Product Review: Value Combo: Bubble Cushioning Wrap Rolls(30ft/Easy-to-Tear) & 12"X 12" Foam Wrap Sheets 30-Pack

 

This is a combination pack that includes 30 foam sheets and a roll of bubble wrap. The foam sheets are not the kind with the pockets, which are good for dishes. These are best for putting between picture frames with glass fronts or wrapping around smaller items. You can, however, use them to separate glass plates as you stack them. The bubble wrap is pretty standard, has small bubbles, and is perforated so you can separate it into smaller sheets without cutting it. Definitely a good value for the money.

Product Review: 3M Multi-Use Duct Tape

 

This is 3M duct tape that holds strong but is not too "sticky". And, it is easy to tear without the tape splitting as you tear it. 3M is definitely the brand to get and is superior over at least some of the "generic" or off-brand versions.

Product Review: Warner 3" ProGrip Full Flex Putty Knife

 

This is a pretty standard putty knife. The edge is sharp enough that it can remove bumps from old paint drips, or uneven spackle, but not so sharp that you can easily cut yourself with it. And, it can be used to easily spread putty. I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: Red Devil 0542 ONETIME Lightweight Spackling

 

This is a spackle that has a soft, almost cotton-candy-like texture (as opposed to some spackles that are like a paste), but it spreads on and fills in holes easily and dries quickly and solidly so you can paint over it. It is definitely worth the money.

Product Review: DOTSOG Moving Straps 2-Person Lifting and Moving System Adjustable Shoulder Lifting Carrying and Moving Straps

 

These are two-person moving straps that can be used to lift large and/or heavy items such as appliances, that would be difficult to carry, especially up or down a flight of stairs. It takes a bit of trial-and-error to get them to work given the lack of instructions, but once you do, they work as advertised to move heavy objects with a lot less effort than just trying to pick them up and hoist them around especially when going up and down stairs.

Product Review: EnviroCare Replacement Duster Refills

 

These are basically generic Swiffer dusters. They will fit on the Swiffer duster handles, but I do find they are a bit thinner than the name-brand refills and tend to slide up the handles as you use them, so you have to readjust them a bit. They are, however, much less expensive than the name-brand Swiffer refills. Overall, I would say they are worth it.

Product Review: Magnetic Vent Cover 5.5 x 12 Inch - 3 Pack

 

These magnetic vent covers fit well over floor vent covers and do a good job of eliminating airflow from the vents. However, they will not remain attached to some ceiling vents and can easily fall off those, especially the kind that has a vent control that is like a handle that sticks out from the metal. I am not sure if they would stick better if you have a ceiling vent that you can lay them all the way across, and have them sit flat. But on the kind where it would have to be placed off-set or off-center because the vent control gets in the way, they will easily fall off.

Product Review: Bagster

 

The main thing to keep in mind is that the $20 price is the price ONLY to purchase the bag. To have it removed you have to schedule a pickup (there is usually a 3-5 day window after you tell them what day it will be available to pick up that they will pick it up within; mine was picked up the day after I said it was available), and that will cost approximately $160. It is a great option if you are cleaning out junk from your house, or doing a room renovation. The bags hold up to 3500 lbs of material, which is a decent amount, but they do not hold a dumpster shape very easily, so it is easy to have stuff kind of spilling over the sides as you are filling it. So, it gets a bit hard to tell if it is too full.

The plus is that it is definitely more maneuverable (at least up to a point) than getting a dumpster dropped off (unless it is a smallish dumpster with wheels), and may (depending on how much junk you need to be removed) may be more cost-effective than a dumpster or a junk hauling service. The drawback is that it is easy to underestimate how much it will hold, and if you need more than a couple of them, then the cost-effectiveness disappears quickly.

Product Review: Sheffield 1282 Gadget Folding Lock Back Utility Knife

 

I initially used this to cut out my old carpet to make it easier to remove as I was doing the demo on my townhouse before a renovation. Now, I mostly use it to break down boxes from various deliveries. It works great for both of those tasks, is sturdy, and it is nice to have it able to fold up to make it safer to store. I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: Mighty Gadget Brand 3/16" Air Bubble Cushioning Roll

 

It is a pretty standard bubble wrap, with smaller bubbles. The roll has perforations so you can separate it into smaller or larger sheets, as necessary. The only drawback is that the perforations can be a bit hard to see, especially if you do not have great eyesight. Otherwise, it is very good for a small amount of bubble wrap to keep fragile items safe when you are packing them up.

