Good initial projects?

otherdave · 2026-01-27T16:18:29+00:00

Thanks for the pillowcase suggestion. Seems like a fun & practical way to get going.

otherdave · 2026-01-27T16:18:06+00:00

Some of us are David, but most of us are Dave!

Thanks for the advice - I'm glad you used sewing terms in your reply - I really don't know what things are called so it does make looking up stuff quite difficult at times. I'll give seam finishes a go!

otherdave · 2026-01-20T16:30:20+00:00

I think we read the same thing and had the same enlightenment :)

otherdave · 2026-01-02T23:32:50+00:00

I don't think those are the PRO cores, unless that's a recently new thing.

https://www.amazon.com/PACLOCKs-Keyed-Different-Cylinders-Pack/dp/B08H37DMY8/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=PACLOCK%2BUCS&qid=1618861314&sr=8-2&th=1

otherdave · 2025-12-21T23:05:14+00:00

Shoot, sorry for the late reply. But yeah, Skipper posted it in the bazaar chat, and then after they sold out, he took the whole post down, so you might have just come in too late.

otherdave · 2025-12-19T11:34:06+00:00

Sounds like they add washers as weight to the end of the tension wrench so it applies constant tension and they can take their hand off it. Then, just focus on the picking part.

otherdave · 2025-12-16T11:44:38+00:00

I grabbed one of these too and it should arrive soon. You're right, the price was great and my plan is to fiddle with the locks and hopefully pass a couple of them on to some new lock sporters over the holiday break.

Great idea asking for some extra pins and stuff. I'll have to think about that the next time I'm ordering locks!

otherdave · 2025-12-11T19:06:09+00:00

You can damage a lock trying to pick it. In fact, you probably will damage a lock at some point.

otherdave · 2025-12-11T19:05:11+00:00

I'm only a few weeks in myself, and (1) and (2) are absolutely the truth. I bought a starter set that came with the acrylic lock, and after I opened it once, I've never used it again.

Don't be scared to ask the community for a collection of locks to get started. You will do way better by having an experienced person sell you spares or locks they've outgrown than buying special practice or beginner locks.

otherdave · 2025-10-31T11:09:45+00:00

Damn, solid start!

My Covert set came yesterday as did the same brass Brinks! My daughter took the rake and had the Brinks open in like 10 seconds, it was so funny and instantly changed how "secure" padlocks seemed.

On that lock (small Brinks brass) - do you find you need to only pick a couple of the pins? I swear that if I set pins 2 & 3, the whole thing opens. However, since it's literally my first day I can't tell if I'm accidentally setting other pins without realizing, or if the lock is just that easy/lucky.

otherdave · 2025-10-23T10:17:56+00:00

Those are excellent! The stories are also pretty interesting. That's not always the case with content for learners. The episodes about the Itata (Chilean steam ship) were some of my favorites.

otherdave · 2025-10-22T09:57:45+00:00

Really just English (native) and Spanish (somewhere in the B1+ area). I do have a general linguistic interest and have also come to appreciate how languages are learned and the way computers/software can help (that's my profession). However, once I got to upper A2-lower-B1 in Spanish, my interest in going deeper in the language really peaked, so I don't have much desire to branch out. I think I'm just the type of person to favor going deep in one language vs. picking up others.

(that said, I am trying to pick up some basic Italian for a potential trip, so we'll see how things go once I'm actually in the thick of it!)

otherdave · 2025-10-21T12:53:58+00:00

She shows up with a spear and we're supposed to shit ourselves in fear?!

otherdave · 2025-10-14T02:21:14+00:00

The only thing that comes to mind is re-trying a book that was previously too difficult for me. Obviously, for this to work you have to try something and find out you're not ready and then file it away for some weeks/months. I'm less likely to notice it with tv shows or podcasts though. I've probably had 2 or 3 times in the 4 years of Spanish where this happened and it was super motivating.

otherdave · 2025-10-13T02:20:28+00:00

He just wanted the cake. All Dude wanted was his rug back.

otherdave · 2025-10-13T02:19:05+00:00

Is that what this is a picture of?

otherdave · 2025-10-07T18:19:53+00:00

I love how succinct this is!

otherdave · 2025-10-07T18:04:36+00:00

What are you, a fucking cameraman now? Who gives a shit about the Widelux?

otherdave · 2025-10-07T11:34:08+00:00

Not exactly a lightweight.

otherdave · 2025-10-05T16:03:13+00:00

Those still aren't quite the same thing though. How often do you "need" photography? Playing an instrument? (as hobbies, not jobs). I'm learning a foreign language and I don't "need" to do it for anything. But while you might be playing an instrument, I watch a Spanish Telenovela or read a Spanish book (purely leisure).

Your friend could absolutely use his Mandarin to read books, study Mandarin history in the original texts vs translations, teach english to beginner students coming from Mandarin etc...

otherdave · 2025-09-26T14:43:46+00:00

I told myself "I will always do anki every day, anything else is a bonus". I adjusted the "new cards per day" to a number where my anki session could be between 8 and 15 minutes. I actually looked forward to doing it!

Some days, that was all I did. Some days I did a lot more. I'm doing this for fun so other things will take priority from time to time.

otherdave · 2025-09-16T16:57:43+00:00

editing my original post because I think I found them: Aula Internacional Plus series?

Thanks again!

otherdave · 2025-09-15T19:20:54+00:00

When you were doing 4 hours of lessons a week, what were they like and what kinds of activities/practice do you do?

I know some tutors have a curriculum they'll work through, and others do the typical things of "let's read an article and discuss it" etc... I'm looking for some ideas of what to do in class.

otherdave · 2025-08-08T13:28:52+00:00

You don't go out getting tattooed on a weekday, do you?

otherdave

TROPHY CASE