Just had to choose between two detail levels for a big set of foundation plans

I was working on a commercial job in Phoenix and the client wanted the foundation drawings done fast. I had to pick between my usual full detail with every rebar callout, or a simpler version with just the main dimensions and notes. I went with the simpler one to meet the deadline, which was two days away. It actually worked out fine because the contractor on site is really good and knows the local codes. They called me once to confirm a pier depth, but that was it. Has anyone else cut detail to hit a tight turn around? How did it go for you?

My curling iron literally caught fire during a client's updo

It happened yesterday morning, about 10 minutes into a bridal party appointment. I was using my usual 1-inch barrel iron, the one I've had for maybe 3 years, and it just started smoking from the base before a small flame shot out. I had to unplug it fast and grab my backup. The whole thing shook me up... I always thought those stories were overblown. What brand of irons do you guys trust for heavy daily use now? I need something that won't turn into a hazard.

Remember that guy who went viral for the 'I'm just a guy' song?

I saw him playing at a tiny bar in Columbus last week... maybe 20 people there. He did the song, but then played a whole set of new stuff he wrote after the hype died. It was actually really good, just quiet and honest. Felt like watching someone figure out who they are after the internet moved on. Anyone else run into a viral person from years ago just... doing their thing now?

I thought the 'informational interview' thing was just busywork for college kids

My old boss in Denver told me to do them when I was stuck, but I never did. Then last week I was thinking about moving from marketing to project management and finally called a guy I met at a conference. We talked for 20 minutes and he gave me the names of two online courses that actually teach the software his team uses. He also said his company is hiring in about 3 months. I wasted a whole year just looking at job posts online. Has anyone else gotten a real lead from just asking someone for advice?

I was totally wrong about my sauerkraut weights

For like two years I just used a small plate to weigh down my cabbage in the crock. Last week I saw a video from a guy in Seattle who showed how a proper glass weight creates a perfect seal and stops kahm yeast. Tried it on my last batch and the kraut came out way crisper with zero weird film. Has anyone else switched from plates to weights and noticed a big difference?

Update: I just hit 50 countries visited while working remotely

I was in Lisbon last week when my travel app pinged me with the count. I always thought that number was for full-time travelers, not someone like me who has to log 40 hours a week for a tech job. On one hand, it feels like a huge win and proof this lifestyle works. On the other, it makes me wonder if I'm just collecting stamps instead of really getting to know places. Has anyone else felt weird after hitting a big travel number?

I know everyone says you need a $2000 mount for deep sky photos, but my $400 one has been perfect for a year now

The absolute chaos of people trying to wire a three-way switch on their own

I swear, I've seen it three times in the last month alone. A friend or a neighbor will send me a picture of a junction box with a total bird's nest of wires and say 'it just won't work.' Every single time, they've mixed up the travelers and the common wire on the three-way switch. They think any black wire is the hot and just start tying things together. It matters because you can fry the switch, cause a short, or just have lights that turn on from one location but not the other. I had a buddy in Cincinnati last week who called me over, and he had the common from one switch tied to the travelers from the other. His exact quote was 'but they're all the same color!' No, they are absolutely not. I spent an hour with my Klein voltage tester just tracing everything back. Has anyone else had to be the emergency three-way switch rescue for a DIY disaster?

I looked up the actual timeline on that comedian's old tweets everyone is mad about

I was reading a long article about the whole thing on a news site, and they included the dates. The tweets people are calling 'recent' were from 2011. That's over a decade ago. The apology video everyone is picking apart came out in 2019, after he had already stopped doing that kind of material for years. It feels like the court of public opinion is judging the 2019 apology based on 2024 standards, ignoring the years of changed behavior in between. Has anyone else looked at the actual timeline and felt the reaction is disconnected from it?

I was at the Asian market on 5th Street and saw a whole bag of dried chickpeas for $1.89.