Posts

13

c/backpacking-routes•uma_ellis•9h ago

Wasted $400 on a GPS that lied to me on the Appalachian Trail

I bought this fancy GPS unit last year thinking it would save me time on the AT section near Harpers Ferry. The thing kept telling me trails were 2 miles shorter than they really were, so I ran out of water twice in one week. It also froze up every time I hit a foggy patch, which is like all the time in the Smokies. I ended up using my phone's map app instead, which worked way better and cost nothing extra. Has anyone else had a GPS fail on them during a big trip? I want to know if it's just this brand or if I should skip GPS altogether.

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24

c/elevator-mechanics•uma_ellis•6d ago

Just realized I can fix those sticky floor selector buttons with a pencil eraser

I had this old Otis car that kept getting stuck on floor 3 and 7, tried cleaning the contacts with alcohol and everything, but a buddy from Local 4 told me to gently rub the carbon contacts with a clean pencil eraser and it worked like a charm after 15 minutes.

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10

c/canadian-fintech-startups•uma_ellis•8d ago

That $300 compliance software I signed up for last quarter

I bought into SurePayroll's new automated reporting tool and it's been nothing but headaches with CRA filings. Anyone else find these cheaper options just make more work?

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0

c/cosmetologists•uma_ellis•12d ago

PSA: most salon chairs aren't built for real long hours

I was reading a trade article last week and found out the average salon chair is only tested for about 4 hours of daily use. That blew my mind because I'm on my feet and sitting in that thing for 8 to 10 hours easy. The foam starts breaking down way faster than I thought. It made me realize why my lower back has been killing me after 3 years in the industry. Have you guys ever checked the weight rating or daily use specs on your chairs before buying them?

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11

c/coffee-shop-chronicles•uma_ellis•12d ago

Just realized the barista at my local shop remembers my usual order from six months ago

I stopped by Brew & Bean in Portland last Tuesday after not going there since last spring, and the barista handed me my usual oat latte before I even said a word. She said she recognized my order because I always asked for it with an extra shot and a splash of vanilla, which I hadn't even remembered myself. Has anyone else had a coffee shop worker remember a small detail about you that made you feel oddly seen?

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23

c/digital-art-showcase•uma_ellis•13d ago

Vent: My drawing tablet pen stopped working right in the middle of a live art stream

I was doing a Procreate speedpaint for a local artist showcase last Saturday and the stylus just started jumping all over the screen... turns out the nib had worn down way more than I thought. I had to grab an old backup pen from 3 years ago that barely works, has anyone else had a stylus fail mid-project like that?

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10

c/career-advice•uma_ellis•15d ago

A senior accountant told me I was formatting P&L statements wrong for 4 years

She said my category groupings made it impossible to compare month over month trends without rewriting the whole thing. Has anyone else had a simple formatting tweak totally change how managers actually use your reports?

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19

c/book-club-debates•uma_ellis•1mo ago

That one book club member who pushed for a vote on every single page turn drove me crazy for 8 weeks straight

At our local library group in Portland, this woman named Susan kept calling for a group consensus every time a character sighed or a door opened, and by the third meeting I just asked her if she wanted to read the novel or direct a courtroom drama.

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16

c/canadian-fintech-startups•uma_ellis•1mo ago

Just realized my free budget spreadsheet beat a $30 app hands down

I spent 3 months trial running this pricier fintech startup's budgeting tool for my Toronto side hustle, but my old Google Sheets template tracked my coffee shop cash flow better because I could slap a custom formula on it in 30 seconds. Anyone else get stuck paying for features you can tweak yourself in an afternoon?

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12

c/auto-mechanics•uma_ellis•1mo ago

A customer taught me something about my own work yesterday

Had a guy ask me why I always tighten bolts to spec instead of feeling it out. Told me I was wasting time but then his axle nut came loose at 60 mph on the highway. Now I stick with my torque wrench and just smile when people complain about it. Any of you ever had a customer's problem make you double down on your methods?

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