Hey everybody! Thanks to some terrible WiFi in my apartment, I have tons of free time to read. This month was cool, because I've started listening to audiobooks. I listen to an hour or two of music around campus daily, and now I can turn some of that time into reading time. I'm really digging it so far and was able to finish four books from simply listening on bus rides or between/before classes. I'm also in a class where I read a book a week, so that helps me read more as well. This month I've finished 17 books, so my total for the year is 118. Five of those were graphic novels, and then all the rest were novels.
Some of my favorites this month were A Life In Parts by Bryan Cranston, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson. I would rate all of these 4/5 stars. A Life In Parts was awesome. I love reading memoirs written by celebrities, as it's cool to get a look inside their lives. Bryan Cranston has had such an interesting life. I didn't expect much of Kindred, because I had never heard of it before, but it was great as well. It's a science fiction, time travel story that I read for one of my classes. I thought the plot was really unique, and the characters were interesting. The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest finish off the The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy. I think Stieg Larsson has a problem with rambling on for too long, but I love the main characters so much that I don't mind too much. I just found out that another author is continuing the series, so I'm excited to check those out. I also finished The Hobbit, and while I didn't think it was an amazing read, I did enjoy it more than I expected. I thought it was very predictable, yet the characters were what kept me interested. I'm looking forward to reading The Lord of the Rings eventually.
I'm still making my way through The Walking Dead graphic novels. I finished volumes 4, 5, and 6 this month. They're much faster paced than the show, and it's cool to see the differences between the two.
To round this post off, here's a few of my average reads: Gumption by Nick Offerman, Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari, and Wild by Cheryl Strayed. None of these books were horrible by any means, but they didn't meet my expectations. I enjoyed parts of each of them, yet as a whole they weren't that great. Thanks for looking!
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Monday, September 25, 2017
My Preferred Book Format: Physical/eBooks/Audiobooks?
It's kinda cool to see how technology has affected the format of books. A few years ago, I only ever read physical books. I couldn't imagine reading a book in any other way. Now though, I'm at the point where I'd rather read an eBook than a physical book. I've recently got into audiobooks to try to maximize my down time a bit more too. If I had to rank my book format preferences from best to worst, I'd say it'd go eBooks, physical books, and then audiobooks.
I'd like to talk about audiobooks first, since I'm still pretty new to them. I like the idea behind them, but I have very particular standards when it comes to who is narrating them. Some of the people are incredibly boring, sound like robots, etc. I figured out that I really like audiobooks narrated by celebrities. I gravitate towards actors that I've enjoyed in TV shows or movies. Memoirs are great to listen to, because it's like this celebrity is telling you about their life as if they're your friend. I recently finished A Life In Parts by Bryan Cranston and really enjoyed hearing Bryan narrate it. I loved his acting in Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad and hearing him talk about some of that was awesome. I definitely recommend that book by the way. He's had such an interesting life. I also recently finished Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari. Hearing him narrate it was awesome as well. Aziz is in Parks and Recreation, which is one of my favorite shows of all time. I've completely skipped over why I've started listening to more audiobooks. Basically, I listen to a lot of music when I'm on campus. I'll listen to stuff on the bus to campus, before/between my classes, driving 3.5 hours home, etc. I didn't realize how much time I was spending on this, but every bit adds up. I'd rather listen to a few minutes of a book then a song I've heard a billion times. It's easier for me to listen to a book off my phone than lug around the book and have to put it away all the time. Honestly, listening to audiobooks is allowing me to get reading in where I wouldn't have been able to before. Once I find the right ones, I think I'll be set. I wouldn't switch over all my reading to audiobooks, because at times I zone out and completely miss everything that was read to me. It's then kinda hard to go back and find what you missed.
I still do love physical books as well. There's obviously just something special about physically flipping the pages of a book. I enjoy being able to physically see how much of a book I've read. This is the way I've read books for my entire life, so it's what I'm the most accustomed to. At times, books are better suited to a physical form if they've got pictures or lots of footnotes. My biggest issues with physical books are the size. Most are too inconvenient for me to carry around now. My school bag is already heavy enough as it is, so I'm not too inclined to add another somewhat heavy thing to it. Some books also get really heavy to hold after reading for a while, especially hardcovers and really long books. Lugging around a book can be annoying with having to constantly take it out/put it away.
Lastly, something I've gotten back into more recently is eBooks. I got a Kindle a few years ago, was really into it, and then didn't read as much for a few years in high school. I really liked the concept and experience of them, but for some reason, I moved away from it. Since I got back into reading tons of books this summer, I brought he Kindle back out. I've loved every second of it. One plus is the fact that I can have a huge number of books on a device that is the size of a single book. It's not heavy after hours of reading. The screen doesn't strain my eyes like a physical book will sometimes do. I didn't think I'd enjoying reading off a screen, since I already have to spend so much time staring at screens for school. Honestly though, the screen is a matte finish and looks very natural. It's so nice to be able to have access to tons of books when I'm out and about. I also love the accessibility of it. It's so easy for me to quickly read a chapter or so. Kindle can figure out your reading speed and then tell you how long you've got left in the chapter and book as a whole. I always like to read a chapter at a time at least, so it's nice I don't have to estimate how long it'll take. The biggest plus I have with eBooks is the fact that I can check out/return all my books from the comfort of my own home. I no longer have to go to the library to check out books, which is awesome. Sometimes it's nice to go to the library to browse the shelves, but most of the time, I already know what I'm looking for. I can just search the book on the eLibrary and have it on my Kindle within minutes. There's never a risk of me paying overdue fines either, as the books automatically return after the end of the loan period. I seem to read more with my Kindle, since it's so easy for me to do. I definitely recommend you try an eReader out if you're really into reading.