Product Review: Ironclad General Utility Work Gloves

 

I used these to demo part of my townhome for a remodel, including tearing down drywall/sheetrock and pulling up carpet. They were very comfortable, with no tears or punctures, even when handling tack strips and the like. I still use them when doing something around the house and want to protect my hands. I definitely recommend them.

Product Review: Premium Foam Packing Sheets (50 Count)

 

These are foam packing sheets that work much better than using newspaper to keep glass dishes and small fragile items protected when you are packing them up. They have pouches so you can place a bowl or plate inside, then stack them inside a box, so you basically have two layers of foam protecting your dishes. I definitely recommend them.

Book Review: Dune: The Butlerian Jihad (Dune #1)

 

The Butlerian Jihad is a prequel novel to the classic sci-fi novel, Dune, written by Frank Herbert in the 1960s. This book, published in 2002 was written by Frank Herbert's son, Brian, and is co-authored by Kevin J. Anderson. It is the first novel if you read the books in chronological order, and it tells the story of events that were referred to in the original Dune Trilogy of novels.

This book (and the other two books in the trilogy) is set thousands of years before the events in the Dune novel (and movies). At the time, machines had enslaved humans on Earth and many planets that would eventually make up the guild. The machines were a combination of artificially intelligent thinking machines and cyborgs who used to be human but were able to preserve their brains in canisters that they could transfer from one mechanical body to the next. This book details the start of the war between humans and machines that was referenced in Dune and also details the beginnings of the relationship between House Harkonnen and House Atreides.

The hardcover version of the book is a little over 600 pages. That consists of about 612 pages of the actual story and then a character glossary that is about another 20 pages that gives a short explanation of the characters in the book. The story is very good but can be a bit hard to follow at times. The story jumps around from planet to planet, and shifts from the point of view of one character to another. Since there are a ton of characters in the book until you can keep straight who everyone is, it can get confusing. As you get deeper into the book, the story really focuses on just a handful of characters and the story is easier to digest. I have not read the original Dune trilogy yet (as of this writing) as I am reading the books in chronological order. So, I cannot say how this book compares to those written by Frank Herbert, but, it is a very well-written story that blends action, suspense, and drama. If you are a fan of the Dune movies or even just Sci-Fi books, movies, or TV series, this is worth the time to read.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 60

For day 60 I did the lower body flexibility routine in XB, and the 645 workout was the first upper body strength workout of Phase 3. 

The 645 workout goes at a faster pace, and like the other workouts this week, mixes new moves in with moves that have been in prior workouts (or variations on them). There are some exercises that use body weight only and one at the end in which you basically use the heaviest weight you have available that you can hold for 25 seconds on each side. Again, the focus of the exercises is not on the "show" muscles like the biceps, but on the functional muscles of the shoulders and back. You do get some bicep and tricep work, but that is usually because they are being worked along with the other areas the workout is focusing on.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 59

Day 59 was the flexibility day. In XB I did the lower back routine, and of course, in 645 it was the flexibility and mobility workout.

The 645 workout had quite a few new stretches mixed in with some that have been in prior workouts. The focus is again on hip, shoulder, and hamstring flexibility. It is not hard, but it definitely builds on the prior versions of the workout and is more challenging than in prior weeks. 

Book Review: Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide 2019

 

I have a baseball card collection that I started in the late 1980s and kept adding to until about the late 1990s/early 2000s. I have not valued the collection in years, so I got this to get an idea of what my collection is worth. It does have all the card sets, including the special edition sets. The only drawback is, to get all the sets into one book, the print is very, very, small. If you are to the point where you have to wear reading glasses or progressive lenses, the print in this will be hard to see without a magnifier of some kind. That said, this is a perfect way to price your card collection if you do not want to pay for a subscription to Beckett's online material.

Product Review: HOMMP Medium Trash Bags, 7 Gallon, 120 Counts/ 6 Rolls

 

If you have one or more small garbage cans (such as are generally used in bathrooms or bedrooms) these are very good. It would be better if they were available in white or clear and were a little bit smaller. It seems that "small" garbage bags range from so small they are basically useless for most small cans, or so large that you end up wasting some room in them and can only economically use it in a medium-sized can. These definitely fall into the latter category. But, they hold up well and you get a lot per roll (and 4 rolls to a package) so they will last a while.

