Modern Simple Living

Gear Review The Quintessential Swiss Army Knife: A Tribute to the Victorinox Spartan Exploring the heritage, functionality, and lasting legacy of a daily carry classic. ~12 Pieces 91mm Length 2.1 Ounces 12 Functions Table of Contents ① Heritage and Design ② Functionality ③ Is the Spartan Perfect? ④ The Delemont Series: A New Contender ⑤ Conclusion: The Spartan's Legacy Section I Heritage and Design A few years back, I found myself deeply engrossed in the world of Swiss Army multi-tools, culminating in a modest collection of about a dozen pieces. Among them, my favorite has been the Victorinox Spartan in the 91mm format, a true classic that embodies the spirit of Swiss craftsmanship. I have multiple copies, including the smaller Classic, but the Spartan remains my go-to for its blend of functionality and heritage. The Spartan is based on the 1890s Officer's Knife, a design that harkens back to the origins of the Swiss Army knife. This lineage gives the Spartan a historical si...

Gear Review Victorinox INOX Watch Review A deep dive into the rugged, minimalist utility of a modern field watch 43 Case Size (mm) 200 Water Resistance (m) ~$200 Price Table of Contents ① Background and Philosophy ② Specifications ③ Initial Impressions ④ Long-Term Performance Section I Background and Philosophy Almost like clockwork, I purchase a new watch every year around this time. With last year's acquisition of the Armani AR585, I developed a liking for watches in the 43 mm range. This year, I decided to get the Victorinox INOX Watch in OD olive green. I've wanted the INOX for several years but hesitated, thinking that 43 mm was too big. At the time, I sold my Armani AR585, but as time passes, my perspective has changed. I now see a place for larger watches to complement my existing collection of 38 and 41 mm sizes. The INOX also offers a 200-meter water resistance with a screw-down crown, which I have always wanted in a watch besides my G-Shock for swimming. The hexago...

Gear Review Windows Update Troubles A journey through the frustrating world of version migration 4 Days 3 Windows Builds 100% Success Table of Contents ① Initial Update Attempts ② Decision to Reset ③ Update Success Section I Initial Update Attempts I have been spoiled by Linux and didn't pay much attention to the update system for Windows. I am currently on my fourth day trying to update Windows 10 to Build 1909. The HP i7 restore software was on an older 1511 Build. I was able to update it to 1809 after several hours, but then I encountered total havoc while trying to get it updated to 1909.   → Restarting — attempting to resolve system hangs → Command Prompt — running various troubleshooting options → Utilities — utilizing different software tools to fix the update loop Restarting, running various command prompt options, and utilizing different utilities led to nothing but frustration. Section II Decision to Reset After much struggle, I decided to reset back to a previous ...

Gear Review My Laptop Fleet A look at the evolution of my mobile computing setup 4 Machines ~16 Years of usage $225 Recent investment Section I My Laptop Fleet Over the years, I have owned numerous laptops and have settled on a small fleet of machines:   → Windows Box — Windows 10 - HP i7-6700HQ (2016) → Linux Box — Lubuntu - HP i3-4010u (2014) → Spare/Legacy — Lubuntu - Compaq C700 C2Duo-T5250 (circa 2007) → Gaming Rig — Linux Mint 21.2 - Dell Precision 7530 i5-8400H (2023 addition) HP i3-4010u: An Awesome Processor Intel did well with the release of this 4th generation processor. While the i3 is designed as an entry-level and basic CPU, it works perfectly for Linux and most of my computing needs, excluding gaming. One of the best features is its low power consumption, which was a significant reason I decided to replace most of my older laptops that ran Core 2 Duos and older processors. I am still impressed at how many people continue to use their 4th gen i3 processors, whic...

Feature Caravan Stories: Basic Walkthrough/Guide *Master the world of Iyarr with these essential early-game strategies* 6 Star Levels 30k Phantasm 630k Gold/Run Table of Contents ① Overview ② Section I — The Five Basic Goals ③ Section II — Building a Good Team ④ Section III — Progression & Management ⑤ Section IV — Efficiency Tips ⑥ Section V — Future Goals Section I Overview Welcome back to the world of Caravan Stories! Whether you're playing on PS4 or the Japanese PC version, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate through the game. The two versions are fundamentally the same, but the PC version offers better bonuses, like the availability of 5-star gear for characters like Sophia.   Section II Section I — The Five Basic Goals 1. Complete the Four Starter Races — Start with Human, Elf, Dwarf, and Orc. Completing the stories and reincarnating opens new options and locations. 2. Start with the Human Story — The Human story grants you the powerful S-Class charac...