Product Review Monday

This week's book review is entitled "Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things" by Charles Panati.

This is a wonderful volume combining trivia and history with the fun of a treasure hunt. If you're curious about the origins of such varied things as Kleenex, Little Red Riding Hood, the bikini, or cologne, this is the book for you. Each entry ranges from one to two pages, and makes (ahem) wonderful bathroom reading. "Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things" is highly recommended.

_________________

This week's product review is something Don and I use, literally, every day.

To back up ... over the years, we've each had favorite coffee/tea mugs that have come and gone. The biggest issue for me was keeping my tea hot enough for my taste, so as it cooled I often turned to the microwave to zap it hotter. I like BIG MUGS, so finding something big enough that was also zapable in the microwave was a challenge. I didn't especially like zapping my tea (or Don his coffee), but we couldn't think of any better alternative.

Don's not a tea drinker and I'm not a coffee drinker, so it makes no sense to have either a coffee pot or a tea pot in the house. So, for years, we just zapped our way through the mornings.

Then one day about eight years ago, a friend came to visit and he spent the night. In the morning he poured his coffee into something we'd never seen before: A French-press travel mug made by the incomparable Stanley.

Instantly Don and I knew this was the solution to our zapping woes. Stanleys are famously durable (Don still has a thermos from the 1970s in perfect condition), and here was something likely to keep our beverages piping hot far, far longer than our ceramic or plastic mugs. We each ordered one.

And. Oh. My. These mugs have surpassed every expectation and we've never looked back. Neither of us has had to zap our beverages in the microwave ever since (which is good, since the mugs are metal!).

While the mugs come with screw-on lids with a flip top for traveling, we seldom use them because we seldom travel. Don uses his French press every day...

...but over time I graduated to a tea strainer for mine, which fits just inside the mug and which I remove once the tea is steeped.

Without the lids, these mugs keep our beverages piping hot for about an hour, which is about how long it takes us to slowly drink them. With the lid on, the coffee or tea is effectively in a thermos, and so will stay hot for hours.

Folks, these French-press Stanleys were some of our best buys ever. For $36, these sturdy mugs are likely to last us the rest of our lives. Can't beat that!

(Obligatory disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, we earn a small commission.)

(Don't forget: A complete list of all our book and product recommendations are linked here and at the upper-right column of the blog.)

Product Review Monday

This week's book review is entitled "The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon" by David Grann.

There is a movie based on the book, but I'm not a movie buff so I read the book instead. It's an astounding tale of investigative sleuthing and adventure. The Amazon summary says it better than I can:

After stumbling upon a hidden trove of diaries, acclaimed writer David Grann set out to determine what happened to the British explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the Lost City of Z. For centuries Europeans believed the Amazon, the world’s largest rain forest, concealed the glittering kingdom of El Dorado. Thousands had died looking for it, leaving many scientists convinced that the Amazon was truly inimical to humankind. In 1925 Fawcett ventured into the Amazon to find an ancient civilization, hoping to make one of the most important discoveries in history. Then he vanished. Over the years countless perished trying to find evidence of his party and the place he called “The Lost City of Z.”
 
In this masterpiece, journalist David Grann interweaves the spellbinding stories of Fawcett’s quest for “Z” and his own journey into the deadly jungle.

One thing is certain: After I finished reading this book I have far less interest in ever visiting the Amazon jungle. But it's a riveting tale, nonetheless. "The Lost City of Z" will keep you on the edge of your seat.
___________________________

This week's product review is something everyone keeps asking about: My camera. Specifically, my pocket-sized Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS50. I first purchased this model about 20 years ago, and I'm on my third identical camera because, let's face it, I beat the poor things to death.

It's not that this particular model is the best, or has the slimmest profile, or any other outstanding feature. But it was available at the time, and Panasonic is a reputable brand. It turned out to be a very good, solid, dependable piece of equipment with very nice zoom and macro features. I love mine to pieces.

Pocket cameras are disappearing from the market now that the ubiquitous smart phone has taken over the industry (and, to be fair, often do a better job), but I am absolutely devoted to the genre, especially since I have no interest in getting a smart phone.

In fact, in the interests of this post, we checked the model's availability on Amazon. There is one new model left in stock, and a few reburbished ones, so its availability is limited.

However Don recently purchased a very inexpensive pocket camera of his own. Unlike me, he has no aspirations of amateur photography; however he's often working on projects that require documentation for purposes of magazine illustrations. If I'm not around with my own camera, he needed something he could use for photos. To that end, he purchased this little pocket camera that works very well.

He notes there is a delay of about one second between pushing the shutter button and the actual photo capture, so it's not suitable for "action" shots. (He also admits he doesn't know much about the camera's features, so this might be an issue he's overlooking.) Nonetheless, it works fine for his needs and is certainly a more frugal alternative to my pricier model.

(Obligatory disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, we earn a small commission.)

(Don't forget: A complete list of all our book and product recommendations are linked here and at the upper-right column of the blog.)

Product Review Monday

This week's book review is "The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible" by A.J. Jacobs.

From the Amazon summary: A.J. Jacobs chronicles his hilarious and thoughtful year spent obeying – as literally as possible – the tenets of the Bible.

Raised in a secular family but increasingly interested in the relevance of faith in our modern world, A.J. Jacobs decides to dive in headfirst and attempt to obey the Bible as literally as possible for one full year. He vows to follow the Ten Commandments. To be fruitful and multiply. To love his neighbor. But also to obey the hundreds of less publicized rules: to avoid wearing clothes made of mixed fibers; to play a ten-string harp; to stone adulterers.

The resulting spiritual journey is at once funny and profound, reverent and irreverent, personal and universal and will make you see history’s most influential book with new eyes.

I've owned this book for years and have read it and re-read it over and over and over again. One of the reasons I find it fascinating is because it's written from the perspective of someone who is pretty much a polar opposite of me: An urban liberal secular Jew. Despite his (massive) doubts about faith (of both Judaism and Christianity), Jacobs gives following the Bible a real, honest-to-goodness try, including prayer, faith, and belief. He admits his limitations and addresses his shortfalls in a way that's both honest and humorous.

Jacobs is a brilliant writer and he will absolutely draw you in to his faith journey. "The Year of Living Biblically" is highly recommended.

______________________

This week's product recommendation is Don's faithful 3M radio ear phones.

He writes:

I'm kind of surprised I haven't posted these earphones as a product review already. I've owned these earphones for so many years I can't remember when I bought them. They're old enough that I used to listen to Rush Limbaugh on them daily in my wood shop.

As you can see, these earphones have a lot of mileage on them. I use them practically every day, especially when I'm working on power tools, because not only can I listen to AM, FM, or a connected MP3 player, but they also do a pretty good job of cutting the noise from the tools.

As you can see in the photo above, the ear pads are shot. I just bought replacement pads, which I'll install when they arrive; but the radio keeps on working.

These earphones are tough. I've dropped them so hard that the batteries have popped out, and I've forgotten them outside in the rain overnight. I've bashed them, abused them, and manhandled them. They just don't quit, and they get pretty good reception too. When I misplace them, I ask a higher power (Patrice) if she's seen my "ears."

3M makes other varieties of these earphones with more modern features, like Bluetooth and a graphics screen, but I've never used them so I can't make a personal recommendation. I guess I'm just old school (or just old).

For durability, comfort, and enjoyment, I can truly recommend my "ears."

(Obligatory disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, we earn a small commission.)

(Don't forget: A complete list of all our book and product recommendations are linked here and at the upper-right column of the blog.)