Simple Living

Troubleshooting PS4 Controller Connection Issues I recently encountered some frustrating issues trying to connect my PS4 controllers, and it took me over a week and three new controllers to figure it out. The real culprit wasn’t the controllers themselves—especially since they were brand new—but rather the USB cable I was using. Here’s a rundown of various troubleshooting steps and a workaround for connecting your PS4 controller without a USB cable. Troubleshooting Steps 1. Basic Connection with USB Cable Connect the Controller: Use a USB cable to connect the controller to the PS4. Press the PS Home Button: With the PS4 turned off, click the PS Home button. If the PS4 turns on, you’re in business! 2. Reset the Controller Locate the Reset Button: Find the small hole on the bottom of the controller, near the L2 button. Press to Reset: Use a paper clip to press and hold the reset button for a few seconds. Then, try the first method again. 3. Power Off the PS4 Turn Off the PS4: Hold

Upgrading to the iPhone 11: A Comprehensive Review I recently made the jump from my iPhone 6s to the iPhone 11 , and I couldn't be happier with the upgrade. I got a special deal and switched over to T-Mobile, which has significantly improved my signal, especially in areas where Verizon struggled, like Las Vegas and parts of my hometown. Here’s a detailed look at my experience with the new device. iPhone 11 Specs Screen: 6.1” (828 x 1792 pixels) ~326 ppi - 60 Hz Processor: A13 Bionic (7 nm) RAM: 4 GB Storage: 64 GB Battery: 3110 mAh Camera: 12 MP / 12 MP Weight: 6.84 oz Port: Lightning iPhone 6s Specs Screen: 4.7” (750 x 1334 pixels) ~326 ppi - 60 Hz Processor: A9 (14 nm) RAM: 2 GB Storage: 32 GB (16 GB on base model) Battery: 1715 mAh Camera: 12 MP Weight: 5.04 oz Port: Lightning Size and Weight Transitioning from the 4.7-inch display of the 6s to the 6.1-inch screen of the 11 is like night and day. The heft of the iPhone 11 at 7 oz compared to the 5 oz of the 6s makes it feel

My Experience with Adidas Superstars: From Daily Wear to Retirement I purchased a pair of Adidas Superstars in June 2019 for an incredible $20 and have been wearing them almost daily for nearly 18 months , especially since the onset of COVID. These shoes have truly been put through the wringer, and while they’ve shown signs of wear, they’ve also demonstrated impressive durability. The Journey of My Superstars Over this time, my Superstars have taken on approximately 3,096 miles (calculated from 18 months at 5 days a week with an average of 8 miles per day). Most of my walks occurred on flat and smooth surfaces—like concrete, tile, wood, and carpet—contributing to their longevity. The wear has mostly been gradual, with the majority of miles covered at a casual pace rather than running. Condition Over Time Despite their continued functionality, my Superstars have definitely seen better days: Cushioning : The soles have lost nearly all their cushioning, which has affected overall comf

My Journey with Sneakers: From Adidas Superstars to Air Force 1s Since my experience with Adidas Superstars and Converse All Stars, I’ve developed a keen interest in keeping my sneakers clean and looking fresh. Transitioning to Air Force 1s has been a delightful upgrade, especially as I learned valuable lessons about sneaker care along the way. Sneaker Care 101 Using the cheaper shoes as practice has proven to be beneficial. Here’s what I’ve found most effective for keeping my white sneakers in pristine condition: Immediate Cleaning : The easiest method is to wipe them down right after each use. Since I typically wear my Air Force 1s on weekends, maintaining this habit has become manageable. Side-by-Side Comparison : I was shocked by how dirty my Adidas Superstars had become when placed next to my fresh-looking Air Force 1s. It highlighted the importance of regular cleaning and care. Embracing Nice Sneakers I’ve truly become hooked on nice sneakers! The comfort and style of the Air Fo

