Feeling a little bummed, like I didn't use this past year to its
fullest potential, so here's a list of things that I DID do:

1) learned how to cook, or at least chop stuff for the head chef
2) learned to use a chainsaw to cut trees down without destroying
(much) property.
3) learned to use a maul to split wood.
4) managed my stock portfolio
5) rescued a kitten. Figured out how to tell a female kitten from a
male. Renamed a kitten.
6) make a cool small cutting board from an old yucky cutting board.
7) started a blog. This year I plan to expand readership from the
current 4 readers. That I forced by emailing the posts to them and
asking if they read it.
8) attempt to fix my car electric window. Failed.
9) founded the Municipal Geographic Society - roaming the expanses of
my yard to bring you photos of wild animals. Racoons, a turtle, and a
praying mantis.
10) kept track of my finances.
11) installed a bathroom faucet and hardware.
12) protested a racist Popcorn Factory.
13) rewired an iron.
14) sold stuff on craigslist. It's easy. I can show you how! 15)
review gear. TAD Gear shorts, Vibram five fingers, pur water filter,
snowpeak titanium spork. I would be glad to review your gear. Please
contact me and send me a sample. I also review cars and expensive
watches and gadgets.

I'm not sure what's in store this year but I hope there is variety,
hope I'm headed in the right direction, and hope there are cars
involved.

My Requirements for a Watch

I guess kids nowadays use their iPhones as their clock but for an analog person stuck in a digital world here are my requirements:

1) No battery replacement required. Automatic, or solar or kinetic.
2) Durable construction. Crystal and case cannot break or melt under reasonable trauma. Reminder, don't weld with watch on if you have an acrylic crystal.
3) Water resistant. I'm no diver, just need something I can swim and shower in.
4) Analog. There's something really Back to the Future about seeing all twelve hours at once.
5) Luminous hands and hour markings, including a discrete 12'0clock indicator. In pitch black it's hard to orient your watch to tell time if you cant tell where 12 is. trust me.

Optional.
Rotating bezel w/ luminous zero marking. (geez a Breitling divers watch i like doesnt even have this)
Day/Date

My watch of choice is the Seiko "Black Monster". Inexpensive but attractive. Has 1-5 plus both options. Inaccurate as heck. I have to adjust the time every couple of days or it ends up about 5 minutes fast, but that's better than slow...Had it for 8-10 years and don't think it will die. It's the only watch I will wear. the others sit in a drawer.

PUR faucet mount water filters

I've been using the PUR faucet mount water filter for quite a few months and I really recommend it. There were a few lousy things about the last generation. It was awkward to do anything under the sink with the contraption in the way and rotating the filter cylinder to turn the filter on and off lacked durability. Finally my filter was leaking so bad it was time to replace it.

The whole new attachment can be removed in one piece very quickly by pressing in two white buttons. A small adapter collar screws into the end of the faucet. Several different collars are supplied to fit your faucet. At first I was very skeptical of the design but after removing it and remounting several times a day to wash dishes for months, it seems to be holding up well.

A few things to note.
1) Since I was used to the old design, I found myself trying to twist the whole filter to turn it on. Of course it resisted turning and I immediately realize my goof. No harm done.
2) Regular water comes out of one hole, and filtered water comes out of another. Again, being used to the old design, sometimes I wouldn't anticipate where the water would come out.
3) Make sure you hear a click when you attach the filter to the faucet. A couple times I've attached it loosely and when I turned the water on it blasted the filter off the faucet.
4) To turn the filter on you turn a lever down. Often I leave the lever down and next time I go to the sink I get filtered water until I remember and turn the lever back up.

Overall this is a great faucet mount filter and if you've been using pitcher filters due to previous bad experiences with faucet mounts, I'd try it again.

theevildrsin recommends.