I believe I got to everything I wanted to stay. I didn't expect to enjoy eBooks or audiobooks at all, yet they've really changed the way I read books. Sorry this got so long winded. I love reading, and it's cool to try out new ways to enjoy it. Thanks for looking! Stay tuned for my September reading recap in a few days!
I'd like to talk about audiobooks first, since I'm still pretty new to them. I like the idea behind them, but I have very particular standards when it comes to who is narrating them. Some of the people are incredibly boring, sound like robots, etc. I figured out that I really like audiobooks narrated by celebrities. I gravitate towards actors that I've enjoyed in TV shows or movies. Memoirs are great to listen to, because it's like this celebrity is telling you about their life as if they're your friend. I recently finished A Life In Parts by Bryan Cranston and really enjoyed hearing Bryan narrate it. I loved his acting in Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad and hearing him talk about some of that was awesome. I definitely recommend that book by the way. He's had such an interesting life. I also recently finished Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari. Hearing him narrate it was awesome as well. Aziz is in Parks and Recreation, which is one of my favorite shows of all time. I've completely skipped over why I've started listening to more audiobooks. Basically, I listen to a lot of music when I'm on campus. I'll listen to stuff on the bus to campus, before/between my classes, driving 3.5 hours home, etc. I didn't realize how much time I was spending on this, but every bit adds up. I'd rather listen to a few minutes of a book then a song I've heard a billion times. It's easier for me to listen to a book off my phone than lug around the book and have to put it away all the time. Honestly, listening to audiobooks is allowing me to get reading in where I wouldn't have been able to before. Once I find the right ones, I think I'll be set. I wouldn't switch over all my reading to audiobooks, because at times I zone out and completely miss everything that was read to me. It's then kinda hard to go back and find what you missed.
I still do love physical books as well. There's obviously just something special about physically flipping the pages of a book. I enjoy being able to physically see how much of a book I've read. This is the way I've read books for my entire life, so it's what I'm the most accustomed to. At times, books are better suited to a physical form if they've got pictures or lots of footnotes. My biggest issues with physical books are the size. Most are too inconvenient for me to carry around now. My school bag is already heavy enough as it is, so I'm not too inclined to add another somewhat heavy thing to it. Some books also get really heavy to hold after reading for a while, especially hardcovers and really long books. Lugging around a book can be annoying with having to constantly take it out/put it away.
Lastly, something I've gotten back into more recently is eBooks. I got a Kindle a few years ago, was really into it, and then didn't read as much for a few years in high school. I really liked the concept and experience of them, but for some reason, I moved away from it. Since I got back into reading tons of books this summer, I brought he Kindle back out. I've loved every second of it. One plus is the fact that I can have a huge number of books on a device that is the size of a single book. It's not heavy after hours of reading. The screen doesn't strain my eyes like a physical book will sometimes do. I didn't think I'd enjoying reading off a screen, since I already have to spend so much time staring at screens for school. Honestly though, the screen is a matte finish and looks very natural. It's so nice to be able to have access to tons of books when I'm out and about. I also love the accessibility of it. It's so easy for me to quickly read a chapter or so. Kindle can figure out your reading speed and then tell you how long you've got left in the chapter and book as a whole. I always like to read a chapter at a time at least, so it's nice I don't have to estimate how long it'll take. The biggest plus I have with eBooks is the fact that I can check out/return all my books from the comfort of my own home. I no longer have to go to the library to check out books, which is awesome. Sometimes it's nice to go to the library to browse the shelves, but most of the time, I already know what I'm looking for. I can just search the book on the eLibrary and have it on my Kindle within minutes. There's never a risk of me paying overdue fines either, as the books automatically return after the end of the loan period. I seem to read more with my Kindle, since it's so easy for me to do. I definitely recommend you try an eReader out if you're really into reading.
I believe I got to everything I wanted to stay. I didn't expect to enjoy eBooks or audiobooks at all, yet they've really changed the way I read books. Sorry this got so long winded. I love reading, and it's cool to try out new ways to enjoy it. Thanks for looking! Stay tuned for my September reading recap in a few days!
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Updates!
Hey everybody! Sorry for the complete lack of posts the past few weeks. The fall semester just started, and I haven't gotten around to getting some posts up obviously. This post will kinda fill you all in with what to expect over the next few months. Videos and posts will be coming pretty regularly, probably every 5 to 7 days. I might take a brief break from the blog until October and then resume with the regularly scheduled posts. I'm not 100% certain on this though.
