Casio WS1400, a "loaded W218"
A very nice square Casio digital with extra stuff - if you're okay with the way it works.
There are two go-to simple cheap digital watches from Casio that really, really work well. The storied F-91W and the W218H. Both of those have the exact same feature set. Time, date, alarm, chronograph. The better of the two is the W218H because it has a much better amber night light and has a display that's much easier to read.
If you took a W218H, added a fancier chronograph that could record up to 60 lap times, 3 alarms all with optional date scheduling instead of just 1 daily alarm, a countdown timer with auto-repeat and dual time feature, that's the WS1400.
The WS1400's size on paper (47.2mm lug-to-lug, 44.5mm diameter, 13.4mm thick) is larger than the W218H (44.4mm lug-to-lug, 43.2mm diameter, 10.8mm thick) but wears almost exactly the same because of the way it's shaped, meaning it is small-wrist-friendly. Appearance of the watch is G-SHOCK like with its angular lines, but obviously does not have the G-SHOCK price and is very affordable.
I've posted video instructions on how to set the Casio WS1400 so you don't have to deal with the tiny-print manual it comes with.
Once everything is set, you're good to go. But I'm sure there would be a few people that would totally forget how to get the watch to perform certain functions. A few examples of this are mute/unmute takes a long press of the MODE button, switching between 12-hour and 24-hour times requires a single press of START/STOP on the main timekeeping screen, and clearing a chronograph record requires a long double button press of START/STOP and LAP/RESET. Unless you regularly use these features, you'll probably forget them...
...which goes to show why so many people love the W218H's simplicity (or the W219H which is exactly like the W218H but in a more rounded case).
I can personally deal with the oddball interface of the WS1400, but if simplicity is what you're after, get the W218 instead. Or, if you want something a little more advanced than the W218 without going overboard with a larger case that stays in the affordable range, get the W735 or W736.
The only Telecaster with painted headstock I've ever liked
This is the only one that gets the painted headstock look right.
The Fender Aerodyne Special Telecaster. This guitar comes in multiple finishes; the color that works best of what's offered is Dolphin Gray Metallic.
If you've never experienced this guitar, this one comes from Fender Japan, has a C shape neck profile and 12" fingerboard radius. It also has a premium grade Babicz FCH bridge (FCH means "Full Contact Hardware") and locking tuners. Pickups are "Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Telecaster", and I don't know what that means. But I do know they sound like Tele pickups should and have very nice response all around.
Ordinarily I can't stand painted headstocks on Telecasters because they just look dopey. However, the Aerodyne works, and it's for one reason. The logo. It's raised and shiny, which works with the paint instead of against it.
Every time I see a flat waterslide decal against a painted headstock on any Fender shape, be it Strat, Tele, Jaguar or Jazzmaster, I can't stand it because it looks cheap.
The raised/shiny logo on the Aerodyne however makes it look like the premium instrument it's supposed to be. That's the difference.
Does this guitar have an ultra-high premium price tag? Surprisingly, no it doesn't. It's not cheap but at the same time not ridiculously expensive.
The other really nice part about this guitar it that it's a restrained modernist build. Usually it's the case with modernist builds that things get too modern with a really skinny neck and pickups that just sound weird. Not here. The Aerodyne Tele, while modern, actually has a comfortable neck, a great sound to it and is a very easy player.
In other words, were you to mod a Telecaster yourself and built it to have all the good modern stuff, you'd most likely end up with an Aerodyne style build.
Anybody who buys one of these will be really happy with the instrument, that I'm sure of.
How to power a Garmin GPS with a plain USB cable
I don't know how long this will stay on the market, but if you use an older Garmin GPS, get one of these while you can.
Definition of "older" Garmin GPS: Any Garmin nuvi, Drive, DriveSmart model made before 2020 that uses the mini USB connector (the one that looks somewhat like a little trapezoid on the small end). Newer models 2021 to present use USB-C, such as the Garmin DriveSmart 66, 76, and 86 and DriveCam 76 all come provided with the appropriate USB-C cable...
...which will not work in a 2022 or 2023 Chevrolet Silverado truck. I'll get to that in a minute.
I own a bunch of older Garmin GPSes because I'm ridiculous like that. But I can confirm that for several models that yes, this cable does work. I can also confirm that even the FM-based traffic reception works too for certain models.
How the cable works
This cable is designed for power and charging only and no data, just like a standard Garmin charger cord.
The cable is also wired so that yes, your Garmin GPS will not go into "PC Mode", which is what happens if you try to use a regular computer USB cable.
Which Garmin models do the cable work with?
A ton of them. It's compatible with just about every model from 2007 all the way to 2019.
A few of these include the nuvi 40, nuvi 50, nuvi 2597, nuvi 2599, nuvi 2689, DriveSmart 50 and so on.
