Shoutout to the $35 meat thermometer that saved Christmas dinner

I spent $35 on a digital meat thermometer last week after my old dial one was way off. I had a 12-pound turkey in the oven and checked it with the new one, found the breast was already at 165 when the old one said 140. Saved me from serving dry, overcooked meat to my whole family. Has anyone else had a cheap tool that ended up paying for itself fast?

Tried a new termination tool on a Cat6 run in Austin, blew the whole connector

I was doing a service call for Spectrum in Austin last Tuesday and decided to try one of those pass-through RJ45 crimpers I saw on sale for $40. Thought it would save me time on a tricky wall plate, but the blade misaligned and I had to re-terminate the same end three times. Anyone else had bad luck with those cheap pass-through kits? What brand actually works for solid copper?

Just realized a cheap wallpaper seam roller works great for pressing down book cloth corners

I was struggling with getting the corners of my book cloth to lay flat on a 6x9 hardcover last week. Tried my bone folder, tried my fingers, nothing worked clean. Then I grabbed my $4 roller from the hardware store (meant for wallpaper seams) and it pressed everything down perfect with no creases. Has anyone else used odd tools like this for bookbinding?

Serious question about thermal paste application methods

I had a guy bring in a laptop last month that kept overheating, and when I opened it up someone had put thermal paste on like it was peanut butter on a sandwich. Huge glob in the middle, none on the edges. I see tutorials online where people do the pea method or the spread method, but I swear half the time it comes out wrong. How do you guys actually apply it without making a mess or leaving gaps?

That book club meeting where we fought for 40 minutes about a single comma

Last week our group spent almost an hour arguing whether the line 'she ate slowly, carefully and with intention' was better with or without the Oxford comma. Three people almost quit the club over it. Has anyone else had a debate erupt over something this small in your group?

Rant: Talked to a guy at a trade show who said my whole review process was backwards

Just hit 1,000 whole lambs broken down in my shop

I keep a rough count in my head and yesterday I realized I had broken down my 1,000th whole lamb since I started working here 4 years ago. That number surprised me because I thought I was way past it, but actually doing the math put things in perspective about how much meat moves through a small shop. How many of a single animal have you guys processed in your career?

Appreciation post: That $15 horsehair brush I bought 3 years ago is still the best tool in my kit

I snagged it from a supply shop in Chicago when I was first starting out and it's held up through hundreds of fades and clipper trims without shedding a single bristle, has anyone else found a cheap tool that just refuses to quit on you?

Not sold on the whole brass plate hype for feel

I built my last 3 boards with aluminum and polycarbonate plates instead of jumping on brass like everyone else. After swapping a brass plate from my old Tofu build with the polycarbonate one last month, I actually prefer the flex and softer bottom out way more. Anyone else find brass too stiff for daily typing?

My rice cooker died mid-meal and now I'm questioning if I even need one

So last Wednesday I was making my usual budget batch of rice and beans, the kind that stretches for three days, when my old rice cooker just stopped heating halfway through. I tried unplugging it and waiting, but it was dead for good. Ended up finishing the rice on the stove in a pot, and honestly it came out just as good and took about the same time. Now I'm wondering if rice cookers are really worth the counter space for someone on a tight budget, or if I've just been sold on convenience over necessity. Has anyone else made the switch to stovetop rice and regretted it or saved money doing so?