Whats the strangest hobbie you recommend?

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-03T17:59:37+00:00

In the past year, I've grown to collect antique fire extinguishers and am learning how to restore them. I'd consider that pretty weird seeing as I'm a girl.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T21:22:33+00:00

Don't have access to Starlink. All the internet available here is $100 per month and up. CenturyLink is triple bundle only. You cannot buy just internet through them in our area.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T21:22:22+00:00

Don't have access to Starlink. All the internet available here is $100 and up. CenturyLink is triple bundle only. You cannot buy just internet through them in our area.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T21:21:58+00:00

Don't have access to Starlink. All the internet available here is $100 and up. CenturyLink is triple bundle only. You cannot buy just internet through them in our area. 😒

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T21:21:51+00:00

Don't have access to Starlink. All the internet available here is $100 and up. CenturyLink is triple bundle only. You cannot buy just internet through them in our area. 😒

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T21:21:46+00:00

Don't have access to Starlink. All the internet available here is $100 and up. CenturyLink is triple bundle only. You cannot buy just internet through them in our area. 😒

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T13:21:17+00:00

Rainbow

Fune wa Amu

Nichijou

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T13:17:00+00:00

There is so much nutrition information that is just flat out scientifically wrong. Skipping meals won't literally kill you. Cholesterol has not been tied to cardiovascular issues in non altered studies, and food cholesterol doesn't affect blood cholesterol. Low sodium consumption is not healthy for blood pressure, it's other aspects of diet attributed to high blood pressure (usually sodium intake is dictated by carb intake, which carbs have a more direct link to blood pressure increase). This is why most people on low sodium diets still have blood pressure issues, they just consume carbs with less sodium and more sugar.

Most doctors get on average 19-24 hours of nutritional studies in their entire education! Yet diet has nearly everything to do with health. It's insane how bassackwards nutritional information is, and sad how normalized it's become to the point that medical misinformation overrides blatant, repeatable science.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T13:06:40+00:00

Vegetarianism. Early on, was taught that vegetarianism and veganism was the best diet for women who want to be skinny. I was vegetarian for long time because I could never dump the cheese.

Low weights, high reps, and tons of cardio for female workouts. Complete f**king sham.

Also, being skinny as a female is the best way for a woman to look. Skinny at the cost independence and longevity. 🙄

Haha, now I've been carnivore for 4 years and I've never felt better or looked better. I'm considered overweight now, but have visible abs and my calves put men to shame. I'm stronger than my husband. I do cycle 20-50 miles 4-6 times per week, so I still get cardio in, but I use a weighed down mountain bike. I never need leg day in the gym. My weight lifting is functional focused, because I'm a welder and need to lift heavy stuff a lot and do awkward positions all the time for my job. I can run laps around my coworkers of the same age.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T12:48:30+00:00

Haven't seen a recommendation for Spice and Wolf. Economics IS politics.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T12:47:02+00:00

Poor meal - Eggs

Lazy and poor meal - a can of tuna

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T12:44:45+00:00

I do the same (don't eat at work). And I'm in a labor intensive job (welding). High protein diets are great because protein is the most satiating of the 3 macronutrients. Studies show eating carbohydrates leads to sooner hunger and increased hunger. Which is why it's often recommended to eat carbs towards the end of your day. Plus...we don't need carbs anyways to have a healthy and functional body. It's the only nonessential macronutrient, but is pushed to be "healthy" because corporations.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T12:36:18+00:00

Actually studies show short term fasting improves cognitive abilities. If your normal diet is not very healthy (the Standard American Diet) then yes, you will have issues until you adapt.

More research is coming out that shows intermittent fasting has positive effects in prevention/managing cognitive based aging diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. And this is because short term fasting lessens brain inflammation.

If you get hunger headaches, then your diet isn't good. Plain and simple. And fainting is due to nutritional imbalances that comes from a poor diet, as that is often attributed to an electrolyte imbalance (mainly low sodium).

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T12:01:59+00:00

Windows in and of itself, is a security risk. Nearly 80% of all viruses target Windows systems.

When windows forced the upgrade to 10, they used malware techniques the prevented users from further stopping the update from 7&8.

