Product Review: Sweetbriar Classic Vintage Messenger Bag

 

This is an average size, soft-sided bag. It has a zipper pocket inside to put a man's wallet, pen, cell phone, etc. It is not huge, but enough to put a handful of small items like that. That pocket is not big enough to hold a larger pocketbook like many women keep in their purses. 

The main compartment is big enough to hold a book, a small(ish) laptop, or a tablet. It is not as protected as a laptop bag will be, so if you drop it, or if it gets kicked or something, anything that is fragile could get damaged. With that proviso, however, it is a good bag to take if you use public transportation and do not want to carry around a traditional briefcase or larger bag.

App Review: HBO Go

 

This was the app that was used if you subscribed to HBO through a cable or satellite service or through DirecTV Now. The interface was okay, not great, but I could generally find what I was looking for without an issue. I have not had issues with it crashing, buffering, or freezing up as other reviewers on Amazon did (nor have I had those kinds of issues using the MAX app. 

My one complaint is that it did not hold your login credentials long enough. For many apps, and I would say most of the ones I use, once I log in with my DirecTV NOW username and password they will stick unless I uninstall and reinstall the app, or after the app is updated. This one seems to log me out on a much more consistent basis. Then I have to go through the process of entering the code into the activation site, resubmitting my DirecTV NOW credentials, etc. It does not take a ton of time to do so, just a few minutes, but pain nevertheless. Of course, this has now been replaced with the MAX app, which has a much different interface and user experience, so the functionality of this one is moot now.

Product Review: Travelambo Front Pocket Minimalist Leather Slim Wallet RFID

 

The wallet is slightly longer than a credit card, and the thickness with everything I have in it (one credit card, one debit card, my license, insurance cards, and a couple store store-saver cards) is about as thick as my iPhone 7 with its case. It holds everything securely and can easily fit in the front pocket of my jeans or dockers. My only suggestion for improvement would be to make it a bit longer so the center compartment can hold more. 

The one con is for those who carry cash, it would be a bit of a pain because the center compartment is really the size of a credit card so you have to fold whatever cash you put in it, and you are realistically looking at only a few bills being able to fit in it. For those who do not carry cash, however, it is just fine.

Book Review: Patent Searching Made Easy

 

It is a good book for the very basic introduction to searching for prior art. It is focused on the various systems available through the PTO to search old patents by keyword or classification number(s), and goes step-by-step through the process for doing that. It makes passing mention but does not go into any great detail, on the other available services, both free and paid, to search patents (such as Google Patents). Nor, does it go into detail on other non-legal sources like trade or industry sources for finding prior art. Although most prior art comes from previously issued or applied patents, it is not limited to prior patents or patent applications.

The book is an easy read and you can get through it fairly quickly. It is a good companion to the book Patent It Yourself, which walks through the entire patent process from the time you invent something, to actually getting a patent. While this does not tell you everything you need to know about patent searching, it is a good primer for those who want to keep costs down and not have a patent attorney or agent do everything for them (for those who are brave enough to tackle trying to tackle a DIY patent). It can also be helpful for a novice patent attorney looking to get a leg up on learning how to do a part of the job (if you search art before writing claims and/or do a lot of freedom to operate work) and your firm does not farm out the work to a prior art search firm. I definitely recommend it.

MPOW H5 Bluetooth Headphones

 

I am not an audiophile by any means, so I am not sure how these would stand up to higher-end headphones. But, for an inexpensive pair of Bluetooth headphones, I am very satisfied with them. I used to work in a cubicle jungle where I could sometimes put headphones on. Using the active noise cancellation I heard very little background noise or people talking around me. 

The sound for both music and talk radio is very good, and they feel very comfortable on my head. They are not adjustable however so if you have a larger head then they would be very uncomfortable or may not fit at all. For a pair of inexpensive Bluetooth headphones, this is a good option.

Book Review: Patent Law in a Nutshell

 

The nutshell series of books are supplements that are usually intended for people currently in law school taking a class pertaining to the subject. In my case, I never took intellectual property in law school, instead, I went back to school to get an engineering degree so that I could practice patent law. This was one of the sources I used to get familiar with patent law before I started studying for the patent bar exam. This version of the book was put out before the America Invents Act which changed some of the rules about who can get an invention, so some of the information, especially at the beginning of the book is dated. However, much of what is in the book is still very applicable and while it is not an in-depth treatment enough that you could sit down and write your own patent or pass the patent bar exam, it will give you a high-level overview of patent law, and can still be used as a reference.

