Wait, 15,000 fires a year? That number is actually crazy. Makes you wonder how many people just never think about it.

My first year at art school I probably spent 60% of my time just on background textures. It was a total waste. That Chicago mentor gave you gold. I forced myself to do ten pieces in a row with only flat color behind the figure. It felt wrong at first, but suddenly the character's expression and pose were ALL you saw. The work got way stronger because the story was clear. Now I only add detail if it directly adds to that story.

My last brisket I only spritzed once after the first 4 hours. Let that bark really build up without messing with it. The outside got that perfect dark crust and the inside stayed super moist. Total game changer for my smokes.

Wait, you logged 40 deep sky objects from a Phoenix backyard with just a 4-inch? That's the part that blows my mind, the sky glow there is no joke. I guess if you know exactly where to look and have really dark adapted eyes, it's possible, but man that's impressive. It really shows that skill and patience can beat just having a bigger tube sometimes.

I read somewhere that the hot air moving around them is the key. It dries the outside fast for that crunch. My usual rule is 400 degrees for most things, but I check a few minutes early. Those thin fries can go from perfect to burnt really fast.