My tent pole snapped in a storm up near Lake Tahoe last weekend

It was a cheap aluminum pole from a 5-year-old tent, and the wind just folded it in half. Had to use a bunch of duct tape and a trekking pole to get through the night. Anyone have a good fix for a broken pole section, or is it just time for a new tent?

Rant: I thought drone surveys were just a fancy gimmick for big firms

Our crew on the Riverfront project in St. Louis was behind on grading checks, so my boss rented a basic DJI drone for a day. We mapped the whole site in two hours, and the 3D model showed a drainage slope we'd missed. Has anyone else had a simple tech tool save them from a bigger mistake down the line?

My friend told me to stop buying expansions for games we never finish

My buddy Mark said this after our third game night in a row where we opened a new box but only played half a game. He was right. I had like five unplayed expansions for different games just sitting on my shelf. Last month, I made a rule: we have to fully play a base game three times before I can buy anything new for it. It sounds simple, but it totally changed our group. We finally finished a full campaign of Gloomhaven over six weeks, and it was awesome. Has anyone else set a rule like this to actually enjoy the games you own?

My cousin swore you could identify quartz by licking it, which I did on a rock in Sedona.

It was just a piece of salt-encrusted sandstone, so my whole mouth tasted like dirt for an hour. Anyone else gotten terrible rock ID advice from a relative?

Back in the day I'd just eyeball the sand mix, now I weigh it out like a baker because of one messed up core

Can we talk about clipper oil versus spray coolant for blade care?

I used to just use the spray, but after my Andis Masters started pulling hair last month, I switched to a drop of actual oil on the blades each morning and the difference in smoothness is huge. Anyone have a favorite brand of oil they stick with?

Spent $800 on a laser level for big tile jobs, still not sure if it was worth it

I do a lot of large format tile in kitchens and bathrooms. Last year, I bought a high end laser level for about $800, thinking it would save me tons of time on layout. On one hand, it's dead accurate and great for getting that first reference line across a big open floor. But honestly, for most of my jobs, my old 4 foot level and chalk lines get me there just as fast, and I'm not worried about the laser getting bumped or the batteries dying. It feels like a fancy tool that mostly sits in the truck unless the job is absolutely huge. Has anyone else dropped serious cash on a tool that you only end up using once in a while?

My compost bin had a surprise guest at the school garden

So I was showing my students our new compost setup behind the cafeteria last Tuesday, and we opened the lid to find a full family of raccoons staring back at us (they'd clearly been enjoying the fruit scraps). We all jumped, the raccoons scattered, and I spent the next hour with the custodian, Mr. Jenkins, securing the latch with a carabiner. Anyone have a better animal-proofing trick for a three-bin system in a city schoolyard?

My great aunt insisted you must use a wooden spoon for her gravy, and I learned the hard way she was right.

Every Thanksgiving, my Great Aunt Mabel would hover by the stove and say, "Metal will curse the flavor, dear. It has to be wood." I figured it was just an old superstition. Last year, I was in charge of the gravy at my place in Cincinnati and used a regular metal whisk. The gravy turned out thin, a bit dull, and had a faint metallic aftertaste I couldn't ignore. I called her in a panic, and she just laughed and said, "Told you so." She explained that the metal can react with the pan and the drippings in a way that changes the taste. This year, I dug out an old wooden spoon, and the gravy was rich, smooth, and perfect. Has anyone else had a family cooking rule that sounded silly but turned out to be essential?

My bone folder snapped clean in half during a big project last night

I was working on a leather cover for a custom journal, putting a lot of pressure on a tight corner crease, and it just gave way with a loud crack. It was my favorite one, a nice heavy one I've had for about five years (not a cheap one, either). I had to stop everything and run to the craft store, but they only had those flimsy plastic ones that bend if you look at them wrong. Ended up using the back of a spoon to finish the job, which was not ideal at all. The whole thing set me back almost two hours and the finish on that corner isn't as crisp as I wanted. What's a good, strong brand for a replacement that won't break the bank? I can't go through that again.