As far as what's coming, I have some review type posts I still need to get together. I've also got a lot of new ideas involving EDC gear, books, videos games, etc. One big video I have coming is my college EDC bag. The contents of my bag are all set. The only thing left for me to do is to find a good spot to film in my apartment. I also would like to show my gaming setup that I've got in my college space. I'm going to keep everything else under wraps for now, so just stay tuned for some cool stuff.
I also will be having a small sale soon with the SOG Snarl and the Kershaw GTC Hops. I've got this filmed too and need to upload it when I've got a chance to go to the post office. Don't expect to see any new gear for the next few months. College is draining me of cash at the moment, so I'd like to get some funds built back up before I jump into anything new.
Other than that, expect to see pretty much what you've been seeing lately. Once I sit down and do some planning, I should be good with posts and videos for a month or so at the very least. As always, if there's anything specific you want to see, just let me know. Thanks for all the support! Keep an eye out for some more posts and videos!
As far as what's coming, I have some review type posts I still need to get together. I've also got a lot of new ideas involving EDC gear, books, videos games, etc. One big video I have coming is my college EDC bag. The contents of my bag are all set. The only thing left for me to do is to find a good spot to film in my apartment. I also would like to show my gaming setup that I've got in my college space. I'm going to keep everything else under wraps for now, so just stay tuned for some cool stuff.
I also will be having a small sale soon with the SOG Snarl and the Kershaw GTC Hops. I've got this filmed too and need to upload it when I've got a chance to go to the post office. Don't expect to see any new gear for the next few months. College is draining me of cash at the moment, so I'd like to get some funds built back up before I jump into anything new.
Other than that, expect to see pretty much what you've been seeing lately. Once I sit down and do some planning, I should be good with posts and videos for a month or so at the very least. As always, if there's anything specific you want to see, just let me know. Thanks for all the support! Keep an eye out for some more posts and videos!
Monday, September 4, 2017
SOG Snarl Thoughts
I've absolutely hated carrying and using the SOG Snarl. I think it's a terrible option for EDC usage. I've still yet to find any decent, small fixed blades for my EDC. The Snarl is an awful knife all around. This will be a pretty short post, as I just want to say my major issues with this knife.
My biggest issue with the Snarl is how chunky and hefty it is. I'd never want to carry something with a blade that is this thick. I don't think it needs to be this overbuilt of a knife. With the added thickness of the knife, the knife is insanely heavy as well. It's not something I'd want to carry in the waistband for an extended period of time.
My next biggest issue is the ergonomics. They are absolutely terrible. I have yet to find a single comfortable way to hold this knife. I've tried using the handle without the holes, strictly the holes, and a combination of on the handle and in the holes. Nothing feels good at all. It's an incredibly awkward knife to use. The ergos alone make this knife unusable for me.
I will say there is one thing I like about this knife, and that is the sheath. It's a solid plastic sheath with a belt clip. Most sheaths don't come with a belt clip already attached, so that's a really nice touch. I like that it's a clip opposed to a loop, because I don't wear a belt that often. I can easily clip this to my pants and be good to go. One gripe about the sheath though is that it can only be carried horizontally. I don't have a wide frame like all you dudes, so carrying this horizontally makes this knife jut off of me a fair bit. I wish SOG had given the option to carry it vertically as well. I also dig the wharncliffe blade. It's a great blade shape for EDC tasks.
All in all, this knife is not worth your time or money. It's a piece of garbage, and one that I do not recommend at all. I don't understand how Brous blades are so popular. I've got a video coming soon that'll go a little more in-depth than this post. Thanks for looking! Sorry this was so short.
My biggest issue with the Snarl is how chunky and hefty it is. I'd never want to carry something with a blade that is this thick. I don't think it needs to be this overbuilt of a knife. With the added thickness of the knife, the knife is insanely heavy as well. It's not something I'd want to carry in the waistband for an extended period of time.
My next biggest issue is the ergonomics. They are absolutely terrible. I have yet to find a single comfortable way to hold this knife. I've tried using the handle without the holes, strictly the holes, and a combination of on the handle and in the holes. Nothing feels good at all. It's an incredibly awkward knife to use. The ergos alone make this knife unusable for me.
I will say there is one thing I like about this knife, and that is the sheath. It's a solid plastic sheath with a belt clip. Most sheaths don't come with a belt clip already attached, so that's a really nice touch. I like that it's a clip opposed to a loop, because I don't wear a belt that often. I can easily clip this to my pants and be good to go. One gripe about the sheath though is that it can only be carried horizontally. I don't have a wide frame like all you dudes, so carrying this horizontally makes this knife jut off of me a fair bit. I wish SOG had given the option to carry it vertically as well. I also dig the wharncliffe blade. It's a great blade shape for EDC tasks.
All in all, this knife is not worth your time or money. It's a piece of garbage, and one that I do not recommend at all. I don't understand how Brous blades are so popular. I've got a video coming soon that'll go a little more in-depth than this post. Thanks for looking! Sorry this was so short.
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