Serious question, has anyone else had a chimney go from a solid 2-inch creosote plug to completely clear in under 24 hours after a heavy rainstorm?

I inspected a flue in Portland yesterday that was almost blocked solid, but after last night's downpour, the homeowner called back today saying their draft was perfect, and sure enough, the water had softened and washed the whole mess down into the ash dump.

My local cafe in Portland ran out of their usual beans last Thursday

They had to use a different single-origin Ethiopian roast for the whole day. I got my usual pour-over and it tasted so bright and fruity, totally different from their normal dark blend. The barista said they only had 5 pounds of it left from a small farm. It made me realize how much the bean source changes the drink. I'm thinking of trying more light roasts now. Has anyone else had a cafe surprise them with a sudden bean switch?

Rant: People keep using the wrong brush for their liner and it drives me nuts

I was on a job in Portland last month and the homeowner showed me the brush they'd been using for their own 'maintenance'. It was a standard poly brush, the kind you'd use on a clay tile flue, but they have a full stainless steel liner. That stiff bristle can't possibly get a good seal on the smooth metal surface, so you're just pushing soot around. I see this all the time, folks think a chimney brush is a chimney brush. It matters because you need the right bristle material and shape to actually scrape the creosote off the liner walls effectively. A steel wire brush for a steel liner, a poly for masonry. Using the wrong one means a half clean job and a bigger fire risk. Has anyone else had to explain this basic tool choice to a customer more than once?

A customer in Denver brought in a bike with a seized seatpost that had been stuck for over a year.

I tried the usual tricks with an impact driver and penetrating oil, but nothing moved. Finally, I clamped the frame in a stand, applied a cheater bar to the seatpost, and it broke free with a loud crack. What's your go-to method for a truly frozen aluminum post in a steel frame?

Spent $300 on a graded comic and now I'm not sure it was smart

I bought a CGC graded 9.6 copy of Ultimate Fallout #4, the first Miles Morales, for about three hundred dollars last year. Part of me thinks it's a solid investment in a key modern book that will hold value. The other part feels like I just paid a huge premium for a plastic case and missed out on the fun of having a raw copy I could actually read. Has anyone else gone back and forth on the graded versus raw debate for their collection?

Overheard a guy in a Lisbon hostel say he books flights for 'anywhere under $50'

I was making coffee in the hostel kitchen last Tuesday and this guy from Canada was telling his friend his whole system. He said he just opens Skyscanner, puts in his home airport, and for the destination he types 'everywhere'. Then he sorts by price and picks the cheapest spot that comes in under 50 bucks, no matter where it is. He said his last three trips were to places he'd never even thought about going. It kind of blew my mind because I always pick the place first and then hunt for deals. His way flips it all around. I tried it when I got home and found a one-way to a city in Belgium for $42 next month. Has anyone else tried this 'blind booking' method? What was the weirdest place you ended up?

My Klein coax crimper just gave out on a job in Phoenix last Thursday

I was finishing up a triple play install and the handle snapped clean off when I crimped the last connector. Had to run back to the van for my backup tool, which set me back almost an hour. Has anyone else had a Klein tool fail like that, or should I just switch brands?

I finally figured out a way to stop taking the free plastic utensils from the deli near my office (you know, the ones you don't really need).

I thought VPNs were overkill until last week

I mean, I always figured my home wifi was safe enough for browsing. But after reading how easy it is for snoops to grab data on public networks, I got one for my phone. Do you guys use VPNs regularly, or is it just for specific things?

Update: Saw how the film handled a key family dinner moment

In the movie adaptation, the big family argument at dinner was much quieter. The novel had everyone shouting and interrupting, which showed their tension better. I felt the screen version smoothed things over too much. That's why I like the original story's version more for its raw feel.