I just read that a portfolio with 5-7 projects gets the most recruiter views

I was updating my site last week and found a study from a design blog. It said recruiters spend an average of 2.5 minutes on a portfolio, and the sweet spot for project count is five to seven. I had twelve pieces up, thinking more was better. Now I'm going through the painful process of cutting it down to my strongest six. Has anyone else trimmed their portfolio down and seen a real difference in response rates?

Warning: I almost lost a job because my portfolio site loaded way too slow

I was applying for a UI role at a startup in Austin and the hiring manager told me my site took over 8 seconds to load on his phone. I was using huge image files for my project mockups. I ran everything through a free tool called Squoosh, compressed the images, and switched to WebP format. The load time dropped to under 2 seconds. Has anyone else had a client or recruiter mention site speed as a dealbreaker?

Pro tip: I had to patch a ceiling in a 1950s house in Tacoma last Tuesday and the old plaster was a beast. What's your go-to method for blending new drywall with that old, hard stuff?

PSA: I was watching anime wrong for years and didn't even know it

I just realized I've been ruining my own experience by watching everything on my phone, even at home. The moment it hit me was last Tuesday, when I finally got around to watching the big fight scene in 'Demon Slayer' season 3 on my friend's actual TV. I'd seen clips before, but seeing the full fluid animation and hearing the sound design properly... it was a totally different show. I'd been squinting at a 6-inch screen for so long, I'd completely missed the artistry in the background details and the impact of the music. I feel like I've been eating a gourmet meal with a stuffy nose. For anyone else who mostly streams on a small device, have you tried switching to a bigger screen and noticed a huge difference with certain shows?

Remembering a job in an old brick building in Pittsburgh

I was running wire for a new panel in this old bank turned office, and the foreman, Frank, pointed at the original plaster walls. He said, 'Kid, you can pull all the new tech you want, but if you don't listen to the building first, you'll fight it all day.' He showed me how to follow the old lath lines to find clear paths. That stuck with me more than any manual. Do you have a story about an old-timer teaching you a trick on a tough site?

My grocery bill went from $180 a week to $95 after I started meal planning on Sundays, the change in six months is wild.

Found my grandpa's old checkbook from 1987 and it felt like a different world

Noticed a big drop in creosote buildup since my town started selling that new low-moisture firewood last fall.

I'm seeing maybe half the usual gunk in flues from homes that switched, so has anyone else found a brand or type of wood that really cuts down on the messy jobs?

Serious question, my brother borrowed my lens cleaning kit and used it on his glasses. Now what?