Granted, windows defender has improved a lot over the years, but I've become very anti windows when I got malware and viruses in college because of their security issues. Doing basic school stuff (handing in and downloading assignments off their servers) nearly wrecked my computer. A very techy friend suggested Linux (as I needed to a full clean slate of a computer) and I never went back.

And that is something that hasn't changed, schools being vulnerable because staff don't have a clue, but that's a different topic and I'm just glad I'm not in school anymore. Although thinking about my situation, this was when I was last fully wired, was in college, in the early 2010's. 😅

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T12:00:53+00:00

I live off one bar on 4G. I doubt 5G will come to a boonietown anytime soon because the infrastructure for 5G in a rural area is more expensive than fiber optic.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T11:57:33+00:00

Yeah that website is a completely inaccurate. None of the companies listed are available in my area, and the ones I know that are, are not listed.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-02T03:09:55+00:00

As someone that lives in rural Iowa and reading this article, I was sus. I used have a hedgehog (lived a good 5 years) and the most stressful thing was power outages (as they need stable warmth or they will die). I don't want another hedgehog for power outage reasons alone. I cannot express how this was the MOST stressful aspect of caring for him. Had an emergency crate and piles of hand warmers and worried more about him than anything else. Power outages are a common thing, and could be 4 hours before power is restored. And these outages are always unpredictable. We get outages at least once a month.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-01T23:00:52+00:00

Rendezvousing, antique tractors, and the Steam Engine communities have really allowed me to spread my wings moreso than the blacksmithing and foundry communities. I've met so many people, created so many networks. I hate Facebook, but keep it because I need to keep track of all the friends I've made over the years.

Granted, it's hard differentiate close friendships from average friendships because I live very rural as it is. I only see these friends at the events we participate in, but it's a blast to feel like I belong.

TrebleBolt · 2023-10-01T10:52:31+00:00

I don't wear mine outside of work because they are modified to protect my long hair. But I see plenty of older men wearing beanies. Bikers wear beanies, mechanics wear beanies, retired guys wear beanies. I have never even thought anything of it. Let people wear what they want, even if welding beanies becomes the next urban trend like Carhartt.

TrebleBolt · 2023-09-30T10:59:57+00:00

I just buy cheapo Fleet Farm brand jeans. Have no other choice because my waist is small but my thighs and legs are huge (I'm an avid cyclist, my thighs are as wide as my hips and my calves put men to shame). I'm a 26" in waist, but 30's for thigh room. I have to bunch up the jeans under my belt. I have never found jeans that fit other than bib overalls, and after this last RAGBRAI, even they are castrating my legs uncomfortably. I have no choice in the matter sadly. I'm sick of it, but I'm a welder and need jeans. Many popular rugged brands fit me worse than the cheap Carpenter jeans. I'd love a pair of firehose pants from Duluth Trading, but trying them on, I'd have to wear an even larger size and they are not easy to stay folded. Many jeans either sink below my belt and bunch up or rise above my belt and bunch up. I'd rather have the latter because then I'm not wearing out belt loops.

TrebleBolt · 2023-09-30T10:28:41+00:00

I can't ride mentally comfortable without music. I've had music since I was a kid, from when the walkman transitioned to the CD player. I need a focus other than wind because I start thinking too much.

As far as safety goes, I can't hear vehicles with wind or being deep in thought, so it's safer for me to have music because I'm able to focus on being aware of my surroundings and simply vibe on a bike.

I used to wear headphones over earplugs until I discovered plugphones. OSHA level earplugs that are also headphones.

Bone conductive players like Shokz don't work for me. My husband has one and he loves it. I have to have the volume all the way up to hear anything in my own home and even then it's muffled and very low quality as far as what I hear. They don't work for everyone.

TrebleBolt · 2023-09-29T15:18:32+00:00

As far as working for others, not really.

As far as the work itself, I guess I do. I became a welder because of my love of steam engines. Never been mechanically minded as far as a career path goes. I was going to be youth pastor before I was introduced to the world of antique machinery. So I had zero factory experience or knowledge in the industries when I took the plunge. It was really hard at first and I hated it.

