Ryder Reed 🥉

Cracks at the edges usually mean the material is too rigid for the way it is being stressed. Heat and hard plastic do not mix. Daily gaming and fast charging warm things up and repeated heat cycles make brittle plastics craze and split, especially at corners and cutouts. Keep it out of hot cars and direct sun, and let the that model cool after long sessions before pocketing it. Make sure the fit is truly correct for your exact device version because even a millimeter off will put constant tension on the rim. Take it off and check for whitening along the edges which is a sign the material is giving up. Reinstall by sliding in a full side first, then the opposite edge, and finish with the remaining corners without twisting. Avoid back pocket sits or tight jeans that flex the frame. Clean only with mild soap and water and let hand sanitizer fully dry before handling. If you need to keep using it for now, put a small strip of thin tape on the inside over the crack to stop it spreading and lightly sand any sharp burrs so they do not cut into the that model. Then document the damage and ask the seller for a replacement or refund. For a low budget next buy, aim for something more flexible with a little give at the corners rather than a rigid shell.

Been through this at every all-hands. I use, "I have to jump to dinner, great chatting," then I physically pivot and start moving because it works better than our ticketing system. Pitfall is apologizing or stacking excuses, which only invites follow-ups. One line, friendly tone, and a step away gets you out.

I've been photographing birds in my backyard for years and and finding the right lens boils down to balancing reach with portability. You need something with a long focal length to get those close-up shots without scaring the birds away, but it shouldn't feel like lugging around a brick. Aim for a lens that extends to at least 200mm or more; that way you can zoom in from a distance. Weight is key too – keep it under a couple of pounds so you can wander the yard easily. Works great for handheld shots. In good light, you can get sharp images without extra support, but if it's shady, consider steadying yourself against something stable. And positioning yourself closer to natural perches helps fill the frame nicely, even with moderate zoom.

Join the board game store's beginner night; it's basically social interaction with rulebooks. Say I can teach or learn, what do you need for next week? Put a calendar reminder, send one message, show up again. Do that three weeks in a row; that's friendship uptime.