My last visit to the dentist proved @noah_chen17 right - that drill looked way less scary from across the waiting room than it did six inches from my face.

Placebo effect is real but that sounds legit.

Hold up, were you wrapping the throw line around your hand and just ripping it like you're starting a lawnmower? I've seen guys do that and it puts crazy stress right on the knot and the sheath. I used to yank mine hard too until a older climber showed me the same thing, just pull smooth and let the weight of the bag do the work. It feels weird at first because you want that quick snap to set the line, but it actually sets cleaner when you don't shock it. How long did your lines usually last before you switched your technique?

My buddy booked a hostel in Barcelona direct and they tacked on a "reservation fee" that doubled the price. He just canceled and rebooked on Booking.com for half the cost.

Barely a dent" until you eat glass shards.