I’ve used a Wacom tablet instead of a mouse since the late 90s. It replaces 90% of what a mouse can do, short of middle-click/scroll-wheel. I started out with the cheapest one available, then got the next model up which had a plastic shell to keep it smooth for dragging the nib. Wacom only made that model briefly, they upgraded the whole design the next year and never returned to it, but I find it so much easier to use than the later designs that I’ve kept it ever since, including recently upgrading to a larger one which I had to track down on eBay.
One problem I have with it is the driver is no longer being updated, and doesn’t work on Windows 11, so I had to track down an independent one, that needed some brute force tweaking to get it how I wanted it.
I’ve a 2019 4Runner. Not basic. But what is great is the heating and cooling is very basic. Three big knobs. Fan speed, what vents it uses, an how hot cold. I never have to take my eyes off the road.
My Wife’s Subaru Ascent is the exact opposite. I suppose if it’s your daily driver you would get used to it, but shit, as a passenger I have to study the damn layout before I can get what I want.
The parts holder is a great idea. I think there is one that can mount on your forearm.
I keep a multi-tool in my car as well. Ya never know, and they can help in a pinch. I used to keep a tiny one in my ‘dop’ kit for travel. Great for stuck zippers, cutting off price tags, whatever. Can’t carry my knife. But, I had to gift the multi-tool to airport security (I know they don’t get to keep it, I said Merry Christmas anyway).
My neighbor has one of those dry herb vaporizers. I don’t smoke much though.
Speaking of “How did I not get one of these before?” things. A few years ago I picked up a Black & Decker Workmate at a thrift store for a song. It’s an early model from the 80s, a Type 2 IIRC.
Works great. I epoxied the boards (and put a measuring tape on before doing that). Made a center board for when I want a wider, solid base. Touched up the paint, etc. Came with original dogs.
I have used it a ton since. Incredibly useful.
I’m not sure if the current models are as good but I highly recommend the general type of thing.
Hey! I had one of those. I used it at my moms house. Don’t know who bought it. The built in dogs and clamps where nice. Have know idea where it is now. It was very handy. I now have a couple of collapsible saw horses, and workbench with a vise. Unfortunately, I’m not good at putting thing back where they belong. The workbench has become tool storage.
Work bench is in the shed. I also have a tool cabinet in the house for when you need a screw driver or pliers and don’t feel like to go to the shed. I’m sort of spread out.
Oh. I’m not a hat person, but I do like good stuff. I purchased a Tilly hat. Damn. It’s great. Protects me from sun and rain. It’s really important to have when you live at elevation.
In the area of photography, for a couple of decades I owned a Hasselblad 500C/M with a couple of lenses.
(Not my picture or my actual camera.)
It was the best-engineered, most solid and reliable piece of equipment – of any kind – I’ve ever seen, let alone owned. It was just a joy to use: it fit perfectly in my hand, the controls were solid, everything fit together beautifully and tightly, and locked into place with satisfying clicks. The way it broke down into separate components, camera body, film back, lens, ground glass, viewfinder, was a thing of beauty.
It came with a couple of accessories – a pistol grip and a “chimney” magnifier for the viewfinder – but they weren’t necessary. The standard folding magnifier was better and the pistol grip made it harder to hold than the bare camera.
The only minor flaw was, on the lenses I owned, the aperture and shutter speed rings locked together. Because they operated inversely, one going up while the other went down, rotating them both maintained the same exposure. But to change the exposure you had to separate them, which was a tiny bit of a hassle (har!).
For this reason, and because it had no internal light meter or auto anything, its best application was as a studio camera. Which is how I used it a fair bit. But I did take it out in the field a lot, including a two-week trip to Great Britain, the first international trip of my life, when I was 21.
Twenty-some years ago, after going digital and not using the 'Blad for several years, I sold it so that someone else would have the pleasure of using it.
I was never a good enough photographer to be worthy of that camera (I’m still not), but it was a delight to own and use.
My new oven has a temperature dial that is set in degrees. If you want the oven to heat to 180 degrees, you turn the dial a half turn. If you only want it to heat to 90 degrees (sort of keep-hot temperature) you only turn the dial through a quarter turn. ie a right angle.
It only works in celsius but yeah, the angle you turn the dial,in degrees, is the temperature you get, in degrees.
I’m jealous. I always wanted to own a Hasselblad, and now that I can afford one, my cell phone does most of the heavy lifting while my Nikon sits in a closet.
I settle for the more mundane nowadays: My flat whisk. Nothing works better for gravies, roux or combining dry ingredients for baking. My bench scraper. A hundred uses and always at hand when cooking most anything.
A good indoor/outdoor thermometer. I lived without one for years. Hang the outdoor part in the shade. 47f now outside. 66f inside. I’ll turn the heat on later.
Good suggestions @Chefguy I have a couple of different whisks. My kitchen tool is a good chefs knife. While my wife is a good cook, she does not quite understand the tools. You do not dice a carrot with a pairing knife. “Honey, I’ll take care of that”
How about multitools in general? I don’t know why it took someone so long to come up with the idea, but I’m glad they did.
“They” being Tim Leatherman, of course. OMSI in Portland has the original proof-of-concept prototypes Leatherman made in his garage using push pins, Elmer’s Glue, and cardboard from cereal boxes.
I’m not allowed to carry a knife at work, what with being surrounded by homicidal teenagers and such, so I’m happy that Leatherman makes a “bladeless” multitool (the Rebar). I carry one in my messenger bag. My EDC when I’m not at work is a 30 year old OG Leatherman PST. Brilliant design and definitely a good purchase.
I think I have an example of every Juice model Leatherman made, including an exclusive to Costco model. They are stashed everywhere - in my desk at work, in the car, in the bug-out bag, in the other bug-out bag, in the kitchen…you name it. Along with a number of Gerber multitools. I like their full-size models better than Leathermans.
I got a GAN speed cube as a gift a couple of years ago. It is SO much better than the original Rubik’s cube. The original cube is stiff and hard to turn even if you lubricate it, and finicky to get the alignment just right after each move so that it doesn’t lock up preventing you from making the next move. The GAN cube is like silk; you can turn a face with a light touch of one finger, and it has internal magnets that make it snap into position at the end of the turn. My average solving time dropped from about 3.5 minutes on the old cube to about 2.5 minutes on the GAN cube, just because of the mechanics of the cube itself.
In the bicycle “good purchase” category: my 1995 Specialized Rockhopper Comp A1 FS (Looks like this, but not my bike).
Or more accurately, the frame of the bike, I guess. Over the last almost 30 years I’ve upgraded or replaced just about everything except the front and rear derailleurs…a “bike of Theseus”, I suppose you could say. I’ve ridden it many, many miles in many, many places around the USA. I’ve had 5 bikes in the years since I got it but they’ve never replaced my old blue steed. It’s just fun to ride and “fits” me.
That’s great. My wife has a Specialized. Lots of carbon fiber. She used to be an IronMan. I was her sherpa (took care of the gear). She is just over 5 feet tall, it fits her. I’m 6’2". Rolling the bike into the hotel one night, other athletes looked at me, and then the bike and back again. I said “Don’t worry, I have one for the other foot.”
I couldn’t agree more. Mine just got back from Leatherman as one blade stopped locking open. They have a lifetime warranty. I really missed that sucker.
