I'm not a car guy, but I love watching entertaining people on YouTube, and some of the most entertaining were the guys at Donut. Then the channel started breaking up and I ended up following my favorites to their new channels... which included James Pumphrey to his channel, Speeed. And I actually prefer his new channel because he covers a bunch of stuff and not just cars.
Yesterday he dropped a video called 42 Things Everyone Should Learn How to Do and it goes in a few directions I didn't anticipate. I liked it...
First of all... I have that Yokohama Hard Rock T-shirt!
Fix a toilet. Thanks to having a piece of shit Kohler that cost me a fortune but is stupidly designed and needs tweaking all the time. I regret this purchase SO much.
How to reset a circuit breaker. Given my love of working with power tools, I'd be in sorry shape if I didn't know how.
Remount a bike chain. I haven't ridden a bike in decades, but I can probably remember how to do this from when I was a kid!
Learn CPR and when and how to use it. I do know, and am incredibly thankful I've never had to use it.
Jump-start a battery. DPLPLMDM... Dead Plus Live Plus Live Minus Dead Minus. I've rescued more than a couple people!
How to change a flat tire. Yes. And I would add to this... learn how to put on tire chains.
How to drive stick. That was all I drove for decades. I can probably remember how.
Exercise alone without any equipment. I know how... I just don't want to.
Learn and appreciate the power of compound interest. And I would add to this... learn about how absolutely deadly credit card interest can be and how to stay out of credit card debt whenever possible.
Have a basic understanding of how taxes work. It's shitty that this is even a fucking requirement because taxes should be simple as hell. But... we got all those loopholes to save millionaires and billionaires money, so we have to make taxes difficult for everybody so they might end up spending more than they should!
How to sew a button. Or, you know, how to sew period. And if you can use a sewing machine, you're much better off than not knowing how. Sewing machines are cheap and repairing clothes can save loads of money. My grandmother taught me, and it's been so important that I've always own a good sewing machine.
How to iron a shirt. My mom did her best to teach me, and I'm okay at it. But, largely, I end up ironing in more wrinkles than I end up ironing out.
Restart a water heater. When I moved into my place and mine was failing, I learned this skill to avoid taking cold showers.
Ride a motorcycle. Why yes, and I loved it. Except it wasn't something my body was physically able to do any more, so I sold my bike and admire them from afar now.
How to cook a good steak and grill a good burger. I'm a vegetarian, so I think I'll skip this one.
Dice an onion. I know how they want you to dice an onion, but I am happier not doing it that way. I halve an onion, cut into the cut-edge both ways, then pop it on its side and cut the dices off. I am told this is not the safe way to do it, but if you have very sharp knives it's just fine.
Cook rice. I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wash my rice. And I prefer to use a rice cooker. But I know how to use a pot too.
How to read a map. I haven't held a paper map since iPhones were invented, but I still remember how to read one, yes.
How to find north without a compass. My Apple Watch has a compass built-in, but it's a watch, not a compass, so does that count?
How to start and tend a good campfire. Thanks to endless episodes of Survivor, I know how to do that. But if I don't have matches or a lighter I'm probably screwed.
One solid party trick. I am entertaining enough that I can talk my way out of knowing a party trick. I've also been a lot of places and know a lot of things, which is probably more useful at an actual party.
One song on any instrument. I used to be able to play a little keyboard and piano. I am very, very rusty. But could probably manage Chopsticks.
One actually good long joke. I have stories that are probably better than any joke. Which I think is better because it's something personal.
Bowline knot. Noted.
Butterfly loop. Noted.
Sheet bend. Noted.
Taut line hitch. Noted.
Trucker's hitch. Noted.
How to give constructive feedback. Kinda my job(s) for the past 30 years or so.
How to give a good toast or speech. Did speeches for 18 years with the charity, so I got that.
How to memorize names. The three time memorization thing doesn't work for me and I'm terrible at this.
How to introduce two people. Something I've also done for 18 years with the charity.
How to politely decline offers. I am a little more tactful than saying "I don't want to do it," but yes... cosigned... I also tell the truth. Lying never works out for me!
How to put out a grease fire. Didn't everybody get told how to smother the flames with a lid or toss baking soda on it in school? I've got a massive bag of baking soda (and a fire extinguisher!) in my kitchen just for this purpose!
How to dress for a wedding. I wear a suit with open collar shirt every time... unless it specifically says "casual" or there's a request. And I never wear a tie unless suit and tie are requested.
How to dress for a job interview. As somebody who has hired numerous employees, this is entirely contextual and depends on the job you're interviewing for. When I was hiring designers, I didn't give two shits what they were wearing, all I cared about was that they were clean, for example.
How to dress for as an adult. Dressing like an adult is nothing more than dressing appropriately for the occasion. But, to be honest, I care more about comfort than fashion.
How to talk to strangers. If there's one thing I'd consider myself an expert on... it's this. I've always had this as a natural talent, and am so good at it that people hire me or request me to do it all the time!
How to lift things without hurting your back. Well, this is easier said than done for me. Especially now that I'm older and I once threw my back out when I turned to lock the front door of my house. Suffice to say that I've had back problems since forever, and "lifting with my legs" is not always something I can do.
How to disagree with others in a civil manner. Another part of my job and, in a professional setting, I'm quite good at it. This is a little tougher with dumbfucks on the internet or in social settings were people are ignorant and abusive. Then? I don't give a shit. I'm too old to care now.
How to receive compliments. I hate having to do this, but I've learned how to do it because it makes people uncomfortable when you can't.
How to learn how to do new things. Not tough to learn something that you love to do, and learning new stuff is one of my favorite things.
And if you enjoyed that, here's another recent one that I really liked. It's such a good idea for a video!
James, Zach, and Jesse also did crypto, which is hilarious... because this is what happens to the vast majority of people, all of whom think that they're going to be one of the very, very, very few who makes serious money at it...
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