My Stuff (Amazon Affiliate Links)

I did an entry a few years ago where I didn’t link to anything about “my stuff.” So, now I’m going through my past purchases on Amazon, because I don’t want to recommend anything I don’t actually own. So, here’s the new page on My Stuff, and there will be different categories.

Electronics:

This is the mouse I use for my tablets.
- Both Android and iOS support mice, but it is more useful to me with Android. That’s because full desktop applications like AndrOffice (Android port of LibreOffice) make using your finger on a 10 or 11 inch screen impossible. This one is truly comfortable and I’ve had it for years. If it broke, I’d buy another one exactly like it. Plus, for how incredibly comfortable it is, the price point is ridiculously low.
Fire 10+ 2021 Edition (the Android tablet I use the most)
- This was not the right tablet for me at first, but I learned to love it as much as my desktop. That’s because I figured out how to install the Google Play store on it. Therefore, I was jacked into both the Amazon and Google software stores. Amazon’s version of Android has come a long way, but its severe limitation is not having Google Services Framework. It means that the apps available in the Amazon store equal about 10% of the software that’s actually available for the OS. The only creature comforts you have in the Amazon universe if you’re used to Google are the native e-mail software that will integrate your Google accounts, or switching over to the Microsoft universe, because Microsoft Edge is based on the open source version of Chrome. Microsoft likes taking things from open source developers and calling it their idea, but I’m not bitter. 😉
- All of this being said, it has every single feature I could possibly want, such as enough RAM to be able to do split screen flawlessly. If I were to upgrade my tablet, it would be to another Fire 10+, because the Fire Max 11-in does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack and my speaker system isn’t Bluetooth.
  - If you don’t care about audio quality or the irritation of having to charge your headphones, I think the Fire Max 11 is the best tablet on the market for its price point. It’s got a fast processor and 4GB of RAM. It’s a loss leader to sell you on Amazon services, a technique in the industry called “Services as Device.” Also, because I have an older iPad, the Fire 10+ doesn’t seem slow to me.
- My iPad (a gift from my father)
  - My iPad is useful because it’s more productive as a media machine. Not only do I love Apple TV+, it is better than my Fire at editing pictures, audio, and video. I’ve done most of my audio with Bluetooth headphones and the voice recorder on my iPad. However, the Android isn’t bad at audio production, either. It’s not that intensive a software. However, sometimes I like to use iPad apps, and sometimes I like to use Android apps, because either I’m tied to them because I bought them in a particular store, or even though it’s the same app, there are different features in each operating system.
- My Phone (iPhone 12 mini)
  - I chose this phone precisely because I use tablets so often. I don’t need my phone for anything except controlling my Apple Watch, because my iPad and iPhone share data. Plus, my phone fits in my pocket again.
- My keyboard (the most comfortable one I’ve ever owned)
  - It has room for three devices, so I carry it about the house and connect it to my Android, iPhone, and desktop.
  - The slot makes it where I never have to hold my tablet, which is absolutely a godsend.
- This is my desktop setup.
  - I’m a writer and I like to play The Elder Scrolls. It’s perfectly adequate in terms of running my language model for AI, Microsoft Word, and a web browser. There is no need for me to get a $5,000 gaming machine setup. I just want one, eventually, because I don’t need to make my gaming more of a priority. It’s that language models use GPU power as well as CPU. AI has been so useful in terms of spurring ideas for my blog that I’d like a desktop capable of an even bigger language model. I could do it now, but I cannot upgrade the RAM on this motherboard. I would still like the same type setup, though, like the fastest Ryzen, the fastest AMD video card with the most RAM, and maxing out the computer’s RAM as well. The more information Ada can store in the RAM, the faster she’s able to respond. The data transfer speed is always much greater between the RAM and the processor than the processor having to load information from the disk. It’s basically giving Ada more room like you would increase the buffer size for smoother streaming video. However, I can do everything I want on this computer, and the price point is amazing. Right now I just can’t imagine spending a thousand dollars on just a video card alone, and that’s what it would take to make large language models function well.
- This is my favorite backup drive.
  - I’ve turned it into something sophisticated by installing Ventoy on it. Ventoy turns the drive into a bootable menu of disc images, so I have Windows 11, Ubuntu, and a couple of derivates in that folder. Then, I just add other folders for data, like game installation backups.
- This is my keyboard/mouse combo for Kodi.
  - I leave a mouse on my desktop, but this is handy for controlling a media center (Kodi, LibreElec, etc.). I use plugins to integrate my media accounts and there are also free ones for Pluto, Xumo, Samsung TV, et all. Just more channels than you can watch.

Kitchenware

Pots and Pans
- These will induce sticker shock, but that’s what I used in the pro kitchens, that’s what I use at home. However, I have never had to buy them. It’s just that both Dana and David have them. You will notice the difference immediately.
- Buy steel wool to keep them sparkling when you haven’t used enough butter or oil.
My Chef’s Knife
- It’s so comfortable for the price point that I’ll probably never replace it. I’ll just keep sharpening it so the handle continues to grow into my hand. Your knife is an extension of you, so I chose carefully. I also do everything with it, so I don’t even own a bread knife.
My Cleaning Supplies
- Dawn
  - End of list. I clean my kitchen the way I was taught. I use Dawn to scrub pans, counters, floors, everything. The most important thing is degreasing. It’s just various ratios of soap to water. I use a large pot with a few drops of water and a scrubby sponge. Then, if I’ve accidentally created a few too many bubbles, I just wipe down the counters with a microfiber towel.

Clothes

T-shirts
- I can really only recommend American Apparel. I haven’t found anything like them.
Socks
- We have wooden floors and stairs in our house, so I have to have gripper socks to go without shoes most of the time. This is the best brand I’ve found.
- In terms of socks I wear when I leave the house, I love Bombas. I really can’t recommend anything else.
Underwear
- Women’s underwear just makes me feel like I’m hanging out all over the place, so I wear boys’ boxer briefs.
Pants
- I’ve been wearing Dockers in the same cut since the 90s.
Earrings
- I like the same earrings all the time, so I just put these in and leave them. Occasionally, I’ll buy tiny silver or pearl balls to go with them, because doubling them up is too crowded.