sticky finger repellent navigation
I had to go get some service done to my car, and a standard thing I do before I go to the shop is take out my newer Garmin navigator and purposely use an older one before going there.
There are three reasons I do this.
First is the whole "not responsible for what happens to items in car" thing that every garage states in their documentation. That's a not-so subtle way of saying, "We can and we will steal stuff out of your car if we think we can get away with it."
Second, none of my favorites are saved on the older one I use. If anybody that gets in my car goes snooping around my Garmin, there's nothing there to find.
The third reason is great both as a theft deterrent and keeping people out of the device:
It's old.
The mechanic or car tech or whoever sees this old, small matte screen thing, and they want absolutely nothing to do with it. It's not worth stealing because they have nobody to sell it to, nor do they have any use for it themselves, nor is it even worth their time to snoop around in the device.
What I took with me for the drive was the nuvi 44LM, an ultra-basic 4.3" model. It worked just fine as usual.
If I really wanted some sticky finger repellent, I could have used the 1100LM, a 3.5" model. Anybody who sees that thing goes "Eww!" immediately just because it's a square. On top of that, it's a model that has Garmin Lock where I can set a 4-digit PIN.
The earlier models had the ability to set a PIN, then Garmin removed the feature for over a decade, then finally brought it back for newer models like the 66 and 76 (just this year, actually).
It's all well and good that the newer models have the PIN again, but believe me, the combination of old + small for a navigator makes anybody that sees it give it a miss instantly.
You're probably wondering why I don't just use my phone instead. It's because all phone nav apps suck, and the GPS signal on a phone drops whenever it feels like it. Even if I had a brand new phone, it would legitimately have a problem keeping a GPS signal lock. Very common problem.
The only real knock against the 3.5" is the ABCDE on-screen keyboard instead of QWERTY that you get with 4.3"-and-up models, hence why I used a 44LM. Small, old, works, nobody wants it, works for me.
older garmin gps navigators that go vertical
While the DriveSmart 66 and 76 are nice (I own both), neither of them can be set to a vertical display or portrait view. To get that new, the DriveSmart 86 is what you want...
...if it fits in your car, which it may not, because it's huge. The physical dimensions of the 86 are 7.6" (19.2cm) wide by 4.7" (11.9cm) tall.
Fortunately, there are a few older models of the 5" and 6" screen variety.
I own a bunch of Garmins, and if it were required for me to use one vertically in my car, my choice would either be the 5-inch Garmin nuvi 2589 or the 6-inch Garmin nuvi 2689. Both have bright capacitive screens and voice control. The 2589's physical dimensions are 5.5" (13.8cm) wide by 3.3" (8.4cm) tall, and the 2689 is 6.6" (16.8cm) wide by 3.7" (9.4cm) tall.
The only thing needed to add would be a 32GB microSD memory card to store maps. After that, all it takes is a download of the free Garmin Express software to update it.
Yes, it's true there is also the DriveSmart 50 and 60. Those are slightly newer, but I don't like either of those for a very specific reason, and that's the highway exit number font. Tiny. Everything else is fine except that. On the 2589 and 2689, a highway exit number when displayed is larger and in a bold font, which I very much appreciate.
If you decide to get one of these older models, make sure it comes with the mounting clip (the circle thing that clicks in the back), power cord and suction mount.
I should also note that if you find the stock suction mount to be terrible, just about any Arkon replacement will be much better. Arkon model GN079WD in particular is quite good (I have two of those).
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".