Did he ever use the grease stains as part of the network map?

That $1.50 per pound is a steal, Kroger's bulk bins are underrated for meal prep stuff lol. So how much longer did you have to cook them compared to rice, like an extra 20 minutes or a full half hour? I always mess up lentils because I pull them off the stove too early and they're still crunchy in the middle of my bowl.

Oh man, I gotta disagree with you here lol. I've gotten homemade cookies before and half the time they're either burnt on the bottom or way too dry. A good bakery basket with those little tartlets and croissants just looks so much nicer sitting on the counter. Plus you don't have to worry about someone sneezing in the batter or whatever lol. I'd rather get something that looks professional and tastes consistent every time.

My Barred Rock hen Gertrude absolutely hates my mailman. I had to start putting her in the coop before he comes because she charged him twice. Makes me wonder what he did. Also, @keithharris had that good point about breed differences - my docile Buff Orpingtons never hiss at anyone, but Gertrude is a little terror to everyone except me. It is wild how long they hold a grudge though, like two years seems crazy long for a bird brain.

Did you ever read that post on the Amiga subreddit where someone tested a bunch of "untested" gear and found over 70% had major issues? It really lines up with your experience at that swap meet. People know exactly what they are selling and they are just hoping you will take the risk so they don't have to deal with the hassle.