Oh man, I've been there! For bright days I actually really like Ilford HP5 pushed to 800. It keeps the grain nice and chunky but handles the highlights way better than Tri-X did for me in that situation. It gives you that texture without just turning into a solid black and white mess. Have you tried pulling film a stop instead? That can help a ton with contrast in harsh light.

Okay, "weird little metal box" just makes me think of those escape room puzzle kits people buy as gag gifts. Someone probably got it for their birthday, thought it was dumb, and chucked it. The key opens a locker at a bus station that closed down three years ago, and the paper is just the locker number. The most boring story is that it's literal trash from a failed prank.

Is it picky to care about wire nuts? Not at all. I saw a light fixture fail last year because of a loose red nut on 12 gauge. The connection overheated and melted the plastic. Following the spec sheet is about safety, not just being neat. It's worth saying something when you see it.

Seriously, it's just a wall. People act like it's some life changing renovation.

Quiet recalls happen all the time though, right? My buddy had a car airbag part like that. They sent a letter he missed. Isn't that just how companies avoid a big fuss? They fix it if you ask, but they don't shout it from the rooftops. It's not great, but is it really that shocking anymore? How do you even keep up with gear notices?