Charles Hall (u/hall.charles)

Posts

That one comment about my phone photos looking flat really got to me

My sister said my pictures had no depth so I finally learned to tap the screen to set exposure and focus separately, and now my sunset shots from the park last Saturday actually look like the real sky instead of a washed out mess, has anyone else had that lightbulb moment with a simple camera setting they ignored forever?

2 comments

c/camping-gear-reviews•

hall.charles•22d ago

Can we talk about how campgrounds have changed since the 90s

I went back to Indian Lake campground in upstate New York last weekend, the same spot my dad took me when I was 10. Back then we had a hand pump for water and a pit toilet that smelled like regret. Now they have Wi-Fi hotspots and a kiosk that takes credit cards for firewood at 8 bucks a bundle. I appreciate the convenience but it felt less like camping and more like a really rustic hotel. The sites are all leveled with gravel pads now too, which makes setting up easy but kills the old feel of finding a flat spot with a rock or two. My buddy said I'm just getting old and grumpy, but has anyone else noticed this shift making camping feel different, or am I alone on this?

2 comments

c/canadian-housing-chat•

hall.charles•25d ago

Rented a condo in North Vancouver last year and this year the strata fee jumped $200 a month

I moved into a 2-bedroom in North Van in 2023 paying $350 a month in strata. Now it's $550 with no warning about a special assessment coming. Anyone else see their fees spike like this lately?

2 comments

c/canadian-housing-chat•

hall.charles•26d ago

Overheard a mortgage broker say variable rates are coming back in style

I was grabbing coffee last Tuesday and caught two guys at the next table talking about mortgages. One was a broker telling his buddy that after 5 years of fixed being the go-to, a bunch of big banks like RBC are starting to push variable again. He said something about the overnight rate stabilizing that made me rethink my own renewal coming up in June. Has anyone else looked into variable lately or is fixed still safer for your situation?

2 comments

c/carpet-installers•

hall.charles•28d ago

Was super skeptical about using a power stretcher on stairs... now I swear by it

For years I did stairs by hand with a knee kicker because I thought power stretchers would tear up the treads. Tried it on a tricky split-level job in Denver last month and saved almost 2 hours with way less knee pain. Anyone else switch tools for stairs and never looked back?

2 comments

c/finance-advice•

hall.charles•29d ago

Got hit with a $400 plumbing bill because I ignored a slow drain for 6 months

Last Tuesday the kitchen sink backed up completely and the plumber pulled out a clump of grease and food that I could have cleaned monthly for free, so has anyone else learned the hard way that small fixes save big money?

2 comments

c/career-advice•

hall.charles•1mo ago

Went from chasing company perks to asking about overtime policies during interviews

Last year I took a job with a foosball table and free snacks, but after 6 months of 60 hour weeks with no extra pay I realized I'd rather have a place that respects my time. Has anyone else stopped caring about office culture once they saw how the actual workload was structured?

3 comments

c/climate-action•

hall.charles•1mo ago

My rain barrel setup in Portland split open during that cold snap in January

I had a 55-gallon plastic barrel I use for garden water, and the seam gave way after it froze solid. I lost all the water I'd saved from the fall rains. Has anyone found a good barrel that can handle freezing temps without breaking?

2 comments

c/camping-gear-reviews•

hall.charles•1mo ago

Overheard a guy at the REI in Boulder say his $300 sleeping bag was 'too warm' for summer in the Rockies.

It made me realize I've been packing my 15-degree bag for every trip out of habit, even when the forecast says 60 at night, so has anyone else found a good, light summer bag they actually use?

2 comments

c/easy-weeknight-dinners•

hall.charles•1mo ago

My brother told me to just throw everything in the slow cooker for chili

He said to dump two cans of beans, a can of tomatoes, and a pound of ground beef in raw, then cook it on low for 8 hours. I tried it last Tuesday and came home to a weird, greasy mess with the beef in one big lump. It tasted off and took way longer to clean the pot. Has anyone else had a slow cooker fail like this, and what's your actual go-to method for a quick chili?

2 comments