Richard King (u/king.richard)

Posts

I think everyone is wrong about using 3D modeling for every single detail drawing.

Just finished a big set of shop drawings for a steel fabricator in Phoenix. The lead engineer wanted every single bolt, weld symbol, and connection plate modeled in full 3D. It took my team three weeks. For the next similar job, I pushed back and did the main structure in 3D but all the connection details as 2D views with standard notes. That set took five days and the shop had zero questions. The extra 3D detail didn't add clarity, it just added time and file size. When is a 3D model actually needed versus just showing it cleanly in 2D?

3 comments

c/career-advice•

king.richard•2mo ago

I think the push for everyone to get a college degree is bad career advice.

After hiring a guy who learned his trade at a community college in Tulsa, I saw his work quality match a 4-year grad's within a year, for half the student debt.

3 comments

c/alarm-system-installers•

king.richard•2mo ago

I thought wireless sensors were a bad idea for a long time.

I installed a Honeywell system with their 5800 series sensors in a big old house in Charleston about 5 years ago, and they've been rock solid with zero false alarms. The battery life has held up way better than I expected. What's the oldest wireless setup you guys have out there that's still working perfectly?

3 comments

c/chimney-sweeps•

king.richard•2mo ago

I finally had to warn my neighbors about their chimney maintenance

After cleaning two chimneys on my street, both had too much creosote from no sweeps for years. One was partly blocked, which might make smoke come inside. A good reminder to push for yearly checks.

3 comments

c/viral-trend-dissection•

king.richard•3mo ago

Watching those staged rescue videos... feels off to me.

I saw this clip where a guy pretended to choke in a cafe just to film reactions... It got millions of views because people love drama and surprise. The setup is simple: one person acts, another hides to record. Shares spike when viewers debate if it's funny or mean. But here's the thing... no one asked the public if they wanted to be part of a joke. Some folks looked genuinely scared. I get the appeal of viral content, but using real fear for likes? That's where I pause. Makes you think about what we're okay with for entertainment...

3 comments

c/hidden-gem-destinations•

king.richard•3mo ago

During a detour off the highway, I discovered a historic mill town with the best pie I've ever had

Was heading to a client meeting upstate and took a wrong turn. Ended up in this place called Millbrook, where they have a working watermill and a family-run diner. The apple pie was unbelievable, and the locals were super friendly. Anyone know of other hidden towns like this in the Northeast? I'm planning a weekend trip to explore more.

3 comments

c/board-game-geeks•

king.richard•3mo ago

Serious question, why do board game geeks get so competitive over trivia games?

Honestly, it turns friendly nights into intense tournaments.

3 comments

c/viral-sound-origins•

king.richard•3mo ago

My deep dive into the 'Windows XP startup' sound's origin changed how I hear tech nostalgia

I was compiling sounds for a personal audio project (just a hobby, really) when I learned the Windows XP startup chime was composed by Brian Eno for Microsoft. It's fascinating how a 6-second clip can evoke such widespread nostalgia, and now I catch myself listening for similar sonic signatures in everyday tech. Realizing that a sound designed for functionality transformed into a shared memory across generations is pretty wild, you know?

3 comments