Year In Text 2024

> . from x #li #xi #blueskyi #bsi

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 23, 2024 at 5:52 AM

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 7:04 AM

Financial Freedom – Grant Sabatier

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 7:05 AM

The 80/20 Principle – Richard Koch

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 7:05 AM

Wind, Sand and Stars - Antoine de Saint Exupéry

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 1:25 PM

Pesto: The Modern Mother Sauce: More Than 90 Inventive Recipes That Start with Homemade Pestos - Leslie Lennox

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 1:26 PM

The Endurance Diet: Discover the 5 Core Habits of the World’s Greatest Athletes to Look, Feel, and Perform Better - Matt Fitzgerald

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 1:28 PM

The Cheese Life: Recipes, Cheeseboards and Pairing - Patrick McGuigan and Mathew Carver

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 1:30 PM

> Outliers - Malcom Gladwell

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 1:35 PM

> Into the Abyss: How a Deadly Plane Crash Changed the Lives of a Pilot, a Politician, a Criminal and a Cop - Carol Shaben

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 7:38 AM

> Demon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 7:38 AM

> The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival - John Vaillant

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 7:38 AM

Most convincing "tuna" (no-meat, meat substitute) I have tasted to date: kalamata olive hummus and feta tapenade. #vegeterrean #mediterranean #diet #food #fauxmeat #altmeat #meatalternatives

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 17, 2024 at 1:18 PM

Most convincing "bacon bits" to date: roasted walnuts caramelized in brown sugar #icelandicxmas #christmasaroundtheworld #pasta #toppings #cooking #foodsubs

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 2:07 PM

Frozen mandarin oranges keep like sherbert sorbet #tdd #seanstoragesolutions #nobakezone

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 12:30 PM

"Datum" should be reserved solely for something that provides gastric relief, found in the Health & Wellness department of your local grocer. #foodfordata #databytes #datum #datums

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 2:50 PM

Craving a rich pudding with mousse-like consistency? Stir 7oz dark drinking chocolate in 2cups whole milk at medium temp. I prefer Cacoco brand. Blend with blender until smooth then chill overnight. Consume on its own, or with whip cream on top. Enjoy! #drinkingchocolate #cacoco #pudding #dessert

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) October 29, 2024 at 10:11 PM

What is your favorite mid-morning pairing of 2024? I will go first: espresso & popcorn #snacks #gourmand #academicsky #nutrition #budgeting

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) September 13, 2024 at 10:12 AM

Pesto is a super sauce-group #fediverse #pestomemes #see_xslashtwitter

— Sean ("metamaden") Maden (@metamaden.bsky.social) September 6, 2024 at 10:46 PM

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson

The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant

The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch

Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All the Money You Will Ever Need by Grant Sabatier

“Through Two Doors at Once: The Elegant Experiment That Captures the Enigma of Our Quantum Reality” by Anil Ananthaswamy

"The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail - But Some Don't" by Nate Silver

“Wind, Sand, and Stars” by Antoine de Saint Exupery

I have been enthusiastic about this title since first learning about it what feels like ages ago, when it was first announced. When it came out, I had to wait to upgrade my hardware to run it. Out the gate, there are many similarities with CD Projekt Red’s acclaimed Witcher games in the adjacent genre of fantasy. Both are based on other works, where Cyberpunk 2077 is based on the Cyberpunk tabletop game series by Mike Pondsmith. And both are open-world games in which the protagonist is a bit of an outcast who cleaves to a tribe in order to make their way in the wide, harsh world. This is where their similarities end for the most part, but it is easy to extrapolate from the wild success and huge improvements of successive installments in the Witcher games franchise, to also get enthusiastic for where the studio plans to take the Cyberpunk 2077 game series. Its initial offering is already formidable.

This is a vast open world, with the centerpiece of Night City an enormous bustling megalopolis, and the outskirts and desert wastes feeling desolate and hostile. From menus to loading screens to the in-game world, we are treated to a rich and varied backdrop of videos, posters, news articles, websites, and music that immerses us in the loud, seductive, cartoonish, violent, sarcastic, humorous, political, artistic, and expressive content of Night City’s inhabitants. Players play as V, and may choose one of three paths that determine where and how to begin their journey. Regardless of choice, they will team up with a Night City criminal organization to take down a huge Orwellian corporation. There are multiple endings determined by the player’s choices throughout.