It walks through the history of the United States patent system and the concepts of patentability, claims, claim construction, infringement, and a brief introduction to the various international conventions. While it would be more helpful to patent litigators, there is still good information for patent prosecutors and that those people who want to attempt to take on the challenge of writing their own patent can use. And, it can easily be used in conjunction with Patent it Yourself and its companion books (although there is a lot more legalese in this, as you would expect). As someone who is becoming a patent attorney in reverse (I got a law degree, then went back to undergrad to get an engineering degree) I started reading this as I was finishing school to get the basics of patent law that I did not learn in law school, then read Patent it Yourself to get a better idea of the nuts and bolts of the patent application process, and will eventually get a copy of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, which is what you are allowed to use when taking the patent bar.

Textbook Review: Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics 6th Edition

 

This book was used for my Fundamentals of Thermodynamics class, which was one of a handful of electives I had to choose from to get my EE degree. We used the 8th edition in class, but aside from the homework problems, the 6th edition had all the same explanatory material and tables, and I was able to get a used copy for $25 as opposed to a new copy of the 8th for over $200.

I would call this a decent textbook. The explanations were fairly clear and it gives quite a few example problems at the end of the chapters and often showed a couple of different ways to solve the problems. Luckily I had a teacher who walked through a lot of examples in class, and sometimes she made things a bit easier than the book's explanations. The one nitpicky point is, as others have pointed out there are no answers in the back of the book (or on CD) to any of the problems. And as is the case with most math, science, and engineering textbooks the amount of (and difficulty level) of the problems in the set at the end of the chapters far exceed what is shown in the examples either in the chapter text itself, or the more detailed fully worked out examples will show you how to do. So having some kind of answer key to check yourself would be helpful.

Overall I would say it is a good, but not a great book. The chapters can get a bit long, and honestly, I think the publishers would do a service to students to put out a version of the book with just the material that a one-semester-long fundamentals course would cover. That way students who have to take a full year and get the longer version of the book and students who are just taking the one-semester can get it a little cheaper. But, it is better than some math and science textbooks out there.

App Review: HGTV GO

 

This is an App that has most of the HGTV shows on it. It is free to download, but you have to sign in with your account information for whichever TV provider you have, be it cable, DirecTV, DirecTV Now, etc. If you do not have a cable or satellite provider (unless they have altred the policy) everything will be locked if you try to watch something. Once you do, you can stream pretty much every show on the network. 

It mostly has just the most current episodes of the various shows (whatever season is currently airing, or most recently aired, and occasionally the season prior to that). It does not have every episode of every show, especially those which have been around for more than a few seasons. Some of the shows allow you to fast-forward through the commercials and others make you sit through 4-5 commercials (and sometimes the same commercial run over and over). If you are a cord-cutter and are a fan of the shows on the network, it is a great way to watch them when you want, especially if whatever streaming TV service you use does not have (or you do not want to pay for) DVR functionality.

All of the HGTV shows are now on MAX, which used to be HBO Go and then HBO Max. So if you subscribe to that you do not need to watch this, but if you do not want to pay for another streaming service and still have a cable subscription, this is a good option.

Product Review: Philips Norelco OneBlade, Hybrid Electric Trimmer and Shaver

 

I am one of those people who detest shaving because I get razor burn and ingrown hairs. I absolutely cannot use electric razors that cannot be used with shaving cream, and I have yet to find "regular" blades that don't irritate me. I can say the day after my first shave with this, it is much better (so far) than using a traditional blade. 

I used shaving cream and this, and it gave a very good, smoother than I expected, shave. No razor burn at all, and so far, and I get far fewer ingrown hairs when using this than I do with regular razors. I definitely recommend it, especially those with sensitive skin.

Product Review: Plastic Graduated Cylinder

 

I needed one for a Thermodynamics project. It is nothing fancy, just a plastic cylinder with measurement markings. It arrived quickly and in good condition. It is probably not something I will ever use again, getting it at a much better price than a glass equivalent was great. I am very satisfied with it.

