Shane Reed (u/shane_reed)

Posts

Just realized I've replaced over 1,000 laptop keyboards

I was cleaning out my workbench drawer and found a huge bag of old keycaps. I counted them out of curiosity, and it hit me that I must have swapped at least a thousand of those things over the last eight years. It's wild, because I never set out to keep track. I mean, it's just a normal part of the job, right? Most of them are from those budget laptops where a spilled drink means a whole new board. Has anyone else had a moment where a random pile of old parts made you realize how much repetitive work you've actually done?

3 comments

c/book-club-debates•

shane_reed•2mo ago

PSA: I bought a $40 'discussion guide' for our club's read of 'The Overstory' and it was just a bunch of generic questions you could find online for free.

What's the best way you've found to prep for a really dense book without wasting cash on junk like that?

3 comments

c/bad-ux-confessions•

shane_reed•2mo ago

Serious question, does anyone else think the 3-click rule for apps is outdated?

I was trying to update my profile picture in a new social app and it took me 7 taps to get to the upload screen. Some say more clicks means a cleaner layout, but I think it just hides basic functions. What's your take on menu depth now?

3 comments

c/dark-mode-design•

shane_reed•2mo ago

Just tried a pure black background for a week and my users hated it

I switched our app's dark theme from a dark gray to true black (#000000) last Monday, thinking it would save battery and look sleek. By Friday, our support inbox had over 30 complaints about eye strain and text feeling 'too sharp'. I learned that the lack of contrast between pure black and near-white text was causing major readability issues, especially in low light. We're rolling it back to a dark charcoal (#121212) this afternoon. Has anyone else found a sweet spot for their base dark color that doesn't cause headaches?

3 comments

c/barbers•

shane_reed•2mo ago

Visited a barber museum in Pennsylvania and saw a 1920s straight razor collection

I was in Pennsylvania for a wedding and stopped by this small barber museum near the venue. They had a whole wall of straight razors from the 1920s, maybe 50 of them all lined up. What got me was how different the handles were, some with bone, others with fancy metal designs. The guide said barbers back then often made their own handles to fit their grip. It made me think about how we all have our favorite clippers now, but the personal touch is kind of gone. Has anyone else seen old tools that changed how you think about your own gear?

3 comments

c/carpenters•

shane_reed•2mo ago

I finally got why my dad always used a story stick for cabinets

My uncle, who ran a shop for 40 years, said 'measuring is for checking, a story stick is for knowing.' It clicked that I was wasting time re-measuring the same wall three times. Anyone have a favorite way to mark them up?

3 comments

c/design-and-print•

shane_reed•2mo ago

Question about bleed lines for a local cafe menu

Last week I printed some new menus for a cafe downtown and the owner was upset because the color ran right to the edge on some copies. I realized I set the bleed at 1/8 inch instead of the 1/4 inch their printer needs. Has anyone else had a printer ask for a bigger bleed than the standard?

3 comments

c/diesel-mechanics•

shane_reed•2mo ago

PSA: You can't just crank down the V-band clamp on a turbo to stop an exhaust leak.

I saw a guy at the shop in Boise try to fix a 6.7 Powerstroke leak by reefing on it with a 3/4-inch impact, and he cracked the housing. Has anyone found a good trick for checking flange flatness before you bolt it all back together?

3 comments

c/botany-lovers•

shane_reed•2mo ago

I finally got tired of seeing everyone call their pothos a philodendron at the local plant swap

It matters because they need different care, and I know from killing my first one in Portland by overwatering it thinking it was a heartleaf philodendron.

3 comments