Category Archives: Real Life Reviews

Real Life Review: Purple Air PA-II Air Quality Sensor

Posted on 4 September, 2017 by rurikia

Living in the high desert of Southern California and within distant sight of Cajon Pass,there have been many days when I can see the wall of haze / smog / general yuck in the air rising up the pass from … Continue reading →

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Real Life Review: Dial “Up-Dux” Ceiling to Attic vent

Posted on 11 June, 2017 by rurikia

In the California desert there are two primary ways to cool down a house: closed loop air conditioning and open loop swamp cooling.  A central air conditioning unit works by using electricity to compress a refrigerant fluid, typically outside the … Continue reading →

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Real Life Review – Craftsman 218331 Tablesaw – Part 4: A dangerous guard

Posted on 16 May, 2017 by rurikia

While not specific to this particular tablesaw as they seem to be used on all new saws, I have yet another reason why I dislike the “new style” blade guards required for tablesaws for the past several years, and these … Continue reading →

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Real Life Review: Gourmia GSV140P Sous Vide Immersion Pod

Posted on 9 March, 2017 by rurikia

For years I have been curious about the near-mythical “Sous Vide” cooking technique, which advocates claim makes turning out restaurant quality meals as simple as dropping a bag in a pot of water. When I first looked into it, the … Continue reading →

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Real Life Review: 2017 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 5 door

Posted on 5 March, 2017 by rurikia

I am a buyer rather than a trader, and with cars that is no different than with tools. When I purchase a vehicle I am looking at getting at least 100,000 miles out of it, and preferably more. Recently, my … Continue reading →

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Real Life Review: The Turbine Sports Breathing Technology

Posted on 4 March, 2017 by rurikia

Over the past couple of years I’ve noticed that my aerobic endurance (e.g. how long I can do something which requires lots of oxygen) has decreased well beyond what it used to be, and no matter how hard I tried … Continue reading →

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Going Solar – Part 8: Through the first year

Posted on 19 February, 2017 by rurikia

It has now been 1 year since my system started producing electricity, which seems to be a good point to stop and look back over the data. System overview: The system is a 2.7 kW (DC) / 2.3 kW (AC) … Continue reading →

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Real Life Reviews: Oster Flip Belgian Waffle Maker

Posted on 24 December, 2016 by rurikia

Lured into a local department store with a $10 off $50 coupon, I made the mistake of heading to the kitchen section first. Having eaten my share of waffles made on the rotating waffle maker on hotel breakfast buffets over … Continue reading →

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Real Life Review: Oneway Wolverine lathe tool sharpening jig

Posted on 23 December, 2016 by rurikia

Several years ago I bought a starter lathe and a cheap set of turning tools, under the (misguided) assumption that for something as basic as cutting a spinning piece of wood there wasn’t any difference between high end and bottom … Continue reading →

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Real Life Review: Aromi Mi rice cooker

Posted on 26 October, 2016 by rurikia

I recently stopped to think about how, since my return to the United States several years ago, I seem unable to regain the healthy lifestyle I had lived in Japan. Part of it is of course due to factors of … Continue reading →

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