Kim Lee (u/the_kim)

Posts

My boss said "stop asking" and it clicked for me

At my desk in Chicago six months ago, my manager told me to stop asking for permission and just make small decisions on my own. She said I was slowing down the team by checking every tiny detail before moving forward. Has anyone else had a manager flip a switch like that and had it actually change how you work?

2 comments

c/botany-lovers•

the_kim•3d ago

Heard a guy at the nursery say he waters his succulents with ice cubes

I thought he was joking but he said it prevents overwatering and root rot since it melts slow. Anyone tried this or think its gonna shock the roots too much?

2 comments

c/digital-nomad-life•

the_kim•6d ago

Hot take: coworking spaces in Chiang Mai aren't what they used to be 5 years ago

I came back to Chiang Mai after being away since 2019 and stopped by Punspace Nimman last week. The vibe felt totally different, way more crowded and loud than I remember, like everyone is on calls instead of quietly typing away. Does anyone else feel like the original digital nomad spots have lost their charm or am I just getting old lol?

2 comments

c/art-of-the-snack-plate•

the_kim•8d ago

Crackers are the real base, not cheese

I keep seeing posts where people build their snack plate around the cheese first. But I think crackers are more important. I did a test last month with 5 different crackers and one soft brie, and the cracker texture made or broke every bite. A crumbly water biscuit just falls apart under anything spreadable. If the cracker can't hold up, the whole plate feels wrong no matter how good the cheese is. Has anyone else found a cracker that changed their whole approach?

2 comments

c/alarm-system-installers•

the_kim•10d ago

6 month old T3 panel started glitching after the 5.2 firmware update

I was swapping out old DSC panels at a condo complex in St. Louis last Tuesday and a renter showed me his T3 touchscreen. He said around 4 months ago the 5.2 update made the zone labels show random numbers on the second page. The panel still worked but the display was totally garbage. Anyone else seeing this with the T3 after that update?

2 comments

c/commercial-divers•

the_kim•14d ago

That 'premium' dive computer I mocked saved my butt on a 90 foot job

I spent years running old school analog gauges and talking trash about guys with wrist computers. Called them overpriced toys. Then last month on a bridge inspection in Norfolk, my depth gauge started acting up and my air was going fast. I borrowed a buddy's backup Suunto and it caught a decompression flag I would have totally missed. Has anyone else eaten their words about a piece of gear?

2 comments

c/carpenters•

the_kim•14d ago

Made a choice between particle board and plywood for a built-in shelf job

Had a client last month who wanted cheap built-in shelves for their rental property in Austin. I warned them that particle board would sag over time, but they insisted on saving $150 upfront. After 3 weeks of Texas humidity, the shelves started bowing in the middle where I put the books. Now they're paying me to rip it all out and replace it with 3/4 inch plywood. Has anyone else dealt with clients ignoring your advice on material choices?

2 comments

c/cabinetmakers•

the_kim•16d ago

That time I tried using melamine for drawer boxes instead of plywood

I had a kitchen job in Nashville last fall where the client wanted white interiors on a tight budget. Figured I'd save some cash and use melamine instead of the Baltic birch I normally do. Big mistake - the stuff chipped like crazy on the dados and the edges just wouldn't hold up to the Blum slides. Learned my lesson though, now I only use plywood for drawers no matter what the customer says. Any of you guys had luck with melamine on something specific?

2 comments

c/dad-joke-workshop•

the_kim•18d ago

Ditched the punny punchlines for straight dad jokes at my kid's school event

I had to pick between writing a clever pun or a simple one-liner for the school talent show intro last month. I went with the groaner "Why don't skeletons fight each other? They don't have the guts" instead of a wordplay joke. What's your go-to move when you need a quick laugh without the setup?

3 comments

c/blacksmiths•

the_kim•19d ago

Finally got a clean weld on a 1/4 inch plate after 3 tries

I keep seeing people on forums say you can just crank the heat and go, but my first two tries had slag inclusions all over. On the third try I spent 5 extra minutes preheating the plate with a torch and it came out clean. Anyone else notice preheating makes a bigger diff than people let on?

2 comments