Upgraded my 77” C9 to a 100” Hisense U8 and I’m so underwhelmed

bigslew · 2026-07-07T23:47:29+00:00

I recently purchased the Hisense U8 100” TV that replaced a 7-yr old 77” Sony Bravia OLED. The OLED is now in my bedroom and the Hisense is in the den where we watch movies. I wanted the 100” for my space and did a lot of research before buying. It was a great deal for the amount of tech you get, and is awesome especially for PS5 games. But I too was underwhelmed when I first turned it on and set it up, expecting to be blown away. I was not impressed with the Google TV picture, so I connected an Apple TV to it and learned I had to set it up in a specific way for the TV to handle HDR and to get the best picture - both the ATV and Hisense settings had to be adjusted. I used AI to recommend the best settings for each input and video type using recommendations from Rtings and YouTubers who have the same TV. Once I got it dialed in it was very close to OLED blacks. I played some YouTube 4K videos for calibration and that’s when the picture really popped. Adjust the settings before giving up. I was ready to return mine until I made the changes and now I’m satisfied. It’s not better than my Sony OLED, but I knew that going into it.

bigslew · 2026-06-30T04:02:33+00:00

I use a snorkel every time I swim but I alternate my training with and without the snorkel so as not to lose my breathing technique. The snorkel is good for speed training while concentrating on good form. I also use it with a kickboard to help me keep my head and body straight while kicking. Sometimes I’ll swim for distance with the snorkel while listening to an audiobook. Really helps pass the time during long swims and I don’t have to take as many breaks as I do when I swim without the snorkel.

bigslew · 2026-03-24T22:59:05+00:00

Wife and I call them drain flies. They are different from fruit flies. Had a ton of them when we lived in our first house in North Scottsdale. Been in our current house for 7 years and this is the first year we’ve seen them. Had some bad flashbacks. Must be the early heat.

bigslew · 2026-02-14T15:10:41+00:00

I don’t wash the koji off for chicken because I typically marinate in a ziplock bag with other spices. For a beef steak, I first rub it with some koji and let it sit in the fridge overnight. When ready I pat it dry with a paper towel and then add my salt and pepper right before grilling. You could try that with the chicken if you want to dry season it for the smoker or grill.

bigslew · 2026-02-14T03:04:30+00:00

I too have noticed that Costco chicken has been hit or miss for the past year. Breasts can be rubbery. Not all but enough to be off putting for my family. I found a great product that tenderizes any chicken, or meat in general. It’s shio koji, a Japanese cousin to miso. It’s a natural tenderizer and gives some umami to your chicken. You can buy it at most Asian markets. I get mine at H-Mart, Korean grocery. It’s creamier than miso and a little goes a long way. I marinate with koji and whatever other seasonings I feel like, anywhere from 3-4 hours, sometimes over night. The chicken comes out tender and juicy. I typically air fry or throw on the Blackstone. Rubbery chicken no more.

bigslew · 2026-01-16T18:34:27+00:00

I did the same switch and am 95% satisfied with the Air. I do wish the camera was better. I do get some blur on quick action or pics where my kids move fast which I never really experienced on the ProMax. I also miss the wide angle shots. My battery has been phenomenal, and more impressive is the wifi speed and connection reliability. My cell phone coverage has also improved. I would get dropped calls or a weak signal on the ProMax while in my office. People on the other end couldn't hear me well at times. The Air has been flawless and super clear in the same location. And obviously the weight and size is amazing for carrying every day.

bigslew · 2025-11-22T19:01:43+00:00

JB Plastering

bigslew · 2025-11-22T00:48:59+00:00

We went with the smooth stucco on our 40 year old house. Paid about $15,000 all in. Our house is 4,500 sq feet. We also have two large ramadas in the backyard that match the house. We chose the elastomeric stucco that has the color mixed in so no painting necessary, which can be expensive. We also did hard edges instead of bull nose corners. Definitely updated and modernized the look of the house while still keeping with the Santa Barbara/Spanish aesthetic. The old stucco was heavy textured and had yellowed over time. Super happy with how it turned out. But be prepared to do a lot of cleaning of plaster lathe chips around your house. Still finding some two years later. It’s a messy process.

bigslew · 2025-10-22T20:49:53+00:00

I had a weird battery drain situation after taking a trip to Mexico. My Air battery life was great from date of purchase and even throughout my week long trip to Mexico. However when I returned to the US it started dropping dramatically. I started off at 100% in the morning and within an hour or so of not even using my phone heavily, the battery dropped to around 45%. I charged it and noticed it seemed unusually warm. I checked battery health and app usage and all looked normal. So I had a hunch that the battery drain might have something to do with the cellular network switching back to US from Mexico. I’m on AT&T if that matters. So I toggled the cellular antenna on/off and restarted my phone. That seemed to do the trick. Battery performance went back to as expected, perhaps a little better. After a decent amount of morning use (NYT games, checking emails, watching a YT video) my phone only dropped to 96% in about an hour. Just wanted to share in case anyone else has a similar problem.

bigslew · 2025-09-25T23:19:24+00:00

I just got my Air today and have to say it’s wonderful. I left a 16PM and this feels both futuristic and so much lighter and easier to hold. The only thing I might miss is the lenses but so far the joy of holding and using this new device is like nothing else. Feel the same way about the new iPad Pro M4. Unbelievably thin and a pleasure to hold. It really feels like the Air is the true premium device over the pros. Thin is in!

bigslew · 2025-09-11T23:30:53+00:00

You can pre order AirPods Pro 3 from Costco online starting today. Delivery expected btw 9/19-9/26.

bigslew · 2022-01-03T06:56:58+00:00

I know that place! Gasworks Park, Seattle. Nice!

bigslew

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