5 blade razors are still awful
Sometimes I wish I was okay having a beard or even a goatee, but I just can't do it. Every time I've grown one out, I'm relieved to shave it off. Having hair on my face just doesn't feel right and probably never will, even though I'm blessed with having facial hair that grows very evenly.
Given I like a hairless face, I shave. But I don't shave like I used to.
Years ago, all I would ever use is whatever cheap-but-not-bargain-bin twin blade cartridge razor was available (I probably used Bic Twin Select?) and shaving gel (usually Edge).
What I use now is significantly different.
In early '24, I started using safety razors. I have several now, and the one I'm favoring these days is a simple 3-piece Parker 78R. I also have two "butterfly" types, the 60R and 92R, but I really like the extra-textured handle of the 78R. Very easy grip on that one, which I appreciate.
As for what shaving cream I go with, it's just plain ol' Barbasol Original. I tried Gillette Foamy and some other gels, but my face seems to agree with Barbasol best.
For blades, I have Shark Super Chrome, Lord Platinum, Gillette Perma-Sharp, and some Parker blades. I go back and forth between them since I use a new blade for every shave. There are minor differences with each.
However, no matter what safety razor or blade I use, there are still parts of my face I can't shave that well because of the way a safety razor is shaped. For me, it's a few small areas under the nose and near where the jawline ends under the ear.
You would think that under the chin would be the spot where the safety razor wouldn't shave well, but no, I can shave that area just fine. Just-under-nose and near-under-ear are the places where the safety razor can't quite get to.
Solution? Use a cartridge razor to get to just those spots...
...as long as it's not a 5-blade.
I had an old (but still good) Gillette Fusion 5 kicking around, so I tried using that for those areas of my face I just mentioned. Did it work? Technically, yes, but trying to maneuver that 5-blade head didn't exactly make it easy.
What I needed was a smaller shave head, so I acquired a pack of Gillette Sensor 3's. To be clear, NOT the Mach 3. I know a lot of guys like the Mach, but all I needed was a disposable for very specific parts of my face, so the Sensor is what I went with.
It worked. Sensor 3 has a smaller head that pivots and is super-lightweight, so I could maneuver it very easily.
Just for grins, I tried the Sensor 3 on the rest of my face. Just once. It works, but it wasn't pleasant to use because that's when the light weight works against it. I found myself pressing too hard because I'm very used to the weight of a safety razor.
At this point, instead of being all-in with safety razors, now I use one for most of my face, and a cartridge razor takes care of the rest.
I'm debating right now whether to go even smaller with the Sensor 2, since that also has a pivoting head and would make getting to tight areas even easier, in theory. The 3 works, but the 2 could be even better.
What I might do in the future is get a Parker SoloEdge to get a safety razor with smaller head for the tight spots. It is doable (and normal) to fold and break a safety razor in half while still in the wrapper to get a blade that fits in a razor like that. Alternatively, single edge blades can be bought.
Until then, a combo of safety razor + Sensor 3 works for now.
is the casio mrw200h discontinued?
In my last post, I said how a dive style watch is literally the absolute easiest way to have a quick timer on your person. I also mentioned that the low cost way of getting a watch with that rotating bezel timer is the Casio MRW200H.
Rumors have been going around that the MRW200H is discontinued. Does Casio has a replacement model? I believe they do.
A funny thing is that although I know how great a dive style watch is, I don't even own one. Another funny thing is that if my memory serves correctly, I very briefly owned the MRW200H, but just for one day, then returned it. I just didn't like the thing because it looked too toy-like.
However, the replacement for the MRW200H is something I like.
Enter the Casio MRW230H. Still the same low price as the maybe-outgoing MRW200H, but with a way better style to it.
I am certain it's the exact same movement the MRW200H has, just with a new look. Three colorways on this one. All three of these have a black bezel with black strap and it's the bezel that has the color changes. One is all black with white script (model MRW230H-1E1V), the second is red and blue with white script (model MRW230H-1E2V), and the third is all green with white script (model MRW230H-1E3V).
All three colorways look good, even for one with green bezel. And that's saying something, because ordinarily I can't stand any green color on a watch.
Size and dimensions of the MRW230H are almost identical to the MRW200H, save for that the 230 is slightly thicker. And I'm 100% certain it's because of the bezel redesign. Is that a deal-breaker? No, because it looks good. The weight of the 230 still comes in at under 40g, so it's far from anything heavy.
