Modern Simple Living

Food & Drink A Year in Spirits: 2018 Review and 2019 Strategy Reflecting on consumption habits, budget planning, and building a curated home bar. 12 Bottles 8 Liters $404 Total Spent Section I 2018 Retrospective In 2018, I purchased about 12 bottles of liquor, totaling 8 liters for $404. This total includes an estimated $65 value for a gifted bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue. This averages out to roughly 1 bottle per month, which aligns perfectly with my expectations.   Bourbon Exploration I decided to increase my bourbon consumption to 33% of my total liquor intake to broaden my horizons. Initially, I found bourbons to be a bit too sweet, which sometimes overpowered the tasting experience I prefer with Scotch whisky. However, after regularly sampling bourbon, I realized I wanted to keep a bottle on hand to enjoy a dram now and then, balancing it with my whisky pours. House of Johnnie It's no surprise that I lean heavily towards Johnnie Walker. About 25% of my total consumption...

Feature My Journey to 165 lbs: A Decade of Weight Management A personal reflection on dietary discipline, lifestyle shifts, and consistent tracking. 15 Years of Tracking 52,500 Total Calorie Goal 20,000 Daily Steps Achieved 165 Target Weight Section I My Diet (2019 - 2022) In the years following 2010, I explored dietary changes, particularly considering a keto diet due to my research on the issues with processed sugar. I was concerned about potential side effects like feeling tired or sluggish during ketosis. Instead, I decided to focus on reducing my carbohydrate intake by avoiding processed sugar while increasing my protein and fat intake.   To simplify my approach, I made four specific changes to my diet: → Breakfast — Opted for an egg or tuna salad sandwich. → Vegetable Intake — Aimed to eat 8 oz of veggies daily (celery, carrots, cucumbers, etc.). → Hydration — Increased water intake to 48 oz daily. → Sugar Reduction — Avoided processed sugars. I began implementing thes...

Gear Review Holiday Surprises: Bluetooth Gifts at the Company Party *Testing out new audio tech after a festive surprise* 2 Gifts 12+ Hours Battery Life ~3 Days Usage Section I Holiday Gift Highlights At a recent company party, I received two surprise gifts: a Bluetooth Sony speaker, the SRS-XB10, and a pair of Apple AirPods. I’m quite pleased, as I’ve been wanting some Bluetooth audio gear for a while. Overall, it was a very nice Christmas, made even better by these thoughtful gifts.   Sony SRS-XB10 Bluetooth Speaker The Sony SRS-XB10 is a fairly decent speaker for its size. It will be especially useful at outdoor parties and events thanks to its impressive battery life. It’s compact and portable, making it easy to take along wherever I go. → Battery Life — 12+ hours of playback → Portability — Compact design for travel and events Apple AirPods The AirPods are proving to be even more interesting. After several days of regular use, I find them very convenient compared to conve...

Feature Reflecting on My Technical Path: The Art of the Pivot Learning to embrace the journey of stopping, starting, and evolving 6 Years 10+ Technical Domains 5 Completed Studies Section I Understanding My Technical Journey In regard to my technical domains, I've encountered quite a few 'dead ends' where I chose to quit at some point or have taken considerable time to complete my studies, often stopping and starting. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it demonstrates my ability to recognize when to pivot and change paths. Whatever insights I can glean from these studies remain valuable, even if they don’t reach the levels of depth I initially desired. Conversely, my non-technical domains are thriving. I have read numerous books over the years to keep my mind fresh and stimulated, as purely technical pursuits can become repetitive and dull.   Section II My Past Study Patterns 2014–2016: Early Foundations → T-SQL Pro — Quit → MCSA - SQL Server — Stop/Start for years ...

Gear Review The Longevity of the iPad 2: A Tech Retrospective *Testing the limits of hardware sustainability over fourteen years* 14 Years 85% Battery Health 3-5 Years Expected Remaining Life Table of Contents ① The Reliable Classic ② Update — August 2023: Digital Photo Frame ③ Update — December 2025: PDF Reader Section I The Reliable Classic I am quite impressed that my original iPad 2, purchased seven years ago in 2011, is still going strong. I recently checked the battery health, and it is at 85% useful life, which is quite impressive. The iPad 2 is likely one of the oldest pieces of technology that has survived and continues to work as designed. While it is a bit laggy compared to my more modern laptops and iPhones, it remains fully functional. I rely on it for its size, weight, and form factor, which are unparalleled for reading PDF documents, especially with the handy bookmarking feature.   → Battery Performance — The tablet lasts for several days between charges, making...

Feature Redefining the Data Science Roadmap Shifting from platform-specific coding to a theory-based mastery of data ~2,000 Pages 3 Certifications ~2+ Years Duration Table of Contents ① The Data Science Paradigm Shift ② Eventual Skillset ③ Domain Study Materials ④ Certification Roadmap ⑤ Goals ⑥ Project Updates Section I The Data Science Paradigm Shift One of the biggest eye-openers in my journey has been the realization that Data Science fundamentally revolves around Statistics. There’s a well-established college major focused on statistics, and data science isn't entirely new; it’s a combination of traditional statistical methods with modern computing technologies, utilizing software like R and SAS for analysis. To truly grasp data science, it's essential not only to learn programming languages but also to understand the underlying principles. As such, I've decided to revise my study plan for 2019, shifting from a language/platform-specific focus to a more theory-base...

Gear Review Inventory Strategy & Value Estimation A deep dive into the collections that define my everyday carry 92 Total Items 4 Core Categories ~12 Years of Accumulation Table of Contents ① Inventory Strategy & Value Estimation ② Audio & Technology Breakdown ③ Watches & Writing Instruments ④ Spirits & Wardrobe Section I Inventory Strategy & Value Estimation I currently have about 92 items in my primary collections. By treating them as "collections," I can focus on carefully selecting which items to add, replace, or keep. It’s surprising how much money I’ve spent over the years accumulating these items, especially since it amounts to just 91 pieces. Reflecting on this, I realize that none of these are my "primary" expenditures. I spend significantly more on food, housing, and transportation each year. My car expenses alone—including insurance, registration/taxes, gas, maintenance, and parking—add up to several thousand dollars. In some w...