Simple Living

I'm standardizing my portable power bank solutions and settled on 3 models from Anker: PowerCore 10400 / A1214 - 10k - USB PowerBank 334 / A1642 - 10k - Type C, MagSafe PowerBank 622 - A1611 - 5k - Type C, MagSafe Weight vs Capacity - 10k is optimum After debating this for a while I chose 10k as a good balance between weight vs capacity.  5k is ideal for a short term 1 up charge and the 10k can give me 2 re-ups for longer trips. 20k or more while nice is not needed for my current travel plans as I’m typically near a hotel or power outlet.  As none of my needs require 'off-grid' living 10k is perfect. Wireless vs Wired While more expensive and slower charging speeds the convenience of wireless charging by MagSafe is more appealing than wired.  But having the option to charge faster over a wired cable is also nice.

Over the years I've had a chance to own and try several different models of Android devices and while I'm primarily an Apple user, I'm continually impressed by how far Android has come and even surpasses iphones in screen quality, cameras, battery life and UI. Performance however is where it still lags and requires ever increasing specs on chipsets and memory to keep pace with the iPhone.  After 3 years the typical Android is considered slow...iPhone that's not even middle age and can go another 3 years to at least 6 years when it's comparatively slow. When Android bridges that performance gap it'll be the decline of iPhone to becoming a niche brand.  Even though I'm an Apple fan, I remain agnostic.  It's unlikely to happen as the problem is not the specs, but the Android OS.  Which is weird as Linux is fast on old computers and Android is based on Linux, yet somehow it cannot duplicate the same performance experience on a more powerful device like a fl

I picked up a Samsung A15 5G.  It’s a decent budget phone and is about the same as my older A32 5G, but with a better 90hz OLED screen, nice 5,000 mah battery and 128gb memory.  It’s also a plus to have 3.5mm headphone jack. Initial Review.   The screen is awesome and resolution beats the A32 hands down and is actually better marginally than my iPhone 14 Pro.  What sucks is performance after sleep mode.  UI and apps are functional and decent, where you may encounter problems is when you let apps go into sleep mode.  But I got it to watch streaming shows and it’s awesome. Overall it’s a budget phone but nicely done to make it feel comparable to an iPhone 15 Pro Max, but obviously not the same performance. This is great for streaming videos and for single applications, heavier lift apps and any multitasking will be limited.  It's almost like a phablet and I plan to use it as such for travel.   Specs: Release - Dec 16, 2023 Android 14 | One UNI 6 Screen 6.5" screen (1080 x 2340 p

Took the plunge and bought an Apple iMac M3.  Opted for the larger 16GB / 512GB HHD configuration.  So far it’s been pretty good and once I learn more of the OS and keyboard shortcuts the easier it’s going.  This orange version cost me about $2.1k (California Tax Rates). Why an iMac? I’ve been Windows and Linux for many years and for a few years in college did own an older MacBook.  For most of this time I’ve managed with cheap laptops.  Although I debated a MacBook, the price was too much and I figured why not a desktop computer again?

For 2016 Toyota Highlanders that use a key ignition to reset the oil change maintenance light do the following: Power off the car. Insert the key and turn it 2 positions to ‘on’. Press odometer button to Trip A. Turn key to off position. Hold odometer button and keep holding then turn key to ‘on’ position. It’ll flash maintenance resetting and when done you can let go of odometer button. Car maintenance light is now reset.

My first watch in 2 years…for 2024 picking up a gold Casio A168WG to complement my silver one.  After much consideration I’ve decided to grow my digital Casio collection and this will be my 3rd Casio to join my 5600 G-Shock and silver A168. Why Casio?  The value proposition as the price and functionality are perfect.  I’m also finding it a lot more convenient as I’ve grown self conscious at times with the Rolex and bored of the Apple Watch.  Both still are nice and I’ll wear the Apple Watch for workouts and the Rolex when I’m feeling nostalgic. Initial impressions .  The clasp is rock hard and requires effort to open and adjust, but it feels solid and durable.  The gold resin case really pops and shines, exuding some confidence. It’s true though that the display is harder to read and the buttons are also harder to push than the silver A168.  But otherwise this is a great watch.  I’ll need to wear it for a few weeks to get a better feel for the gold version. One week review.  It’s a

Got into gardening thanks to Covid lockdown and have 7 plants so far in my home with a plan to increase it to a total of 8. My Sansaviera is my oldest plant at 3 years since I’ve had it and it’s grown so much I had to repot it to a larger 8 inch pot and also was able to propagate part of it in its original 5 inch pot. I’m keeping it simple and have them only in my living room and bedroom.  Most of my plants are 2-3 years old now so I’m repotting to larger pots and refreshing the soil. 8 inch Sansaviera Parlor Palm 6 inch Xanthosoma - Elephant’s Ear 5 inch Sansaviera x2 Epipremnum aureum - Golden Pothos Phalaenopsis - Orchid Update - 1/13/23 - Xanthosoma Picked up my 7th plant for $14.99 at Lowe’s a Xanthasoma or Elephant’s ear.  I was debating that or a Monstera but wanted to try this one.  It’s quite nice and look forward to it growing to double its size; if that’s feasible. I’m going to reserve my 8th and final plant to be a larger 10-12 inch pot and really considering a parlor palm

Another year, another review of my personal collections.  My last review was in 2021.  I've dropped the Whisky collection as I'll treat it as consumables. Headphones -- 10 Tech -- 9 Watches -- 6 Swiss Army Knives -- 34 Sneakers -- 6 Fountain Pens -- 4 I. Total Value ~ $10,700 The value of my collections is actually modest as only a few items make up the bulk of the monetary value primarly my Rolex, Omega and iPhone 14 Pro.  Remove those and its about ~$2,400 value of rest of my 'stuff'.   This may change as I'm contemplating a major purchase in 2025 and finally acquire either a Rolex Submariner 14060 or an Omega Speedmaster Professional budgeting ~$4,000 to $8,000 for such a major acquisition.  This would double the value of my collections.   II. Full Collection 1. Headphones -- 10 Decreased by -1 as I chucked the AKG’s and can’t find a 3rd pair of old Apple earbuds, while same time adding several wireless options as well as a Lightning Apple Earbuds. I also cleared