While all of this is thematically cut from the tried and true cyberpunk cloth, what is unique is the depth, extent of realization, and sheer volume of fine-tuning, customization, and decision-making made accessible to players. This pairs with an intricate in-game culture and evolving story that creates staggering narrative potential. Dialogue paths are surprisingly rich and reward replay. Character models and faces are some of the most detailed and convincing in a computer game to date. The icing on the cake is the inclusion of amazing and memorable original music from real-life musicians like Grimes and HEALTH, and the likeness and voice acting of Keanu Reeves as the fictional Johnny Silverhand, who steals the show. In fact, I was also surprised at how many of the game’s fictional characters were memorable and endearing.

Notably, this was my first gaming experience in which I encountered bugs that actually seemed like features rather than flaws given the gritty, glitchy, and harsh nature of many environments and situations. A rare random clipping issue was not unexpected or even fourth wall breaking after hacking security cameras and cybernetic appendages, then sprinting through a warehouse shootout. On the subject, bugs and other issues running the game were a notable news item at first release. Running the game several years and many patches later, I found it ran great with only minor adjustments to settings on either my gaming laptop or Steam Deck.

Ultimately, this is a showstopper title from one of the best open-world game studios. It left me craving more, and it also drummed up memories of cyberpunk literature that I will now need to revisit, specifically William Gibson’s Sprawl trilogy. Whether you are new or veteran to the genre, Cyberpunk 2077 is a rewarding and top-rate experience.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, cyberpunk, open-world, roleplaying game, action rpg

#cdprojektred #cyberpunk2077 #cyberpunk #openworldgame

CD Projekt Red. Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt, 2020.

This DLC is more of the same high-quality open-world experience as the base game, with additional environments, enemies, NPCs, and, importantly, character build options that carry over and add value to the base game and online player duels. The new weapons, spells, and equipment are for the most part flashy and fun, breathing new life into an already stellar combat experience. This DLC adds dozens of mini-bosses and many new main bosses, some of which are among the hardest of From Software’s titles.

Probably the most important element for me about this title was the atmosphere. This is where the environment, new enemies, and player abilities combined to create entirely new and memorable locations and experiences. The disembodied mage hands make an appearance, as well as new dragon habitats and extremely vast swampy and mountainous terrain. Some criticism has been directed at the inclusion of enemies from the base game, and I found this to be an occasional disappointment that was mostly forgivable because of the level of ambition of level design, environmental storytelling, and general high quality of the open-world experience to be had.

Playing on the Steam Deck, I was utterly blown away by the smoothness of the experience. The only exception was larger areas of the map that seemed to be pushing the graphics engine and resulted in bugs I did not experience when playing the original game. There are performance issues with larger maps. Pop-ins were a common issue mentioned online, and I unfortunately also experienced drastic and distracting pop-ins in larger sections of the late-game map.

From Software has pushed the bar and budget of its game engine with this ambitious, expansive, and content-rich DLC for Elden Ring. We are treated to almost an entirely new Elden Ring installment brimming with new experiences and creative juxtaposition of previous elements. This was a shadow well worth basking in.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, open-world games, soulslike, fantasy, action rpg

#eldenring #fromsoftware #shadowoftheeerdtree #eldenringdlc

FromSoftware. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Bandai Namco Entertainment America, 2024.

The light and cooperative nature of this game makes it a pleasing one to have around for a few spare minutes or as a fun addition to your board game night. It sets up and tears down with great ease, and we found it quite safe to play around our own domestic feline, which strikes me as truth in marketing. For the most part, game components are large, colorful, and do not present a choking hazard. All in all, I can recommend this for casual gamers and enthusiasts alike, especially if you own or enjoy games like Cat in The Box, a compact trick-taking game with a cat theme, and Isle of Cats, a larger cat jigsaw puzzle game.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, games, board games, puzzlers, family board games, hobbies

#boardsnotbored #tetris #puzzlers #felinespace #gameswithcats

Cat Stax. Brainwright.

1. Ananthaswamy, Anil. "Through Two Doors at Once: The Elegant Experiment That Captures the Enigma of Our Quantum Reality." Dutton, 2018.


2. Brontë, Charlotte. "Jane Eyre." Penguin Classics, 2006 (Original work published 1847).


3. Carver, Mathew, and Patrick McGuigan. "The Cheese Life: Recipes, Cheeseboards and Pairings." Kyle Books, 2023.


4. Ellis, Bret Easton, "The Shards: A novel", Vintage, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2023.


5. Fitzgerald, Matt. "The Endurance Diet: Discover the 5 Core Habits of the World's Greatest Athletes to Look, Feel, and Perform Better." VeloPress, 2016.


