Food Review: Wonderful Pistachios, No Shells, Roasted & Salted Nuts

 

This is a box of nine packets of shelled, "roasted and salted" pistachio nuts. Each pack contains just under one ounce (.75 oz) or 21 grams of nuts, which amounts to about 120 calories. The roasted and salted flavor is good, but not overpowering. They are not too salty, but just enough not to be bland. These are a good low-carb snack that is low in saturated fat and has more protein than a lot of different varieties of nuts. 

Product Review: Skechers Men's Afterburn M. Fit Wonted Loafer

 

These are a good (and relatively inexpensive) pair of no-tie Sketchers shoes. While they are called loafers, they are pretty much a sneaker, both in look and feel. So, they are not something that you would wear with a suit, but could probably get away with wearing them if you are dressing business-casual. While some reviews note the fit being off, they fit me perfectly and are very easy to get on and off. I would not call them slip-ons, however, as I do have to use two hands to get them on. But, even so, they are much easier than dealing with shoes with laces that need to be tied. 

Book Review: Star Wars: Quest for Planet X

 

Quest for Planet X is another junior novel set during the early High Republic era, telling another ancillary story set between the adult novels. This book is set after the events of The Battle of Jedha and is centered around Silandra's padawan, Rooper, getting involved in a race to find a mysterious planet called Planet X. Rooper has been on Batuu, and essentially gets sucked into a race to find the mysterious planet, and agrees to participate in order to find Silandra. Unlike some of the other junior novels, this one does advance the main storyline as we learn that the mysterious creatures that can kill the Jedi, which have appeared in multiple novels are called Levelers, and we learn that Planet X may be the origin of the species. 

Overall, the book is okay, but not great. The few plot points from the main story arc of the other novels that get fleshed out are nice, and the main storyline is okay, but not necessarily something that is worth reading multiple times. 

Book Review: Donald T***p v. The United States

 

This is a book that covers the 2017-2021 presidential administration, with a heavy focus on the Russia investigation, both before the Special Counsel was appointed when the FBI was in charge of the investigation, and after. The book was written by Michael Schmidt, a columnist for the New York Times, who had many sources, named and unnamed, both inside the White House, the FBI, and (seemingly inside or around people on the inside of) the Muller team. The book basically spans the time period from before the 2016 election detailing the FBI investigations of both candidates, and how each was handled by the FBI director, and ends with a summary of the first impeachment proceedings.

The substantive portion of the book is 400 pages long, then there are several pages of notes. Schmidt details what was going on in the White House Counsel's office (former White House Counsel Don McGahn was one of his named sources) and seemed to have a lot of insight into what Mueller's team was doing. He goes into great detail about how the Orange Genital Wart was raging at everything, getting crazier as time went on, and refusing to listen to anyone who told him that he could not do the batshit crazy stuff he wanted to do. The end of the book really details how Bill Barr bailed Agent Orange out when the Mueller report was released, based in large part because Mueller refused to actually make any kind of recommendation on whether Little Donny Diapers should be charged with anything. Schmidt also paints Rod Rosenthien as a wimpy slimeball who basically changed his tune depending on who he was talking to.

The book has a lot of reporting that was bombshell news when it came out in 2020, but even now, a few years removed from the original publication there is still material in the book that did not get widely reported, so even if you are a consumer of reputable news, some of the material in the book may be unfamiliar to you. Of course, the MAGATs will scream fake news about everything, but Schmidt brings receipts to back up every assertion that he makes. It is definitely worth reading.

Product Review: CELSIUS Kiwi Guava Lime On-the-Go Powder Stick Packs

 

This is a package of 14 On the Go flavored water packets (similar to crystal light On the Go packets). While it does have caffeine in it, it does not have any sugar and includes Ginger Root, Green Tea Extract, Biotin, and Guarana Seed Extract. So, it does have some thermogenic effects. I use it as a pre-workout drink early in the day. The Kiwi Guava Lime flavor is good, but it definitely took me a couple of times trying it to get used to it. These are a bit more expensive (about $10 for a pack of 14) compared with similar On the Go packs you find in a store (about $3 to $5 for a pack of 10), but not much more. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 15

Day 15 was another circuit workout in Job 1, this time a shoulders, core, and legs circuit. Again, there are three blocks that you do for two rounds, each of which focuses on one area of the body. The first block focuses on the shoulders, the second block on the core, and the third block on the legs. Jennifer again makes the moves more challenging than the prior week but does offer modifications that you can do for some or all of the thirty seconds.

Then, for the stretching routine in XB, I did the Energize routine. I do not like that one as much as some of the others, but it is doable. There is definitely more balance work and more downward dog sequences in this one, which I have never been fond of, even when I was in very good shape.

