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How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, and a can of WD-40

davekiss.com

61–70 of 229 posts

Re: How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, and a can of WD-40

#61

Lubricating a sliding door Quieting a squeaky door hinge Lubricating an HVAC register lever Wd-40 is not really a lubricant. You can use WD-40 to clean gunk out of things, but you really need to follow it up with a proper lubricating oil

> Wd-40 is not really a lubricant And yet, it lubricates! I've heard your claim a lot, but the fact remains, it makes machinery work more smoothly, by reducing friction, and it is effective over significant time periods. By any definition, it is a lubricant. https://www.wd40.com/myths-legends-fun-facts/ > Myth: WD-40 Multi-Use Product is not really a lubricant. > Fact: While the “W-D” in WD-40 stands for Water Displa…

I don't remember the source and forget many details, but the test was very compelling. The guy used approximately a dozen different products, clp, wd40, etc. The test involved individual identical pieces of steel all coated with each product and left in wretched environment.

The control, ie uncoated piece of steel fared better results that the regular WD40. I remember the best being Clenzoil (I had to grab my can to remember this). However, among the best was.... WD-40 specialist, specifically the "corrosion inhibitor" version. I think it was either the second or third best and I consulted my other can to remember this.

Sadly, my favorite lube ranked very poorly, which was Balistol; however, I'll never give up my Balistol.

I have put both the Clenzoil and Specialist to various 'tests' over the years and can vouch for their quality. But I'd use snot before regular WD-40 unless I was making a stink bomb.

Edit: While not the test mentioned, ProjectFarm (youtoob), who does myriad high quality evaluations, did test various lubes, but I think mostly for lubricity. It was also revealing and I highly recommend it and the channel in general.

Re: How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, and a can of WD-40

#63

How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, a can of WD-40 and One Secret Factor That Makes This Process Unrepeatable and Useless To The Reader > Where do you find these exceedingly winnable contests? Sorry, that’s a trade secret — but it’s not any of the standard various contest aggregators out there.

I mean, sure, but not every post/blog has to be "useful to the reader". That last "n" of "n" fiction books I read were equally useless, but I'm glad I read them.

I'm not even sure I agree that that one piece renders the entire blog post useless. The process is all there, just because the author didn't share a list of contests doesn't mean someone couldn't do their own research and replicate it.

Re: How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, and a can of WD-40

#64

How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, a can of WD-40 and One Secret Factor That Makes This Process Unrepeatable and Useless To The Reader > Where do you find these exceedingly winnable contests? Sorry, that’s a trade secret — but it’s not any of the standard various contest aggregators out there.

I mean, sure, but not every post/blog has to be "useful to the reader". That last "n" of "n" fiction books I read were equally useless, but I'm glad I read them.

There’s a bit of a difference between a fiction book and a 3000+ word ad for consulting services[0] that could reasonably be considered a how-to guide until it reveals its lack of repeatability in its final sentences.

I’m going to guess that if “You cannot replicate this” were at the top of the ad fewer people would spend their time reading through it.

0 (The link is towards the bottom, right above the reveal) https://davekiss.com/consult

Re: How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, and a can of WD-40

#65

How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, a can of WD-40 and One Secret Factor That Makes This Process Unrepeatable and Useless To The Reader > Where do you find these exceedingly winnable contests? Sorry, that’s a trade secret — but it’s not any of the standard various contest aggregators out there.

[deleted]

Re: How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, and a can of WD-40

#67
post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a lubricant, just not a very good one for most uses. It can't bear much load and it tends to just dissappear in a short time. I once replaced a series of mortice lever locks in a first house that were very worn after a decade of use. You had to shake the key to get them to open. I was amazed on opening them to find them completely dry, when they come greased. I suggested they lubricate the replacements occasion…

I think that's one of the biggest screwups people make with WD-40 is that it's basically just a petroleum solvent and other than maybe initially unsticking things, it often makes the problem worse. As far as solvents go it's not particularly great, and in terms of lubricating or breaking free it's pretty bad. I'm surprised they still sell as much of it as they do (chalk it up to good marketing), when for basically ev…

TIL that ATF=automatic transmission fluid.

Still unclear on why this particular mix is optimal for unsticking things but Google suggests a lot of people use it.

Re: How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, and a can of WD-40

#68
post #66

I once ran an ultra marathon distance and had no lubricant but getting a bad rash so I sprayed my thighs and balls with WD-40 which I found outside someone’s garage. It lasted me almost 15 miles until I could buy some Vaseline. Off label use probably

Genius idea! I've found Vaseline to be less than ideal for running, and "personal lubricants" dry out much too quickly. I hadn't considered using industrial lubricants. Pretty much everyone who uses WD-40 for mechanical work ends up getting it on their skin (and probably inhaling a good amount), so I'm sure it's fine for limited exposure.

Re: How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, and a can of WD-40

#69
post #49

Incredible. One of the winning human made video submissions says: "There's something almost poetic about working with your hands. In a world where everything has gone digital, where things get solved with a click and a swipe, there's a unique satisfaction about tackling something tangible, something real." Then there's this guy who algorithmically floods the contest with AI slop. Click and a swipe indeed!

> Then there's this guy who algorithmically floods the contest with AI slop. Click and a swipe indeed!

But that's not what happened. The blog is very clear about explaining where and how it is used.

I know there's AI in the title but it's pretty lazy and frank rude to assume that means "mass produced nonsense".

Re: How I won $2,750 using JavaScript, AI, and a can of WD-40

#70
post #49

Incredible. One of the winning human made video submissions says: "There's something almost poetic about working with your hands. In a world where everything has gone digital, where things get solved with a click and a swipe, there's a unique satisfaction about tackling something tangible, something real." Then there's this guy who algorithmically floods the contest with AI slop. Click and a swipe indeed!

Hey, it's not slop! I wrote the script, I shot the video, I edited everything — the only place AI was even used in the submissions was to alleviate the pain of tracking down fitting music and re-recording voice overs (both of which I've done manually in the past). I actually thought the videos would be pretty helpful for a non-handy homeowner.

yeah if anything this is a good example of using AI to speed up work that's typically fairy tedious
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