Our old washing machine finally gave out last Tuesday

It was a Kenmore from 2012, and the drum just stopped spinning mid-cycle. I had to haul a bunch of wet clothes to the laundromat on Main Street, which was a huge pain with three kids. I'm hoping someone in the Springfield area might have a working one they're looking to get rid of before I start checking thrift stores. Has anyone had luck finding a major appliance for free locally?

Just fixed my old Game Boy Color with two different cleaning methods

I had a dead power switch on my old Game Boy Color. First, I tried just spraying contact cleaner inside and working it back and forth, but it only worked for a day. Then I took it apart, opened the switch housing, and cleaned the metal contacts directly with a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol. That second method fixed it for good. Anyone know other good ways to clean old console switches without taking them fully apart?

Old timer at the shipyard told me to always pre-heat my 7018 rods in the oven, even in summer. I thought he was nuts until a winter job in Duluth.

Update: My comms went dead at 90 feet on a bridge piling job in Mobile Bay yesterday.

I had to switch to hand signals with my tender and finish the cut on a 4 inch steel pipe, which took an extra 40 minutes and spiked my air use... anyone have a good fix for a helmet mic that keeps failing in cold water?

My neighbor said her basil was 'just for looks' and it hit me...

I was watering my pots yesterday and heard the lady next door tell her friend she only grows herbs for decoration. I realized I'd been doing the same, letting my mint and parsley flower and go bitter without ever using them. How do you guys remember to actually harvest and use what you grow up here?