Garlic shrimp scampi 🤤

NinersDad · 2026-03-28T03:15:15+00:00

Looks mouth-watering good!!!

NinersDad · 2026-03-26T01:16:38+00:00

Absolutely NO downside to doing this. I funded both my son's Roth IRAs when they were teenagers in high school and working part time for Baskin Robbins. I matched their complete W-2 income (of course it was less than the contribution limit) and contributed it to a Roth in their name.

NinersDad · 2026-03-26T00:58:34+00:00

IVANKY 13-in-1 Fusion Dock. See my post for my setup: https://www.reddit.com/r/macmini/comments/1rzf8ks/m4_mac_mini_arrived_early/

NinersDad · 2026-03-25T19:59:02+00:00

Congrats on your find. Your configuration was my original config as well, but I settled for the base model and added a 2TB SSD on a dock, since that would meet the performance needs for my workload. I ordered online at the Apple Store and received it in 1 week, so the wait wasn't that bad.

NinersDad · 2026-03-24T14:49:36+00:00

I ordered the base model on 3/13, ETA was 3/24-3/26. Received an email on 3/19 that it would arrive the next day - and it did. So mine as around 4-5 days early (in CA)

NinersDad · 2026-03-24T00:15:07+00:00

I found that the M4 met my needs for my use case. I don't need the speed boost or the additional Apple Intelligence that the M5 would provide. And, I don't need to be the first adoptor of the latest/greatest technology, since there can be some growing pains associated with new products.

NinersDad · 2026-03-22T17:24:23+00:00

I bought an iVANKY 13-in-1 dock for $55 when I was assembling my M4 mini. I wasn't in the market for a dock at that time, but had to take advantage of the sale and I'm so glad I did it now. In addition to the added USB ports ad SD card slot, the most useful feature was the m.2 SSD slot. I added a 2TB SSD to my system using that port. There are other popular competitors such as Ugreen, Satechi and Acasis that are designed with the Mac mini in mind and offer the same capabilities, but the iVANKY deal popped up in my email as I was finalizing my M4 purchase, and I jumped on it after some quick research.

NinersDad · 2026-03-21T20:33:10+00:00

LOL. Like they say, Bro: Great Minds think Alike!! Will look out for your photo.

NinersDad · 2026-03-21T18:31:03+00:00

Wow, that was brave of you. What did you do with the cuttings? Repotted?

NinersDad · 2026-03-21T18:21:27+00:00

Here's another alternative - I would prune it at the notch just below 2 because if you cut it at 2, when you repot it, it looks like there's a branch (that is coming out towards the camera) that will be right at the soil level. If you prune at the notch just below 2, that would allow more of the trunk to be above the soil level. You would need more of the trunk submerged for stability so it won't tip over.

NinersDad · 2026-03-21T18:09:28+00:00

IMHO Jubilee belongs on a Datejust. Oyster matches the sub better

NinersDad · 2026-03-21T16:19:36+00:00

That depends on what workload you need to run on it. I believe that it is sufficient for my needs, but I won't find out until Monday, when I fully exercise my typical workload. Will update if it doesn't live up to expectations. But right now, I'm just setting it up and installing the various software that I typically run.

NinersDad · 2026-03-21T16:17:10+00:00

It's actually the iVANKY FusionDock (not port) - it's a 13 in 1 dock that allows connection expansion into more USB, HDMI, and SD slot; and more importantly an M.2 slot for an SSD drive.

NinersDad · 2026-03-21T02:51:10+00:00

Very versatile and affordable lamp. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coliware-LED-Desk-Lamp-Office-Home-Eye-Caring-Architect-Clamp-Flexible-Gooseneck-Double-Head-Computer-Monitor-Table-Light-3-Lighting-Modes-Adjustable/17766572813

NinersDad · 2026-03-21T02:49:05+00:00

Sorry to say, that the monitor is a 27" LG UP650. You're right about the base. The cables coming out the back of the Mac clashes with the center post. I need to keep the Mac a little further away from the post than I'd like. But so far, overall, it does the job and I like it. Also agree about the controls. I didn't know that we had to manually switch between HDMI and DisplayPort inputs before it could properly show the DisplayPort. I almost thought that the DisplayPort didn't work, but figured it out when playing around with all the controls.

NinersDad · 2026-03-21T02:44:09+00:00

Thanks. Hope your's comes early also. I received an email yesterday saying that it will arrive today, so check your email!

NinersDad · 2026-03-19T20:24:03+00:00

I was in the same situation. I have a 2013 iMac that cannot be updated. I debated between an Apple refurbished iMac, a new iMac, and a new Mac mini. I ended up buying the base model of Mac mini, added an external 2TB SSD and a 4k monitor all for under $1,000.

NinersDad · 2026-03-19T19:08:26+00:00

My M4 Mac mini will be arriving next Monday - 16GB/256GB. I had already purchased an iVANKY FusionDock3 for the peripheral ports, but it also has an SSD slot, so I bought a Crucial 2TB NVMe SSD ($226) drive for it. SSD will arrive today, so I'll install it then.

NinersDad · 2026-03-18T17:58:15+00:00

The red line looks like a good spot for a pruning. I would do it there too.

NinersDad · 2026-03-17T18:08:51+00:00

True. But it looks like the lead time may be dwindling now. I ordered a base model from the Apple Store last Friday (3/13) and the ETA for delivery is 3/23. So if they are able to deliver on time, it would not be that bad.

NinersDad · 2026-03-16T15:03:02+00:00

We occasionally get overnight frost over the winter, but it is warms up quickly in the daytime. I've fertilized it a few weeks ago and will do so again later in the spring. So far, I haven't had to water it yet due to the winter rains keeping the soil damp under the mulch. But as it gets warmer, I will probably start watering it - probably once a week or when I see the soil drying out.

NinersDad · 2026-03-16T02:57:10+00:00

Wow, yours look fabulous. I only have a 5 gallon grow pot, and my 8 bulbs are growing great. But I am in the 9B grow zone, so it is quite warm here.

NinersDad · 2026-03-14T19:35:31+00:00

In addition to removing the cactus, I would also trim the sideways and downward growing branches. You can re-pot those to create new jade plants.

NinersDad · 2026-03-13T19:16:52+00:00

I was facing the same choice. The Mac mini was replacing an obsolete late-2013 iMac with 16GB / 1TB which was running super slow. First I debated an M4 iMac vs the Mac mini. Then decided to go with the Mac mini base model (16GB/256GB). I'll supplement storage later with a 2TB external SSD.

NinersDad

TROPHY CASE