The only automotive models I can see this not working with is anything that has a built-in dashcam. I only know of two models like that, the nuviCam and DriveAssist.
Bonus: Enables free traffic reporting on several models!
There's a catch to this. The catch is that the model has to be one that has a built-in traffic receiver, and you have to be in an area that has traffic coverage.
Some nuvi models that have a built-in traffic receiver: 2457LMT, 2497LMT, 2597LMT, 2599LMTHD, 2689LMT, 55LMT, 56LMT, 57LMT, 58LMT, 65LMT, 66LMT, 67LMT,68LMT.
Some DriveSmart models with built-in traffic receiver: 50LMTHD, 51LMTHD, 60LMT.
The way to find out if your model has the built-in receiver or not is to boot the GPS, go to Settings > Device > About, and look for Built in traffic receiver: Yes.
For example, from the pile of GPSes I own, I found out yes, my 2597LMT does have its internal traffic antenna enabled using this cable, but not the 2555LMT (it requires a cable + traffic antenna like the GTM36).
The nerdy explanation of why this particular USB cable works to enable traffic: It basically does the same thing that the Garmin TA20 cable does without the requirement of a 12V connection. This is why it is able to enable traffic reporting on certain models. If the model could ordinarily receive traffic data using a TA20, it can also receive traffic data using this USB cable.
2022/2023 Chevrolet Silverado owners
As all '22/'23 Silverado owners are aware, General Motors did not include a 12V outlet on most models of this truck, instead opting for USB. However, GM did not include a "full power" USB-C port either and it's limited to just 4.5 watts...
...meaning it will not power a Garmin DriveSmart 66/76/86, even with the included cable it comes with.
However, the USB cable will plug into the larger A style port and power an older nuvi/Drive/DriveSmart. The model that would probably suit best is the DriveSmart 65, although that model can't be used vertically. If vertical use is required, a good used nuvi 2689 or 2699 would be the better choice. And bear in mind I own a 2689LMT and can 100% confirm the cable works with it and enables free traffic reporting.
I would assume (but can't confirm) that GM at least used a 2.0A for the larger A style USB port. If so, then yes, the cable should power and charge a DriveSmart 65 and absolutely will power and charge a nuvi 2689/2699.
"I need the biggest screen possible that's touchscreen matte and not glossy." If that's you, see nuvi 2797 and nuvi 2798. Both are 7" screens and that's as big as it got for matte with an older model. Matte screen automotive models never went beyond 7". Be very certain you get the both the power cord and the powered mount that attaches to the back of either one of these, else you'll be in for a hard time. In other words, do not buy "screen only". The USB power cable listed above plugs into the side of that powered mount and will work.
On a final note for this, no, the cable does not light up at the mini USB side as seen in the illustration on the product page, nor does it have a little window where you can see the circuit board. That's just for show. It looks like any other A-to-mini-USB cable, but what is accurate is that yes, there is an L shape on the mini USB side to make it easier to mount your Garmin GPS when the cable is connected.
Three killer Epiphone guitars in Olive Drab
Green usually doesn't work on a solid body electric guitar. However, this green does work spectacularly well on these three Epiphone models.
The first one is the Epiphone Flying V in Olive Drab.
Next up, the Epiphone Explorer in Olive Drab.
Lastly, my favorite of the lot, the Epiphone Firebird in Olive Drab.
Yes, a Firebird. Is the Firebird graphic there on the pick guard? Yes, it is. You can see it on the pick guard in the usual place.
Every one of these models have ProBucker pickups in them, meaning Epiphone did use the good stuff with these guitars. They are all premium model Epiphone solid-body offerings.
Why is the Firebird my favorite? It's the only one with block fretboard inlays, a gold Epiphone logo on the headstock and silver topped control knobs. Strictly speaking from an appearance point of view, the Firebird has the most contrast.
However, the Flying V has what appears to be a chromed logo, which in itself is cool.
It would honestly be a tough decision to decide which of these to get. Even though the Firebird is my favorite of the bunch, I'd happily own all three.
This is absolutely the classiest cheap P90 electric guitar
It is amazing this sells for under $200 new.
Rarely do I see a truly cheap electric guitar where you get the sound, the look and the nice price all at the same time. The Grote LPS-023 absolutely nails it.
Usually it's the case where everything is good, but the headstock looks stupid. Not here! The headstock actually looks nice!
This guitar obviously copies the Epiphone Les Paul Special I P90 but actually looks nicer.
The Epiphone has a plain headstock and dot inlays on the neck. The Grote has a nicer looking headstock, block fretboard inlays, a bound neck and a full bridge + tailpiece (the Epiphone only has a wraparound style bridge).
Wow? Yeah, wow.
Three colors available. Sunburst, a somewhat surf green look, and yellow. Sunburst is the classiest looking of the bunch, no question.