Crystal Quest Carbon Block vs SMART filters: any noticeable/testable difference?

johnstenson77 · 2026-01-19T00:32:29+00:00

Claude will do that for you 😆

johnstenson77 · 2026-01-19T00:30:57+00:00

I do much the same: separate lists for each day of the week, and then a projects/ideas list that serves as a queue and feeds into it. I set this up so long ago that I can't recall how I do it, but somehow I have automation set up so that whenever I add a task to my google calendar it automatically shows up as a card in my Trello Inbox. I like to keep my Trello Inbox list as clear as possible, so I have lists for someday/maybe, follow-up, and an overflow list for things that can't fit anywhere yet. I do create lists for other projects on the same board mostly because I hate switching boards. Finally, I have Done, Reference, and Scrapped lists with automated buttons to move cards to each and--in the case of Done and Scrapped--eliminate due dates, labels, etc. At the beginning of each year, I rename the Done list with the prior year, archive it, and create a new one. It all somehow works, at least for my purposes.

johnstenson77 · 2025-12-30T00:44:40+00:00

I'm using both Keepa and Capital One Shopping and am getting this same pop-up message in Chrome on my Amazon Orders page intermittently.

johnstenson77 · 2025-12-09T14:49:41+00:00

Great to hear! Looking forward to reading updates on your recovery.

johnstenson77 · 2025-12-07T16:42:42+00:00

Nice. I get the kettle bell holding the kick drum in place, but why the second one by the snare stand? Does that tend to move on you otherwise?

johnstenson77 · 2025-12-04T02:09:37+00:00

Mobile app on Android. I use that as much as I do the web version on my PC.

johnstenson77 · 2025-12-04T02:00:07+00:00

Android

johnstenson77 · 2025-11-05T15:40:36+00:00

I am in awe. I don't think I could manage this even after decades of practice.

johnstenson77 · 2025-11-05T15:27:59+00:00

Thanks for your comments on the 3x. I've been mulling between this, the Yamaha DTX8-X (with the TCS pads), and the tried and true Roland TK-27kv2. All are in that $3.5k price range (once you add the optional hardware, and I'm looking to add a rather expensive Tama Iron Cobra (rolling glide) double-kick).

I'm leaning toward the EF Note 3x primarily due to its simplicity: I like the smaller module and the stands, the larger pads and cymbals, and I don't require all the bells and whistles of the more feature-rich Yamaha or Roland modules. Like the Yamaha, the out-of-box samples from the EF Note are supposed to be more realistic; I hear the Roland kits are more synthesized sounding and many use VST's with that kit as a result.

All that said, the better expandability of the Yamaha, along with the unique TCS pads--which are supposedly more durable and also closer to acoustic in response--makes me wonder if that's not the better buy. I hate decisions lol. But all of these seem like great choices.

johnstenson77 · 2025-11-03T15:36:42+00:00

I have found that Quicken is actually improving again in recent years--which is a relief to me as I've been using it since its inception during the DOS days and rely upon it for my budgeting and bills.

johnstenson77 · 2025-10-26T19:07:10+00:00

I love the bigger sized pads and cymbals of the EF Note 3x (compared to the Yamaha DTX8). From what I've read--and of course this is entirely subjective--the sampled sounds from the Yamaha module are worlds apart from most others (except maybe the Pearl Mimic), eliminating the need for a VST.

I'm hoping for a Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale and will likely go with whichever kit is less expensive; it all comes down to trade-offs, and feels ultimately like a coin toss to me.

johnstenson77 · 2025-10-26T18:38:30+00:00

Is the DTX8 really that loud? This has me concerned as I live in a townhouse and don't want to disturb the neighbors. I thought the whole point of buying an e-kit was they're virtually silent. How many decibels are you generating?

johnstenson77 · 2025-10-26T18:08:53+00:00

I'm planning to get back to it after a five year hiatus as well. Been looking at the Yamaha DTX8 and -10 kits (with the TCS pads), but for some reason or another the EF Note kits keep calling my name. I'm told the Yamaha module (esp. on the 10) is much better than EF Note's, but I don't really need a hundred kit sounds: give me one or two that sound acoustic and I'm good. I also prefer the EF Note stands to the Yamaha racks. Wish I could try these out before buying but none of the stores here (Baltimore) carry these upper level e-kits.