6. Gladwell, Malcolm. "Outliers: The Story of Success." Little, Brown and Company, 2008.


7. Kingsolver, Barbara. "Demon Copperhead: A Novel." Harper Perennial, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2024.


8. Koch, Richard. "The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less." Crown Currency, 2022.


9. Larson, Erik. "The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America." Vintage, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2004.


10. Lennox, Leslie Derene. "Pesto: The Modern Mother Sauce: More Than 90 Inventive Recipes That Start with Homemade Pestos." Agate Publishing, 2019.


11. Newport, Cal. "Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout." Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Randomhouse, 2024.


12. Newport, Cal. "So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love." Business Plus, 2012.
13. Sabatier, Grant. "Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All the Money You Will Ever Need." Avery, 2020.


14. Saint-Exupéry, Antoine de. "Wind, Sand and Stars." Harper, 1967 (Original work published 1939).


15. Salsburg, David. "The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century." Henry Holt and Company, 2002.


16. Shaben, Carol. “Into the Abyss: How a Deadly Plane Crash Changed the Lives of a Pilot, a Politician, a Criminal and a Cop.” Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, 2012.


17. Silver, Nate. "The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail – but Some Don't." Penguin Books, 2012.


18. Smith, Zadie. "White Teeth: A Novel." Vintage, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2001.


19. Vaillant, John. "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival." Vintage by Knopf, 2010.

This electronic mountain bike has a bunch of great qualities. Some of the distinguishing specs include including locking front wheel shocks, disc brakes, integrated lighting, and Bosch smart electronic system with digital interface, bluetooth support, electric output levels, and battery gauges for lights and propulsion. It also includes a sturdy rear rack that I outfitted with semipermanent bags and covered in reflective tape for visibility. Trek helpfully includes a warranty with regular maintenance and damage coverage.

After three solid months of regular commuting and over 300 miles of suburban riding, I can highly recommend this bike for touring and traversing a variety of trails and pitches in most weather conditions. Unlike with my previous eBike, I have yet to experience issues with range or battery life. I have only had the battery at zero charge once, and even then the bike handled fine on flat ground the short remaining distance back home to recharge. The only negative encounters I experienced were minor and relatively straightforward to resolve:

(1) Within a few days of purchase, I snapped off one of the three included battery keys in the on-bike lock when trying to remove the battery for charging. Fortunately Trek had my back and my warranty covered a lock replacement and fix. Since then I use the handy on-bike charger and keep my bike plugged in over night. Problem solved!

(2) I suffered a rear flat tire, where my wheel picked up large metal pin while crossing train tracks. When the flat occurred, the bike handled well and I did not go down, which I attribute to the factors of wheel size, hefty frame weight, and powerful propulsion system. I was able to carefully get my bike to work and back home to replace the tire.

When I bought my bike I also purchased a number of accessproes that I highly recommend to upgrade the comfort and safety of your travel experience. I have gotten thorough use out of each one.

1. (pedals) Bontrager Line Comp Flat Pedal Set. High-visibility color options with decent all-weather traction.


2. (bell) Mirrycle Incredibell Original Bike Bell. Easy to operate with gloves, variable volume and decent performance even in damp weather.


3. (mirror) Mirrycle Mirror. Great visibility, convenient adjustment, folds away when necessary.


4. (panniers) Ortlieb Rear Panniers. Sturdy, waterproof, includes webbing and pocket sub-compartments, fits snugly to rear rack with three points of contact and two perpendicular top clips to secure loads.


5. (lock 1 of 2) Kryptonite KryptoFlex 525 Double Loop Cable. Great initial lock, fits easily through frame and front wheel, which I secure with a padlock.


6. (lock 2 of 2) Bontrager Ultimate Keyed Chain Lock. Studier and safer than a cable lock, fits snugly through frame and front wheel for most bike parking.

1. (bike stand) CXWXC Bike Repair Stand. Works fine for my eBike, which is on the heavier side, and features a rotatable head, fully foldable legs for easy storage, handlebar hook, and tool tray.


2. (tire levers) Bike Tire Levers. Includes 3 sturdy tire levers, all of which I used to change my eBike innertube. I ordered 2 sets, one that lives on the bike and a spare for my home workstation.