Coffee Choices: Dunkin' vs. McDonald's It's interesting to see how coffee pricing varies between chains, especially when it comes to something as simple as iced beverages. Here’s a breakdown of my recent experience with Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's: Price Discrepancies At Dunkin' Donuts , I noticed that a regular iced coffee costs more than an iced Americano. It’s surprising since both drinks offer caffeine but have different preparation methods. The iced Americano, made with espresso and cold water, seems like a more economical choice, yet it doesn’t always deliver the flavor I’m looking for. Taste and Value While the iced Americano tastes decent, the price feels a bit steep for what I got. I was in a rush and opted for convenience, but it’s hard to justify spending more when I know I could have gotten something just as satisfying for less. Spoiled by McDonald's I’ve become accustomed to the $1 iced coffee at McDonald’s , which is a game-changer in the cof

Investing in a USB Charging Station: My Experience with Hometall I'm glad I decided to invest in a USB charging station, specifically the Hometall 5-port USB charging station from Amazon, which cost me about $30. It has proven to be incredibly convenient to have a single location for charging all my devices, especially since I have over half a dozen gadgets plus an Apple Watch. Benefits of the Hometall Charging Station Organized Charging Having all my devices in one place, with the right-length cables, has made a noticeable difference. It’s much easier to keep everything organized, especially with the various devices I use daily. Power Output From what I gathered, the Hometall station does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge (QC) 3.0. The output is labeled at 5 volts and 2.4 amps , which calculates to 12 watts (5 x 2.4 = 12). The maximum capacity of 50 watts indicates how much power can be shared among multiple devices, likely reducing to about 8-10 watts per port when charging s

A Tribute to the Apple iPhone 6s: My Daily Driver My Apple iPhone 6s has been a loyal companion, especially throughout the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its Touch ID feature has become even more valuable during this time, allowing me to unlock my phone quickly and easily. Design: Timeless Elegance While the design may feel dated compared to modern smartphones that prioritize full-screen displays with notches or punch-hole cameras, there’s something undeniably elegant about the simple aesthetics of both the iPhone 6s and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 , which debuted around 2014-2015. Despite their age, both phones have held up well, but the iPhone 6s showcases impressive durability and continues to run the latest Apple iOS 14 smoothly. Display: Samsung Takes the Crown When it comes to display quality, Samsung consistently excels. The screens on Samsung devices are renowned for their vibrant colors and high resolution, often leading Apple to source its iPhone displays from Samsung

The Perfect Video Streaming Companions: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Amazon Fire HD 8 While I love my iPhone 6s , its 4.7-inch LCD screen isn't ideal for enjoying streaming movies or videos. My iPads are too large for casual viewing, so I decided to find something in between and ended up with both a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and an Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet . Overall, the Fire HD 8 is fantastic for its screen size, but the Note 4 shines with its beautiful display and superior specifications. It’s impressive how the Note 4, released in 2014, still outperforms many modern devices—excluding flagship models. When evaluating a device primarily for video streaming, I focus on five key aspects: 1. Display Note 4: Screen Size: 5.7 inches Type: OLED Resolution: 1440 x 2560 (1440p) Fire HD 8 (8th Generation): Screen Size: 8.0 inches Type: IPS LCD Resolution: 800 x 1280 (720p) Hands down, the Note 4 surpasses most devices regarding screen quality, particularly given its age. However, if you

Job Search Journey Summary Overview Duration: 18 weeks (with 5 weeks from application to offer) Initial Outlook: Optimistic due to high job openings, but faced challenges specific to Data Analytics roles. Key Insights Labor Market Shift: Labor Day marked a turning point; prior to September, it was mostly rejections. Burnout: Experienced a significant dip in confidence, requiring a break in Week 11. Resume Format Impact: Transition to Method E resume format (more modern, visually appealing) was crucial, with the first interview requests only appearing after its implementation. Rejection Statistics: 95% rejection rate (includes ghosting) 1 in 20 applications resulted in an interview 3 months for a screening interview 5 weeks from application to an offer Weekly Breakdown Q1: Weeks 1-11 Weeks 1-6: Method A: Direct applications to company websites. Results: 100% rejection rate. Total Apps: 19 Weeks 7-11: Method B: Focused applications to specific companies. Results: Continued high

