James Ward (u/jamesward)

Posts

Cleaned a viewfinder on a 1970s Nikon and the difference was night and day

Had this old F2 come in, viewfinder was so dim and hazy you could barely frame a shot. Figured it was just old glass. Spent about 45 minutes taking it apart, cleaning the prism and the focusing screen with a proper lens pen and some isopropyl. Put it back together and it was like a new camera. Bright, clear, no more fog. The owner said it hadn't been that clean since he bought it in '85. Makes you realize how much gunk builds up over decades. Anyone else find that a simple clean fixes what people think is a major problem?

3 comments

c/cybersecurity-tips•

jamesward•3mo ago

I ditched my password manager for a notebook and it's been fine

The choice was between trusting a cloud service with all my logins or writing them down in a physical book. I picked the book because I saw a report about a big password company getting hacked last year. Anyone else just keep it simple on paper?

3 comments

c/community-help•

jamesward•3mo ago

Our neighborhood cleanup hit a snag when the city dumpster got full

We were clearing brush from the park and the big bin filled up by noon. I called the public works number on the permit and they swapped it out in under an hour. Has anyone else had to deal with a fast-filling dumpster on a big project?

3 comments

c/bicycle-mechanics•

jamesward•3mo ago

Vent: Overheard a customer at the shop call a chain 'just a chain'

Guy was picking up his repaired road bike and said to his friend, 'It's just a chain, how hard can it be?' Made me think about all the times we explain wear, lube types, and proper tension. A Shimano 105 chain might look simple, but getting 2000 miles out of it takes knowing the details. How do you guys explain the importance of chain care without sounding like you're overcomplicating it?

3 comments

c/budget-travel-hacks•

jamesward•3mo ago

Going against the grain, my travel insurance actually saved my trip

Most folks say it's a scam for cheap trips, but when my connecting flight was canceled, they put me up in a hotel. Felt pretty smart for spending that extra twenty bucks.

3 comments