u/PushCharacter8496

wife's been on about getting one of those pilates reformer things for our spare room. she's been doing classes for ages and reckons it'll save us money in the long run.

I had a look online and mate these things aren't cheap. like I could buy a decent set of tools for that kinda coin.

anyone else's partner talked them into this? do you actually use it or does it become a very expensive clothes rack after a month? I'm not trying to be a tightarse but I also don't wanna drop a grand on something that'll just gather dust.

So I've been shooting casually for a few years now, mostly street stuff and the occasional landscape when I travel. My phone has done a decent job but I kept hitting its limits. No real control over depth of field, struggling in low light, and just that constant feeling of fighting the camera instead of using it.

After a ton of research and some back and forth, I ended up picking up a used mirrorless body in decent condition. Didn't want to drop full price on something new when I'm still figuring out what I actually need. The used market seemed like the smarter move while I build my kit slowly.

The difference even in the first few days has been pretty significant. Having manual controls that feel intentional changes how you think about a shot before you take it.

That said, I'm curious how others made this transition. Did you go straight to mirrorless or start with a DSLR? For those who went used, how did you vet the condition before buying? I checked the shutter count and looked the body over pretty carefully, but I'm wondering if there's anything I missed that only shows up later. Would love to hear what the learning curve looked like for people who made a similar jump.

honestly I had to delete tiktok again today. Every time my feed turns into those weird aesthetic wellness routines I feel my anxiety spiking

Its just exhausting how normal it is to disguise disordered habits as "health" I spent years thinking I was just being disciplined when I was actually completely falling apart. The mental fatigue of constantly obsessing over numbers is just... too much

I finally admitted to my therapist that I need actual support and we are setting up some outpatient stuff with eating disorder solutions next month. Im terrified but also kinda relieved to just stop fighting my own body for once

Just wanted to vent because unlearning this stuff is so hard when the entire internet constantly rewards it. stay safe guys.

been poking around this sub for a while grabbing links to free courses and stuff some of its genuinely great, like the MIT OCW content and a few of the coursera archived classes. but man. the amount of stuff ive bookmarked vs the amount i've actually finished is embarrassing.

I think part of it is that a lot of these free resources are structured like "here's 47 hours of lecture videos, good luck" which works for some people i guess but my brain just doesnt work that way. I need something that actually tells me what to do tomorrow morning when I sit down, not just a syllabus and a prayer

my younger brother has been using this thing called boosted brains for ACT prep and I was kinda jealous of how his stuff was set up tbh. like actual daily structure, not just a pile of pdfs and video links. made me realize how much online education stuff (even the really good free content) just dumps materials on you and calls it a course.

Not saying the free stuff is bad - its incredible that it exists and I've learned a lot from it. but I feel like there's this middle ground between "youtube playlist" and "pay $2000 for a bootcamp" that's weirdly empty. like where's the $50-100 thing that just organizes the free content into an actual plan? maybe Im just bad at self-structuring idk.

anyone else feel this way or am I just making excuses for why I've only completed 3 of the 18 courses i've bookmarked over the last year

edit: to be clear this isn't me asking for course recs (though feel free to drop em), more just wondering if the "structure vs content" gap is a me problem or an industry problem

Not even kidding, Im sweating through my station boots. dispatch has us posted in the direct sun outside a wendy's and the AC just gave up entirely on this rusted out econoline. Been sitting here scrolling on my phone trying to ignore the heat stroke and somehow ended up looking at these giant mobile medical vehicles they build for like, remote health clinics and disaster response

They literally have actual climate control and enough headroom so you don't compress your spine into a pancake every time you stand up

and then my radio clicks and it's a bari dialysis return up three flights of stairs. Why do we do this to ourselves lmao

i have been searching for a well made bed frame that has built in storage and feels solid not cheap or flimsy. i want something that will last for years and has a clean look that fits with the rest of my room.

i checked a local brand and really liked their custom timber storage beds. the build quality looked excellent with solid wood and smooth drawers that seemed practical without ruining the design.

has anyone bought a similar storage bed before and what features turned out to be the most useful in real life? any tips on what to look for in the construction so it stays strong over time?

So I was browsing a local thrift store and spotted what looks like a decent 35mm film SLR sitting on the shelf for $20. The body looks clean, no obvious damage, and the lens glass seems clear with no fungus that I can see. The shutter fires when I press the button and the film advance lever moves smoothly, which I take as good signs.