App Review: Sling TV

 

I tried Sling TV back in 2018, then switched to YouTube TV (mainly to watch Cobra Kai), and have now switched back to Sling after YouTube TV increased its prices a couple of times without adding any additional content or features. To be clear, despite Sling's claims, it is not truly a-la-carte TV. You cannot select just the channels you want. You have to choose from packages, which, depending on the one you choose will have a pre-selected set of add-ons you can choose. For example, if you want cable news channels you have to choose the mid-level blue package, then pay an extra $5 per month for the "news add-on".  They have subsequently removed the news add-on, but you still have to subscribe to the blue package. Then there are different packages to get extra sports channels and the like. You cannot just pick from a list of all the channels, select the one(s) you want, and pay a flat fee based on that. Here are the pros and cons:

Pros:

1) The app is much more stable than DirecTV NOW (which is what I initially switched from to Sling). It buffers and/or freezes far less at peak internet use time than DirecTV Now does.

2) The optional DVR functionality which allows you to record shows (up to 50 hours worth) and fast forward through them is great, and something lacking on some of the other services. But, see below.

3) Easy to navigate

Cons:

1) Live local channel availability is very limited. In my area, there is no local CBS, NBC, ABC, CW, etc. It does get the local Fox station and the local Fox Sports channel so I can watch some of the local sports teams, but DirecTV NOW has a much better selection.

2) No commercial-free upgrade option when watching on-demand shows. Granted the DVR function eliminates the need for that somewhat, but it would be a nice option to have when you are watching on-demand shows.

3) The DVR reliability is spotty. It does not record everything I have set to record every time there is a new episode. I have it set to record some of the nightly talk shows and some nights it will record fine, and others it skips them all together, even though there is plenty of space available. Also, if you have older recordings on there that you have watched already it will sometimes, depending on what device you are on, throw an error code and not play it. It has also canceled some of the recordings I have set up so I have to go back in and tell it to record the series. And, sometimes when you tell it you only want to record new episodes, it will record re-runs anyway. 

4) While you can select your favorite channels when you go into the guide you will see all the channels, and you do not have the ability to block, lock, or even just hide any channels you do not want to watch.  So, the favorite channel function is basically useless.

Overall, it is the most cost-effective live TV streaming app, but it is definitely not perfect. It has, however, gotten better over time, and will hopefully continue to do so.

Product Review: Evelots 2 Pack CD Storage Bags

 

If you grew up in the era before streaming music, and/or just prefer the physical media (and chances are most of the people making up those two groups are the same) you most likely have a collection of CDs taking up space somewhere. Given that if you subscribe to Amazon or Apple's music service, or just search for a song on YouTube, you can find almost any song from any album in seconds. However, if you are like me, and spent a good chunk of money on CDs back before every song was online, you hate the thought of throwing away perfectly good discs. 

These are great for keeping your CDs protected and provide a way to store them in a much more efficient manner than sticking them on a shelf or in a bunch of boxes (which could end up weighing a ton). Each box comes with 2 bags, each of which can store about 45 single CDs. You would be able to get a few more in, except that inside each bag there are two plastic dividers that separate the inside into three sections. They are along the seams where the handles are connected to give them added support so it is not a good idea to cut them. That is really the one drawback (if you can even call it one). I definitely recommend these.

Product Review: Roku Premiere - HD and 4K UHD Streaming Media Player

 

I took the plunge and cut the cord from Satellite TV back in 2017. I got a couple of these for free from AT&T/DirecTV NOW's promotion where you could get a free Roku for prepaying for 2 months of DirecTV Now. It comes preloaded with a few apps mainly the ones that have the remote buttons as shortcuts (on mine it was Amazon, Netflix, DirecTV Now, and Pandora). Then you can download whatever other apps you want like such as Hulu, Sling, or channel-specific apps like Comedy Central, CW, etc. Some of the apps are free, and some require you to sign in with your TV provider information.

Roku has a pretty nice free app that rotates older movies and TV shows every couple of months. The only cons I have come across which knock it down a star for me is that at this point there is no internet browser app to allow you to open web pages, it does lose internet connection from time to time, and randomly becomes unresponsive requiring you to unplug it and plug it back in. Occasionally it will just reset itself. That can be a pain in the ass, but I would say, for the most part, it stays connected to the internet fairly well. It is usually not a big deal to get it connected back to the internet or working again if it freezes, but it is kind of a pain when it happens. Overall though I am satisfied with it, and would recommend it to anyone thinking of getting rid of cable or satellite.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 49

Day 49 was a rest day in 645, and in XB I did the 15-minute Restore routine.

It had been a while since I did Restore so I would not say that my mobility in the moves was all that great.  But, I would say I had a bit less discomfort in the stretches than I did the first time I did the routine.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 48

Day 48 was the cardio routine in 645 and I took a rest day in XB, which I have been doing on the weekends.

