Overheard a customer say my multimeter was ancient, made me think about old tools

I was fixing a 1980s Pioneer receiver from a guy in Portland last Tuesday, and he joked that my Fluke 77 from 1991 looked like a brick. It got me thinking how the old analog meters and basic digitals still get the job done without all the fancy auto-ranging that newer models have. Anyone else stick with an old workhorse meter for certain jobs over the newer stuff?

Is paying for a premium parking pass downtown actually worth it or just throwing money away?

I've been parking in the same lot near Jasper Ave for about two years now, and I finally decided to upgrade to the premium reserved spot for an extra $45 a month. Figured it would save me time circling around and maybe keep my car safer... but honestly, after three months, I'm noticing the same dings and dust as before. The spot is closer to the elevator, but I still get stuck in the same exit line every evening. I talked to a buddy who parks in the cheap lot four blocks over and he swears he walks past my spot every day and laughs at the waste. So what's the real gain here... is it just about convenience or are people actually seeing a benefit? Has anyone else tested both sides and found a clear winner?

Unpopular opinion: I think modern camera ribbon cables are designed to fail

Had a Sony A7III on the bench last week where the main flex cable for the shutter button just tore during a normal disassembly. On one hand, it's a cheap part, maybe $12. On the other, it feels like they're made thinner now so you HAVE to replace them. Anyone else getting this vibe, or am I just having bad luck?

My uncle told me to always use a stop bath when developing Tri-X, I ignored him for ages

He said it would stop the developer dead and keep my highlights clean, but I thought it was just extra fuss. After a roll of blown-out skies, I tried his way and the negs were way better. Anyone else skip steps and regret it later?

My whole Wacom Cintiq 16 just went black mid-project last night, no warning at all

My kitchen faucet handle snapped clean off this morning while I was doing dishes.

It's an old single-handle model and the plastic cartridge inside just gave out. I'm debating whether to try replacing just the cartridge for about $25 or if I should upgrade the whole faucet, which seems like a bigger job. Has anyone had luck with a cartridge swap on a Moen faucet that's over 10 years old?

Remember when every kitchen had a specific spot for the big stockpot?

I was doing a deep clean of my station the other day and found a thick layer of old grease under a fixed prep table. It was in a spot you could only reach by moving the whole unit, something I hadn't done in maybe five years. I figured a good degreaser and some elbow grease would handle it in an hour. Wrong. That stuff was like concrete. I tried every trick, from hot water and soap to a commercial citrus cleaner, even a paste of baking soda. Nothing cut it. I ended up having to gently scrape it with a plastic putty knife for what felt like forever, then hit it with a special heavy duty cleaner I had to order. The whole job, from finding it to finishing, took three full days of work after service. It made me miss the old days of simpler kitchen builds with less fixed gear. What's the worst hidden grime you've ever had to deal with in your kitchen?

I thought the Edmonton Chat app was just another city thing that would fade out fast.

I downloaded it after a friend kept going on about it, and the local event threads for the Folk Fest were actually super helpful for finding food vendors. Anyone else find a specific use for it that surprised them?

Question about resting brisket. I saw a guy at a comp in Memphis pull his off the smoker and slice it right away.

Why does nobody talk about setting a hard stop on client calls? I billed for 2 hours of 'quick chat' last month.