That time a customer brought in a toaster that smelled like burnt hair

This was at my old shop in Austin, maybe 8 years back. A guy walks in with a fancy four-slice toaster, says it keeps tripping his kitchen outlet. I pop it open and find a fried mouse nest packed right into the heating element area, complete with a few crispy former residents. The smell was something else, like a bad perm gone wrong. I had to completely strip it down and clean every part with isopropyl before I could even start on the actual short. Ever since then, I ask about any 'unusual smells' before I even plug a kitchen appliance in. What's the weirdest thing you've ever found inside a piece of gear?

I just rewatched the final scene of 'Firefly' and realized the whole show was about finding a new home

For years I thought it was just a space western about cool fights, but that last shot of Serenity flying free changed my view. I really wanted to see if they ever found a safe planet to settle on. What's a show you wish had gotten a proper ending?

I used to book the first flight I saw, but a mistake in Lisbon changed my mind

About two years ago, I booked a direct flight to Lisbon for 400 bucks because it seemed fine. Now I always check nearby airports too. I found a flight to Porto for 250 last month, took a cheap 20 euro train to Lisbon, and saved over a hundred. Anyone else have a good city where flying nearby is way cheaper?

Had to pick between a power hammer and a press for my first big tool upgrade

I saved up for about a year and had $3,500 set aside for a new piece of equipment. It came down to a used 25lb Little Giant power hammer or a 12-ton hydraulic press from a local guy. I went with the press because it fit in my small garage shop better. It's been great for drawing out stock, but I still have to do a lot of the shaping by hand. Anyone have tips for getting cleaner bends on a press without a dedicated die set?

A detailer at the dealership I deliver to told me my 'good enough' panel gaps were making my work look cheap.

I used to think a 1/16th inch variance on a cowl fairing was fine, but after that chat, I started using a feeler gauge set on every panel and now my sign-offs look pro, so what's one small detail you guys started nailing that made a big difference in your final inspection?

Honestly, it took me three whole days to figure out why my new bathroom fan was making that weird humming noise. Ngl, I was about to call a pro.