The cardio routine was mostly a standing routine. There was one exercise that was done in plank, but the other six were all standing. There was definitely more jumping in this routine, so you do some plyometrics. There are also a couple of moves that will allow you to catch your breath a little, so it is set up very well. Again, you do seven exercises, back-to-back with minimal rest in between them. Then you get a 45-second rest, and then do the seven exercises over again. This time, you only do three rounds, and then do the cooldown.

App Review: DirecTV

 

I like the idea of a more a-la-carte TV package (not that this is truly a-la-carte), and on its face, DirecTV NOW was a very good deal (with the base package starting at $35). The $5 per month HBO add-on (which is the best price I have seen for it) is great. However, the app is glitchy. I have it on the fire stick and on Roku, and during peak times it buffers all the time (and I have a very high-speed internet connection). So much so that it is nearly impossible to watch a show. During off-peak TV and internet use time, like during the day or after midnight it works better, but unless you are a second-shift worker, that will not do you a lot of good. it is also prone to freezing up. I have taken to using the app as little as possible and using the network-specific apps (many of which you can use the DirecTV Now credentials to sign in with) and watching the shows I want to see through those because they tend to have far fewer problems than this app.

There is also no DVR option like there is on Sling or a commercial-free option for when you are watching on-demand shows. One positive is that it has a great selection of local channels. In my area, it has the local CBS, NBC, ABC, CW, FOX, and in the middle tier package the local FOX Sports channel, which Apps like Sling do not have.

++++Update++++

They are now adding a DVR option to the app, and have seemed to upgrade the stability of the app significantly. It still does crash and kick you out of it, but much of the buffering issues have been resolved. So it is still not perfect.

+++Update 2 +++

I finally got sick of the glitches and freezing so I canceled my subscription to the app after a price increase which was not warranted for the quality of the product. I have no idea what it is like now. Hopefully, they fixed the issues I experienced, but the version I was using back in 2018 was definitely not ready for wide customer release.

Product Review: Water Flosser Cordless QQcute Oral Irrigator

 

This is definitely the most inexpensive water flosser I have seen. It does take some getting used to, and you really have to go by feel since you have to bend over the sink to keep water from going everywhere as you use it. For those of us who have very tightly spaced teeth which makes string flossing difficult to nearly impossible, it is a great alternative.

+++Update+++

A couple observations after using it for a while, the high setting (which it goes to when you immediately turn it on) takes some getting used to. I used it on the middle setting (which is a pulse) for the first few days, then started using the high setting, and now I can use the high setting the entire time.

To keep water from getting all over the place (it is a water flosser so the sink area will get a bit wet no matter what) I turn it on and use it until my mouth is full, then turn it off, spit the water out, and start again. That works much better than just having your mouth open and leaning over the sink as the instructions recommend.

Finally, you do not need to charge it a full 24 hours before using it the first time (again as the instructions say). Mine was fully charged in about 3 hours, and I have used it 3 times a day every day since April 8th and did not have to recharge it until April 22nd.

Product Review: Re-furbished LG BPM25 multi system all zone region-free blu ray player

 

This works for most discs. All that is required is plugging it in, and connecting the HDMI cable. I tested it on a Region 2 DVD which gave the region error in my Region 1 Blu-ray player and it was able to play just fine. It came with instructions for how to change regions through the remote if you get an error, but I did not have to do that at all as it was able to detect and play the disc immediately without me having to switch it. I recommend this for a lower-priced region-free player.

+++August 2019 update+++
Updating to say when it works, it works well. But I have come across some Blu-rays, specifically, the UK Northern Exposure blu-ray set that was put out a couple of years ago, that it just cannot play. I get a region code error and using the remote to change regions does not get it to play. I tried connecting it to the internet to see if I could update the firmware, and that did not work either ( I got a message saying there were no updates available). Of course, that is always tricky with region-free players because firmware updates can often remove the region-free hack.

I have used the player successfully on Region 2 DVDs and a Region 5 Blu-ray set without any issues and without having to manually change the region. It just detects the discs and plays them automatically. So when it works, it works great, but it does not work for everything so that knocks it down a couple stars for me.

Product Review: 10 Checkbook Registers

 

I am one of those "old school" people who like to keep track of my transactions in the checkbook register. Since I rarely write checks anymore but have a lot of EFT and debit card transactions, the one register that comes when I do reorder checks is used very quickly. 

