Figure 1: The Materials
Sexy I used to sleep without a pillow for many years. I hate foam pillows that much. I’d rather sleep with my head in the dirt than use a foam pillow.
Down pillows changed things. I started using a pillow again.
Feathers! Almost 2 decades ago I was visting a “camp” (a cabin with fire, walls, a roof and basic plumbing) with a friend and was given a down pillow to sleep upon.
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Death of the Laptop
Figure 1: My initial desk setup
Changelog 2023-02-18 Add note about device swaps and Android 13 upgrade issues Update 2023-02-18 As of 2023-02-18 I no longer use a OnePlus 8T or Microsoft Surface Duo, both of which are described below. The OnePlus 8T received an Android 13 update that was so buggy for desktop mode, it was unusable. The Surface Duo received an Android 13 update that forced desktop mode to only allow using Remote Desktop for some kind of ‘convergence mode’ that isn’t officially announced or released as of this writing.
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Smart Coffee Mugs – Seriously
Figure 1: The mug on my desk
TLDR I was recently whining to a friend about how my Honeybush Tea always ends up cold and I end up always going back to warm it up over the course of a day. They mentioned they were gifted an Ember Mug (link) recently and suggested it is actually worth looking into. Despite my initial hesitations, I’m not upset by the purchase. When the nerds that avoid smart tech admit they were wrong, it’s something worth looking at closer.
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Music Galore
Figure 1: The Kit
Full Disclosure I am NOT paid or affiliated with any of the productions linked/mentioned/etc in this post. I did NOT receive review units, perks or any contact from these companies ahead of writing this post.
If you work for one of the companies who’s product I mention below, feel free to reach out. Just be warned I deal in honesty and not paid shilling. Shit product, shit review is my Modus Operandi.
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Pocket Notebooks and Every Day Carries
Forward Let’s get this out of the way up front, shall we?
There is a ton of information on how to build an EDC (every day carry) notebook setup on the internet. Like most things on the internet it’s not all great info and more than a few holy wars can be encountered. I’m a programmer by day and enjoy analog writing as a hobby. To say I’ve seen the holy wars erupt and turn decent people into toxic mushrooms feeding on feces would be understatement.
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Remote Office Fun
Figure 1: The Setup
Changelog 2024-01-06 Added fill light information Added Zoom U-22 Added Rhode mic adapter Microphone, Camera, Headphones, ACTION! Recently I actually had a need to put together a proper setup for remote work. Specifically I needed a web cam, microphone and decent headphones. Normally I’d just have used my HyperX Cloud Pro Gaming Headset. Unfortunately they have a strange problem where the microphone and headphone wires bleed signal so as I hear things the mic picks up the output and re-sends it as my own.
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Waterproof Writing
Figure 1: Waterproof Kit
Why? I spend a lot of time outdoors. I may be a geek/nerd but I like being outdoors and actually spend time outside. One thing that rarely stops me is the weather. Because of this I can end up outside in the rain or during a blizzard. This is a big reason I only buy archive grade and water resistant inks and papers.
I’m also “me” and I’m usually good for rising to “hold my beer” moments that won’t result in another trip to the hospital trauma ward.
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Soap Updates
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted about my soap preferences. My previous supplier went weird politically and seems to be forever out of stock on the soaps I use to get clean. I had to find an alternative.
Enter Chagrin Valley Soap and Salve (link). They really saved me when it comes to bar soap and have become my primary source of soap over the last ~9-12 months.
Currently I’m using the following products and I cannot complain.
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Analog Every Day Carries
Figure 1: The Kit
The Humble Every Day Carry When I first went back to a pen and paper I discovered I never wanted to be without. Rain, snow or shine: pens, pencils and paper will be there for you. Day of night, power, no power too. These simple tools will ‘just work’. I’ve had phones and digital organizers fail because of drained batteries, getting wet and getting too warm or cold.
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Anti Bad Habit Notebook
Not going to lie : I have a few bad habits.
I’m trying to break them but lack a good ‘visual cue’ for how often I succumb and how bad/good I’m doing.
Whilst poking about the ’tubes the other day I stumbled across Habit Trackers for Bullet Journals (BuJo).
After noodling it for a bit I realized you could make an ANTI BAD Habit BuJo spread.
Behold! The Anti Bad Habit BuJo
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