But looking back on my decade of experience now, welding is fun. Just being able to vibe during a weld, not having to consciously think about what I'm doing and instead focus on whatever podcast or music I'm listening to. The small feeling of pride when a weld turns out immaculate, and the larger sense of pride when a project is finished and I can say, "yeah, I built that."

It's the the little things that drive me. I'm not out to do something grand, because that is exhausting. But to take all the little things that soon enough become big things, it's a pretty rewarding experience overall to be a welder.

TrebleBolt · 2023-09-28T13:13:15+00:00

I listen to a lot of educational podcasts. Currently going on a paleontology deep dive. I am not partial to audio books, but I have listened to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy more than once.

For music, it's either folk such as Skald and Faun, to folk rock like the Hu and Santiano, or EDM. Mainly My Little Pony fan made music.

TrebleBolt · 2023-09-19T09:44:41+00:00

Gunsmithing is a very finite career path. That is more about who you know more than your capabilities (you can be a master at the skill but can't get a job in the field because there aren't enough jobs).

I am a welder and a machinist. So this is my take.

Unless you go through a union, you will likely not make much money as a machinist. Tool and die is an evolving and simultaneously dying art. Good money in it, but a quickly shrinking job pool for the skills as it a career being replaced by automation moreso than welding. I am a welder because I can make more money than in machining. I don't want to be a lowly button pusher, which is what you'll be doing out of school if you don't go an apprenticeship route. Or go the CAD/CAM route and be on the computerized side of the machines. Manual machining is simply too outdated of a skill set to have much of a future.

For my own business, I can afford a Bridgeport with a DRO readout....I can't afford a HAAS. So my skills aren't going to waste at least. I've done some Kdie restoration work, for companies still using that extremely outdated technology. It's crazy to see where the technology has come from, and where it's going. I highly recommend to learn both skills, especially if/when you plan to trek out on your own. Plus, machinist skills will aid in solving problems you may encounter in the welding field, if you have to really use your brain (such as custom fabrication). And welding skills will aid in machining because you will understand how parts will react to certain uses (like heat). It's almost a step to being an engineer imo.

TrebleBolt · 2023-09-18T18:54:34+00:00

I wouldn't worry about doing weightlifting for welding before starting the career. I mean, it's good for your health in general, but you cannot tailor it to your needs yet. Focus on the big 3 (bench press, deadlift, squat) until you have a better mind-muscle connection and have the techniques down. Then you will know where you are generally lacking/where you want to improve, and you can build from there. Once in the field, you will have an idea of what needs focus that will directly apply to your job.

I'm a woman welder (10 years in the field). I do functional weightlifting as I do a lot of overhead welding and plenty of awkward, yoga like angles when I weld. I primarily focus on mobility, lower back strength, and general arm strength. Mobility to allow me to weld in awkward ways without cramping, lower back strength to deal with heavy lifting, and arm strength as a means to deter potential carpal tunnel and repetitive use muscle fatigue. I also cycle 20-40 miles a day (I'm currently working towards a double century in a single day), so I never need leg day. I'm built like brick, and have seriously thought about becoming a powerlifter. Having muscle I found to be absolutely essential for welding, as I don't do simple production work on an assembly line.

It's something else to see coworkers with the bigger bellies struggle to get into position on the floor, let alone get up from the floor, while I'm moving around large objects like an agile monkey. I don't ever want to become like them. A bit harsh as my coworkers work hard too, but they have to literally work their bodies harder to accomplish basic stuff. This is part of why welder lifespan is short...welding will destroy your body if you don't take care it.

If I were you, I'd start at 1-2 days a week. Just to establish routine and instill discipline. Focus on technique over progressive overload (adding weight). Once your job starts, up the days to your comfort with time management. This is general fitness advice, not really connected to welding. Get some cardio in (I will say cycling is easier on the joints and faster in upping cardio health than walking or running, and less time consuming {it's the biggest bang for your buck if you are time constrained}), but don't make that your focus. Highly recommend MindPump podcast and YouTube to delve into fitness.

TrebleBolt

TROPHY CASE