These provide a good way to have over a year's worth of registers without having to go to the bank to get new ones. For $6 the price is well worth it. The only drawback is the date field is very small, but since I almost never use the item/check number box I just use that if I need more space.

App Review: FXNOW

 

The menus in the app are very user-friendly and easy to navigate. You do have to sign in with your TV provider information otherwise you will only get about an hour's worth of time to watch something then you will be locked out. So you have to have a service with DirecTVNow or cable (when I used it you could not sign in with credentials from Sling TV) that gives you access to FX in order to watch more than one episode of something. Most of the FX content is split between Disney+ and Hulu these days, so if you subscribe to those (or the bundle), then you do not need to use this App.

Product Review: CAP Barbell Vinyl Coated Kettlebell

 

This is a kettlebell coated in vinyl. I have the 5 lb one, but they come in various weights. It is sturdy and holds up well, but the outer casing is light and could easily crack or break, so you do not want to drop it on anything other than a mat. Also, the handle can get slippery if you sweat a lot so a pair of workout gloves are also a good idea when using this.

App Review: Comedy Central

 

The app is mostly good and easy to use with a couple caveats which knocks it down a couple stars for me. First, they jack up the volume of the commercials, so much so that I often mute the commercials. Second, the episodes are only unlocked for the most recent shows, unless you are signed in through something like DirecTVNOW, or some other cable or satellite-type subscription. So for example, only the current week of Daily Show episodes will be unlocked. This would not be much of an issue if the app kept you signed in once you had logged in one time. It does not do so, however, and it is kind of a pain to keep signing into it if you get behind on shows and want to watch older ones.

These days, most, if not all, of the Comedy Central material is not streamed on the Paramount + App, so if you subscribe to that, there is no reason to use this one, and that gives you a better user experience anyway. But, this is available if you do not want to subscribe to another streaming service.

App Review: Disney XD

 

I used this mainly to watch Star Wars Rebels. I found it to be much smoother in terms of buffering than the DirecTVNOW app which I was subscribed to at the time I was watching Rebels. The only real irritating part is that it tended to replay the same commercials over and over (which many of the apps do), sometimes back to back. Otherwise, I think it was fine. Not great, but not bad either. Of course, this App has been replaced by Disney + (and is probably not available anymore anyway), which has a totally different (and better) user experience.

App Review: Fox Now

 

If you have a subscription to Hulu, the Fox shows are all available there, and that tends to work much better than this app. I initially downloaded it when I cut the cord from satellite TV and before I discovered the shows were on Hulu. While I did like that this allowed you to sign in and keep track of where you left off with a show, I found it to be glitchy, including freezing up and crashing quite frequently. Hopefully, subsequent updates will fix some of those issues, but since I have a commercial-free subscription to Hulu, I just watch all the shows I would normally watch through this app there.

App Review: Paramount +

 

I decided to cut the cord back in 2017 and get rid of cable/satellite TV. Because I watch many of the CBS shows I decided to shell out for a CBS All Access (now Paramount +) subscription. You would only want to download this if you actually have (or plan on buying) a subscription, otherwise, it is basically useless. Yes, it is free to download the app, as most of the TV-based apps are, but in order to watch anything on it you have to subscribe separately to Paramount+. The subscription prices vary depending on whether you want the version with commercials or whether you want to shell out a bit more for the commercial-free version and/or add on a Showtime subscription. I have the app both for the Firestick and the Roku. I would say I like the app for the latter a bit more than this one, in part because navigating the menus tends to be easier. But that is as much a function of the Firestick remote vs. the Roku remote as anything.

To be clear if you have cable or satellite and DVR, and you have no interest in watching the shows that you can only see through the app (like The Good Fight, Star Trek Discovery, and the archived shows that are no longer on the air like Limitless) then there is no reason to get this. My main issue with the app is that for some series, it will allow you to watch every episode from season 1 on, and for others it only allows you to watch the current season. And for the late-night shows (at least Colbert) you can only go back for a couple weeks worth of episodes, so if you fall too far behind you cannot watch the older episodes.

The subscription is definitely a better deal for cord-cutters than those already paying for cable. Even for those people, it does give you access to some older CBS shows that are not on the air anymore, so if you did want to watch an older series without getting it on DVD, or do not subscribe to another service where the show might be available, it will give you that option. It also allows you to watch your local CBS station live. It is certainly not perfect, but if the circumstances are right for you, worth it.