App Review: YouTube

 

This is a good stand-alone app that allows you to watch YouTube videos without having to use an internet browser through the TV. If you sign in with your Google credentials it will allow you access to all your saved videos, playlists, etc., and allows you to keep your phone free for other things (and watch videos on a larger screen).

Product Review: GREENSKY Compatible Toner Cartridge Replacement for Samsung Laser Printer

 

These are for the Samsung series of color laser printers (the CX series). You get the best of an inkjet with individual color cartridges, with the speed and printing quality of a laser printer. The big downside is that if you purchase the Samsung brand toner, it is very expensive. About $50+ per cartridge. This allows you to get all the colors in one pack for about $80. It is still expensive, and yes, kind of a rip-off given how inexpensive it is to actually make toner and the cartridges themselves. But, unless you want to buy a new printer each time ink or toner runs out, this is the most cost-efficient option I have found to get replacement toner for these printers. I had no issue with the printer not recognizing or accepting the toner cartridges (at least the one I have replaced so far), and they do last a long time. This is a subscribe and save item on Amazon so you can have replacements sent at whatever interval works for you.

Product Review: Skin-Friendly Non Latex Resistance Loop Bands Set of 4

 

These are a set of rubber resistance loops that can be used for a variety of different workouts. For example, the Chalean Extreme Beachbody workout uses loops quite a bit, as does the Job-1 program. They give you different levels of resistance with each band, so you can use the lighter resistance bands for exercises you need them on and use higher resistance bands as you improve. I would describe them as skin-friendly to an extent. They can still roll up and pinch, especially if you have hairy legs or ankles. There is also a lighter set (the bottom one in the picture) and a heavier set (the top one) that has bands with a higher amount of resistance. So, depending on your fitness level you can choose the set that is right for you (or get both and work your way into using the heavier set). I definitely recommend them.

App Review: Disney+

 

I have subscribed to Disney+ since its launch, mostly to watch the Star Wars and Marvel content, but I do, from time to time, watch some of the older movies that I watched as a kid. While the app is free to download, you do have to pay for a subscription, just like is the case with Netflix, Hulu, etc. It has a big chunk of the Disney catalog (with more being added pretty consistently) including many of the older movies and shows that people who are over 40 grew up with.

There are numerous ways to navigate around the content in the app, such as searching, browsing just TV shows, just movies, and by content (e.g. Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic, etc.). You can also browse content by the decade of release. One great thing is that you do not have to pay extra for the material that is available in 4K. If you have a 4K television, you can play 4k content without having to upgrade your subscription ala Netflix. Another thing that is really nice is that you get bonus content, mostly for the newer movies, much like would be included with the physical DVD or Blu-ray discs which is sometimes missing when you opt just to stream material.

You also can set up multiple profiles so each person in the house can have their own watchlist, and get their own recommendations based on what is viewed under the profile. And, you can set any additional profiles (there is a pre-set main/default profile that cannot be altered aside from assigning it a name and icon) as a "kids" profile to limit what content can be watched under it. As I mentioned above, each profile can also be assigned an icon of pretty much any character from the shows/movies on the service.

I have not had any of the streaming issues or error messages that some are getting. I was able to download and sign in without a problem, although I did so pretty early on the morning launch day. Overall, you get a ton of content for your money, including movies that are harder to find on physical media because they have gone out of print. It is a great value, especially if you signed up for the three-year deal that was offered a few months, or if you already have Hulu (you can basically pay a dollar per month more (if you subscribe to commercial-free Hulu) to bundle Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+.

One thing to note is that after you sign in, it will require you to verify your email address, basically by emailing you a code that you then enter into the app. Although, the system does not make this very obvious because there is no box that pops up instructing you to verify your email. What happens is, on the menu (which is on a sidebar) there is a settings icon (a gear icon), that will have an exclamation point over it. When you click into the settings you will then see that you have to verify your email, then it will send the code. I am not sure what will happen if you do not verify or how much time you have to do so. Most likely it will kick you out after a while, but it is ultimately a very easy process. I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: Adoric Wasp Trap Catcher

 

I have had wasps getting into my townhouse for years and tried this a few summers ago, putting it outside of my patio door. It took a while to catch anything, just using sugar water, but then did get a bunch of wasps. Later in the summer, however, it did get a honeybee. When the flowers in my garden were blooming the bees pretty much ignored it, but after things started dying off, the bee got caught in it. After that, I did not use it again. Over the course of the spring and summer, just one wasp got in the house, which is much better than in prior years when I would get at least 3-5.

