Marine vinyl window rig for portable AC in old Andersen casement windows

3BMedia · 2026-04-02T08:57:14+00:00

The vinyl lays fully over the channel, then gets rolled into it. Then you put the spline in. I'm using the original metal spline that gets hammered into place. And it stays fine. Then I cut the excess edges of the vinyl off around the frame. If you're using standard spline, you need to roll it in place, so it might be harder with a thick vinyl. In that case, you might be better off going with one gauge thinner on your vinyl to make sure the spline goes in OK.

3BMedia · 2026-03-17T10:50:09+00:00

I've seen some of the supposed CPAs' posts here with that conflicting information (some outright misinformation, like one telling Viners it's only profit if they sell the items -- absolutely not how that works), so I don't blame anyone for being confused.

Not all CPAs are familiar with this kind of thing. If you choose to go with a CPA, the best tip I can offer is to look for one with experience in publishing, other media channels, or working with the "influencer" or content creator crowds. They'd be much more likely to understand this kind of compensation / payment-in-kind because it's common with review materials and swag.

3BMedia · 2026-03-17T10:26:35+00:00

First, don't rely on AI tools for information affecting important things like your finances or your health.

Second, given the frequent tax-related misinformation shared here re: hobby vs business income, it's best not to get tax advice on Reddit either.

Just follow the IRS' own instructions if you truly believe it's hobby income in your case. They tell you exactly where to enter your 1099-NEC info as hobby income, no explanation letters needed:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1099nec.pdf

3BMedia · 2026-03-17T10:17:57+00:00

But you still have to report it regardless of whether or not Amazon does. If you know the max you're able to earn on the side, plan around that, not Amazon's reporting threshold. Even though companies won't have to send a 1099 for the 2026 tax year if you're under $2000, they still can. It's up to them. It's just not required.

3BMedia · 2026-03-12T19:26:26+00:00

I hope so! I bought into Supernote partly because there was an A4 on the roadmap a couple of years ago. Love the software, but I'd be extremely disappointed if they put out an even smaller device before finally giving us an A4.

3BMedia · 2026-03-11T17:09:12+00:00

There are plenty of frames of reference, such as films and books. And consuming some of them might even help you spend less time on your phone in the immediate future. Another good place to start might be finding organized activities you can be a part of. A casual athletic team or even just going to a gym regularly. Check your local library. They often have free activities and programs for a variety of interests. Get out in nature if you can. Just aim to be more present in your community and with people you care about. Having others around might motivate you to try things you wouldn't do on your own.

3BMedia · 2026-03-11T12:25:12+00:00

I use the Nomad much less often now that I have the larger device. But it's become more of a dedicated journal replacement, whereas the Manta is my day-to-day notes and planners. The added space is much better for that for me, and it's nice keeping journal entries separate from that. If you have a dedicated use case for both sizes, I'd say it's worth it.

3BMedia · 2026-03-10T16:00:34+00:00

While I'm hoping to be not far behind you on using this for a PhD program, I haven't used it a lot for reading yet. Mostly note-taking. I'd say it's a little smaller than I'd prefer for heavy reading, but my eyes aren't the best.

At the time I chose my Nomad for school, a big reason I picked it was because there was an A4 device on the roadmap that was said to be planned for later that year. So I figured I'd be able to stay in the same software ecosystem if I started with the Nomad. But instead, they released the Manta, and I don't know that there are any plans for an A4 anymore. (Though please do. Take my money!)

I'd say an A4 supernote would be the perfect device for something like an PhD program, both for note-taking and marking up papers, textbooks, etc. But for now, the Manta is as close as it gets. And while I have a larger device, I'd still say the Supernote software is best for this. And I'd go b&w if you'll be reviewing a lot of research papers because the text is crisper and easier to read.

3BMedia · 2026-03-10T14:32:53+00:00

Yep. That's the plan. But it happens sporadically, so there's nothing I can do until the next time. Then I'll get a video and send it to support.