3. (inner tubes) BWSHLF 27.5" Mountain Bike Inner Tubes (2 Pack). Spare innertubes are always handy to have in a bind.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Sean’s Store Picks, Year In Text Shopping, bicycling, commuting, eBike, Trek, Allant S series, travel

#ebike #bikecommute #bikemaintenance #bicycleaccessories #bikesafety #maintenance #cycling #travel

The first several weeks of commuting on eBike, I opted to trust the static front and rear lights integrated into the electronic system of my Allant 7S+. While these running lights have the huge convenience of being always on and integral to the bike itself, I quickly realized that they are not enough to be visible and project my navigation intention to motorists across every traffic situation. Routinely, making turns can be tricky when my head turns are not visible, such as in heavy fog or downpour. I decided I needed a solid helmet light solution to get my intentions across and be safe across traffic and weather scenarios. With multiple settings including strobe for both a white front-side light and a red rear-side light, the Greerride helmet light seemed to fit the bill, and I was not disappointed!

Keeping this light charged overnight between rides, I have yet to have it fail. It stays charged during my workday and performs brilliantly when I need it for my 1.5-2 hours of daily commuting. The strobing front light easily illuminates road signs, street reflectors, and pedestrian high-visibility clothing. Power and light settings are toggled using a gel button on its top that is easy to press even with a gloved hand. The power button illuminates either a red when low and partially charged or green when fully charged via its micro usb port. Steady single button presses toggle the front light, while successive double-presses toggle the rear light. Either light can be set to strobe at a different rate from the other, adding further visual contrast when your head is turned. To mount the light securely to my standard bike helmet, I used some spare rubber webbing that I happened to have in addition to the supplies provided with the light. The light also includes materials for mounting to a hardhat or shell helmet, if that is your preference. It works like new after almost 2 months of riding in wet and dry conditions alike. This light should prove both a safety and convenience upgrade for regular riders.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Sean’s Store Picks, Bicycles, Cycling, Bike commuting, All-weather riding, Safety, Bike accessories

#bicycling #bicyclecommuting #urbancommute #bikesafety #bikeaccessories #helmetlights

I have always found dynamism in the relationship between utility and bags, packs, and cases of various kinds. From obsessing about card sleeves and carrying cases in grade school, to wearing out the straps on expensive bicycle messenger bags and high-tech backpacks as an adult, the sheer number of styles of bags and ways of using them can be staggering. Thus it is tough to assess a bag, even a fanny pack, in isolation without some context. Nonetheless, this compact and durable offering from Patagonia is well worth mentioning and recommending. It has a distinct character and a surprising amount of thoughtful features for such a small package.

First and foremost, the Patagonia fanny pack has a surreptitious utility and convenient capacity that augments your day-to-day routine almost immediately. The pack offers two compartments with a clip for a keyring in the smaller one. These are perfect dimensions for combining large-ish & small-ish items, such as (1) phone & earbud case, (2) shammy-and-sunglasses & sunscreen-and-keys, (3) notebook-and-snack & first-aid and credit card clip, (4) high-visibility vest & headlamp, etc etc. While it is water-resistant, you could also wrap stored items in a drawstring waterproof sack that may be fitted over its outside when it starts to rain. The pack’s compactness means many mods and components are easy to source from normal day-to-day living and experiment with in conjunction. When fully loaded, it is about the size of a nerf football, and I found it convenient to sling over my shoulder instead of my waist when carrying a relatively heavy load. Its garish colors provided good visibility. The silky-smooth texture of the waist strap prevents chafing. When I was out jogging, I found the strap was sufficiently lightweight and durable that I was able to hang a snap-on running cap and a shammy towel off of it without any discomfort. Overall, a well-designed fanny pack full of features whose compactness should enhance rather than hamper a wide variety of your outdoor activities.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Year In Text merchandise, outdoors, packs, fanny pack, sports, running

#patagonia #patagoniapacks #rei #outdoors #fannypacks

After trying several types of shorts for running from Amazon, I arrived at these because of the positive reviews and garish designs. What I got was a surprisingly sturdy and comfortable garment that felt good in all manner of outdoor conditions. As a bonus, the fun layered colors reminded me of another of my top YouTube channels, This Messy Happy, which provides solid practical running advice and a playful over-the-top enthusiasm for self-improvement. The drawstring is robust and supportive, and the pocket was large enough for my iPhone, and/or earbud case, depending on my needs. The flash of second layer adds character and some additional warmth and protection. I look forward to trying the same shorts in several additional patterns.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Year In Text merchandise, outdoors, apparel, sports, running

#running #outdooractivities #joggers #activewear #activeapparel

These bluetooth earbuds are probably my fifth pair that I have owned across different brands. Whereas I could usually keep track of other earbuds for around 2-3 months before losing at least one, I have managed to hold onto these earbuds for over 3 years now. This is thanks to the chunky dimensions and style, which I find appealing and gives off a kind of vintage 1980s cyberpunk vibe. The over-ear bands are comfortable and add enough material make these easy to spot and prevent them from rolling too far when dropped on the ground. Even if you lose one earbud, a pair of earplugs fits snugly in one of the case's charging ports.