Product Review: Flurhrt F-01 Nylon Zip Ties

 

These are great heavy-duty ties. I use one on the hose from my washer to the laundry sink to keep the lint trap on (since the zip ties that come with the metal mesh lint traps have become more and more flimsy over the years) and one to secure the manual garage door opener handle so it cannot be pulled from the outside using a coat hanger. They are good for each purpose, or for something like cable management. The pack gives you more of them than most people will likely ever need, but even so, they are useful when you do need them and I definitely recommend them.

Product Review: Bodyprox Ankle Support Brace

 

I use these when I am doing high-intensity plyometric and/or martial arts workouts. I have had issues with my ankles rolling for years, and these do a great job of keeping them stable. I love the fact that they have wrap-around straps. Those are much better for stability than the type of supports that slip over your foot. They are a bit bulkier than the slip-on supports which means, depending on your shoes, you may have a harder time getting your shoes on and tying them. It would also be nice if they were offered as a discounted two-pack, so those who want more than one could purchase a single pack. That aside, I definitely recommend these if you have issues with your ankles.

Product Review: OXO Good Grips Rice & Small Grains Washing Colander

 

I make quinoa quite a bit, and it has always been a pain to clean prior to cooking (you are supposed to rinse it before you cook it). This makes it very easy. The grains do not fall through at all, and the holes on the upper sides make it easy to get excess water out that does not drain through the bottom, without dumping a bunch of quinoa down the sink drain. I definitely recommend this.

Product Review: AGPTEK® SATA/PATA/IDE Drive to USB 2.0 Adapter Converter Cable for Hard Drive Disk

 

I have a couple of old drives that I was hoping to use this on. It works great on an older SATA drive that it works just fine on, powers and connects easily, and allows for file transfer to my newer computer. The other drive I was hoping that it would be able to power long enough for me to transfer files from seems, unfortunately, to just be dead. While all the connections fit (it is a parallel connection), the drive would not power.

The kit comes with a power adapter, and different power cables to attach to your drive, depending on the connection. Then there is a piece that attaches the drive to your computer (via USB) which allows for a variety of different attachments. As long as your drive can be powered, this is a good, inexpensive option to transfer files from an old internal or non-USB external drive. If the drive is totally dead, however, then this will not work to revive it.

App Review: YouTube TV

 

I made the switch to YouTube TV from DirecTVNow (now AT&T NOW) in 2019 after getting fed up with DirecTV Now's streaming issues, limited DVR space and functionality, and their last price hike. On the whole, I liked YouTube TV better than DirecTV Now but switched to Sling TV after YouTube TV removed content that I watched and raised its prices beyond what I felt it was worth. It originally had a pretty good channel lineup (the only channel I watched regularly, that was not on the service was Comedy Central), included all my local channels, including the local Fox Sports channels (which were add-ons for AT&TNOW) and I had a lot less buffering issues with this. Plus you get 6 streams so you do not have to worry about logging out of it on one TV if you want to switch rooms. However, it did remove some of the Fox Sports content and some of the local content that I watched, which is why I switched after they raised their prices.

The other thing that was a plus for me (and something I wish Sling would do) is that it allows you to set up a custom channel lineup, and to set the channel order in the guide so you can put the channels you watch more often at the beginning of the guide and the things you do not watch as much at the end (or even hide them from the channel list entirely). The only drawback to that feature is that you had to do that from the online website, and could not do it in the Firestick app, or the Roku app, but your custom lineups do carry over to those apps. That is still one advantage over Sling.

