Looking back at the old way we used to do paint prep

I remember when we'd spend hours sanding a panel by hand before a repaint. Then we got a good dual-action sander, and a job that took a full day got done before lunch. What's the one tool that cut your work time in half?

Rant: My local coffee shop's email list is just a weekly menu...

They send the same PDF every Friday, but I noticed their open rate tanked after the third week according to a chart they posted by the register. I asked the owner if they ever share a story about a new bean or a customer photo, and he just shrugged... What's a simple thing a small shop could add to a boring email to make people actually read it?

Unpopular opinion: I think the new smartwatch battery life claims are way off

I bought the Horizon Pace smartwatch last week after reading reviews praising its 7-day battery. I wore it normally, with heart rate tracking on and about 30 minutes of GPS use a day. The battery died completely after just 4 days, not even close to the claim. I learned to be much more skeptical of battery life numbers in reviews now. Has anyone else had this happen with a gadget that promised way more than it delivered?

Just spent 4 hours fixing a color correction that should have taken 45 minutes

Appreciation post: my whole week was ruined by a spoiler for that new fantasy anime, and it came from a totally random YouTube thumbnail.

I was three episodes from finishing the season, and some video titled 'CHARACTER'S NAME Death Scene Explained' popped up on my feed, which felt like a personal attack after avoiding all the forums for a month.

I finally messed up a herringbone tile job and it sparked a tools vs. skill debate in my head.

Honestly, I was laying down some vinyl plank in a herringbone pattern for a small entryway last week. Tbh, I skipped using a laser level because I was in a rush and thought my eyes were good enough. Ngl, by the time I reached the far wall, the lines were totally crooked and the pattern looked like a mess. I had to rip up three rows, which wasted time and a few planks. Now I'm hearing two sides: one crew says you always need precise tools like lasers and chalk lines for any complex layout, or you're asking for trouble. But other installers argue that real skill comes from feeling it out and making adjustments on the fly, no gadgets needed. Personally, I'm leaning toward using tools now, but I see the point about not getting lazy. What's your view on this for pattern work?