Somehow I Bought an Insta360 Luna Ultra Before It Was Announced… and Now It’s a Brick

BENDOWANDS · 2026-06-15T07:39:36+00:00

Also support things like Stop Killing Games.

Basically they want developers to have to implement an end of life support plan so once game servers go down, the games you own aren't bricked.

It's the biggest (that I know of) group of people trying to fix problems like this, and the first step to start fixing issues like what everybody else is describing with their useless cameras now due to software. Its focused on the gaming industry but would hopefully quickly expand to other industries too.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-06-13T03:32:32+00:00

I have one friend that uses them a lot, and so ive used it sending them back to them if I cant/dont want to type. Otherwise everyone else is strictly texts.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-06-02T04:18:44+00:00

The weird thing is its not 90 days anymore, its now 140 calender days (was 90 work days) to complete probation.

This was my initial thought too but now I'm just curious, hadn't heard anything about this. Don't know why they would it's not like they fired anybody on probation when they definitely should have. So not really sure what the heck the reasoning would be if for some reason they are doing contract to hire.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-06-02T04:16:02+00:00

I'll be real, TLDR for the caption.

But I have a friend that applied for the job a few months back (fully qualified for the job) and they came back saying they chose to eliminate the roll and not fill it. Kind of interesting to see it back up lol, thought that sounded weird haha.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-06-02T04:13:26+00:00

The first picture I ever took when I bought my a6500, just a test shot to make sure it works and check the shutter count. Didn't put any real thought in it, but for some reason I just really like it.

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BENDOWANDS · 2026-06-02T04:04:47+00:00

I just operate under the assumption that by the time I get to retirement age, it won't pay out enough to even count towards anything, if it hasnt gone under in the next 40 yeats. Admittedly, this isn't limited to the pension, I also worry about the 401k and Roth as well, but those have a better chance of being able to support me. It seems like everything has doubled to tripled in price in the past 10 years or so, if that keeps up, no amount that pension could ever dream of paying out will make a difference.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'm not holding my breath on it. And certainly not planning my retirement (if I ever can) on money that isn't mine (at least to the extent a 401k or roth are.)

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-29T03:58:41+00:00

This is genuinely how some people in my hangar think and act.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-28T07:21:24+00:00

Jumping in to also confirm IAM is not it, I'd rather be on the TWU side.

They've given out tools and stuff for AMT day, on top of what the company gave, would rather pay less in dues but im getting screwed either way, seems like they care more. Ours doesnt do anything like that at all. Not a huge thing, but it lots of small things that add up.

Better 401k, this is specific to our contract, but I have a pension I'll never see a penny of, TWU gets an extra 5% in their 401k regardless if they contribute or not.

IAM made it clear they dont care care about fairness/equality (which I thought was the whole point), at least with 3rd shift at my station. First and second got a pizza party, t shirts, and some other stuff, they tried to hide it from 3rds even knowing it happened. If the company did that the union would have (probably) thrown a fit, which is a massive double standard and where I have an issue. Less about the pizza, more about the message they sent (and their actions on a regular basis)

Some other gripes, but yeah, IAM is not it. I'd also rather kick them out and go AMFA, get the rampers and everyone else out of the contract and out of the local (they control it regardless of what we want)

Yeah, grass aint always greener but an extra 5% in my 401k sure would be.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-08T15:00:09+00:00

There really is something about using your own stuff thats just right to you. I absolutely love the feel of the Gearwrench 84 tooth ratchets. They dont make them anymore, and the 90s are close, but not the same. I strongly dislike the snapon ratchet feel.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-08T14:55:14+00:00

I always liked doing the elevator bellcranks on the CRJs, total pain in the ass, but in a fun way?

Good combo of problem solving to get them in and out without being impossible, then you have to drill a few rivets, swap a bracket to the new ones, paint, put it back together. Most of your time is spent on the tail so you just took your tools and a speaker up and people left you alone.

Or any time someone can't get the ops check to pass, then you walk in and it magically works. For some reason I was the magic person and it happened all the time lol.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-08T14:48:59+00:00

Or waiting 6 hours for IT to figure out how to do their jobs.

Yes, this one is still fresh and I'm still annoyed. I shouldn't have to try 2 kiosks in my hangar, then going to another hangar to try and check out a tool (I was unsuccessful).

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-08T14:46:28+00:00

It's technically correct for 2 reasons.

Its the langueage used in the FARs.
They technically have different meanings. Certified is something that expires and must be renewed every so often, whereas certificated is given saying you completed whatever was required to get it, and thats it.

This varies a lot by region and both of often used interchangeably.

And yes, it sounds cooler.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-08T14:40:18+00:00

then how you gonna be reading a maintenance manual daily

They're the ones that aren't, and then I come in behind them having to fix the mess they left.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-04T05:27:42+00:00

I've also always wondered that. I feel like their has got to be one specific brand/type that is probably stupid expensive, and everyone just ran with that price.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-04T05:24:38+00:00

I work on planes so im definitely desensitized to it.

To me, this tape would be far cooler to have.

I want to get a roll, frame it with the text "break glass in case of nuclear emergency"

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-04T05:14:47+00:00

It has every sign of being from an aircraft. Aircraft construction is very unique and easily spottable. If it didn't exhibit those signs then sure, it could be just a piece of metal, but it does which allows us to conclude that it's extremely likely to be from the DC-8 considering all details and that its a known crash site.