A Guide to Adidas Track Jackets Adidas track jackets come in various styles and variations, each with unique characteristics. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown based on your observations, highlighting the key features to look for when exploring different models. Key Characteristics Logo Variations in logos are common based on specific models, including the Trefoil and the triple stripe triangle logos. Material Most track jackets are made from either pure polyester or a cotton-poly blend (generally 50/50). Collar Track jackets typically zip up to a pop-up collar . Styles like the Superstar lack a collar. Sleeve Stripes Most models feature the three stripes running along the length of each sleeve, a signature of Adidas branding. Full Zip These jackets open in the front with a full zipper , excluding quarter-zip varieties. Front Zip Pockets Most track jackets have two front pockets that zip up for secure storage. Non-Trefoil Varieties These jackets typically lack a traditional logo

Reflections on Dining Out and the Victorinox INOX Went out for the weekend and dined at a restaurant. I haven't done that in months, maybe half a year. I lost track, really. The meal was good. I've been wearing the Victorinox INOX on most days, and after a while, if you stop paying attention to what you are wearing on your wrist, you start to appreciate whatever wristwatch you may have simply based on its qualities. Convenience of Quartz For me, the convenience of quartz is proving irresistible. I considered acquiring a quartz Tag Heuer Aquaracer or Formula 1, but after some consideration, I ruled both out as unnecessary. The Formula 1, with its strange plastic and rubber attachments on the sides of the case, especially the older WAC-prefixed models or the gaudy lettering on the newer WAZ series, is unappealing. However, I have a weakness for the beautiful multi-color Tag Heuer logo on the Formula 1 compared to the monochrome version on the Aquaracer. For all intents and purpos

Stocking Up on Jameson I replenished my stock with some Jameson. I've acquired a taste for it and find it quite easy to drink. It has become a staple along with Johnnie Walker Red, Black, and Wild Turkey 101.

Enjoying Iced Coffee from McDonald's I've been using the McDonald's app and picked up the 99-cent iced coffee. I got mine with hazelnut, which I hadn't had in a while. It's a bit sweet for my taste, but still a nice treat.

Embracing Python for Automation Learning Through Application I've been studying Python off and on for years, but I really got into it when I forced myself to use it at work. That seems to be the key to learning something new—actually finding a reason to use it. It’s paying dividends as I'm being asked to do more with Python. Scripting and Automation For now, I'm using it primarily for scripting and automating some basic tasks. I'm still relying heavily on Windows Task Scheduler to call my Python scripts and hope to someday decouple from that and use something else for scheduling, if that is even feasible or advisable. Advantages of Python Python is a significant improvement over writing very ugly batch command line scripts or even PowerShell. This was my primary reason for embracing and getting comfortable with Python in the first place. Building a Skill Set I feel comfortable with my trifecta of skills: T-SQL, Tableau, and Python. I'm learning R, but I haven't

Mileage Log and Tire Replacement Insights Introduction to the Mileage Log I started this mileage log after replacing the front tires on my IS, tracking the mileage between gas fill-ups and uncovering some interesting insights along the way. Tire Replacement I spent $400 for a pair of new front tires, which normally require 225/45 W-rated tires. However, Costco only had the higher Y-rated tires in stock. Not wanting to risk driving on the highway with a spare, I opted for the Y tires. While it cost me a bit more due to needing to swap out the TPMS sensors, I find that Costco offers the best deals for those as well. It was disappointing to replace the tires earlier than expected, as I had just done the brakes on all four wheels. Unfortunately, a nail was lodged in the worst spot, near the edge and sidewall, so a cheap plug wasn’t an option. Improvements Noted Since the new tires, I’ve noticed a slight improvement in traction and steering. The new tires definitely improve grip, and so far

The Joy of Weekend Coffee Rituals It’s not the same as enjoying a good cup of coffee in a coffee shop. I didn’t realize how much I missed my weekend moments.