Warning: I thought those knee kickers with the adjustable heads were just extra junk to buy

A guy I worked with in Boise swore by his, and after watching him stretch a tricky hallway in about half the time it took me, I had to try one. I picked up a used one for 40 bucks at a tool swap last fall, and honestly, it's saved my knees on more than a few jobs since. Anyone else make the switch to an adjustable head and find it actually made a difference?

TIL most shops in my city are still trimming brisket fat way too thin before smoking.

I've done side-by-side tests for a year now, and leaving a solid quarter inch of fat cap on top gives you way more protection and flavor without making it greasy, so has anyone else tried this thicker trim method?

A shop owner in Phoenix said my brake line flares looked 'like a squirrel chewed them'

I was helping a friend with his truck and thought my double flares were fine. The owner walked over, pointed at one, and said that exact thing. He showed me his old school flaring tool and said I was rushing the final step, not letting the die seat right. I started counting to three after the handle gets tight, and my flares are clean now. Has anyone else had a simple tip fix a job you thought you knew?

Question about that new lightweight joint compound from ProForm

I used the new ProForm Lite Blue on a ceiling patch in my own house six months ago. Just last week, I noticed a hairline crack running right along the tape line that wasn't there before. I think it dried out too fast in our dry winter air, even though I followed the bag directions. Has anyone else had this happen with the lightweight stuff on a repair?

Serious question, did you know the CIA ran a mind control program for 20 years?

I was reading an old article about MKUltra and saw they spent over $25 million on it in the 1950s and 60s. They tested LSD on people without telling them, including in San Francisco. I found this on a university library's digital archive. That's not some random internet rumor, it's a documented government project. How is that not the biggest conspiracy fact everyone should know?

A retired caster in Detroit gave me one piece of advice that saved a pour

He was watching me struggle with a stubborn sand mold for a gear blank last fall, and he just said, 'Kid, your flask is colder than the metal.' I'd been rushing and didn't let the mold warm up enough in the drying oven. Let it sit for another twenty minutes and the fill was perfect. What's the best simple tip you've gotten from an old hand on the floor?

Appreciation post: I looked up why clouds over the ocean look different and learned from a NOAA article that marine air has way more salt particles for water to cling to.

Has anyone else noticed this effect near a coast or is it just me?

Just found out cats have a special scent gland on their cheeks for marking

I was reading a library book about animal biology last night and it mentioned cats have scent glands right on their cheeks. When they rub their face on you or furniture, they're actually marking it as safe and familiar. I always thought it was just a cute sign of affection. Does your cat do this a lot too, or is mine just extra clingy?

I finally looked at my electric bill's yearly summary and felt sick

I got my year-end statement from the power company last month. It showed my total kilowatt hours used, and I had to sit down. I used over 11,000 kWh for my small apartment. The real kicker was the month-by-month chart. My usage spiked every single summer, way more than in winter. I always thought I was careful, but I had my old AC unit set to 68 degrees all season long, and it must have been running non-stop. I never connected the dots between my comfort and that much power, most of which comes from coal here. I swapped it for a newer model and set it to 74, and my usage this month is already way lower. Has anyone else had a wake-up call from their utility bill like that?

TIL my cheap hot swap sockets can't handle more than 3 switch changes before they give up