My problem is that I have basically no experience with film cameras and I genuinely don't know what else to check before I commit to running a roll through it. I don't want to waste a roll of film and the cost of developing just to find out the light seals are completely rotted out or something is off with the meter.

A few things I'm wondering about. Is there a reliable way to check light seals without actually shooting film? How do I test if the meter is giving accurate readings without another camera to compare it to? And are there any common failure points on older film SLRs I should be inspecting that aren't obvious to a beginner?

I know a lot of people here have dug up old bodies and brought them back to life, so any advice from people who have been through this would be really appreciated. Happy to share the make and model if that helps narrow things down.

okay i'm just gonna say it. i'm tired of the options here. every time i go to nykaa or a store i see the same thing. either it's cheap but full of fragrance and random stuff. or it's expensive and i can't justify the price.

i just want basic skincare. cleanser. moisturizer. something simple. no fragrance. no essential oils. no 47 different active ingredients. just simple.

i've tried some indian brands but honestly most of them irritate my skin. i don't know if it's the formulation or the ingredients but it never works out.

anyone else feel like the indian skincare market is missing something? or have you found products that actually work without breaking the bank

I'm looking for a commercial cleaning company is here in Kelowna, and I'm not sure where to start

We rent office space here. Great location, fair price, but the building cleaning is seriously lacking. Dusty corners, sad washrooms, floors that haven't seen a proper mop in ages. Not disgusting, but definitely not great

Clients notice. So do we

We're thinking of hiring our own service for our suite, maybe even pitching in with other tenants for the common areas

So I'm turning to you, has anyone in Kelowna used a commercial cleaner they actually trust? Someone reliable, thorough, and reasonably priced?

I'd really appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!

Budget: $400–600
Country: USA
Condition: Preferably used, but open to new if the value is there
Type of Camera: DSLR or Mirrorless
Intended Use: Photography
Photography Styles: Everyday life, travel, outdoor photography, and occasional portraits
What Features Do You Absolutely Need: Good low light performance, interchangeable lenses, manual controls, room to learn and grow
What Features Would Be Nice to Have: Reliable autofocus, decent battery life, compact size for travel
Portability: Small enough to carry regularly in a backpack or shoulder bag
Cameras You're Considering: Used Canon and Nikon DSLRs, Sony a6000 series, other entry level mirrorless options
Cameras You Already Have: Smartphone

Notes:
I've been using my smartphone for pretty much all my photography over the last few years, and honestly it's taken me farther than I expected. But lately I keep running into its limitations, especially in low light and when I want more control over depth of field. It feels like I'm starting to outgrow what my phone can do.

I've done quite a bit of research and keep going back and forth between picking up a used DSLR or jumping into an entry level mirrorless system. Mirrorless seems like the future and the technology is appealing, but the price difference is hard to ignore. On the other hand, there are a lot of older DSLRs available at great prices and many people still seem to get excellent results from them.

I'm not planning to do professional work. I mainly want a camera that will help me learn photography properly, understand exposure and composition better, and give me more creative control than a phone can offer.

For those who made the switch from smartphone photography to a dedicated camera, what did you end up choosing? At this budget, would you lean toward a used DSLR or an entry level mirrorless system? I'd love to hear what worked well for you and whether there are any specific models I should keep an eye out for.

I saw the recent news about Google adding LHDC support to Pixels with Android 17 and was surprised it didn't generate more discussion.

Bluetooth audio codec support has always been one of those areas where Android seems ahead on paper, but the real-world experience often depends on the combination of phone, earbuds, and manufacturer support. Because of that, even meaningful improvements can end up flying under the radar.

LHDC offers significantly higher bitrates than SBC or AAC and is often compared to LDAC in terms of audio quality. With native support potentially reaching more Pixel users, it seems like it could be a meaningful addition for people using compatible headphones and earbuds.

What I find interesting is the broader trend of Google quietly improving the audio stack over time. Codec support, latency, and overall audio handling have gradually improved across Android releases, but these changes rarely get the same attention as camera features or AI tools.

For those who care about audio quality on Android, do you think expanding codec support at the OS level actually makes a meaningful difference? Or does the ecosystem remain too fragmented for additions like LHDC to have much impact? And for anyone who has experience with both, how does LHDC compare to LDAC in real-world listening?

I remember when Apple Notes was basically a digital sticky pad nobody took seriously. You used it for quick grocery lists and that was about it. But over the past couple of years I've genuinely shifted most of my notetaking workflow into it and away from thirdparty apps I was paying subscriptions for.

