Drew Bailey (u/drew706)

Posts

PSA: I spent $300 on a networking event at the Georgia Aquarium that was a total bust

I signed up for the 'Atlanta Tech Connect' mixer last month, thinking it would be a great way to meet founders. I paid the $300 ticket, got a new shirt, and drove downtown. The event was just a crowded room with loud music, and I couldn't have a single real conversation. I left after an hour with zero contacts. Has anyone found a better way to actually meet people in the tech scene here?

3 comments

c/baking-fails-and-wins•

drew706•3d ago

My attempt at a 'simple' sourdough turned into a kitchen science experiment

So I got it in my head to make a basic sourdough loaf from a recipe I found online. Everything seemed fine during the first rise, but when I went to shape it, the dough just would not hold. It was like trying to fold a wet towel. I baked it anyway, hoping for a miracle, and what came out of the oven looked like a flat, sad pancake with the texture of a brick. My partner took one look and said, 'Did you forget an ingredient?' Turns out, I absolutely did. I completely skipped the salt. I learned that salt isn't just for flavor, it actually tightens the gluten structure. Has anyone else ever baked something that just completely fell apart because of one missing thing?

3 comments

c/aircraft-mechanics•

drew706•3d ago

A worn-out 10mm socket almost cost me a whole afternoon on a Cessna 172 last Tuesday

The socket split while I was torquing a cylinder base nut, sending the wrench flying into the cowling. What's your go-to brand for sockets that can handle the daily abuse?

3 comments

c/bargaining-board•

drew706•5d ago

Rant: People keep giving 'budget' numbers before they even know the project scope

I swear, this happens at least once a week. A potential client will email me and the very first thing they ask is 'What's your rate?' or 'What's your budget for this?' before they've told me a single detail about what they actually need. Last Thursday, someone from a startup in Austin said 'Our budget is $500' for what turned out to be a full website rebuild with custom features. It's a total waste of time for everyone! They lock themselves into a number that has no connection to the real work, and then get upset when my quote is higher. I've learned to shut that down fast. Now my first reply is always asking for a project brief or a quick call to understand the goals. How do you guys handle these 'budget first' conversations without scaring them off?

3 comments

c/email-template-swap•

drew706•6d ago

Had a convo with my buddy Mark that changed how I see follow-up emails

We were grabbing a beer after work and he told me his open rate on a third follow-up email jumped from like 5% to 40% just by changing the subject line to 'Re: Our last chat' instead of 'Checking in again'. It made me realize I've been way too formal and obvious in my own templates. Anyone got other sneaky-good subject lines that actually get a reply?

4 comments

c/anime-discussions•

drew706•9d ago

My cousin told me he only watches anime dubbed now and it threw me

We were at his place in Denver last weekend, just hanging out. He put on a new show and I heard English voices. I asked him about it, and he said, 'Honestly, I just got tired of reading. After working all day, I want to watch, not read.' That hit different because I've always been a sub-only person, like it's the 'right' way. But hearing him say it like that, just a simple choice for his own tired eyes, made me rethink my whole stance. It wasn't about quality for him, it was about comfort. I never really thought about it from that angle before. Has anyone else had a talk that changed how they feel about the sub vs dub thing?

3 comments

c/commercial-divers•

drew706•13d ago

A diver in Mobile Bay told me to always check the spool piece myself, and it saved my neck.

We were on a pipeline job last spring, and the lead diver handed me a spool piece he said was 'good to go'. I remembered the old hand's advice, gave it my own once-over, and found a hairline crack in the weld that would have split under pressure. How many of you make it a rule to do your own final check on every piece of gear, no matter who says it's ready?

3 comments

c/cabinetmakers•

drew706•14d ago

PSA: My old way of setting up for face frame doors was a total time suck

For years, I'd clamp a straightedge to the cabinet box, run the router, then spend forever cleaning up tear-out with a chisel. It was messy and took me about 45 minutes per cabinet. Last winter, I finally bit the bullet and bought a dedicated face frame door jig from Kreg. The first time I used it on a set of six upper cabinets, I was done in under two hours total. The setup is just faster and the bearing guides eliminate almost all the tear-out I used to get. I can't believe I waited so long to switch, just because the old way was 'how I was taught'. What other jigs or setups have you guys bought that actually saved you real time in the shop?

3 comments

c/archaeology-discoveries•

drew706•1mo ago

Got into a argument about how we handle fragile sites after they're found

So my buddy and I were talking about this cave painting discovery that got damaged by tourists. He says we should lock everything down to save it, but I think people have a right to see history up close. It's a mess trying to keep things safe while letting folks learn. How do you all deal with this?

4 comments

c/comic-book-fans•

drew706•1mo ago

Appreciation post: Letting go of my comic book timeline hang-up

I always got mad at friends who jumped into comics without knowing the full backstory. Now I see they're just having a good time, and I joined in on random issues. Do you think we focus too much on getting the history right?

4 comments

Posts

PSA: I spent $300 on a networking event at the Georgia Aquarium that was a total bust

My attempt at a 'simple' sourdough turned into a kitchen science experiment

A worn-out 10mm socket almost cost me a whole afternoon on a Cessna 172 last Tuesday

Rant: People keep giving 'budget' numbers before they even know the project scope

Had a convo with my buddy Mark that changed how I see follow-up emails

My cousin told me he only watches anime dubbed now and it threw me

A diver in Mobile Bay told me to always check the spool piece myself, and it saved my neck.

PSA: My old way of setting up for face frame doors was a total time suck

Got into a argument about how we handle fragile sites after they're found

Appreciation post: Letting go of my comic book timeline hang-up

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