Product Review: ProCase iPad Pro 12.9 2017/2015 Case (Old Model, 2nd & 1st Gen)

 

This is a case for the older, first-generation, and second-generation, 12.9" iPad Pros. The case is very sturdy. The rigid material covers both the front and the back of the iPad, and it also protects the corners. So, it will keep the iPad protected from most drops. It does not have a keyboard (which is fine for how I use my iPad), and one of the best features is that the iPad fits in the case even if you have a screen protector on it. Meaning that the edges of the screen protector are not pushed up when you put the iPad in the case. The only drawback is that it does not have a slot to hold an Apple Pencil, and if you have an older Apple Pencil, they do not magnetically hold to the side of the iPad. But, if you have an older iPad Pro and are looking for a lower-cost case, this is a good one.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Days 13 and 14

For days 13 and 14, I again did the XB Restore routine, which means that I did Restore six of the past seven days.  Tomorrow I will go back to the morning routine as my evening stretch. I definitely got better at Restore by the end of the week. My balance improved, and I could get deeper into the hamstring stretches. Next week I will do the "morning" routines on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and Restore on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

Book Review: Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11

 

"Ordinary Heroes" is a memoir by FDNY Chief, Joseph Pfeifer, who was one of the first firefighters on the scene at the World Trade Center on 9/11, having watched American Airlines Flight 11 slam into the North Tower of the Trade Center from a few blocks away. And, Chief Pfeifer was, for a short time, the highest-ranking firefighter on the scene and started coordinating the rescue efforts. If you have watched the documentary "9/11" which was made by the French filmmakers, Jules and Gideon Naudet, and aired less than a year after the attacks, you will recognize Chief Pfeifer from that documentary.

The book is mostly centered around what happened on 9/11, and then the aftermath. Although, Pfeifer does quickly go over how he ended up joining the fire department, what it was like to work with his brother (who was one of the over 340 firefighters who died on 9/11 when the buildings collapsed), and what his life was like post-9/11.

There are a lot of interesting details in the book that, even if you have watched the documentary in which Chief Pfeifer was featured, you may not know. For example, he knew when he saw the plane hit the building that it was a terrorist attack and he ordered an evacuation of the South Tower almost immediately upon arriving at the Trade Center. Sadly, not only was that order never relayed to the people in the South Tower, an announcement was played in the South Tower telling people that the tower was secure and that they could stay at their desks, which resulted in many more people dying than would have, had Cheif Pfeifer's evacuation order been carried out. The book also details how the fire department was not patched into the police department's communications, which included information being relayed from the police helicopter circling the buildings, so Chief Pfeifer had no idea the South Tower collapsed, and the rapidly decaying condition of the North Tower was not relayed to him. So, while he did order an evacuation of the North Tower to the firefighters, he did not do so as a mayday call, which probably resulted in people moving faster to get out of the building. The last 1/3 (or so) of the book discusses Pfeifer's work post-9/11 working to make high-rise buildings more secure, and coordinating fire and police cooperation during high-scale emergencies. 

The book is relatively short, right around 300 pages, and reads very quickly. Chief Pfeifer gives a harrowing description of what he, and the others with him, experienced on 9/11 and conveys the pain of losing not only his literal brother but many of his firefighter family members as well. It is a great book that is definitely one of my must-reads.

Book Review: The Survivor: (Mitch Rapp Series Book 14)

 

The Survivor, published in 2015, is the 14th book in the Mitch Rapp series of novels, and the sequel to the 2012 novel, The Last Man. The fate of this book was in limbo for a long time because Vince Flynn passed away in 2013. He had started writing the novel but had only written a few chapters before he was too sick to finish it. Flynn's estate and publisher commissioned author Kyle Mills (who had written several books in the same genre as the Rapp series) to finish this book and write another in the series. Of course, as most fans of the series know, Mills stayed on to write several additional novels.

The focus of this book is on the fallout from Joe Rickman's betrayal of the CIA, as videos that he made in the event of his death revealing the identities of various CIA assets around the world begin to leak out. The "real world" storyline from the book is about Pakistan, and how the country is a tenuous ally with the US. And, in continuing Flynn's tradition of having antagonist politicians, the role of Senator Ferris is greatly expanded in this book. 

The book is another very good one in the Mitch Rapp series. When it was announced that Mills would finish the book, many people were skeptical of whether Kyle Mills could take up the mantle of writing the characters that Flynn popularized, and write them as well as Flynn did. Mills apparently re-read all of Flynn's books to prepare for finishing this book and taking meticulous notes on Flynn's wording choices and overall style, and as a result, you cannot tell where what Flynn wrote ends and what Mills wrote starts. Mills stayed true to the characters and the tone that Flynn had set over the course of the prior 13 books and told a very good story. This is definitely worth reading.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 12

Day 12 in Job 1 was a core, back, and glutes circuit. The workout had three blocks, and between each of the blocks was a minute of cardio that consisted of three moves, each done for 20 seconds. The three blocks each had different moves, but the minute of cardio used the same three exercises all the way through. So, this was another circuit that went by very fast and included little to no rest. The exercises were again more challenging than those in week one, and it definitely seems like the intensity of each workout will get ratcheted up each week.

