My Favorite Things Archive
This page is an archive of the current favorite things that I feature on my home page
My Current Favorite Thing
Miyata 710
April 2025 - September 2025
I found this Miyata 710 on the side of the road where two guys were demo-ing a garage to sell the home it was attached to. I asked if it was free to take, they said yes, and I was away with it sticking out of the back of my trunk. She needed new tires and a few upgrades like adding a kickstand, but otherwise she was in great condition. The frame was manufactured in 1983 and it features Shimano shifters. Absolutely a dream to ride.
Ender-3 3D Printer
February 2025 - April 2025
I got this Creality Ender3 printer from a friend in the summer of 2023, but there were certain aspects of it that I found frustrating to use, and eventually I moved away from using it. However, with some guidance from another friend from my group at the game store, I was able to apply some quality of life upgrades to it to improve it's usability and convenience. I added a CR Touch autoleveller, upgraded the bed surface to improve adhesion, and upgraded the motherboard to reduce motor noise. These upgrades make it far less frustrating to use with far fewer print failures and less wasted filament.
Donabe
Image Source and License
Sept 20, 2024 - February 2025
I have had a donabe for some time since I found one for a very good price at a thrift store. I was aware that they are very common in Japan and other parts of East Asia as a way of making rice, soups, and other dishes, but I was not aware of just how cool they are and how great the food you make in them comes out. I eat a lot of rice, and this has been a game changer in simplifing my cooking experience (and moving away from plastics and nonstick cooking surfaces). Much like a cast-iron pan, the surface of the ceramic builds a seasoning, and is able to impart fragrance and flavor into future foods you make in it. I would definitely recommend one to those who really enjoy rice or trying new methods of cooking.
ThinkPad T430
Image Source (nonfree license)
July 30, 2024 - Sept 20, 2024
I recently got myself on the ThinkPad train when I picked up a T410 to do some tinkering and Windows 7 shenanigans. I found a good deal on a T430 and decided to pick that one up for a more modern computing experience, and the thing is awesome. It doesn't have as much character as the T410, but is certainly a very capable laptop in 2024. I've been using the new release of Linux Mint (Wilma) since it came out, and it's a very fun experience.