I think part of the problem is believing in the brand. The brand is interested in making money. If you look for the item that will serve you, you’ll be better off (and your research time will be well spent, to boot).

It’s important to be able to identify where your money will really be spent well and where it won’t. Shoes, socks and underwear, and dress/formal clothing all benefit from a moderately higher cost and last longer.

I’m crying at work. Thanks, Beth.

Nailed it.

Holy crap, yes.

My favorite bang-for-the-buck pens are PaperMate Inkjoy 100RT. 10 colors available, but I usually only use blue or black. These are smooth writing ballpoints, lightweight, and most important, cheap (under 50¢ each when you skip the multi-color packs), so I don’t get too upset if one walks away.

Okay, now to get my wife to buy in, and I’m golden. There’s always a catch.

Weird. While the app certainly is NOT great, I have never had it take “forever” (even accounting for hyperbole) to load, and while it’s a pretty silly interface, it wasn’t terrible, just... quaint. Once I got used to the quirks (and there are many), it’s serviceable. Of course an improvement is welcome, but I’m just…

This. So much, this. It’s exactly why I try to get my sink clean.

The problem is with the term “vacation time.” If it’s called “personal time off” then it goes from this:

When Loma Prieta hit, I was reading on my bed, and I waited a whole 3 seconds before deciding I should probably start to get under something.

I’ll usually use KeePass for any passwords I use regularly, but for several things that are (mostly) behind my home door, I’ll use a passphrase instead. If the phrase gets too long to fit into the password field, I’ll just turn it into an abbreviation. Sorta like this:

Your thanks is not necessary - it’s my responsibility to comedy.

Typos that accidentally give rise to awesome things (underlining mine):

Awesome stuff. Nick - make a call for Melbourne tips, too! (I have nothing to add to either, but want to visit both cities.)

• Who did the cooking in your family when you were growing up? What seasonings did they use in almost everything? My mom and dad were divorced, and they cooked in very different ways, but garlic powder was in both houses and got used a bunch.

“Andy, sometimes I feel you don’t understand voice acting... AT ALL.”

Yes, yes, you’re technically correct, as I said. You are right! Pat yourself on the back for being so on it!

Technically true, but you’re still being compensated because you’re out some serious dough since you paid for a ticket to get you somewhere at a certain time.

Hey Claire, did you seal the Koji steak at all, or just cover it with something in the fridge? After reading Kenji’s write up about aging (his Food Lab is my absolute favorite food column, by the way) I’d suspect that the Koji steak has also lost at least a few percent of it’s weight in water, which also affects the…