The stretch routine was again Restore in XB. Even though it is repetitive doing the same routine for most of the week, I do feel like I get a little better at it each time and the fact that it is only 15 minutes keeps it from being too boring.

Product Review: Glisten Garbage Disposer Cleaner

 

This is a good garbage disposal cleaner with a nice lemon scent that is not overpowering. To use it, you run hot water on full blast in the sink for a minute, then turn the water down to a trickle. You put the entire packet in the disposer and turn it on, and run the disposer until you cannot see foam (until you hear a whooshing sound), and then rinse any foam from the sink. The whole process takes about three minutes. There are three packets in the package. It would be nice to get a couple more per package in case you need to clean the disposer a couple of times during the month. Chances are, however, that most people will only need to use one per month.

Product Review: Vertical Laptop Holder - Asher Fashion Vertical Laptop Stand with Adjustable Dock Size

 

This is a laptop stand that can hold a laptop and a tablet vertically, to help free up desk space. It can also hold a cell phone in landscape mode. It is very small and comes in pieces that have to be assembled. The three pieces that form the slots screw into the base using very small screws with heads that you need to use a small Allen Wrench (which is included) to get into place. It is definitely a bit of a pain to assemble, but once it is put together, it is sturdy and does what it is supposed to. I do think it could have been designed a bit better such as to have the top pieces already mounted on the base, and the two end pieces movable to size the gaps without having to put in or take out screws. But, for a relatively inexpensive stand, it does the job.

Book Review: Star Wars: Quest for the Hidden City

 

Quest for the Hidden City is a junior novel set during the early High Republic (which is the second phase of the High Republic era novels) set between the "main"/adult novels Convergence and The Battle of Jedha. The main character of this book is Silandra Sho, who along with her Padawan, Rooper, responds to a distress signal from Jedi Master Rok Buran, whose pathfinder team was attacked on a strange remote planet called Aubadas.

The book is just under 300 pages, and like the other junior novels, is written well enough for adults to enjoy. This is most definitely a side story that is not really tied into the larger main story of the early High Republic novels. It reads fairly quickly and is something that most adults will likely be able to read in a day or two. I would not call it one of the must-read books, but it is enjoyable if you decide to read it.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 11

Day 11 of Job 1 was the 20-minute sweat session. It was set up like the week one workout. Four blocks, each with three moves that you do back-to-back, without resting twice, then rest for a minute and move on to the next block. So basically, you go for three minutes, get a one-minute rest, then go for three minutes, and repeat.  Like this HIIT workout, this one is more intense, with harder moves than the week 1 version, so you keep increasing intensity.

For the XB workout, I did Restore again. My balance was still a bit off in the part where you do what is essentially a lunge with your foot on the chair. But, since you are moving your hips and not your legs, it is actually harder for me to keep my balance than it is if I am doing an actual lunge.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 10

Day 10 was another circuit workout in Job 1, this time working shoulders, arms, and legs. Again there are three blocks, and each block works one of the areas of focus. The first block works shoulders, the second triceps and biceps, and the third legs.  All of the exercises use resistance loops, and then the leg exercises also use weights along with the loops. It is another very fast-paced workout, with very little rest between the moves and the blocks. So, you are again getting a mild cardio effect too.

For the XB workout, I did the Restore routine again. My balance was still a bit shaky on the parts that require having one leg on a chair, but I was able to get a bit deeper into the stretches, so I did make some progress.

Book Review: The Plot to Destroy Democracy: How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West

 

The Plot to Destroy Democracy is a book written by former US Intelligence Officer, Malcolm Nance. The substantive portion of the book (if you have it in paperback) is about 300 pages, and the rest consists of endnotes and an index. 

The focus of the book is on Russia's efforts to undermine Western Democracy, even going back to when the Soviet Union was formed under Lenin, and continuing to the present day. Nance interspersed events that occurred leading up to and including the 2016 election cycle, arguing that Putin's cronies in Russia basically groomed the orange genital wart for a run for President, offering to do everything they could to help him win, which he knew about and absolutely accepted. The focus of the book was not so much what t***p and his dipshits were doing, but what the hackers in Russia were doing, not only interfering in the US elections but the shit they were doing to interfere in elections (and the political processes) in other countries as well. Specifically, while the various hacking groups were definitely trying to help t***p get elected, their main interest was sowing discord and distrust in the US political system among the American population.

