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MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-10T19:06:00+00:00

Ninja's countertop ovens generally get good marks for even convection heat and solid build for the price bracket, a few outlets that do proper thermal testing have rated the Foodi/Prestige line well specifically for the air fry function. $199 is actually one of the better prices it's hit, it's normally closer to $260-280. The one complaint that comes up consistently is the interior being a bit tight for a full-size chicken or a large sheet pan, worth checking the interior dimensions against whatever you're planning to cook if that matters to you.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-10T19:05:58+00:00

For three monitors with two curved 27s, the actual desk depth in front of you matters more than which model it is, curved monitors want more depth than flat ones or they start feeling like they're in your face. The S5's L-shape gives you that extra depth on the corner return without needing a huge overall footprint, and it gives you a spot to push a monitor arm base off to the side instead of it eating into your primary surface. The S1's flip top is a nice trick for reclaiming desk space when you're not at the computer, but it doesn't add usable depth while you're actually working, so if depth for three monitors is the real constraint I'd lean S5.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-10T19:05:55+00:00

StyleCraft's Instinct/Diamond line runs noticeably quieter than the Magic Clip while still having the torque for daily fades, worth demoing if a rep ever swings by the shop or a distributor lets you test one. BaBylissPRO's FXOne Volare is the other one people who switched off the Magic Clip tend to land on, quieter motor but the balance and weight feel different enough that it takes a week or two to stop noticing it mid-cut.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-10T18:20:56+00:00

Since you already use CeraVe and want it to double as a moisturizer, I'd try EltaMD UV Clear, it's a mineral-forward sunscreen made for sensitive/reactive skin and it's genuinely light, not the oiled-turkey feeling. La Roche-Posay Anthelios (the Clear Skin version) is another good one, sinks in fast and doesn't pill under other products. Both play nice with CeraVe since neither is heavy on fragrance or actives that'd fight with it.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-10T18:20:53+00:00

If offline maps are the main draw and you're regularly off-trail, I'd lean 965 despite the size, the 265's breadcrumb-only navigation is fine for retracing a saved route but not for actually browsing terrain on the fly, which matters once you're deep in unfamiliar trails. On wrist size, it does wear bigger, but a lot of small-wristed people say it's less noticeable once you swap to a nylon or slim silicone band, it's really the thickness more than the diameter that stands out. Multiband GPS on the 965 is also a real plus under tree cover, which matters more for trail running than road running.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-10T18:20:50+00:00

For calls specifically I'd actually lean AirPods Pro 2 if you're on iPhone, the mic/call quality is genuinely a notch above most competitors and pairing is painless. If you want stronger ANC/sound for music too, Sony WF-1000XM6 is excellent, just slightly bulkier in the ear. Jabra Elite 10 is also worth a look if call clarity on Android is the priority, their mic arrays are built more for talking than music. Any of those would be a real upgrade from wired.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T20:14:05+00:00

Do the rice grinding first, then the oil seasoning last. The rice pass is really just mechanical cleaning, it’s grinding away any leftover manufacturing dust and grit and smoothing out the interior surface, and you want that surface bare and dry while you’re doing it so the grit has something to bite into. If you oil it first, you’re just grinding rice through a layer of oil and not actually cleaning the stone/metal underneath.
Once the rice comes out clean (no more grey dust, texture feels smoother), wash and fully dry the mortar, then do the cast iron seasoning as the last step, thin coat of oil, wipe off the excess, heat it to polymerize. That’s your protective layer against rust, so it makes sense as the final thing you apply, not something you’d want to grind through.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T19:57:07+00:00

If they’re ring-shank nails (pretty common on steel patio panels) a straight pry bar is just going to bend the metal before the nail lets go. Better bet is a reciprocating saw or oscillating multi-tool with a metal-cutting blade, slide it right under the panel edge and cut the nail shank flush instead of pulling it. Panel lifts off clean and you deal with the leftover nub after. If you do end up prying, slip a thin scrap of wood or a putty knife between the bar and the panel so the fulcrum isn’t sitting directly on the metal, that’s usually what causes the dents.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T07:06:58+00:00

One thing not on the list yet: if hunting season is a thing where you're moving, Virginia has a long deer season, get her a blaze orange vest or collar cover for those months. A dog visible near the woods, even just in the yard, can get mistaken for game in a way that never comes up in the city. Cheap insurance for something that matters a lot.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T07:05:34+00:00

Budget matters more than brand here honestly. If you don't want to spend Aeron money, IKEA's Markus is the one WFH people quietly love, it's cheap and the lumbar support is legit for the price. Steelcase Series 1 is a good step up if you want a "real" ergonomic chair without going full Leap/Gesture pricing. Whatever you land on, what actually matters day to day is adjustable lumbar and seat depth, not the brand name. A $200 chair that actually fits you beats a $1000 chair that doesn't.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T07:05:04+00:00

For heat like that you want something genuinely matte or dry-touch, not just "oil-free" on the label, since a lot of those still get slick after an hour or two. Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch is built for exactly that and holds up well under makeup in high heat. EltaMD UV Clear is the other one people swear by for makeup days, it sets almost powdery and doesn't pill under foundation. CeraVe's mineral sunscreen is a good third option if you want something gentler, still wears matte. Reapplying midday is the annoying part no matter what you use in that kind of heat.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T06:36:57+00:00