The big minus to me is the DVR interface. You do get to "record" unlimited shows, but you do not get a traditional recording list. Basically, you add a show to your library and it will record that show as it airs and put the icon/graphic for the show at the top of your library saying that a new episode is available. But it does not categorize the recordings by date (meaning you cannot get a list of the shows that were recorded on a given date) or keep the list of shows recorded in alphabetical order. And, the most irritating point is that if you exit out of watching a recording you have to start all over again and find where you left off. In that way, it is kind of like stopping a blu-ray disc that loads to the main menu when you turn it back on. You can pause a show as you are watching it, and pick back up where you leave off, but if you exit out of the recording and watch a new show, take a break, etc., then you have to fast forward through the recording to find where you left off when you start it up again. Also, some shows do not actually record but get "released" which means that you still have to sit through the commercials as opposed to being able to fast-forward through them. I assume this has to do with copyright/licensing issues, but it is a minor annoyance. Hopefully, those things will be something that will get changed down the line.

Overall, you get a good channel line-up and when it was $50 it was a good deal. The app itself is free to download and you get a free 7-day trial, but after that, you had to pay at least $50, more if you choose to add other services like Showtime. And, the service had some good original series as well. But, I did not think it was worth the price hike above $50, especially when I was losing content. This is especially true when the interface was not as user-friendly as it could have been and the DVR was not user-friendly at all.

Product Review: Simplehuman Code P Trash Bags

 

I got these when I was looking for a new set of trash bags after the member's mark brand that I bought in bulk at Sam's Club reduced the size of their bags (and raised the price) making them almost too small for my kitchen trashcan. These are great, both in size, and durability. They come in a box that has three packages of bags within it. The packages are about the same size as the packages of many flushable wipes so they will not take up a ton of space in your closet or under the sink. 

If you get them through Amazon they are available as a subscribe-and-save item so you can set up a delivery schedule that suits your needs. They are a bit pricey compared to even the name-brand tall kitchen bags (although they are not much more expensive than those) but hold more and are sturdier than many similar bags (especially generic bags). So, if you are looking for good tall kitchen trash bags I definitely recommend these.

Product Review: Blue Sky 2020 Monthly Wall Calendar

 

This is a good spiral-bound wall calendar with oversized blocks that allow you to easily write down appointments, workouts, or whatever you need to keep track of on a daily basis (as long as you are not looking to write a novel on the calendar). 

It is not really good for a desk calendar, although you could use it as one. But it is reasonably priced, and good if you are not interested in, or do not feel the need for, a calendar that has a bunch of pictures.

Product Review: Gya Labs Pure Vanilla Essential Oil

 

I love the scent of Vanilla essential oil but it is (at least in my area) hard to find in regular stores at a reasonable price. I mostly use it in my body wash to give it a vanilla "accent" scent. I just use enough (about 5 drops) to give it a bit of a vanilla scent without it being overpowering. So for my purposes, it works well.

Product Review: New Replacement Remote Control for Toshiba Blu-ray DVD Player

 

I got this when I thought the remote for my player died, and it was the exact same remote for the Toshiba BDK players, but it did not work on mine.  The original remote stopped working, despite the player itself being able to turn on and load discs. This one was not able to turn on or control the player either, so there is a chance that there was an issue with the player itself. The player was never dropped and I made sure the IR sensor was not obstructed, and there was no response to anything from the remote. So I ended up returning the remote and recycling the player.

Product Review: VicTsing 2.4G Wireless Mouse Wireless Optical Laptop Mouse

 

It is a very good, inexpensive, wireless mouse. It takes one AA battery, which is not included. A nice touch is that the wireless sensor that plugs into the computer also plugs into the base of the mouse, so if you use the mouse on multiple computers, you can transport the two together easily without losing the sensor. There are buttons on the side to allow you to page backward and forward in browser pages in one click, which is a nice touch. I definitely recommend it if you want a wireless mouse, and do not want to spend a ton of money for one or do not have a need for a special ergonomic mouse.

Product Review: Zeskit Cinema Plus 4K 3ft High Speed with Ethernet 22.28Gbps HDMI 2.0b Cable

 

This is a great inexpensive high-speed HDMI cable. If you do not have a 4k UHD player you do not really need this kind, but if you do, then it will give you a great picture and sound without breaking the bank. Just keep in mind this is a 3-foot cable, so you will need to keep your player relatively close to the TV, projector, or receiver you are plugging this into. But, if you are looking for a high-speed cable, this is a good, inexpensive option.