There are a handful of snappy and easy-to-use touch controls on either earbud. While the wireless range is somewhat limited compared to other bluetooth earbuds, the controls are very responsive and have great fidelity when walking or running and streaming from a phone in a pack or coat pocket. Unplugged, these earbuds last for over a month when using a fully-charged docking case for overnight storage. Speaking of which, the charging case fits conveniently in a small sack, fanny pack, shirt pocket, or electronics organizer. I have used these earbuds working at the computer, doing chores, and walking and running in all manner of weather, and they have always performed consistently.

It all adds up to an excellent economy audio solution whether for doing chores at home, travelling, or just on-the-go. For iPhone and Android users alike, if you are looking for a consistent long-term bluetooth solution, I can highly recommend at least one set of these earbuds.

Update (1/16/25): Since these stellar earbuds are currently out of stock, I can recommend other earbuds of similar design and great user ratings, such as the HD65 Sports Headphones by Aptkdoe or the Q35 by sprtoybat.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Sean’s Store Picks, Earbuds, Active wear, Running, Sports audio, Bluetooth earbuds

#running #activewear #sportsaudio #earbuds #bluetooth

I have had a compact Windows laptop for about 4 years. I was not able to source a laptop bag that fit it correctly until I came across this carrying case. The 13-inch case fits my ASUS ZenBook 3 very well and feels almost like a minimal briefcase with its capacity to store so many items for on-the-go work or travel. Its internal sleeve is a good fit for my laptop with the option of also storing a newspaper, paper notebook, documents, planner, etc. The webbing compartments are great for organizing the charging cable, earbuds, other electronics or writing materials that typically accompany me on work outings. I like to tie up the cable and store it in one compartment with the pronged charger snugly in the neighboring compartment. The generous handle feels great and make the sleeve easy to slide from a backpack, travel bag, or under a car seat. Finally, the convenient waterproof surface and sturdy padding mean I can safely work with my laptop sitting on top of this bag while outside or at a cafe patio.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Sean’s Store Picks, Remote work, Office accessories, Laptop bag, Computer accessories, Travel bags

#laptopcase #worktravel #remotework #travelbags

I cannot recommend this cord organizer enough, especially if you are planning a long trip or big move. I ordered mine in a reflective gray that is easy to find. Since it is sleek and made with padding and sturdy cloth, it slides easily into a briefcase, laptop bag, or glovebox. The bag fully unzips and opens up, exposing everything affixed with the bands and webbing for convenience access. It opens flat to expose everything inside. The sturdy zipper and bag can also accommodate other containers and cords by sandwiching and cushioning these in the middle. The organizer readily accommodates over a dozen cables of varying sizes and types using elastic bands along either inside surface. In addition, there is an SD card sleeve and generous webbed pocket for adapters, thumb drives, earbuds, and other small components. While I make constant use of the included elastic bands, these could be readily modified to store larger cables or components. In short, a stellar investment that keeps charging cables, adapters, bits, and other objects separate and findable, visible, and on-hand when you need them.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Year In Text merchandise, organization, storage, electronics

#travelstorage #electronicsorganizer #office #cordcase #carryingcase

Clear storage containers with nestable dimensions. What do I mean by nestable? Each smaller container in the set may be fit inside a larger one, and this may be repeated three times with the four different container sizes. The smallest can fit ear buds, bandages, string, paper clips, and other small items. The next two sizes are great for wristbands, small tools, lights, and spare bits. The largest size fits multitools, patches, and other slightly larger items. Made of lightweight plastic, these pair well with small travel bags or accessible storage in a dry, cool space away from the elements.