The only real drawback is 3 colorway choices of the 230 instead of the 7 colorways offered on the 200. However, again, all 3 colorways of the 230 look good. That's not the situation with the 200 because some are just ugly (like the green indices version MRW200H-3BV).
MRW230H just flat out has a better design overall and does not look toy-like.
The 230 may not be steel like the MDV106, but the redesign definitely makes it better than the 200.
I think (but am not sure) that Amazon is clearing out the inventory of what MRW200H models they have left. I don't like the MRW200H, but if you do, now is the time to get one new while you still can.
For me personally, I might pick up a MRW230H. It just looks great.
the best password is no password
The level of crap I have to go through these days just to be "secure" is all sorts of ridiculous, so much to the point where it gets in the way of trying to get simple things done.
For example, there are a few online accounts I have where I'm required to do this when I want to login:
- Go to site
- Click a "prove you're human" thing or solve a CAPTCHA puzzle
- Enter my username
- Enter my password
- Click a "prove you're human" CAPTCHA thing or solve a CAPTCHA puzzle AGAIN
- Enter a 6-digit code sent as a text message
- Enter another 6-digit code using an authenticator app
...and then I'm finally in? MAYBE. This is assuming I'm not prompted to "remember the browser" and/or "check recent activity" before finally getting into my account.
That's SEVEN TO NINE STEPS just to login to one account.
Is that the most ridiculous? No. There is a different thing that's more ridiculous, even though simpler to access.
If I want to do the dirt simple thing of starting a 15 minute timer on my Casio WS1600H watch, it takes literally only 3 button presses to do this. Mode, Mode, Start. I don't have to "wake up" the watch, nor enter a password, nor launch an app. Whenever I want to start a 15 minute timer, it's 3 button presses and the timer starts.
If I want to do the same dirt simple thing of starting a 15 minute timer using my phone, it is required to:
- Wake up the phone with a button press
- Authenticate myself
- Launch the Clock app and select the timer
- Set the timer
- Start the timer
The ridiculousness becomes obvious in that absolutely nobody should have to authenticate to a device just to start a stupid timer.
And just speaking of timers, there is in fact an even simpler timer...
...the dive watch.
Whether it's a cheap Casio MRW200H, Seiko Prospex, Citizen Promaster, a highfalutin Rolex Submariner, whatever, doesn't matter. You want a timer? Turn the bezel. NO button presses.
If for example I want a 10 minute timer, I move the bezel arrow to wherever the minute hand is. And that's it. Nothing more to set. The moment you move the bezel arrow to where the minute hand is pointing, the timer has started. When the minute hand reaches 10 on the bezel ring, 10 minutes have passed.
Is that the absolute easiest timer there is? I think so. The only reason I don't use it is because I like to hear beeps when a timer finishes.
A complicated authentication dance is required to get into pretty much any online account that contains your sensitive info in it. I don't like it, but understand the reasoning.
However, ANY authentication dance to do simple things is bad.
If I want to jot down a note, I use a memo pad and my favorite pen (I'm favoring Z-Grip retractable these days). If I need a timer, I use a watch. For navigation, I use a Garmin navigator like a DriveSmart 76. There are no logins, no passwords, no CAPTCHAs, no TOTPs, and no authentication dances for any of that stuff.
One more note about note taking: Yes, they're still trying to sell you on the idea of smart pens. I think the money is better spent on better pads, which pretty much means anything Moleskine. Nice pads, with nice soft covers, and dare I say they're luxurious? Still cheaper than anything for note taking that's "smart".
casio ae1500 might be the best big watch
About six-and-a-half years ago, I said I would never buy a big watch ever again. I just bought a big watch, the Casio AE1500. I'm glad I did, because this is big done right.
I want to make something very clear up front. This watch was not bought to "look tough", because I don't care about that at all. What I do care about is legibility, comfort and features, in that order.
I'll actually talk about legibility and features in a moment. First, comfort.
Comfort
As a man with wrists that are both skinny and flat, there are many watches I can't wear, but I can wear this one.
The on-paper dimensions of the AE1500, much like what I said about the W735H, make it appear that I absolutely cannot wear this thing. AE1500 dimensions are 54.4mm lug-to-lug, 51.2mm diameter, 15.7mm thick. Yeah, it's huge.
What makes the AE1500 work? A lot of it has to do with the lug design, as both sides take a very sharp downturn where the case ends and the lug begins.
Amazingly, it's a good fit and with no long strap tail.