Supplement Review: Adrenal Support & Cortisol Manager

 

This is a cortisol control supplement that is supposed to help control stress and promote relaxation. If it works for you, it is good to be able to get it through subscribe and save on Amazon. I did not notice any difference while using it though, regardless of whether I took it in the morning, early evening, or right before bed.

App Review: Tubi

 

Tubi is a free streaming service that is a rival to services like Netflix and Hulu. This means you will have to sit through commercials that will randomly pop up during a movie (they do seem to be keyed to natural ad breaks for most of the TV shows, however), and the content is more on the B or C list level. The good thing is that movies are not censored, so you will not have to watch the TV versions of movies. There are some older A-list movies that get sprinkled in, and there are some TV series that they have (such as the reboot of V that aired a handful of years ago now) that I have not seen on other services. 

It is easy to navigate the various categories, and the content does cycle through (there is a category for leaving soon) if you want to watch things that will not be on the service much longer. It is a good option for cord-cutters, especially if you do not want to subscribe to all the paid services out there.

Product Review: Jergens Natural Glow 3-Day Self Tanner for Medium to Deep Skin Tone

 

This is a tanning lotion by Jegens. It does not have an overpowering scent, and provides a gradual darkening, without giving a "fake bake"/orange look. It dries pretty quickly so you are not left feeling slimy after you put it on, and it is pretty good at moisturizing. It is not a huge bottle, just 10 fl Oz, so you may go through it pretty quickly depending on how much you use.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 55

Day 55 was the last day of Phase 2 in 645, which meant doing the cardio workout again. The routine is the same, seven moves back to back, and all are moves that have been done during the program (or slight variations on them). This time they only did three rounds and then a longer cooldown stretch at the end. My cardio is still not great, but it is getting better so the program was challenging. The seal jacks and the plank walkouts definitely wore me out in this workout.

App Review: CBS News

 

This app allows you to watch either archived/on-demand news clips and stories or watch a live feed of CBS News. During the times when some news program is regularly airing on CBS, such as during the evening news or Sunday morning, you can watch it live. On the off-peak times, the "live" feed are top stories that get played on a loop. So, if you just had it playing in the background, the stories are going to be recycled. It does cut in for breaking news or newsworthy press conferences though. So how much of a recycled feel you will get can vary depending on the particular day's news. As others have said, the Fire Stick version can be glitchy. Content-wise, however, it is good, and it does not require a subscription to CBS All Access (now Paramount+) to use it.

Supplement Review: Nutrivein Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules

 

Some people swear by Apple Cider Vinegar to help with anything from weight loss to digestive health. I did not really see any kind of benefit from using it. The capsules are easy to swallow but do have a bit of a vinegar aftertaste if you do not keep drinking water or whatever you use to swallow it after you get them down. If you are one of those people who can swallow pills without water, I would not recommend it for these.

Food Review: Frito Lay Fun-Times Mix

 

This is a good variety of frito-lay vending machine snacks, for much cheaper than you will pay to buy them from a vending machine (if you were to do so every day). You get a couple of varieties of  Doritos, Cheetos, sun chips, sour cream and onion chips, pretzels, and white cheddar popcorn. And, it is available on subscribe and save on Amazon, so you can automatically reorder at whatever interval works for you. This is a good way to snack without overdoing it (assuming you do not eat multiple bags at a time).

Product Review: ACT Restoring Mouthwash

 

It is a smaller bottle of ACT restoring mouthwash. It is good for traveling or taking to an office to use after lunch. It is not overpowering, nor does it burn like some mouthwashes do, because it does not have any alcohol. It is nice to have available as a subscribe and save item on Amazon, because, at least for me, it is easy to run out of because I am not always thinking about picking it up when I go to the store.

Product Review: OneBlade Refills

 

This is a three-pack of refill blades for the Norelco OneBlade. I have very sensitive skin and have tried nearly every razor and blade type imaginable (at least it seems that way) trying to find one that works without giving me ingrown hairs and razor burn. Of everything I have tried, these are by far the best. I love that you can use them wet with shaving cream, or dry. While I still get some razor bumps after shaving, I get far less with these blades than with others I have used. You need the OneBlade unit to use these, so keep that in mind. But I definitely recommend these.