Dull tools are the death of accuracy and enjoyment alike.

Same in cooking. A sharp knife is a safe knife. If you are pushing to cut you will have an accident.

Me, “Measures 50 times and it still doesn’t fit just right” “WTF!!!??”

Mushrooms

I read they think the guy in “Into the Wild” died because he was eating a plant that interfered with vitamin absorption.

Hiking/backpacking (not exactly niche?)

1. Don’t buy a ton of stuff for day hikes. You need less than you think. If you carry enough for an overnight there is a good chance you’ll be so slowed down that you’ll end up staying overnight.
2. Carry the ten essentials. GPS’ run out of battery and you can end up in areas without satellite reception. Always have a compass and paper map and visualize your route before going if you are backpacking in deep. Be aware where roads and bailouts are relative to your route.
3. Occasionally look behind you to get an idea of what the route back will look like if you’ll be returning the same way.
4. If it doesn’t look like a trail stop, you need to backtrack to the last sure spot. Don’t plow ahead blindly thinking it will resolve itself.
5. Winter hiking means less daylight and more stuff (slower). Plan accordingly.
6. “Mountains generate their own weather”. Bring some light raingear and insulation even if it is warm at the trailhead. I’ve started in 80+ temps and gotten snow near summits.
7. Carry hiking poles. They are invaluable for things like stream crossings. They saved me from breaking a leg stepping down boulders once.
8. If the trail is blazed and you can’t see them look up and behind you for them, sometimes they are painted high up for snowpack.
9. Carry traction (ice creepers) if going up into the mountains in spring/fall. Early/late snow and ice is common. In winter bring crampons.
10. Always check the weather, especially for mountain hikes. Be ready to turn back or change your plans if the weather looks sketchy. Don’t get “summit fever” just because you made a special trip.
11. If you are shopping for gear spend the most on boots. They will be the major deciding factor in how comfortable your hiking is. Make sure to break them in before a trip. I’ve been on a multiday mountain trip where a guy had brand new boots and his feet were bleeding by day 3.
12. If winter hiking and there is a snow pack wear gaiters (or built in ones). Snow in boots = cold/wet feet = frostbite. I’ve seen too many people have to turn around because their boots were getting packed with snow and they were suffering.

It reminds me of how inside people tried to claw back the meaning of the word “hacker” from general use as a negative. Sorry but that ship sailed a long time ago.

China, the new bogeyman to replace the USSR

Yup. And here we are, still blaming covid for shortages and “supply chain disruptions”.

Waiting for them to further push monetization schemes. I’ll bet on stat boosters and shiny rate enhancers for $$.

Gotta catch them all!

First they came for my event pikachus, then they came for my shiny legendaries…

ska->rocksteady->reggae

Yah, I was going to just get a board cut but this is an excuse to buy a new tool, right?

Eliminating an entire sense (touch) from being used to control things seems to be foolish.

Printing out tickets as a backup. I do this for concerts and travel because then I don’t have to worry about batteries dying, wifi/roaming not being available, getting logged out and having trouble getting back to the ticket, etc.

I also print out maps when doing wilderness backpacks because even if you download the map you’ll burn through your battery life well before the hike is over but a paper map is just as good. If I really need to confirm my location I can occasionally turn on the app and shut it off. I keep the maps in a gallon ziplock so water isn’t an issue.

Carpenter ants will chew wood into something resembling foam.

I’m trying to convince myself I need a table saw to replace a rotten board in my deck.

Similar to auto repairs. If you have one vehicle and you start working on it make sure you have uber or a neighbor willing to drive you to the parts store because you forgot a part/wrong one.

Reminds me of dental issues too. If you bust a tooth it will ALWAYS happen from Fri evening-Sun when the dentist is off.

Depends on the condition of the home. Make sure you get a good inspection before buying and understand the ramifications of anything they find if you go ahead with a purchase. Things that eventually need to be replaced, likely in the lifetime you’ll own it, are the water heater, refrigerator (assuming it is cheaper than replacing the compressor), HVAC and roof. Not terrible but you have to budget for it. Since you say you live in a “fixer upper” I’d say just keep it so it doesn’t leak. Don’t worry about ants as long as you keep all of your food sealed up and they aren’t carpenter ants. If they are then you need an exterminator.

You WILL find the occasional bug, odd noise, scheduled repairs and replacements, etc. These aren’t causes for panic. I can do most basic repairs but I leave plumbing and bigger electrical jobs to pros because they require specific skills, familiarity with the issues and lots of tools I wouldn’t need again. Yard maintenance is just work. I call it my “gym” lol.

My mortgage payments will go down over time unlike rent that just goes up. On the downside my property taxes and insurance costs have gone up as the value of my home has gone up. I have great neighbors also.

Doomscroll the news, play some games, check if there are any updates to social media accounts. If I’m feeling ambitious I’ll follow rabbit holes on wikipedia or google some obscure science subjects.

To get all of the tricks remaining in the deck