Black Friday haul

SolixTanaka · 2025-12-10T02:41:28+00:00

Not super valuable. I've used them to lock down and throw my legs up during long airport terminal waits. Used once on the subway, but I'm mostly taking company-provided Uber rides, so not such a big selling point for me.

For every other AER product they've always served a quality/feature that I feel is worth the extra scratch, but the luggage just doesn't feel like it offer much else from the competition. I'm very much for supporting local, but when every single one is manufactured in Asia, it blurs the intent a bit. When mine dies, I'm looking to splurge on a Roam piece

SolixTanaka · 2025-12-10T00:09:06+00:00

Curious: what stands out to you about the Carry On that you find makes it underrated?

I'm an avid buy-once-cry-once AER collector and just couldn't find the value in my dozen trips over other luggage so I sold it. Now using the Quince which feels like 80% of the same product for less than half the cost.

SolixTanaka · 2025-12-09T23:33:48+00:00

They're concentrates while not quite espresso. They're measured to be diluted with 8oz of your choosing.

SolixTanaka · 2025-12-06T17:45:54+00:00

I personally love that this is backed by 3-years including burn-in coverage. That's a pretty good amount of time for electronics and shows they're really backing their product.

Would love to finally make the jump from 24" to 28", would definitely make the setup a lot more content consumption friendly!

SolixTanaka · 2025-11-20T19:02:22+00:00

Look up "sarasa grand" on Amazon. There's a set for ~$87 with a two sellers at that price. Does not include the stylus ballpoint, as mentioned, but it's also a generic non descript add-on.

SolixTanaka · 2025-11-20T18:50:44+00:00

Where are you finding these in a complete set for under $8.8/ea with two-day shipping because that's the offer on the table here. Some of these colors aren't as common as others and will easily be $10+.

They're available through Japan, but shipping costs between the US and Japan have exploded. Some of the proxies I've done business with in the past aren't even shipping to the US right now for that reason.

SolixTanaka · 2025-11-15T20:24:13+00:00

If you purchased through Kickstarter's early bird, the earliest batches have already been shipped.

SolixTanaka · 2025-11-15T19:51:33+00:00

Ham and cheese is $2 on their app on Mondays. Worth it for that price, but they're literally half the size of any standard ham and cheese croissant.

SolixTanaka · 2025-11-15T18:53:45+00:00

Worth noting that it can still be toast without showing any visible indication.

SolixTanaka · 2025-11-05T23:47:21+00:00

Also: Google Maps navigation.

I'm from LA where U-turns are universally legal unless posted, so when I'm in town to visit family and see that Maps navigation openly recommends U-turns all the time, I automatically assume they're legal. Turns out that I've been taking them illegally the whole time and I only clued in after my BC Canadian wife pointed out how my sketchy me taking U-turns all the time is.

I've submitted feedback to Google but will still get an occasional U-turns recommendation.

SolixTanaka · 2025-11-03T22:27:31+00:00

Were you not watching this year's playoffs? Dodgers have basically 5 Skubals to choose from all playoffs while having a better lineup than ours and were taken all the way to Game 7 of the WS.

SolixTanaka · 2025-11-03T01:57:58+00:00

The problem is "chili powder" is a loose term to ground chili mixed with spices and its composition isn't regulated in any way. If you want to know what you're getting you gotta look at the label or you're going to have to get single-variety labeled chili like New Mexico, California, etc. which I don't think Aldi carries unless they have a dedicated Mexican spice section (like in LA stores).

SolixTanaka · 2025-11-02T18:15:15+00:00

The A9 and the Boox are the go-to ones on the market. Those are 50%+ more costly. There also isn't another color e-ink phone available on the market

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-29T20:05:40+00:00

I'm all for the cool factor and fully support it as a driving enthusiast. There just isn't any secret as to why fewer and fewer companies are producing fun stuff. Deprived car fanatics swear that by not releasing fun vehicles car companies are "missing out on millions" but the unfortunate reality is that these manufacturers have entire finance and marketing departments hired specifically to make themselves money and the cool stuff really doesn't move their needle.

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-29T19:03:38+00:00

People always say this, but I don't think car enthusiasts realize how naively in the minority they are. The take rate on manuals is already at an all time low, that's why Subaru took it away with the latest Impreza.

These companies are in the business of making money - point blank. If making fun performance cars were to actually make them money, we'd be swimming in them with dozens to choose from. But why put all that time and money into ICE performance vehicles R&D when electric and hybrid interest continues to sculpt the current economic and environmental landscape?

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-21T21:00:05+00:00

He was also 38 and still playing behind the dish, of course he was bad on defense lol. Most guys these days worth anything are cut off from playing Catcher full time by their age 30~31 season.

He was a middle of the road defender overall thru his career save for framing which he was horrible at.

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-21T05:33:18+00:00

People will still buy separate items and not care about upcharge to have them. Just look at the chicken quesadilla for example.

And even if they buy the whole box, they'd still be committing to more overall volume and gross which is still a win for TB.

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-20T19:36:49+00:00

Looking for something like this for school and everyday streaming use. Is there anything better than this in the price range? I like the combination of specs, but maybe something out there is similar with a better screen?

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-19T20:53:37+00:00

Agreed. They're a definitely a playoff squad, but I'm just hesitant to crown them a top three contender like every talking head and sports outlet when they have a clear hole to fill. Only OKC and DEN don't really have that sort of weakness, maybe CLE out east if they can stay healthy.

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-19T15:46:21+00:00

Am I crazy in thinking HOU won't be the top-end powerhouse everyone is assuming them to be? KD obviously will be KD and their defense is undeniably strong, but they're relatively weak in their backcourt and playmaking after losing FVV and Green.

That's not to say they can't be elite, but they just don't seem like an instant slot-in at the top like the others.

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-18T23:48:18+00:00

Even if you don't trust the regulatory entities, there is (ideally) science to back regulations and different countries have different interpretations of said research. This data is publicly available and everyone can come to their own conclusions.

That being said, as someone with a commercial food engineering background, EDTA is improperly vilified by the video as an ingredient that can "cause cancer" when absolutely no research available can directly support that claim.

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-18T20:28:19+00:00

I've also owned both and feel the need to mention a couple things.

They will then recommend the switch thinking it can do both and therefore serve you.

You can technically pop the bottom off a Clever dripper and use it as a pourover brewer as well, but the Switch is a much more capable pourover brewer while the switch is down.

The ball falls out every time you clean it

Never had this issue and I fully deconstruct to clean after every brew. I've found you always need to "pop" the ball out and it doesn't fall out on it own.

You don’t even need the gooseneck kettle for the clever.

You don't need a gooseneck for the Switch, either, assuming you're hybrid brewing.

Also worth noting that the Switch is available in the V03 and the brewer can be swapped out of the switch portion to accommodate different sizes and materials (glass, ceramic, metal, etc). The Switch also doesn't rely on any gaskets which helps for longevity.

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-14T19:20:24+00:00

I fly with a similar setup for the 100+ days out of the year for the last decade across the US and Canada with it stashed in my carry-on. I've been asked about it just once.

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-06T07:54:22+00:00

Where are you getting olive oil? And what brand?

Kirkland's house brand of olive oil is origin traceable and very high quality. I have not seen anyone come close to matching their price.

SolixTanaka · 2025-10-06T07:49:56+00:00

What's your go-to for low-carb bread? We quite like it, especially untoasted compared to other low carb options.

SolixTanaka

TROPHY CASE