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Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 13, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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My wife wants me to tape something. I go to the packing tape roll. Naturally someone has come along and abused it such that the strip isn't ready and on the guard. Instead it's compacted into itself such that even finding the edge requires specialized lighting and a keen eye.

I wrestle with it. It fragments in every direction. There is no way to get the entire thing up and off the roll, but in time I manage to consign enough of the recalcitrant bits to oblivion that a whole stretch rises up and off the spindle.

The teeth do nothing. The tape is infinite and invincible. No combination of the cutting edge and brute force are enough to cause it to tear. Any amount of yardage is wasted attempting to get it into working order.

I manage to extract a couple of inches, make sure that the remainder is well-situated such that this won't happen again, and make the minor repair.

My wife wants me to tape something...

I only buy bargain basement home depot brand tape dispensers and never have this problem. Are you storing them in the sun or something?