Bought a $30 camping stove from the gas station. Big mistake.

I was heading out to Shenandoah last Friday and realized I forgot my stove. Stopped at a Shell station and grabbed this little butane burner for thirty bucks. First night it worked okay, second night the valve started sticking and the flame went all wonky. Third night it just wouldn't light at all. Stuck eating cold beans for breakfast. Has anyone else had luck with those cheap emergency stoves or am I better off just spending the money on a real camp stove next time?

Question about syncing babble transactions between accounts

That time my book press slipped and I ended up with a crooked spine on a $150 leather journal

I was in my garage workshop last fall, clamping a folio for a custom order, and the whole press shifted sideways when I wasn't looking, then I had to spend 3 hours carefully prying it apart and re-gluing without tearing the leather, has anyone else had a clamp failure ruin a project mid-step?

Burned 4 batches of croissants before I figured out my proofing box was off

So last month I was trying to get my lamination right for a weekend farmers market order and I kept pulling out these flat, greasy croissants that looked like sad pancakes. After the fourth batch I finally checked my proofing box with a separate thermometer and it was reading 10 degrees hotter than what I had it set to. Turns out the built-in sensor was totally shot and my dough was proofing way too fast, melting all that butter I worked so hard to layer in. I grabbed a cheap digital thermometer from the grocery store for like 8 bucks and now I double check the temp every time I start a batch. Has anyone else had a piece of equipment lie to them like that? What did you use to catch it?

Stranger at the dog park told me my leash technique was wrong

Some guy at Riverside Park said I was holding the leash too tight and confusing my dog. I was skeptical but tried his looser grip method, and sure enough my dog stopped pulling within 3 days. Anyone else get unsolicited advice that actually worked?

The grocery store self checkout took 45 minutes for 12 items

Ngl, I walked into the local Piggly Wiggly thinking I'd be out in 10 minutes but the machine kept freezing every time I scanned a bag of oranges. Ended up waiting for an employee to reset it three times before I could even pay. Has anyone else had a self checkout run just completely wreck your whole afternoon?

My week of the blackout that proved everyone wrong

Last August during that 3 day blackout in Phoenix, my neighborhood freaked out and bought every generator at Home Depot. I sat there with my 20 year old inverter and a deep cycle battery I got off Craigslist for 40 bucks. Kept my fridge running, charged phones, and even had a fan going at night. Meanwhile my neighbor's brand new 5000 watt generator died after 6 hours because he didn't break it in right. Has anyone else found that old junk actually works better than new stuff in a real emergency?

Cracked my 5th bumper in a row using the same dent puller before a guy at the shop in Denver pointed out I was spacing the studs wrong

Been doing body work for 8 years and never once questioned why my welds kept snapping until some new kid showed me a 1/4 inch gap works way better than 3/8ths, has anyone else had a simple trick like that totally change how you do something basic?

Rant: My climber gear from 15 years ago vs now

Tbh I dug out my old saddle from 2009 last weekend when I was cleaning the shed. That thing was beat up but still solid. 3 years ago I switched to a newer lightweight model and honestly I miss the old one. The new one is fine but the padding wore out in 2 seasons. What do you guys prefer for long days in the tree?

Realized I was packing my pack all wrong after a guy on the JMT pointed out my hip belt

I had been backpacking for like 5 years and always thought my packs were uncomfortable. On the John Muir Trail last summer this older hiker at a camp spot just goes "you know your hip belt should sit lower right?" Told me I was carrying 90% on my shoulders. Adjusted it and suddenly my 35lb pack felt like nothing. Has anyone else had a simple gear adjustment totally change their hiking experience?