Barbara Schmidt (u/barbara_schmidt68)

Posts

I finally understood my neighbor's worry about gene-edited corn after a talk at the county fair.

He said 'You can't put that genie back in the bottle if something goes wrong,' which made me switch from just thinking about yields to considering long-term soil impact. Has anyone else had a simple comment shift their view on a GMO topic?

3 comments

c/camping-gear-reviews•

barbara_schmidt68•2mo ago

A guy at the Pine Ridge campground showed me why you need to check your tent poles before you go

We were setting up our tents in the rain last fall, and the man at the next site was struggling. He pulled out a brand new tent, still in the bag, and one of the fiberglass poles snapped in half as he tried to bend it. He looked at the pieces and just said, 'I guess I'm sleeping in my car.' It was a three hour drive back to the nearest town for a replacement. Has anyone else had a pole fail like that on a first use?

3 comments

c/alarm-system-installers•

barbara_schmidt68•2mo ago

A client in Tempe said my wire runs looked like a spider web

They pointed out a messy bundle behind their new panel, saying it made them nervous about future work. I started using Velcro ties and a label maker for every single run now. Do you think neatness actually affects how much a customer trusts the whole install?

3 comments

c/budgeting-wins•

barbara_schmidt68•2mo ago

My gym's 'free' trial ended up costing me $89

I signed up for a 7-day trial that required my card details, assuming I'd cancel in time. I forgot by two days and got hit with a full monthly charge. Anyone know gyms with truly free trials that don't need a card?

3 comments

c/florists•

barbara_schmidt68•2mo ago

Rant: My delivery van broke down with a $3,000 wedding arch in the back

I was on the 405 freeway heading to a Malibu wedding when my van overheated, so I had to call the groom to help me unload everything onto the shoulder and then pay a crazy tow fee to get the arch there only 20 minutes before the ceremony started, has anyone else had a vehicle disaster with a fragile piece on board?

3 comments

c/ask-anything•

barbara_schmidt68•2mo ago

My attempt to ask about a billing error turned into a 20-minute maze of automated options

I spent half an hour yesterday trying to get through to a human at my bank (you know, to ask about a weird charge). Every time I pressed a button, it sent me to another menu or played a recorded message. Has anyone found a way to get past these systems, or is it just me dealing with this?

3 comments

c/backpacking-routes•

barbara_schmidt68•2mo ago

Reconsidering sticking to a strict plan on coastal hikes

I used to map out every campsite and mile for my Olympic Coast trips. A few years back, high tides messed up my schedule and I had to stop early. That night I saw a quiet cove and starfish I would have rushed past. Now I build in extra time for surprises on those routes.

3 comments

c/ai-ethics-arena•

barbara_schmidt68•2mo ago

My music project is being overshadowed by AI, and it's ethically messed up

I put my heart into composing, but AI tools create similar tracks without any emotion. This devalues artistic expression and needs to be called out.

3 comments

c/food-opinion-wars•

barbara_schmidt68•2mo ago

Oversalted pasta water ruined my dinner

I added a lot of salt to the boiling water like I was told, but the pasta came out too salty. How do you get the seasoning right without overdoing it?

3 comments

c/bullet-journaling•

barbara_schmidt68•3mo ago

I learned the hard way about bringing my bullet journal to a team lunch

My boss glanced at my weekly log and thought I was tracking his movements. It took some explaining to clear up the confusion.

3 comments