My neighbor swore by a 225 degree flat cook for pork shoulder, but I got mush

He said 'low and slow never fails' for 14 hours, but the fat never rendered and the texture was awful. I've found a hotter cook, around 275, gives me way better bark and pulls clean. Anyone else had a similar experience with a trusted tip falling flat?

I used to think my first draft had to be perfect before anyone saw it

I wrote a fantasy chapter six months ago and thought the dialogue was great. My writing buddy read it and said, 'This sounds like a history book, not people talking.' I rewrote it last week, just letting the characters argue like real people, and it's so much better now. How do you know when to stop polishing a rough draft yourself and just show it to someone?

My neighbor said he never waters his new grass seed and I think that's just wrong.

My uncle told me to always pre-fill screw holes before taping, and I finally tried it

My uncle, who hung board for 30 years, always said to take a little mud and fill the screw dimples before you lay your first tape coat. I thought it was a waste of time for years, just another old-timer thing. Then I got a job doing a big ceiling in a new house in Tempe, and the lighting was brutal. After my first coat, every single screw was still shadowing through. I remembered his advice, went back, pre-filled every hole with a small knife, let it dry, and then taped. The difference was night and day. It took an extra hour that day, but saved me a full sanding pass later. Has anyone else found a small step like this that actually saves a ton of headache down the line?

Need a good family lawyer in the Fullerton area

Hey everyone, dealing with some tough personal stuff this year (2026 has been rough so far) and I need to find a solid family law attorney near Fullerton. Anyone have recommendations for someone who is fair but won't get pushed around in court? Ideally looking for someone who knows the Orange County courts really well.