For those of you out there who do have big wrists of 7" or greater, Casio covered that base with the long-strap version AE1500WHX. The X in the model name literally means it features an extra long strap. The regular AE1500WH has single strap holes and the AE1500WHX has a longer strap with double-holes. But even if you come across a listing that doesn't show a photo of the double-holes, if it states it's a WHX, it has the extra long strap.
Even as big as the AE1500 is, the weight is 57g, so it doesn't weigh down the wrist at all. And because the strap is wide, the case doesn't flop around on the wrist. The design of the AE1500 is just good and feels good.
Legibility
I do believe AE1500 is king of the hill for digital watch legibility.
A problem with other large-display digital watches with an LCD panel is that while the display is big, the digits are skinny. Skinny digits can "blur" when trying to look at them, even if your eyesight is good. The AE1500 does not have this problem. All characters on the AE1500 are both large and thick.
I'll follow up on this in a moment.
Features
I think for most people, the AE1500 has the just-right feature set to it. It certainly does for me.
The home screen shows weekday, day, date, and time all at once, and I appreciate NOT having to press a button to see all that. Just look at the display and there it is.
There is a countdown timer with auto-repeat. Very nice to have. Many other Casios have the timer but not the auto-repeat, but the AE1500 does.
Having a stopwatch is obviously good, such as for timing things while cooking in the kitchen. In fact, you can use the timer to count down something cooking and use the stopwatch to time something else cooking.
I do like that the watch has 5 separate alarms, each with the ability to set as daily, monthly or annual.
Middle age man legibility concerns
I do wear glasses, but in reality I can read any watch, even for the little AQ230 I have which is a very classy little timepiece.
But I have to admit that it's so nice having those big thick digits of the AE1500. It's even big enough to where most of the time using the night light (which is good) isn't even necessary to read the time and/or date in low light situations.
However, were it the situation that my eyesight was so bad that even the AE1500 didn't cut the mustard, that's when I'd switch over to analog, but only for a very specific type...
...which is Seiko Prospex, and I'll tell you exactly why. It's three reasons.
First, It's a no-number diver. Symbols only.
Second, the hour and minute hand are different shapes, depending on model. On several models, the hour is a wider stubby arrow and the minute a longer and slightly skinnier fence post style. This makes it very easy to differentiate one from the other, and that's important.
Third, the "turtle" case shape, which for a steel diver is as comfortable as it gets. This is a shape that works on all wrists, even for skinny flat ones like mine. You may have heard of watches that "wear smaller", and the turtle shape is one of them because it hugs the wrist correctly the first time, every time. This means even if the watch is listed as something huge like 45mm or 46mm, yes I could still wear it as long as that turtle case shape is there.
And of course I get the rotating bezel dive timer, which I would use in the kitchen for timing things while cooking. True, the Prospex doesn't beep because it's mechanical, but still, at least I get a timer out of it in additional to a clock.
The reason I mention all this stuff is that if the AE1500 doesn't work for something you can read normally, you have to go diver at that point. And it has to be the right diver. I give my nod to the Prospex because it's the steel diver most likely to agree with just about anybody, including myself.
Middle age man style concerns
The AE1500 is plastic and there's no getting around that. It will never look as cool as a steel Seiko Prospex diver. But it is a multi-function digital that has that just-right combo of all the features you wear one for in the first place, with a super-legible display.
Is the AE1500 an example of function over form? I'd argue no just from the fact Casio did keep a reserved style to it. Yeah, AE1500 is big but thankfully doesn't look goofy. It works.
Lastly, I should also note that if you like the AE1500 but prefer square, Casio covered that too with the AE1600. Exact same feature set in a more angular square-ish shape.
kleenex has the fugliest tissue box
This is the only tissue box design that has made me seriously consider buying a tissue cozy to get away from its ugliness.
Kleenex Ultra Soft is my favorite tissue because my nose likes it best. I have no complaint about the tissue itself. Just the box.
Some time ago, Kleenex changed the design of the box for Ultra Soft to have a decidedly loud tropical theme to it. The previous design had a much more normal look to it and was good, but this one isn't.
Ordinarily, I would never complain about something like this, because after all, it is just a box of tissues. However, I see this LOUD design every time I go in my bathroom, and it's annoying.
I'm sure the art on the box is designed to appeal to women. Maybe Kleenex ran some designs through a focus group, the group was all women, and they said yeah, we want that loud tropical design like you'd see in a cheap gift shop. So they ran with that.
I'm a middle aged dude, and the box isn't just ugly, it's fugly. Kleenex either needs to go back to the old design or come up with something not so damned LOUD.
I suppose box designs like what Kleenex uses are what keeps the tissue cozy market alive and well.