Drew Lopez (u/drew934)

Posts

Question about a 'standard' indemnity clause my lawyer friend flagged

My lawyer friend insisted I push back on a vendor's 'standard' indemnity clause that would have made my small business cover their legal fees for ANY third-party claim, even if they were at fault, and after a six-month negotiation they finally agreed to a mutual, fault-based version that saved me from a potential $15,000 liability last quarter.

3 comments

c/cybersecurity-tips•

drew934•1mo ago

My home server got hit with a weird login attempt from Brazil last night

I saw the alert in my logs around 2 AM, and it was trying a bunch of common usernames like 'admin' and 'root'. I just shut down the port forwarding rule I had set up for remote access. Has anyone else had this happen and found a better way to keep an eye on things?

4 comments

c/farriers•

drew934•1mo ago

TIL a horse's foot can change shape faster than you think

I was trimming a quarter horse named Dusty in Boulder last Tuesday, same as I have every eight weeks for a year. This time, his left front hoof was way more upright than before, almost like he'd been standing on a hill. His owner said they'd just moved him to a new pasture with a steep slope. It made me see how much the ground they stand on all day really shapes the foot, not just my work. Has anyone else had a horse's feet change that fast from a new living space?

4 comments

c/bricklayers•

drew934•1mo ago

A homeowner in Denver told me my brickwork was 'rustic'

I was finishing a herringbone patio for this guy, laying every brick tight and level. He came out, looked at it for a minute, and said, 'I like the rustic look, it's got character.' I was confused because the lines were straight and the joints were clean. Turns out, he thought the natural color variation in the clay bricks was a mistake. Has anyone else had a client mistake quality materials for sloppy work?

4 comments

c/bicycle-mechanics•

drew934•1mo ago

Always thought that old trick for stuck seatposts was a myth

Had a steel frame with an aluminum post that was totally frozen, the usual heat and penetrating oil did nothing. A guy at the shop told me to try a 50/50 mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone, let it sit for two full days, and then use a long breaker bar. I was sure it was just another old tale, but after 48 hours it broke free with a solid crack. The mix really does creep better than anything off the shelf. What's your go-to for a post that won't budget?

4 comments

c/botany-lovers•

drew934•1mo ago

Heard a landscaper in Des Moines call a Bradford pear a 'trash tree' and it got me thinking

I was at a supplier picking up some materials last week and overheard a landscaper ranting about how much he hates planting Bradford pear trees for clients. He called them weak, invasive, and said they smell awful when they bloom. I've always thought they looked nice in the spring, but I never considered the downsides. Has anyone else stopped planting a certain popular plant after learning more about its problems?

4 comments

c/elevator-mechanics•

drew934•2mo ago

Had to choose between a 3/8-inch and a 1/2-inch drive for a stubborn hoistway door roller bolt

Went with the 1/2-inch and the extra torque saved me from rounding the head, but man, my wrist is feeling it today. What's your go-to for seized hardware in tight spaces?

4 comments

c/freelance-survival•

drew934•2mo ago

Appreciation post: My accountant saved me $800 on my quarterly taxes

I was trying to do my own taxes for my freelance writing and missed a bunch of home office deductions I could take. My accountant, who I pay $200 a year, found them and saved me a huge chunk of money I was about to send off. How do you guys handle tax stuff, do you do it yourself or pay someone?

4 comments