Warning about cheap firebrick from that big online store

Last week I was lining my new forge and grabbed a box of 'high temp' firebrick from a popular online seller. The price was about half what my local supply place charges, so I figured why not. I got them set up, fired the forge to a normal working heat, and within two hours I could see serious cracks forming. By the next morning, one brick had completely split in two. My buddy, who runs a shop in Toledo, told me he had the same thing happen three years ago with the same brand. He said the material is just too soft and can't handle the repeated heating cycles. I'm out $40 and a day's work, and now I have to tear it all out. Has anyone found a reliable brand that won't fall apart but also doesn't cost a fortune?

Why does nobody talk about how hand-stretching beats a power stretcher for tight spots? In my experience, it stopped a bubble that kept coming back on a stair job. Your mileage may vary.

A broken AC unit at work pushed me to draft for passive cooling.

Update: That yeast packet taught me more about waiting than anything else

I almost threw out my dough when it didn't rise fast. But giving it an extra hour made all the difference, and now I never rush proofing.

City put fancy grass in the park, and it's hurting our local plants and animals.