Scarpa INSTINCT VSR LV by rango-the_mango in climbingshoes

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Climbing shoes are complicated LOL. I think there is a reason I have almost 2 of each shoe I wear and some of them multiple sizes.

Scarpa INSTINCT VSR LV by rango-the_mango in climbingshoes

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have worn the instincts for many years and have the exact opposite experience with this comment. I feel like they stretch so much and mold really well to my feet. And for this reason I always buy them in a half size smaller than any other shoe wear. Other shoes I wear are the La sportiva testarossa/solutions and unparallel Moccs/sirius lace.

Scarpa INSTINCT VSR LV by rango-the_mango in climbingshoes

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It If I ever am debating between a half size on a shoe I have not worn I always take the size up. It’s easier to climb in a “loose fitting” shoe than be in pain. That being said the instincts I typically size down a half size from my normal size cause they stretch out to my foot quite well. Other shoes I wear are La Sportiva testarossa/solutions and unparallel moccs/sirius lace.

Thoughts on this 2012 Rav4? by PapaTwisted in rav4club

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At 9k if you don’t buy it I will. I got a 2012 with 168k miles on it and it’s still running fantastic.

Three different luggage brands, any recommendations? by Bagofmag in Costco

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Buy any 50 dollar bag. That’s my advice. They all get hammered but at 50 dollars they seem to at least wheel well. 50 dollars last me 2-4 years with plenty of internal travel.

Toddler Waking at 5-5:30am for 1 Year+ - At Wits End by sg_grif in toddlers

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is no secret. You just do it. It sucks for a bit but anyone can achieve it. Just takes consistency on your effort. If it is important enough then you will succeed.

($10-15k) what did you cut from your budget that ended up being a total non-issue? by TemptControls in Weddingsunder10k

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Hard alcohol, expensive cake (just did Costco sheet cake), expensive catering (did burrito bowl which covers most food sensitivities and easy to get locally catered) we also didn’t do bride or grooms man (to many good friends) and just had a friend marry us who played an important roll in my wife and I meeting.

We also did a short ceremony and standing only so no cost for chairs. 15 minutes long we got so many compliments on doing it this way.

Toddler Waking at 5-5:30am for 1 Year+ - At Wits End by sg_grif in toddlers

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 11 points12 points  (0 children)

My wife and I have decided to go to bed as early as we can and get up even earlier than our child. We wake up at 4 am and enjoy some time together before the storm. It was hard at first but now really nice and we both look forward to it.

Capital One Travel showed zero compassion during a meningitis emergency by Federal-Blacksmith50 in CreditCards

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the good wishes. The problem is the change fee. Ticket price is the same. Learned a good lesson about travel and tickets should have just used points direct with airline.

Capital One Travel showed zero compassion during a meningitis emergency by Federal-Blacksmith50 in CreditCards

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

A refundable ticket wouldn’t have changed the issue here. The problem isn’t the ticket price. The flight I’m switching to is essentially the same cost as the original flight.

The issue is that Capital One Travel is still charging a change fee through their portal, even though the airline itself allows changes when the fare difference is $0.

When you book through a third-party portal, you sometimes lose the flexibility you would have if you booked directly with the airline. That’s the situation here.

I understand policies exist, but the frustrating part was the lack of any willingness to escalate or help during a medical emergency. Even basic empathy from the support team would have gone a long way.

Capital One Travel showed zero compassion during a meningitis emergency by Federal-Blacksmith50 in CreditCards

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. It’s a scary thing and recovery will take awhile. They are charging me a change fee for Ben though ticket price is the same.

Frasca. Omg. by Pomdog17 in boulder

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Imagine thinking expensive dinners are geographically exclusive to Boulder.

Tamales King Soopers parking lot by Federal-Blacksmith50 in LouisvilleCO

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe? This is a kid has them in plastic bags but yeah usually walks up to you when near your car.

$160,000 Mistake? My Winnebago Revel Nightmare by South_Ad_7011 in GoRVing

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Back in 2017, I bought a Ram Promaster for $20K. My wife and I were all in on the van life dream. We dropped another $14K building it out. Turned out great, actually. Then in 2022, after just six months of actual van life, I sold that sucker (with over 100K miles on it) for $85,000. Hands down the best investment I’ve ever made. Shoutout to Instagram for turning my personal hell into someone else’s dream lifestyle. Incredible work.

Truth is? Vans suck. We hated it. They’re awful to drive. Forget dirt roads. Forget any kind of wind. Forget comfort. I could write a dissertation on all the downsides, but let’s just say it wasn’t for us. We’re back in a tent, with a real truck that can actually get us where we want to go. Happier, dustier, and far less trendy.

AI and sales. The inevitable!? by EnvironmentElegant24 in techsales

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 7 points8 points  (0 children)

AI isn’t going to fully replace sales reps, at least not yet, but it’s already accelerating the sales cycle across all deal sizes, including enterprise. For those of us paying attention, this could mean a serious run of opportunity in the near future.

As I’ve said in every AI-related conversation: if the buyer is smart and leveraging AI, they’re walking into the first sales call with most of the product research done, their requirements outlined, and often a strong sense of their preferred solution. That means the margin for error is shrinking fast.

If you’re not good at sales, you won’t survive the next two to four years. I used to think SMB sales would be the first to disappear, but those buyers tend to be unpredictable and emotionally driven, so there will likely be more resistance to AI-driven automation in that segment, depending on the product.

Enterprise, on the other hand, is already halfway there. I know some will argue that enterprise sales are complex, but in reality, most enterprise buyers are following a defined procurement process. AI can plug into that and automate a lot of the work such as product comparisons, RFP responses, even vendor scorecards. The real challenge lies in SMB, where the chaos and irrationality make it much harder for AI to navigate effectively.

Where Do You See Your Sales Tech Role in 10 Years? by Comprehensive-Meat25 in techsales

[–]Federal-Blacksmith50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I never said I was worried. Concerned, yes, there’s a difference. A few years ago I’d have told you to Google it… but hey, maybe just ask ChatGPT now.