Just changed my mind about buying a new car after my old one needed a $2,000 repair

My 2012 sedan started making a noise, and the shop said it needed a full transmission service. I was ready to just trade it in for a new car payment. Then my friend, who's a mechanic, asked if I'd had any other big issues. I realized besides this, the car has been solid for years. Paying the repair is still way less than a new loan. Has anyone else fixed a big problem and been glad they kept the old car?

Saw a stat that AI can now write code faster than a human team of 10

I was reading a tech report from Stanford yesterday and it said some new AI models can finish a full software project in 2 days, which would take a group of ten devs about a month. That's wild to me, because I always thought AI was just for small fixes. Does this mean junior developer jobs are basically done for now?

Rant: My first attempt at a raised garden bed was a total flop compared to my second.

I built one with untreated pine that rotted in 8 months, then switched to cedar and it's held up for 3 seasons now. What other materials have you guys used that lasted?

Saw a heat wave wreck a local farm market in Phoenix

Was at the downtown Phoenix farmers market last July. Temps hit 115. Saw half the produce at one stall wilt and get tossed before noon. The farmer said he lost about $300 worth of greens that morning. Made me realize how climate hits food right at home. Anyone know good ways to help local growers handle extreme heat?

A trick for stuck seatpost bolts I learned from a guy in Detroit

Honestly, last week a guy brought in a steel frame with a seatpost bolt that was totally frozen. He said he'd tried everything. I put a drop of penetrating oil on it, then used a heat gun on the frame around the bolt for about 30 seconds, not directly on the bolt. After it cooled, it came right out with a hex key. The heat expands the frame material just enough to break the bond. Has anyone else found a good way to deal with this without risking damage?

Just realized my friend group's annual camping trip in the Adirondacks fell apart because nobody wanted to be the one to plan it.

We all kept saying 'someone should pick dates' in our group chat for 4 months, but it's October now and we never went, so how do you get past that awkwardness of assigning a planner without seeming bossy?

I had to choose between a full engine rebuild or a used motor swap on a 2015 F-150

Customer's 3.5 EcoBoost had a cracked block, and the quote for a full rebuild with new parts was around $8,500. A low-mileage used engine from a salvage yard was $4,200 plus my labor. I went with the used swap to save the customer money, and it took me two full days to get it in and running. Everything seemed fine for about three weeks, but now it's throwing a persistent camshaft position code that wasn't there before. I'm starting to wonder if the used motor had a hidden issue. Has anyone else had a used EcoBoost swap bite them like this, and what's your go-to fix for these cam codes?

Just finished my first built-in bookshelf project

I finally got the last shelf installed and painted in my home office. It took me about three weekends total and I used about 45 feet of 1x12 pine board from the local lumber yard. I was honestly surprised I didn't have any major mistakes, especially on the crown molding. Has anyone else had a first big project go smoother than they expected?

Had to choose between a stable job at a local bank or a startup gig in Austin. I picked the startup. It's been 6 months and I'm not sure.

Question about a guy I met on a job in Tacoma who only used a magnesium float for the entire finish