Tried a Japanese pull saw after years of using a Western handsaw for trim work

Switched to a Gyokucho 265 pull saw for cutting baseboard miters in a 1920s house near Portland. That thin blade left zero tear-out on some really beat up old oak. Anyone else find pull saws just feel more natural for finish work or is it just me?

That job site in Phoenix last July changed how I set up my saw horses

I was working on a deck rebuild in Phoenix back in July and it hit 114 that afternoon. My saw horses kept sinking into the hot asphalt every time I set them up, throwing my cuts off by almost a quarter inch. Took me three tries to figure out I needed to use 2x4 blocks under the feet to spread the weight. Now I carry four cut pieces of plywood in my truck just for that. Anyone else run into problems with their setup when the ground gets soft?

Got hit with a $3,500 escrow shortage letter yesterday out of nowhere...

I was sitting at my kitchen table in Phoenix opening mail and saw my mortgage company claimed I had a $3,500 escrow shortage because they miscalculated my property taxes last year, so now I have to pay that lump sum by next month or my payment goes up $300... has anyone else fought an escrow mistake and actually won?

Pro tip: Check your grow lights for spider mites before they spread

Last week I noticed tiny webs on my monstera and thought it was just dust, but after a closer look I found spider mites had hitched a ride on a new ZZ plant I brought home from a swap. Has anyone else had pests hide in the nooks of grow light fixtures?

Just found out the PS5 fan connector is actually a standard 4-pin PWM header

I was digging through a schematics PDF on the PS5 motherboard last night from the console mods wiki, and I couldn't believe it. Turns out the stock fan connection uses a standard 4-pin PWM header, not some proprietary Sony thing. That means you can swap in any 120mm PC fan with the right adapter for like $15. Has anyone here tried using a Noctua fan in their PS5 yet?

Small victory at the Balboa Park accessible trail yesterday

I made it all the way down the accessible path near the cactus garden without needing to stop. It's only about half a mile but it's uphill on the way back and I usually give up halfway. Has anyone else found a spot in San Diego that works well for building up stamina?

Pro tip: Thought clearing a clogged intake screen would take 20 minutes, ended up finding a buried anchor cable that took 5 hours and a salvage crew to get free - anyone else have a job that ballooned way past what you budgeted for time?

Ran into a mess of old steel cable wrapped around a stump that took 5 hours to cut and pull out, and I’m betting I’m not the only one who’s had a quick job turn into an all-day fight.

Rented a compression tester last week - didn't know glow plugs could crack like that

Just realized I've been deboning chicken thighs all wrong for 15 years

I was at a demo last month at the local meat lab in Portland (free workshop, highly recommend). The guy running it watched me for about 30 seconds and goes 'you're fighting the oyster, not following it.' Turns out I was digging into the meat instead of sliding the knife along the bone curve. All those years of hacking away and I could have saved 5 bucks a week in wasted meat. Has anyone else had a moment where a simple tip from a stranger completely changed your cuts?

I finally tried Detroit-style pizza after years of ignoring it

I have been a loyal supporter of Ohio City's edge-to-edge thin crust spots for ages, basically thought thick crust was a waste of time. Last month my buddy dragged me to this place on Lorain near 44th, I think it's called Crust or something, and I ordered a square just to shut him up. Man, that caramelized cheese crust on the edges was something else, it was like the perfect mix of crispy and chewy. The dough was airy too, not like that dense pan pizza you get at chain places. I still love a good thin slice but now I get why people drive across town for the Detroit style. Has anyone else been sleeping on a pizza style locally then finally gave it a shot?