Lightning cables typically fray at the ends causing the wire to break. I wish Apple used plain old microUSB cables, because I have about 100 of them for other devices and they seem to last longer than Lightning cables. Instead, I have to constantly buy replacement Lightning cables. These Lightning cables have connecters at right-angles to the cable, which might reduce the wear and tear. The cables themselves are braided, too, for additional robustness. They are MFi Certified. Read the rest

I've had an Amazon Fire 7 Tablet for over a year and I use it all the time to watch streaming videos, read Kindle books, listen to podcasts and audiobooks, do email, and browse the Web. It's doesn't have a lot of horsepower, but at the current sale price of $35 for Amazon Prime members, it's a pretty amazing deal. Read the rest

I'm a big fan of BioLite products, because they're well-designed and the company develops low-cost lighting and cooking tools for low-income markets in regions that don't have access to clean affordable household energy. BioLite sent me an early release model of its new HeadLamp and it is radically different from the typical headlamps you've seen before. It is so lightweight that I hardly notice it on my head. It spreads a wide circle of bright light. It charges via USB. The Kickstarter campaign started today with a goal of $40k and it's already at $144k. You can pre-order one for $49. Read the rest

Samsung's 128 GB MicroSD is on sale now for $29 (Amazon). It's a convenient way to backup/transfer important files like your music, video, and photo libraries. Or, you can use it as the hard drive for your Raspberry Pi computer. Read the rest

Arduino is an electronics prototyping platform that makes it easy to build interactive projects without being an electrical engineer. Here's a $16 kit that has an Arduino Uno clone, a solderless breadboard, a charging cable, and lots of components to get you started.

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Use code EGKA3EHO to get this 349-piece box of rotary tools for Dremels (or my new favorite, the $15 Wen 2307). It's got everything you need to gouge, mar, and otherwise fuck-up the surface of any part you are working on. Read the rest

Lightning cables typically fray at the ends. These cables have connecters at right-angles to the cable, which might reduce the wear and tear. The cables themselves are braided, too, for additional robustness. They are MFi Certified and on sale at Amazon for $13 for 2 if you use code AUKEYAL5. Read the rest

The keen retro wall clock I bought in January is back on sale on Amazon for $7.50. It's worked like a champ and I haven't had to change the batteries or adjust the time yet. Read the rest

Why do Lightning cables fail so frequently? I don't think I've ever had a micro-USB cable malfunction, but Lightning cables go out all the time. Curse you, Apple.

The least worst Lightning cables, in my experience, are made by Anker. And these reinforced ones last the longest. The come with an 18-month warranty, which is about as long as you can expect from this generally crappy technology. Amazon has them on sale right now at $16 for a pair. Read the rest

I'm going to Japan for a month this summer. I know two things for certain: it will be mushi atsui (muggy hot) and I will get bitten by ka (mosquitoes). My favorite way to relive the itch of a mosquito bite is with this little device, which delivers a tiny spark of static electricity when you press the trigger. About 10 presses of the trigger will stop the itching for hours. Everyone in my family uses it. Thay cost about $10 on Amazon. It doesn't need batteries. It has a piezoelectric crystal in it. I've had one for years and it still works. Read the rest

AmazonBasics makes a good Nintendo Switch carrying case, with a pocket to store cables and a place to hold up to 10 game cartridges. I bought one a couple of months ago for $12, but right now Amazon is selling it for just $4 with free same day shipping for Prime customers.

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I like my lightbulbs to be very warm. Early LED bulbs had a harsh whitish blue color that made every room look like a 7-Eleven at 3am. These amber glow Emotionlite LED dimmable bulbs (6-pack for $20) are the opposite of LED bulbs of yore. I got them for our dining room chandelier and everyone in the household agrees they are splendid. And they work perfectly with the existing old dimmer switch - no annoying buzz. Read the rest

I keep a tin of binder clips in the kitchen, on my desk and in my tool bag. They come in all kinds of handy!

I didn't think I'd be writing a love song to binder clips today, but they just come in so amazingly useful. I clip ziplock bags to the side of my sous vide vessel. I clip bags of chips shut. I can use large size clips to hold shoes together as I'm gluing them -- and small ones on more delicate projects.

Binder clips have been used to hold trim and moulding in place as I glue or hammer it back up, after my dogs ripped it off the walls. Binder clips have held my scuba mask's strap, and acted to guide hoses and hold them in place all over my BCD.

There are 100s if not 1000s of uses, like clipping papers together.

Binder clips.

Staples Binder Clips, Assorted Sizes, Black, 60-Pack via Amazon Read the rest

I can confirm that the little Bluetooth speaker that was on sale for $7 last week sounds great. Despite its diminutive size, the sound is very solid and can be turned up a lot louder than I would have thought. The Amazon promo code Y98TGMLD still seems to work, but even if it doesn't $15 is a good price. I'm going to take this with me on trips so I can listen to music and podcasts in my hotel. Read the rest

I have an Amazon subscribe and save subscription to Mrs. Meyer's dish soap. I like the smell of it and a little goes a long way. Right now Amazon has a very good deal on a 3-pack of 16 oz. bottle for $6.75 including shipping. Read the rest

I've been using a Brother wireless laser printer for years. I paid close to $200 for it. Now you can get one for $60. I hate using an inkjet because they are slow and the always seem to have streaking issues. Laser printers are much faster and you can buy 3rd party toner cartridges for cheap (like this 3-pack for $26). Read the rest

This wallet doesn't last forever. It eventually got a small tear on the side that holds credit cards. I fixed it with a small piece of duct tape and it's been good for months. Everything else about it is perfect. I put my driver's license in the clear window, fiat currency goes in the middle, and cards go in the outside pockets. It's very thin and everything is easy to get to. It's usually $7 or $8, but it's on sale today on Amazon for $5. Read the rest