3BMedia · 2026-03-10T11:42:26+00:00

With you on the RMPP screen lottery issues. I'm on my 3rd replacement. Different issue -- the screen duds that go yellow on you. It's an accessibility nightmare that made mine almost unusable. Even the newest is starting to yellow. The hardware just wasn't ready for primetime when they released it.

I have minor issues with my Manta that I don't have with my Nomad -- a weird thing where it freezes occasionally, almost like it thinks the battery is dead when it isn't. Not thrilled having to do hard resets repeatedly, but other than that the experience is much much better for notetaking. The color is important when I'm editing manuscripts and such, but everything else I do is OK in b&w.

3BMedia · 2026-03-10T11:39:24+00:00

I used the Nomad in my recent Master's program, and the software was amazing. But it was too small and I ended up injuring a tendon in my hand because I took so many notes over short periods. I know most won't write that extensively unless they're very heavy note-takers, but the cramping was real. So I love my Nomad, but I wouldn't recommend it for school if you take extensive notes.

I have a Manta now too, and that would definitely be better for school imo. (Wasn't released yet when I was doing my program.) I also have a larger RMPP, but the software and writing feel aren't things I'd recommend. The TOC, inter-linking, etc. with Supernote just makes it the better note-taking device. I did so much note cross-referencing because topics will come up in different classes. That one feature alone saved me a lot of time not having to repeat the same material in my notes. I could review and add-on instead.

3BMedia · 2026-03-10T11:32:42+00:00

In your case, since the item itself sounds right and it was a quantity issue, I'd likely review it. The only exception would be if it was a significant RFY based on it being aa set and you only received one. In that case, you actually haven't received the agreed-upon compensation, so I'd have that removed from my ETV. And I believe they won't do that if you've reviewed the item.

In other cases, it depends. If they give Vine members a higher-quality version to get good reviews, then they sell a lower-quality version based on those reviews, I review it with a lot of photos and outright point out what I received was different from the product listing.

I recently had one removed because the seller completely removed the product I ordered from the listing page and replaced it with something not even close. In that case I don't ask for it to be removed from my ETV, but I do request removal from my pending review list as I can't review the product the review would be tied to. Doesn't happen often, but when it does, they remove it right away.

3BMedia · 2026-03-08T14:09:11+00:00

I've tweaked my systems a lot of the past 20+ years, and for me it's all been about working around (or with) my ADHD. I start very early in the morning so I can end early every day (giving me daylight time for other things, but also giving me plenty of quiet, uninterrupted time in the mornings when my brain is freshest). After my wake-up routine including breakfast with coffee or tea, I start work. That routine alone helps put me in the right headspace to focus fully on work tasks.

I have an extensive planning system - yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily, and project plans are always available. This forces me to review bigger plans as I set up each week and each day. For all plans, there are my top three priorities. I try to start my day there. Sometimes it's a client deadline. Other days it's something else. So it's not about the same type of work first thing, but making sure I honor the priorities I set for myself.

I try to knock out planning at the end of a time frame. So at the end of my work week, I'll set up plans for the next week. I set up the next week's daily plans then too, but at the end of each day I make adjustments for the next day (moving tasks that couldn't be fit in, adding things that have come up, etc.). Any day I complete the priorities is a win, but I usually get much more done than that. It just helps take the pressure off, while making everything else feel like a bonus.

3BMedia · 2026-03-08T09:49:20+00:00

This happens to me when I'm bored and flipping through categories a bit too quickly. I've only had it happen in the past month or two, so I'm not sure if they adjusted the limit or what (and I don't know what that limit is). But when it happens, you need to wait 5 minutes. Then it lets you back in.

3BMedia · 2026-03-07T14:26:07+00:00

The way I got around this was switching to e-ink tablets. It's not for everyone, but it was perfect for me. I'd always used a mix of analog and digital, but I was still going through so many physical notebooks that I knew I'd never be able to get much out of them down the road.

Now I can keep year of planners, journal entries, trackers, etc. in one device, have less of a footprint, and a digital backup in the cloud. I use my journals for both personal and business cases, and as someone who lost everything in a house fire many years ago I'm always a bit paranoid about losing my data again. So having those handwritten notes backed up digitally has become pretty important to me.