I use these to keep my garage tidy by storing my bike equipment and maintenance things. They would also be work great for crafts, handywork, sports like fishing, tabletop gaming, or car camping. As with the larger storage containers I acquired for my office space, using clear containers means I can visually check the contents at a glance and need not use labels as much. Whether you need to kit up your car or organize a workspace at home, these are handy to have around.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Year In Text merchandise, organizers, containers, plastic storage, bits storage

#homestorage #plasticorganizers #hobbysupplies #homeoffice

I have accumulated enough small-to-mid sized items for my home office that things get into disarray if they don’t have a box, bin, or container to stay in most of the time. I got the idea of storing most of my office items in medium-sized clear storage bins after watching an episode of Financial Tortoise, one of my favorite YouTube channels in 2024. Having stacking lidded containers means I can rearrange with ease and visually locate items all without having to apply a bunch of impermanent labels. Since moving items like notebooks, paperclips, rubberbands, harddisks, and flashcards into these containers, my office space is tidier and I have gotten more use out of the stored items because I either know where it is or I can easily find it again. As a bonus, the filled containers look much better on the desk or bookshelf than an array of different items. I have already purchased and filled two sets of these containers. They are an easy recommendation.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Year In Text merchandise, organizers, containers, plastic storage, office storage, computer storage, supplies organization

#homestorage #plasticorganizers #hobbysupplies #homeoffice #suppliesstorage

I have been a Steam user for gaming almost since Valve first introduced it over two decades ago. Over time, I built a sizable game library whose contents I mostly enjoyed but occasionally let languish when a game was too graphics-intensive for my current hardware to run. At some point, when key open-world games were being released and I was looking at personal budget constraints, I lost track of upgraded hardware requirements and interest in upgrading simply to keep pace. After the success of the Nintendo Switch and the announcement of the Steam Deck, I decided to keep an open mind about the merits of gaming consoles and cost of running games I already owned. Since purchasing the 1TB OLED edition of the Steam Deck in Q2 2024, my family has happily used this on vacations, road trips, and at home. The prospect of making more use of my extensive Steam Library is great, and I am reassured at the prospect of future-proofing at least some new games while existing games either already work or may be patched to work on this device’s standard hardware.

As someone with a programming and science background, I also like that the operating system, a standard Linux Box, is independently accessible from the Steam Big Box view. Combined with the integrated Bix Box features such as on-the-fly session recording, snapshots, editing, and cloud syncing, this opens up unique possibilities for session capture, streaming, content creation, and media editing even when on-the-go. Considering the Steam Store already features an abundance of free and paid software for design, engineering, and simulation, I would not be surprised if the function of our Steam Deck further evolved to be more like another personal laptop.

Something practically all seasoned PC gamers are familiar with is the importance of tweaking settings to optimize their gaming experiences for their hardware. While this is frequently necessary when going from a large monitor back to the Deck’s OLED display, in my play experience it has usually come down to a single Aspect Ratio adjustment and an occasional single-button graphics tweak to balance battery life and performance. The sheer number of settings pairs with snappy system responsiveness to make the Steam Deck one of the most gratifying configuration experiences in recollection. I support the prospect of newer computationalists familiarizing themselves with settings A/B testing in such an environment, where the immediate payoff is a more snappy, legible game, and the long-term payoff is a framework for troubleshooting hardware and software.

In summary, the Steam Deck is great gaming device that has huge entertainment potential and practically all the features and configurability I would expect from a personal computer. It comes with its own carrying case and high-speed usb-C charging cable. I recommend picking up a longer (at least 3-foot) HDMI-to-usb-C adapter cable to support play on a smart TV or monitor, as well as a power bank to support longer gaming sessions, such as the one from ZeroKor (below). A bluetooth controller and a docking station are further great options to round out your setup.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Year In Text merchandise, gaming, game console, entertainment, handheld

#handheldgaming #portableconsole #steamdeck #pcgaming #linuxos

Across several different types of power banks I have tried, I found some are better for emergencies while others have extremely narrow use cases, such as for a single cellphone charge. This is my first power bank that approaches more universal utility and seems truly appropriate for regular at-home use. It features a fast-charging power cord, two three-pronged/grounded AC outlets, two usb-A ports, and one usb-C port. There is even a nifty flashlight/strobe light that is of sufficient brightness to be useful in case of a power outage or as a temporary area-illumination solution.

My most frequent use case for this device is to keep my Steam Deck charged during a play session. It is also handy for road trips when other AC outlets or front seat ports are out of reach. Notably, the power bank charges and discharges quite fast and it charges handhelds and phones much more rapidly than any other power banks I have owned. The included power button conveniently lets users control the amount of power used. If possible, I would purchase this with at least one backup charging cable, and either usb-to-non-usb or a AC-to-usb adapter would extend charging support for more devices. Ultimately, this is an exceptional fast-charging power bank for practically universal use at home and on the go.

Tags: Year In Text 2024, Year In Text merchandise, power bank, charger, lighting, electronics

#homeelectronics #universaladapter #powerbank #chargers #rapidcharging