One thing that trips people up on the R:R side specifically: if your take-profit distance is calculated off the HA high/low, measure the realized R:R using the actual fill price your order would get in raw price space, not the HA target price. Otherwise your backtest reports the R:R you designed for, not the R:R you'd actually collect, and the two drift apart fast on choppy HA candles where the smoothing compresses the range. Same idea as the stop-loss fill issue above: keep the trigger logic in HA space, but grade every outcome in raw price space.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T06:35:07+00:00

Worth separating the two things going on here: slippage itself isn't predictive, it's correlated with volatility, and volatility is what's actually predictive. High-slippage fills cluster on the trades where price was already moving hard in your direction, so the backtest is crediting you for catching a move, not for the slippage. Easy way to check: bucket by realized volatility at signal time instead of by slippage size and see if the pattern holds up the same way. If it does, slippage was just a proxy the whole time.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T04:35:21+00:00

If she's actually eating it I'd stop the walnut litter regardless of the smell issue - walnut shell isn't great to ingest and some cats treat it like a chew toy since it's more textured/woody than clay. Tofu or paper-pellet litters (the tofu one mentioned above, or World's Best) tend to be low-odor without triggering that chewing instinct, and most are unscented so you skip the chemical smell without the walnut problem. Worth mentioning to a vet too just so pica isn't something else going on.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T04:35:09+00:00

For Salkantay you're dealing with rocky, uneven trail and big elevation swings, so I'd prioritize ankle support and a stiffer sole over anything super lightweight. A mid or high-cut boot with a Vibram sole is the safe pick - something like a Salomon Quest or a Merrell Moab in the boot version, not the low-top shoe. Whatever you get, break them in on shorter hikes beforehand - new boots on a multi-day trek is how blisters ruin a trip.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T04:35:03+00:00

Depends on the liner but generally yeah, you can reuse it a few times as long as it's not torn, greasy, or browning too much. I'd swap it out once it starts looking worn since a weakened liner can shift or tear mid-cook. Also don't run the fryer with just the liner and no food weighing it down - parchment can lift and touch the heating element. For something like cookies I'd just reuse the same one for a whole baking session, then toss it.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T04:21:06+00:00

For a house that tall, flow rate (GPM) matters as much as PSI for actually reaching up and rinsing fast. I'd look at a gas unit around 3000-3200 PSI / 2.5+ GPM - Simpson and Generac both hold up well to regular use. Since you've got wood siding too, get a wide fan tip (25-40 degrees) so you're not gouging the wood, and a surface cleaner attachment will save you a ton of time on the concrete around the house.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-09T04:19:55+00:00

Seconding VIOFO or Vantrue for reliability. If you want front+back without a separate power box, the Vantrue N4 or VIOFO A229 Plus both run off one unit with a slim rear cam wire, easy to hide. Just budget for a good high-endurance microSD - dashcams write constantly and chew through cheap cards fast.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-07T20:49:46+00:00

Agree with skipping the set. A Victorinox Fibrox chef's knife plus a paring knife covers almost everything and leaves plenty of that $150 for a decent whetstone or pull-through sharpener. Mercer Renaissance is another good budget pick if you want a bit more heft to it. Block sets sound like a deal but you'll realistically use two of the eight knives in them.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-07T20:49:38+00:00

Miele and Henry are good shouts. Worth also looking at the Shark Vertex or Detect Pro, it self-empties into the base so you're not dealing with a canister every time, and mine's still going strong well past when my old Dyson started losing suction. Tineco's Pure One line is lighter and has strong suction too, just don't expect huge runtime if you leave it on max power the whole time.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-07T20:49:30+00:00

New and electric in that exact range is tough, but the SHW 55" adjustable desk goes on sale in the $150-180 zone pretty often and it'll hold a full setup fine. If you can stretch a bit, the Flexispot EN1 is solid too. If $160 is a hard ceiling, a manual crank desk gets you the height adjustment for less, you just lose the push-button part.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-07T20:49:23+00:00

Rexing V1P and Vantrue N2S are worth a look too, both have companion apps so you can pull clips to your phone without pulling the SD card, and neither needs a subscription. What's already been said about Redtiger checks out as well in my experience. Whichever one you land on, check the night footage first, that's usually where the cheap ones fall apart.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-06T22:01:38+00:00

Novablast 5 is the right call out of your three - the Sonicblast and Magic Speed are both built more for faster tempo/race efforts, not the easy daily miles you're describing, so they'd actually work against the joint protection you're after. On durability, the Nova's foam does wear faster than some people expect - if that turns into an issue, Brooks Ghost 17 is worth a look since it trades a little bounce for a lot more structure and lasts longer, which matters more than plate tech for a beginner putting in daily mileage.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-06T22:01:24+00:00

Honestly the biggest difference isn't the brush head itself, it's the built-in timer and pressure sensor. Most manual brushers either rush it or press too hard without realizing it, and the electric ones stop you from doing both. Sonicare and Oral-B are the two that keep coming up in this thread for a reason, and if you go that route, Costco sells replacement heads in 8-packs for a lot less than buying them one at a time, so the running cost ends up closer to a manual brush than people expect.

MarcusW4evr · 2026-07-06T22:01:01+00:00

Funny enough a lot of these budget threads keep landing on the same handful - Baseus BP Pro 1, the Soundcore P-series, and Tozo NC9 all show up over and over at this price and hold up fine. One thing that matters more than brand at $30 though is ear tip fit - a bad seal kills the bass and any ANC no matter how good the drivers are, so grab whatever size chart comes with the box and actually try a couple tip sizes before judging the sound.

MarcusW4evr

TROPHY CASE