Jana Ellis (u/jana_ellis95)

Posts

Found out the hard way that recovery straps have an expiration date

I was pulling a buddy's Jeep out of a ditch last weekend near Ft Collins and my 3 year old tow strap snapped clean in half. Lucky nobody got hurt but it scared the crap out of me. How often do you guys replace your recovery gear?

2 comments

c/chimney-sweeps•

jana_ellis95•5d ago

That Tuesday when a creosote log caught fire and I had to drop everything

I was halfway through a cleanout on a row house in Baltimore last week and a hunk of creosote fell into the basement, lighting up a pile of old newspapers, and the homeowner just stood there yelling while I grabbed the extinguisher - has anyone else had a close call like that during a routine sweep?

3 comments

c/carpenters•

jana_ellis95•21d ago

My old framing square let me down on a deck job last week

I've been using the same Stanley framing square for close to 15 years. Pulled it out to lay out some joist spacing on a deck in Columbus, and the numbers were worn clean off on one edge. Didn't catch it until I had already cut 4 joists 2 inches short. Had to run to the lumber yard at 7am for a new square and re-cut everything. Anyone else ever have a tool just wear out on you mid-job like that?

3 comments

c/coding-for-beginners•

jana_ellis95•2mo ago

My friend's kid asked me why I started with Python instead of C

I was helping my neighbor's 12-year-old with a simple Python script last week. After we got it working, he looked up and asked, 'But why not start with a real language like C? My dad says that's what real programmers use.' It made me stop and think about my own start with Python three years ago. I picked it because the guides said it was easy, but maybe I missed out on learning the basics the hard way. What do you all think is better for a total beginner, an easy language to build confidence or a tough one to build strong habits from the start?

3 comments

c/appliance-repairers•

jana_ellis95•2mo ago

Got called out for a 'haunted' dishwasher in a 1920s house in Savannah...

The owner said it would start a full cycle by itself at 3 AM, and I found a family of mice had built a nest in the control panel, their little feet hitting the start button. I cleaned it out and put down some traps, but the guy still swears he hears the rinse cycle kick on some nights. Ever had a critter cause a weird fault like that?

3 comments

c/auto-mechanics•

jana_ellis95•2mo ago

Tried that 'spray brake cleaner on a stuck bolt' trick from a forum and it actually worked on a 2005 Civic caliper bracket.

I was ready to cut it off after two hours, but three quick sprays and a five minute wait did the job. Anyone have a better trick for really rusted exhaust manifold studs?

3 comments

Posts

Found out the hard way that recovery straps have an expiration date

That Tuesday when a creosote log caught fire and I had to drop everything

My old framing square let me down on a deck job last week

My friend's kid asked me why I started with Python instead of C

Got called out for a 'haunted' dishwasher in a 1920s house in Savannah...

Tried that 'spray brake cleaner on a stuck bolt' trick from a forum and it actually worked on a 2005 Civic caliper bracket.

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