re: Woodworking Eff-ups you will admit to...?

I've definitely done the same dumb arse thing with the miter saw, tried to hold a small piece and shave a little off of it. Will never try that again, very scary and I swear my saw sounds different after that incident, not sure if it may have damaged a bearing or something but it still cuts straight and true.
Had a near miss recently with the table saw. I've been known to not use my riving knife but whatever it was made me put it on before making this cut. I was ripping a piece of 8/4 mahogany and after maybe 6 inches into the rip the wood clamps tight on the riving knife, it wouldn't budge. Turn the saw off and wiggle the piece off of the blade and the cut end looked like a jointed piece of wood it was pinching so tight. I had trouble driving a wedge in there to finish the cut. I've seen pieces pinch closed after a cut but never like this, and I can only imagine the kickback had I not had the riving knife on there.