Product Review: PackageZoom Moving Boxes Medium 18 x 14 x 12 Inches 20 Pack

 

While these are medium-sized boxes, they are a bit smaller than the medium boxes at Home Depot or UPS (if you are going off that size). They are a perfect size to hold books, as they do not allow you to put so many in that the box ends up weighing 75 lbs and is too heavy to comfortably lift and move around. You will need to use strapping tape to put them together, but once they are together they are sturdy, and a decent value for a pack of 20.

Product Review: Homz 34-Gallon Durabilt Plastic Stackable Storage Organization Container Bin

 

I got these for storing things in my garage to get ready for a renovation and wanted sturdy bins that are moisture and pest-proof. These are large bins with lids that lock much better than some of the less expensive bins out there. They are a bit overpriced on Amazon compared to a 55-gallon version of the bin that sells at Home Depot for $25. But, you can keep them in a garage without worrying about mice or water getting into them and damaging the contents. 

Product Review: AMMEX Clear Vinyl Medical Gloves

 

I originally got these for my mom to protect her hands when she was going through chemo. One of the side effects of her infusions was that her fingernails would split away from the nail bed and get infected. So, she would wear these when she was doing something that required her hands to be protected. 

I also use them when cleaning the bathroom or when I take the dog out so I do not risk touching dog poop with my bare hands when tieing off the poop bags. They are available as a subscribe-and-save item on Amazon so you can automatically reorder at whatever intervals work for you. 

Product Review: Bags on Board Patterned Dog Waste Bags (140 bags)

 

These are durable, and a good value for the money. You can get them as a subscribe-and-save item on Amazon and have them sent on whatever frequency suits you. Definitely recommend. I switched to these when the other brand I was using was no longer being offered via subscribe and save, and I have no complaints about them.

Product Review: IUKUS PC Microphone with Mic Stand

 

I use this for audio/video conferencing on my home computer when I work at home. The people on the other end seem to be able to hear me well and I have not had any issues with feedback or had anyone comment about my audio cutting in and out. It is really handy that it comes with a small tripod and can sit on a desk, and has a long enough cord that you can easily move it out of the way when not using it, and move it closer when you are. It is a great deal when using it in that context. I do not use it for gaming, so I am not sure how well it does or does not work for doing that.

Product Review: PHILIPS Computer Monitors 328E9QJAB 32" Curved Frameless Monitor

 

I have a job that routinely requires me to have multiple documents and applications open at one time (e.g., Word, Acrobat, Outlook, and a web browser at the very least), and because of the Covid-19 pandemic, my office instituted a mandatory work-from-home policy. Therefore, I got a couple of these to connect to my laptop via a docking station. They are relatively easy to set up. The only thing I found a bit tricky is that the power button is on the back of the monitor, just on the other side of the Phillips logo in the middle of the bottom of the monitor.

If you connect via an HDMI cable the picture is very crisp, and you can easily display multiple documents/applications at one time. I just have the monitors at eye level and do not have any problem seeing any portion of the screens. I am not sure how it would be affected if the monitor is moved above or below eye level. It does have a speaker that emits okay sound, and you can connect an external speaker via a jack in the back of the monitor to get better sound out of it. Overall, If you are looking for a relatively large, widescreen monitor that is inexpensive, I definitely recommend this one.

Product Review: Amazon Basics USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Dual Monitor Docking Station

 

This is pretty much a plug-and-play device, with the caveat that you need to install the drivers before you connect it to your computer. I am not sure what happens if you do not, but the instructions make clear to do that first, and if you do, it is very easy to get up and running.

My office instituted a work-from-home policy during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I needed to connect multiple monitors to my laptop in order to efficiently work from home. This has one HDMI port, one port that allows you to connect a monitor with a VGA connection, and then has several USB ports so you can connect a flash drive, an external hard drive, or whatever other USB devices you would like. It also allows you to connect speakers and a microphone if you so desire. The only thing I would have liked it to have is two HDMI ports so you can connect two monitors via HDMI. Aside from that, I am very satisfied with it.

Product Review: ELMA Winter Leather Gloves for Men

 

These are a nice, inexpensive, pair of leather gloves. My only complaint is that, even though the finger length is perfect for me, they are a bit tight, although less so after wearing them a few times. The inner lining is very soft, and warm. It is not warm enough for an upper midwestern winter when the high temperatures can be in the teens (at best) and sometimes even below zero degrees Fahrenheit. But, they are perfect for the fall and spring. The fingertips work well on a smartphone screen, at least to unlock it, but are not the greatest for the smaller touchscreen details. But, I am rarely using my phone outside (aside from occasionally taking a call when I am going for a walk), so that is not really an issue for me.