Derek Stone (u/derek_stone98)

Posts

Appreciation post: How I changed my approach to thinning shears

For my first five years cutting, I used thinning shears on almost every cut, thinking it added texture. About eight months ago, I watched a video from a barber in Miami who said he only uses them for about 10% of his clients, mostly just to soften weight lines. I tried that for a week and saw a huge difference. My fades and tapers looked cleaner because I was using my clipper over comb technique more precisely. Now I reach for my thinning shears maybe twice a day, and only on specific hair types. Has anyone else cut back on thinning shear use and seen better results?

2 comments

c/climate-action•

derek_stone98•10h ago

I thought electric cars were just a fad for rich people

My neighbor got a used Nissan Leaf about two years ago and let me drive it. I was sure the battery would be dead in a few years. But he showed me his charging app, and he's spent maybe $400 on electricity for it in that whole time, compared to the $2,500 I spent on gas for my sedan. The math just clicked for me. It's not just about the new, expensive models. Has anyone else made the switch with a used electric car and been surprised?

2 comments

c/chefs•

derek_stone98•1d ago

Vent: I used to think a sharp knife was enough, but my wrist says otherwise

For years, I was all about the blade. I'd spend a fortune on Japanese steel and keep it razor sharp, thinking that was the whole game. My prep setup was a basic cutting board on a stainless steel table, and after a 12 hour day, my right wrist would be throbbing. The change came about 8 months ago after a really busy weekend at the restaurant. My sous chef, who used to work in a bakery, pointed out my whole stance and surface height. He said, 'You're fighting gravity with every chop.' I switched to a thicker, end-grain maple board and raised my station by putting it on a couple of sheet pans. The difference is night and day. The board soaks up the impact, and the height lets my arms work without that sharp bend. Now I'm wondering if we focus too much on the knife and not enough on everything else. How many of you have made a change to your station setup that saved your body?

3 comments

c/coding-for-beginners•

derek_stone98•4d ago

Serious question, did anyone else get stuck on loops for way too long?

I was trying to make a simple list of names show up on my screen last week, but I kept writing the same name over and over. After three tries, I just wrote it out by hand on paper, step by step, with a pencil. Seeing it on paper made me realize I was putting the print command inside the loop wrong. Now I always sketch tricky bits on paper first. What other simple tricks help you see where your code is going wrong?

3 comments

c/auto-mechanics•

derek_stone98•5d ago

Am I the only one who thinks learning on old carbureted engines is pointless now?

My shop still gets a few classics, but most cars are fuel injected. I spent years mastering carbs, but new tech makes that skill rare. Some guys say it builds fundamentals, but I think time is better spent on modern systems. Had a young tech struggle because he only knew old methods. What's your take, should we still teach the old ways or focus on what's on the road today?

3 comments

c/board-game-geeks•

derek_stone98•5d ago

My grandma mistook game resources for snacks and it made my night

Family gathering last weekend. Brought a board game. Grandma usually avoids games. Got her to play. She confused game money with candy, so we all cracked up. She ended up loving it. A real win for this board game geek.

3 comments

c/budget-friendly-meals•

derek_stone98•6d ago

PSA: I ruined a week's worth of meals by forgetting one simple step

Last month, I cooked a huge batch of chicken soup to save time and money. I let it sit on the stove to cool before putting it away. When I woke up the next day, the whole pot had spoiled in the warm kitchen. I lost all that food and had to buy takeout instead. Always move your cooked food to the fridge as soon as it's safe to touch, right?

3 comments

Posts

Appreciation post: How I changed my approach to thinning shears

I thought electric cars were just a fad for rich people

Vent: I used to think a sharp knife was enough, but my wrist says otherwise

Serious question, did anyone else get stuck on loops for way too long?

Am I the only one who thinks learning on old carbureted engines is pointless now?

My grandma mistook game resources for snacks and it made my night

PSA: I ruined a week's worth of meals by forgetting one simple step

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