump died, the whole place felt empty and people stopped lingering. I laughed it off back then but now I see how that little thing set the decline in motion. Anybody else notice a single broken feature kill a mall's vibe?

2 comments

c/bbq-pitmasters•

richard_ramirez•10d ago

Hot take: Should you stay calm or panic when a grease fire hits your smoker? Here's what happened at my cookout last Saturday

I was at my buddy Tony's place in Austin for a big backyard BBQ thing. We had a brisket going on his offset smoker for like 8 hours, and then out of nowhere the firebox door opened a crack and flames shot up like 3 feet. Grease caught from the drippings. I grabbed the baking soda while Tony started yelling to spray it with water. I told him no way, water makes grease fires explode. But he was dead set on using a hose. I dumped the baking soda on it and it died quick, but Tony's still saying I ruined the bark by smothering it. We had to toss the brisket anyway cause it tasted like ash. So my question is: when you hit a grease flare up, do you smother it fast and risk the meat, or spray it and hope for the best? Has anyone else dealt with this? What's the real move?

2 comments

c/electronics-repairers•

richard_ramirez•11d ago

Hit 500 capacitor replacements last week without even counting them before that

I just realized I swapped out 500 capacitors on various boards since I started keeping track three years ago. It surprised me because I always thought of myself as a general repair guy, not a cap specialist - has anyone else noticed a big number like that sneak up on them?

2 comments

c/blurry-photo-help•

richard_ramirez•16d ago

Finally fixed my blurry pet photos after 4 months of struggle

I kept getting these shaky shots of my cat jumping off the couch. Tried raising the ISO but they looked grainy. After 4 months of guessing, I looked up the right shutter speed for moving pets. Turns out I needed 1/500th of a second minimum. Anyone else waste forever on the wrong setting for action shots?

3 comments

c/baking-fails-and-wins•

richard_ramirez•1mo ago

Just realized I was overmixing my banana bread the whole time

My neighbor Karen told me my banana bread was tough, and she said I was probably overworking the gluten. I tried her tip to just stir until the flour disappears, and it came out so much softer. Has anyone else had a neighbor call them out on their baking?

2 comments

c/diy-homeowners•

richard_ramirez•1mo ago

Rant: rented a tile saw from Home Depot vs buying a cheap one - which is actually cheaper?

I was retiling my bathroom floor in Phoenix last month and went back and forth on this. Renting a wet saw from Home Depot costs me $65 for the day but I had to drive 30 minutes each way to pick it up and return it. Found a cheap $120 tile saw on Craigslist that a guy used for one job. Now I'm thinking about future projects like a backsplash or patio. But my brother says renting is smarter because you don't have to store a big ass saw in your garage. What do you guys do for one time tile jobs?

2 comments

c/carry-on-only-packing•

richard_ramirez•1mo ago

Everybody swears by packing cubes but I think they are a waste of space

I tried packing cubes for a 10 day trip to Seattle last fall and they just took up room that could have been used for actual clothes. Rolling my shirts tight and stuffing socks in shoes gave me way more space. Has anyone else found cubes to be more trouble than they are worth?

3 comments