Book review: Linux: Learn Linux In 2 Hours: Including All Essential Command Lines. The Beginners Choice for the Linux System, Simon Bedford

This book is for complete novices to computers and Linux. It starts with "What is Linux" and "Why Linux".   If you have experience with computers but not with Linux this book is likely to be too simplistic for you. 

If you are a novice, the command explanation is not very detailed and do not show output in many cases. Complex commands like awk and sed - have just one line! This is not enough details to be too helpful...

The book is written by Linux enthusiast, "Linux is the best Operations System So Far", so it had a little too much, in my opinion, promoting of Linux virtues rather then concentrating on the commands and behaviors.  If someone bought this book they already know they want to use Linux, no need to sell its virtues.  I hoped for more content.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: Cordless Micro Rotary Tool by Masterworks

This is very handy tool. It is good for grinding off burrs, good for making precise cuts in plastic, wood, metal.  It also works well as a sander and polisher for small objects, or getting into small crevices.

The rotary tool is easy to use, the only tricky part is how to change the accessories. To do so you need press down a button that a picture of the lock on it.  This allows you to remote or tighten attachments.  If you find the sanding bands do not fit tightly find a screw at the top of the sanding drum and rotate it, the drum will expand for tighter fit.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Masonry Drill Bit Set by BLENDX

I used the drills to make holes in concrete basement walls. They also rated to be used on brick, wood, porcelain floor tile, and marble. The drill bits have tungsten carbide Tip. Their hardness is 90 HRA hardness. I liked that the drill bits come in a nice plastic case.

If you need to create one or two holes, one could use a regular drill with a masonry drill bit. If you are doing a more serious job the best results with least amount of effort will come with a hammer drill or a rotary hammer drill.   A standard drill is more difficult to use because the rotating action is less strong and take more effort and time to break the concrete. The hammering action of a hammer drill will chisel away the concrete while the rotary action drills the hole. This creates a nice even hole.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Kitchen Rotor Slicer Shredder Attachment for KitchenAid Stand Mixers by GVODE

Good news: The Gvode shredder attachment works as good as a hand grater for making potato latke but is a lot faster. My husband is our potato latke (potato pancakes) maker. He does not do all that often because he he uses a hand grater and it takes a lot of work.  He tried using a good processor but the texture with good processor does not come out right.  Kitchen aid to the rescue! This attachment worked very well. The only minor issue is that the potatoes do not fall out on their own, he had to dig them out manually.  When the grinding tube was full it sprayed potato juice the tube had to partially emptied before continuing.

Note that the instructions say not to put any part of the grinder into the dish washer to avoid discoloration.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Maxwell Button batteries

I thought MAXELL button batteries were a great value. The price and shipping on this product seem to change but seem to always work out to be around 20 cents per battery. However there is a reason why they are such a good price! They don't last.

I bought these batteries for my old scientific calculator which requires 2 button batteries. The calculator was running on the original set of batteries for about 15 years.

I installed two batteries on July 6. Originally, I was pleased with the batteries. However, this review is written 3 month later and I am no longer happy. I use the calculator once a month for 10 minutes or less balancing my check book when I do monthly bills. On September 30 weekend I found that the calculator was dead. I always turn off the calculator, but even if I have forgotten it turns off automatically after 1 minute of non-use. The batteries lasted 3 months, total of 3 uses, under 30 minutes of total active use. Since the previous set of batteries lasted for years, I can only give these batteries 1 star.



Here is a link to this product page on Amazon as a item to avoid.

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Sourire By CRZ Short Bob Synthetic Hair Wig

 I purchased the brown wig.  The color is very nice - dark brown with slight reddish highlight.  A good match for my natural hair.  This is a nice quality synthetic wig. Up close, especially if you can see the top you can tell it is a wig not person's natural hair. Like with many wigs the main give away is that all hair started from one central point at the top. The full length of the hair looks quite nice, and without touching it you would not know it is synthetic.

On the inside the wig has a nice head cap with a way that allows a custom fit via two rubber bands with hooks/ The top has small combs that can latch on to your natural hair to provide extra hold. I was able to get a nice fit. The long bangs in the front did a nice job hiding my hairline.

Overall, if you don't mind that people will likely to guess it is a wig it is a fine wig.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Molly Hashimoto - Birds 2019 Calendar

This wall calendar calendar is 12" wide and 13" tall (when closed).  Each day square is 1.5" wide x 2" tall. I make a lot of notes on calendars so it is important to me that the calendar paper takes the ink well and does not bleed through to the other side.  The paper in the calendar works well.  The finish of the paper is glossy.  I prefer Lang's calendar's textured finish, but I decided this year I like the art in this calendar better and it is very pretty. The paper is of nice thickness and quality, not flimsy.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★