I finally hit 50 unique board games played this year and it surprised me

I keep a little list on my phone of every board game I try for the first time, and last week I checked and realized I was at 47. Then over a three day weekend I played 3 more new ones with my group, bringing me to exactly 50. Has anyone else tracked their play count and hit a milestone that felt bigger than you expected?

Found a weird vintage radio at Goodwill for $5 that actually still works

I was digging through the electronics bin at my local Goodwill last Saturday and saw this old 1970s clock radio with a fake wood grain case. It was $4.99 and I figured it'd be a bust but grabbed it anyway. Plugged it in at home and the thing actually picked up a local AM station clear as day, no crackling or anything. The clock part is busted though and I can't figure out how to get the back off to check the wiring. Has anyone else found a thrift store radio or electronics that surprisingly worked right out of the box?

A pentester told me my password manager setup was a joke and now I actually use 2FA

Overhang ratio for granite countertops is way lower than most guys think

I was looking at the NKBA guidelines last night and saw they recommend max 1/3 overhang without support. Most guys in my shop have been doing 12 inches on a 24 inch deep cabinet for years and acting like it's fine. That's half the cabinet depth, not a third. Checked with a stone supplier in Nashville and he said he sees cracked tops from this all the time. Anyone else been running bigger overhangs without issues?

Three years freelancing from coffee shops until one got robbed in front of me

I was working out of a Starbucks in downtown Seattle last Tuesday when a guy walked in, grabbed a laptop off the table next to mine, and ran out. The owner chased him half a block before giving up. That laptop had someone's whole business on it, no backups, no insurance. I packed up my bag right then and rented a coworking space with a lockable door the same afternoon. Has anyone else had a close call like that change where you work?

Hit 150 blades in my collection and it changed how I shop

I crossed 150 custom pocket knives last weekend and for the first time I started asking myself why I keep buying. Each one has a story but honestly some just sit in a case. Do you guys aim for a specific number or just stop caring about quantity after a while?

Picked up a used water bath canner at an estate sale in Des Moines for $15

Been wanting to get into canning for a while but was put off by the cost of new equipment. Found this old Presto canner at an estate sale last Saturday, barely looks used. Set up my first batch of salsa verde yesterday and it sealed perfectly on all 8 jars. Anyone else find good fermentation gear secondhand and save a bunch?

Am I the only one who fermented hot sauce for 3 years before realizing I needed to weigh down the peppers?

I've been making fermented hot sauce since 2020 and always ended up with mold on top. Last week I was scrubbing out my jar and it hit me like a brick - I never used a glass weight or anything to keep the peppers below the brine. I felt so dumb but now my latest batch of habanero sauce is mold-free and actually tastes clean. Has anyone else missed something that basic for way too long?

Finally got my forge welding to stick after 4 years of trying

I used to just glue my loops together or use a mig welder for my shoes. Looked like crap and failed half the time. Last Tuesday I went back to basics and actually watched my heat color instead of guessing. Spent 2 hours just practicing with scrap steel till it clicked. Any other farriers here switch from welding to forge welding and have tips for getting consistent heat?

Figured out why my injectors kept failing after a trip to the truck stop

I was down in Laredo last month helping a buddy with a Cummins ISX that kept dropping a cylinder. After swapping injectors twice I finally checked the fuel filters and they were packed with this fine black grit. Turns out the pump at that little station off I-35 has a bad tank liner that flakes off. Now I carry a bore scope everywhere and check filters before I even start diagnosing. Has anyone else run into tank liner problems messing up fuel systems?