The book is in part a history lesson and in part a warning. Nance was definitely one of those that seemed to think that Robert Mueller was going to swoop in and take t***p down (the book was written while the investigation was still ongoing), which, of course, is absolutely not what happened. But, Nance does a good job laying out what Russia was up to and what they would likely try as they got even bolder in subsequent elections. It is definitely worth reading.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 9

 Day 9 was another Hit It workout in Job 1, and the restore routine in XB stretch.

Since Job 1 is a "real-time" workout, you never repeat workouts. So, while this HIIT routine follows the same format as last week, 4 blocks, and three moves, the three moves are all different, and more challenging than those in week 1. The first three blocks have one move each, which you do for 30 seconds, four times then rest, but each time the rest period gets shorter. After you do the three blocks, the fourth block has you do each move for 15 seconds, repeating four times with no rest. The first move is power jacks in which you punch your arms up as you jack your feet in and out, the second move is jump squats, and the third move is mountain climbers. So, it is definitely tough.

The restore stretching routine is a bit easier the second time through. I will be doing that routine for the rest of this week, and I am hoping my balance gets a little bit better on the part where my foot is on the chair by the end of the week. 

Supplement Review: 1 Body Thyroid Support Supplement

 

This is a supplement that has minerals that help support a healthy Thyroid (such as copper and iodine) as well as helping to maintain a healthy immune system (such as zinc). It also contains a lot of Vitamin B12 and things like Ashwagandha powder. It is not a magic pill that will make you lose a ton of weight overnight or keep you from ever getting a cold. It is a supplement that is meant to be incorporated into an overall healthy lifestyle. Personally, I feel like I have been sleeping a little better since using this (most nights anyway). I think it has especially helped me with staying asleep once I get to sleep and reduced the amount of tossing and turning I do in my sleep. 

Each bottle has 60 capsules (a 30-day supply) and directs you to take one in the morning and one in the evening, preferably with meals. They are easy to swallow and do not have an aftertaste (at least not one that I have ever noticed). 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 8

Day 8 was the start of week 2 of Job 1. This was another circuit workout, this time focusing on chest, core, and legs. Again, each body part got its own block, with each block being repeated twice before moving on to the next one. As is the case with the other circuit workouts, this one is very fast-paced, and there was very little rest between the blocks and none between the individual exercises in the block. So, you get a good cardio workout as well as a nice burn in the muscles being worked.  

The XB workout was the mid-day move routine, which was another one of the 15-minute workouts. This is another routine in which you are standing (or squatting) for the entire workout, and there was a large focus on the neck, shoulders, and hips (as well as some hamstring work). 

Product Review: Pro Case iPad Pro 12.9 3rd or 4th Generation-Black

 

This is a case for the third-generation or fourth-generation 12.9" iPad Pro. The older versions will not fit in the case. The back is made from a lightweight plastic that is basically a shell that the iPad snaps into. The front is formed from a sturdier material that can fold to form a kickstand. So, it is not a magnetic cover that the iPad can basically just "sit" in. Personally, I think it would be better if the back was made of the same material as the front because I can see the back cracking or breaking if you were to accidentally drop it. The tradeoff, however, is that the case is a bit lighter than it would otherwise be if the back was made of the same material as the front. So, overall, I would say it is a decent case (if you do not need or want a case that includes a keyboard), but it is not as sturdy as it could be. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 7

Day 7 was another rest day in Job 1, so I did the XB Unwind workout. This is a workout that you do entirely standing. It really works on neck, shoulders, and back, basically, the areas in which we hold a lot of tension, and can get out of alignment if you sit a lot for your job. There are a couple of balance moves in the workout, but this time you do not hold onto a chair when you do them.  

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 6

For Day 6 I just did the Realign workout in XB stretch, which is a workout that focuses on the lower back, hips, and hamstrings. You will need a towel or a yoga strap to do some of the hamstring stretches and you can use a yoga mat, but that is optional.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 5

Day 5 was another circuit workout in Job 1, with the body parts being worked being arms, shoulders, and legs. In this workout, you do three blocks again, but in each block, you work each body part with one of the moves. So you will do an arm move, a shoulder move, and a leg move. You repeat the block twice and then move on to the next block in which you do a different arm move, a different shoulder move, and a different leg move. 

XB stretch was the Signature Stretch workout, which is another 15-minute morning workout. This workout does again have some balance work, so you will need a chair or a stool. But otherwise, there is no other equipment required.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 4

Day 4 of Job 1 was the second cardio workout of the week. This one again has four blocks and you do three moves in each block, so you do 12 total moves.  You do the four moves in each block, then you get a rest, then you repeat the block, rest again, then move onto the next block. This is the workout that you can swap out with a cycling workout if you have a bike. It is definitely not as hard as the HIIT workout was, but it is still challenging. 

In XB, I did the Mobility workout, which was another one of the morning workouts. I decided that I will do all the morning workouts for the week and then in week 2 I will do Restore each night, then switch back.