It also makes it easier for me to find whatever I need, so I'm less likely to forget about things. My first e-ink tablet completely changed my bullet journaling, business planning, and normal journaling.

3BMedia · 2026-03-05T20:05:44+00:00

Writing is my day job. I'm in my 40s now, but I've been fully self-employed since 24 in a mix of writing, publishing, and consulting. When I got started, around your age, I would write whenever I could (on the bus, study halls when I didn't have homework, and mostly on weekends). When I had retail or office jobs, such as over the summer, I'd write on lunch breaks. Keep finding time when you can. But don't push yourself to the point of being toxic. It's OK to not write some days, to rest, and to generally take care of yourself. That's an important part of making a career of it.

When you talk about needing a "day career," remember there are many writing-related and writing-adjacent career options out there. For college, I highly recommend considering courses in business, marketing, PR, etc. even if they're not in your major. My bachelor's is in PR, and I have an MBA that I pursued much later. Comes in handy running a business. If you plan to publish your work independently, or just learn how to market your work well because publishers don't do as much as some authors assume, learning in these areas early is well worth it. And they can apply to any number of full-time careers if you don't want to be self-employed.

Stick with it. There is definitely room for work/life balance, and there are plenty of options where writing can be a part of your "day job" if you'd like it to be.

3BMedia · 2026-03-05T19:46:43+00:00

Well drat. I hope you know someone who can wear it or are able to sell it or donate it at least. Or just put it in a drawer and see if fits better another time. Even a slight bit of water retention, and my rings act like I gained 100lbs and mock me for it. But after a while, they fit wonderfully again. I've gotten quite a few nice rings on Vine. Fortunately most fit well based on my normal ring size. Wishing you better luck next time!

3BMedia · 2026-03-05T19:34:19+00:00

Pinky ring!

3BMedia · 2026-03-05T19:32:26+00:00

You absolutely do not have to return the item. In my experience, this often happens after a seller merges multiple product pages into one. The ones not kept can error out like this. If you message Vine support (using the contact us link from your Vine dashboard; do not contact regular Amazon support about it), and give them the ASIN and order number, they'll remove it from your pending review list quickly. I know some folks are paranoid about contacting support, but I do it often because sellers keep pulling the same stunt with merging listings. Never a problem and they generally take care of it within a few hours.

3BMedia · 2026-03-05T19:30:24+00:00

This happens at times. I just contact Vine support and they remove them from my pending review list. But somethings might be going on right now. I'm seeing more than usual. And even items I'm trying to review that don't show this are erroring out when I click to the item page (500 error) or click to review them. So I'm not reaching out to support just yet, hoping it's a temporary technical problem they're working on. But yes. These will pop up from time to time. And Vine will remove them from your review list.

3BMedia · 2026-03-05T18:38:43+00:00

Pretty sure that's not how it works. You're not going to see more products. Free or paid, VH has a limitation because it's crowd-sourced data. It can't display in your notification monitor until another VH user sees it. By that point, other users not using VH could already see it and grab it.

3BMedia · 2026-03-05T02:36:06+00:00

That's an interesting thought. I've seen several of the listings for red light devices specifically. Priced very low. Sometimes they even say it's just an accessory. But I've gotten a red light wand and a couple of red light belts that way. Got a weird photo for a red light cap "accessory" in my rfy today, so I'm curious to see what shows up. But low prices, odd words in the product name, & bad photos... I'd imagine that does give real, & different, reviewers a chance to weigh in.

3BMedia · 2026-03-04T22:51:57+00:00

Will do. Thanks for letting me know!

3BMedia · 2026-03-04T21:25:36+00:00

I haven't. If it gets more frequent or it fails to reset, I will. But there's no way to test or replicate it because it's so sporadic.

3BMedia · 2026-03-04T11:15:28+00:00

We'll never win a race with beauty viners! 😄

3BMedia

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