That's wild from downtown Chicago. What's the highest ISO you had to push that old Canon to for that shot?

Quick use isn't skipping the cure, it's just a faster one.

My neighbor had a similar thing happen with his fence post. He kept packing dirt around it when it leaned, but it was just mush underneath. The real trick is the screwdriver test. Just poke the wood in a few spots, especially where it meets the ground or another board. If the screwdriver sinks in easy or you can pull out chunks, you've got rot. That soft, crumbly feel is a dead giveaway. It means the wood's strength is gone, and no shim in the world will save it. You gotta cut out the bad section and replace it.