My buddy's smart lock bricked itself during a software update.

Good call from @the_wren, that site saved me when my old dryer died. They had the exact gasket I needed. Shipping was pretty quick too.

Oh, the tape trick is a lifesaver. But I have to say, I don't agree that the basic tools are getting worse. I've got a thirty-year-old metal ruler that slips just as badly as a new plastic one on glossy paper. The problem is the paper finish, not the tool quality. My new scissors are fantastic, but they're meant for fabric and struggle with thick cardstock. Sometimes we just need the right tool for the specific job.

Oh man, you're totally right. I watched a guy at a cook-off spend an hour on his rest, but he didn't clean his grill grates first. The whole batch tasted like last week's burnt sausage. That prep work is everything.

That line about "seeing that number made me stop" is so true. I read a blog post once about a baker who only changed how she ordered flour after she counted how many bags she went through in a year. What was your 500th box for?