Radioshack's supply has gone through a huge decline. They used to have plenty more in terms of basic electronics components (diodes, variable resistors, relays, etc). Do you have a Fry's Electronics out around where you live? I know of three here, and they're huge (Wallmart-size, which, for an electronics store, is huge).

And just for the record, none my soldering has gone towards any criminal activities.

Not yet.