Had a timing belt snap on a 2010 Civic last Tuesday, total mess

Last Tuesday I was finishing up a timing belt job on a 2010 Civic, 1.8L engine. Got it all lined up, tensioner set, turned the crank by hand a few times to check clearance. Then I made a stupid mistake. Forgot to torque the tensioner pulley bolt down all the way. Started the engine and heard this awful clatter for maybe two seconds before it stalled. Pulled the cover off and sure enough, belt had jumped three teeth. Bent at least two intake valves. Customer was standing right there, saw my face go white. I've been doing this for eight years, never messed up a timing job before. Anyone else have a brain fart like that and end up pulling a head they didn't plan to?

Went from 10 clients to just 3 over 8 months - did I make a mistake?

I used to take ANY freelance writing gig that came my way, even the $20 blog posts, but after a burnout meltdown last January I started saying no to low pay and bad vibes. Now I only work with 3 regular clients who pay me $200+ per post, but my monthly income dropped from $4k to around $3.2k even though I work less hours. Is it smarter to build a stable, higher-paying base like this or should I go back to grabbing every crappy job just to hit a higher number?

Bought a cheap tarp from Walmart and it shredded during a windstorm at Lake Tahoe

Bought a $600 portable monitor in Chiang Mai

Worked from cafes and hostels for 3 months. That second screen was a lifesaver for coding. Screen broke after a drop in Bali though. Anyone found a rugged one that lasts?

Honestly think light pollution apps are overrated for backyard viewing

Last month I tried using a light pollution map app to find the darkest spot in my yard, but it told me my whole area was a 6 on the Bortle scale. I ignored it and set up in my usual corner anyway, and I saw the Andromeda Galaxy clear as day through my 8-inch Dobsonian - way better than the app predicted. Anyone else find those maps way too pessimistic?

I finally ditched gas for induction and it was way cheaper than I thought

Been running a 6 burner Vulcan for 8 years in my little diner outside Cleveland. But with gas prices going nuts and the hood maintenance getting old, I called a guy about a 36 inch True induction range. Figured it would cost triple what I paid. Actually came in under 4 grand installed. Kitchen runs way cooler now too. Only thing that bugs me is how fast it cools down when I drop a new pan on the burner. Anyone else switch and stick with it?

I was reading about the history of Texas brisket and found something wild

I mean, I always knew Aaron Franklin was a big deal, but I found out he actually won his first James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest back in 2015. That's like the Oscars for food, and he got it for barbecue, which is pretty huge. I found this in an old Texas Monthly article from a few years back. Does anyone know of other pitmasters who've gotten that kind of national award?

Spent $300 on a faraday bag for my phone and it feels like a total waste now

Everyone online was saying you need one to stop tracking, so I got a decent one. I kept my phone in it for a week straight, and literally nothing changed in my life. No less spam calls, no weird ads stopped. It just made my phone useless when I needed it. Has anyone actually had one of these work, or is it just security theater for paranoid people?

Just realized my weekly grocery bill dropped under $40

I started buying dried beans in bulk from the co-op and making a big pot of soup every Sunday. Last week I spent $38.75 at the store, which is the lowest it's been in years. Has anyone else found a single change that cut their food costs this much?

Remembering when a job in Savannah made me finally switch from my old chalk line to a laser level