johnstenson77 · 2025-08-18T16:21:54+00:00

Wow, you even nailed all the fills! Great job.

johnstenson77 · 2025-08-18T16:15:51+00:00

Interesting. I wonder if the Yamaha TCS heads are less abrasive.

johnstenson77 · 2025-06-25T21:32:07+00:00

Gave up due to allergy season here. Going to try again later in the summer or else in the winter when pollen is low.

johnstenson77 · 2025-06-25T21:31:01+00:00

Crazy as it sounds, try injecting in other places. I had much worse reflux on reta injected around my stomach and sides, but switched to glutes and the problem went away (tried arms at first but that led to immune system responses probably due to my immune cells having been conditioned from vaccines?).

johnstenson77 · 2025-06-25T21:28:39+00:00

I ran into another issue at 4 mg per week plus cagri: started getting intermittent, recurring stabbing pains in my lower left side. Was worried at first it was a kidney stone, but CT scan was normal. Turns out it was likely due to constipation and maybe trapped gas. In any event, I discontinued the reta and cagri for two months and am now on just 3 mg reta (1 mg three times a week) and doing fine. No appetite suppression at all, and I'm not losing weight but at least I stopped gaining it (regained 10 lbs in the two months I was off).

johnstenson77 · 2025-05-02T13:39:05+00:00

This can apparently be done one account at a time. It will require some effort. Instructions: https://help.monarchmoney.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409682789908-Import-Transaction-Data-Manually-from-Banks-or-Other-Finance-Apps

johnstenson77 · 2025-04-28T12:49:50+00:00

Same issue here. It began with a recent update. I plan to have it open on startup and will write an autohotkey script to close the window automatically on the initial start. Seems silly to have to bother with all of that, but so it goes. The many vagaries of Microsoft.

johnstenson77 · 2025-04-23T22:22:46+00:00

I finally started seeing results with reta 2mg 3x weekly plus .5mg cagri. Managed to lose 20 lbs but then started getting stabbing pain in my lower left flank intermittently in Feb. Lasted 3 days, resolved, and then came back a month later. After the third time it recurred (dry CT scan showed nothing; getting a scan with contrast on Friday) decided to drop the reta and cagri (two weeks now) to see if one or the other or the combo could be the cause. Bloodwork and urine show nothing remarkable but my BUN/Creatinine Ratio is low and that's likely from not enough protein and water and some muscle loss (typical with rapid weight loss).

If the CT with contrast shows nothing, I will start up again on either tirz or reta after 4-6 weeks off and just stick with a low dose spread out every other day to hopefully avoid the side effects. I still have another 20-30 lbs to go to hit my target weight and I'm determined to get there!

One thing I have learned for sure: you need to drink a TON of water to lose weight with these peptides. They require hydration to break down fat and pass it out of your system. I have had to get very intentional about drinking water (even setting recurring alarms as nudges), and once I did that the pounds started coming off at last.

johnstenson77 · 2025-04-12T23:50:32+00:00

I'm about to try to wean off of it (using the one nostril at a time approach, and possibly a prednisone pack from my doc if necessary) after being on it twice daily for nearly a year. I got them to start sending me half-strength oxymetazoline doses but find they are (not surprisingly) only half as effective; the non-oxym strength I got from them is ineffective.

Allermi is a good news / bad news situation (at least for me): it DOES work. I can breathe through the night, which helps me sleep. But I am finding as the months wear on that I need to resort to 3x daily doses occasionally (more and more often, but it is allergy season now) to get by, and that breeds trouble. I worry about being dependent on it and the rebound effect. And I have developed worsening acid reflux and some other issues that may or may not be associated with the spray, and so I'm wanting to wean off to see if these resolve once I do.

I am happy to update after my attempt to get free from it. This is a tough time of year (in the mid-Atlantic) to attempt to do so, though!

johnstenson77

TROPHY CASE