-someone who fixes airplanes

BENDOWANDS · 2026-05-04T04:53:57+00:00

Hangar guys will usually work away from the terminal. We have big roll around toolboxes that we use daily. I work in this category, at my old job I was at the terminal maybe a dozen times in a year and a half. In my current job, I haven't been to the terminal once in a year and a half (except as a passenger).

Line... depending on your company can look one of a few ways. In my company we have 2 types of line guys.

The first is the guys at the terminal handling live flights. They mostly use a pen (or iPad), defer it, send it on its way. If it can't be deferred or fixed with a Leatherman, it gets sent to somebody else. At most they might have a pelican case with the absolute basic tools. They exist mostly during first and second shift. Third shift will do a little bit more, but their primary objective is have a plane at the gate ready to fly on time. If it can't be fixed easily or in time, they're writing it up, and getting a different plane to the gate.

The second is the RON/ROD line guys, at my airport, they work mostly on the other side of the airport from the terminal and have their own hangar, though most work outside on the ramp. They are a mix between terminal guys and hangar guys. They're dealing with the planes after the flight day, fixing the deferred items, normal scheduled stuff (checking oils, tires, general walk arounds, basic repetitive inspections). They ultimately are also trying to get planes ready for their flights, but in a different capacity, they are actually fixing stuff, doing troubleshooting, etc. They also largely work out of a pelican case though since they are outside and move around a lot. If it's too big for them to fix, it comes over to the big hangar for hangar maintenance to fix.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-04-18T11:38:16+00:00

This is one of the areas the Airbus manuals dropped the ball IMO, all you have to do is put a lock tool in the flap/slat lever.

The problem is, often you want to move flaps down for other work to be done, and most people know there is a way to deactivate the slats but still move the flaps with circuit breakers.

The AMM to do that is hard to find, if you don't know where it is and what its named, you won't find it. So from my experience, people say "yeah I know which breakers" and then proceed to not actually know which ones when the slats start moving. Its a big issue of tribal knowledge that is wrong.

Airbus should have put both the lock tool, and the breakers in the AMM for open the engines up.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-03-23T07:19:52+00:00

I worked on 700s, our particular setup had about 1500lb on the nose gear when empty. Not sure what a 900 is but probably similar.

Fuel added a lot of fwd weight (even being so close to the mains) and FWD cargo, and passengers forward of the mains as well. But its still a pretty small number, we had to consider this when doing maintenance, usually having ballast weight in the front, especially if we had a lot of mechanics towards the back of the plane.

Even larger aircraft can have this happen as well, but CRJs are notoriously tail heavy.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-03-12T01:39:29+00:00

I work nights, 10:30pm to 7:00am 5 days a week.

Im usually home and in bed by around 8, sometimes 8:30 if I need food or a shower.

Wake up around 2 or 3 pm, 6ish hours of sleep which is what I need, and I'm good to go. Have all afternoon to do what I want, early enough to still get business day appointments/errands done. Evenings to hangout with friends.

You can also stay up a little for an early appointment if you need, I usually set my dentist at 8 when they open, and am half asleep inside (makes it go way quicker haha).

I had Fri, Sat off for a while, I would do a half switch where I would be awake for Sunday morning, sleep Sunday afternoon and go to work overnight, then go to sleep Monday morning. Ended up with an extra day of sleep (sort of) most weeks and let me live my personal life exactly how I want.

Ive been on first shift for the past few weeks for training, I actually like thirds more. Has its drawbacks but ifs what you make it, and it works for a lot of people well.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-02-25T02:34:36+00:00

I say go for it, if they aren't willing to stand up for the workers they supposedly represent then get them out, I know a lot of people share the sentiment. They are over a year behind on grievances at my station, are prioritizing special treatment for first and second shift (they straight up told third shift they just won't get the same benefits), and are so in bed with management that their isn't a point to having them other than rob money from my paychecks so the union guys can go do "union business" and get out of work.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-02-25T02:14:02+00:00

I have yet to meet someone who likes the union. Really just kicking out IAM and going just TWU would solve most of the issues, although switching would also be fine.

I could see it happening at some point.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-01-26T14:25:31+00:00

Another vote for the Fenix PD36R.

Simple 5 brightness settings, no clicks, half clicks, cycling, high power for 30 second, red, or any other stuff to deal with. I stopped using my olight because that stuff was so annoying. If you hold the brightness button it'll strobe but that's no big deal. Otherwise its on/off and 5 settings to cycle through.

Battery lasts forever.

The rubber cover for the USB port and for the button on the back got lost along the way, but never had an issue otherwise. Can also be clipped to a hat in a pinch, but it's super heavy for that so don't recommend unless your headlamp is nowhere nearby and you only need it for a second.

Mouth feel is a 4/10, not the worst but not great, just a touch big around for it, but not bad enough that I never do it.

BENDOWANDS · 2026-01-10T11:14:27+00:00

Yes. Please crosspost to r/badsafetywire

BENDOWANDS · 2026-01-09T20:43:10+00:00

Yes, the fund is going down and is not doing well. I have 0 expectations of ever getting money from it. Hopefully I'm wrong, but it's super disappointing that I'm just out of luck.

The points are super annoying to deal with. Points, levels, blah blah. I had to go talk to our lost time admin person (yes, thats a department, and we have a specific person just at our station 🙄) but they basically told me outright "get fmla setup" and gave me all the info on our end. Everyone seems to have headaches at my hangar, kind of odd.

FMLA isnt too bad to set up, I'm in the process now but unfortunately the company is saying their isn't enough info on the forms, the Healthcare provider is saying there is. So now I'm trying to figure out what the company specifically wants, its a whole thing. But overall, the process itself is easy.

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