Collapsible sections, math equation support, smart folders, and the improved tagging system have made it a surprisingly capable tool. On iPad with an Apple Pencil it's become really solid for handwritten notes too, especially with the handwritingtotext conversion getting more accurate.

What really got me was realizing I was paying for apps that Apple Notes now essentially replaces for free. The iCloud sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad is seamless in a way that thirdparty options sometimes aren't.

Curious whether others have made a similar shift or if you still rely on something like Notion, Obsidian, or Bear for your main workflow. Are there things you feel those apps still do meaningfully better, or has Apple Notes quietly become good enough for most people? Would love to hear what features you're still wishing Apple would add.

So I've been slowly redoing my kitchen for the past few months. New countertops, cabinet hardware, all of it. But the one thing that kept stalling everything was a pipe under the sink with a slow leak. I kept telling myself it was minor and I'd get to it eventually. Bad call. By the time I actually looked into it, the cabinet floor was warped and there was moisture behind the drywall.

I'm in tech, not plumbing, so I had no idea where to start. A friend pointed me toward Top Flow Plumbing Services. Honestly it was the right call. They came out fast, diagnosed the problem properly, and didn't try to sell me on things I didn't need.

Everything is dry now and the remodel is finally back on track. For anyone else midremodel: did you handle plumbing issues yourself or just call someone? And how do you know when a leak is actually serious?

So I was digging through a local thrift store yesterday and found what looks like a Minolta X570 in pretty decent cosmetic condition. The body has a few small scuffs but nothing serious, and the lens that came with it is a 50mm f/2, which I know is a solid lens. The shutter seems to fire at most speeds, but the light seals look pretty crumbled and there might be some sticky residue on the mirror. I picked it up for $8 because worst case I lose eight dollars.

I shoot digital mostly, a Sony mirrorless, but I've been curious about film for a while. This felt like a lowrisk way to start. Before I drop money on a CLA or light seal kit and a test roll, I wanted some outside perspective from people who actually know this stuff.

Is the X570 a decent body to learn film on? Is it worth putting another $20 to $40 into seals and maybe a basic cleaning, or should I just run a cheap roll through it asis and see what happens first? Also curious if anyone has used that particular 50mm Rokkor on a modern mirrorless with an adapter.

Appreciate any advice from people who have been down this road.

Hey guys, I wanted to pop in here and ask about your experiences with lymph drainage stuff for Long Covid... because honestly, I’m starting to panic a bit.

Lately, I’ve been feeling anxious because my fatigue has skyrocketed since I started ramping up my daily lymph routines. For a bit of background... I’ve been dealing with LC for about 1.5 years now, mostly navigating the usual annoying waves of brain fog, muscle aches, and low energy. But man, this past month? It’s been a whole different tier of exhaustion. It's unlike any crash I’ve ever experienced since this nightmare started.

I keep reading that a "herx reaction" or general side effects from shifting all that stagnant fluid are normal... like it’s a necessary evil to clear out the viral debris. But ugh... I’m just desperately praying that this recent escalation is just one of those "things have to get worse before they get better" situations.

For extra context, I caught a really nasty case of the flu back in February that set me back, so a few weeks after that, I decided to take action and started doing lymphatic drainage and dry brushing to flush things out.

Did anyone else experience a massive, terrifying dip in energy when they first started moving their lymph? Did it eventually clear up, or am I just actively making myself worse? Would appreciate any insight right now... Thanks.

I’m in NSW and my contract includes a clause about “reasonable additional hours as required.”

Lately my employer has been expecting regular unpaid overtime, not just occasional busy periods.

There’s no clear limit defined.

At what point does “reasonable” stop being reasonable? Is there any guidance on how this is usually interpreted?

Beginnings feel relatively easy for me-I can set up a situation, introduce characters, get things moving. But when it comes to ending a story, I either rush it or leave it feeling unresolved. Sometimes I avoid finishing things altogether because I don’t want to “ruin” what I started. How do you approach endings? Do you plan them from the start or figure them out along the way?

I’ve finally decided to stop wearing my workout earbuds everywhere and actually invest in some overear headphones that look good. I’m not planning on using them for the gym or sitting at a desk all day, I mostly want something that looks sharp while I’m walking around the city and actually sounds decent. Looking to spend under 250 dollars (i know is a tide budget but like I said, they are more for a street, point A to point B, kind of use)